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

Project: Crabs in a Bucket

Designer: Rick Gardner

Artist: Mikayla Tubbiola

Publisher: Blue Rondo Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, hand management, take that, trick-taking

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A fast-paced shedding type card game that blends luck, strategy, and a cast of colorful crab characters. The goal of the game is to be the first player to play or discard their entire hand. At the beginning of the game, players are dealt 7 cards each from the deck. The deck consists of 52 suited cards (resembling a standard deck) and 22 ‘Joker Crabs,’ which are unsuited. In the process of playing and discarding their hands, players utilize two separate discard piles, one for suited cards (referred to simply as ‘The Discard Pile’) and another for Joker Crabs (referred to as ‘The Joker Pile’). Suited cards may be played on the discard pile on top of other cards that match their suit or number. Once a suited card is played, a player may also discard all cards of higher value of the same suit from their hand. Jacks, Queens, and Kings have special effects referred to as ‘punishments.’ As long as a Jack, Queen, or King is on the top of the discard pile, no Joker Crabs may be played. Additionally, if a player cannot play on them, they must draw cards at the end of their turn.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $20

All-In (w/shipping): $70

Campaign Ends: 3/14

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 160% with 27 days to go.