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

Project: Camouflage!

Designer: Rusty Lumpkin (Sea of Plunder)

Artist: Adam Glass (Life & Legend)

Publisher: Three Nail Games (Sea of Plunder)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, pattern recognition, puzzle, real-time

Player Count: 1-7

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A pattern matching speed game with multiple modes of gameplay. This includes a solo puzzle mode. The entire game is also color blind friendly. Be prepared for your eyes and mind to be tested, as you push them both to their limits. Focus your effort to spot the matches and the best point combinations, but don’t take too long because, just as in nature a split second can mean the difference between life and death. Players each select a set of six cards they then play as quickly and as strategically as possible. This game does not have turns and therefore the players must balance taking the time to find big point combos while at the same time making certain that they have a chance to play all of their cards. It has incredibly simple concepts but because of the time factor the game is always a challenge.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $30

All-In (w/shipping): $73

Campaign Ends: 9/8

Game Ships: Oct. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 64% with 35 days to go.

Project: Carnival Connect

Designers: Daryl Chow (The Artemis Project, Overbooked, Remember Our Trip), Daniel Lee Yingjie

Artists: Nguyen Ho Khanh Chi, Nguyen Minh Hieu, Ly Uyen Linh, Phan Ha Tu Mi, Banh Chanh Nhiem, Luu Minh Tien

Publishers: MooMeeNyu Designs

Genre/Mechanisms: abstract strategy, modular board, negotiation, pattern building, semi-cooperative game, solo / solitaire game

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Neighboring players must plan and cooperate together if they are to put together just the right combination of colors, rides and train tracks to bag multiple bonus objective points. However, every player has their own scoring agenda in the form of the types of rides to build. Not only does the Carnival have limited space, but each round an old ride must be demolished to make way for new development. How far will players be willing to demolish their scoring rides for a common goal? What negotiation skills and mind games will they bring into play? And how long will they work together amicably before the thought of demolishing their neighbor’s high scoring rides becomes a juicy option? At the end of the game, players are awarded points for the bonus objectives their Carnivals have bagged, combined with the number of rides from their scoring agenda that they have built into those Carnivals. The player with the highest total score wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $47

All-In (w/shipping): $62

Campaign Ends: 9/1

Game Ships: Sep. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 16% with 28 days to go.

Project: Fishing Lessons

Designer: Scott Almes (Heroes of Land, Air & Sea; Tiny Epic Dinosaurs; Tiny Epic Galaxies; Tiny Epic Quest; Warp’s Edge)

Artist: Nivea Toliver

Publisher: Button Shy (Circle the Wagons, Sprawlopolis, Tussie Mussie)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, hand management, print & play, programmed movement, solo / solitaire game, sports

Player Count: 1

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “You’ll play through a series of rounds representing the course of your day. At the start of the game you’ll pick a family member, each with their own unique goal. During each round you’ll recall a new Lesson, adding it to your list of steps that you’ll then run through in order. Lessons are used to move your character’s boat along the row of Lake cards or to flip Lake cards to hide or reveal the fish you need to complete your character’s goal. Meet the goal at the right time, based on your chosen difficulty level, to win the game.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $17

All-In (w/shipping): $70, includes additional games

Campaign Ends: 8/13

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 2,148% with 9 days to go.

Project: Five Three Five (English Edition of 535 from Japan)

Designer: Kenichi Kabuki

Artist: Sai Beppu (Aqua Garden; Nokosu Dice; Trump, Tricks, Game!)

Publisher: Portland Game Collective (Bridge City Poker)

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, follow, hand management, ladder climbing, push your luck, trick-taking

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A climbing/shedding game using a deck comprised of cards numbered 1-15, with cards of rank 6 and 10 missing. The deck contains multiple copies of each card, depending on player count (4 each at 2-4 players/5 each at 5+ players). In addition to a rank, each card has a point value, which depends on the rank’s strength. The object of the game is for players to be the first to play all of their cards to the table. On a turn, a player may play one, two, or three cards to a single, central meld. On a turn, a player chooses to do one of the following actions. Overwrite: play a higher ranked meld, which matches the meld-type and size of the central meld; Add: attach a card or cards to the central meld, making sets/runs longer; and Pass: a player who can not or chooses not to play into the central meld may pass. Once a player passes, they are out for the trick. The last player to have played a card to the meld in any of these situations above clears the trick and leads the next. A lead player must always play one, two, or three cards and may never ‘Pass.’ Once one player has played their final card(s) to the table, the round ends immediately. The other players then score the points indicated on the cards left in their hands. Rounds are played until one player has 20 or more points, leaving the player(s) with the least points the winner(s).”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $29

All-In (w/shipping): $56

Campaign Ends: 8/24

Game Ships: Apr. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 227% with 21 days to go.

Project: Foundations of Rome: Roads of Fortune and Second Printing

Designer: Emerson Matsuuchi (Century: Eastern Wonders, Century: Golem Edition, Century: A New World, Century: Spice Road, Specter Ops)

Artist: Damien Mammoliti (Brass: Birmingham, Brass: Lancashire, Radlands, Tyrants of the Underdark)

Publisher: Arcane Wonders (Furnace, Onitama, Mage Wars Arena, Sheriff of Nottingham, Smartphone Inc.)

Genre/Mechanisms: ancient, city building, economic, income, market, ownership, square grid, tile placement

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: “Foundations of Rome puts you into the role of an architect competing to own land and build magnificent structures. Build domūs and insulae, fountains, foundries, and more to increase your renown – gaining glory for yourself and the empire. With 96 detailed miniatures in the base game, Foundations of Rome is a testament to the glory of Rome that you can bring to the table. On a player’s turn they select from purchasing a new lot, building a new building in the shared city of Rome, or collecting income. Players collect Glory Points at the end of each round based on the population and commerce they have brought to the city as well as gaining glory for civic buildings that score not only based on their own buildings, but those of their opponents. With a quick setup time and easy to learn to rules you will be on your way to achieving glory within Rome in no time.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $39

All-In (w/shipping): $285

Campaign Ends: 8/22

Game Ships: June 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 241% with 19 days to go.

Project: Guns or Treasure

Designer: Bryce Brown (Rescuing Robin Hood)

Artist: Paul Vermeesch (Rescuing Robin Hood)

Publisher: Castillo Games (Rescuing Robin Hood)

Genre/Mechanisms: adventure, bluffing, card game, party game, pirates, score-and-reset game, take that, variable player powers

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A speedy game of buccaneering and bluffing. Each player secretly builds their ships by laying down 10 cards. Cards add guns, treasure or a bomb to your ships. The players then take turns marauding other players’ ships or retreating to safety. Marauding is the key to victory, since a successful attack means you score the treasure from both ships, but beware. Their ships may be well-equipped with guns or rigged with a bomb. The player with the most treasure wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $26

All-In (w/shipping): $75

Campaign Ends: 9/1

Game Ships: Feb. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 45% with 29 days to go.

Project: Legends of Draxia: Monsters of Nairu Expansion

Designer: Jimmy Sanders

Artist: Danai Kittiwathana

Publisher: Mythica Gaming

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, fantasy, open drafting, push your luck, set collection

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A fantasy strategy card game that utilizes resource management to kill monsters, make buildings, and cast spells. Players pull 3 random cards from the character deck, each with a secret end-game bonus, and choose one, discarding the others. Players take turns pulling two resource cards from the main deck into their hand. Based on what resources they have in their hand and from any buildings they have built, players can buy spells, construct buildings, or fight monsters. Resources must be wisely spent while not exposing the player’s secret end-game bonus. Game ends after all cathedral buildings are constructed or monster deck is exhausted. Players tally points for the buildings they constructed and monsters they have destroyed, along with the end-game character bonus. Player with the highest points wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $30

All-In (w/shipping): $85

Campaign Ends: 8/24

Game Ships: Mar. 2023

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 137% with 21 days to go.

Project: Tiny Robot Love Doctors

Designer: Tavey Lin

Artist: Shuilam Wong

Publisher: 8Ways Games

Genre/Mechanisms: abstract strategy, cooperative game, matching, medieval, pattern matching, puzzle, roles with asymmetric information, solo / solitaire game, square grid, variable player powers, variable set-up

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Four byte-sized DocBots hack into their patient’s heart and zap away all the bad feels until only love remains. A cooperative puzzle game with cute characters and quirky, positive vibes. With multiple levels of difficulty and customizable game mechanics, any player will feel like an essential part of their team, whether enjoying the positive messaging and connection offered in Friendly mode, or tackling the advanced game strategies necessary to survive in Hostile Mode. Designed for 1-4 players and optimized for solo play.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $52

All-In (w/shipping): $52, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/2

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Currently at 10% with 40 days to go.