The results of actions (such as the damage caused by weapons or the amount of money produced by a criminal enterprise) may be determined by further dice rolls.

(ISBN 978-0-394-52597-6) The boxed set contained a 64-page rulebook, a 16-page sample adventure, a game map showing several blocks of Lakefront City, some cardboard counters, and two ten-sided dice.

In 2019, Mark Hunt, with permission of original designer Rick Krebs, released an updated and simplified version of the rules known as the "B/X" edition, because it was based on the game mechanics of the 1980 Dungeons & Dragons Basic and EXpert sets.

Woe to the gangster who is preparing to commit a hold-up on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Maxwell Street if a detective, the same day, decides to monitor the area around the bank."

Brassine concluded by giving the game high marks of 9 out of 10 for Presentation, 8 out of 10 for Clarity of Rules, 9 out of 10 for Originality, and the highest rating for Likeability.

Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 3 out of 4, saying, "Gangbusters lacks the depth for an extended campaign, but it's a great way to spend an evening.