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

Project: Bot Factory by João Quintela Martins & Vital Lacerda

Designers: Vital Lacerda (The Gallerist, Kanban EV, Lisboa, On Mars, Vinhos Deluxe Edition), João Quintela Martins (Gelato Mio, Lusitania, Vidrado)

Artist: Pedro Soto (Guilds of London, Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft, The Red Cathedral)

Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games (Brass: Lancashire, The Gallerist, Lisboa, On Mars, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization)

Genre/Mechanisms: industry / manufacturing, open drafting, tile placement, variable phase order, worker placement

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: low

Summary: “Gather projects and parts, then assemble bots, thereby fulfilling demand goals and improving the value of the bot you are making. Sandra, the factory manager from Kanban, is present here, moving to different departments and using the players’ spaces. The game uses the same worker-placement mechanism from Kanban in which turn order is established by the workers’ positions on the board.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $57

All-In (w/shipping): $57, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/1

Game Ships: May 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 79% with 9 days to go.

Project: Septima

Designer: Robin Hegedűs

Artists: Barbara Bernát, Villő Farkas (Anachrony, Cerebria: The Inside World, Trickerion: Legends of Illusion)

Publisher: Mindclash Games (Anachrony, Cerebria: The Inside World, Trickerion: Legends of Illusion)

Genre/Mechanisms: area majority / influence, fantasy, hand management, mythology, simultaneous action selection, variable player powers

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: low

Summary: “A competitive, highly interactive strategy game of witchcraft. As the leader of your coven, you must prove your worth in the town of Noctenburg to become the successor of Septima, the High Witch. Practice your craft and gain Wisdom by collecting herbs, brewing potions, healing the townsfolk, mastering charms and rescuing your fellow brothers and sisters from the trials. But beware: magic, even if used for good, invokes suspicion in the townsfolk. Septima’s central mechanism revolves around the simultaneous, secret selection of one of nine Action cards each turn– Move, Collect, Brew, Heal, Recruit, Plea, Chant, Rite and Remember. Each Action gets a powerful bonus if it is chosen by multiple players, but performing them together also raises suspicion in the townsfolk and attracts the attention of the Witch Hunters. Decisions of when to do a shared action (and who to do it with) adds a fresh, semi-cooperative touch to a competitive game, and lots of player interaction. Heal, enthrall or convince the townsfolk and amass enough support to sway the periodic Witch Trials in your favor. If the hostile witnesses are outvoted, the convicted witch is absolved and joins the coven that rescued them. You start small but you can grow your coven to up to four witches this way, each with their own personality and special ability to help your cause. Reckless Witches caught by Witch Hunters are also put to trial, so with enough support from the townsfolk, even witches from other, less careful players’ coven can end up in yours. Septima is Mindclash Games’ most accessible title to date, with beautiful, hand-drawn art style by Villő Farkas and with the character art of Barbara Bernát, wooden components and intuitive, theme-inspired mechanisms. It is very quick to teach and set up, and takes less than 2 hours to play, even with four players.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $93

All-In (w/shipping): $93, same as above

Campaign Ends: 7/1

Game Ships: May 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 765% with 9 days to go.