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

Project: Architects of the West Kingdom: Works of Wonder

Designers: Shem Phillips (Architects of the West Kingdom, Explorers of the North Sea, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Raiders of the North Sea, Raiders of Scythia, Viscounts of the West Kingdom), S J Macdonald (Architects of the West Kingdom, Circadians: First Light, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Viscounts of the West Kingdom)

Artist: Mihajlo Dimitrievski (Architects of the West Kingdom, Explorers of the North Sea, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Raiders of the North Sea, Valeria: Card Kingdoms, Viscounts of the West Kingdom)

Publisher: Garphill Games (Architects of the West Kingdom, Circadians: First Light, Explorers of the North Sea, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Raiders of the North Sea, Raiders of Scythia, Viscounts of the West Kingdom)

Genre/Mechanisms: card drafting, city-building, expansion, medieval, set collection, variable player powers, worker placement

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: low

Summary: “Architects of the West Kingdom is set at the end of the Carolingian Empire, circa 850 AD. As royal architects, players compete to impress their King and maintain their noble status by constructing various landmarks throughout his newly appointed domain. Players need to collect raw materials, hire apprentices, and keep a watchful eye on their workforce. Works of Wonder introduces an extension to the main board to hold the new Contribution/Consequence Cards, and keep track of players’ Influence. Players compete to construct the 5 Wonders, while gaining support from the new Princess and Profiteer tokens moving about the main board. Also included is an entirely new solo system with 6 unique opponents to compete against.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $85

All-In (w/shipping): $317, includes everything to-date for the Of the West Kingdom series

Campaign Ends: 8/12

Game Ships: May 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 1821% with 14 days to go.

Project: Get To Da Checkpoint!

Designer: Sean Young (Chariots of Rome)

Artists: Sam Milham (Lost in Atlantis, Lost in Straya), Sean Young

Publisher: Skeleton Games

Genre/Mechanisms: abstract strategy, action/event, adventure, dice, dice rolling, different dice movement, events, fighting, humor, minimap resolution, multiple maps, print & play, push your luck, re-rolling and locking, solo/solitaire game, travel, zombies

Player Count: 1

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Your goal is to get your Squad through several areas (called Zones) of the wild jungles of South America. However, this area of the jungle has fallen victim to a number of hostile forces. Drug Lords, UFOs, invisible alien hunters, Nazis, zombies, headhunters, dinosaurs; any jungle action movie trope you can think of you’ll have to face and try to survive. You will need to balance moving, stealth, foraging for supplies and combat to survive. The only way to win is to Get to da Choppa before your squad is wiped out.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $55

All-In (w/shipping): $142, includes 4 additional games

Campaign Ends: 8/18

Game Ships: Apr. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 237% with 19 days to go.

Project: The Lost Code

Designer: Leo Colovini (Cartagena, Carolus Magnus, Clans)

Artist: Miguel Coimbra (7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel, 7 Wonders Second Edition, BattleLore, Cyclades, Hyperborea, Imhotep, Outlive, The Others, The Reckoners, Small World, Small World Underground, Tiny Epic Quest, When I Dream, Zombicide)

Publisher: Mojito Studios (Cleopatra and the Society of Architects: Deluxe Edition)

Genre/Mechanisms: deduction, dice rolling, paper-and-pencil, pattern recognition

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “The Lost Code is a deduction game in which you have to make progressive guesses to find what numbers you have. The Lost Code is a remake of the original game Think Str8! (born, in turn, from the X-Race projcet) that features brand new illustrations from Miguel Coimbra.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $57

All-In (w/shipping): $57, same as above

Campaign Ends: 8/26

Game Ships: Apr. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 50% with 27 days to go.

Project: Plant-Based Riot

Designers: Matt Ludlow, Roberto Rotaru, Courtney Wood

Artist: Roberto Rotaru

Publisher: Bubblegum Stuff

Genre/Mechanisms: betting & bluffing, card game, children’s game, deduction, fighting, finale ending, matching, memory, party game, set collection, take that

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Plant Based Riot is a light strategy, set collecting, card matching game. There’s gangs of terrible edibles, there’s thieving fruit, and there’s tons of card-based carnage. It’s got all the brutality of an actual food fight, only with way less clearing up afterwards. It’s designed with fluidity and fun in mind. It’s adaptable to all experience levels – from beginners to veterans – and age groups from 8 to 88. It’s also scalable, so the experience is just as riotous whether you’re playing one-on-one or a 5-way battle royale.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $39

All-In (w/shipping): $49

Campaign Ends: 8/31

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 18% with 33 days to go.

Project: The Zorro™ Dice Game: Stunts and Allies

Designers: Brian Henk (Good Cop Bad Cop, Leaders of Euphoria: Choose a Better Oppressor, New Salem), Clayton Skancke (Good Cop Bad Cop, Leaders of Euphoria: Choose a Better Oppressor, New Salem)

Artist: Loïc Billiau (Glen More, Spirit Island, Sprawlopolis, When I Dream)

Publisher: Pull the Pin Games (Good Cop Bad Cop, Good Cop Bad Cop Third Edition, The Zorro Dice Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, dice, dice rolling, expansion, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Gather equipment in The Zorro Dice Game by defeating heroic feats in Yahtzee/King of Tokyo-style dice rolling, either alone or with another player helping. Collect sets of heroic feats to earn more dice that only you can use, but that will also trigger a scoundrel or a villain. Once the villain emerges, whoever defeats them will win the game and become the next Zorro! Stunts and Allies gives each player an Ally, who levels up throughout the game, providing your hero with special abilities and a subtle catch-up mechanic. If your Ally reaches its max level, you will unlock your own, personal Ally Die as well. But each Ally has a weakness that you have to mitigate as you fight Scoundrels and Villains, which increases the difficulty of the game overall. Stunt Tokens offer additional opportunities for mid-turn tactics, like switching Heroic Feats or re-rolling dice. Lastly, Stunts and Allies adds Equipment, Scoundrels, and Villains to the base game as well for additional replayability and more combos to try in your overall strategy.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $27, just the new expansion

All-In (w/shipping): $138

Campaign Ends: 8/20

Game Ships: May 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 162% with 21 days to go.