Hotshots

In the cooperative, press-your-luck game Hotshots, crews of 1 to 4 players take on the roles of wildfire fighters — crew boss, spotter, swamper, and sawyer — with special abilities, then roll dice on burning terrain tiles to match the combinations shown on those tiles. The more faces they roll, the better they fight the fire. Players can choose to cut firebreaks, which protect tiles from embers blown by wind gusts, or push their luck to reduce flames and possibly even generate reward tokens. If players bust and fail to match at least three of the six symbols on the tile, the fire grows. Another option is to maneuver vehicles — air tanker, helicopter, and brush rig — to save the forest.

Flame tokens are added at the end of each player’s turn by the draw of a fire card, which can bring about light or strong wind gusts, increase the strength of the flames on certain tiles, and start fires. Too many flame tokens will cause a tile to scorch and be lost. Losing a terrain tile could also affect the game play. Some tiles are tied to crewmembers’ special abilities, while others help the firefighters, and still others cause the fire to spread in unique ways. If eight tiles scorch or the fire camp scorches, the game is over and the forest is lost — but if the intrepid crew can extinguish the fire, the team wins together.

The press-your-luck mechanism with ratcheting rewards creates tension, and the variety of ways to fight the fire makes for interesting choices. The modular tile layout and fire cards bring high replayability to the game, and the acrylic flame tokens provide an enticing table presence.

Crews of 1 to 4 players take on the roles of wildfire fighters (Crew Boss, Spotter, Swamper, and Sawyer) with special abilities and roll dice on burning terrain tiles to match the combinations shown on the tiles. The more faces you roll, the better you fight the fire. Choose to cut Firebreaks, which prevent fires from being spread by wind gusts, or push your luck to reduce Flames and possibly even generate Reward Tokens. If you bust and fail to match at least 3 of the 6 symbols on the tile, the fire grows. Another option is to maneuver Vehicles (Air Tanker, Helicopter, and Brush Rig) to save the forest.

Flame tokens are added at the end of each player’s turn by the draw of a Fire card, which can bring about light or strong wind gusts, increase the strength of the flames on certain tiles, and start fires. Too many Flame tokens will cause a tile to Scorch and be lost. Losing a terrain tile could also affect the game play. Some tiles are tied to crewmembers’ special abilities, while others help the firefighters and still others cause the fire to spread in unique ways. If 8 tiles or the Fire Camp Scorches, the game is over and the forest is lost. But if your intrepid crew can extinguish the fire, your team wins together.

The press-your-luck mechanic with ratcheting rewards creates a lot of great tension, and the variety of ways to fight the fire makes for interesting choices. The modular tile layout and Fire cards bring high replayability to the game, and the beautiful acrylic Flame tokens provide an enticing table presence.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2018 Origins Awards Best Family Game Nominee.

Components:
4 Crew cards (58x97mm): Crew Boss, Sawyer, Spotter, Swamper.
29 Fire cards (42x58mm): 14 Fire Increase cards, 4 Wind cards, 5 Ember cards, 6 Change Wind Direction cards.
25 Flame tokens (orange oval plastic markers 29x19x24mm).
6 identical custom Firefighting dice (white acrylic 15mm six-sided, with blue McLeod rake/hoe, red Pulaski axe/spade, orange chainsaw, gray shovel, dark blue hose, yellow fire fighter).
Cardboard components (1mm thick):
15 Firebreak tokens (45x10mm).
4 Firefighter tokens (30 mm high) and clear plastic stands.
16 Reward tokens (25mm dia.)
19 Terrain hex tiles (78mm).
3 Vehicle tokens (21mm): truck, plane, helicopter.
1 Wind marker and stand (30x25mm).
1 Rulebook (English, 12 p.).

1-4

850680002142

Fireside Games

60

2017

10+

2018-06-21 11:58:00

~$15.72

2025-11-30

2018-06-21 11:58:00