A racing game where players control cars in intense races using simple and intuitive hand management mechanics. Players must push their cars to the limit while managing heat and avoiding spinning out to cross the finish line first.
Where to Buy
If BGV helped you pick your next game, buying through our links helps our small team keep the site running.
The Verdict
based on 34 reviews
The reviewers enthusiastically praised "Heat: Pedal to the Metal," highlighting its authentic racing feel, quick gameplay, and strong sense of player agency, making it a highly engaging and dynamic experience.
“It ranks among the best racing board games I’ve played, even in its basic form. With its advanced modules, it takes the pole position with ease, and I don’t see any other racing game coming close to it.”
“All the waiting for Heat: Pedal to the Metal has been worth it. It’s been one of my most-played games of 2023, a constant request at game nights, and a testament to why Days of Wonder remains a powerhouse in the industry.”
The reviewer found 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' to be a phenomenal and engaging racing game, highly recommending it as a 'winner' and a go-to choice for game nights, even stating it's a better game than Flamme Rouge.
The reviewer enthusiastically praises 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' as a 'flatly brilliant' and 'snappy, kinetic racing game' that he is absolutely in love with, calling it his favorite racing game and a strong recommendation from the channel.
The reviewer highly praises 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' as an excellent racing game that effectively combines card management with exciting risk mitigation, creating a truly outstanding experience.
“For these many reasons, I am pleased to give Heat: Pedal to the Metal the GeekDad Approved seal. Whether playing with a family, a game group, of even by yourself. I highly recommend this game.”
“Heat is like if someone tossed all my favorite elements from push-your-luck and deck management into a blender. The end result isn't for everyone, but if you're willing to accept a lack of control, it's a great ride.”
“However, my initial skepticism for Heat seems to have swung completely in the opposite direction and, as you can see, has not only become my favourite racing game but one of my favourite games of all time. If you want a tight, tense, and strategic racing game, then this should be your first port of call to check out.”
“Heat is certainly the only car racing game I have, and it’s a game that’s going to stay in my collection for a long time. It’s such a simple concept, but so well executed.”
The reviewer praises "Heat: Pedal to the Metal" as a highly enjoyable and replayable racing game that provides exciting gameplay and is considered a must-play for everyone, even if it's not a personal 'must-buy' for their own collection.
The reviewer initially had reservations about 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' due to its inspiration from Flamme Rouge, but found that it successfully expanded upon the core mechanics, offering a more strategic and thematic racing experience. They particularly appreciated the game's ability to allow players to catch up, leading to thrilling and dynamic races.
The reviewer highly praises 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' for its strategic depth, noting that unlike many other racing games, it allows players to catch up, leading to a thrilling, dynamic, and tight race experience.
The reviewer highly recommends "Heat: Pedal to the Metal" as an "amazing" and "excellent" racing game, particularly praising its streamlined solo play and overall appeal to fans of the genre.
The reviewer considers 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' to be an accessible and engaging racing game that provides a satisfying experience for both racing enthusiasts and those typically less drawn to the genre, offering straightforward card play and ample content.
The reviewer highly recommends "Heat: Pedal to the Metal," calling it an excellent racing game that ranks among his favorites, especially when incorporating its various modules. He believes it puts the publisher, Days of Wonder, back at their peak for racing games, despite a few minor nitpicks.
“The core here, a razor-sharp hand management game, is every bit as frothy and fun as its sister game Flamme Rouge — but with a new bite and vigor introduced through the titular Heat system.”
“The end result is a game that feels like racing because it’s FAST – decisions are simple and quick, turns move quick, and yet it still feels like there’s a ton of good decisions to be made.”
“Heat: Pedal to the Metal is a vivid and delightful racing board game that surpasses the accomplishments of all that came before it. It’s an inspired title in both product and design, offering a range of options while presenting a dynamic racing system that is extremely impressive.”
The reviewer highly praises 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' for its remarkable flexibility, fast-paced and dynamic gameplay that effectively captures the feel of a car race, making it almost addictive and enjoyable for a wide range of players.
“Heat: Pedal to the Metal is incredibly versatile and hugely fun!”
The reviewer highly recommends 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal,' calling it a great racing game that shines with its modular content. They note its strong hand and heat management mechanics deliver an engaging experience, making it an essential title for fans of the genre despite a few minor criticisms.
“Well, I was predisposed to like this based on my love of the predecessor, and H:PttM definitely met my expectations. Sure, the game is actually quite different, and the mechanisms are deftly shifted to meet the different events of a car race.”
The reviewer finds "Heat: Pedal to the Metal" to be a highly thematic and clever racing game that successfully simulates the technical aspects of car racing through intuitive mechanics. It is recommended as a great competitive game suitable for both experienced and new board gamers.
The reviewer considers "Heat: Pedal to the Metal" to be an absolute triumph and an enjoyable arcade-style racing game, highlighting its particularly well-executed solo experience.
The reviewer highly praises 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' as a quick, exciting racing game that perfectly captures the genre's essence. They highlight its engaging decision-making, excellent modularity, and fantastic solo and multiplayer modes, wishing for many expansions.
The reviewer praised Heat: Pedal to the Metal for its streamlined gameplay and found it to be a more enjoyable racing game than some others, despite a minor drawback of potential accidental spin-outs from miscalculating speed around corners.
“Heat: Pedal to the Metal succeeds because it captures the tension of racing without overwhelming rules. Overall, Heat remains one of the most exciting modern racing board games available.”
The reviewers highly recommend Heat: Pedal to the Metal as a solid and accessible racing game, particularly for new players, despite noting it's a lighter experience compared to a deep F1 simulation.
The reviewer considers 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' an excellent racing game that offers sufficient strategic depth to remain engaging. While acknowledging minor issues like fiddly components, a somewhat vague rulebook, and familiar mechanics, they find it to be a strong entry in the genre.
The reviewer expressed strong appreciation for the game's expansive decision-making opportunities provided by its card play.
The reviewer found 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' to be a slightly above-average game. While they appreciated certain aspects, they felt it was a bit slow for their taste and the decisions were somewhat simple. They would play it if others wanted to, but wouldn't actively seek it out themselves.
The reviewer rated 'Heat: Pedal to the Metal' as perfectly okay, finding enjoyment in the racing theme and the visceral fun of playing speed cards, but ultimately felt the gameplay loop lacked sufficient interaction and mechanical engagement for its duration.
Where to Buy
If BGV helped you pick your next game, buying through our links helps our small team keep the site running.
