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

Project: 6: Siege – The Board Game

Designer: Carlos G.Q.

Artists: Stéphane Gantiez (Claustrophobia, Codenames, Libertalia, Lords of Xidit, Mythic Battles: Pantheon, Seasons, Snow Tails, Survive: Escape From Atlantis!), Henning Ludvigsen (Android: Netrunner, Arkham Horror, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, BattleLore: Second Edition, Battles of Westeros, Black Rose Wars, Blood Rage, Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition, A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition, The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, Mansions of Madness, Merchant of Venus Second Edition, Nexus Ops, Sid Meier’s Civilization: The Board Game, Star Wars: The Card Game, Star Wars: Imperial Assault, Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game, Zombicide: Invader), Olivier Thill (HEL: The Last Saga)

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

Genre/Mechanisms: action timer, dice rolling, interrupts, line of sight, miniatures, modern warfare, real-time, variable player powers, video game theme

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “An asymmetrical tabletop game with miniatures based on Ubisoft’s acclaimed tactical shooter video game, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege. Gameplay is fast and frenetic, allowing players to feel the tension of a cinematic assault with simulated real-time gameplay. Players control a team of 5 operators (all attackers or all defenders), with each Operator boasting different gadgets and abilities. Building your team of 5 is a very rewarding step of the game, offering endless possibilities and strategic choices. As the attacker, you will use your explosive arsenal to tear down walls and obstacles to reach your objective. As the defender, you will shape the battleground to your advantage and seek to thwart your opponent’s plans by denying them chances to attack.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $98

All-In (w/shipping): $319

Campaign Ends: 7/2

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 739% with 8 days to go.

Project: Arkosa

Designer: Angela Dickens (Gobblin’ Goblins)

Artist: Mattie Harrison

Publisher: Toon Hammer (Gobblin’ Goblins)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, hand management, science fiction, set collection, storytelling, trading

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In Arkosa, you’ll be developing your bunker, recruiting unique new colonists and trying to keep your population happy, fed, rested and breathing. However, the planet won’t make it easy for you. There’ll be regular attacks from the resident hostiles to contend with, plus a whole bunch of unique events that can occur to your intrepid explorers while they are out in the wastelands. In order to claim victory you’ll need a well organized, productive and happy bunker. But only one colony will win the grand prize… a ticket off the planet.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $69

All-In (w/shipping): $69, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/13

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 23% with 19 days to go.

Project: Big Game Night: AEG’s Premier Convention Experience

Designers: Molly Johnson (Point Salad, Public Market, TEN, Truffle Shuffle), Robert Melvin (Point Salad, Public Market, TEN, Truffle Shuffle), Shawn Stankewich (Point Salad, Public Market, TEN, Truffle Shuffle); Peter McPherson (Tiny Towns, Tiny Towns: Villagers), Josh Wood (Cat Lady, Santa Monica, Tiny Towns: Villagers), Erik Andersson Sundén (Whirling Witchcraft)

Artists: Shawn Stankewich (TEN), Gong Studios (Aeon’s End, Aeon’s End: The New Age, Tiny Towns, Tiny Towns: Villagers), Luis Francisco (The Bloody Inn, Coup, Flash Point: Fire Rescue, Haggis, The Resistance, The Resistance: Avalon, Roll Player, Whirling Witchcraft), Weberson Santiago (The Bloody Inn, Coup, Fuji, Whirling Witchcraft)

Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group (Automobiles, Calico, Cat Lady, Cubitos, Istanbul, Istanbul: The Dice Game, Love Letter, Love Letter: Batman, Love Letter Premium, Lovecraft Letter, Mystic Vale, Point Salad, Smash Up, Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000, Smash Up: Monster Smash, Smash Up: Pretty Pretty Smash Up, Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature, Space Base, Thunderstone, Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin, Thunderstone: Dragonspire, Thunderstone Quest, Tiny Towns, Trains: Rising Sun, Valley of the Kings, War Chest)

Genre/Mechanisms: auction/bidding, card game, push your luck (TEN), abstact strategy, animals, city-building, expansion, follow (Tiny Towns: Villagers), fantasy, simultaneous action selection, variable player powers (Whirling Witchcraft)

Player Count: 1-5 (TEN), 1-6 (Tiny Towns: Villagers), 2-5 (Whirling Witchcraft)

Solo Mode: yes (TEN, Tiny Towns: Villagers), no (Whirling Witchcraft)

Complexity: light

Risk: low

Summary: “TEN is an exciting push-your-luck and auction game for the whole family. Players draw cards one-at-a-time, trying to add as many as they can without exceeding a total value of TEN, or they bust.

In Tiny Towns: Villagers, word has spread far and wide of a thriving little civilization in the forest. Creatures with incredible talents – from engineers to merchants – have come to visit these towns and decide where they will make their new homes. They offer the most astute town mayors their skills, which can transform buildings, control the influx of resources, and perform impressive architectural feats. The world of Tiny Towns is getting a bit bigger!

In Whirling Witchcraft, you start with a hand of four recipe cards, as well as a number of ingredients on your workbench; ingredients come in five types, and you have a limited number of spaces for each type on your workbench. Being a witch is all about wielding powerful magical ingredients — but a witch can wield only so much power before everything blows up in their face. Choose your recipes wisely to clear your workbench and stick others with too much raw material because the first player to overflow their nemesis’ cauldron with enough ingredients wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $53

All-In (w/shipping): $53, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/2

Game Ships: Aug. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 731% with 8 days to go.

Project: Dungeon & Kingdom

Designer: Terry Cheung (Deja Vu: Fragments of Memory, Fallen Angel)

Artist: Brandon McDonald

Publisher: Asteria Games (Deja Vu: Fragments of Memory, Fallen Angel)

Genre/Mechanisms: card drafting, card game, chaining, contracts, fantasy, set collection

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Players draft cards from a common pool mixed with heroes and monsters to form a personal array, then cut the array into left and right, aka Kingdom and Dungeon, and use combos of Hero and Monster Cards’ abilities in the Dungeon to help defeat monsters in the Kingdom, collect gems for points, or mess up your opponents’ perfect plans.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $30

All-In (w/shipping): $30, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/15

Game Ships: Oct. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 40% with 20 days to go.

Project: DVG – Spruance Leader

Designer: Dean Brown (B-17 Flying Fortress Leader)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Dan Verssen Games (Field Commander: Napoleon, Thunderbolt Apache Leader, Warfighter: The Tactical Special Forces Card Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: aviation/flight, card game, deck construction, modern warfare, nautical, simulation, solo/solitaire game, wargame

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “Spruance Leader focuses on commanding and managing a US Navy Carrier Battle Group in the Cold War setting of the 80s and 90s, simulating major naval conflicts in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Carrier battle groups, comprising of aircraft carriers and their escorting ships must be protected from the devastating attacks of missiles, torpedoes, bombs, and enemy vessels. Attack submarines which threaten the carrier battle groups have to be hunted down and neutralized. Air assets must be carefully assigned to combat air patrols, long-range strategic missions and attack strikes. You will need to manage the right combination of seaborne and airborne resources under your command in order to complete the various types of missions, and lead your group to victory.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $105

All-In (w/shipping): $180

Campaign Ends: 7/14

Game Ships: Nov. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 254% with 20 days to go.

Project: The Great Race 2

Designer: Maxence Vaché (The Great Race)

Artist: François Launay (The Great Race)

Publisher: Platypus Game (The Great Race)

Genre/Mechanisms: american west, card drafting, deck building, end game bonuses, exploration, network and route building, pick-up and deliver, racing, transportation, worker placement with different worker types

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “The Great Race will take you across continents, to face countless dangers and difficulties. You may have to take reckless risks to finally cross the finish line to the cheers of the crowd. Your crew consists of mechanics, scouts and an escort that you will have to mobilize to accomplish the impossible.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $41

All-In (w/shipping): $197

Campaign Ends: 7/17

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 118% with 23 days to go.

Project: Heckin Hounds

Designer: Mattie Schraeder

Artist: Lauren Brown (Art Decko)

Publisher: Sapphire City Games

Genre/Mechanisms: betting and bluffing, card game, deduction, humor, party game, trick-taking, turn order: progressive

Player Count: 2-7

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A trick-taking game exploring the perils of professional dog walking in the Underworld. Players are given the task of walking Hades’ collection of hounds. Do your job too well, and she’ll promote you to management – a responsibility feared throughout the realm. Do your job too poorly, and you’ll be demoted to professional dog food instead. The game is played with your hand facing outward, giving you no knowledge of the hounds you have. Every round has a different player serving as the shift leader, who can see both their hand and everyone else’s. The shift leader gives each player three clues as to the hounds they are holding – how helpful, useless, or beguiling the clue is up to you, but they must be true. The shift leader also assigns Cerberus to a player, a trump card pup that wins any trick he shows up to.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $36

All-In (w/shipping): $36, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/15

Game Ships: Apr. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 146% with 21 days to go.

Project: Kleptokittens!

Designer: Cassie Simpson

Artists: Kaiami (Cat Rescue, Cat Sudoku), Squishilicious

Publisher: Katzenspiel Solutions

Genre/Mechanisms: children’s game, memory, push your luck

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A push your luck, memory game where players take turns flipping cards in a set time limit. For each pair they gain a treasure, if they find catnip they can swiftly boost their score. But watch out. If you turn up a spray bottle, your kitties stash is gone.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $34

All-In (w/shipping): $34, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/2

Game Ships: June 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 26% with 28 days to go.

Project: Kroma

Designers: Francesca Carletto-Leon, Kai Karhu, Carol Mertz, Temitope Olujobi

Artist: Marshall Gill

Publisher: Breaking Games (Dwellings of Eldervale, Joking Hazard, Rise of Tribes)

Genre/Mechanisms: area majority/influence, electronic, puzzle, territory-building, tile placement

Player Count: 2-3

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Gameplay takes place on a triangular playing board that has a light behind it so that you can better see the colors created by the game pieces during play. On a turn, you draw a playing piece from the bag — feeling for a desired shape, if you wish, but not knowing the color of the piece — then place that piece in any legal location on the board. Pieces come in yellow, cyan, and magenta, and initially you must play these pieces on the lowest level of the game board. If you can play a piece so that it’s entirely supported by other pieces, then you can play on the second level of the board; by doing this, you can create the secondary colors green, orange, and purple — and this is what you’ll need to do to win. Each player in the game is assigned a secondary color, and at the end of a three-player game, whoever has more spaces of their color showing wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $88

All-In (w/shipping): $108

Campaign Ends: 7/22

Game Ships: June 2022

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

Project: Power Rangers: Heroes of the Grid Rangers United!

Designer: Jonathan Ying (Bargain Quest, DOOM: The Board Game, Star Wars: Imperial Assault)

Artists: Valeria Favoccia (Bandits on Mars, La Famiglia), Katherine Lobo, Daniel Mora (Power Rangers: Heroes of the Grid)

Publisher: Renegade Game Studios (Altiplano, Arboretum, Architects of the West Kingdom, Circadians: First Light, Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure, Clank! In ! Space!: A Deck-Building Adventure, Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated, Dead Men Tell No Tales, Ex Libris, Explorers of the North Sea, The Fox in the Forest, FUSE, Honshū, Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Raiders of the North Sea, Raiders of Scythia, The Search for Planet X, Snow Tails, Trajan, Viscounts of the West Kingdom, Wendake, Worlds Fair 1893)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, cooperative game, dice rolling, fighting, hand management, movies/tv/radio theme, science fiction, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: low

Summary: “The delusional Omega Blue Ranger, Kiya, believes that the Power Rangers must be eradicated for the good of the universe. She has an army of Tronics led by similarly corrupted Ranger Avatars of Blaze and Roxy. She has also contracted with two legendary bounty hunters, the practically immortal Darkonda and the cold and calculating Dayne. In order to beat this nightmarish threat, Power Rangers from across the Morphin’ Grid must unite once again. Led by enigmatic Ellarien the Solar Ranger, the newest additions include the Beast Morphers Rangers (Devon, Ravi, and Zoey) and the Omega Rangers (Jason, Zack, and Trini), Kiya’s former teammates.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $50

All-In (w/shipping): $309

Campaign Ends: 7/2

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 2663% with 8 days to go.

Project: Start Them Up!

Designers: Nathan Dehez, Nicolas Raymond

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Rose Noire Edition

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, deck building

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Build your start-up and outwit your opponents using unique deck-building strategies.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $42

All-In (w/shipping): $42, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/22

Game Ships: Dec. 2021

Funding Status: Currently at 52% with 28 days to go.

Project: Valor & Villainy: Lludwik’s Labyrinth

Designer: James Van Niekerk (Valor & Villains: Minions of Mordrak)

Artist: James Van Niekerk (Good Help, Valor & Villains: Minions of Mordrak, What’s He Building In There?)

Publisher: Skybound Games (The Grimm Masquerade, Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef, Trial by Trolley)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, adventure, cooperative game, dice, dice rolling, exploration, fantasy, fighting, grid movement, hand management, medieval, narrative choice/paragraph, role playing, team-based game, variable phase order, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “A co-op adventure game where a band of noble heroes from The Order Without Borders must pursue the Mad Imp Lludwik into his terrible Labyrinth to quell the threat of a demonic invasion. Lludwik’s Labyrinth is a both a stand alone full co-op game, and a fully cross compatible sequel to Valor & Villainy: Minions of Mordak.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $80

All-In (w/shipping): $160

Campaign Ends: 7/9

Game Ships: Sep. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 447% with 15 days to go.

Project: Winterhaven Woods

Designer: Joel Bodkin (Open Ocean)

Artist: Joel Bodkin (Open Ocean)

Publisher: Featherstone Games (Open Ocean)

Genre/Mechanisms: animals, card drafting, card game, environmental, set collection, variable set-up

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In Winterhaven Woods, players are preparing the animals of the forest to endure the long winter months. They do so by planting trees to create woods, populating their woods with creatures, and using their predators to hunt creatures left exposed in player’s meadows. Players may also use steal cards to swipe cards from their opponent’s woods & meadow, however utilizing too many incurs a penalty. Each round, players will draft cards, then plant & populate their woods, building it up over the course of the game. Player’s may also collect predators in their meadow to hunt with, taking advantage of creatures not able to be populated by other players.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $26

All-In (w/shipping): $46

Campaign Ends: 7/15

Game Ships: Jan. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 180% with 21 days to go.