(or here’s a list of what launched yesterday that might deserve a closer look)

Project: Grand Austria Hotel: Let’s Waltz! Expansion & Deluxe Upgrade

Designers: Virginio Gigli (Coimbra, Egizia, Grand Austria Hotel, Lorenzo il Magnifico), Simone Luciani (Barrage, Council of 4, Grand Austria Hotel, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan, Newton, Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, The Voyages of Marco Polo)

Artist: Klemens Franz (Agricola, Agricola Revised Edition, Altiplano, At the Gates of Loyang, Automobile, Bärenpark, Bohnanza, Caverna: The Cave Farmers, Caverna, Cave vs Cave, Clans of Caledonia, The Colonists, Endeavor, Glory to Rome, Grand Austria Hotel, Le Havre, Isle to Skye: From Chieftain to King, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Luna, Mandala, Mombasa, Newton, Oh My Goods!, Ora et Labora, Orléans, Patchwork, Port Royal, Riverboat, Snowdonia, Suburbia, Watergate)

Publisher: Lookout Games (1830: Railways & Robber Barons, Agricola, Agricola: All Creatures Great and Small, Agricola Revised Edition, Automobile, Bärenpark, Bohnanza, Caverna: The Cave Farmers, Caverna, Cave vs Cave, The Colonists, Endeavor, Glory to Rome, Goa, Grand Austria Hotel, Le Havre, Isle to Skye: From Chieftain to King, Mandala, Nusfjord, Oh My Goods!, Ora et Labora, Patchwork, Riverboat, Snowdonia, Suburbia)

Genre/Mechanisms: action drafting, contracts, dice drafting, dice rolling, economic, end game bonuses, events, expansion, hand management, once-per-game abilities, set collection, variable player powers, variable setup

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “In the thick of the Viennese modern age, exquisite cafés are competing for customers. Inspiring artists, important politicians, and tourists from all over the world are populating Vienna and in need of a hotel room. This is your opportunity to turn your little café into a world famous hotel. Hire staff, fulfill the wishes of your guests, and gain the emperor’s favor. Only then will your café become the Grand Austria Hotel. Let’s Waltz! is an expansion that adds five modules to Grand Austria Hotel.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $62, just the new expansion

All-In (w/shipping): $139, also includes the Deluxified base game

Campaign Ends: 11/21

Game Ships: July 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 449% with 28 days to go.

Project: Haunticulture

Designer: Bevan Clatworthy (Ghostel)

Artist: Alexandra Vardanian

Publisher: Tinkerbot Games (Ghostel)

Genre/Mechanisms: auction/bidding, card game, deck construction, hand management, tile placement

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A spooky gardening game with a unique gardener placement bidding mechanic. Take control of a ghostly gardener to marshal your horticultural horrors and create the spookiest flowerbed. All while cultivating your perfect crew to outwit your monstrous opponents.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $42

All-In (w/shipping): $265, includes vanity rewards

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Oct. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 30% with 26 days to go.

Project: Knockdown Board Game

Designer: Adam Kwapiński (InBetween, Lords of Hellas, Nemesis)

Artist: Dagmara Gąska

Publisher: Awaken Realms Lite (Bees: The Secret Kingdom, Flick of Faith, SiegeStorm: SiegeMode)

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, action/dexterity, action points, card drafting, cube tower, fighting, video game theme

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “A dynamic fighting game where you become a fighter and you have to knock down your opponent. During a game, you will have to surprise your opponent, create crazy combos, and, in the end, try to push them over by forcing them to the serious ‘Knockdown’ test.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $43

All-In (w/shipping): $43, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/20

Game Ships: June 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 17% with 28 days to go.

Project: Little Flower Shop: Employee Pack + More

Designer: Steve Finn (Biblios, Herbaceous, Sunset Over Water)

Artists: Rocio Ogñenovich (The Little Flower Shop, Mutant Crops, The Primary), Sarah Wry (The Little Flower Shop)

Publisher: Dr. Finn’s Games (Biblios, Herbaceous, Sunset Over Water)

Genre/Mechanisms: card drafting, card game, expansion, set collection

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “A 10-card mini-expansion for Dr Finn’s Little Flower Shop, plus reprints of prior promotional packs. The Little Flower Shop is a light, yet strategic, set collection game featuring stunning artwork by botanical artist Sarah Wry. Mechanically, the game employs a familiar card drafting system of picking a card and passing the rest.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $4

All-In (w/shipping): $27, includes the base game and all of the other mini-expansions to-date

Campaign Ends: 10/29

Game Ships: Feb. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 241% with 5 days to go.

Project: Widget Ridge: Emergence

Designer: Ian Taylor (Widget Ridge)

Artist: Matt Burton (Arctic Scavengers, Widget Ridge)

Publisher: Furious Tree Games (Widget Ridge)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, deck building, steampunk

Player Count: 1-2

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: Emergence includes three new expansion sets for Widget Ridge. “Widget Ridge is a steampunk-themed deck building game, traditionally for 2 players (solo mode and extra players supported).”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $45

All-In (w/shipping): $105

Campaign Ends: 11/22

Game Ships: Jan. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 88% with 30 days to go.