Android: Netrunner Review

Intro

Android: Netrunner throws you into a cyberpunk future where massive corporations guard their digital secrets behind layers of deadly security programs called "ice," while hackers known as runners risk brain damage to steal corporate agendas. This asymmetrical card game pits two players against each other in completely different roles, creating one of the most unique gaming experiences you'll find.

Released in 2012 by Fantasy Flight Games, Netrunner is strictly a two-player affair that typically runs about 45 minutes. With ratings consistently hovering around 7.9 out of 10, it's earned its reputation as one of the best card games ever made. The complexity sits in that sweet spot where dedicated players can dive deep into strategy without drowning newcomers in rules.

What makes this game special isn't just its cyberpunk theme, but how completely different each side plays. The Corporation player builds servers, installs ice, and tries to score agendas while staying profitable. The Runner assembles a rig of programs and hardware to break through corporate defenses and steal those same agendas. First to seven points wins, but getting there feels like a tense cat-and-mouse game played in the digital shadows.

How It Plays

Each turn starts with players drawing cards and gaining credits, but that's where the similarities end. The Corporation spends their turn installing cards face-down in servers protected by ice, advancing agendas, or setting traps. Everything they do is shrouded in mystery because runners can't see what's hidden behind those defenses.

Runners live in a world of calculated risks. They spend turns installing icebreakers, gathering resources, and building their digital arsenal. When they're ready, they announce a run on a corporate server. This triggers the game's most exciting moments as they encounter each piece of ice protecting that server, spending credits to break through subroutines that might trash their programs, deal damage, or worse.

The Corporation's ice comes in three flavors: barriers that block access, code gates that require specific programs to bypass, and sentries that actively hunt runners with nasty effects. Each type demands different icebreakers, forcing runners to prepare for multiple threats while managing their limited resources.

What keeps everyone on edge is the hidden information. That face-down card the Corp just installed and started advancing could be a game-winning agenda worth three points, or it might be a devastating trap that'll fry the runner's brain when accessed. The tension builds as both players bluff, feint, and try to read each other's intentions across the table.

Highlights

The asymmetrical gameplay stands as Netrunner's crowning achievement. Playing as the Corporation feels like being a chess grandmaster, carefully positioning defenses and managing resources while your opponent probes for weaknesses. Switch to the Runner side, and suddenly you're the scrappy underdog, living by your wits and taking desperate chances for big payoffs.

The game's bluffing elements create incredible psychological tension. Corporations can install traps that look identical to valuable agendas, while runners might feint toward one server to make another look less threatening. Every face-down card becomes a question mark that could swing the game.

Deck construction adds layers of strategic depth without overwhelming casual players. The Living Card Game format means you know exactly what cards you're getting in each expansion, avoiding the gambling aspects of collectible games. Building your perfect corporate fortress or runner rig becomes an obsession.

The cyberpunk theme isn't just pasted on; it's woven into every mechanism. When your runner jacks into cyberspace for a run, the terminology, card effects, and decision points all reinforce that you're a digital outlaw risking everything for the next big score. The atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a laser cutter.

Combat resolution feels genuinely tense because both sides have meaningful decisions during every encounter. Runners choose which subroutines to break based on their credit situation, while Corps decide when to spend money boosting their ice's strength. Every run becomes a negotiation between resources and risk.

Criticisms

The learning curve can feel steep, especially for the Corporation side. New players often struggle with the hidden information aspect, not knowing when to advance agendas versus when to bluff with traps. The Runner side is more intuitive, but mastering the timing of runs and resource management takes considerable practice. You'll likely lose your first several games while figuring out the rhythm.

The asymmetrical design that makes Netrunner brilliant also creates balance challenges. Certain matchups between corporate factions and runner types can feel lopsided, and the meta-game shifts dramatically with new card releases. Keeping up with competitive play requires staying current with expansions and understanding complex card interactions that aren't always obvious.

Despite being designed as a two-player game, finding the right opponent matters more than in most games. Netrunner rewards players who think several turns ahead and can handle the psychological pressure of constant bluffing. Playing against someone much more experienced can feel hopeless, while steamrolling a newcomer isn't particularly satisfying for either side.

Conclusion

Android: Netrunner delivers the most authentic asymmetrical gaming experience you'll find. If you love games where every decision matters, where psychological warfare is as important as tactical planning, and where theme and mechanics blend seamlessly, this belongs in your collection.

The game particularly appeals to players who enjoy deck construction, hidden information, and the kind of tense back-and-forth that makes you want to immediately shuffle up for another round. Fans of cyberpunk fiction will find themselves completely immersed in the cat-and-mouse dynamic between corporate power and underground rebellion.

Just be prepared to invest time learning both sides and finding opponents who share your enthusiasm. When everything clicks, Netrunner creates gaming moments that stick with you long after the cards are put away. It's not just about winning; it's about outsmarting your opponent in the digital shadows of a future that feels uncomfortably possible.