Metrorunner

UX Design Consultant

Metrorunner box art | Photo by Kieth Matejka @kmatejka

Overview

A competitive worker-movement and resource-collection game (1-5 players) set in a high-tech neon future. Features a tile puzzle mini-game as players hack and move through Mirror City.

🎲 See it on BGG

I consulted for Thunderworks Games as a UX designer.

My Role

•Rulebook overhaul: reorganised “setup → action phases → endgame” sequence so that “hacking tile puzzle” is introduced contextually. Added full-page visuals of worker movement rondel.

•Layout & typography: improved readability in the rulebook by adjusting line-height, introducing side-notes for “why this matters”, and converting ambiguous verbs into concrete player prompts (e.g., “Place your runner” instead of “You may move”).

•Component feedback: suggested adjusting token shapes and colours for clearer differentiation under ambient room lighting; refined iconography for “contract” vs “data theft” objectives.

•Turn sequence: identified a choke point in first-round player movement, recommended shortening initial resource collection phase and smoothing transition to tile puzzle mini-game, improving pacing.

•Accessibility: introduced a legend for tile-symbols, recommended alternative high-contrast card variant, and flagged text size on action-cards that were borderline for older players.

Outcome / Impact

Enhanced clarity in player turns, significantly reduced onboarding confusion in play-tests, improved component legibility, and made the game life cycle smoother overall.