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

Project: After the Empire

Designers: Evan Halbert, Ryan Mauk

Artist: Yaroslav Radeckyi (Citta-Stato, Reavers of Midgard, Rurik: Dawn of Kiev)

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

Genre/Mechanisms: economic, fighting, miniature, resource management, worker placement, tower defense

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: A tower defense game with large plastic castles played over several seasons, and utilizing resource management and worker placement mechanics.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $95

All-In (w/shipping): $95, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/26

Game Ships: May 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 213%, with 22 days to go.

Project: Board Game Cafe Frenzy

Designer: Citie Lo (A Pleasant Journey to Neko)

Artist: Citie Lo (A Pleasant Journey to Neko)

Publisher: The Wood Games (Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale, Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft, Matryoshka)

Genre/Mechanisms: auction/bidding, trick-taking, worker placement

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: high

Summary: A light card game with two phases, each running ten turns, Preparing & Opening the Door, as players compete to build and run a better board game cafe than their opponents.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $32

All-In (w/shipping): $90, includes an additional game, A Pleasant Journey to Neko

Campaign Ends: 9/30

Game Ships: Oct. 2019

Funding Status: Currently at 83%, with 26 days to go.

Project: Moonrakers

Designers: Zac Dixon, Austin Harrison, Max Anderson

Artist: Lunar Saloon (Alex & Meg Griendling)

Publisher: IV Studios

Genre/Mechanisms: action point allowance system, deck building, hand management, partnerships, trading

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: high

Summary: Negotiate alliances, hire your crew, build ships, and fulfill contracts in this competitive, space-themed deck builder.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $69

All-In (w/shipping): $79

Campaign Ends: 10/1

Game Ships: July 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 338%, with 26 days to go.

Project: Orchard

Designer: Mark Tuck (Raging Bulls, Snooker Solitaire, Zone Runners)

Artist: Mark Tuck

Publisher: Side Room Games (Black Sonata, Maquis)

Genre/Mechanisms: pattern building, solo game, tile placement

Player Count: 1

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: medium-high

Summary: A very quick solo game tasking the player to stack tiles for maximum fruit-pip points.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $15

All-In (w/shipping): $15, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/2

Game Ships: Jan. 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 498%, with 18 days to go.

Project: Quicksteel

Designer: Ron Francesangelo

Artist: Rob Cannon

Publisher: Ron Francesangelo

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, bluffing, fighting, hand management, memory, player elimination, rock-paper-scissors, simulation

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: high

Summary: A two-player card game simulating the ins and outs (and lunges and ripostes) of fencing.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $30

All-In (w/shipping): $67, also includes art prints

Campaign Ends: 9/29

Game Ships: Dec. 2019

Funding Status: Currently at 2%, with 25 days to go.

Project: Solar Storm

Designer: Ayden Lowther

Artists: Elias Stern (LANDER), Vladimir Ishelin

Publisher: Dranda Games (Dice Diner, Tinmates)

Genre/Mechanisms: action point allowance system, cooperative play, hand management

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: high

Summary: “Work together or die alone” in this space-themed, cooperative hand management game

Base Pledge (with shipping): $62

All-In (w/shipping): $72

Campaign Ends: 9/17

Game Ships: Dec 2019

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 228%, with 28 days to go.

Project: The Trouble With Aliens – Mini Edition

Designers: Lisa & Vin Fetty

Artist: Vin Fetty

Publisher: Sazaky Games

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, hand management, set collection, take that

Player Count: 2-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: high

Summary: A very light, alien-themed party card game with take that and set collection mechanics.

Base Pledge (with shipping): $24

All-In (w/shipping): $24

Campaign Ends: 9/13

Game Ships: Nov. 2019

Funding Status: Currently at 46%, with 8 days to go.