Crossfire (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Crossfire is a social deduction game designed by Emerson Matsuuchi and released in in 2017. The game is set in a futuristic world of espionage and secret agents, where players take on the roles of spies trying to uncover their enemies while keeping their own identities hidden. With fast-paced gameplay and intense bluffing mechanics, Crossfire has become a popular choice for game nights and parties.

Game Components of Crossfire

19 Role Cards

3 Sniper Shot Cards

1 Sandtimer

Various role-specific cards (e.g., Enforcer, Bodyguard, Bomber)

How To Setup Crossfire

To set up Crossfire, the dealer gathers the correct role cards based on the player count, shuffles them, and deals one card to each player except the Sniper. Players then pass their cards to the left, look at the new card, and shuffle their cards with their neighbors in a specific pattern. This process continues until all cards have been shuffled, and each player looks at their final role card. The Sniper receives a number of Sniper Shot cards equal to the number of Assassins in play.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Modes

Crossfire Mode: Players discuss and deduce roles while a sand timer runs. When time is up, players point their fingers (simulating guns) at other players. If the VIP is not shot, the blue team wins; otherwise, the red team wins.

Sniper Mode: One player acts as the Sniper, placing Sniper Shot cards in front of suspected Assassins before the timer runs out. If all Assassins are shot, the blue team wins; if the Sniper shoots a Bystander or the VIP, the red team wins.

Roles

VIP: Blue team, wins if not shot.

Agents: Blue team, win if the VIP is not shot.

Assassins: Red team, win if the VIP is shot.

Decoy**, **Red Decoy**, **Bystander: Special roles with unique winning conditions.

Enforcer**, **Bodyguard**, **Bomber**, **Peacekeeper**, **Protester**, **Supporter: Additional special roles with specific abilities and winning conditions.

Player Experience

Crossfire is a fast-paced, intense social deduction game that challenges players to make quick decisions and use their investigative instincts. Players must convince each other of their roles while trying to identify the true threats. The game is highly dependent on social interaction and deduction, making it engaging and replayable, especially with higher player counts.

Pros

Quick and Fun: Games last less than five minutes, making it an excellent choice for quick social deduction sessions.

High Replayability: Different roles and game modes offer a lot of variety.

Easy to Learn: Simple to understand, though the setup can be confusing at first.

Engaging Art: The game features appealing and thematic artwork.

Portable: Extremely portable due to its minimal components.

Cons

Confusing Setup: The card shuffling and passing mechanism can be confusing for new players.

Initial Strategy Issues: Early games may suffer from poor strategy execution, leading to less engaging experiences.

Limited Information: Players may find that the frantic discussion period does not always yield useful information.

Personal Thoughts on Crossfire

Crossfire is ideal for fans of social deduction games and those who enjoy quick, interactive sessions. It works best with higher player counts (8-10 players) and benefits from the inclusion of special roles for added complexity and fun. While it may have some initial learning curves and strategy challenges, it offers a lot of bang for the buck in terms of entertainment and replay value. If you enjoy games like Werewolf or The Resistance but want something that can be played in a much shorter time frame, Crossfire is definitely worth checking out.

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