Designer / Publisher / Year: Jose Joaquin Bernal / Doit Games / 2024
Player Count / Playtime: 1-6 Players / 45-180 mins
Genre / Type / Mechanics: Racing, Sports, Dice, Simulation, Grid Movement
Kickstarter Components: The Pole Position Kickstarter stretch goals added extra drivers and teams for more variety, new overtaking dice to enhance race interactions, a blue weather dice, and a few additional components.
Pole Position is easily some of the most fun I’ve had with my game group in recent years. We genuinely could not get enough of it. Every race is tense, competitive, and full of moments where things can swing in an instant. The best part is that you’re never really out of the race. Even if you fall behind early, there are always opportunities to claw your way back, which keeps everyone locked in from start to finish.
At its core, the game feels like a true Formula One-style simulation. You’re managing your car through a combination of dice allocation and decision making, choosing how hard to push, when to conserve, and how to navigate corners, straights, and other vehicles with efficiency. Each turn is a balance between speed and control. Push too hard and you risk damage or losing position, but play too safe and you’ll fall behind. It captures that constant tension you see in real racing, where every decision matters.
The gameplay loop is simple but really effective. You’re rolling and assigning dice to control movement, overtaking, and handling different track sections, all while reacting to what other players are doing. Positioning becomes huge. Getting stuck behind someone at the wrong time can cost you, while a well timed move can completely change the race. It creates this great back-and-forth where the lead is never truly safe.
The weather system is one of my favorite parts. It adds a whole extra layer of unpredictability and strategy. Conditions can shift mid-race, forcing you to adapt on the fly. Suddenly, it can begin raining, potentially forcing you to make a pit stop to change your tires to something for wet conditions. Grip changes, risks increase, and what worked one turn might not work the next. It makes every race feel dynamic and gives the game that “anything can happen” energy that real motorsports has.
I also really enjoyed the variety from the different tracks. Each one feels unique and forces you to approach the race differently, whether it’s tighter technical sections or more open, high-speed layouts. Honestly, my only regret is not going all in with the tracks on Kickstarter. I know there are eight circuits available (US, Great Britain, China, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Germany, and Brazil), and I only have two from the base game (US and Great Britain). After playing, it’s clear this is a game where more tracks would just mean more great experiences.
Overall, Pole Position is fast, exciting, and incredibly replayable. It nails that F1 feeling of risk, precision, and momentum, while still being approachable and fun with a group. If you enjoy competitive games with tension, comeback potential, and just the right amount of chaos, this one absolutely delivers.
Score Breakdown
| Category | Description | Score (1–10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aesthetics & Components | Visual design, artwork, tactile quality, and overall presentation. | 7.5 |
| 2. Rules Clarity & Accessibility | Ease of learning, clarity of rulebook, setup time, and iconography. | 6.5 |
| 3. Strategic Depth | Amount of meaningful decision-making and long-term planning. | 8 |
| 4. Luck vs. Skill Balance | How fairly chance and skill coexist. | 8 |
| 5. Player Interaction | Engagement and social dynamics between players. | 10 |
| 6. Pacing & Downtime | Flow, engagement, and smoothness of play. | 9 |
| 7. Replayability | Longevity, variability, and continued appeal. | 8 |
| 8. Theme Integration | How well the mechanics and story fit the theme. | 9 |
| 9. Enjoyment & Emotional Impact | Pure fun factor-excitement, tension, satisfaction. | 9 |
| 10. Innovation & Uniqueness | Creativity, originality, and distinctiveness from other games. | 7 |
| Final Average Score | 8.20 / 10 | |
Verdict: A fast, tense, and highly replayable racing game that captures the feel of F1 with constant competition, smart decision making, and just enough chaos. This game will consistently deliver a great time with the right group.
Reviewed on 04/19/2026