Flamme Rouge

About this board game

Flamme Rouge is an exciting, fast-paced board game that brings the thrill and strategy of professional bicycle racing to the tabletop. This game, designed by Asger Harding Granerud and beautifully illustrated by Ossi Hiekkala, invites players to don the cap of a team manager and guide their riders to victory in a grueling, high-stakes race.

The game is set in the early 20th century, during the golden age of bicycle racing. The atmosphere is electric as the cyclists pedal furiously amidst cheering crowds. The vibrant artwork and the unique, stylized components, including cyclist miniatures and modular track pieces, help to create an engaging, immersive setting that captures the spirit and excitement of the racing scene.

The core mechanics of Flamme Rouge revolve around strategic hand management and the smart use of energy. Each player controls a team of two racers: a Rouleur and a Sprinteur. Each racer has a deck of cards representing their energy levels. Players draw and select cards from these decks to determine their racers’ movements on the track, forcing them to carefully manage their energy throughout the race.

What sets Flamme Rouge apart is its unique exhaustion mechanic. Racers who push ahead of the pack become exhausted, gaining additional, less desirable cards in their deck. This simulates the real-world challenges of breakaways in bicycle races and adds a layer of strategic depth. Players must balance the need to lead the race with the risk of wearing out their racers too quickly.

Furthermore, the game also features a modular track system. This allows for a multitude of different race setups, providing high replayability as each race offers a new challenge. The positioning of your cyclists, the timing of your sprints, and the management of your energy are crucial elements that will keep you engrossed and coming back for more.

With its combination of strategic depth, thematic immersion, and exciting gameplay, Flamme Rouge is more than just a race—it’s a captivating experience of endurance, strategy, and thrilling competition.