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

Project: Amulet of Thrayax

Designer: Tom Truman

Artist: Vincent Vyce

Publisher: Trolls ‘n’ Rerolls

Genre/Mechanisms: area movement, fantasy, hand management, humor, modular board, resource to move, take that, worker placement

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A competitive, card-driven area control board game. You are eccentric cults, rampaging through the dystopian fantasy city of Bleakpyre, harvesting the souls of decadent nobles and selfish peasants with every outrageous tool at your disposal. Battling to win the powerful Amulet of Thrayax, use a combination of Murder and Counter cards to reap souls – AKA points – from the city. To claim the amulet, you’ll need to bring all your most devious tactics to the party. Spend souls to swoop from District to District. Tip the scales with a variety of corrupt, monstrous and messy ‘inconveniences.’ Hijack your opponent’s best-laid plans to feed your own soul engine. Manipulate the Amulet’s power to unleash the biggest and baddest combos on your unsuspecting rivals. When the final bell chimes, the winner is the cult that has beaten and hoodwinked the most souls out of Bleakpyre.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $62

All-In (w/shipping): $78

Campaign Ends: 6/30

Game Ships: Apr. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 65% with 29 days to go.

Project: Book of Skulls: Slayers of Eragoth

Designer: Andrew Feehan

Artists: Jurijus Chitrovas, Qasim H, Robson Michel (Rolling Empires), Tuan Dat Phan, Augustinas Raginskis (Cadaver, Carcosa, Poison), Wero Gallo

Publisher: CloudRunner Games

Genre/Mechanisms: action/event, adventure, area movement, campaign / battle card driven, cooperative game, dice, dice rolling, different dice movement, events, exploration, fantasy, fighting, finale ending, grid movement, medieval, modular board, move through deck, multi-use cards, multiple maps, music, mythology, narrative choice / paragraph, once-per-game abilities, paper-and-pencil, player elimination, rolls / spin and move, scenario / mission / campaign game, storytelling, team-based game, turn order: progressive, turn order: random, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Heavy Metal meets Fantasy. Book of Skulls: Slayers of Eragoth board game is a huge dungeon-crawling adventure where two teams battle to save the continent of Eragoth. Teams act as the others’ opponents: whilst one team controls the heroic Slayers of Eragoth, the opposing team will control the Demons they encounter until it is time to switch to their own Slayers. The objective whilst controlling the Slayers is to clear the Overworld and defeat the final boss first, whilst controlling the Demons your aim is to defeat the opposing team’s Slayers. Replay value and combat is at the heart of Book of Skulls. During your adventure, you will have access to over 150 unique characters, each with their own movesets. Set the Overworld using 10 interchangeable modular maps (levels) that each represent a unique region of Eragoth. A different adventure awaits with each game as any number of levels can be selected and placed in any order, allowing you to customize the duration of your game. Book of Skulls is fully soundtracked with an original Metal soundtrack which perfectly sets the mood for battling the Demons of Eragoth.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $77

All-In (w/shipping): $103

Campaign Ends: 6/30

Game Ships: June 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 3% with 28 days to go.

Project: Court

Designers: Christopher Bouthner, Michael Swank

Artist: Samhypewaltz

Publisher: B5 Productions

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, set collection, trick-taking

Player Count: 3-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A trick taking game with a twist. If you like classic trick taking games like Spades, Euchre or Hearts, you will love the extra strategy in Court which includes special card powers, varying objectives and set collection. Each player has a hand of cards, they take turns playing a card into the ‘trick’ like traditional trick taking games highest card played wins the trick and a crown worth -2 points at the end of the game but in Court the lowest card played in the trick gets to trigger its card power. Winning tricks is powerful but sometimes you want to come in last to trigger that special power just at the right moment to swing the game. You have to watch out for the powerful character cards though, when played they not only win the trick but also get to use their power. After a trick is completed the winner gets to distribute the cards played to the ‘Court’ in front of each player, the court serves two purposes, first the cards in each players court at the end of the hand is the players score for the round. Second after scoring each player picks up the cards in their court and that is their hand for the next round. There is also random special objectives in play rewarding players with negative points for getting specific card combinations in their court. The game is played over 3 rounds. At the end of three rounds the player with the lowest score wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $23

All-In (w/shipping): $100, includes vanity reward

Campaign Ends: 6/30

Game Ships: May 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 117% with 23 days to go.

Project: Cryptodome

Designer: Jacob Varro

Artist: Nakarin Sukontakorn (Hako Onna, Monolith Arena, Sidereal Confluence)

Publisher: Jacob Varro

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, abstract strategy, cyberpunk, fantasy, layering, maze, science fiction, square grid, tile placement, turn order: random, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-8

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “The most popular game show set in a future where technology has exploded in countless directions. Salvagers find creative ways to use these technologies to build upon their suits to help navigate an underground magma chamber on Planet Varcob. Play as a salvager, each with a unique ability, as you make your way around the Cryptodome. The object of the game is to be the first to collect three Power Cores that are located around the outside of the board. Players start at the center and use move cards to make their way to one of the outer edges of the board to collect an artifact or power core. Once collected it’s kept for the remainder of the game and the player is teleported back to the start. Artifacts give powerful abilities, but do not contribute to winning the game. Players get to choose two actions for their turn. They can choose any combination of placing a tile, using a move, and/or drawing a card. Placing a tile allows players to change the path to their advantage or to block their opponents. Using a move can only be done if the corresponding paths are connected. Drawing a card can result in a move card or an ability card.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $55

All-In (w/shipping): $55, same as above

Campaign Ends: 6/29

Game Ships: Jan. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 1% with 28 days to go.

Project: The Gig

Designers: Jamie Gray, Dann May (Planetarium), Robb Smigielski, Lewis Shaw (Downsize, Mined Out!)

Artists: Dann May (Black Orchestra, Everdell, A War of Whispers), Robb Smigielski, Lewis Shaw (Downsize, Farsight)

Publisher: Braincrack Games (Dead & Breakfast, Ragusa, Venice)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice, dice rolling, end-game bonuses, jazz, music, pattern building, re-rolling and locking, real-time, roll-and-write, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Players are members of a jazz group, improvising their way through a song, vying for the spotlight and trying to please the audience whilst working up mind-blowing solos. The game takes place over six rounds, or ‘songs.’ Each song, players count down then roll and place dice in real time to gain symbols and create patterns. When one player has placed all four of their dice, they shout ‘take it to the bridge!’ and players must stop re-rolling, and place the remainder of their dice. After placing all their dice, each player can add the shape their dice formed on the song to their instrument’s unique solo board – each of which offers a different challenge and way of scoring. Players can use symbols gained via the song and their solo boards to quickly change their dice, keep them for endgame scoring, or spend them to buy Audience cards, each of which represents a newly-gained fan who will give you another way of scoring points at the end of the game. After the set list of six songs has been played, the winner is the player with the most points gained from their solo, audience cards, symbol sets and majorities, and harmonies. Includes a solo mode by Dávid Turczi.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $41

All-In (w/shipping): $54

Campaign Ends: 6/21

Game Ships: Apr. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 70% with 19 days to go.

Project: Heroes & Wizards the Card Game

Designer: Jof Croxford

Artist: Jof Croxford

Publisher: Jof Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, fantasy, race, set collection, take that

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A light-hearted and party-ready card game where players race to collect a winning combination of legendary heroes in order to embark on an epic quest to save the game’s kingdom from impending doom. Players can steal hero cards, enlist the help of powerful wizard cards and play mischief-making event cards as they prepare their party of heroes for adventure. To launch a quest and win the game, a player’s party must first acquire heroes with enough compatible skills between them, then the player must get their hands on an elusive quest card in order to lock down victory before their opponents get the chance.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $28

All-In (w/shipping): $28, same as above

Campaign Ends: 6/28

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 141% with 27 days to go.

Project: iNZects Game

Designer: Rhiannon McKinstry

Artist: Rhiannon McKinstry

Publisher: MKE Games

Genre/Mechanisms: animals, children’s game, connections, dice, dice rolling, educational, line drawing, network & route building, print & play

Player Count: 3-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “New Zealand has native creatures found nowhere else in the world, including some interesting insects. Roll and choose your dice, draw insect tracks to connect the insects to their homes.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $72

All-In (w/shipping): $78

Campaign Ends: 6/30

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 7% with 28 days to go.

Project: RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg

Designers: Mat Hart (Dark Souls: The Board Game, Guild Ball, Resident Evil 2: The Board Game), Sherwin Matthews (Bardsung, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game, Resident Evil 2: The Board Game), Fraser McFetridge (Bardsung), Jamie Perkins (Monster Hunter World: The Board Game)

Artist: Doug Telford (Bardsung, Godtear, Guild Hall)

Publishers: Steamforged Games (Dark Souls: The Board Game, Guild Ball, Resident Evil 2: The Board Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative game, dice rolling, fantasy, miniatures, scenario / mission / campaign game, solo / solitaire game, video game theme,

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Gather your group of 1-5 players and step into a sometimes epic, often irreverent fantasy world where your goal is simple: become the wealthiest, most skilled, best-geared adventurer there is. Or, just enough of all three to succeed together. Or spend the whole time collecting eggs and let your friends do all the work. It’s cooperative, after all. Either way, Gielinor needs capable folk to help its inhabitants and keep monsters and nefarious cults at bay, and that’s where your group steps in. One minute you’re slaying a vampyre that’s been terrorising a village. The next, you’re helping Gertrude find her beloved cat. Like chapters in a book, your tabletop adventure is split into campaigns, each one inspired by an iconic boss quest from the video games. Campaigns are made up of two phases: first is the exploration phase, where you’ll explore the kingdoms of Asgarnia and Misthalin from above on a game board styled like a fast-travel map. Every location gives you different things to do — whether that’s gathering and sharing resources, levelling up skills, or drawing from the exploration deck for that region to see what unexpected thing you’ll need to handle next. Don’t get too distracted, though; the exploration phase has set quests you’ll need to complete to keep your group moving forward. Spend too long gathering cabbages or engaging in goblin diplomacy, and the escalation track will rise, making the world around you more dangerous until you finally take on the boss in the boss phase. Here, you’ll zoom in for face-to-face fights on dedicated game boards that bring the bosses — and their environments — to life. The story woven through the campaigns will immerse you in the fantasy world of RuneScape, while the optional side quests, exploration decks, vault deck, and event deck will change your experience each time you play. And because it’s an open world, you can play your way. Even your adventurer starts as a blank slate. There are no fixed classes in this game. You choose what skills to max and what gear to craft. Use those skills and gear to pass tests and complete quests to help your group win the day, then take what you’ve learned and earned on to the next campaign. Gain XP (even when you fail!) and rewards, and level up to earn your all-important cape. But it’s not all capes and capers. At the end of every campaign waits a boss that’ll take all the skills of your group — yes, even cooking — to defeat. Pulled into face-to-face combat on unfamiliar terrain, your group’s shared health pool is all that stands between you and Death (and he wouldn’t be pleased to see you). Roll the dice on your melee, defense, and magic to strike, protect yourself, and push the boss back. Use your wits to plan ahead and influence the flow of combat to throw the boss off balance. And don’t expect them to take your onslaught lying down. They, too, have ways to keep you on your toes.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $107

All-In (w/shipping): $241

Campaign Ends: 6/10

Game Ships: Nov. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 408% with 8 days to go.

Project: SA-RÊ (on Gamefound)

Designer: François Bachelart (Aetherya, La Petite Mort, Symbioz)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Nostromo Éditions (Aetherya)

Genre/Mechanisms: ancient, city-building, push your luck, race, resource to move

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Pharaoh is about to abdicate and give the reins of power to one of his children: the Sa-Re. To determine who will be the most able to rule Egypt among them, Pharaoh gives his children a mission: each of them should build a monumental city. The most talented will receive the crown. Each player has their own construction site, resources and workers, who need to be ‘incited’ to work faster and better than the others. But beware of revolts that could paralyze your plans. Each turn, players can choose to push their workers beyond their limits to work more than necessary and accumulate resources to erect new buildings. These buildings will reward players with various advantages during the game. Be the first one to erect a monumental city and rule over Egypt.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $67

All-In (w/shipping): $99

Campaign Ends: 6/22

Game Ships: Feb. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 33% with 20 days to go.

Project: Thornraver: Battle for Solus

Designer: Randy Van Gelder (Master of Wills)

Artist: Joshua Calloway (Fallen, The King’s Armory, Master of Wills)

Publisher: Stormcrest Games (Master of Wills)

Genre/Mechanisms: deck construction, hand management, territory-building, tug of war, wargame

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A two player (3 or 4 if you own two sets) game that expands the world out to the continent of Solus. Where Master of Wills was a cross between Tug-O-War and Chess, Thornraver is a cross between Risk and War (and of course, Master of Wills). This is an area control game in which both players begin with an HQ and two capitals. The objective is to gain control of the Population, Resources, Regions, Leaders and Districts. You can win by majority control or eliminating your opposition.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $49

All-In (w/shipping): $109

Campaign Ends: 6/21

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 69% with 19 days to go.