If you've experienced hacking as a Netrunner while traversing Night City as V in Cyberpunk 2077, you might find it interesting that a game that brought that world to the table existed before it. The game in question is 'Netrunner,' designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, in 1996. While critically acclaimed, it unfortunately faded into obscurity commercially. Fantasy Flight Games later re-released it in 2012 under the name 'Android: Netrunner,' capturing the attention of many board gamers. This review covers the core set of this FFG version.
Gamemeca runs a monthly column called [Board Games], where we introduce great board games alongside CEO Uchi of board game developer Popuri.
▲ Android: Netrunner core set package (Photo: Gamemeca)
If you've experienced navigating Night City as V in Cyberpunk 2077 and hacking your way through as a Netrunner, you might find it intriguing that a game existed prior, bringing that very world to your tabletop. That game is 'Netrunner,' designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, back in 1996.
While critically acclaimed, it sadly never achieved commercial success and faded away. However, Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) revived it in 2012 under the name 'Android: Netrunner,' capturing the attention of many board gamers. This review focuses on the FFG version's core set.
Cyberpunk vibes on a single card
The core set's basic components are rather sparse: a deck of cards, credit tokens, and various counters. There are no flashy extras like miniatures or a large game board. So, upon opening the box, it might feel a bit underwhelming.
▲ The hacker, Runner, and three Runner factions plus neutral cards (Photo: Gamemeca)
▲ Four Corp faction cards and neutral cards (Photo: Gamemeca)
▲ Credit tokens, which serve as currency; flipping a 1-credit token reveals it can be used as an advancement token (Photo: Gamemeca)
▲ From top left: Tag tokens, Bad Publicity tokens, Brain Damage tokens indicating continuous damage to the Runner, and counter tokens used to track various stats for both Corp and Runner (Photo: Gamemeca)
However, the story changes when you examine the cards one by one. Each Ice card, Agenda card, and Event card is steeped in cyberpunk atmosphere. The harsh image of megacorporations and the feel of hackers exploiting their weaknesses are vividly conveyed through the card artwork alone. It's impressive how, without elaborate components, simply holding the cards makes you feel immersed in the world.
▲ An event card breaking through an Ice (firewall). Cards depicting ice in the game sometimes evoke a sense of looking into the cosmos (Photo: Gamemeca)
▲ Corporation-specific cards, reminiscent of the billboards seen in Cyberpunk 2077 (Photo: Gamemeca)
A high-stakes psychological battle between Corp and Runner over Agendas
The most distinctive feature of Android: Netrunner is that the two players engage in the game in entirely different ways. One player assumes the role of a megacorporation, while the other plays as the hacker, the Runner. It's akin to one person playing as Arasaka and the other as V from Cyberpunk 2077.
The Corp's objective is to develop its Agendas (victory point cards) while preventing them from being exposed to the outside world. Conversely, the Runner must hack into the Corp's hidden Agendas and steal them. Both sides win by reaching 7 Agenda points first. The Corp scores points by advancing Agendas, and the Runner scores by stealing those Agendas.
▲ The Corp can place assets or Agendas on remote servers and advance them; cards laid horizontally signify installed Ice protecting the server (Photo: Gamemeca)
In addition to its main HQ server, the Corp can establish multiple remote servers. Through these servers, it can secretly install and advance Agenda and asset cards. The key element here is ICE (Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics). ICE functions like a digital firewall, installed by the Corp in front of servers to block the Runner's intrusion.
The Runner uses hacking tools called Breakers to overcome this ICE. Since different Breakers are required to neutralise each type of ICE, deciding which Breakers to prepare is the Runner's core strategy.
▲ The Runner must utilise hacking programs or various resource cards to break through the Corp's installed ICE; once installed, they remain usable unless removed by the Corp (Photo: Gamemeca)
This is where the game's nuance shines. The cards the Corp installs on its servers can be Agendas or assets. Some assets are traps, designed to inflict damage on the Runner the moment they successfully hack and reveal the card. For the Corp, laying traps and waiting for the Runner to fall for them is a valid strategy.
Conversely, the Runner must decide whether to 'run' by assessing whether a card installed by the Corp is an Agenda or a trap. This psychological warfare is the heart of Android: Netrunner's fun.
Tense gameplay for both Corp and Runner
I've played as both the Corp and the Runner, and while the fun derived from each role is different, the tension is equally high on both sides.
When playing as the Runner, the most striking moment was attempting a run on the Corp's HQ server (the Corp player's hand). I broke through the ICE one by one with my Breakers, and upon revealing the card in hand, it turned out to be a trap, not an Agenda. While it could be disheartening, it made me even more eager for the next run. The thought, 'There's definitely a real Agenda this time,' kept nagging at me. The uncertainty of what lies hidden on that server becomes the driving force, compelling you to keep attempting runs.
▲ Corp-installed ICE cards; could that advancement token represent an Agenda card? (Photo: Gamemeca)
▲ Agendas collected by the Runner; with 8 points, the game concluded (Photo: Gamemeca)
Playing as the Corp offered a different kind of tension. While installing ICE across multiple servers is fundamental to defence, activating (rezzing) ICE requires credits. The moment the Runner infiltrated an unexpected server, I lacked the credits to rez the ICE and could only watch. To make matters worse, the cards drawn from the HQ deck were consecutively Agendas, leading to consecutive points for the Runner. It was a moment where I became complacent with a wide defensive net, only to fail in resource management.
If you ask me which side is more fun, Corp or Runner, it's a difficult question. The Runner has the thrill of diving into the unknown, while the Corp experiences the heart-stopping dread of seeing a meticulously constructed defence crumble unexpectedly. The fact that two people have completely different experiences with the same game is, I believe, Android: Netrunner's greatest appeal.
A game that lives on despite official discontinuation
Android: Netrunner was officially discontinued in 2018 when FFG lost the license. The Korean core set is also out of print and hard to find, and the situation is similar overseas.
However, the game itself hasn't vanished. A non-profit fan organisation called Null Signal Games (NSG) has taken over the game and continues to release new expansions. They provide free PDF versions for players to print and play, and the use of proxy cards is legal in all official tournaments, including the World Championship. In essence, the barrier to entry is virtually non-existent.
The situation in Korea is a bit different, though. With the Korean core set out of print and no active community to speak of, finding an actual opponent to play with is a significant challenge.
▲ The official Null Signal Games website, which continues to release the discontinued Netrunner game under the name System Gateway (Source: Null Signal Games Official Website)
Cyberpunk world and hacking perfectly intertwined
Android: Netrunner has a steep learning curve. The rulebook contains terminology rarely found in other board games, and understanding the effect of each card adds to the initial learning burden. The practical difficulty of finding players also remains.
Despite these hurdles, this game is special. The process of installing ICE directly in front of the server and the Runner breaking through each layer with Breakers to infiltrate powerfully recreates the feeling of actual hacking and defence. The unique terminology used only in Netrunner, initially unfamiliar, enhances immersion in the world once you become accustomed to it. Games where the theme and rules align so perfectly are rare.
For players interested in the Cyberpunk universe and who enjoy asymmetric psychological combat, this is a thoroughly captivating game. If you're intrigued, printing out the PDF version released by Null Signal Games and giving it a try is a worthwhile option.
Uchi
An ordinary board game developer.
I serve as the CEO of the board game company 'Popuri.'
