Heat: Pedal to the Metal
F1/RACING BOARD GAME (2022) by DAYS OF WONDER + designer ASGER GRANERUD + DANIEL SKJOLD PEDERSEN. Signature: HAND-MANAGEMENT + DECK-BUILDING race game — players draft SPEED CARDS (1s, 2s, 3s, 4s) + play them each turn to determine movement + gear shifting. Cool STRESS/HEAT MECHANIC: overplay + you take HEAT cards clogging deck. GEAR-SHIFTING MANDATORY (up/down by 1 per turn); high gears = high speed but risky in corners. Boasts BEAUTIFUL retro-1960s Formula 1 aesthetic; multiple TRACKS (Great Britain, France, Italy, USA, Mexico + expansions). Sold 100k+ copies rapidly; TENSE + FAST; 1-6 players; 45-60 min.
Quick facts
Category
Board Games
Type
Mixed
Players
1–6
Duration
~60 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇩🇰 Denmark
Estimated origin
2022 by Days of Wonder (designers Asger Granerud + Daniel Skjold Pedersen)
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
FIRST to complete the required LAPS + CROSS FINISH LINE.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAYERS start with GEAR DIAL at 1; SHUFFLE DECK of speed cards
Signature start setup.
TURN: 1) SHIFT gear +/- 1 (or same), 2) PLAY that number of speed cards from hand, 3) MOVE that total speed + potentially manage heat
Signature turn structure.
GEARS: 1st gear (0-3 speed), 2nd (4-6), 3rd (5-9), 4th (7-12), 5th (7-16); high gears = high speed + more heat risk
Signature gear-speed matrix.
HEAT: cornering ABOVE listed 'safe speed' = TAKE HEAT CARDS into your deck (clog draws)
Signature heat mechanic.
COOL DOWN: shift down to 1st gear + play STRESS cards to draw fresh cards from deck
Signature cool-down mechanic.
SLIPSTREAMING: cars behind gain 2 extra spaces if aligned with car ahead
Signature slipstream.
WIN: first to complete required laps (2-3 typically) + cross finish line
Signature race win.
SPONSORS + WEATHER + LEGENDS variant modules add complexity + replayability
Signature expansion modules.
Scoring
First to finish; podium positions 1st-2nd-3rd get track points across championship series.
Win condition · First across finish line after required laps.
Equipment
Heat game box: modular tracks (Great Britain, France, Italy, USA, Mexico) + player cars + gear dials + speed cards + heat cards
Signature game components
Terminology
- Heat
- Cards that clog your deck when you overplay speed cards.
- Slipstream
- Bonus movement when aligned behind car ahead.
- Cool down
- Play stress cards to draw fresh cards into hand.
- Gear dial
- Player's dial showing current gear (1-5).
- Safe speed
- Corner speed above which triggers heat.
- Legends
- AI opponents for solo/lower-player-count games.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- BoardGameGeek — Heat: Pedal to the Metal— BoardGameGeek
- Days of Wonder — Heat— Days of Wonder