This is the day you don’t skip at the tabletop gym because you don’t want your lists to look all scrawny and weak. It’s so unattractive when lists are neglected while everything else is robust and muscular…

That’s why we’re going to pump our lists full of Kickstarter convos, board game paraphernalia, and all of the other tabletop-adjacent talk that gets the Internet into a tizzy. Enjoy.

Nemesis: Lockdown

The first time Nemesis came around, I missed the boat. I had yet to start writing about and reviewing board games and Kickstarter projects were not really on my radar. Especially expensive campaigns like the one from Awaken Realms in 2018. But I love the Alien universe, I’ve since played the ALIEN roleplaying game from Free League Publishing, and I was aware of the campaign for the standalone expansion that also included the second printing of Nemesis. So, I had the opportunity to join the campaign and get this atmospheric game. I couldn’t stomach the dollar amount at the time, though. I wish I had pulled the trigger, though, especially knowing that the fulfillment is supposedly coming in the next few months. It’s one of my biggest regrets in tabletop Kickstarters.

Return to Dark Tower

What is not to love about a giant tower in the center of a game board? How about a 300mm mechanical tower that is more than just a thematic window dressing? I love immersion in board games, and Return to Dark Tower oozes atmosphere and alluring design. Restoration Games has been on my radar. I just recently acquired Unmatched and am excited to play it, but this immense adventure has me intrigued and wishing I had dived headfirst into that campaign. The dark and cooperative challenge of the game would be great for my group. Fingers crossed I get a chance to play sometime soon.

Bloodborne: The Board Game

I love Bloodborne. It’s one of my favorite PS4 games and I still think fondly about my time playing through the brutal city of Yharnam. And the card game that released in 2016, along with its expansion, is one of my favorite filler games to play and chat around. So I definitely have some FOMO about not backing the narrative campaign game from CMON. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to play it recently on TTS, so I’m happy with the gameplay experience so far. I’ll hopefully be able to pick it up in the near future.

Frostpunk: The Board Game

Confession time: I haven’t actually played Frostpunk on PC or console. I bought it on a steep discount a while back because I figured that it was right up my alley. I love Snowpiercer and the uphill battle against the environment and the people within the city-building game grabbed my attention. So, even though I haven’t played the original game, the board game adaptation is definitely something that I want in my collection. It would probably scare off many of my friends and family, but I have a few that would eat up the theme and the gameplay. It fits right in with the hardcore aesthetic and style of Bloodborne.  

Suburbia: Collector’s Edition

Another game that I haven’t played that drew me in from the all-in pledge opportunity. The hex-laying strategy game has been in my sights for some time, and the chance to get it all in one shiny package, with the expansions and everything, was super tempting. Sadly, I arrived too late to the party. I had my silly hat on and everything, with my wallet ready to go. I’ll likely be scouring BoardGameCo, BGG, and other sites to see if it becomes available from a gamer. My wallet will still be unhappy, but it’s just a delayed process!

When have you been stricken with Kickstarter FOMO? Let us know the games that you wish you had backed! And maybe even the ones you wish you hadn’t…