Swordcery

Swordcery is described as “an action packed, sword swingin’ rogue-like.” You’ll discover a large variety of magical swords with varying degrees of rarity and therefore power; your character, Colt, is capable of wielding all of these swords and bringing out their full potential using Swordcery. The Kickstarter page indicates that they intend to have nearly 100 different swords in the final version of the game! ⚔️

I’m especially interested in seeing how this progresses because I like the idea of so many weapon options, and they have two cinematic animators from God of War (2018) working on the game as well!

Swordcery currently has obtained approximately $35,000 out of its initial $50,000 funding requirement. $100,000 of funding is required for the Switch stretch goal. 13 days remain in the campaign, which ends on December 16, 2021. Estimated delivery of the PC version is December 2023, with console versions depending on the stretch goals.

Xenotheria

You survive an apocalyptic event in the form of spaceships, satellites, and orbital stations crashing down on the desert planet of Wolf Prime. Now what? Naturally, it’s time to explore, recruit allies, battle enemies, and of course, solve puzzles. Half of your playable characters start out as “ordinary aliens” who work as construction workers, pest exterminators, and more. This party-based, deckbuilding RPG will have you strategically play with decks of cards that deal with custom skill trees, elemental synergies, and more. When a character joins your party, they’ll bring unique cards with them that help form your main deck. As you get stronger, you’ll also unlock card crafting blueprints!!!

I really like the character designs for Xenotheria, and I’m especially intrigued by the inclusion and exploration of cultural nuances during interspecies interactions. The team behind the game seems to have the pedigree to pull this off, with experience in gaming companies like Riot Games and writing experience in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series. Check out their game and try to “stack the deck” (😉) in their favor!

Xenotheria still requires approximately $9,000 out of its $25,000 goal. The campaign ends on December 16, 2021, with 13 days to go. The PC version appears to have an estimated delivery date of November 2023.

Dr. Kobushi’s Labyrinthine Laboratory

Dr. Kobushi’s Labyrinthine Laboratory (say that five times fast!) is a puzzle game with gameplay described as Pac–Man mixed with chess. You’ll play as Ayla, whose dog Falafel needs to be rescued from Dr. Kobushi. Solve over one hundred puzzles to get to the top level of the laboratory, and enjoy the game’s emphasis on its story!

The team bios indicate that the person behind the game design and programming is an “applied cryptographer,” which I would assume bodes well for the puzzle aspect of the game! Interestingly enough, a company specializing in applied cryptography software will be publishing Dr. Kobushi!

27 days remain in the Dr. Kobushi campaign, which ends on December 31, 2021. Currently funding sits at ~$1,100 out of ~$9,600; estimated delivery of the PC version is May 2022, but the Switch date is unknown at this time.

OddFauna: Secret of the TerraBeast

OddFauna: Secret of the TerraBeast received full funding in May 2021, but I wanted to feature it here because it looks so impressive. I’m really looking forward to it! It’s a sandbox open-world game where you can farm, craft, and shape the landscapes that surround you! You’ll befriend beasts and explore breathtaking biomes as you try to discover the titular Secret of the TerraBeast!

Chat with other OddFauna and ply them with treats – if you gain their trust, they may give you items and recipes, or even join you as a party member! You’re truly stronger together in OddFauna, as making friends can not only increase the power of your current abilities, but also give you some new ones!

Emma SanCartier hand-sculpted and hand-painted everything for this game, and those sculptures were then photo-scanned by her husband Cliff Mitchell. Words cannot describe how impressed I am by the art for this game. We’ll be able to sculpt the landscape ourselves in-game, raising mountains, altering environments’ temperatures, crafting plants, and more. You’ll need to keep your TerraBeast healthy, or destructive weather will start to erode your hard work! 😱 I’m really, really hyped for this game, and look forward to maintaining my TerraBeast when the game comes out on Switch!

OddFauna: Secret of the TerraBeast is fully funded, and the Switch version has an estimated release date of Q1 2023!

Coral Island

A farm simulation game with more than 50 islanders, Coral Island made about 20 times its initially requested funding at about $1,600,000!!! And no wonder – it looks like one of the most expansive farming games I’ve ever seen, with a ton of people to befriend and over 75 plantable crops available in the game!

I’m extremely excited to see that we’ll be able to raise PEACOCKS! 🦚 I have never seen that in a game before, and peacocks are so lovely, just like the art for this game! In addition to the livestock you’ll raise, you will also dive into the ocean in attempts to save the coral reefs. As you cleanse the sea beds, some rare fish may make their homes there.

Explore Coral Island and its mythology, and get to know the people there. Will you find love with one of the sixteen available singles? Take your time and decide what (or who) you want as you help improve the island and attend special events there as well! I’m looking forward to traveling to Coral Island as soon as it dives onto the Nintendo Switch!

Coral Island is fully funded and final release appears to be in Q4 2022.

I have this posted elsewhere on the site, but if you are clicking directly on the article you may not see that I have indicated that I have no affiliation with any games or their developers/publishers unless otherwise stated. (Other than being a fan, follower, and supporter.) I make zero money for saying or posting anything here. I figured I should reiterate this given my gushing over these games. 😂 Please do check them out and support them if you like what you see though!