Metrorunner: Riding the Metro and Hacking the Network
Balance influence and notoriety in a cyberpunk world where taking jobs and hacking the network are vital in Metrorunner.
After a favorable first impression with some very low scores, I was ready to take on Metrorunner again! This time, I had some more ideas about how best to approach the solo opponent. Maybe I needed to lie low a little longer so Mirror City wouldn’t be alerted to what I was up to… Onward with another journey along the Metro and inside the network!
Game Overview
Game Name: Metrorunner
Publication Year: 2024
Designer: Stephen Kerr
Artist: Ignacio Bazán Lazcano
Publisher: Thunderworks Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
As a runner with a home district, the goal is to become both influential and notorious. Jobs and hacking options provide special bonuses and abilities that can be quite exciting! The journey along the Metro is anything but one-dimensional with plenty of meaningful choices.
First Play
July 12, 2024
Complexity
3
Latest Play
July 18, 2024
Expansions
1
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
6
Play Time
40 Minutes
High Score
81
Game Area
40" x 24"
Low Score
29
Hacking the Network
One of the most interesting elements of gameplay is centered around the central element… A tile puzzle!
Creating pathways and earning bonuses are the keys to victory, yet the pacing is a crucial element. Gain too much notoriety early on, and the solo opponent leaps ahead.
I loved thinking through the ways I could manipulate these tiles, especially later in the game when I had unlocked the knowledge to gain multiple bonuses!
These are the optional metallic tiles that I continue to love. It’s awesome to pick them up and move them about!
A Tricky Opponent
At the end of each round, a card is flipped to determine what the solo opponent does. This blocks spaces, which are often just the choices I needed open for my next turn!
Most importantly, the solo opponent takes a series of actions based on comparing notoriety. Essentially, it’s very problematic to stay ahead for a long time.
I found a neat balance where I held back from hacking for several turns so I could complete jobs for more influence.
Notice the icons at the bottom? The solo opponent acts as a timer, so too many double gains ends it all way too soon!
Exciting Endings
While I didn’t consider myself an expert, I finally started to see the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. This helped me extend the game just a bit for more victory points.
In an excellent flurry of activity, I managed to maximize both my influence and notoriety at the end of this play!
Part of me was entirely surprised by the outcome, as I thought I had only started to understand the puzzle.
So I briefly paused, wondering if I had already solved it all to the point that there wasn’t more to experience. Ah, but note the word briefly in that statement…
Help from the Shadows
Honestly, who do you think was responsible for this win? The coolest Calico Critters, naturally. Ha! There was a lot more hiding behind this awesome character pawn.
I was a little skeptical of what I might discover in my next play, but I was quickly put at ease. Ironically, I had no idea what I was doing again. Ha ha! It was completely different.
Now, maybe I managed to achieve an awesome victory, yet I don’t see that happening that often. This is a puzzle!
Although I might have seen a lot of the main gameplay loops, especially aboard the Metro, this remains very fun!
That Moment of Not Quite Being Done Yet…
I’ve had some board games that have given me all they ever will, and that’s not a bad thing. Some of them stick around for a rainy day, while others move onto new homes for a better chance to be played. When I thought I might have solved this one, I wasn’t too upset since it took me a little effort to get there. Luckily, I didn’t fare well again at all. Ha!
That’s another important thing about board games… Since it’s impossible to play them all, shelves are often filled with unplayed or underplayed titles. So much fun just waiting to be discovered! I’ve adjusted my perspective over the years to not feel stressed out over all of the games, but to appreciate the privilege I have in choosing the right games for me.
On the subject of my board game wheel of emotions, it’s hard to predict exactly how I’ll feel about a new game. Having puzzle games, such as this one, where I know the general strategy but still need to work hard to win, is awesome!
Session Overview
Play Number: 3-6
Expansion: Metro Runner: Dropsite Mini-Expansion
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Outcome: 29, 43, 81, 60 (2 Wins & 2 Losses)
I also made better use of the jobs and the different types, completing a few contracts along the way. It was nice to randomize these during each play, and I still only managed to complete a couple of them in the best case scenario. Although I was a little worried about solving the overall game, I found a nice sort of puzzle to enjoy! Watch out for my tiny cyberpunk animal friends… Ha ha!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
7
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
9
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
8
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
4
+ Pros (Positives)
- Balancing influence and notoriety is an important concept, but doesn’t necessarily follow a set path each time.
- The rules are very intuitive after a couple of plays with a clear rulebook and very few outliers to memorize.
- Moving along the Metro is trickier than it seems, particularly with the mini-expansion incentives for some spaces.
- Manipulating the tile puzzle is very fun and rewarding with a lot of elements to think of with the movements.
- Jobs provide a lot of nuanced strategies when it comes to picking up certain rewards and completing contracts.
- Gameplay moves along at a quick pace with very little overhead to manage for the solo opponent’s actions.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Gameplay can feel very abstract at times and focused on connecting lines or matching cube colors on cards.
- Although there are lots of characters, their differences during gameplay aren’t huge or significantly unique.
- Bad luck with some of the solo opponent cards can end the game early, even when properly balancing everything.
- Most of the detailed artwork is found on the job cards, yet these are hidden once completed to lose the theme.
Victory Conditions
Score 60+ Points
- Overall Goal Progress 83%
Goals and Milestones
Maximize influence in at least 1 game.
Maximize notoriety in at least 1 game.
Score at least 50 points.
Score at least 80 points.
Win at least 1 game.
Complete 9 jobs in at least 1 game.
Continue the Conversation
What do you like about Metrorunner? Have you discovered any interesting strategies or combinations? I really had a great time piecing things together, although there isn’t a single winning strategy to follow. Plenty of other characters to try out for a little more lore in the future! For now, I’ll let Mirror City take a break from my tiny hacking ninjas. Ha!
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