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

Project: Break Kickstarter T.B.D.

Designers: Marcus Ross (BEEEEES!, Discount Salmon, Letter GO!), Cara Ryan (BEEEEES!, Discount Salmon, Letter GO!)

Artist: Cara Ryan (BEEEEES!, Discount Salmon, Letter GO!)

Publisher: Water Bear Games (Discount Salmon)

Genre/Mechanisms: n/a

Player Count: n/a

Solo Mode: n/a

Complexity: n/a

Risk: high

Summary: A experiment where designers Marcus Ross & Cara Ryan plan on determining what type of game to produce (themes, mechanics, etc.) with the help of backers through a tiered voting system. A lot of whether or not you back this project can & should depend on a) your faith in the designers/project coordinators, b) your desire to be a part of the voting during the design process, and c) your ability to appreciate whatever the finished game may be, even if the designers end up a bit hamstrung by the voters’ collective choices. Also, at this point in time, the pledge levels contribute some ideas are already gone, so the two pledge levels remaining are:

Base Pledge: $7, voting privileges only

All-In: $20 plus shipping later, once the game has been created and the shipping cost can be properly calculated; this pledge level includes a copy of the game and voting privileges

Campaign Ends: 9/14

Game Ships: Dec. 2020

Funding Status: Currently at 24%, with 28 days to go.

Project: Burgle Bros 2: The Casino Capers

Designers: Tim Fowers (Burgle Bros, Fugitive, Hardback, Paperback, Sabotage) Jeff Krause (Sabotage)

Artist: Ryan Goldsberry (Burgle Bros, Fugitive, Hardback, Paperback, Sabotage)

Publisher: Fowers Games (Burgle Bros, Fugitive, Hardback, Paperback, Sabotage)

Genre/Mechanisms: action point allowance, cooperative play, dice rolling, grid movement, modular board, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: A stand-alone sequel to co-op exploration & stealth game Burgle Bros, The Casino Capers features additional components and mechanics as well as a game box that transforms into a 3-D game board to facilitate playing of Burgle Bros’ unique multi-level gameplay and can also be used with the original game.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $49

All-In (w/shipping): $49, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/5

Game Ships: May 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 766%, with 19 days to go.

Project: Mark McLaughlin’s War & Peace

Designer: Mark McLaughlin (The Napoleonic Wars 2nd Edition, War and Peace, Wellington)

Artist: Antonio Pinar (Battle Hymn Vol. 1: Gettysburg and Pea Ridge, High Frontier Third Edition, Saipan: The Bloody Rock)

Publisher: One Small Step (High Frontier Third Edition; NATO, Nukes & Nazis; No Trumpets No Drums)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, hex and counter, simulation, war game

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-high

Summary: A re-design of War and Peace with new art by Antonio Pinar and the capability of solo play.

Base Pledge: $103

All-In: $103, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/15

Game Ships: March 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 191%, with 28 days to go.

Project: Martin Wallace’s Struggle of Empires Deluxe Edition

Designer: Martin Wallace (Age of Industry, Age of Steam, Automobile, AuZtralia, Brass: Birmingham, Brass: Lancashire, Discworld: Ankh-Morpork, A Few Acres of Snow, Liberte, London First Edition, London Second Edition, Princes of the Renaissance, Railways of the World, Runebound Second Edition, Steam, Struggle of Empires, A Study in Emerald, Tinners’ Trail, Via Nebula, Wildlands)

Artist: Joao Tereso (The City, Railways of Portugal)

Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games (Age of Steam, Baseball Highlight 2045, Brass: Lancashire, Can’t Stop, Carson City, Defenders of the Realm, Diamond, Empires: Age of Discovery, Escape Plan, Fleet, For Sale, Francis Drake, The Gallerist, High Society, Lisboa, Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper, Railways of the World, Rococo, Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age, Santiago de Cuba, Struggle of Empires, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization, Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization, Tumblin-Dice, Vinhos Deluxe Edition, Wyatt Earp)

Genre/Mechanisms: area control, area movement, auction/bidding, civilization, dice rolling, fighting, political

Player Count: 2-7

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: heavy

Risk: low

Summary: A re-design of Struggle of Empires with new art by Joao Tereso, upgraded components, and several new variants. Play as one of seven European powers, directing that country’s military, economic, and political development. Forge alliances, build armies and fleets, establish colonies, improve your economy, wage war, and manage unrest among your citizenry while expanding in Europe, or taking control of American colonies, Africa, and the Far East.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $106

All-In (w/shipping): $106, same as above

Campaign Ends: 8/30

Game Ships: Aug. 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 152%, with 12 days to go.

Project: Pixel Demon’s REALM

Designers: Matt Dunn (Cartoon Network Crossover Crisis: Animation Annihilation, Deck-Building Game), Jared Saramago (Challenge of the Superfriends Card Game)

Artist: Pixel Demon

Publisher: Pixel Demon Studios

Genre/Mechanisms: hand management, set collection

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: A light, quick-playing hand management game players compete to match sigils on Ritual Cards and bind the most demons.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $35

All-In (w/shipping): $155

Campaign Ends: 9/13

Game Ships: Oct. 2019

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 173%, with 26 days to go.