MicroMacro: Crime City

2020

MicroMacro: Crime City, a captivating detective board game where players meticulously search a vast city map to solve intriguing criminal cases.

45
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Light

About the game

Welcome to the thrilling world of MicroMacro: Crime City, an innovative, immersive and captivating board game that brings the excitement of crime-solving to your tabletop. In this game, you are not just playing a game, you’re stepping into a black and white detective noir, full of puzzles, mysteries, and intriguing characters.

The setting of the game is the bustling and chaotic Crime City. The city is brought to life as a large, detailed and highly intricate map. This map serves as the game board and it’s not a static one. It’s a living, breathing city, full of people going about their daily lives, and of course, full of crime.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique cooperative detective game that comes with a few but crucial components. These components work together to create a dynamic gaming experience.

1. Game Map:

The Game Map is the primary component of MicroMacro: Crime City. This large black and white map features a detailed city teeming with life, events, and a multitude of different characters. Players use this map to investigate different crimes in the city. They will need to scrutinize the map closely, as it contains all the clues necessary to solve the cases.

2. Case Cards:

The Case Cards drive the gameplay in MicroMacro: Crime City. Each case card presents a crime that players need to solve using the clues on the game map. The case cards are divided into different levels of difficulty that range from introductory to expert. Each case card contains questions that guide the players on what to look for on the map. Once a question has been answered correctly, the next card in the case deck can be revealed, providing further instructions or new questions.

3. Progress Markers:

The Progress Markers are used to keep track of which question the players are currently working on within a case. When a question is answered correctly, the progress marker is moved forward to the next card. This helps to keep the game organized and makes it easier to pick up where you left off if you need to pause your game.

Game Map – The heart of the game where all investigations take place.
Case Cards – Direct the gameplay and provide the crimes to be solved.
Progress Markers – Keep track of the current question in a case.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique and engaging board game where players take on the role of detectives, using their observation skills to solve various mysteries. The following step-by-step guide will walk you through the setup of the game:

Step 1: Unfold the Game Board

The game board is a large, detailed map of the fictional Crime City. Unfold it and place it in the middle of the table so it can be easily reached by all players. Ensure that the orientation of the map matches that of the case cards for easy reference.

Step 2: Decide on a Case

All players should agree on which case they would like to solve. Each case is represented by a deck of cards. The difficulty and duration of each case are indicated on the front of the deck. Once all players agree on a case, take the corresponding deck of cards and place it next to the game board.

Step 3: Prepare the Case Cards

Take the case deck and find the starting card. This card usually has a brief introduction to the case. Read the card aloud to all players. The remaining case cards should be placed face down in a pile, in the order they were in the deck.

Step 4: Assign Player Roles

There are no specific player roles in MicroMacro: Crime City. All players work together as a team of detectives to solve the case. Everyone should have an equal opportunity to contribute to solving the case and discussing the clues.

Step 5: Initial Resources

There are no initial resources in MicroMacro: Crime City. The only tools at the players’ disposal are their eyes and their deductive reasoning abilities. Players will need to scan the detailed city map to find visual clues that will help them solve the case.

Step 6: Random Elements

MicroMacro: Crime City is a game of observation and deduction, and as such, does not contain any random elements. The clues are always in the same place on the map, and the solution to the case does not change. The only variable is how quickly the players can locate the clues and piece together the solution.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start solving your first case in MicroMacro: Crime City. Good luck, detectives!

Game flow Round and round we go

MicroMacro: Crime City is a cooperative detective game where players work together to solve a series of crimes in the city using a large, detailed city map. The game does not have traditional rounds or phases like other board games. Instead, the gameplay is more free-form, with players discussing and deciding together what areas of the map to investigate and which questions to answer.

In the beginning of the game, players choose one of the included cases to solve. Each case comes with a set of cards that provide clues and questions that the players need to answer. The first card of the case is always open and provides the initial information about the crime.

The gameplay generally follows this structure:

Investigation Phase: Players start by examining the map to find the initial crime scene, which is usually indicated by the first case card. They discuss and analyze the map to find clues. Players can move freely around the map – there are no restrictions or turn orders.
Discussion Phase: After finding the crime scene, players discuss what they see and try to piece together what happened. They can refer back to the case card for guidance.
Answer Phase: Once the players believe they have found the answer to the case card’s question, they check the back of the card to see if they are correct. If they are, they can move on to the next card in the case. If not, they must continue investigating.

These phases repeat until the players have solved the case by answering the final question correctly. The game encourages open discussion and cooperation, as players must work together to solve the crimes. There are no individual player turns, and players can join or leave the game at any time.

It’s important to note that MicroMacro: Crime City is a game of observation and deduction. The city map is full of small details and it’s up to the players to find the relevant clues to solve the case. There are no dice rolls or random elements – the only challenge is to spot the right details and make the correct deductions.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

MicroMacro: Crime City is a cooperative detective game where players work together to solve various cases by exploring a large city map filled with tiny details. The game doesn’t have a traditional turn structure like many other board games, but the actions and choices players make throughout the game are crucial.

1. Case Selection

At the start of the game, players choose a case from the casebook. Each case presents a unique story with a series of questions that players need to answer. Choosing a case is an important strategic decision, as cases have different difficulty levels and lengths.

2. Initial Question

Once a case is selected, players read the introduction and the first question. The question usually asks for the location of a specific event or character on the city map. The strategic decision here is determining the best area to start searching based on the information provided.

3. Searching the Map

Players then begin to search the map for clues. The city map is filled with various scenes depicting different events. Players need to carefully examine the map to find the characters or events related to their case. The strategic aspect of this step involves efficient visual searching and connecting the dots between different scenes.

4. Answering Questions

When players think they have found the answer to a question, they check the answer at the back of the case book. If the answer is correct, they read the next question and continue playing. If the answer is incorrect, they must continue searching. The strategy here involves deciding when to check an answer. Checking too early may result in wasting time on incorrect answers, while waiting too long might slow down the progress.

5. Solving the Case

Players continue this process of questioning, searching, and answering until they have solved the case. The strategic choice at this stage is deciding whether to revisit previous areas or explore new areas based on the current question.

Throughout the game, players need to work together, share their findings, and discuss their theories. MicroMacro: Crime City tests players’ observation skills, logical reasoning, and ability to work as a team.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’ is a cooperative game where players work together to solve various criminal cases presented on a large, detailed map of the fictional city. The game does not have a traditional scoring system, and the victory condition is simply solving the case.

Game End:

The game of ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’ concludes when players have successfully solved a case. Each case in the game is represented by a deck of cards, each with a question that players must answer by examining the game’s intricate map. The game ends when the final question in a case’s deck has been correctly answered, indicating the case has been successfully solved.

Victory Conditions:

In ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’, victory is achieved collaboratively. All players win if they successfully solve the case they are working on. The victory condition is not dependent on the number of incorrect guesses or the time it takes to solve the case. Instead, the focus of the game is on the cooperative aspect of problem-solving and the shared satisfaction of unraveling the game’s mysteries.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

As ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’ doesn’t have a traditional scoring system, there are no specific actions players must take before the game ends. However, to successfully solve a case, players must answer all the questions on the case cards correctly. To do this, they’ll need to work together to identify clues and make connections on the game’s map.

If a question is answered incorrectly, the players simply continue their investigation, seeking out additional clues on the map to guide them to the correct answer.
Once a question is answered correctly, the next card in the case deck is revealed, presenting a new question for the players to answer.
This process continues until the final question in the case’s deck is answered correctly, at which point the game ends and the players are declared victorious for having solved the case.

In summary, ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’ is less about scoring points and more about the shared experience of solving a crime. The game ends when the players have successfully solved the case, and victory is achieved through cooperative problem-solving.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

MicroMacro: Crime City is a cooperative detective game where players work together to solve intricate crime cases. The unique aspect of this game is that it doesn’t follow a traditional points scoring system. Instead, the ‘score’ is determined by how successfully the team can solve the crime case in question.

The game consists of a number of cases, each with its own set of tasks that players must complete in order to solve the case. The tasks typically involve finding specific characters or objects on the game’s large, detailed map and piecing together the story of the crime.

While there’s no direct point system, the game’s scoring can be interpreted in a few ways:

Completion: The most straightforward way to ‘score’ in MicroMacro: Crime City is simply by successfully completing a case. If you and your team can answer all the tasks correctly, you’ve effectively ‘won’ the game.
Efficiency: Another way to measure success is by how efficiently you solve a case. This could be measured in terms of time taken or the number of hints used.
Difficulty: The game’s cases vary in difficulty, so you could also score based on the difficulty of the cases you solve. The harder the case, the higher your ‘score’.

In terms of tie-breaking, since MicroMacro: Crime City is a cooperative game, there’s usually no need for tie-breaker rules. If multiple teams are playing separately on the same case, you could use the time taken or the number of hints used as a tie-breaker. The team that solves the case in the shortest amount of time or with the fewest hints would be the winner.

However, the main objective of MicroMacro: Crime City is not to compete against each other, but to enjoy the process of solving the crime cases together. Therefore, the concept of ‘winning’ or ‘scoring’ in the traditional sense is not a primary focus of this game.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘MicroMacro: Crime City’ is a popular detective board game that employs both visual and cognitive skills to solve mysterious cases. However, there are several special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that players should be aware of.

Special Rules:

In Multiplayer Mode, all players work together as a single team. The team’s goal is to answer questions about the crime correctly. If the team is unsure about the answer, they can decide together to look at the solution.
Unlike many board games, there is no turn structure in ‘MicroMacro: Crime City’. Instead, players constantly work together to find the clues and solve the crime.
Some cases might require finding multiple clues before players can answer the question. The difficulty of the case is indicated by the number of stars on the case card.

Exceptions:

Some cases include an exception to the regular game rules that only apply for that specific case. These exceptions are always clearly explained in the case description.
If a case requires you to locate a hidden object, for example, the rule that you always start from the crime scene doesn’t apply.

Rule Clarifications:

If you’re playing in the Single Player Mode, you can check the solution whenever you want. However, the game becomes more challenging and fun when you try to find all the clues before looking at the solution.
The game does not end if you answer a question incorrectly. Instead, you should continue investigating to find the correct answer.
The game is not timed and there’s no limit to how long you can spend investigating a case. The goal is to solve the crime, regardless of how long it takes.