⛵ Into the Beyond
10 active and upcoming campaigns that span the ends of the earth, and a few places inbetween.
What’s Inside: We’re heading on adventures that live on the edge of fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
1. Runecairn Wardensaga
Live Page | Norse-fantasy with electric styling
Forged by By Odin's Beard, veterans of dozens of acclaimed TTRPGs, Runcairn Wardensaga is a Norse-fantasy tale packed into 84 pages of stunning artwork and streamlined design. Created by Colin Le Sueur and inspired by Dark Souls and Elden Ring, this combat-focused adventure is built for one or two players, offering a lightweight but gritty experience. Everything you need to play is in the book, making it a steal for around £9.00 for the PDF, or £30.00 for the hardcover + digital bundle.
2. Menagerie of Unbearable Things
Live Page | A horrible book of once loved beasts
Now live on Kickstarter and already fully funded, Menagerie, developed by the brilliant Tania Herrero, is shaping up to be another hit following their previous successful campaigns. This 120-page, system-agnostic bestiary is packed with hauntingly beautiful artwork and grim, unforgettable creature designs.
Built to slip seamlessly into any game world
Dark lore helps GMs breathe life and horror into their campaigns.
Not just a monster book: it’s a glimpse into what love, grief, and madness leave behind.
Filled with beautiful artwork and grim creature designs across 120 pages.
3. News From The Fallout
Live Page | The countdown to detonation has begun
I stumbled across this series on BlueSky last week and spent a while tracking down the author and release details. Issue #1 just dropped on June 25th, with new issues scheduled to release monthly. Image Comics are handling the release.
Set in 1962, the six-issue limited series begins with a nuclear test gone wrong, unleashing a deadly contaminant into the atmosphere and triggering an unstoppable chain reaction. It's grim, looks gripping, and early reviews are promising. You can check out the series’ Substack here, or get a glimpse at some of the excellent scripting work, here.
4. ALTIPLANO
Upcoming Page | Jack into the Peruvian grid
Gustaffo Vargas is no stranger to Kickstarter success, with five successful campaigns already under their belt. Their latest project, ALTIPLANO, dives back into the gritty, vibrant world of Peruvian cyberpunk, blending rich, original storytelling. If it hits as hard as their previous release, ANTICUCHO (still available in soft and hardcover), we’re in for a treat. You can read a teaser of ALTIPLANO here.
5. Sail Legacy
Upcoming Page | Flat earthers everywhere are terrified
Originally launched in 2023, Sail made a strong debut, earning a solid 7.3 rating on Board Game Geek and praise from reviewers like Dice Tower Encore. It's now charting a course back to Kickstarter in 2025, this time with a host of refinements, including a redesigned board and a wider variety of mission types and objectives, with the aim to smooth out some of its rougher design elements. From the early imagery, it’s looking sharp.
6. The Pawn’s Gambit
Upcoming Page | Ancient strategy, modern soul
Purists might scream at the thought of reimagining chess into a new game, but David Melo, the creator of The Pawn’s Gambit, looks to have taken a stab at it by weaving its mechanics into something new. You can read its early ruleset here, and view some of its cards here.
Players battle to seize control of cards, with your ‘opening’ setting your strategy for the round.
Piece cards (reflecting traditional chess pieces) and Imbalance Cards (shifting conditions that affect your piece cards) turn the traditional game on its head.
Early imagery looks promising with some gorgeous artwork.
7. The Chronicles of BERG
Upcoming Page | Mystical mountains await
The Chronicles of BERG caught my eye because of its artwork, drawn by the amazing Stella Langecker. Their whimsical, cosy style sets the tone for a charming yet competitive strategy game for 2–5 players. Blending deck-building with clever route planning, players race to earn the most renown before the final turn. While the game board hasn’t been revealed yet, definitely one to follow.
8. Politik
Upcoming Page | A pursuit of power across 12 nations
Politik stands out with a Brutalist aesthetic across its board and cards. The longform strategy game (with a 120-minute playtime) is the first from Black Yeti Games and is set in the aftermath of the Great Collapse, in a fractured world where pirate signals flood the airwaves.
A grand strategy experience with 1,200 components and 500+ unique hand-drawn cards.
Themes of propaganda, corruption, power plays and control.
Strategic, deep experience.
Absolutely no use of AI.
9. Hood
Upcoming Page | Time to rob from the rich to give to the poor
Phalanx are no stranger to crowdfunding, and their latest offering, Hood, is looking enticing. It sounds a little like the very brilliant Root. As someone who loves faction-based asymmetrical board games where players fight over territory, Hood ticks all the boxes. Supporting 2-4 players, you’ll need to attack, capture enemies or expand your influence as you manage your conflicts and victory demands.
10. In the Shadow of Something Vast
Upcoming Page | Be dwarfed by something much older, powerful, unknowable
This one stands out, not just because its Follower count is still in its early days, but because of the story behind Six Planes Games. With two successful campaigns and two that fell short, they’ve seen both sides of the crowdfunding challenge. It’s a tough landscape, and striking the right balance is tricky.
In the Shadow of Something Vast could be their breakthrough, if it can build enough momentum over the coming months. The project includes five standalone TTRPG zines: three are complete remakes of their earlier work, while two are entirely new creations. You can dive into the background of each from their previous crowdfunding attempt.
Pilgrimage: Embark on a journey under the watchful eye of an unknowable god. They test you, you try to please. But do they even truly know you?
URRC: Underworld Relic Retrieval Company: You're an imp in Hell, scavenging relics from the afterlife. It's grim, you're bottom-tier—but everyone starts somewhere.
A Game of Three Bullets: Follow a bullet’s path after it's fired. What it hits, where it ends, and what that reveals about a world shaped by violence.
Impossible Forces: In 20XX, superhumans battle giant machines in an endless war. Play out one decisive clash that could finally end it.
When I Looked on You for the Final Time: Something moves through your ship—memory by memory, wire by wire. Is it trying to speak... or to consume?