Car Wars Expansion Set #1

Steve Jackson Games · Board game · 1983
1.0 Ludopedia 6.4 BGG 2–8 90 min Weight 2.6/5
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1.0 rating Ludopedia
6.4 rating BGG
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

If you love turning the track into a battlefield, this expansion adds extra chaos and options.

Highlights
  • More track variety
  • Rich obstacle arsenal
  • Easy to set up
Keep in mind
  • Needs base game
  • Small components can get lost
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Car Wars Expansion Set #1 arrives as an upgrade for the original Pocket Box edition, adding even more vehicular mayhem to your tabletop. The box contains 24 extra road sections, expanding the variety of tracks and allowing you to build even more winding arenas. It also includes 124 game counters – oil slicks, smoke clouds, mines, spikes, chains, barricades and grenades – giving the game master a full arsenal of obstacles and traps. For map‑makers, the expansion offers eight suggested layouts, ready for quick assembly, plus a mini‑scenario for race‑track combat, perfect for testing the new pieces without extra rulework. The familiar hexagon grid mechanic stays in place, enabling movement in six directions and encouraging positioning and pursuit strategies. With a low complexity rating (2.6/5), the set remains approachable for both veterans and newcomers who already know the Car Wars core. Playtime averages around 90 minutes, varying with player count (2‑8) and the size of the custom track. In short, Set #1 invites you to broaden the chaos, craft new deadly routes, and crank up the competition without steepening the learning curve. If you own the base game, this expansion is practically mandatory for anyone craving more variety and challenges in vehicular combat.

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–8 players
2 OK
3 OK
4 OK
5 OK
6 OK
7 OK
8 OK

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Mechanics

Families

Game: Car Wars Series: Pocket Box (Steve Jackson Games)
Publisher Steve Jackson Games
Designer David Grenfell
Artist (Uncredited)

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

318owners
5wishlist
4want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can use the expansion?
2 to 8 players, provided you already own the base game.
What is the typical play time?
Around 90 minutes, depending on player count and track size.
Do I need prior knowledge of Car Wars?
Yes, the expansion assumes familiarity with the core rules of the original game.
Are the components compatible with all Car Wars editions?
They’re designed for the Pocket Box edition but work fine with other versions that use a hex grid.
Does the expansion add new rules?
No, it only provides new pieces and a mini‑scenario; the base game rules stay the same.
Are the counters paper or plastic?
They are paper/card counters, typical of early releases in the series.
Can I use the suggested layouts as a base for my own tracks?
Absolutely! They’re meant as starting points that you can modify as you wish.