Last modified June 23, 2026 by Jarjar

Overview
Thunder Road: Vendetta is a frenetic, post-apocalyptic racing and road combat game, a modern reimagining of a 1986 classic by Restoration Games. In an atmosphere straight out of the Mad Max films, each player pilots a team of armed vehicles and a helicopter hurtling down a desert highway that unfolds at breakneck speed: as soon as a leader gets too far ahead, the back road tile is removed, obliterating those lagging behind. Fueled by machine-gun fire, chain explosions, and utterly chaotic collisions, the game prioritizes action and immediate fun; strategy is practically nonexistent. Highly chaotic and unforgiving, this game makes survival a feat. Finishing the race (or being the last one standing) unscathed is more a matter of sheer luck than driving skill.

My impressions
An absolutely fantastic, fun, and sophisticated game! The production quality is surprising, even in the standard version (there's also a deluxe version called Maximum Chrome). The vehicles look quite toy-like, and the artwork has a movie poster feel. It's chaotic, exciting, and cinematic, full of laughs as players shoot and ram each other while trying to avoid the same fate. The game offers solid and intuitive mechanics, easy to pick up in just a few minutes. Even fans of more complex games get hooked and have a blast. This game is a real success! Just one small point that might bother some: some games can drag on if everyone tries to play cautiously. With three players, a game can easily last 75-90 minutes, whereas a game of this type (you roll the dice and move) shouldn't last that long.

If you want the French version, it's only available in the deluxe edition. If you're hesitating between the standard and deluxe versions, there's no doubt you'll want the deluxe edition, even though it's expensive (and hard to find right now). You'll want to diversify your games fairly quickly, and the expansion that gives you team leaders with unique powers is a must-have!

GAME FACTS
The game launched on Kickstarter in January 2022. The campaign was a huge success, raising over $1,3 million from more than 10,000 backers. This enabled the development of the "Maximum Chrome" deluxe edition, which includes all the expansions in one large box.

The original 1986 game was so popular that it inspired, according to several developers, the creation of the Twisted Metal video game franchise on PlayStation.

The extensions

The base game offers many hours of gameplay, but to add a few twists, there are several expansions available:

Release timeline: base game and its expansions

Release timeline for Thunder Road: Vendetta and its expansions

FUTURE

A simplified, standalone version aimed at an even wider audience is planned for later this year. Thunder Road: IgnitionI'm surprised because the game is actually very simple.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 4 (2, 3 and 4 players)
Best player configuration: 3-4
Difficulty level: Family-friendly (BGG Complexity: 1.96/5)
Kickstarter: $1.3M for the first (2022) and $761,796 for the second (2024)
Price: $82 CAD

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The frenetic atmosphere, the surprises and the chaos, which all have their place here
>> The constant tension that leaves no respite
>> The sets are ultra-faithful to the Mad Max universe
>> The quality and generosity of the equipment
>> Excellent replayability, enhanced by well-designed expansions

I liked less :
>> Persistent bad luck with dice can prove very detrimental
>> The duration of the games, which sometimes tends to drag on
>> No French version for standard boxes, only the Maximum Chrome edition is available in French $$$

Thunder Road: Vendetta is a party game of pure chaos and guaranteed laughs, with superb table presence and memorable moments in every game.

FUN FACTOR : ): )🙂 🙂 🙂