This time around we’re looking at eight (!!) cooperative board games that are up on Kickstarter right now. As always, if you like the game descriptions and/or the preview videos, head on over to the Kickstarter pages to back ’em!
Sine Tempore: The Last Hope
Days Remaining: 7 | Current Status: Funded
Sine Tempore is a cooperative game in which 1 – 4 players face the game’s artificial intelligence as part of a campaign, which guides them to one of three different endings.
The miniatures and artwork look amazing in this one. No doubt this is going to look great on the table.
Latest Update (5/31): A bunch of info in this update, including a new art book stretch goal and additional miniatures that can be added to bundles.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Escape the Dark Castle
Days Remaining: 28 | Current Status: Not Funded Yet
Escape the Dark Castle is a casual, cooperative adventure game with a focus on atmosphere, player cooperation, and fun – perfect for newcomers to tabletop gaming. It takes 2 minutes to set up, lasts around 30 minutes, and no two games are ever alike.
Players take the role of prisoners on a quest to Escape the Dark Castle, and must work together to overcome its many horrors, traps, and challenges – each of which is represented by a large, beautifully illustrated chapter card.
I like two things about this one: it’s quick (30 mins) and it has a unique black and white art style. It just popped up on Kickstarter and is close to being funded already.
Latest Update (June 01): A welcome message from the Escape the Dark Castle team. They also let everyone know that they’ll be at the UK Games Expo demoing the game.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Ravage: Dungeons of Plunder
Days Remaining: 14 | Current Status: Funded
A dungeon-delving board game where you, the player, get to control a band of Orcs; ain’t no paladins or dwarfs here. Raid dungeons, slaughter monsters for their teef and complete objectives and level up along the way.
Love that this one has multiple game modes. The overall graphic design seems stellar, too.
Latest Update (June 1): A new stretch goal was unlocked, adding more cards to the AI deck, and a new stretch goal was unveiled.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Kitchen Rush
Days Remaining: 20 | Current Status: Funded
Kitchen Rush simulates the excitement of a high-pressure kitchen environment through an innovative real-time worker placement mechanism. 1-4 players work together trying to fulfill orders fast enough to earn enough money to keep the business going across 4 rounds of 4 minutes. The fun, excitement and rush it brings to the table offers a full course for gamers and family members alike.
I wanted a game (kind of) like this to be made….
#ThursdayThoughts A co-op game where you are a restaurant staff trying to make it through a tough dinner shift. Has to have worker placement
— Co-op Board Games (@coopbg) March 9, 2017
… so of course I’m excited about this one!
Latest Update (April 29): Added more stretch goals and the Kitchen Rush rulebook was uploaded.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Zero Hour
Days Remaining: 27 | Current Status: Not Funded Yet
Zero Hour is a cooperative press-your-luck survival game for 1-4 players, in which survivors of the mysterious Z-B13 virus fight against all odds to stop the Mastermind behind its release. Players win by finding the Mastermind behind the outbreak and stopping them while preventing the Z-B13 virus from mutating. Created by award-winning game designer Jay Little (X-Wing, Star Wars RPG, Blood Bowl: Team Manager) and featuring artwork from noted illustrator Matias Tapia (Borderlands 2, Battleborn), Zero Hour presents a team-based, pulp adventure take on the zombie apocalypse in a 60 to 90 minute game featuring a dynamic three-act story.
I’m a sucker for press your luck games, so that alone makes me interested in this one. Plus, I really like the box cover.
Latest Update (5/31): The designer tanks early backers and talks about why he made the game.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Street Masters: Rise of the Kingdom
Days Remaining: 21 | Current Status: Funded
Street Masters: Rise of the Kingdom is a 1-4 player miniatures, board game that includes over 65 highly detailed miniature figures! The game combines the concept of a tactical combat board game with the flexibility of an intricate card game. Acclaimed designers Adam and Brady Sadler (The Walking Dead: No Sanctuary, Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game) have developed a streamlined system that focuses on modularity and action, with fighters, bosses, rivals, allies, and stages forming a “sandbox” for players to mix-and-match, creating their own epic showdowns.
This one was just funded. It’s not surprising that so many people are interested considering it has a cool throwback look to it and… it’s basically a Street Fighter board game! Oh, and it looks like Kickstarter backers will be getting A LOT of additional content.
Latest Update (June 02): This update includes backstories for some of the characters.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Dreadbound
Days Remaining: 27 | Current Status: Not Funded Yet
A cooperative sci-fi survival game. Groups of 2-4 players will attempt to defend the lab’s shared pool of health from increasingly difficult waves of Enemies. Allowing too many Enemies or any one of three bosses to break through your defenses will end the game. Defeat three bosses, however, and you will be able to call in your drop ship and escape with your lives.
This one has a look that I really like. It kind of reminds me of XenoShyft: Onslaught. Expect this one to get funded soon, too.
No updates yet.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Metal Dawn
Days Remaining: 20 | Current Status: Funded
1-4 Players (1-6 with expansion) will work together to equip their agents, activate zone abilities, and combat the forces of Dominus while collecting intel to crack the code for deactivating the rogue satellite putting a stop to his plan. Once hacked, Dominus is forced to land on Earth and transform into a giant battle robot to face humanity the final showdown. This must all be done before Dominus overruns the world sending it into a chaotic terror and disarray thereby allowing his forces to subjugate and eradicate mankind.
Designers Stephen Avery (Nothing Personal) and Christopher Batarlis (Secrets of the Lost Tomb) have both made some good games in the past, so this one has a pretty good chance of doing well.
Latest Update (May 30): A lot of info in this update, including the announcement that “Deluxe” backers will be getting all of the stretch goals regardless of how well the game does on Kickstarter.
Kickstarter Page | BoardGameGeek
Be sure to check back here, on Twitter, and on Facebook regularly for more updates on cooperative board games on Kickstarter! And, as always, thanks for stopping by!
