25. Breaking Away

Breaking Away is my favorite racing game. Well, I should say it's my favorite themed racing game. There is no random element in the form of dice or cards. Each player sets up their team of four at the beginning of the game by assigning them movement points. Each cyclist has a set number of movement points (for example, 25) that he must divide up three ways (for example, 10, 8 and 7). Then when it's that cyclist's turn to move, he can choose one of his numbers to move forward. That number is replenished at the end of the turn. Everyone starts with '3' and you add the number of cyclists immediately in front of you in an unbroken chain. That sum is the new number, so it can be very bountiful to be at the back of a large pack.

That's a very quick explanation of movement, but I hope you got the gist. Breaking Away is a brilliantly conceived racing game. My only question is: Why hasn't this ever been picked up by a major publisher? It boggles the noodle.