Watch your Back: Week October 15 to 21
Athena's swamped with work, so I crawled out of my cave for you to check the crowdfunding crackers that are thrown at us this week. There's something for all tastes, I'd say. Eat to your hearts content.
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Beware of pretty flowers! In the coop survival game Malum Hortus you play as nymphs lured into an enchanted garden - and when night falls things go really, really bad. You need to get everybody out alive to win. It will be on Kickstarter October 17.
Personal opinion: could be fun, could be too light, I have no idea. Let's check gameplay when the campaign is live.
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The game that will draw most attention this week is Garphill Games' Ezra and Nehemiah, in which you'll be rebuilding the temple and city walls of Jerusalem for victory points. It combines worker placement with hand management of cards to make the most of your actions. On Kickstarter, 18 October.
Personal opinion: I've played a few games by these designers and didn't really enjoy them. But it looks like a solid addition for the fans. Crunchy.
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Celebrating 10 years of action-adventure madness, Secrets of the Lost Tomb: Epic Edition will come to Gamefound in a week or so - I'm not sure of the exact date. So this announcement may be too early. It features new artwork and 6 new scenarios (on top of the original 7). You can buy the base game or an all-in pledge with 13 boxes to keep you busy for the next 10 years.
Personal opinion: my favourite game Eldritch Horror served as one of the inspirations so I'd really like to try this game. The previous time I didn't buy it because I was a completionist and it was too expensive. To be honest, I haven't changed that much in 10 years and I don't think Secrets of the Lost Tomb has either...
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There's something strange going on in The Morrison Game Factory and you can try to find out what exactly in the homonymous narrative puzzle adventure. It will launch on Kickstarter on October 17.
Personal opinion: I don't care to much for mystery puzzles or escape rooms and the like. The fact that you need an electronic device to play it this, makes it even less interesting for me. That said, the illustrations are nice and first reviewers say the unfolding story is interesting. So if you're a fan of puzzles, do take a look.
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Fall of Lumen has your heroes gathering resources, converting them to get presence in regions, while doing some light deck-building Arnak-style. It's a stand-alone sequel to Legends of Void that I know nothing about. Sorry.
Personal opinion: Though it will have a solo mode and a 2-player coop variant, it looks more fun to me with 3 or 4. I'm curious, but not yet convinced.
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The Witcher: Path of Destiny is the second game by designer Łukasz Woźniak set in the popular Witcher setting, after The Witcher: Old World. This time you'll play through some stories, by playing cards from your hand that will make a timeline that in turn has several effects like branching the story, unlocking abilities and scoring victory points. The game will launch on Gamefound on October 19 and features famous characters like Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri.
Personal opinion: I own The Witcher: Old World, and would gladly back this as well, but it looks more like a multiplayer game to me. Most scenarios will not be solo compatible and you'll miss out on the player interaction. A pity, as this one does have female characters, and I prefer to have that choice.
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And last, the Obsession: Characters Expansion delivers what it promises: new characters that will enhance your favourite Victorian passtime (while expanding your options the times you pass in this game). It also adds new guests and objective cards. Available on Kickstarter on October 17.