AUSTIN, TX – March 3, 2026 – From the creators at Fireside Games comes a deluxe edition release of Hotshots, a cooperative, press-your-luck board game where players become an elite crew of firefighters battling a raging forest fire. The deluxe edition of Hotshots will launch on Kickstarter April 21, 2026.
In Hotshots, 1–4 players step into the boots of highly trained wildfire specialists known as Hotshots, each with a unique ability and role on the crew. Players roll dice to contain the flames, cut firebreaks, and call in vehicles before the blaze overtakes the forest. Every roll is filled with tension, making every decision matter. If you fail a task the fire spreads, scorches the land, and pushes the team closer to losing everything. In this co-op game you either beat the blaze, or burn together.
“Hotshots is the game we get the most requests to bring back,” says Justin De Witt, designer of Hotshots and Chief Creative Officer of Fireside Games. “Fans love the edge-of-your-seat, high stakes challenge in the original game, and we’re excited to bring it back bigger and better than ever.”
The original version of this game was nominated in 2017 for Origins’ Best Family Game Award, and this Kickstarter campaign will update it for a whole new generation of players. Updates
include enhanced game components, improved clarity, LED light-up fire tokens, and more.
Each session of the game begins on a changing forest made of modular tiles that flip when scorched, showing the battle between fire and crew. Players roll dice to match firefighting icons, press their luck to extinguish as many flames as possible, and coordinate their actions to win as a team or lose everything together when the forest burns out.
Hotshots plays in 45–60 minutes and is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Kickstarter and Extras
The crowdfunding campaign will spotlight the Deluxe Edition, which includes:
- LED light-up flame tokens
- Upgraded firefighter miniatures
- Tile frames with connectible edges
- Enhanced component quality and graphic design
- Expanded content and more surprises to come
Those interested in joining the crew can follow the prelaunch page now at https://firesidegames.com/pages/hotshots-signup to receive an exclusive Hotshots Badge Patch, updates, early reveals, and exclusive day-one rewards when the campaign launches on April 21, 2026. Those who reserve their pledge will receive a Hotshots Collector’s Coin.
About Fireside Games
Fireside Games is an independent board game publisher based in Austin, Texas, and founded in 2007 by Justin De Witt and Anne-Marie De Witt. Specializing in engaging and cooperative gameplay, the company launched its first hit, Castle Panic, in 2009 and has since expanded its catalog with multiple expansions and original titles.
