# Crunch: The Game for Utter Bankers

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2009
- **BGG Rating**: 5.5
- **BGG Rank**: #29193
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 45 min
- **Weight**: 1.75 / 5
- **Designers**: Andrew Sheerin, Andrew Tompkins
- **Artists**: Tom Morgan-Jones
- **Publishers**: Edge Entertainment, Esticorp, Exile Game Studio, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Stratelibri, Terrorbull Games
- **Categories**: Action / Dexterity, Card Game, Economic, Humor, Political
- **Mechanics**: Betting and Bluffing, Commodity Speculation, Voting

## Verdict
If you love sneaky, dark‑humor games, Crunch will make you laugh while you try to get rich off everyone else.Sharp black humorFast, easy mechanicsHigh player interactionHeavy reliance on bailout luckSimple strategy, limited depthRECOMMENDED

## Description
Crunch: The Game for Utter Bankers puts you in the shoes of a global bank CEO during a financial collapse. Each player starts with a handful of assets, a small workforce and a few Trust cards – the lifeline that keeps the empire afloat. Trust cards also hide potential Government Bailouts, which can be called at any moment for a cash injection, though sometimes the government stays silent. You lend out assets as debt, choosing between high‑risk loans (huge upside, massive downside) or low‑risk ones (smaller, steadier returns). Meanwhile the real goal is to fatten your personal fortune: award yourself bonuses at set intervals and, when no one is looking, embezzle bank assets. Getting caught costs you a Trust card, reminding you that reputation still matters. Periodically the "Crunch" hits and every CEO must cover all loans with the total value of their assets. If you can’t, you either bail out or go bust. But don’t count yourself out – even if you declare bankruptcy, you can still win if you’ve hoarded enough bonuses and embezzled cash. The game blends betting, bluffing, commodity speculation and voting, all via fast‑paced card play that demands both cunning and the nerve to betray. In about 45 minutes, 2‑4 players battle to be the last magnate with a yacht still afloat while capitalism crumbles around them. It’s a sarcastic, dark‑humor experience that makes you laugh at your own greed while trying to dodge the crisis.

## FAQ
### How many players can play?
2 to 4 players.

### What is the playing time?
Approximately 45 minutes.

### How complex is the game?
Low to medium; rules are simple but require quick strategic choices.

### What components are included?
Asset cards, Trust cards, Bonus cards, Embezzlement cards, money tokens and workforce markers.

### Who is the game best suited for?
Fans of satirical humor, fast‑paced card games and a bit of light cheating.

### Do I need prior finance knowledge?
No, the theme is a parody and everything is explained in the rulebook.

### Are there any expansions or variants?
There are no official expansions at this time.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.74 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1661133&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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