Downforce
High-stakes bidding on million-dollar race cars. Frantic bets placed in secret even as the cars race around the track. And to the victor, the biggest purse of all. But in the world of motor racing, the margin between victory and defeat can be a single moment: a steep banked turn, tires screaming and spitting out smoke, and the downforce, pressing you down in your seat and keeping you on the track as you make your move inside to pull ahead.
Downforce is a card-driven bidding, racing, and betting game for 2-6 players based on Top Race, the award-winning design by the legendary Wolfgang Kramer. Players first bid to own the six cars in the race, then they play cards from their hand to speed them around the track. However, most cards will also move their opponents' cars. So figuring out just the right time to play a card is the key to victory. Along the way, players make secret bets on who they think will win the race. Whoever has the most money from their prize money, winning bets, and remaining bank wins.
This is a game whose design needed no attention. Years of play and multiple versions have honed it to near perfection. On the contrary, one of the design challenges was figuring which of the many rules modules to incorporate to create the most fun version. Downforcealso adds variable player powers to improve replayability. But mostly, it improves the look of the game to make it gorgeous and easy to play. Special attention was paid to the colors, the layout of the cards, the design of the cars, the details on the board, and more.
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All online orders are processed from our dedicated warehouse. We take great care to ensure your ordered items are securely packed before shipment. Whenever possible, we reuse cardboard boxes from our suppliers, though we also utilise new boxes and wrapping materials when necessary.
For orders placed before 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday, we aim to dispatch them on the same day. If this isn’t feasible, they will be sent out on the next working day. Orders placed outside of our office hours (Monday to Friday) will be dispatched the following working day.
We offer free delivery on orders totaling £65 or more. For orders under £65, delivery charges are as follows:
• £4.50 for Royal Mail Tracked 48 (delivery within 2-3 business days)
• £6.00 for Royal Mail Tracked 24 (delivery within 1-2 business days)
Please note that shipping times are estimates and not guaranteed. Occasionally, unforeseen circumstances beyond our control may cause postal delays. In such cases, we cannot accept responsibility and will not issue refunds for shipping fees.
At this time, we do not offer shipping outside the UK.
At checkout, you will have the option to collect your order from our cafés in either Oxford or Bath, allowing you to avoid the shipping charge. We will notify you by email once your order is ready for collection. Please allow up to 3 days for orders to be available at the Oxford location and up to 7 days for the Bath location.
Orders will be held for a maximum of 21 days before being returned to our warehouse.
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How to Earn Meeple Stars
Collect Meeple Stars by participating in any of the following activities:
- +150 Meeple Stars: Create an account
- +3 Meeple Stars: For every £1 spent (VAT excluded – see notes)
Redeem Your Meeple Stars
Collect Meeple Stars to unlock real savings:
- 300 Meeple Stars: £5 Store Credit
- 500 Meeple Stars: £10 Store Credit
- 1000 Meeple Stars: £25 Store Credit
- 1500 Meeple Stars: £50 Store Credit
Important Notes:
1. Meeple Stars can be earned on retail merchandise purchased through both our webstore and café shop.
2. Most of our prices include VAT at 20%. Meeple Stars are not earned on the VAT
portion of the price. For example, if you buy a game for £50, you’ll earn Meeple Stars on the net amount of £41.67 (the remaining £8.33 goes to HMRC), which would give you 125 Meeple Stars.
3. Cover charge payments and food and drink purchases at the café do not qualify for
Meeple Stars.
4. Meeple Stars can be redeemed either during webstore checkout or when purchasing games
at the café. Each discount can only be applied to a single purchase. If the value of the item is less than the discount amount, the remaining balance will be forfeited.
5. Discounts cannot be used for shipping costs, only for merchandise.
Start earning and redeeming Meeple Stars today for fantastic rewards!