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

Project: 18Namibia

Designers: Helmut Ohley (First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express!, Russian Railroads, Trambahn), Adam Romoth (1895 Namibia)

Artists: Michal Peichl (Divočina, Messina 1347), Milan Vavroň (Lost Ruins of Arnak, Mage Knight Board Game, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization, Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, Underwater Cities)

Publisher: Marflow Games (18AL, 18DO: Dortmund, Harzbahn 1873)

Genre/Mechanisms: 18xx, economic, trains

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A strategic economy game, which reflects the development of the railway network in today Namibia during the late 19th and early 20th century. Players invest in railway companies. The latter create a railway network with track tiles on the game board. They run these routes with their trains and thereby generate income. The amount depends on the economic potential of the cities and long-distance routes served. The player with the most shares in a railway company is its director. They decide whether these incomes will be distributed to the shareholders as a dividend or whether it will be added to the companies’ treasury for future investments. As the name of the game already indicates, 18Namibia belongs to the 18xx games. A specific element is the auctioning of railway concessions, which gives the owner certain advantages but which also entail an obligation. The technical progress is represented with 9 consecutive types of trains. This represents a special challenge for the directors, since only a careful investment policy leads to success. 18Namibia is based on 1895 Namibia which was designed for 3 players. With the introduction of another railway company and two mining companies, the game is now also suitable for 4 players. In addition, a version for two players is included.”

Base Pledge: $67 + shipping (with no shipping estimates provided)

All-In: $67 + shipping, same as above (with no shipping estimates provided)

Campaign Ends: 9/18

Game Ships: June 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 55% with 16 days to go.

Project: Powerline by Dirk Henn – Queen Games Green Planet Game 1 (on Gamefound)

Designer: Dirk Henn (Alhambra, Shogun, Wallenstein)

Artist: Patricia Limberger (12 Thieves, Alhambra, Skylands)

Publisher: Queen Games (Alhambra, Amerigo, Fresco, Lancaster, Shogun)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice, simultaneous action selection, variable set-up

Player Count: 1-6

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: low

Summary: “Players attempt to connect cities with new sources of energy production. In each of the 16 game rounds, six colored dice are rolled and arranged on their designated spaces on the central board. Each player has a player board that shows power lines ranging in length from 3-12 spaces, with each space showing the result of a die. Players may choose to use the six dice going from right to left or left to right in order to build the power lines on their board. However, they may use a certain number of dice only a fixed number of times, and a die may be skipped only by taking a penalty. During certain rounds, each of the three game objectives will be evaluated, and at the end of the game players gain points for completed power lines and fully connected cities, then lose points for lines they started but did not complete. The player with the most points wins.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $49

All-In (w/shipping): $49, same as above

Campaign Ends: 9/13

Game Ships: Oct. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 111% with 11 days to go.

Project: Waking Shards: Card Game

Designer: Diego Cathalifaud

Artist: Pavel Kunc

Publisher: Diego Cathalifaud

Genre/Mechanisms: card game, drawing, fantasy

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “A portable dark fantasy card game that focuses on strategy and combos. Get victory points by recruiting Guardians and control the game by collecting Shards. The game is played in rounds. Each round players draw a number of cards and then take turns until they empty their hands. In each turn players play one card, which can be a Unit (aka Guardian) or a Shard. When the round ends, the players with the strongest army (strongest units) wins the round. Cards are then shuffled back into the deck to start a new round but Shards stay in play. This is where strategy comes in. You want to win the current round with a strong army but you also want to collect Shards to win future rounds.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $29

All-In (w/shipping): $45

Campaign Ends: 9/22

Game Ships: Dec. 2022

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 344% with 20 days to go.