Gamehelpdownforce

Downforce is a card-driven bidding, racing, and betting game for 2-6 players based on Top Race, the award-winning design by the legendary Wolfgang Kramer. Players first bid to own the six cars in the race, then they play cards from their hand to speed them around the track. However, most cards will also move their opponents' cars. So figuring out just the right time to play a card is the key to victory. Along the way, players make secret bets on who they think will win the race. Whoever has the most money from their prize money, winning bets, and remaining bank wins.

Start of the game

The game is composed of:

• a game board
• six colored cars (black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red)
• speed cards with one to six lines with a color and a speed on each
• six special speed cards with a single speed line
• power cards with special abilities

A race circuit is chosen and all six racing cars are placed randomly on starting spaces. Then, six color cards are shuffled and disposed on a stack. Each player takes an equal number of speed cards.

Auctions

The first color card is then drawn and every player will secretly and simultaneously choose a card from their hand to auction on it. The highest speed line matching the current auction color will win the auction and get the car, the special speed card and a power card associated to the car if this game option has been selected.

When all auctions are processed, each player keeps only one power if applicable.

Player's turn

During a player's turn, a player plays a speed card and moves in order every car that matches a speed line on it from top to bottom. Cars have to move as far as possible unless blocked by "traffic jams" and it is the current player that moves all cars, even opponents'. So it is possible (and advised!) to play opponents' car so bad they are stuck and cannot move.

If during a turn a car crosses a yellow line, all players must secretly bid on which car will win the race. Betting on the winner will provide additional points and sound bets can win a game even for the last of the race.

End of the game

The game ends when all of the cars have crossed the finish line. Payouts are given to players according to their race results:

• winner of the race: 12M$
• second: 9M$
• third: 6M$
• fourth: 4M$
• fifth: 2M$