“Recession” has become the go-to buzzword for every economic hiccup. But for those who lived through the 2008 Great Recession, the word still hits like a foreclosure notice. It was a global economic rollercoaster no one wanted to ride, but everyone got strapped in anyway. 15 years later, its legacy pops up in the Dodd-Frank Act regulating energy speculation to the rapid response during the 2023 banking crisis. Behind every crash is bad math, blind optimism, and one guy insisting, “Housing prices only go up.”

In this crisis committee, delegates rewind to July 2007. With hindsight as your secret weapon, can you survive the crash and write a better recovery? Will you save Lehman Brothers, double the bailout, nationalize banks, or let “nature” take its course? You’ll play the many interlocking gears of this economic machine. Amidst the chaos, scheming begins: which CEO gets thrown to the wolves, and can Congress stop bickering long enough to pass anything? Economics and finance, while useful, often rest more on luck, panic, and vibes than anyone wants to admit. No prior knowledge required (but please read the background guide, there are some unique mechanisms at play).