Cross Bronx Expressway

Cross Bronx Expressway is the third title in the acclaimed Irregular Conflicts Series, transporting us to the heart of the South Bronx between 1940 and 2000. Prepare for a deep dive into the socioeconomic processes of urban development and the human impacts that come with it. Here, the challenge is to be a competitive city-builder, but with a twist: the possibility of a collective loss if things go too far south. You take control of one of three asymmetric factions – Public, Private, or Community – each with its own goals, but all needing to cooperate to keep the borough viable.

The game unfolds through an event card system, which not only dictates turn order but also brings forth the challenges and opportunities of each decade. You'll spend resources to take actions on map spaces, building infrastructure, forming organizations and coalitions, and mitigating issues affecting the vulnerable population. Resource management is crucial to staying out of debt. The game is an interactive lesson on the recent history of American cities, echoing Jane Jacobs' ideas, and places you at the center of the conflicting incentives that shape urban life. The end can come when the event deck is exhausted, or earlier if collective loss conditions are met. Victory points are scored periodically, and whoever has the most at the end (if no one collectively loses) wins. Can you steer the Bronx away from disaster?