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

Project: Dead Man’s Curse

Designers: John Brannan, Virgilio ‘V’ San Andres

Artist: Hiidra Studio

Publisher: Spyglass Games (Venom Assault)

Genre/Mechanisms: abstract strategy, campaign / battle card driven, dice rolling, semi-cooperative game, team-based game

Player Count: 2-4

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Players can battle individually, or as teams, to conquer their opponents. Magic, specialty powers unique to your faction, and the ability to defend against incoming attacks are only a few of the powerful mechanics that augment the classic title into something completely different. 30+ unique factions exist in the game so far, with more to come. On their turn, players roll a D6 to see if they can draw a boost card, which attaches to a figure and changes how it moves or plays, draw an Epic Card (these are powerful game-changing events), or in some cases, use their factions ability. They then move to the Battlefield phase where they draw a card that will allow them to move up to 2 pieces if not more, plus a normal move with any piece. All figures move like normal chess figures would, but that is the only tie to Chess. Don’t fear getting your King into the battle, as they are your most powerful fighter and can devastate the foe; losing the King does not cost you the game. Throw out any preconceptions you know about classic Chess, because new moves, accelerated gameplay, and the ability to defend against incoming attacks on each and every combat sets Dead Man’s Chess far apart from its predecessor.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $80

All-In (w/shipping): $276

Campaign Ends: 10/21

Game Ships: Sep. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 36% with 21 days to go.

Project: Lunar Rush

Designer: Steven “Skippy” Brown

Artist: Viktor Kolodiazhnyi (Omicron Protocol)

Publisher: Dead Alive Games (Omicron Protocol)

Genre/Mechanisms: auction / bidding, constrained bidding, economic, market, science fiction, selection order bid, simultaneous action selection, solo / solitaire game, worker placement

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

Summary: “Simultaneous-play Euro-style board game that combines bidding, market economics, and tableau/engine-building into a refreshing new genre. You play as one of Earth’s four major corporate conglomerates, competing to mine the Moon for the newly-discovered ‘wonder materials,’ lunethyst crystals and lunarium ore. Every turn, players use their GigaCredits to bid for the best space routes to and from the Moon. The slower the route, the more you can load on the ship. On the Moon, players simultaneously upgrade their bases and place their astronaut workers to produce the resources needed to maintain the base, as well as Moon goods to sell in Earth’s bustling dynamic markets. The game ends after seven turns, and the winner is the player with the most GC!”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $57

All-In (w/shipping): $162

Campaign Ends: 10/20

Game Ships: Nov. 2023

Funding Status: Currently at 74% with 21 days to go.