
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,827
- BGG rating
- 4.5
Free at Last
- 2–6 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2022

Rules assistance for Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora is an expansion for Android: Netrunner released in 2013 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Richard Garfield, Lukas Litzsinger, and Damon Stone and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Secret Unit Deployment, and Action Points.
"Do you want to play again – double or nothing?" –Reina Roja The cyberstruggles of Android: Netrunner have always been a risky affair for all involved, but Mala Tempora, the third Data Pack in the "Spin Cycle", raises the stakes to all-new heights. Will you be able to plug its upgrades into your deck and find success? Or are you the one who will fall behind? Whatever the outcome, it won't be dull. The runners and corporate executives who direct the struggles of Android: Netrunner lead frantic lives full of fantastic highs and staggering lows, and the pace doesn’t slow a beat in Mala Tempora. Many of its sixty new cards (three copies each of twenty different cards) encourage daring gambles, staking health and fortunes against opportunities to rapidly accelerate wealth and success. Of course, in an age of technological one-upmanship, why play fair? Mala Tempora also introduces a number of programs and ice that allow runners and corps to "cheat" these wagers by stealing information about their opponents’ cards. Meanwhile, leave it to the Anarchs to do their own thing; while the other factions bid for greater efficiencies and more devious tricks, a new Anarch runner arrives to play the game by another entirely different set of rules!
Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora has a complexity rating of 3.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora belongs to these categories: Card Game, Bluffing, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Secret Unit Deployment, and Action Points. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora are: Richard Garfield, Lukas Litzsinger, and Damon Stone. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Android: Netrunner – Mala Tempora as an expansion for Android: Netrunner. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Android: Netrunner to use it. Check that your edition of Android: Netrunner is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.