This is a review of the board game Flamme Rouge. We think it is a great game for families!
Flamme Rouge is a racing game for 2-4 players (up to 6 with the Peloton expansion). It takes about 30 minutes to play. In Flamme Rouge, players choose cards to make bicycle riders move around the game board. The object is to have your racers make it around the board and cross the finish line first. Players need to balance speed with strategy so their riders do not become exhausted too quickly.
The Mom Review
I really enjoy playing Flamme Rouge. It is very easy to teach. Players get two separate decks of cards. One for their Rouleur and one for the Sprinteur. The cards in each deck vary slightly, and the game comes with a reminder card. The contents of each deck is on one side, and the game play steps is on the other. Players draw four cards from one deck and choose one of the four to play. Next, they repeat this with the other deck. This simple play is easy for even the youngest kids to handle.
Once everyone has chosen their cards, all cards are flipped simultaneously. Next, it is time for the pieces to move along the board. Maci really likes being the one to move the pieces, and it keeps her engaged in the game. After all pieces move, slipstreaming happens and then it is time for the next round. The quick pace in the rounds also helps younger kids to stay interested.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality of the components in this game. I appreciate that they included a little case to protect the cyclists. (See photo – Jake has started painting some of the minis to have skin tone, and I love how they turned out!)
I give Flamme Rouge a 9 out of 10. I am very glad we have it in our collection now.
The Dad Review
Ok, this game has been on my radar for a couple of years now. Every time I would go into the gaming store, I’d always check it out, but would pass on it. I finally broke down and got it after we went on a family bike ride and my daughter loved going out and riding. Now, I have a work out buddy that won’t let me slack. Anyways back to the review. I got the game because she now likes bikes, so it’s relatable. At first, we screwed up the rules. We didn’t give out as many exhaustion cards as we should have. We also had a miscommunication problem about the rules when entering a hill. At that time, I really didn’t like the game and was bummed because it stinks when you buy a game and dislike it.
Fast forward to the next play. After we fixed that simple rule and clarifying the hill rules, I really liked the game. It was a lot more balanced and strategic. We figured out how to slip stream, which is so awesome in this game. I felt like I was way behind, but then I popped down a card that got me one square away from the cyclist in front of me. With slipstreaming, riders that are just one square behind the player ahead of them slide forward to fill the gap. I like how after slipstreaming, you catch up to the leader and you didn’t have to get exhausted doing it. The person up front basically did all of the work.
Also, I feel that thematically this game works. I’ve seen bike racing and this feels pretty darn close to actually racing. In closing, this quickly climbed the ranks in our family collection to a game everyone is down to play if mentioned. It is currently our family’s number one racing game.
My final ranking is a 10/10 – definitely staying in the collection.
The Kid Review
I like Flamme Rouge. First,I like it because I love riding my own bike and I love the slip stream in the game. Next, I like that the exhaust cards are given to not just the person in the front, but to any piece with an empty square in front of it. The cards help you move and I like that. The only thing I don’t like is that sometimes I can get bored of playing it over and over again.
Here are some tips:
- Go slow when you start, but not too slow.
- When you get half way through, go as fast as you can but be aware of the red.
- When you’re in the blue if you have an exhaustion card in hand, you should play it.
In conclusion, I will give it 9 out of 10. I like to play, but not over and over again.
