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

Project: Harakiri: Blades of Honor

Designers: Fernando Gamero, Joel Torres

Artists: David Benzal (Day Night Z, Rambo: The Board Game), David Demaret (Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, Mythic Battles: Pantheon), Joseph Diaz (Deep Madness), Henning Ludvigsen Android: Netrunner, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Blood Rage, Star Wars: Imperial Assault, Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game), Daryl Mandryk (The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Two Player Limited Edition Starter), Antonio José Manzanedo (Journey: Wrath of Demons, A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game – Stark vs Lannister Starter Set, Star Wars: Outer Rim), Víctor Manuel Leza Moreno (Dungeon Universalis, Encounters: Shadowrun, Miskatonic University: The Restricted Collection), Israel Pato (Day Night Z, No Time For Heroes)

Publisher: Synergic Games

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, adventure, dice rolling, exploration, fantasy, fighting, grid movement, horror, miniatures, modular board, mythology, role playing, storytelling, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A multi-campaign cooperative board game of adventures and fantasy for up to 4 players. It takes place on Japan, in the days of the samurais. After a bloody civil war, the Emperor was banished and the empire fell into the darkness, governed under the tyranny of the Dark Shogun. The game will include many travel events where your hero could go into the magical forest of the Tengus, travel to cursed villages and battle with the help of his blade the terrifying creatures of Japanese mythology. Some of these event cards can be turned into even more dangerous events depending on your hero decisions. Will you travel following safer roads to avoid potential conflicts or will you choose to go through more dangerous sideways to gain some precious time needed to achieve your goals before the Dark Shogun keeps on spreading his influence and power all over the land? Besides this, the combat system will also allow you to choose your way of playing. You will be able to decide if you want to use heavier and more damaging blows or faster ones, giving you extra time for other purposes. Also, you will be able to choose if you want to focus during your attack, allowing you to go through the enemies’ defense or diminish it for the rest of the battle. But beware, because a failed attack could even lead to a terrible counter from one of the many japan folklore-based members of the Shogun Horde. Not only that, but also during each and every attack the energy of the kami could give even more power if you are lucky enough to get the right combination from the yin-yang symbol dices. Finally, the dice-based skill system will also allow for powerful moves during your turn, giving passive or active effect to choose from. But beware, cause the more powerful a skill is, the harder it will be to use it again, adding a tactical player to the game.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $156

All-In (w/shipping): $397

Campaign Ends: 12/14

Game Ships: May 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 423% with 11 days to go.

Project: Octopus’s Garden

Designer: Roberta Taylor (Creature Comforts, Sherwood Showdown, Octopus’ Garden)

Artist: Kerri Aitken (Boomerang: Australia, Boomerang: Europe, Tichu)

Publisher: Maple Games (Dragon Boats of the Four Seas, Imagineers)

Genre/Mechanisms: animals, set collection, tile placement

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: A new version of the designer’s previously published (and grammatically-correctly titled) Octopus’ Garden finds “players taking on the roles of starfish competing to create the most beautiful gardens. Attract colorful seahorses and clownfish, without losing pearl-producing oysters to the hungry sea stars. Players choose which plant and animal tiles to purchase from a central market and then decide how best to arrange them in their garden. Careful planning is required to attract seahorses and clownfish, to protect pearl-producing oysters from the sea stars, and to avoid startling delicate feather worms.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $42

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

Campaign Ends: 12/21

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 169% with 18 days to go.

Project: SKI JUMPING board game

Designers: Marek Klus, Michal Vavrys

Artist: Magda Vavrysová

Publisher: MM Board Games (Star Wars: Stolen Plans Card Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, matching, race, sports, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In this game emotions, tension, but also joy and well-being await you, just as you like it during real races. In the game you will start training the physical and mental qualities of your jumper. You will manage its energy, which will be important in racing. Of course, you will jump from a ski jumping hill with a realistic-looking jumper figure. As in real jumps, you will solve not only the length of the jump, but also the style and point evaluation of the judges. Your jumps will also be affected by the wind and also the equipment in which you will jump. The aim of the game is to place as best as possible in the individual races of the cup tour and become its overall winner.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $112

All-In (w/shipping): $139

Campaign Ends: 12/28

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 6% with 26 days to go.