Downforce

Downforce (2017) is a card-based racing game where you bid, bet and race to get ahead. At the core is a strategic racing game where track placement is key and outfoxing other players at corners is essential. But around this are other bidding and betting elements that take the experience from a simple race to a grand strategy.

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To play, you first bid for the six cars that each have different Power cards. You then place the cars on the track and play Movement cards to propel them forward. However, these cards not only move your car but your opponents. You need to carefully select and timing of which cards to play if you are going to find an advantage. This combines with how cars move around the track (only to connected spaces and always forwards) and the movement boosting Power cards to create a tactical racing battle.

The final twist is how you win: having the biggest financial margin between victory and defeat. As the race continues you can bet on which cars you think will pass betting markers on the track. The final scores tot-up the money from these bets, money from winning the race and then subtract what you spent on bidding for cars at the beginning.

The result is a racing game with different elements that fit perfectly together. It's three games in one really. The bidding for cars, the racing strategy and the betting on winners. Combine this with the beautiful car pieces and double-sided board and you have a game that is a lot of fun for a wide range of ages.

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Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Downforce 22 months ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 3 months ago.