ARTICLE: Why Crazy Karts?

Crazy Karts is a racing game like no other. Set in a fantasy universe inhabited by Goblins, Dwarves, Elves, Mummies, and many other creatures, it puts players in the role of kart drivers who race for the title of Champion.

Why CRAZY Karts?

Two drivers

Each kart is steered by two players who cannot communicate during the race. Oh, they can do some trash talk here and there, but no discussing about strategy for the race. No planning the best path. No debating about which opponent we should hit with our ram!

Each kart in the game has two drivers. Each driver has a different set of available actions. The front driver is able to use the Special Action (each faction in the game has a dedicated Action!), accelerate, shoot the cannon, and – if he has some time left – he also repairs the Kart.

At the same time, the rear driver uses his own actions to Power Up, slow down the damn kart, and of course, he can turn!

Six cards

At the beginning of the race each player has 6 cards in their hand. Four of them have value 1, one has value 2 and one – the most powerful – has value of 3! These cards are put on different actions to activate them. It’s not a worker placement game. It’s a card placement game!

Anyway, back to these six cards in your hand. You need to know – it changes very quickly – the faster you go, the fewer cards you will draw each round. Your kart goes so fast, you cannot manage everything! Your hand gets smaller and smaller!

At some point you will find yourself at speed 5, with only two cards in your hand, and with absolutely no chance to slow down or turn. That’s how you’ll hit obstacles, walls and other karts…

Turning

Speaking about turning. To turn your kart you need to put on the Turn action cards with a value equal to higher than your current speed. Since one player is responsible for speeding up and the other for turning and since they cannot communicate…

You know what might happen.

Yes, it happens. A lot.

Lone wolf

The box says the game plays from 3 to 8 players. How’s that possible? How’s uneven number possible in a team game?

The Lone wolf variant is the answer. The guy is driving an old kart that actually should be thrown in the trash years ago! Nothing works, wheels are falling off, brakes rarely work, speeding up is only if you push this damn piece of old wood…

Lone wolf player controls his own kart by himself but because this kart is really old, he has some problems. Each round some of actions are turned off, some start to act ridiculous and are active…

Controlling this beast might be bigger challenge than driving standard kart with your stupid partner…

Final words

Designed by Charles Amir-Perret Crazy Karts is hilarious racing game. If you ever played Robo Rally and if you can now imagine that one robot is controlled by two players who cannot talk…

You know everything. Crazy karts is a race game like no other. I promise.