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

Project: Helsinki Deluxe

Designers: Asger Harding Granerud (13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, Copenhagen, Flamme Rouge), Daniel Skjold Pedersen (13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, Copenhagen, Iron Curtain)

Artist: Markus Erdt (Copenhagen, Pioneers, Treasure Hunter)

Publisher: Queen Games (Amerigo, Chicago Express, Fresco, Lancaster, Shogun)

Genre/Mechanisms: grid coverage, open drafting

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “The famous Senate Square in the center of the Finnish capital is surrounded by government buildings, the university, the cathedral and the Sederholm House. The players ́ task is to design pavilions across the square to protect pedestrians in the rain. Helsinki is based on the design of Copenhagen by the same design team, but with some added complexity. The center board depicts the Senate Square with 8 spaces (two per side) and 8 cards, with each card connected to two spaces. The player on their turn advances their pawn 1-3 spaces, then must choose to take cards or build a pavilion. Each space is connected to two face up cards, and the player may choose to draw these into their hand (making sure to respect the 7 card hand limit, a key challenge in the game). The cards are in one of 5 colors and show a shape of size 2 to 5. To build a pavilion, the player plays a card showing the piece they want to play, and then must play an additional number of cards of the same color to match the size of the piece. Finally, the piece must be ‘slid’ onto their game board (which also represents the Senate Square) from the side of the Square their pawn is on on the main board. Covering certain spaces earns a coat of arms, which may be spent to use one of the 15 one-time special actions. Players score points for completing rows and columns, and the player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $73

All-In (w/shipping): $168

Campaign Ends: 7/8

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 800% with 9 days to go.

Project: RosenKreuz

Designer: Kanare Kato

Artists: Kanare Kato

Publisher: Kanare_Abstract

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 player only games, abstract strategy, grid movement, square grid, static capture

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A new abstract strategy game for two players. It uses a checkerboard of 8 x 8 squares, like chess and checkers, but with very different mechanics from both. The players’ pieces are distinguished by symbols, and both have equal numbers of black and white pieces. The object of the game is to capture all of the opponent’s pieces of either color. The game is characterized by three different capture methods. By major capture, you can capture your opponent’s pieces by forming a group of the same color with your opponent’s pieces and your own pieces. By minor capture, you can capture an enemy piece on a square of a different color than it by replacing. By attainment capture, you can capture any opponent piece by reaching the far end of the board. Your piece can be moved by jumping over friendly pieces, so the game develops quickly. You need to read the board and make good use of the three capture methods to advance the game to your advantage.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $28

All-In (w/shipping): $76

Campaign Ends: 7/9

Game Ships: July 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 143% with 10 days to go.