- BGG rank
- BGG #6,039
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Can't Stop Express
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,543
- BGG rating
- 6.7
The Great Races
1974
Rules assistance for The Great Races
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Great Races
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Great Races is a board game released in 1974 for 2–4 players and 30 minutes per game. It was designed by Sid Sackson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Paper-and-Pencil.
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About the game
A simple dice game using a dedicated scoring sheet. Players in turn roll four dice and gather them into pairs. Each line of the scoresheet represents a separate race to accumulate multiple rolls for each value between 2 and 12. Mark the scoresheet to record completion of one race segment for each of the two totals rolled. First to complete all race segments for a particular value wins that individual race. Game ends when all races have a winner. Published as a paper-and-pencil game in the box (6 games included, The 6 Pack of Paper & Pencil Games (1974), and elsewhere. By similarities in both the basic gameplay and the scoring track it seems a predecesor to another Sackson game, Can't Stop, yet here there are different movement rules and winning condtion. Comparing key elements (with Can't Stop in parenthesis): only one roll per turn (push-your-luck element of multiple rolls) point values assigned individually for each race, with full value given to race winner and reduced value to second place finisher (no scoring) win game with highest tally after all races completed (win game by completing any three)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Eagle-Gryphon Games
- GAMES Magazine
- Games International
- Gamut of Games
Questions and answers
The Great Races supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for The Great Races is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The Great Races has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
The Great Races belongs to these categories: Dice and Racing. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Paper-and-Pencil. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of The Great Races are: Sid Sackson. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists The Great Races as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.