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

Project: Big Bad Evil Guy

Designer: Greg Qualls

Artist: Greg Qualls

Publisher: Die Alone Games

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative game, dice rolling, map addition

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Build your character by managing resources and battling foes all while exploring a map to find and defeat the Big Bad Evil Guy. Through strategy and teamwork, the aim is to make your character strong enough to defeat the Big Bad Evil Guy and their minions.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $52

All-In (w/shipping): $52, same as above

Campaign Ends: 12/2

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 13% with 41 days to go.

Project: Bios: Mesofauna & Galenus

Designers: Phil Eklund (Bios: Mesofauna, High Frontier, Pax Porfiriana, Pax Renaissance), Harry-Pekka Kuusela (Essen, Galenus, Operation: Kindergarten)

Artists: Madeleine Fjäll (Bios: Mesofauna, Pax Viking), Josefin Strand (Galenus, High Frontier 4 All)

Publisher: Ion Game Design (Galenus, Neanderthal, Pax Porfiriana, Pax Renaissance); Sierra Madre Games (Bios: Mesofauna, High Frontier, Pax Porfiriana, Pax Renaissance)

Genre/Mechanisms: area majority/influence, card drafting, modular board, territory building (Bios: Mesofauna); set collection, worker placement (Galenus)

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “Bios:Mesofauna is an alternative Bios:Megafauna. That is, it starts and ends at the same time. It follows the same sort of Achterbahn environment, same climate change, same or similar creeples, same VP, same tiles, same card colors, same cratons and drift, same basic and Achterbahn games, same catastrophes, same greenhouse, cloudiness, and oxygen. Same terrestrial settings. The setting is the same, only the animals are smaller.

Galenus is a worker placement game where you place up to 6 action pawns and then decide when and how to resolve them. In this way some players can still be placing pawns while you are already resolving them. You can choose to cure patients, which will gain knowledge in one of four types of ailments, publish works based on that knowledge, show off your skills in the theater, acquire medicines to aid your work, rest to rejuvenate your own health, or adopt a new philosophy. At the end of the round you compete in medical contests via blind bidding that may give you more prestige. Whoever has the most points gained from these various tasks or first publishes 8 works wins the game.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $59

All-In (w/shipping): $134, includes both games

Campaign Ends: 11/9

Game Ships: June 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 236% with 18 days to go.

Project: Captain’s Log: Crisis Detected

Designer: Casey L. Jeremiason

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Tally Mark Entertainment

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, hand management, negotiation, political, space exploration, take that

Player Count: 3-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A space themed competitive card game. Players act as Captains and command a fleet of spaceships holding valuable cargo. The deck is made up of cards that can protect your ships, attack opponents ships, and interact with another player’s actions. Choose your targets wisely as the game may require you to form an alliance to stay alive. The game ends when one player has all their ships destroyed with the winner being the one with the most valuable cargo remaining.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $26

All-In (w/shipping): $250, includes vanity reward

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: June 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 17% with 28 days to go.

Project: Champions of Kreya

Designers: Daniel Pichlbauer, Florian Rammerstorfer

Artist: Henry Iwanaga (Blood Bowl: Team Manager – The Card Game, Monumental)

Publisher: Firesheep Games

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, card game, deck building, fighting, end game bonuses, hand management, take that

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Pick a squad of three champions, position them strategically and use their abilities and mystical artifacts to control the ever-changing tide of battle in an attempt to obliterate the competition.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $40

All-In (w/shipping): $132, includes vanity reward

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: July 2020

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

Project: Commissioned: The Call

Designer: Patrick Lysaght (Commissioned, Unauthorized)

Artist: Kenneth Spond (Commissioned, Soul of the Empire)

Publisher: Chara Games (Commissioned, Soul of the Empire, Unauthorized)

Genre/Mechanisms: area movement, cooperative game, deck building, educational, expansion, religious, set collection, solo/solitaire game, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “The Call explores challenges Early Christians faced inside the Church as they struggled day-by-day to live in their new-found freedom of grace. The Call is an expansion to Commissioned, a cooperative game with a simple deck-building mechanism where players are the early Christian Apostles and must work together to mature their faith decks, grow the church, collect the books of the New Testament, and overcome persecution.”

Base Pledge (w/free shipping): $29

All-In (w/free shipping): $115, includes base game plus additional game

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Aug. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 343% with 28 days to go.

Project: Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game

Designers: Nick Niotis, Argyris Pouggouras

Artist: Christopher Bourassa

Publisher: Mythic Games (Mythic Battles: Pantheon, Super Fantasy Brawl, Time of Legends: Joan of Arc)

Genre/Mechanisms: exploration, cooperative game, role playing, video game theme

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Gather heroes, brave the darkness and face the lurking abominations in this cooperative, rogue-like, RPG dungeon crawler” and video game adaptation. “The game is played in campaigns of 11 missions.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $134

All-In (w/shipping): $184

Campaign Ends: 11/6

Game Ships: Nov. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 474% with 15 days to go.

Project: Dragon Gyas

Designer: Susumu Kawasaki (R-Eco, Robotory, Traders of Osaka)

Artist: Kinu Nishimura

Publisher: Arclight Games (Deca Slayer)

Genre/Mechanisms: hand management, hidden movement, miniatures

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Players control one of two sides: the Royal Order and their giant robot known as the Hexgyas or the Grandragon and dragonewts bent on extinction of human race.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $186

All-In (w/shipping): $506

Campaign Ends: 11/2

Game Ships: July 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 25% with 11 days to go.

Project: Elemies

Designers: not credited

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Evaura Creations

Genre/Mechanisms: advantage token, card game, hand management, ladder-climbing, memory, team-based game, trading, trick-taking

Player Count: 4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Get rid of your cards first, win the battles, and collect treasure points for your team. Be ready to lead and to follow; attack and hold your ground. The world of Elemies demands balance.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $50

All-In (w/shipping): $138

Campaign Ends: 11/20

Game Ships: Dec. 2020

Funding Status: Currently at 6% with 28 days to go.

Project: Freedom Five: A Sentinel Comics Board Game

Designers: Richard Launius (Arkham Horror, Defenders of the Realm, Elder Sign), Adam Sadler (Descent: Journeys in the Dark, Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – The Force Awakens Core Set, Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game), Brady Sadler (Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – The Force Awakens Core Set, Street Masters, Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Arcane Wonders (Mage Wars Arena, Onitama, Sheriff of Nottingham, Smartphone Inc.)

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative game, solo/solitaire game, superheroes

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: A co-operative strategy game re-implementing Defenders of the Realm in which superheroes “race to protect their home city and its inhabitants from an onslaught of villainy from Baron Blade and his criminal cohorts. Each player must master their character’s unique abilities to manage multiple crises throughout the city of Megalopolis.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $79

All-In (w/shipping): $229

Campaign Ends: 11/13

Game Ships: Nov. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 367% with 22 days to go.

Project: Here be Dragons – Into the Unknown

Designers: Kim Åberg, Kim Jansson

Artist: Kim Jansson

Publisher: Todys Design

Genre/Mechanisms: acting, action points, adventure, alliances, dice rolling, exploration, fighting, hexagon grid, income, map addition, miniatures, multiple maps, player elimination

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Combines the tactical play of a strategy game with the character building of a roleplaying game to create a brand-new adventure. Compete with other explorers by earning victory points and survive the consuming darkness of the Devourer.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $62

All-In (w/shipping): $73

Campaign Ends: 11/11

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 24% with 20 days to go.

Project: Midnight Murder Mysteries

Designer: Alain Luttringer (Minuit, Meurtre en Mer)

Artists: Baptiste Reymann (Minuit, Meurtre en Mer), Fabrice Weiss (Colors of Paris, Pentaquark, Seven7s)

Publisher: Multifaces Editions (Minuit, Meurtre en Mer)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, area movement, bluffing, deduction, exploration, murder/mystery, paper-and-pencil, scenario/mission/campaign game, storytelling

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “You and your fellow private detectives are aboard a majestic cruise ship when the lifeless body of one of the occupants is found in their luxury suite. The prime suspects are the twelve occupants of the VIP cabins on the upper deck. They are the only ones who could have had access.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $65

All-In (w/shipping): $76

Campaign Ends: 11/10

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 9% with 19 days to go.

Project: Nova Aetas: Renaissance

Designers: Luca Bernardini (Nova Aetas, Sine Tempore), Andrea Colletti (Nova Aetas, Sine Tempore)

Artist: Fernando Armentano (Barbarians: The Invasion, Black Rose Wars, Village Attacks), Antonio De Luca (Barrage, Dojo Kun, Sine Tempore), Paolo Scippo (Black Rose Wars, Dungeonology: The Expedition, Nova Aetas), Giovanni Pirrotta (Black Rose Wars, Dungeonology: The Expedition, Nova Aetas), Simone de Paolis (Black Rose Wars, D.E.I. – Divide et Impera, Dungeonology: The Expedition), Tommaso Incecchi (Black Rose Wars, Dungeonology: The Expedition, The Faceless)

Publisher: Ludus Magnus Studio (Black Rose Wars, Dungeonology: The Expedition, Sine Tempore)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, adventure, cooperative game, dice rolling, fighting, grid movement, miniatures, modular board, role playing, storytelling, team-based game, time track, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Set in the Italian Renaissance, this game will guide you through a fantastic, mythical campaign based upon the historic events of the war between Rome and Venice in the early 1500s. Nova Aetas: Renaissance is a reimplementation of Nova Aetas. This new, improved version, is born from the experience gained during these years and will give you an even deeper experience by immersing you and your group in a charming and mysterious Italy, full of historical characters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Caterina Sforza, and many others – both real and imaginary.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $93

All-In (w/shipping): $183

Campaign Ends: 11/12

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 499% with 21 days to go.

Project: Shadow Network

Designer: Ralph Rosario (The Alpha)

Artists: James Churchill (Hogs of War: The Miniatures Game, Jason Washburn (Camp Pinetop, Vinyl, Winterborne)

Publisher: Talon Strikes Studio (House of Borgia, Vinyl, Winterborne)

Genre/Mechanisms: contracts, economic, spies/secret agents, worker placement

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “A worker placement style game where players are deploying their agents around the globe collecting fragments of intel. These fragments are then promoted to an actionable state that can be used against a high profile target and earning player’s influence — the currency in the game. As the players gather intel from a city, intel is also leaked to other cities thereby potentially helping other agencies. Additional agents can be deployed but at a cost. Furthermore, handlers can assist with exchanging intel thereby giving the agency the leg up. At end of four rounds of play, agencies will bribe their high profile targets for more influence. In the end the player with the most influence is the winner.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $49

All-In (w/shipping): $58

Campaign Ends: 11/2

Game Ships: Nov. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 35% with 11 days to go.

Project: Shards of Madness

Designer: Liu Xiao (Dim Sum Jam, Glyph Jam, Herbalism)

Artist: Robin Elliott (Exploriana, Leagues of Adventure: Rocket Race)

Publisher: Triple Ace Games, Ltd. (Exploriana, Halfling Feast, Leagues of Adventure: Rocket Race)

Genre/Mechanisms: horror, resource to move

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Players compete to summon the most valuable objects and creatures. The player who manages to obtain the highest value cards after six cards have been summoned from the gates wins the game”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $38

All-In (w/shipping): $45

Campaign Ends: 11/12

Game Ships: Oct. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 23% with 21 days to go.

Project: Townsfolk Tussle

Designers: Stephen Louis, Tony Mayer, Rachel Rusk

Artists: Stephen Louis, Tony Mayer, Rachel Rusk

Publisher: Panic Roll

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative game, critical hits and failures, square grid, team-based game

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A co-op boss battler set in a vintage cartoon universe. In each game, your goal is to take down four unique Ruffians, each one tougher than the last. You’ll build up your townsfolk with gear, explore Eureka Springs, and concoct unique strategies to take down even more unique hoodlums.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $105

All-In (w/shipping): $105, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 304% with 28 days to go.

Project: Trade Nation

Designer: Toby Lancaster

Artist: Toby Lancaster

Publisher: DR Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, card play conflict resolution, increase value of unchosen resources, set collection, stock holding

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A game of resources and market values. Increase or decrease the value of resources to gain the most points when you sell them. While trying to prevent the other players from gaining the upper hand, by decreasing the value of their stock. The player who has gained the most points when all resources have been sold, during and at the end of the game is the winner.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $39

All-In (w/shipping): $59

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Dec. 2020

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

Project: Treasure Hogs

Designer: Brian Farr

Artists: Thomas Blue, Tracy Farr

Publisher: Farrshire Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, hand management, take that

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A competitive, fast-paced card game where players take on the role of an Archeologist and compete to become the ultimate Treasure Hog. Thieves lurk in the shadows and your riches could be stolen at any moment! Players use resources from their hand each having value ranging from one to three, hogging as many treasures as possible on their turn. The more value used to gain the available treasure, the less chance another player will be able to steal your riches.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $31

All-In (w/shipping): $31, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/12

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 14% with 21 days to go.

Project: The Treasure of Montecristo Island

Designer: Bryan Scheidler

Artists: Brian Carroll, Megan Scheidler

Publisher: Good Nerd Bad Nerd Games

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, adventure, dice rolling, events, team-based game

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “The objective of The Treasure of Montecristo Island is to survive together as a team long enough to find the treasure, avoid the Thief, and escape the island. The game is over when all living players return to their ship in the northwest with the treasure OR the Thief escapes to their ship in the northeast with the treasure.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $69

All-In (w/shipping): $545

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Mar. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 11% with 28 days to go.

Project: Velocity: Vanguard

Designers: Joe Cornell, Larry Wolfe

Artists: BalanceSheet, Larry Wolfe

Publisher: Precarious Games

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, adventure, cooperative game, critical hits and failures, drafting, events, grid movement, hexagon grid, miniatures, moving multiple units, scenario/mission/campaign game, simulation, space exploration

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A physics-based space board game with fast and kinetic gameplay. Story driven missions are designed for players as individual commanders or teams. You’ll encounter asteroids, defense stations, powerful automated enemies, and many other surprises.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $113

All-In (w/shipping): $113, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/18

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 5% with 27 days to go.

Project: Wandersquares: The Underwood Tunnels

Designer: Matthew Carlson

Artist: Matthew Carlson

Publisher: Matthew Carlson

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, hand management, modular board, point to point movement, storytelling

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A fantasy table-top role-playing game featuring an ever-changing map, a choose-your-path adventure guide, and 16 inspiring characters to choose from. ”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $64

All-In (w/shipping): $76

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Mar. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 25% with 28 days to go.