Description

Gameplay Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh-gLZBvqAo

Crossing is a 15 minute party game for 3-6 players where players are merchants in a fantasy world, trying to exploit the sudden emergence of gem-sprouting mushrooms to get rich. Mushrooms coasters numbering 1 less than the number of players are placed between the players, and two gems are drawn randomly from the bag and placed on each mushroom. Each turn, players get to simultaneously point at a mushroom. If they are the only one who ends up pointing at a particular mushroom, the gems on that mushroom go onto the player’s coaster. Empty mushrooms are then refilled with 2 gems, with 1 additional gem going onto filled mushroom, making them more valuable. In subsequent turns, players are free to point at other players’ coasters, or cover their own coasters instead of pointing at any object, in order to lock in their gem points, at the cost of sitting out their next turn. Play continues until all 60 gems are removed from the bag.

Crossing plays like the weekly capitalists therapy session, where merchants burnt by betrayal, greed, and fear come to contemplate the darkest question that burns in their avarice-laced hearts: If everyone took turns sharing gems, wouldn’t everyone be equally as rich. Is sustainable mushroom gem farming possible?

So Crossing is a party game that may not be for everyone. If you play it with a mandatory discussion phase before the countdown to mushroom/merchant coaster battle, players will be required to justify their actions and be pilloried for their lies the next instant as they choose to do something else. After the player that brazenly pulls a heist off another player’s board immediately becomes terrified that others will do the same to him. Although there is the odd moment of cooperation, usually when players are trying to catch the leader, every moment of this game is laced with absolutely fabulous suspicion and mistrust.

Crossing plays like a streamlined version of Cash & Guns. Other games where lie spinning are crucial for survival are Cockroach Poker and Skull. The social deduction staples of One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Avalon, Secret Hitler, and Dark Moon are also popular choices. Among other entry level party games, Junk Art, Telestrations, and Dixit are excellent alternatives.