Today’s roundup includes a variety of games, from a knock-down, drag-out battle with a Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic to a tiny dungeon crawl you can carry in your pocket.
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Masters of Mutanite by Knapsack Games
This deck-building game features mutants battling each other and evolving new powers, plus terrain that you can pick up and throw at your opponents! I like the way it uses environmental effects: for instance, fire causes extra damage, water can put out fire, but electricity causes extra damage if there’s water. I haven’t gotten a chance to try it out on Tabletop Simulator yet, but it looks like it could be a lot of chaotic fun. The ’80s-inspired cartoon intro in the video is totally radical, too.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gonab/darwins-journey
Darwin’s Journey by Thundergryph Games
And speaking of evolving, here’s one that’s a bit more grounded in reality: a game about exploring the Galapagos islands, discovering new species, and developing the theory of evolution. It’s an impressive-looking worker-placement game and I’m curious to see how well the gameplay immerses players in the theme of the game.
Paper Apps Dungeon by Tom Brinton
This little notepad is a collection of procedurally-generated dungeons, so every pad is unique. The idea behind “Paper Apps” is that it’s a little game that you can play for a bit, but because it’s on paper, you don’t get sucked into your phone screen and the endless doomscrolling. This is the first one, but Brinton has plans for more.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/itbboardgames/alba-an-open-world-adventure-book
Alba from Inside the Box Board Games
Alba is like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with a lot more. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it’s your turn to journey to the surface and explore the world left behind by a war. Aside from the book itself, there’s a map, character sheet, and stickers that you’ll use to mark your character’s path through the story. It’s available in a few different formats, including an eBook with a PDF character sheet for those who prefer digital books.
