This little game is as fun as it is captivating.
It’s completely free: all you need is a sheet of graph paper and a few colored pens. I used to play it with my brothers when I was little. Now I play it with my children.
Racetrack is a paper racing game that simulates a car race, played by two or more players. The game is played on a grid-lined sheet of paper. You start by drawing a race track—classic or imaginative! Then you’re off, with pencil lines tracing the movement of each car. The game forces players to slow down before turns on the track and requires foresight and planning to win. In my opinion, it’s very realistic in terms of how real cars move.
You can find the rules on Racetrack (game) – Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racetrack_(game)) or on Jeu de course sur papier (https://www.jeuxetcompagnie.fr/jeu-course-papier/).
Video Demonstration
In the following video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWBTLtVdBPE), the guy plays a bit like we do. The difference is that we mark the “main point” to help us clearly visualize the 8 surrounding points. There’s also a difference in how crashes are handled—read more about that below.
Crashes
With my children, we’ve modified the off-track rule. First, the player can choose where to crash among the 9 surrounding points. Then, when their turn comes again, they must rejoin the track at any entry point—but can only move one square per turn. Once back on the track, when it’s their turn to play, they restart with a velocity of one square.
A great game to play with family!
