Welcome back, fellow game fans! I hope you’ve been surviving the summer heat (so far) as we head into July. Put the kettle on and grab a chocolate biscuit, because I’ve returned victorious from the digital wilderness with another batch of crowdfunding campaigns worth checking out. It seems myth and magic are the themes of the month, with fantasy adventures taking centre stage, and a game in Japan, which I am told is a real place, but is also a place of magical wonder. Don’t forget to check out last month’s roundup too, as some campaigns may still be live or have late pledges available.
The Lord of the Rings: Ascension
Of late, The Lord of the Rings-themed games have been hitting our tables hard. From our review of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game, which proved it to be a must-play, to our love for the epically difficult Fate of the Fellowship, and with the recent announcement of The Lord of the Rings: The King’s Gambit, it’s a world we won’t be leaving any time soon.
Now, if you’ve ever wondered what Ascension would look like in Middle-earth, Stone Blade Entertainment has the answer. The Lord of the Rings: Ascension takes the fast-paced deck-building gameplay the series is known for and gives it a Tolkien-inspired makeover, complete with iconic heroes, memorable locations, and the ever-present temptation of the One Ring.
The campaign includes three interconnected core sets based on The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Each can be played on its own or combined for an even bigger adventure, making it easy to jump in at any level. Whether you’re already a fan of Ascension or simply looking for another way to explore Middle-earth on the tabletop, this is one campaign worth backing.
The Lord of the Rings: Ascension is available now on Gamefound.
Siege Perilous
If you’d rather keep one foot in history while still embracing fantasy, then Siege Perilous is well worth a look.
This open-world Euro-style adventure sends 1–4 players into Arthurian Britain, where you’ll travel between kingdoms, take on quests, recruit allies, improve your knight’s virtues, and compete to earn the legendary seat at King Arthur’s Round Table.
What really makes Siege Perilous stand out is its stunning presentation. Every piece of artwork has been hand-painted using traditional medieval techniques, giving the game a stunning illuminated manuscript aesthetic that perfectly complements its rich Arthurian setting. I honestly could not get Pentiment out of my head when looking at Siege Perilous With an expansive sandbox full of branching adventures and plenty of ways to forge your own legend, this is possibly the most interesting crowdfunding campaign I’ve seen this month.
If you want to set out on your own Arthurian adventure, then journey over to Gamefound to find out more.
Nippon: Genro + Nippon: Zaibatsu
Now its time to set sail across the world to the beautiful lands of Japan fans of heavier strategy games have plenty to get excited about this month, with Nippon: Genro and Nippon: Zaibatsu arriving on crowdfunding together. Building on the acclaimed economic Eurogame Nippon, these releases continue to explore Japan’s rapid industrialisation during the Meiji era, challenging players to grow businesses, expand their influence, and navigate an ever-changing economy. Its a bit heavy of a game for my simple tastes, but I must say, it looks stunning, with component quality looking especially high.
Nippon: Zaibatsu is a deluxe version of the original base game that has been very popular since its release. If you have thought about picking up a copy, why not join the campaign and get this deluxe version that will stand out amongst the normal copies on the market.
But steaming into the industrial age we have Nippon: Genro. There isn’t much to go on at the moment, but it promises a new strategic layer that is meant to increase replayability. Genro of course are the influential advisors who shaped Meiji-era reforms in Japan, so expect these advisors to be a very key part of the game. Nippon: Genro also promises more player interaction than the base game and new strategic planning.
Backing this campaign will also give backers some exclusives, which I can be really guilty of some FOMO, so I would highly recommend you giving them a look. There’s also metal coins. As my metal coins for things like Everdell, Dune Imperium, Terraforming Mars and so many more whisper to me in my sleep, maybe I too will investigate this campaign further.
There is also a Cats of Japan mini-expansion in the campaign, its worth checking out just for that, as the miniatures with it look adorable.
You too can help build an industrial Japan with this link to the Kickstarter campaign, but be aware of the ultra secret Last Samurai expansion where Tom Cruise runs in and flips your game board over.
Until next time fellow gamers, save me a space at your game table, and don’t let your tea get cold!
