Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. There has been some geek news this past week (that isn’t related to new releases), but I’ve been trying to keep up with writing my novel, pitching board games, and keeping up with Geekly reviews of TV shows and movies (Clayface will release some time this week), so we’ll be keeping with new releases for board games and video games. Trust me. We have plenty to talk about after I finish my first draft. Until then, let’s talk about new games.
Origins of Light Launches on KickStarter
Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Game is a strategy RPG for up to four players based on the Pixel Remaster editions of Final Fantasy I, II, and III. Play competitively or cooperatively across different modes.
Assemble your party, empower them with spells and equipment, then venture into dungeons to slay monsters and bring down powerful Bosses. Repel the forces of darkness before time runs out and protect your Heroes from being KO’d to WIN! Build your party, defeat the darkness, and become the true Heroes of Light!
Experience Origin of Light’s core game in the Final Fantasy I module, or try Final Fantasy II’s flexible, rogue-like gameplay for maximum replayability! When you’re ready for the ultimate challenge, dive into Final Fantasy III with a roster of twenty-two unique Heroes with unique level-up rewards and abilities!
Thank you, Kess, for the description. When I first heard Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Game was in production, there was a chance it would be a cash grab. After finding out Kess was behind this game, I knew Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Game would try its best to be faithful to source material. Kess has a great track record of capturing what makes a video game fun and distilling it into a board game. Their Mega Man Adventures (a few years ago) is easily the best board game adaptation for that property. I’m certain Kess will bring the heat for a Final Fantasy Board Game. Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Game offers several pledge levels, ranging from $60 to $400. If you’re interested in Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Game, check out its KickStarter page.
Button Shy Micro Games: Fall 2026 Launches on KickStarter
Button Shy Games returns with another series of micro games (that can fit your wallet). I love this time of year, seeing what Button Shy Games is offering this season. This publisher can cram a ton of game into a small space. These series allow players to buy everything Button Shy Games intends to publish over the following months. Let’s take a look at Button Shy’s new offerings.
It’s the blessing and curse of every mage to have a familiar, and today yours is a curse. Once again it’s upended your laboratory and summoned an array of irksome imps. Clean up the lab and get that cat under control!
The Cursed Cat is up to no good again, making a mess of your lab and unleashing monsters everywhere. Move and stack monster cards across columns, using spell cards to break the rules. Get all the monsters on the portal column to banish them all for good!
Solo games are on the rise in the board game community, and Scott Almes has a great string of that include Food Chain Island, A Nice Cuppa, and Unsurmountable. In short, Almes is one of the best solo board game designers, and The Cursed Cat is his latest release.
In the farthest corners of the world, ancient relics of immense power lie waiting, lost to the sands of time. Brave harrowing dangers to recover these forgotten objects and return them to their rightful owners. Reawaken is a spiritual successor to At the Helm from Ted Heidersdorf, taking the familiar deckbuilding gameplay in all-new directions.
At the Helm never took too long (15 minutes). The system is easy to pick up and offers game variability, so Reawaken should look to build on the formula of drawing cards, choosing which cards to activate, check against your objectives, and loosing hearts for each object you don’t complete. This is a solid deckbuilding survival game.
Bears. Bees. Battling? Players try to outwit and outflank their opponent to get the most honey. What makes it work are the elegant placement and scoring rules that require both players to think carefully about their own strategy… and their opponent’s.
I like Forest Rivals‘ use of the pattern building mechanism. Both sides in this 2-player game add hives to the shared playing area. They want to surround those hives with their chosen animal (one of two). Forest Rivals is another game with a small footprint but a lot of strategic choices. There are six spaces on each card, so the combinations are near endless.
Not all heroes wear capes, but those who do have a pesky tendency to ruin your sinister plans! It’s time for the supervillains to seize the city in this twist on our classic -Opolis line. In true comic book fashion, these ne’er-do-wells only care about their own goals: unlike previous -Opolis games, Villainopolis has no scoring whatsoever! Instead, you must complete each of three villains’ ultimate schemes at the end of the game to win. Who says that crime isn’t fun?
The final new game in this season’s Button Shy Games offering is Crime Sprawl, the latest in Button Shy’s most popular series of games: Sprawlopolis. While I’m partial to Skulls of Sedlec and Tussie Mussie, I can’t deny Sprawlopolis’s appeal. Crime Sprawl looks to continue this long-running series with pazzazz.
If you’re interested in any of Button Shy Games’ Fall 2026 line, you’re in luck. While you can pick up the entire set of games for $54, you can pick and choose your favorites for a smaller fee. The choice is yours. Check out Button Shy Games’ Fall 2026 line’s KickStarter page.
Too Little Time Launches on GameFound
Chip Theory Games is back with Too Little Time, a single-session boss-battler that remembers your actions from game to game. This new game set in the Too Many Bones universe leans into our bizarro humor and quirky personality as we break the fourth dimension (and the fourth wall).
As the past, present, and future are torn apart, anything could happen anywhere. Time waits for no gearloc (or kobold)! Enter the Rift and handle encounters even in the midst of battle. Experiment with new masteries every game and skillfully navigate an unpredictable world.
Every recruit in the Timeline Defense Force is unique, so whether you pick a gearloc or a kobold, you’ll be playing a character with a variety all its own.
Games take place over the course of two boss battles — first against an enforcer, then facing off against a tyrant. Trigger encounters, gain experience points, and collect loot, all while you battle baddies and bosses in the past, present, and future.
Your actions in every game will ripple through time and impact every subsequent play as you permanently unlock relics, collect and leave behind loot in each era, and interact with the mysterious and persistent Rift. Add to this a wide variety of bosses, locations, and character builds, and no two games are ever the same.
Thank you, Chip Theory, for the description. I’m going to be honest. I know of Too Many Bones but have never played it. Several people I know swear by Too Many Bones’ ability to adapt the gameplay of a MOBA to a board game. I know even less about Too Little Time–before reading this write. It sounds amazing. You had me at “the game remembers your actions from game to game.” Yes, please.
Chip Theory is known for stellar productions. Most of their games feature premium game pieces. Since this is a GameFound preview, we don’t know much about the various pledge options, but if you follow Too Little Time before it launches (in a few days), you gain the option for a follow gift (pictured above). If you choose to back the project at a later date, you’ll also receive the cards in the picture. If you’re interested in Too Little Time, check out its GameFound page.
Space Universalis Launches on GameFound
Space Universalis is not just an endless sci-fi dungeon crawler for 1–6 players playable solo or co-op. It is a robust game system with quick setup, scalable difficulty, great tactical depth, and maximum customization.
A HUGE GAME SYSTEM
Scalable difficulty, streamlined rules, and great tactical depth. Feel the tension and uncertainty of epic battles against 10 factions and more than 120 different creatures. Experience the ultimate tactical and exploration adventure.
MAXIMUM CUSTOMIZATION
Create the character you’ve always wanted by combining 20 species and 10 classes, along with hundreds of skills and equipment.
Buy a spaceship and travel across the universe as you gain experience and credits, evolving until you become a legend of the galaxy.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
Create a crew of soldiers, pirates, explorers, adventurers, mercenaries, or monster hunters.
Play standalone missions, random scenarios, and quests in a narrative campaign.
Thank you, Ludic Dragon Games, for the description. I’ve been looking for a spiritual successor to Firefly: The Board Game. I like recruiting my team and customizing my spaceship. Space Universalis does this in a cooperative game. Interesting. Firefly is a competitive game; I wouldn’t mind seeing a similar concept play out in a cooperative game. The painted minis above look nice, but I dare say Space Universalis will come with a full set of painted minis. I could be wrong. If you’re interested in Space Universalis, check out its GameFound page.
Final Fantasy Resonance Releases
Return to the pixel‑art world of Final Fantasy, evolved from its classic roots. Travel with companions bound by fate and call on Visions to aid you in battle to uncover the truth behind a force that threatens to bring everything to ruin.
Final Fantasy Resonance has received overwhelming positive reviews. And why not? Players can resonant with heroes from Final Fantasy’s past. Want to channel Cloud from Final Fantasy VII? Go ahead. Final Fantasy Resonance is also one of those rare Final Fantasy games where you can take on the role of Sephiroth. What? Did I mention this game is turned-based? Well, it is. Final Fantasy Resonance is kicking it old school, and this title has been receiving heaps of praise and sold numerous copies. Final Fantasy has needed a new title with this much juice. Final Fantasy Resonance is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Releases
War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches an invasion that threatens to destabilize the world in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
I’ve never gotten into Call of Duty, but the team behind Titanfall and Apex Legends began with Call of Duty. This game series has marvelous gunplay DNA. Early reviews reflect this. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a massive release. If it wasn’t for Grand Theft Auto VI releasing next month, I’d say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has the chance of being the biggest release of 2026. There’s an outside chance that it still could top GTA VI. But who am I kidding? It’s GTA VI.
Anyway, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s setting of the Korean Peninsula is an interesting one. Most Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games up to this point have used the former Soviet Union as a backdrop. I’d like to see what new storylines this shift in setting can generate. But I can also see using a renewed war between North and South Korea as potentially painful for some people. Families have been separated by Korea being split into two halves. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has received outstanding reviews. It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.
Those are all the new releases we have for this week. Which game are you the most excited about? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
