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

Project: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The Adventure Game

Designers: Javier Angeriz-Caburrasi, Juan Echenique, Stefano Guerriero

Artists: Kris Aubin (Monsterapocalypse, Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King, Warmachine Prime Mk II), Katya Thomas

Publisher: Modiphius Entertainment (Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, Siege of the Citadel, Thunderbirds)

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative game, dice rolling, fantasy, role playing, scenario/mission/campaign game, video game theme

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “A co-operative game of adventure and exploration across Skyrim. Players take the roles of heroes involved in epic quests, working together to defeat their enemies and exploring the vast expanse of Skyrim. You will be able to choose character miniatures like the Khajiit, Nord, or High Elf; plan your strategy with weapons or spells; and fight your way through forgotten mines, Draugr-infested tombs, or ancient Dwemer cities to find ancient treasures and increase your power. The base game is divided into two campaigns of three chapters each. The decisions the players make from their first turn have a distinct effect on the unfolding story and encounters, making the whole campaign experience different every time you play. You can even save your progress after each game and start the next chapter with the same character, equipment, and skills.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $93

All-In (w/shipping): $301

Campaign Ends: 12/5

Game Ships: Aug. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 545% with 31 days to go.

Project: Elementile

Designer: Zachary Mitchell

Artist: Amanda Kwieraga

Publisher: Darkwood Games

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, card drafting, card game, deck construction, grid movement, hand management, player elimination, rock-paper-scissors, square grid

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A tile-based 1v1 card game which rewards key decisions and adaptive play. Utilize 6 base elements with their own strengths and weaknesses to summon units and cast spells on the 4×4 field of play. Gain resources by sacrificing cards from your hand, creating play patterns that vary based on the individual match up and your opponent’s actions. Each player has a deck of 40 cards, either pre-constructed or drafted. There are six elements (fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness) each with 23 unique cards that players can use to create their decks (limited to 3 copies total of any specific cards). Players summon units and cast spells to control the 4×4 field of play. Your goal is to advance your units across the board to reduce your opponent’s health from 10 to 0.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $50

All-In (w/shipping): $70

Campaign Ends: 12/2

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 105% with 28 days to go.

Project: Jiangnan: Life of Gentry

Designer: DuGuWei (Yin Yang)

Artist: Chiyami

Publisher: Moaideas Game Design (Flip City, The Flow of History, Mini Rails)

Genre/Mechanisms: area majority/influence, ancient, bag building contracts, economic, end game bonuses, hand management, modular board, scenario/mission/campaign game, solo/solitaire game, stock holding, tech trees/tech tracks, variable player powers, worker placement

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A worker placement and action tile bag building game, Jiangnan can be played as a single scenario or through multiple campaigns. Players are literati and artisans of the elite gentry class living in Jiangnan, the prosperous region to the south of the Qinhuai River, and are highly skilled in literature, calligraphy, brush painting, and the musical and performing arts. But you’ll need the skills of bureaucracy to drive and guide aristocracy to evolve your work from today’s latest trend to an everlasting classic to be sung and studied for thousands of years.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $81

All-In (w/shipping): $159

Campaign Ends: 11/24

Game Ships: Aug. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 108% with 20 days to go.

Project: KÖ-ØP

Designer: Patrick Brennan (Complicated Board Game the Card Game, Status Report!)

Artist: Alisha Wilkerson (Status Report!)

Publisher: Offcut Games (Complicated Board Game the Card Game, Status Report!)

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, card game, cooperative game

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A two-player, co-operative card game about assembling furniture with a partner. Each player starts the game with a secret Needs card that tells them which Love Languages they need to score to be satisfied in the relationship. On their turn, players attempt to communicate the Love Languages they need by pointing at cards in their partners hand. Players then use these cards to build their furniture. The game ends after players have attempted to build 3 pieces of furniture. Players must earn at least 1 meatball in order to win the game. Meatballs are earned based on the number of Needs cards satisfied and the complexity of the furniture players chose to build. The more meatballs the players score the better their end result.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $29

All-In (w/shipping): $41

Campaign Ends: 12/2

Game Ships: Sep. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 103% with 28 days to go.

Project: Monsterpocalypse Board Game

Designer: Matt Wilson (Monsterapocalypse, Warmachine, Warmachine Prime Mk II)

Artists: not credited

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

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, fighting, miniatures, science fiction, variable phase order, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Get your elevator pitches ready and be prepared to impress against a one minute sand timer in order to become employee of the month in this deadly new game. Can you come up with a murderous plot? Or be forced to think on your feet? Could you dispose of a chicken farmer on a volcano with a whisk? Or a medium on a cruise ship with a light bulb? How can you exterminate a patronizing life coach, at that place where he goes to forget his family, with a sweaty sock at your disposal? The manager picks their favorite pitch and awards a card of recognition. The game ends when an employee has received 3 cards of recognition, has become employee of the month, and has won the game.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $93

All-In (w/shipping): $193

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 375% with 15 days to go.

Project: Retro Reboot! Yashima and Ninja Dice

Designers: Tony Gullotti (Yashima: Legend of the Kami Masters, Yashima: Legends from Fairytale), Rocco Privetera (Barbarian Vince, Ninja Dice), Joshua Sprung (Yashima: Legend of the Kami Masters, Yashima: Legends from Fairytale)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Greenbriar Games (Burger Up, Folklore: The Affliction, Vengeance)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice, dice rolling, party game, push your luck (Ninja Dice); card game, collectible components, fantasy, fighting, grid movement, hand management, hexagon grid, miniatures, modular board, mythology, player elimination, point to point movement, simultaneous action selection, tile placement, variable player powers (Yashima)

Player Count: 2-5 (Ninja Dice); 2-4 (Yashima)

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light (Ninja Dice); medium-heavy (Yashima)

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Ninja Dice is a push-your-luck dice game with a Japanese theme, players compete to see which of them is the greatest Ninja. To play, each player rolls House dice to create unique combinations of challenges including Locked areas, Guards, and nosy Residents. Players roll their Skill dice to come up with three ways to beat these challenges – Stealth skills, Fighting skills, and Lock picking. Players can also roll special Fortune faces that boost dice, but only if the dice they are boosting lie in specific positions on the table, a system that is new and unique to games of this kind.

Yashima is a card-driven miniatures game where each player customizes their chosen kami master and engages in player vs. player or team vs. team combat.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $36

All-In (w/shipping): $109

Campaign Ends: 11/22

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 48% with 18 days to go.

Project: Snackbox Mini Game Series : Collection One

Designer: Mathew T. Adams

Artist: Mathew T. Adams

Publisher: Mnkymnd Games

Genre/Mechanisms: layering, memory, tile placement (Chimichangas and Tacos); grid movement, maze, memory, nautical, race, racing, score-and-reset game, tile placement (Irukandji); aviation/flight, dice, dice rolling, die icon resolution, matching, point to point movement, race, racing, re-rolling and locking, science fiction, space exploration, transportation, (Slingshot); card game, dice, die icon resolution, highest-lowest scoring, matching, math, sports, trick-taking (Skate Park)

Player Count: 2-3 (Chimichangas and Tacos, Irukandji, Skate Park); 2-4 (Slingshot)

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In Chimichangas and Tacos, grab chips to reveal your ingredients, then fill, wrap, fry, and top your way to the most delicious meals on the menu. Complete the tastiest meals and score the highest number of points (and Tacos), over several rounds.

Irukandji is a game of tile laying and tile playing. Swim well, use the conditions, and watch out for the Irukandji. Be the first player to get to +2 (points) on the scorecard, by scoring each swim to The Beach. Take turns moving from tile to tile, dealing with the ocean conditions as you go while trying to avoid the hidden dangers. Aim to get back to The Beach first, and collect the Beach Ball token, if you can.

Slingshot is a supersonic dice game of planet-hopping rocket racing. Match orbitals, spend bounty, and slingshot to victory. Be the first Rocket Racer to pass the last Planet (finish line) in the system. Complete Flight Sequences by rolling dice and matching Icons, to pass each Planet. First roll combinations can gain you Crystals, and abilities can help slingshot you to victory.

Execute your best tricks over a series of obstacles to claim the title in Skate Park. Win the most Obstacle Tiles to prove you are the best skater in the park. Each trick has a different winning value, cost, and percentage of success. Flip, grind, and find air to win each challenge, without hitting concrete. Lay down your moves, land well, and dominate the competition.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $28, any one game

All-In (w/shipping): $67, all four games

Campaign Ends: 12/1

Game Ships: Aug. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 32% with 27 days to go.

Project: Titania Ascending

Designers: Rob Huber, Brendan Riley

Artist: Marty McGowan

Publisher: XYZ Game Labs Inc. (ArchRavels, Inoka, RobotLab: The Card Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: card drafting, cooperative game, fantasy, flip-and-write, grid coverage, medieval, paper-and-pencil, puzzle, solo/solitaire game

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “A strategic, cooperative flip-and-write game with adjustable difficulty levels & solo/competitive modes. Titania, Queen of the Fae, has grown tired of humanity’s disdain for nature’s splendor. She plans to liberate Gaia, and has summoned you, her High Council of Sorcerers to manifest her will. Work together to consult the heavens and read runes. Mobilize Titania’s loyal Fae and port them to Gaia, where they will recover her crown from the six hallowed citadels.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $40

All-In (w/shipping): $80

Campaign Ends: 11/21

Game Ships: Sep. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 76% with 17 days to go.

Project: Trinity of Reign

Designer: Raphael Bolliger

Artists: Kevin Delies, Marko Richter, Simon Krieg

Publisher: Gotorus Games

Genre/Mechanisms: area majority/influence, city building, dice rolling, economic, fantasy, income, medieval, miniatures, movement points, moving multiple units, semi-cooperative game, set collection, simultaneous action selection, territory building, wargame

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Take over the rule of one of the four clans and build your empire. Construct cities, castles and metropolises. Lead your capital to fame and power through rapid expansion. Recruit new warriors and send out your druids to develop new potions and consolidate your rule. Choose your path. Take reign either by creating wealth, by invoking the gods, or by conquering land.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $103

All-In (w/shipping): $103, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/30

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 40% with 26 days to go.

Project: World Auto Racing

Designer: Ariel Adamson

Artists: Mako Vice

Publisher: Ariel Adamson

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, card game, collectible components, racing

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A collectible card game that puts you in the driver’s seat. Play against your opponent with your spec’d out car and driver. Make sure you are ready for any course or condition, your opponent may have other ideas. Card types feature Car, Modification, Control, Trait, Condition and Course. Each card features gorgeous custom artwork. Play the best strategy and cross the finish line first to win glory. Are you a drift king, or more of a rough and tumble muscle car driver? Maybe you win by wreaking havoc on your opponent’s plans.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $49

All-In (w/shipping): $98

Campaign Ends: 11/30

Game Ships: May 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 348% with 26 days to go.