- BGG rank
- BGG #527
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Downforce
- 2–6 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,620
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Top Race
1996
Rules assistance for Top Race
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Top Race
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Top Race is a board game released in 1996 for 2–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Race, and Auction / Bidding.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,404
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Daytona 500
- 2–4 players
- 70 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1990
- BGG rank
- BGG #290
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Hot Streak
- 2–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,370
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise
- 2–5 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,639
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Escape from the Hidden Castle
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #705
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Wandering Towers
- 1–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #852
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Wizard
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,057
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Sluff Off!
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,015
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Skull Queen
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,580
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Pili Pili
- 2–8 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,812
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Detroit-Cleveland Grand Prix
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #100
- BGG rating
- 7.8
El Grande
- 2–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1995
About the game
Re-issue of Kramer's Niki Lauda's Formel 1 with tweaks. Make as much money as possible, by becoming one of first at the finish line! If you place advanced RACE, you can also make money by betting! This game is based on running and betting; Each player gets 200.000 credits and the deck of "Speed cards" is shuffled and divided among the players, who now sort out the cards in the order they want. Now the "Contestants cards" are stacked face down. Each card matches the colours of the player pawns (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple and White). Now there will be an auction of the cards, where you figure our what to buy by the help of your "Speed cards". Each bidding starts with 10.000 credits and is raised by 10.000 credits. All players have to have at least one (1) "Contestant card". The last player to buy a card starts, and plays a "Speed card" to move all the pawns as the card shows; a pawn can only be moved ahead; either straight or diagonally; never backwards or sideways. Only one pawn is allowed on a spot, and it is NOT allowed to jump over another pawn. An example of a Speed card could be: Blue: 6 spaces White 4 - Black (means joker/free choice that is not on the card): 2 - Yellow: 1 - The speed cards also include "Sprints" and "Injury" The player who's colour is first over the finish line gets 200.000 in price money. Second place pays out 150.000, 3rd 100.000 and so on. Even if your colour have finished the race you continue playing your remaining speed cards. The race ends when the fifth player have crossed the Finish line or when all "Speed cards" have been played. The card dealing of both SC and CC plus the auction is now restarted and the next race goes on untill the agreed amount of races. The winner is the one with the most money. Other games in Wolfgang Kramer's racing series include Detroit-Cleveland Grand Prix and Daytona 500.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- ASS Altenburger Spielkarten
- Alga
- Brio AB
- Peliko Oy
- Magma Éditions
- Serges Medien
Questions and answers
Top Race supports 2–6 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 Top Race is 45 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 catalogue lists Top Race for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Top Race has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Top Race belongs to these categories: Children's Game and Racing. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Race, and Auction / Bidding. 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 Top Race are: Wolfgang Kramer. 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 Top Race 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.