Metrorunner Review

boardgamequest.com:

We review Metrorunner, a cyberpunk themed game published by Thunderworks Games. Metrorunner is rondel game with a splash of engine building mixed in.

Regular BGQ readers probably know of my love of the Cyberpunk theme. If you drop a game on the table in this genre I’ll play it. Recently I’ve covered Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone, the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game, and Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend. All were enjoyable and still regularly make their way to my table (well maybe not the prototype copy of Cyberpunk 2077 as that’s just a basic preview copy). But regardless. I have a soft spot for games related to this theme.

Fresh off its debut at Gen Con 2024, I’ve gotten to dive into Metrortunner from Thunderworks Games (Cartographers, Roll Player Adventures). Set on the metro line of Mirror City, you are a hacker trying to make a name for yourself. As you circle the districts, you’ll hack, complete jobs, and try to increase your street cred in the form of notoriety and influence.

In Metrorunner, turns (for the most part) are pretty snappy. Each player first moves their runner 1-2 spaces along the metro track. Then they can either take the action of the space they stopped on or take the district action.

Location spots will either allow you to acquire more job cards, collect resource cubes, or attempt a hack. District actions will allow you to collect the resource cubes sitting in the distract or complete a job (matching the district color).

To complete a job you need to turn in the matching resource cubes. Afterward, the job earns you some immediate bonuses (notoriety, cubes, cash, or influence) and many times an ongoing bonus. These are usually in the form of benefits regarding resource cubes (pay fewer for jobs, use a color as wild, or gain bonus cubes when you collect some). Completed jobs will also earn you victory points at the end of the game.

Outside of working on jobs, you can also attempt to hack the network. In the center of the board are 9 PANOP