1500 m (2018)

About this game

The legendary distance and one of the most famous track and field races is the 1,500 meters. In this game, you're one of the eight runners in a 1500 m race. 1500 m has a luck-free movement system and uses Euro mechanics: bidding and management. Players always choose in every round how much they advance, but you have to manage your 100 mental strength points over the whole of the race. Each round has three phases: Card phase: Each player chooses a movement card and there is a simultaneous bid (using mental strength points) for winning an advantage action. Pace phase: Each player can keep, increase, or decrease their current pace (spending mental strength points). Extra mental strength points cost phase: Runners spend extra mental stength points because of wear and according to their positions. Using your strategy correctly and knowing when to take risks, you can become the next 1500m champion. The game includes rules for dummy runners as well as rules for a shorter 800-meter race.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 3 to 8.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.