Tabletop crowdfunding is no stranger to huge successes. Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game, having reached its goal in 10 minutes, now joins them.
Hype seems to follow Cyberpunk 2077 where ever it goes. With the initial video game release, maybe it wasn’t so warranted. We can only hope the newest installment in the Cyberpunk franchise, the board game, will deliver a better product at launch.
With just under two weeks left to fund, let’s take a look at what Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game is offering.
Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game Overview
Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game is a cooperative, scenario-based, tactical combat game. There are elements of RPG character building, deck building, crafting, dice rolling, and, most interestingly, real-time turns. That’s right! Each round in timed with the assistant app, which also acts at the game’s narrator for the story portions of the campaign.
Players still take turns in order, but there is a limit to how long they can take turns before the round ends and the enemies get to go. But even while other players are taking their turns, everyone else can be ready to help with their quick hack cards, which can be played even during another players turn.
At the beginning of each round, all players draw a hand of 4 cards from their personal deck of cards. Each of these cards will have various icons indicating what actions they allow the player to take. However, characters are able to improve themselves through various cybernetic enhancements.
As they do this, each card will become more useful and allow for additional actions. Through this mechanic and the deck-building aspect, players are able to fine-tune their characters to fit their playstyle.
Dynamic Narrative Campaign
As a scenario based game, each game will have a unique set of objectives, some required and some optional. Based on how you performed during the mission, the app will dictate which districts are available to you for your next mission.
Each district will have different locations to visit. Maybe shops to spend credits, bars for random encounters, or who knows what else? When visiting such a location, players will draw an event card from the stack and decide together how to tackle the event. Their decisions could make a big difference in how the rest of the campaign plays out.
Overall, Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game is a very quick playing action game, thanks to the real-time aspect. It does a fantastic job of highlighting the stress and tension that comes with living in a world like this. And the multitude of narrative options and character builds means it’s a campaign you’ll be happy to play through time and time again.
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Matt has loved games of all kinds his whole life: board, video, war, roleplaying. He’s worked as a writer for BoLS since 2017. He’s worked as freelance editor for board game rulebooks and has designed many of his own games as well.
