This month, we are seeing an increase in board game adaptations of popular digital games on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. In this article, we are going to show you a round-up of the most promising and popular board games on the site!
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is an online crowdfunding platform where creators can upload their ideas and get funding from internet users worldwide. Projects can be presented on their own pages, with images, videos, and text. Creators can set goals for funding and offer backer rewards at different tiers for those who wish to support the project. Backers only pay when the target goal for funding the project has been reached through collective efforts, but there is no guarantee that they will receive the rewards when the project is funded.
Kickstarter has helped the funding of many well-known projects, such as Critical Role or The Smithsonian Institution. There are also many small scale projects which are being funded and delivered daily.
For more information about Kickstarter, visit the official website.
Digital Games go board game!
After successful Kickstarter campaigns of popular digital games like Witcher and Frostpunk, more game franchises are being transformed into board games to be collected and played by fans and to expand the target group of the franchise.
This month, we can see three major franchises released as board game variants:
Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
“‘Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game’ is a co-op boss battler game for 1-4 players bursting with all new quests, exciting Iceborne twists, and a whole new line-up of MASSIVE monsters to hunt!”
Players can choose from four different hunters with unique weapons and playstyles. Engage with large monsters who won’t hold back! The fight is being controlled by the boss and your team needs to use their abilities efficiently in order to win. Fighting monsters can yield you rewards that can be crafted into weapons for the next fight. All variations of the game come with a selection of large monster figurines to create an immersive experience!
Dead Cells: The Rogue-Lite Board Game
“Dead Cells The Board Game is a cooperative rogue-lite experience inspired by the Metroidvania genre. Explore the ever-changing island of Dead Cells in this ruthless dungeon crawler. Explore. Kill. Die. Mutate. Repeat.”
Choose one out of four characters with different special abilities to play as, and draw random tiles within a biome to create unique runs. While you play, you will collect cells to upgrade your deck permanently and unlock new gameplay features. This gameplay loop promises a great deal of fun for a long time as you upgrade the main characters and give them the best abilities to be used in the next run!
“Apex Legends: The Board Game is a highly competitive, intensely tactical team vs. team miniatures game for 1-6 players (solo and co-op matches possible through the use of expansion. With an original engine and innovative framework, it brings the unforgettable thrills of a genuine battle royale experience to your gaming table.”
True to the goal of the original, this board game is about competing against your friends, outsmarting them in tactical combat. Play with up to 6 players in different game modes and enjoy endless replayability – including varying terrain and modular design.
The Last Spell – The Board Game
“Fight shoulder to shoulder with your friends in this exciting and innovative coop 1-4 player rogue-like RPG with a tower defense twist!”
The dark, post-apocalyptic world of The Last Spell brings RPG, stratetg and tower defense mechanics to your board game table. Players can choose to play single scenarios or a whole campaign to make the most of this beautifully designed game.
Other Board Game Projects on Kickstarter
Aeon Trespass: Odyssey Second Printing Plus All-New Content
“This is the original Aeon Trespass game, produced during our previous Kickstarter campaign and released to critical acclaim! We have brought it back for a second printing, to allow as many people as possible to experience the epic tale!”
This game looks really well designed and produced in high quality – especially with the minis! With hundreds ours of content to be explored, Aeon Trespass sounds like the perfect game for a single person or small group of boardgame and roleplaying enthusiasts.
9th Circle: a Diabolical 2-5p game of Take-That Area Control
“9th Circle is an area control game of deep tactical and strategic gameplay. Dominate your foes, and control the realm powers of a modular game board as you vie for the favor of the new lord of darkness, Malacoda.”
The 9th Circle looks like the perfect boardgame for those who want to experience an epic but funny adventure filled with chaos. The hidden movement features make the game interesting and offer room for strategic gameplay.
“Ninja Sloths is a 2-6 player turn-based competitive strategic card game. In this game, you’ll assemble a squad of Ninja Sloths to heist gems from the evil guards while working to avoid the sabotage of your foes. The game also includes items you can equip to your squad, like weapons, and action cards. Create your path to victory by building the ultimate Ninja Squad and heisting the most gems from the guards…or perhaps…from your friends!”
This game promises to be a great addition to every board game night with friends! The easy-to-learn approach allows all players to join for a quick round and makes this game perfect for a quick funny and exciting game. And who can resist the adorable ninja sloths?
“Axe-A-Lot-L is a quick, strategic and silly card game featuring axolotls!”
And who could possibly resist a cute axolotl? Players can collect cards to possess a mighty Axe-A-Lot-L to try to chop off each other’s limbs. If you are in a predicament, you can even take off your own arm and hurl it at an opponent – in true axolotl fashion!
“Congratulations! You have been appointed to our kingdom’s council. You and your fellow council members will work together to manage our kingdom’s resources by voting on charters, resolving disasters, and more.”
Rule a kingdom as newly elected councilors with different objectives, manage the resources of the kingdom, and try to balance the kingdom’s wealth with your own self-interest. Anarchy is bound to be a fascinating strategic experience!
Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales, Mystic Natural Fantasy Setting 5E
“Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales is a 5E Mystic Natural Fantasy Role-Playing Game, and a 3D Modular Dungeon Set and 200+ plastic miniatures.”
Fans of tabletop role-playing will be delighted to see Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales with it’s focus on modular environments and high-quality miniatures. The complete adventure includes a manual and all the pieces you’ll need to create an epic journey for your party!
These are just a very small selection of the projects that can be supported on Kickstarter at the moment. If you feel like supporting the development of a project, you can search the Kickstarter website for projects that speak to you.