Netrunner cover
1996BGG rank #1,408

Netrunner

by Richard Garfield · Wizards of the Coast

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Players2
Time45m
ComplexityMedium-Light
Age10+

About the game

What is Netrunner?

Netrunner is a cyberpunk-themed collectible card game. The two players are the Corp (who wins by completing Agendas) and the Runner (who wins by infiltrating the Corp and liberating Agendas). Each side has a limited number of both actions and bits (money) to spend per turn; bits are gone once used, and actions must be spent to gain more. An important thing when evaluating the power of cards is to see the Bit per action ratio. One unique feature of this game is that the Runner physically moves on the "board" created by facedown Corp cards. It has the feel of a "capture the flag" game, with the Runner moving in dataforts to steal Agendas from the Corp. Another unique feature is that the Cards are NOT the primary strategy of the game; in fact, players can win by simply "playing with the rules" itself (a concept difficult to understand if you've never played Netrunner). Both players play as both Corp and Runner in a game, one after the other, with each player's Runner going against the opponent's Corp. A winning match provides 10 points and the loser scores points equal to the number of agenda points scored/liberated. The winner of the game is the one who has the most points in the 2 submatches. Though Netrunner is traditionally a two-player duel, there are formats that allow for more players (called "The Big Sell Out").

How it plays

Mechanics

Action Points

On the shelf

Categories

Card GameCollectible ComponentsScience Fiction

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in Netrunner?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?