Game inventor Wolfgang Kramer debuted his Top Race strategy and racing game in 1996. The game gained a recognition award from the German Spiel de Jahres (game of the year) group. The game involves strategy, combining racing, betting, and eventually gaining the most financial reward. While racing games are among the most common types of board games, Top Race has endured for nearly twenty years, has been translated into many languages, and still inspires racing gamers.