Which Expansion

Heat: Pedal to the Metal expansions

Base game: 1–6 players60 minDays of Wonder4 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Heat: Heavy Rain

    Buy this first

    Most replies in BGG's "which expansion?" thread picked Heavy Rain over Tunnel Vision: rain puddles are easy to grasp and Air Intake cooling is useful on every track.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Two new tracks (Japan with rain puddles, Mexico with chicanes), the 1964 season, Air Intake cooling upgrades and a 7th car.

    Fixes: Base tracks start to feel familiar; adds two very different circuits, a strong all-round upgrade, and room for a seventh player.

    Expansion1–7 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAsmodee USA
  2. #2 overall

    Heat: Tunnel Vision

    Worth it

    BGG reviewers call it a close twin of Heavy Rain: just as good if you want more tracks, but slightly less fresh, so most suggest it second.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Two new tracks (Spain with tunnels, the Netherlands with chicanes), the 1965 season, Front Wing upgrades with a new Draft move and an extra car.

    Fixes: Adds a reliable slipstream strategy for groups that always pick the same upgrades, plus more tracks for building custom championships.

    Expansion1–7 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAsmodee USA
  3. #3 overall

    Heat: Rocky Roads

    Worth it

    Same formula as the first two boxes; BGG first impressions frame it as more of what fans already like, best once your group is hooked on Heat.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Two new tracks (South Africa with loose gravel, Germany with chicanes on a long straight), the 1966 Championship season, Sliding Skirts upgrades, and an extra car with its own deck and mat.

    Fixes: Gives groups who have played every track another two circuits and a new upgrade type, plus more cars to pick from.

    Expansion1–7 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAsmodee USA
  4. #4 overall

    Heat: Legends

    Depends on your group

    BGG's top review calls it essential if you race against bots, but several fans in the announcement thread said they'd pass because they rarely use Legends.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Card pack only: new Legend cards at three difficulty levels covering every car color, Power Up cards that give Legends abilities like slipstream and draft, Rival cards, and new Sponsorship cards.

    Fixes: Base-game Legends (bots) get too easy for experienced players and only cover base-game colors; this makes bots tougher, adjustable, and usable with the expansion cars.

    Expansion1–5 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groupsPrice: Under $20
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAsmodee USA

Need the base game?

Buy:AmazonAsmodee USA

Stuck between two?

Heat: Pedal to the Metal expansions: quick answers

Which Heat: Pedal to the Metal expansion should I buy first?

Heat: Heavy Rain. Most replies in BGG's "which expansion?" thread picked Heavy Rain over Tunnel Vision: rain puddles are easy to grasp and Air Intake cooling is useful on every track.

Is Heat: Heavy Rain worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Two new tracks (Japan with rain puddles that limit downshifting, Mexico with chicanes), the 1964 Championship season, Air Intake upgrade cards for extra cooling, and a 7th car (orange) with its own deck and mat.

Heat: Heavy Rain or Heat: Tunnel Vision: which first?

We’d buy Heat: Heavy Rain first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-08.