Catch the Bomber

About this board game

Catch the Bomber is a hidden-identity board game for 3–6 players, with games lasting about 45 minutes. One player is the lone bomber, while the others form the police force and attempt to catch them.

The bomber’s identity is secret, creating a tense struggle between concealed intentions and the police investigation. The bomber is working toward one of several possible paths to victory, while the police try to prevent every threat from succeeding.

To win, the bomber must accomplish one of the following:

• Kill civilians with a bomb.
• Escape the city.
• Restrict the actions of citizens and disrupt the economy.

The police must stop all of these outcomes before the bomber can complete their plan. Every decision contributes to the growing uncertainty, as the police force seeks to identify the hidden threat and respond in time.

On each turn, a player either plays or moves. This simple choice drives the game forward while the opposing sides pursue their different objectives. The bomber must create enough disruption to achieve victory, while the police work to contain the danger.

In Catch the Bomber, the result is not fully resolved as soon as a key action occurs. The game’s resolution remains incomplete until the final card has been played, keeping the outcome uncertain until the end.

Also known as キャッチザボマー, Catch the Bomber was released in 2021. Its secret role, competing objectives, and final-card resolution create a focused contest between a solitary bomber and an opposing police force.