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

Project: Empower Empathy

Designers: Angel Liang, Tina Shimizu

Artists: Angel Liang, Tina Shimizu

Publisher: Tiny Sprouts

Genre/Mechanisms: acting, action/event, card play conflict resolution, children’s game, contracts, connections, cooperative game, educational, narrative choice/paragraph, negotiation, roll/spin and move, scenario/mission/campaign game, simulation, simultaneous action selection, storytelling, team-based game, turn order: claim action

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “The citizens of the city Empathropolis have been under heavy emotional duress ever since the villain Goobi has made the city sewers his new home, Apathalypse. He goes about town casting spells of emotional confusion on otherwise everyday, normal situations. Fortunately, Empathropolis has its very own team of superheroes to the rescue. As members of the Super Squad, you are thereby summoned to patrol and restore the City back to peace. As you chase Goobi around the city, various City Watch scenarios are unveiled as you identify as many emotions and appropriate responses are at play. You will gain powers to strengthen your emotional powers and use them to banish Goobi back to his sewers. This cooperative game and Exploration Guidebook help children develop emotional awareness and empathy with a positive growth mindset by transforming them into superheroes with superpowers that can resolve any social dilemma.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $84

All-In (w/shipping): $84, same as above

Campaign Ends: 12/15

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 24% with 28 days to go.

Project: ESOPYA

Designer: Daniele Saleggia

Artist: Francesca Adreone

Publisher: Nima Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card drafting, card game, deck building, fantasy

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A card game for 1-4 players. It is played on a tactical board and the purpose of the game is to defeat the rival kingdom by summoning creatures that move across the battlefield or by casting powerful spells. Esopya is also the name of a fantasy world. During its ancient history, many different civilizations were born: Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Vampires, Ogres, Sorcerers and so many others. From the planet, it is possible to assimilate a very powerful energy source: Mana. It is a resource that allows people to grow and dominate others. Some defend their sources, others seek for new ones. You can build your own deck, with your own tactics, or play with a ready-to-play one.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $76

All-In (w/shipping): $140

Campaign Ends: 12/13

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 13% with 26 days to go.

Project: Free at Last

Designer: Ted Torgerson (1989: Dawn of Freedom)

Artist: Jacob Walker (13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, Star Wars: Rebellion, Sun Tzu)

Publisher: The Dietz Foundation

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, hand management, political, semi-cooperative game, set collection, team-based game, worker placement

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A card-driven boardgame for 2-6 players (that can also be played solo quite easily) that puts the players in the middle of the American South during the Civil Rights Movement from February 1, 1960 going through the summer of 1965.  Each player controls one of the five key civil rights organizations: CORE, NAACP, the LDF, SCLC, SNCC, and if there is a sixth player, they play as the coalition within the US Congress advocating for civil rights. That’s a key thing though about Free at Last.  It’s not about Washington DC.  This is about the people on the scene, the ones active in promoting equal rights and the end of segregation. As a card-driven game (CDG), players take turns playing cards from their hand.  These cards let the players take actions to accomplish Projects–examples include working to desegregate schools in New Orleans; Fayette County voter registration; as well as the various Freedom Rides across the south.  They also can be used for a specific event on the card, granting special powers to the players– but also potentially creating future disadvantageous consequences or making cooperation between the players’ groups more difficult.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $75

All-In (w/shipping): $180

Campaign Ends: 12/15

Game Ships: Aug. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 69% with 18 days to go.

Project: Parsifal – A Game of Tarots

Designer: Osvaldo Duilio Rossi

Artist: Emanuele Ercolani (Channel A)

Publisher: Psicografici

Genre/Mechanisms: alliances, card game, chaining, command cards, fantasy, hand management, induction, interrupts, lose a turn, matching, medieval, music, player elimination, scenario/mission/campaign game, semi-cooperative game, storytelling, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A game that breaks the mold by reinterpreting Richard Wagner’s opera with a fantasy twist through 30 tarots (23 characters and 7 artifacts). In Parsifal – A Game of Tarots you will find a high level of strategic interdependence: each player controls multiple characters and, at each turn, they must choose which to tarot play with to win. Each character has their missions to accomplish: you will only win when one of your characters completes them all. Artifacts make the game even more exciting and deep: these are precious and dangerous tools, which can turn around the outcome of a game. Choose your strategy at each turn and tackle the three mandatory imperatives to heed the call: Desire, Despair, Duty.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $41

All-In (w/shipping): $246

Campaign Ends: 12/15

Game Ships: July 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 26% with 28 days to go.