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

Project: Bat Flip

Designer: Scott Courlander

Artist: Weirdsgn

Publisher: Scorelander Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, card play conflict resolution, deck construction, hand management, interrupts, sports, two player only games

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Bat Flip is a fast-paced card game of action and reaction. Step into the role of manager, decide how to deploy your players to hit, pitch and field over the course of an action-packed 3-inning game. Respond instantly to your opponent’s moves. Utilize your best players and abilities in the most pivotal moments of the game. When the time is just right, swing for the fences and flip that bat. Similar to the popular game Smash Up, you will draft two team-decks and shuffle them together to form a 24-card deck that combines both team’s players and special abilities. The game alternates between the At-Bat Step and the Steal Step. During the At-Bat Step, managers will play player cards out of their hand in an attempt to hit safely or draw a walk. In response, the defending manager may play a defender out of their hand in an attempt to mitigate the damage or record an out. When players hit or walk, their cards move around the bases. During the Steal Step, the batting team may attempt to use their Runners’ speed to take extra bases and the defense may, again, respond with a defender in attempt to throw the runner out. Whichever team has the most runs after 3 innings, is the winner.”

Base Pledge: $29 + shipping (no estimate given)

All-In (w/shipping): $729

Campaign Ends: 2/17

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 57% with 28 days to go.

Project: Marvel Zombies – A Zombicide Game

Designers: Fabio Cury, Michael Shinall (Bloodborne: The Board Game, Rum & Bones: Second Tide, XenoShyft: Onslaught)

Artists: Marco Checchetto, Henning Ludvigsen (Android: Netrunner, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Blood Rage, Star Wars: Imperial Assault, Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game)

Publisher: CMON (Arcadia Quest, Cthulhu: Death May Die, Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Zombicide: Black Plague)

Genre/Mechanisms: comic book / strip, cooperative game, dice rolling, horror, miniatures, modular board, movie / radio / tv theme, scenario / mission / campaign game, solo / solitaire game, team-based game, zombies

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: low

Summary: “The hunger takes hold after many superheroes in the Marvel Universe have been turned into zombies. You play as these infected heroes and will be eating people to satisfy your hunger…and objectives within the game. Marvel Zombicide is a stand-alone game using the standard Zombicide mechanics but set in the Marvel Universe.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $165

All-In (w/shipping): $517

Campaign Ends: 2/3

Game Ships: October 2022 (Wave 1), June 2023 (Wave 2)

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 744% with 14 days to go.

Project: Skate Summer

Designer: Randy Reiman

Artist: Pape Ink

Publisher: Pandasaurus Games (Dinosaur Island, The Mind, Silver & Gold, Tammany Hall, Yedo)

Genre/Mechanisms: area movement, dice rolling, die icon resolution, different dice movement, hexagon grid, push your luck, resource to move, set collection, simultaneous action selection

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: low

Summary: “The object of Skate Summer is to score the most points by doing trick combos, collecting goal tokens, and visiting S-K-A-T-E-R locations. The game is played in rounds. Each round has the following phases: Combos- players simultaneously play trick cards, earn rewards, and roll dice to check their balance; Skills & Points- players simultaneously improve their skills and score points for combos; Moves- players take turns navigating the park, picking up goals and gear; Round End- each player resets their board and draws up to their hand size; and then the ‘Pro Skater’ first player marker passes to the left. If any player’s score has hit or passed the endgame token at the end of the round, the game ends and players count up their endgame points. The player with the highest score wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $75

All-In (w/shipping): $95

Campaign Ends: 2/11

Game Ships: July 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 138% with 22 days to go.

Project: Sprites Battle Brawl!

Designers: Henry Serafim, Stephen Terenzi

Artist: Henry Serafim

Publisher: Sprites Entertainment

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, card game, fantasy, fighting, hand management, take that

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Players compete for fame in a popular, non-lethal sport, Sprites Battle Brawl. Within the walls of The Arena, contestants attack and defend against each other to show off their skills. And they do so with powerful companions called Sprites. It’s the Energy of Sprites that players must harness to power and fuel all of the various tools and weapons that are used in the Arena. These tools are called Wands. Many of them have unique characteristics and effects. And while using Wands, and Sprites, successfully, the crowd of the Arena will take notice. And it is the crowd who chooses the champion. By collecting their cheers and gaining fans, the winner will be decided and declared champion. To battle in The Arena is to show who can use Sprites the best in this turn-based, free-for-all card game.”

Base Pledge: $20 + shipping (no estimate given)

All-In: $80 + shipping (no estimate given)

Campaign Ends: 2/1

Game Ships: Apr. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 13% with 28 days to go.

Project: Urto

Designers: Julien Conseil, Quentin Muller

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Catillon Games

Genre/Mechanisms: bag building, fantasy, race, victory points as a resource

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Urto is a ‘dungeon exploration’ type game. You play as one of the five champions who seek an ancestral power hidden within the depths of a sacred cave. Face the abyss challenges and native creatures, discover and equip powerful artifacts, skillfully manage your magic and life points and perhaps, the guardian Urto will reward you with his soul.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $55

All-In (w/shipping): $101

Campaign Ends: 2/17

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 45% with 28 days to go.