# Downforce: Wild Ride

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2020
- **BGG Rating**: 7.9
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 6)
- **Duration**: 20-40 min
- **Weight**: 2.00 / 5
- **Designers**: JR Honeycutt, Justin D. Jacobson, Rob Daviau
- **Artists**: Tavis Coburn
- **Publishers**: Restoration Games, 2 Pionki, Fabrika Igr, IELLO, Mancalamaro, Portal Games
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Racing, Sports
- **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Betting and Bluffing, Hand Management

## Verdict
If you love Downforce, Wild Ride will thrill you – two fresh tracks add deeper strategy.Exciting 3D rampsAnimals that blockEnhanced speed managementExtra learning curveDelicate componentsRECOMMENDED

## Description
Downforce: Wild Ride arrives as the first major expansion for the beloved Downforce, adding two brand‑new tracks on a double‑sided board. The first, Aloha Sands, features water jumps and 3D ramps that can only be used if a car has enough speed – making hand management of speed cards essential for gaining altitude and passing opponents. The second track, Savanna Stretch, introduces wild animals that cross the circuit, blocking the way. Each time a car passes an animal, it moves forward, making the leader's path harder while opening chances for trailing cars, encouraging a "wait for the right moment" strategy. The new ramps and creatures deepen the tactical layer, forcing players to balance bidding, betting and the order of cards in hand to maximize their odds. Playtime stays between 20 and 40 minutes, preserving the base game's flow while adding more strategic decisions. Perfect for 2‑6 players already familiar with Downforce who want a fresh experience without added complexity. Components include the double‑sided board, detailed 3D ramps and animal miniatures, all high‑quality and easy to set up. In short, Wild Ride adds visual and mechanical variety while keeping the racing‑risk spirit that made Downforce a hit.

## How to Play
Game Objective
The game Downforce: Wild Ride features two exciting tracks: Aloha Sands and Savanna Stretch. In Aloha Sands, players can use ramps to gain speed and overtake opponents. In Savanna Stretch, the challenge is to dodge wild animals running across the track. The main objective is to maneuver your race cars through these tracks, overcoming obstacles and opponents to achieve victory.

Setup
Before the first game, some components need to be prepared:

    Punch out the ramp pieces from the punchboard and assemble them according to the instructions on the punchboard itself.
    Punch out the animals from the punchboard.

To set up the game:

    Place the ramps in their corresponding numbered spaces on the game board.
    Place the antelope, elephant, and snake in their starting spaces on the track (closest to the starting line).


Gameplay Flow
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Actions and How to Play
During the game, cars can perform movements and interact with track elements. The main actions and rules are:

    Car Movement: Cars move along the track.
    Using Ramps: A car can use a ramp only if all the following conditions are true:
        
            The car's movement on the played speed card is equal to or greater than the number on the ramp.
            The car has at least 1 movement space remaining.
            The ramp's landing space is empty.
        
        If any of these conditions are not true, the car cannot use the ramp. If the car has remaining movement and cannot use the ramp, it must skip the ramp, continuing to move into any available empty space. Ramps are NOT a space, and a car cannot end its turn on a ramp. When a car uses a ramp, move it directly to the ramp's landing space. This counts as 1 movement space. If the car has additional movement remaining, it continues moving normally. Cars can use multiple ramps in one turn.
    
    Interacting with Animals: Each animal occupies a space on the board, which are larger than regular spaces. Animals block movement to the spaces they occupy, just like a car. Once an animal leaves its space, cars can enter that space as if it were a regular space.
    Animal Movement: At the end of a turn in which at least one car has passed an animal line, that animal moves to its next open space on the board. If it is in its last space on the track, remove it from the board. Animal lines are next to the animal spaces on the track and are represented by a specific design.


End of Game and Scoring
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Tips for Winning

    Plan ramp usage: To use a ramp, ensure your car has enough speed (equal to or greater than the ramp's number) and that the landing space is clear. This can give you a significant advantage.
    Monitor animal movement: Pay attention to the animal lines. When a car passes an animal line, the corresponding animal moves. Use this to your advantage to clear a path or block opponents.
    Block opponents: Remember that both animals and cars block spaces. Position your car strategically to prevent opponents from using ramps or advancing into crucial spaces.

## FAQ
### What is the average play time?
Between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on player count and familiarity with the rules.

### How many players can use the expansion?
It supports 2 to 6 players, just like the base game.

### Do I need the base game to play Wild Ride?
Yes, Wild Ride is an expansion and requires the original Downforce game.

### What new components are included?
A double‑sided board, 3D ramps, animal miniatures, and additional track cards.

### Does the expansion increase complexity?
Slightly, as it adds decisions about ramp usage and animal positioning, but the learning curve remains gentle.

## Price Comparison
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