Biathlon Blast
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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
Someone skis behind someone else to conserve energy. Someone misses a shot and curses. Someone speeds up too much and their heart explodes. And in the end, everyone talks about that wind that changed everything.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Ski, shoot, manage your heart rate: biathlon becomes strategy
Designed by Lars Max Jensen and Carl Tenland, Biathlon Blast brings the intensity of the most tactical winter sport to the table. Art curated by Damien Mammoliti and Alex Tantraz, a card system that blends speed and precision, and six asymmetrical athletes with unique abilities. It's a game that promises to translate the pure adrenaline of cross-country skiing and target shooting into mechanics: managing energy, choosing when to accelerate, and shooting with a pounding heart.
Each round you choose a card that determines your speed, affects your heart rate, and changes the wind. The faster you ski, the harder it is to hit targets. But every successful shot gives you momentum for the next lap. You can draft behind opponents to save energy, adapt to constantly changing conditions, and decide when to risk everything. The track is modular, rounds are simultaneous, and every race tells a different story.
What they say abroad
A game where you manage energy, wind, and heart rate. It's not just luck: it's perfect timing.
— FroGames
The double cards, the drafting, the wind. Biathlon Blast has layers that surprise you every turn.
— FroGames
Biathlon Blast
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsThe elements of the race
What you'll find in the box
Dual-action cards
Each card has two functions: it determines speed and influences heart rate. Choose whether to run hard or prepare to shoot. You can't do both.
Shooting range
You must hit targets by rolling dice. The number of dice depends on your heart rate: the more tired you are, the fewer dice you have. Miss a target and you lose momentum on the next lap.
Wind track
Each round the wind changes direction and intensity. It affects shooting and forces you to recalculate probabilities. An environmental element you cannot ignore.
Asymmetrical biathletes
Six athletes with unique abilities, some activated only once per game. One is fast but inaccurate, another saves energy by drafting behind. Each changes the way you play.
Recommended sleeves 100 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with transparent sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 56 × 87 mm | 100 |
| Total cards | 100 |
In an hour, you'll understand why the fastest doesn't always win in biathlon. And why the wind matters more than you thought.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Choose your athlete
Everyone chooses a biathlete with different skills. Some want the pure sprinter, others prefer someone who manages their heartbeat better. You can already tell who wants to take risks and who wants to play with precision. The starting cards give the first taste of the pace.
The first lap is chaotic
Everyone starts fast, heart rate goes up, no one has yet figured out how to manage the cards. The first dice arrive at the shooting range: some hit everything, others miss and lose ground. The table begins to understand that accelerating too much comes at a high price.
The wind changes strategy
Mid-race, the wind reverses, and what seemed like an advantage becomes a problem. Those who were behind now have a favorable slipstream, those who were leading must revise their plans. The track reads differently, and the group splits into three: leaders, chasers, desperados.
The once-per-game ability
Someone activates their athlete's special ability: one recovers heart rate in a single shot, another steals speed from those in front of them. This is the moment when the game is decided, and the table erupts in comments, exclamations, frantic calculations.
The last shooting range decides everything
Last shots at the target, heart rate through the roof, dice falling very slowly. Those who hit everything win, those who miss are overtaken in a sprint. The winner crosses the finish line, and everyone looks at the dice still on the table as if they were guilty.
How to play
The flow of each round
A round of Biathlon Blast lasts only a few minutes: choose a card, move, shoot, repeat.
Simultaneously, everyone chooses a card from their hand. Each card has two values: speed (how many spaces you advance) and heart rate influence. The faster you go, the higher your heart rate. You must decide whether to run or prepare to shoot.
In order of position (those behind move first), you advance on the track. If you end up behind an opponent, you can ski in their slipstream and save energy: your heart rate decreases. But you occupy their slipstream, and they might not like it.
When you arrive at the shooting range, you roll a number of dice equal to your physical condition (determined by your heart rate). Each target hit gives you momentum for the next round. Each miss slows you down.
Each round, wind conditions change based on an event card. The wind affects shots and can give advantages/disadvantages to those in the lead or at the back. Conditions are never static.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Harmful dual-action cards
Each card has two opposing functions: high speed = high heart rate. You can't have both. Choosing means sacrificing, and this creates tension every single turn. There are no inherently better cards: it all depends on your position and the moment of the race.
Heart rate as a resource
Your heart rate goes up when you run, down when you ski behind someone. It determines how many dice you roll at the shooting range. Managing your heart rate is the core of the game: you must arrive at the shot with energy, but not too much, otherwise the dice will betray you. It's a constant balance.
Dynamic wind that changes everything
The wind is not a scenic detail: it changes every round and affects shooting. Favorable wind lowers difficulty, headwind raises it. Those behind can exploit different conditions than those in front. The track reads differently round after round.
Drafting and tactical positioning
You can ski behind opponents to save energy. But the slipstream is limited: if everyone wants the same position, someone will be left out. Drafting is not automatic; it's a tactical arena where every space counts.
Asymmetrical biathletes with once-per-game abilities
Each athlete has a special ability that can be activated only once per game. Someone recovers heart rate instantly, another ignores the wind, a third steals speed. The timing of activation is crucial and can turn the race around.
Simultaneous actions for up to 6 players
Everyone plays at the same time: no downtime, no waiting. It works well with 2 as it does with 6, because simultaneity eliminates dead time. The game lasts exactly 45 minutes, regardless of the number of players.
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
The race ends when someone crosses the finish line. But it's not just about speed.
Victory
- Be the first to cross the finish line after the last round
- Hit all targets in the final shooting range to unlock the final sprint
- Activate your special ability at the perfect moment and overtake the group in a sprint
How you lose ground
- Miss too many targets and lose momentum for subsequent rounds
- Your heart rate is too high at the shooting range: you roll few dice, and accuracy plummets
- You mismanage the wind: what seemed like an advantage becomes an obstacle
Biathlon Blast is a game where speed is not enough. You need to read the wind, manage your heart rate, know when to draft behind someone, and when to go all out. It's tactical, it's simultaneous, and it's always different.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Biathlon Blast
Does the game scale well with 6 players?
Yes, and it even shines with higher player counts. Actions are simultaneous, so there's no downtime. With 6 players, drafting becomes more competitive, the table is more chaotic, and races are more unpredictable. The duration remains fixed: exactly 45 minutes.
How much does luck weigh in shooting?
Dice decide if you hit targets, but you can control how many dice you roll by managing your heart rate. If you arrive at the shooting range with your heart racing, you roll few dice and take risks. If you manage your energy well, you have more leeway. Moreover, athlete abilities give you ways to mitigate chance.
Is it suitable for those unfamiliar with biathlon?
Absolutely yes. You don't need to know anything about the sport: the game teaches you the mechanics in 10 minutes. The symbology is clear, the flow is immediate. But if you know biathlon, you'll appreciate even more how well the game translates the balance between speed and precision.
Are expansions or variants planned?
The base game is complete and offers great replayability thanks to the six asymmetrical athletes and dynamic wind. At the moment, no expansions have been announced, but the dual-action card system and modular track lend themselves well to future content.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English. The game uses language-independent iconography for the main mechanics, so language dependence is low. You need to read the athlete abilities (6 cards) and the wind event cards; everything else is played without text.
Biathlon Blast is a competitive strategy board game for 2-6 players, lasting 45 minutes, recommended age 14+. Designed by Lars Max Jensen and Carl Tenland, published by carlMax, it brings the tension of biathlon to the table with mechanics of multi-purpose cards, heart rate management, drafting, and dynamic wind. Each athlete has asymmetrical powers, actions are simultaneous, and each race tells a different story thanks to ever-changing conditions. Perfect for families looking for a gateway game with tactical depth, it scales well up to 6 players with no downtime. Available on FroGames.it.
Biathlon Blast
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