If you missed Hotshots first time around in 2017, here is your second chance, and this one comes with literal LED flames. Fireside Games' second edition of the cooperative wildfire-fighting game has already pulled in around $228,000 from a (clearly nominal) $5,000 goal, with several weeks still to run. The Kickstarter closes on 4 June 2026.
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Set up your group for freeHotshots is a press-your-luck cooperative game for 1 to 4 players where you take on roles like crew boss, spotter, swamper and sawyer, and roll dice on burning terrain tiles to extinguish flames before they scorch the map. The original version sits at a respectable 6.9 on BoardGameGeek and was designed by Justin De Witt of Castle Panic fame. It earned a reputation as a tense, family-friendly co-op that plays in about 45 minutes.
The deluxe edition adds the bits people noticed missing from the 2017 box. LED light-up flame tokens now glow on the burning tiles, magnetic tile frames keep the modular board from drifting mid-game, and the firefighter miniatures have been upgraded from cardboard standees to full sculpts. Fireside revealed the upgrades at GAMA Expo 2026 before launching the campaign on 21 April.
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Find events near youFor UK backers, international shipping is included in the campaign FAQ, though the usual VAT and customs grumbles apply. If your group has worn out Pandemic and wants something co-op with a bit more drama and a properly themed disaster on the table, this is a smart one to pre-order. Round up the crew and plan a wildfire night for when it arrives.
Sources: Kickstarter | ICv2 | The Toy Book | Graphic Policy
