Heat: Pedal to the Metal Review

A Winning Formula from Start to Photo Finish

Theme

Heat: Pedal to the Metal delivers a nostalgic burst of 1960s motorsport energy, complete with tight corners, roaring engines, and daring sprints to the finish line. Even for players with zero knowledge of Formula 1, the theme shines through—every decision feels like a risky overtaking maneuver or a desperate attempt to keep your engine from overheating. The game’s vivid presentation and clever abstraction of racing mechanics make you feel the thrill of the track without needing a background in auto racing.

Mechanics

At its heart, Heat is a hand management game dressed in racing stripes. Each turn asks you to carefully choose how fast to go, manage your heat (representing engine strain), and navigate track corners without crashing. The mechanics can feel overwhelming at first—there are always many options to consider—but the design smartly limits these to a consistent set of decisions, making the learning curve surprisingly gentle.

The base USA track offers a straightforward introduction, but even then, races have been tense and thrilling. There’s a real sense of push-your-luck dynamics, especially when players risk overshooting corners or attempt last-second bursts of speed. Conservative strategies tend to reward consistency, but in this game, high-risk moves often lead to photo finishes—and sometimes glorious victory.

Bottom Line: Is it Fun?

Absolutely. Heat excels both as a family-friendly experience with basic rules and as a deeper strategy game with advanced modules like Weather, Legends, and Championship seasons. The option to customize cars and evolve your strategy over multiple races promises immense replayability. Whether you’re looking for a fun evening activity or a competitive multi-session league, Heat offers a rare blend of accessibility and depth that keeps calling you back to the table.

Root Base Game Review

A Gorgeous, Tactical Game of Woodland WarFARE

Theme

Root is an enchanting game of woodland warfare where adorable animals vie for control of the forest. The theme is both whimsical and strategic, pulling you in with its charming art while delivering a game that’s anything but light. The asymmetric factions make the woodland come alive in different ways, whether you’re building industry, inciting rebellion, or sneaking through the woods as the Vegabond. The only small knock is practical—getting all those beautiful components back into the box can be a challenge, and I already plan to 3D print an insert to fix it.

Mechanics

Underneath the cute exterior, Root offers a deeply strategic experience with asymmetric factions. Learning each faction’s playstyle and objectives can feel overwhelming at first, but it becomes rewarding as you gain experience. One of my favorite moments was a game where my son and I got caught up battling each other, only to have my oldest child—playing the Vegabond—sneak in for the win while we were distracted.

Combat is simple and fast but entirely luck-driven, which can sting if you lose a big force to a bad roll. That said, most factions have built-in recovery mechanics, so you’re never out of the fight for long. The real meat of the game lies in positioning, timing, and knowing how your faction operates. There can be some slowdown when players overthink turns, but it rarely overstays its welcome.

Bottom Line: Is it Fun?

Absolutely—especially for players who enjoy mastering strategy over multiple plays. With my kids, we ended up playing Root four times in two days, which is rare in our household. The game especially shines for families with older children (our 10-year-old found it a bit much) and for regular game groups who can stick with the same faction for a few sessions.

Expect some alliances and backstabbing—especially from the sneaky Vegabond—which can lead to laughs or frustration depending on the players. If you enjoy strategy, asymmetry, and immersive themes, Root offers endless replayability and room to grow, especially with expansions like the Clockwork set.

It’s gorgeous, tactical, and completely engaging—a game that rewards those who dive deep into its woodland world.

Fort Base Game Review

Surprisingly Strategic Playground Fun

Theme

Fort leans into a charming childhood theme, where players race to build the coolest fort, collect pizza, and recruit friends. The theme immediately grabbed me and kept me engaged throughout. The colorful artwork and playful design give off an easygoing vibe—but don’t be fooled. Beneath the cute surface is a game that demands more strategy than you’d expect. My only thematic gripe is the lack of a physical fort on the table. The “fort” itself is just a track on your player board, which felt like a missed opportunity given the title.

Mechanics

Fort blends light deck-building with a unique “follow” mechanic, where players can copy actions others take on their turn. It felt like a fresh combination, reminiscent of Marvel United but with more strategic layers. The deck-building element is pretty light—more about managing a rotating friend group than crafting a precise engine—but it worked well to keep turns snappy. The follow mechanic ensures you’re paying attention even when it’s not your turn, adding a layer of interactivity without direct confrontation.

The game was a little longer than expected, likely because we were learning as we played, but the extra length came from thinking through decisions rather than downtime, which I appreciated.

Bottom Line: Is it Fun?

Yes—especially for families. Fort manages to be competitive without ever feeling mean, which is a rare sweet spot. It worked well with my kids (8+), since there’s no direct attacking, just friendly competition for pizza, toys, and fort upgrades. I’d recommend it to families or groups that like strategic thinking but want to avoid the hard feelings that come with direct conflict.

It’s engaging, colorful, and thinkier than it looks—Fort is a great pick for anyone who wants a lighthearted theme with a bit more depth than expected.