Charioteer

Designed by Matt Calkins, best known for Sekigahara, the game uses simple rules and quick turns while still offering meaningful tactical choices. Movement is driven by card sets, with each card potentially contributing to different types of actions. Players must decide when to sprint, recover, attack, take dangerous corners, or save cards for a stronger future move.

Each racer begins with different abilities and develops skills during the race. Fan tokens, damage, shields, crowd reactions, and the emperor’s preferences all shape the flow of play. Being in first place is not always enough; timing, positioning, and managing damage can be just as important as raw speed.

Charioteer works well for players looking for an accessible GMT title with strong table presence, quick play, and plenty of interaction. It is lighter than most GMT wargames, but still rewards careful planning and smart card use.

Contents include: mounted mapboards, wooden chariot pieces, card decks, player boards, wooden tokens and markers, damage cubes, round tracker, draw bag, and custom die.