Shadowrun: Crossfire – Prime Runner Edition – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Shadowrun: Crossfire – Prime Runner Edition

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game2018

83%

WISE Score

Dungeons & Dragons meets Blade Runner in a card game that’s actually trying to kill you (in a fun way).

Shadowrun: Crossfire – Prime Runner Edition

Board Game

13+, 2018

83%

WISE Score

Dungeons & Dragons meets Blade Runner in a card game that’s actually trying to kill you (in a fun way).

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

Shadowrun: Crossfire is a top-tier cooperative challenge for families who enjoy heavy strategy. It’s not 'brain rot'—it’s a tactical puzzle that rewards patience and communication.

While the setting is undeniably gritty and leans into 'cool' urban violence, the actual gameplay is all about resource management and self-sacrifice for the team. If your kid is graduating from simpler card games and wants something they can sink their teeth into over multiple sessions, this Prime Runner edition is a solid pick. Just be prepared to lose. A lot.

Age Fit

Best for kids 12 and up. The 13+ rating on the box is more about the strategic complexity and the 'street' themes than anything inappropriate. A smart 10-year-old who plays Magic: The Gathering could handle it, but the math and planning are intense.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's built on a foundation of teamwork and cooperation, which is great, but the setting is intentionally cynical and gritty. You're playing 'runners' doing dirty jobs in a world of corporate backstabbing and street violence.

Imaginative

The Shadowrun universe is a legendary mashup of high-fantasy tropes (elves, orks, magic) and hard-boiled cyberpunk. Building a character with cyber-implants and spells is peak creative strategy.

Safe

Being a board game, it's inherently safe from digital nastiness. The 'unsafe' elements are purely thematic: descriptions of violence, 'toxic waste' spirits, and flesh-eating ghouls in the artwork and flavor text.

Enriching

This is a brain-burner. It requires heavy logic, probability assessment, and long-term planning. The 'Karma' system teaches players to value incremental progress over instant gratification.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

The cooperation is real—you can't win this alone, forcing players to actually talk and plan together.
The 'Prime Runner' edition fixes the clunky rules of the original, making it much smoother to play.
Character progression is persistent; you earn 'Karma' to buy permanent upgrades for your next session.
It’s a fantastic entry point into the deep lore of one of tabletop gaming's most iconic settings.

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What to Watch For

The game is notoriously difficult. Expect to lose your first few runs while you learn the ropes.
The 'Sixth World' is dark. The cards feature ghouls, street crime, and corporate assassins—maybe skip if your kid is sensitive to gritty urban vibes.

Conversation Starters

"Why is it better to cover for a teammate's weakness than to just focus on your own character?"
"If you could have one cybernetic upgrade in real life, what would it be and what's the trade-off?"
"In a world run by mega-corporations, how do the 'little guys' stay independent?"
"Is it ever okay to take a 'shady' job if the goal is to help your community?"

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