Cross Bronx Expressway catapults you into 1960s New York, where you plan the construction of the Expressway. A competitive strategy game of urban development for 1-3 players lasting about 90 minutes. Manage resources, negotiate routes, and face the urban dilemma of a public works project. Ages 14+, requiring strategic thinking and urban planning sense.
Cross Bronx Expressway is the third game in the Irregular Conflicts Series. It simulates the socio-economic processes of urban development, and the human costs that result, as a competitive city-builder with collective loss conditions. Players control one of three asymmetric factions working in the South Bronx between 1940 and 2000, pursuing their own goals while cooperating to keep the borough viable. Through a card driven sequence of play, they will work to solve the economic challenges facing the area by building infrastructure and organizations, forming coalitions, mitigating the multitude of issues facing the vulnerable population, and managing resources to stay out of debt. Cross Bronx Expressway offers an engaging way to learn about the recent history of American cities, as exemplified by Jane Jacobs’ pivotal work The Death and Life of Great American Cities, simulated through the case study of the South Bronx. Players will experience the conflicting incentives and complex factors shaping urban life, and together determine the fate of the Bronx. The gameplay is driven by a deck of event cards which determines turn order, and then players spend resources to take actions on map spaces. The game ends after the event deck is exhausted, or earlier if certain conditions are met. Players score victory points at regular periods during the game, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins (unless an auto-loss condition for all players is met).
Cross Bronx Expressway is the third game in the Irregular Conflicts Series. It simulates the socio-economic processes of urban development, and the human costs that result, as a competitive city-builder with collective loss conditions. Players control one of three asymmetric factions working in the South Bronx between 1940 and 2000, pursuing their own goals while cooperating to keep the borough viable. Through a card driven sequence of play, they will work to solve the economic challenges facing the area by building infrastructure and organizations, forming coalitions, mitigating the multitude of issues facing the vulnerable population, and managing resources to stay out of debt. Cross Bronx Expressway offers an engaging way to learn about the recent history of American cities, as exemplified by Jane Jacobs’ pivotal work The Death and Life of Great American Cities, simulated through the case study of the South Bronx. Players will experience the conflicting incentives and complex factors shaping urban life, and together determine the fate of the Bronx. The gameplay is driven by a deck of event cards which determines turn order, and then players spend resources to take actions on map spaces. The game ends after the event deck is exhausted, or earlier if certain conditions are met. Players score victory points at regular periods during the game, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins (unless an auto-loss condition for all players is met).
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WhiteSageBGG user
10.0/10
An amazing game with so many beautifully put together parts. The books and map are a work of art. The Historical Record is such high museum quality. The way the gameplay conveys the stresses of those decades and also the stresses (vulnerabilities) that the population endured. The rules and how to play quickly relayed the information. The barrier to entry is low but the decision space is vast. The conversation of "Oh... Census is coming up. What do we do here to keep this boat afloat?" Is all too real. Keep doing what you do NBS and team.
cameljamzBGG user
9.0/10
Bumping up to a 9 after my second full playthrough. It's starting to click how the different factions play off each other. COIN inspired, but a totally different experience than the usual COIN or ICS games to date.
GlanzmueckeBGG user
9.0/10
As a non-COIN-player I did enjoy this game a lot!! Although I know, that COIN-players would not put this game in the COIN-category; but for me the game is pretty much in this line. A lot of trash talk, negotiating, really fun
meivinBGG user
9.0/10
Such an interesting game and the design is amazing. Reminds me a little of Wir Sind Das Volk by Histogame with regard to infrastructure, economics and population management. I love the friction between private, public and community. Inspired me to reread Jane Jacob’s The Death and Life of Great American Cities which was sadly inspired by the games narrative. I’m enjoying playing the game. It has its quirks but the fact a game based on urban design and Jane Jacob’s seminal work has been produced I think is great.
SaintNercesBGG user
9.0/10
On my second playthrough and this is absolutely golden. So much to think about before and after games and apply back to my work, then apply my work as an urban planner back to this. Preordered from P500.
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