The theme is very minimal. I think the premise is “someone is trying to sneak a letter to the princess. Guess who has it? The guard? The maid? Etc.” It’s just a deduction game.
But there are also loads of “themed” versions if you prefer. Batman, Cthulhu, Munchkin, Santa Claus, Legend of the Five Rings, The Hobbit, Marvel, etc.
And since there are only 13 cards, you could easily re-theme it with a Deck of Many Things or something.
Ooh this is neat. Unfortunately my shelves aren’t divided into cubes like a Kallax, but I do like the idea.
What about something like Aeon’s End? Not racing on a map, but racing against a clock, because the big monster is going to destroy the world if you are too slow.
Awesome deck building, but an extreme sense of urgency.
I had some other games in mind, but honestly, none of them would have the longevity that Netrunner does. This is an excellent choice.
Are you looking for separate games to play in between roleplaying sessions, or games to play “inside” the roleplaying game?
One game that comes to mind is “Love Letter”. A fun little card game that involves a little bit of deduction and bluffing but only takes about 4 minutes.
Is there a particular product that you have in mind as an example?
Love Letter. A very quick game with just 13 cards. Games take about 3 minutes so you can play multiple rounds if you want. Suits 2-6 players (best at max 4 in my experience). Generally very popular and easy to learn.
Comes in dozens of themes as well, if you don’t like the “princess in a castle” theme. You can find Batman, Cuthulu, The Hobbit, versions depending on your preference.