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

Project: Birds of a Feather: Western North America

Designer: Teale Fristoe (Birds of a Feather, Corporate America, Shadow Throne)

Artists: Trevor Fristoe (Birds of a Feather), Quill Kolat

Publisher: Snowbright Studio

Genre/Mechanisms: animals, card game, environmental, hand management, set collection, simultaneous action selection, solo / solitaire game

Player Count: 1-7

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “You and the other players explore different habitats to spot birds. In the first round, each player chooses and reveals a card from hand, then marks off on their score sheet or the app the bird they played as well as all other birds played in the same habitat. The deck contains cards from five habitats, with some birds being more common than others. In the second round, you each play a card again, then you mark all birds in your current habitat as well as all cards played the previous round in that habitat. Apparently word spread about all the great finds. Remove all cards from the first round, then keep playing additional rounds in the same manner. When each player has only one card left in hand, the game ends. For each ace bird you’ve seen in a habitat, you score 2 points; for each other non-common bird you’ve seen, score 1 point; and if you’ve seen all seven types of birds in a habitat, score 3 bonus points for a total of 10 points in that habitat. Whoever has the most total points wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $28

All-In (w/shipping): $134

Campaign Ends: 5/5

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 73% with 22 days to go.

Project: Blade Rondo (on Gamefound)

Designer: Pawn (Blade Rondo, Shephy)

Artists: cinkai (Blade Rondo), cyawa (Blade Rondo), Kazuma (かずま) (Blade Rondo), Mizumizu (水々) (Blade Rondo), ozyako (Blade Rondo), Qtonagi (Miraris, Night Clan, Pralaya), Rayvon (Blade Rondo), Riuichi (Blade Rondo), Sierra (シエラ) (Blade Rondo)

Publisher: Domina Games (Miraris, Night Clan, Pralaya), Japanime Games (Heart of Crown, Krosmaster: Arena, Tanto Cuore)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, fighting

Player Count: 1-2

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “A card battle game for one or two players. The game distinguishes itself from other card battle games in several ways. One is the way decks are built – out of the forty “key cards”, each player is dealt fifteen and has to choose just seven to use during the match. Stronger cards tend to be single-use, meaning you need to balance longevity and power when making your choices. Additionally the small card set means you can make assumptions about what your opponent might have, though without total certainty. The game’s solo mode isn’t just tacked on – 20 cards are included just for use in solo play, and allow you to enjoy the game by yourself.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $25

All-In (w/shipping): $137

Campaign Ends: 4/28

Game Ships: Sep. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 449% with 14 days to go.

Project: The Dark Quarter

Designer: Evan Derrick (Dark Moon, Detective: City of Angels, Final Girl)

Artists: Mateusz Komada (Chronicles of Crime, Chronicles of Crime: 1400, Vikings Gone Wild), Jarek Nocoń (1775: Rebellion, 878 Vikings: Invasions of England, Coup, Freedom: The Underground Railroad, The Resistance)

Publisher: Lucky Duck Games (Chronicles of Crime, Chronicles of Crime: 1400, Destinies), Van Ryder Games (Detective: City of Angels, Final Girl, Hostage Negotiator)

Genre/Mechanisms: adventure, cooperative game, dice rolling, exploration, map addition, mature / adult, miniatures, murder / mystery, role playing, solo / solitaire game, storytelling

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: low

Summary: “A co-operative app-driven adventure game set in a dark, fantastical vision of 1980s New Orleans, players each take control of a Beaumont agent and work alongside one another to solve the worst crimes that New Orleans has to offer. It’s a world full of magic, where hexing curses are sold on every street, where voodoo priestesses and creatures of the night are lurking around every corner, and where even the most mundane crimes have a tinge of the supernatural to them. Through multi-scenario campaigns, the game tells a rich, dynamic story and invites players to make critical decisions that will not only affect their characters, but change the direction and course of the story. The characters are not simply avatars, easily replaceable from scenario to scenario; instead, they are woven into the very fabric of the story itself. Their destiny and the destiny of New Orleans are inextricably linked together.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $87

All-In (w/shipping): $191

Campaign Ends: 5/5

Game Ships: Oct. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 491% with 21 days to go.

Project: DC Deck-Building Game 10th Anniversary

Designers: Matt Hyra (DC Comics Deck-Building Game, DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Forever Evil, GKR: Heavy Hitters), Ben Stoll (DC Comics Deck-Building Game, DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Dark Nights – Metal, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Deck-Building Game)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Cryptozoic Entertainment (DC Comics Deck-Building Game, Love Letter: Batman, Spyfall)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, comic book / strip, deck building, open drafting, super-heroes

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “To start the game, each player chooses one of the seven over-sized hero cards, each of which has a special power, and starts with a deck of ten cards. Each turn, a player starts with a hand of five cards and can acquire or conquer the five types of cards in the game: heroes, villains and super-villains, equipment, super powers, and locations. To defeat villains, you’ll need to have power – but when a super-villain is defeated, a new one comes into play, attacking all the heroes while doing so. Make sure you’ve acquired defenses – like superspeed or bulletproof powers, or The Batsuit equipment – to protect yourself from harm. Craft your hero deck into a well-oiled machine to take on the most vile villains in the DC Universe in your quest for victory.

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of DC Deck-Building Game with Injustice, The Flash vs. Reverse-Flash, Multiverse Boxes, and much more.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $90

All-In (w/shipping): $394

Campaign Ends: 5/12

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 556% with 28 days to go.

Project: Don’t Let It Die

Designer: Dustin Hendrickson

Artist: Sam Milham (Get to da Checkpoint, Lost in Jurassica, Lost in Straya)

Publisher: Thunk Board Games (Don’t Let It Die)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, cooperative game, dice rolling, prehistoric, set collection, solo / solitaire game, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “A cooperative survival game based on early humanity’s struggles to cement their place at the top of the food chain. You will gather resources & food, fight deadly predators, and learn the mysteries of fire. Your task is a difficult one, but no matter what happens, remember: you and the fire must survive. Your tribe consists of 4 characters, all taking turns to search for resources, fight off dangerous animals, unlock new discoveries, and working together to keep the fire alive. Designed from the ground up to offer a re-playable, interactive, strategic cooperative experience for 1-4 players. The key to victory lies in your group’s ability to adapt to the ever-present and always changing threats of prehistoric life. Should you focus on hunting and foraging to feed your starving tribe? Or should you be more concerned with supplying the dwindling fire with more wood? Perhaps constructing a weapon or tool might ease the stress of gathering resources. These choices and more await you in what will surely be the ultimate test of survival.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $54

All-In (w/shipping): $110

Campaign Ends: 5/4

Game Ships: Feb. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 338% with 20 days to go.

Project: Iconoclash

Designer: Quinn Washburn (Valiant Wars)

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Strange Machine Games (Robotech: Ace Pilot, Robotech: Attack on the SDF-1, Valiant Wars)

Genre/Mechanisms: fighting, hand management, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Each turn you’ll play two attacks, each with three different effects to choose from. Meaning that every character has over 500 unique attack combinations. Some attack options require you to spend a Power Token, giving them an added kick to deal massive damage. Attacks also send your opponents flying, potentially launching them off the edge of the board to deal extra damage. All the while, you will move across the stage to keep your opponent in range, dodge stage hazards, collect items, and avoid attacks. Reduce your opponent’s HP to 0 to win. Featuring three Multiplayer Modes for up to 4 players– Classic Mode: last one-standing wins; Battle Royale: the player to deal the most damage after 4 rounds wins; and 2 v 2.”

Base Pledge: $20 + shipping (no estimates provides)

All-In: $180 + shipping (no estimates provides)

Campaign Ends: 5/6

Game Ships: June 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 120% with 23 days to go.

Project: Last Light (on Gamefound)

Designer: Roy Cannaday

Artists: Clark Miller (Darkest Night, Dawn of the Zeds Third Edition, Renegade), Christian Strain (Asking for Trobils, Campaign Trail, Evil Intent)

Publisher: Grey Fox Games (Champions of Midgard, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, Reavers of Midgard)

Genre/Mechanisms: 4x, area majority / influence, civilization, dice rolling, economic, grid movement, hand management, miniatures, negotiation, science fiction, simultaneous action selection, solo / solitaire game, space exploration, wargame, variable phase order, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “A fast-paced 4x game with 3D planets and a rotating board in which players playing asymmetrical alien factions simultaneously gather light right before the heat death of the universe. Each turn, players select an action card, then all players take their actions simultaneously, exploring planets, mining for resources, gaining new technologies, and commanding fleets all while racing to the center of a rotating board to the last known white dwarf star to gather light for their civilization to survive. The first player to gather 20 light has what they need to overcome their rivals and lay claim to the last light in the universe and win!”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $94

All-In (w/shipping): $189

Campaign Ends: 5/6

Game Ships: Apr. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 318% with 23 days to go.

Project: Paradox Initiative

Designer: Brian Suhre (Coldwater Crown, Freshwater Fly, Merchants of the Dark Road)

Artists: Matt Paquette & Co. (Mariposas, Mystic Vale, Thunderstone Quest)

Publisher: Elf Creek Games (Atlantis Rising Second Edition, Honey Buzz, Merchants of the Dark Road)

Genre/Mechanisms: action points, open drafting, pattern building, pattern recognition, puzzle, science fiction, set collection, time travel

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “Players are mad scientists competing to claim strands of spacetime from worlds all across the multiverse. Who can most efficiently operate their particle-matching ‘Paradox Engine’ to collect strands from the different worlds? Be careful! Every captured strand of spacetime sends ripples throughout existence, collapsing the wormholes that future generations will need to reap the benefits of your reckless experiments. The Paradox Initiative takes the familiar board game elements of card drafting, set collection, and resource management, then adds a Bejeweled-like grid of discs for each player to manipulate. As a result, The Paradox Initiative is simple to learn, yet challenging to master, with players navigating three interlocking systems to grab as much spacetime as they can to be hailed the greatest scientist in the universe.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $40

All-In (w/shipping): $369 (includes 18 different player mats, each with art from a unique artist)

Campaign Ends: 4/29

Game Ships: Feb. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 109% with 16 days to go.

Project: sayū (左右)

Designer: Khanat Sadomwattana

Artist: Khanat Sadomwattana

Publisher: Khanat Sadomwattana

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 player only games, abstract strategy, tile placement

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “An abstract strategy tile-laying, tile-flipping for two players. It is played with 49 unique two-sided octagonal wooden tiles and uses no board. The objective of the game is to have more tile of your color face up when all the tiles are placed. The basic rules are as follow: to setup the game place the home tile at the center of the table. This tile has no arrows. From now on no tiles can be placed further than 3 spaces away from this tile (this creates a 7 by 7 grid when finished). Players then take alternate turn placing a tile into a space octagonally (Up, Down, Left, Right) connected to any tile already placed. Player can place the tile in any orientation (denoted by the white arrow) with their color facing up then check if any conversion occurs. Opponent’s tiles can be converted if you fulfill three criteria: 1) the tile you have placed has you colored arrow pointing toward the opponent’s tile; 2) the opponent’s tile does not have their colored arrow pointing back to your tile; 3) the two tiles do not share the same orientation. If more than one tile can be converted, choose only one. Once a tile is converted – flipped it to your color and rotate it so the orientation is the same as the tile that converted it. Treat that tile as though it has just been placed and check if further conversion occurs. Repeat until no more tile can be flipped then it’s the other player’s turn. Continue back and forth in this manner until all 49 tiles are placed. Whoever has the most tiles with their color facing up wins the game.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $41

All-In (w/shipping): $41, same as above

Campaign Ends: 5/8

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 99% with 25 days to go.

Project: Stellar Expedition

Designer: Ruud Nederpelt

Artist: Ruud Nederpelt

Publisher: Wulfhorn Games

Genre/Mechanisms: deck construction, hexagon grid, scenario / mission / campaign game, science fiction, space exploration, tile placement

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “You and your opponents are the chosen captains that take their spaceships through the mysterious gate and explore the riches that lay beyond. You can choose to represent the half Robot half insect Hive mind of Tognath, the cunning and ruthless Maheri tribes, the spacefaring tree hugging Sky-Lords of Edda or just be a plain old human of the United Nations Explorer Corps. Each of you will take up missions to gain Expedition points and win the most prestige with your superiors back home. But you won’t be able to complete the missions on your own. Once through the gate, you will have to befriend the locals and assemble the best crew to overcome the dangers of this unexplored part of space. Explore, recruit crew members, build embassies, acquire resources and go back through the gate before is closes again. The game is played over 8 different rounds who ever brings home the most Expedition points at the end will win this space race.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $74

All-In (w/shipping): $74, same as above

Campaign Ends: 5/12

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 29% with 28 days to go.

Project: Table Golf Association

Designer: John Garcia

Artists: not credited

Publisher: Table Golf Association

Genre/Mechanisms: action / dexterity, flicking, modular board, solo / solitaire game, sports, variable player powers, variable set-up

Player Count: 1-8

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “The first dexterity game that allows you to design and play your own golf course. Using 25 two-sided wooden terrain tiles, you decide the layout of the course, and make it as easy or difficult as you choose. The game comes with a Tee Box and several different ‘holes.’ You complete the course by adding tiles that include roughs, sand hazards, trees, water hazards, and a cliff, as well as the fairway tiles. The game includes four balls that are basically mini-shuffleboard pieces that you must flick from tee box to hole, while trying to avoid the hazards just like in real golf. If you do hit into the hazards, each one carries its own unique mechanism to replicate the challenges of real golf. For example, hitting into the sand means you must hit your next shot using the thumb of your non-dominant hand. Each hazard also limits the distance you can hit your next shot. The game also includes a weather die and spinner that must be rolled before each shot to determine the wind speed and direction. Golf pro player cards, which players can choose or deal out randomly, each have a different ability players can use once per hole. Whoever has the lowest score after the final hole wins. TGA can be played solo, one-on-one, in teams, or as a league.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $89

All-In (w/shipping): $435

Campaign Ends: 5/12

Game Ships: Sep. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 399% with 28 days to go.

Project: What’s on the Menu?

Designers: Joe Pinhasov, Michelle Pinhasov

Artists: James Koenig, Peter Marshall

Publisher: Boiling Point Games

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, food / cooking, memory, open drafting, party game, take that, turn order: progressive

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “In this chef battle, your goal is simple, make the best full course menu that blows our restaurant manager Eugene away. Each game will require varying levels of strategy and player interaction. Collect Menu Cards to build your menu, or use Action Cards to boost your menu or sabotage other competing chefs. The combinations are endless. You have 15 rounds to build your full course menu and have a change at becoming ‘What’s on the Menus’ next head chef.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $69

All-In (w/shipping): $258

Campaign Ends: 5/6

Game Ships: Nov. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 20% with 22 days to go.

Project: Xeonia

Designer: Java Scales

Artists: not credited

Publisher: JavaXD Games

Genre/Mechanisms: action / event, card game, card play conflict resolution, chaining, fantasy, fighting, player elimination, video game theme

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Makes use of fast paced actions, skills, abilities, and powerful Assists to aid in becoming the champion of Xeonia. ​Play as a standalone game in a PVP (Player vs Player) game mode, or in a co-operative story campaign.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $42

All-In (w/shipping): $115

Campaign Ends: 5/12

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 10% with 28 days to go.