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

Project: Defeat O.D.I.N. System

Designers: Josè Alejandro Lupico Barca, Alessandro Pellegrini

Artists: Josè Alejandro Lupico Barca (Nova Aetas, Sine Tempore), Valentina Rufo VIVAIOLET

Publisher: Game to Play

Genre/Mechanisms: action queue, area majority/influence, card game, moving multiple units, science fiction, turn order: claim action, victory points as a resource

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In Defeat O.D.I.N. System, players are hackers who fight in a cyberchallenge for the salvation of their virtual anonymity. Through the choice of warez attacks, players will interfere with the actions of others, bypass the defenses of the Corporations, and drag as many of their D.N.A. in the main frame O.D.I.N. and be able to overwrite the data in the only phantom virtual identity.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $45

All-In (w/shipping): $240, includes vanity rewards

Campaign Ends: 6/25

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 12% with 23 days to go.

Project: Final Fusion

Designer: Rafał Cywicki (Alcatraz: The Scapegoat, Enchanters, Enchanters: Overlords)

Artist: Bartek Repetowski (Enchanters, Enchanters: Overlords)

Publisher: Gindi (Liski: Ojojanie)

Genre/Mechanisms: area movement, card play conflict resolution, deck building, deck construction, variable player powers, variable set-up

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Mix two unique factions and lead them to battle among the stars from the first turn. Use or Colonize vivid locations in space, upgrade your deck with new technology cards and evolve your aliens and ultimately conquer the universe by harnessing the power of Final Fusion.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $84

All-In (w/shipping): $113

Campaign Ends: 6/16

Game Ships: Mar. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 12% with 15 days to go.

Project: Heroes of Thargos

Designers: Chris Loizou, Bryan Steele

Artist: Ryan Verhagen

Publisher: Spartans Unleashed

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, action/event, bluffing, campaign/battle card driven, card drafting, card game, card play conflict resolution, cooperative game, fantasy, hand management, highest-lowest scoring, move through deck, role playing, stat check resolution, turn order: progressive

Player Count: 1-2

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In the Cursed Empire Heroes of Thargos Card Game, players battle one another or collaborate in the RPG setting of Thargos using a simple-to-learn card-resource management system to compete over four mission tracks. Each track has a mission card for players to fulfill, for which they will receive victory points (VP); as mission cards are completed, you replace them from your own decks to help even the playing field. The Additional Story Mode which can be played from the base set and using expansions too will allow for collaborative play and street level adventures that can be a tie-in for the Cursed Empire RPG for side quests or build on the standalone card game from the Core Set I.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $43

All-In (w/shipping): $73

Campaign Ends: 7/5

Game Ships: Oct. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 10% with 33 days to go.

Project: Mechanical Beast

Designer: Ben Morayta

Artists: Apolline Etienne (Fossilis, Muse, Wreck Raiders), Brigette Indelicato (Art Decko, Sea of Legends, War Chest)

Publisher: Side Room Games (Black Sonata, Maquis, Orchard)

Genre/Mechanisms: map addition, map deformation, network and route building, puzzle, science fiction, solo/solitaire game, tile placement

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Mechanical Beast is a tile laying/manipulation puzzle, where you play as an exploration party of engineers who, together with your android helper, must explore the belly of a giant robot to find its control room and deactivate it. During the first part of the game, the maze will grow as you explore, until you find the off switch. The rest of the game the rooms are collapsing around you, and you must quickly make your way to the exit before the robot locks down, trapping you forever inside its bowels. You can change the layout of the rooms using the gears you find within, to help you find an exit. You win by getting everyone, including the people you find trapped within and your trusted android, out of the beast. The game can be played solo, co-op, or competitively with up to 4 players.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $30

All-In (w/shipping): $46

Campaign Ends: 6/24

Game Ships: Jan. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 289% with 23 days to go.