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

Project: Beyond Mission to Planet Hexx! Expansion for the Core Game

Designer: James A. Fitzpatrick III (Mission to Planet Hexx)

Artist: Mark Gonyea (Mission to Planet Hexx)

Publisher: Move Rate 20 Games (Mission to Planet Hexx)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, dice rolling, expansion, hand management, humor, network and route building, roll / spin and move, science fiction, space exploration, take that

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Go back to the future with this 88-card expert expansion, which adds new card combos and mechanics to the core game.

Mission to Planet Hexx! is a retro-sci-fi themed, map-building, dice-rolling card game. Players use a hand of six hex-shaped cards to build a map of space and planets, and play events that affect the game. As the map is built, players roll and move their spaceships around the galaxy, collecting data which is then used to upload hex cards to their ‘mission files.’ The first player to complete his/her mission file wins the game. There are elements similar to Magic the Gathering in this game, on top of similarities to other map building games.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $22

All-In (w/shipping): $70

Campaign Ends: 7/8

Game Ships: Mar. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 76% with 28 days to go.

Project: Braveheart Solitaire Bookgame 2nd Edition

Designers: Sean Cooke (Bismarck Solitaire, Boots on the Ground, Waterloo Solitaire), Mike Wylie (Hold the Line, Holdfast: Russia 1941-42), Napoleon’s War: The 100 Days), Grant Wylie (Hold the Line, Holdfast: Russia 1941-42)

Artist: Mark Churms (Hammer of the Scots; Julius Caesar: Caesar, Pompey, and the Roman Civil War; Warlords of Europe)

Publisher: Worthington Publishing (Band of Brothers: Ghost Panzer, Band of Brothers: Screaming Eagles, Lincoln)

Genre/Mechanisms: book, dice rolling, medieval, paper-and-pencil, solo / solitaire game, wargame

Player Count: 1

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “You are in command of the Scottish armies in their bid for independence from the English Monarchy. Take on the role of William Wallace or Robert the Bruce against an opposing English army. Lead your people to freedom as they cheer your name ‘Braveheart!’ There are two unique battles, Falkirk and Bannockburn. Within the two battles, you have six opportunities to defeat a challenging English Bot plus six chances to beat a difficult English Bot. The two grand battles provide a player with a total of twenty-four plays to claim victory. The English outnumber your army in both battles, so your decisions require some outstanding leadership. If you expect to win the day, the decisions are yours. All you need to provide is a die, a pen, and a sense of adventure to play.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $29

All-In (w/shipping): $29, same as above

Campaign Ends: 6/25

Game Ships: Aug. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 770% with 15 days to go.

Project: The Finest Fish

Designers: Nathan Jenne, Jake Jenne

Artist: Jake Jenne

Publisher: Last Night Games

Genre/Mechanisms: animals, tile placement

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Fishkeeping is a competitive hobby. Every fish owner wants to win the coveted Best in Show award at the national goldfish competition, but to have the most attractive pet, you need to carefully plan its colors and design. In The Finest Fish, you complete design objectives and arrange colorful scales on your goldfish in order to create the finest fish in the show.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $53

All-In (w/shipping): $53, same as above

Campaign Ends: 6/17

Game Ships: Mar. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 64% with 8 days to go.

Project: Journey Adventure Quest

Designers: Brandon Beam, Jesse Stacy, Tommy Noel

Artists: Cole Munro-Chitty (The Ghosts Betwixt), Emilyn Noel

Publisher: Triceratops Games

Genre/Mechanisms: adventure, card game, card play conflict resolution, closed drafting, end game bonuses, fantasy, open drafting, ratio / combat results table, set collection

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Gear up heroes for adventures and monsters in this drafting strategy game. The core of Journey Adventure Quest is stacking cards to build attack, defense, and knowledge while avoiding damage. Heroes search from dawn to dusk for equipment and spells every day, and create sets crafted by different guilds, which is often vital to completing both Adventures and Quests.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $63

All-In (w/shipping): $89

Campaign Ends: 7/7

Game Ships: Mar. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 51% with 28 days to go.

Project: Runes of Zun Reckless Magic

Designers: Dave Balmer (Runes of Zun), Alex Inoue (Runes of Zun), Eric Trimble (Runes of Zun)

Artist: Dave Balmer (Runes of Zun)

Publisher: Gobico (Runes of Zun)

Genre/Mechanisms: action /event, card game, card play conflict resolution, chaining, events, expansion, fantasy, hand management, party game, player elimination, semi-cooperative game, team-based game

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “This complete set of 100 cards contains the new Reckless Magic expansion along with cards from the past that we’ve selected and tested to work well together. This gives new players a great introduction to some of our favorite rune cards flavored with the new expansion. You can get deep into the game without having to catch up on all the content.

Runes of Zun is a card-dueling game of magic and mayhem for two to four players. It’s easy to learn and draws inspiration from collectible card games and deck builders but without all the fuss of collecting or building a deck. Part party game, part strategy game. It’s like a collectible card game where everyone plays from the same deck. Play a two player duel, three to four player battle royale or team up and play 2v2. Combine rune cards to build huge combos. Play multiple actions on your turn, enhance them with modifiers, and defend yourself with reactions. Discover new ways to outplay your opponents. Each turn, play as many actions from your hand, one at a time, targeting your opponents. Play them with modifier cards to make your actions more powerful. But be careful. Your opponent is free to play a reaction card against your attack that could deflect it back to you or make your opponent stronger. At turn end, discard all your played cards and draw up to five cards.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $23

All-In (w/shipping): $85

Campaign Ends: 6/23

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 111% with 14 days to go.