new releases

Geekly News: August 23, 2026; New Releases

Published on August 23, 2026August 21, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We had a few board games and video games release this past week. Let’s begin by discussing this week’s board game new releases.

Spirit Train: The Final Journey Launches on KickStarter

Spirit Train is played in 3 Cycles. Each Cycle consists of a series of rounds where players will determine what to do using a unique simultaneous action selection mechanic. Before the start of each day, conductors will select between a list of different rooms to fill their train with. These rooms will provide base actions depending on the shape/size of the room. How many rooms you use will affect the speed and energy level of your train, as well as turn order. When spirits are active on your train, they will provide you even more actions. The number of active spirits you can select will depend on the current mood of your spirits (spirits are more active when they’re happy!). You can maximize the number of actions you use by strategically placing active spirits into rooms you’ve created specifically for them on your train.

Thank you, SweaterBear Games, for the description. I love how players can customize their trains (image above). Each player slides rooms into their trains and this will attract/satisfy the spirits you carry to their final destination. I like this theme. I like Spirit Train: The Final Journey’s gimmick. The artwork looks amazing, in keeping with the cozy vibes Spirit Train: The Final Journey presents and very Studio Ghibliesk. And I don’t have too many train games. I can pick up one more. Spirit Train: The Final Journey offers pledges ranging from $59 to $179. If you’re interested in Spirit Train: The Final Journey, check out its KickStarter page.

The Monolith Launches on KickStarter

In The Monolith, 3-4 players take on the roles of shaman, leading their warriors in battle against each other, all for the pleasure of the monolith that holds them in thrall.

Each round, players take turns spending hearts to complete actions. These actions allow them to recruit and move warriors, move their shaman and activate any shaman powers, or bid hearts on powerful divination cards

When a player thinks they’ve taken the actions they need for the round, they dump their remaining hearts into the monolith. The sooner they feed their hearts to the monolith, the more actions they will have during combat, but do it too soon, and risk watching the other players change the board state in your absence!

Once all players have put their remaining hearts in the monolith, the monolith is lifted, revealing the combat actions the remaining hearts have been sorted into! Battles are fast and brutal, and only the most clever players will outmaneuver their enemies and boast of their deeds to the sacred stone!

Thank you, Plaid Hat Games, for the description. While I don’t typically care for “dudes on a map” games, The Monolith is another board game with an intriguing gimmick. Having players place their hearts into the titular monolith and then revealing which combat actions are at a player’s disposal gets my attention. Board games need to use cube towers more, and the monolith is a cube tower, sorting player resources. It sounds as if players can manipulate how much they intend to invest in combat. And the quick combat system may be another barrier lifted for me and “dudes on a map.” Most games of this ilk have involved combat mechanisms. The Monolith sports shorter combat times. I’ll give it a shot. The Monolith offers pledges between $69 and $99. If you’re interested in The Monolith, check out its KickStarter page.

Overclock Launches on GameFound

Overclock is a solo 4x game played with 36 cards. Every card has two sides: a network node on the front and a powerful ability on the back. Play it as a node to grow your network and boost production, or sacrifice it for a game-changing program, a permanent upgrade, or a defensive sentinel. You can’t have both, and that choice is at the heart of every turn. Deploy nodes, scan for data, purge corrupted files, and negotiate shaky alliances with factions that get more dangerous every cycle. The Kill-Code never stops deleting, factions hit harder as the game escalates, and your decisions in the first few cycles shape whether you survive the final ones.

Multiple Ghost characters, asymmetric factions, and a modular difficulty system make every game feel different.

Thank you, Made of Dreams, for the description. I like the state of solo games in the board game hobby. Overclock looks like another great example of a solo game with a quick setup, small footprint, intriguing gimmick (multi-use cards), and a great theme. Board games with cyberpunk themes have been springing up lately, but I don’t believe a good solo game with this theme exists. I may be wrong. Let me know in the comments. Regardless, I can’t see Overclock having a large sticker price. Overclock will be launching on GameFound, and GameFound projects don’t always list their pledge levels when their project is in preview mode, but I’m following Overclock. I can’t believe Made of Dreams created a solo 4X game. If you’re interested in Overclock, check out its GameFound page.

The Sinking City 2 Releases

Set in the Roaring ’20s, The Sinking City 2 is a survival horror steeped in Lovecraftian dread. Defy an eldritch deity and explore the drowned alleys of Arkham, stalked by the dead, as you weigh one life against an entire city.

Thank you, Frogwares, for the description. The Sinking City 2 is set in the fictional city of Arkham, so it wears its Lovecraftian DNA on its sleeve. The sequel is a standalone story to the original The Sinking City. You don’t need to play the original to understand everything happening in The Sinking City 2. I never got around to playing the original, but the premise interested me. Players are trying to survive a sinking city. Arkham is literally submerging under water. The Sinking City 2 captures the vibe of Lovecraftian horror. It’s received good to very good reviews. I’m putting this game on my radar. The Sinking City 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Mortal Shell II Releases

Their Flesh Is Your Weapon. Mortal Shell II is a standalone sequel action-RPG with adrenaline-charged, high-stakes combat. Possess warrior Shells, dethrone false gods, redeem a ravaged world.

Thank you, Playstack, for the description. Mortal Shell II is another standalone sequel, where you won’t need to play the first game to understand the sequel’s story. I’ve had Mortal Shell II on my radar for a while now. I love the graphics. Look at the detail above. Wow! Character customization looks great. I’m getting strong Dark Souls vibes. That’s a plus. Mortal Shell II looks like one of those games I could sink countless hours into, trying as many character builds as I can. It’s not on sale (Steam) right now, but I’ve wishlisted Mortal Shell II and will most likely pick up a copy when it does go on sale. Mortal Shell II is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Feed the Scorchpot Releases

Feed the Scorchpot is a dice roguelike about feeding a dragon for twenty years. Roll ingredients, build your island, and fuse absurd recipes into combos that break the score wide open. Miss a meal and you’re next on the menu.

I’ve covered Feed the Scorchpot when it dropped its demo earlier this year. It released this past week on Steam, and I’ve been playing a lot of this one. For now, I won’t say too much about this Balatro meets Catan video game, but there may be a Feed the Scorchpot review in the not-so-distant future. You’ve been warned.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: August 15, 2026

Published on August 16, 2026August 15, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News.

Whisperwood is a bag-building game for 2-4 players of druids harnessing the power of the elements and the natural world to restore a forest. Each round players simultaneously summon magical energy in the form of tokens and plan the incantations they will perform. The players then perform their incantations in turn order, restoring air, water and earth, partnering with wildlife, inscribing runes and awakening the Guardian Golems to perform magical tasks. The land is strewn with corruption and the druids must absorb and purify this corruption to heal the forest – but take on too much corruption and your magical abilities will be compromised!

Thank you, Cardboard Alchemy, for the description. Whisperwood had me at bag building. The game’s production (above is a picture of Whisperwood’s prototype…just the prototype) has me sold. Publisher Cardboard Alchemy has a good track record (Flamecraft and Creature Comforts, anyone?). So, Whisperwood is definitely on my radar. At first, I thought Whisperwood was a cooperative game, but I may like it more as a competitive game. The tiles look amazing. Their irregular shape could yield some interesting maps (if Cardboard Alchemy intends to keep tiles in its final product). I’m a sucker for simultaneous action selection. It doesn’t have the hectic nature of real-time, but it still speeds up play. Whisperwood offers pledges between $99-$249. If you’re interested in Whisperwood, check out its KickStarter page.

The Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives Launches on KickStarter

In The Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives, players serve as Evaluation Commissioners within B.A.R. Playing solo or as a group, they open classified dossiers, examine physical evidence, compare conflicting testimonies, decode hidden information, and reconstruct the lives of individuals known as Signators, each connected to an anomalous event. No game master is required.

Across seven interconnected cases, players must issue binding rulings: who remains human, who has become Altered, and what must be contained. Branching choices and blind-bag token management carry the consequences of each ruling into later cases, while containment breaches are resolved through tactical card play. To win the campaign, the commissioners must resolve the linked investigations and contain the final threat shaped by their accumulated decisions.

Thank you, Tin Universe, for the description. I haven’t seen a deduction/mystery board game with as much hype as The Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives in decades. It’s been a while. Many of my favorite influencers have been promoting The Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives. Personally, I love the fusion of Sci-Fi and Mystery. Yes, please. Mrs. Geekly is a huge Clue (Cluedo) fan, so I may need to pick up a copy. The Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives offers pledges in the range of $56-$238. If you’re interested in Altered: Anomaly Containment Archives, check out its KickStarter page.

My Boardgame Logbook Launches on KickStarter

I love the idea of My Boardgame Logbook. I struggle to keep track of which boardgames I play, so My Boardgame Logbook is a nice addition to my boardgame library. Haven’t played a game in a long while? My Boardgame Logbook will show which games you’ve played the most and least over the past several years. I feel a purge coming. Can you feel it? But My Boardgame Logbook goes one step further. You can catalogue each play of your boardgames. With this book you can say without a doubt that one member of your gaming group wins a particular game more than anyone else. Look at the scoreboard.

While I like the idea of logging in game scores, I’m more interested in logging the games themselves. My Boardgame Logbook may be a good tool to determine which games should stay in rotation and which need to leave. My Boardgame Logbook offers multiple pledge levels $13 to $313. You’re sure to find the perfect logbook for your games. If you’re interested in My Boardgame Logbook, check out its KickStarter page.

Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns Releases

The legendary medieval strategy adventure has returned – enhanced for a new generation of knights. Conquer provinces, raise armies, storm castles, and influence the balance of power through bold strategy and action moments.

The classic Defender of the Crown video game series returns. The series is known for being obtuse (difficult to learn controls and win conditions), and while Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns addresses this issue, the game is still difficult to get into but offers a wealth of strategic goodness. Can you lead your knights to victory? Find out in Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns, available on PC.

Rivage Releases

Rivage is an immersive sci-fi puzzle adventure set aboard the A.R.E.S. space station trapped in a space phenomenon. Wake up as Miranda, forced to explore, solve intricate puzzles to unravel the fate of your missing crew.

Ah! Rivage returns to the roots of a walking simulator. I don’t know if the publisher/developer would think that was a diss, but it so isn’t from me; I even shared a list of great dark walking simulators (I love this genre of game). Miranda is trapped on a space station and must solve intricate puzzles to find her missing crew. Yes, please. I immediately wishlisted Rivage on Steam. This looks like an indie hit Geekly covers. Let us know if you’d like a review. Rivage is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Duskfade Releases

Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a fantastic world in this love letter to classic 3D action platformers. Zirian, accompanied by his mechanical Cuckoo, must save his sister from a mysterious Clock Tower that has plunged the land into eternal night.

Platformer video games are not dead. Games like Duskfade prove this to be the case. I love the premise, the action portrayed in the images and videos I’ve seen, and the fact that Duskfade is a world in perpetual night. Duskfade is another game I immediately wishlisted on Steam. But you may not need to wait that long. Duskfade is offering a 20% discount for the next two weeks. Duskfade is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.

Servant of the Lake Releases

Begin your new job as a servant at the mysterious Vanderboom estate. Solve puzzles, serve the family and uncover their dark alchemical secrets in Servant of the Lake, a single-player point-and-click adventure in the Rusty Lake series.

Servant of the Lake is yet another puzzle-heavy video game, and I’m loving it. Servant of the Lake has received great reviews. I can see it. This is another great entry in the Rusty Lake series. Automatic wishlist. Servant of the Lake gives me mad King’s Quest vibes and I’m here for it. I love that indie games have taken over the video game landscape. I hope more game like Servant of the Lake can dominate sales. Servant of the Lake is available on PC.

That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: August 9, 2026; New Releases

Published on August 9, 2026August 5, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We’re still taking a break from headlines, but we have plenty of new releases for board games and video games. Let’s get to the games.

Medici Traders Launches on KickStarter

Like the classic Medici Board Game, Traders is a tile game that takes you to 15th century Florence, Italy. Players acquire the most valuable goods and optimally pack them on their ships. They simultaneously draw goods tiles, adding up to 3 tiles to their tray, which they then move to the center of the table.

After all players have added their trays to the center, the first player selects one of the trays, adding florins (coins) to the tray, as they wish, to help solidify their claim to those goods. Future players may either take a tray from the center (again placing florins to the tray to help solidify their claim) OR surpassing the number of florins on a tray that another player has already claimed, and taking that tray. The original player gets their florins back. Play continues around the table in this way until all players have claimed a tray.

Florins used to claim trays are turned into the bank and players load the goods from their claimed tray onto their ship. Ships in Traders have multiple levels – one for each day (turn) and an upper deck that can hold special goods with upper deck railings.

The above steps are repeated until all players have filled all 7 spaces on the current day’s ship level.

At the end of each day, players score. First, players score based on who has the highest points of goods on the current day’s level of their ship. Then, players score for each type of good anywhere on their ship. Players with the most of each type of good score the most points for that good.

At the end of three days, the player with the most florins wins.

Thank you, APE Games, for the description. I played the heck out of the Medici app. Yes! Medici may be another game I prefer more as an app. And I’ll also throw in app board games because it saves on physical space. Regardless of how you play Medici, the game is excellent. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone. In Medici, you’re trying to manage your resources, selling them at their highest value. Medici Traders looks to streamline a lot of what Medici does and shrink down the game’s runtime. This was the biggest reason why I played Medici as an app. I didn’t think my game group had the patience for a multiple hour game about resource management. But Medici Traders plays in less than forty-five minutes. The upkeep from round to round appears minimal. I may have to pick up a physical copy of a game in the Medici line.

And since Medici Traders is part of the Medici line, designer Reiner Knizia returns. Knizia has a way of making a resource management game with auctions and trading fun. Medici Traders offers several pledge options, ranging from $34 to $139. If you’re interested in Medici Traders, check out its KickStarter page.

Mykerinos Releases on GameFound

1899. For more than a century, the European public has been fascinated by Egyptology and the discoveries of Denon, Champollion, Petrie and others. Seeking adventure and glory, teams of archaeologists search the sands of Egypt for hidden treasures.

Mykerinos. Embody archaeologists seeking relics from ancient Egypt for powerful benefactors. Will you be convincing at the museum’s final exhibition?

Thank you, Looping Games, for the description. Looping Games has been around for just over a decade, and they have reproduced some fantastic games. Mykerinos is the latest decades-old game to receive a facelift from Looping Games. The production value looks amazing. I like Mykerinos’s theme. The tagline goes hard. “Excavate the past. Control the present. Win the final exhibition.” Sounds simple enough, but like many Looping Games (publisher of the 1900 series), Mykerinos provides plenty of strategic depth. If you’re interested in Mykerinos, check out its GameFound page.

Marvel: TOKON Fighting Souls Releases

Assemble your team of legendary Marvel characters in the ultimate 4v4 tag team fighter.

If Marvel vs Capcom wasn’t enough, PlayStation is giving us a Marvel fighting game with a twenty-character roster in Marvel: TOKON Fighting Souls. I’m certain more Marvel characters will be released in the coming months. Twenty characters isn’t a huge roster for a 4v4 tag team fighting game. Each player will control four different characters, so forty percent of all the characters will be included in any one match. Yikes!

Marvel: TOKON Fighting Souls has plans for four future characters with its DLC. We’ll have to see if these characters will be free downloads. The graphics look amazing. Developer Arc System Works has a history with fighting games, so they have the talent and experience to translate Marvel characters into a fighting game. The relatively small roster also gives me hope that each character will play differently from the rest. I’ve got this one on my radar. Marvel: TOKON Fighting Souls is available on PC and PlayStation 5.

Big Walk Releases

Hang out and get lost with close friends in a big world. Big Walk is a cooperative online walker-talker from the creators of Untitled Goose Game.

I enjoyed playing Untitled Goose Game. I’m not good at it, but I had fun playing it. House House has done it again with Big Walk. Big Walk follows the footsteps of highly cooperative games like Meccha Chameleon, Among Us, and Peak. You and your three friends are the only living beings in the world of Big Walk. The four of you are on the titular “big walk” across this uninhabited planet. You must work together to solve puzzles and earn plenty of nubs. Big Walk is part of a growing category of video games that promote friendship. You and your pals must communicate well, and while the stakes aren’t as high as other games, Big Walk can be very rewarding. Big Walk is available on PC and Nintendo Switch 2. Honk, honk!

That’s all the new releases for board games and video games that we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: August 2, 2027; New Releases

Published on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. I’m still taking a break with headlines. Let me know if you’d like to see more headlines in the future. Instead, we’ll be covering new releases for board games and video games. Let’s get to the games.

Garden Dragons Launches on GameFound

The Great Migration of dragons is coming and it is time to prepare the fields for their arrival!

Plant flower dominoes of the same type together to make the garden beautiful while discovering flower dragon tiles hidden in the fields from last year’s migration.

You will place one of your newly found dragons in the community’s Hatchling Nursery and the other you will take home to raise as your own.

However, you will need to choose wisely. The more common a type of dragon is in the nursery, the less prestigious and valuable they become.

They better you are at grouping flowers together, the more successful you will become. Once you are happy with a flower bed you have planted, place a helper to claim it as your own.

Have the most bountiful gardens and the rarest dragons to become the best flower dragon gardener in Garden Dragons.

Thank you, B A Games, for the description. I’ve actually demoed Garden Dragons. I love this title. I’m definitely backing this GameFound project. We didn’t have the full display (shown above) because space was limited, but I caught the gist of this game, and it’s every bit the whimsical pairing of dragons and gardens as you would think. Season is a gardener, and she happens to love dragons. This is playing into my “need” to back this GameFound project. But even without her, I love players’ abilities to dictate how much a dragon will score points. The image above has a overall board pictured in the top lefthand corner. The numbers are where players place dragons they don’t want. Placing a dragon on those spots lowers the dragons of the corresponding type’s point value. Brilliant.

Garden Dragons has two pledge levels at $38 and $65. If you’re interested in Garden Dragons, check out its GameFound page.

Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game Launches on KickStarter

Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game is a competitive dungeon-crawling and worker-placement game for 1 to 4 players, packed with the dark charm, humour, and unmistakable style of the hit video game from Massive Monster and Devolver. Whether you’re discovering the Land of the Old Faith for the first time or returning as a devoted leader of the flock, you can now experience Cult of the Lamb on your tabletop!

Crusade through dungeons, defeat Bishops, build your Cult, manage your Followers and become the most powerful prophet – balance the risks of adventure with the demands of leadership as you carve your path and shape the future of your flock.

Faith will be tested. Followers will dissent. Poop will absolutely become a problem.

The Land of the Old Faith is yours to conquer!

Thank you, Paper Fort Games, for the description. Paper Fort Games is a relatively new gaming company, and they have experience with adapting video games into board games: Terraria. Video games turned into board games are a far better bet today than they’ve ever been before. The Slay the Spire Board Game inspired the video game to incorporate a multiplayer, cooperative gameplay for the video game sequel. I don’t know if Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game will reach those heights, but Paper Fort Games’ Terraria was well received, and some of the mechanisms sound interesting. Crusades and base building sound fun.

The Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game offers multiple pledge levels, ranging from $81 to $335. If you’re interested in Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game, check out its KickStarter page.

Cook It Launches on KickStarter

Cook It! is a card-drafting and hand-management party game played over four menu rounds: Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, and an Open round

The deck consists of 100 unique ingredient cards. There’s an additional deck of Attack cards to disrupt you friend’s recipe. On a turn, a player draws from the central deck to modify their five card hand, aiming to craft a meal description that fits the active round’s category.

After three rounds, all players simultaneously reveal their five card hand and pitch their completed culinary creation to the table. Players then cast secret votes using Frying Pan tokens to determine the best dish. Players cannot vote for themselves

Tiebreakers are resolved by totaling the raw Pan Points on the matching ingredient cards. After each of the first three rounds, all cards are gathered and reshuffled. The game ends in the fourth Open round, where players who have not been eliminated face off in a final showdown

The player who wins the final open round wins the game. An optional real world variant challenges the winner to actually prepare and cook their winning five card recipe in real life.

Thank you to the designer (Ovi Nedelcu) for the description. Cook It! sounds like a hilarious party game with some mild take that elements. Players draw five cards, they can “attack” players by stealing their ingredients or adding an undesirable ingredient to the mix. But that doesn’t matter. The art is in selling whatever dish you plan to make. Can you make a gummy bear gumbo sound appetizing? If so, your dish may be voted as the best recipe of the bunch. Cook It! has a simple concept, but it also sounds hilarious. If you’re interested in Cook It!, check out its KickStarter page.

Cirque Releases on GameFound

Cirque is a game about the joys and wonders of the circus. In Cirque, players take on the role of a Ringleader as they scout for talent, hire performers, build the reputation of their circus, and carry out performances. Each player builds their circus individually on their circus boards, and the main action tiles provide spaces of interaction and competition.

Cirque is designed around friendly competition, immense replayability, and appreciation for the circus and its craft. Alongside 180 unique performer cards, game setup includes randomized individual and shared goals to make each game a unique experience.

Thank you, Lithic Studios, for the description. Cirque features a unique mechanism where each circus performer has two values, depending on which performance occurs. This varies gameplay from one round to the next. If you notice, the gameplay ranges from 30 minutes to two hours. When Lithic Studios says 30 minutes per player, they’re referring to solo play as well. Crazy! There’s a lot going on in Cirque, but it looks like one of those games where the individual parts are easy to understand, but the full game plays out in various ways. Cirque is a point salad style of game, meaning players earn points in various ways. This leads to multiple paths to victory. Leveraging your performers during the best possible moments can mean victory or defeat. If you’re interested in Cirque, check out its GameFound page.

Truxton Extreme Releases

Take down hordes of alien invaders with your Power Shot, Truxton Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Star‑mine Shot, and more! Don’t forget to breathe as you face off against gigantic bosses in the ultimate battle for humanity’s survival!

Ah! Truxton Extreme gives me mad flashbacks to Galaga or 1942. Truxton Extreme has received positive reviews. It accomplishes what it sets out to do: update fixed shooters to modern consoles. Truxton Extreme’s graphics look great for a fixed shooter. It definitely scratches that nostalgia itch. Truxton Extreme is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.

Mistfall Hunter Releases

Mistfall Hunter is a dark fantasy extraction ARPG. Combine skills, talents, and gear for each class in thrilling combat! Whether you team up or go solo, one thing remains certain—only by fighting your way through can you return with a full haul. Good luck, Gyldhunter.

Mistfall Hunter looks pretty. With the exception of a couple of Obsidian titles (The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed), the Action RPG genre of video games hasn’t seen too many good releases. Mistfall Hunter looks to change that. While I can’t speak to the gameplay itself (I have yet to play the game), the graphics look solid. I just hope Mistfall Hunter has the gameplay fluidity to match. Mistfall Hunter is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Which game looks the most interesting? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: July 26, 2026; New Releases

Published on July 26, 2026July 26, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We don’t have a headline for this week of Geek News; I’m still setting up JK Geekly’s Instagram presence. We’ll be on the Gram in August. Woot! Even though we don’t have a headline, we have plenty of new releases for board games and video games. Let’s get to the games.

Rosalie Launches on KickStarter

In Rosalie, players are aspiring rose breeders competing to build the most magnificent rose garden and earn renown as the finest nursery grower in town.

Each player begins with a small plot of land and a dream. Over the course of the game, players plant roses, crossbreed new varieties, cultivate their soil, and adorn their gardens with fountains and windmills. New and exotic roses are temperamental — neglect their care, and they will wither. To help tend the garden, players can recruit caretaker robots, powering them with electricity to keep their precious roses alive and thriving.

Workers are at the heart of the operation. When their hands are free, players direct them to carry out essential tasks: planting, breeding, tilling, and decorating. Every decision shapes the garden, gradually transforming a modest patch of earth into a source of pride.

Money is always available — the town is generous with its loans, and players can borrow freely whenever funds run short. But beware: at the end of each year, interest quietly accumulates. Debt begets debt, and what once felt like a lifeline can become a chain that strangles your ambitions. Managing finances wisely is just as important as cultivating beautiful roses.

Balance your budget, breed striking new varieties, and build the most captivating rose garden to claim victory.

Thank you, uchibacoya, for the description. Wow! Just wow! Rosalie: A Rosy Game of Gardening looks amazing. The image above showcases a player board. These boards are double-layered, and the one pictured depicts the character Nana. But Rosalie’s double-layered player boards have inserts. You can change Nana for another character, allowing for multiple character abilities and replayability. I like the recent trend in nature-themed board games. Rosalie looks like another solid title. It’s not for the faint of heart. As you can probably tell in the picture above, there’s a ton of strategic depth in this game, and uchibacoya is no stranger to garden-themed games. They have a history with their Garden Trilogy (Dinosaurs, Birds, and Fish). A game like Rosalie is in their wheelhouse. This game looks amazing.

uchibacoya is an up-and-coming board game publisher. While I have yet to play one of their highly regarded games, I have full confidence in uchibacoya delivering with a game like Rosalie. The game boasts several strategies and an intriguing action-selection mechanism. Pledges range from $88 to $169. If you’re interested in Rosalie: A Rosy Game of Gardening, check out its KickStarter page.

Shakeup Adventures Launches on KickStarter

What happens when party game designers make a dungeon-crawling RPG? You get all the adventure and none of the homework.

ENTER THE DUNGEON THAT DOESN’T STAY STILL
Gather a party of up to six heroes (or foolhardy friends) and dive into this ever-changing dungeon. With billions of possible map configurations, you’ll never explore the same dungeon twice.

Build your character abilities, analyze the map, and draw your unique path through monsters, curses, and spike pits, racing fellow adventurers to complete quests and conquer each floor.

Learn, set up, and begin play in under 10 minutes, but don’t be fooled: the possibilities and strategies will challenge even seasoned gamers.
Light enough to explore with the family, but deep enough to spend hours crawling with your gaming group… ready for adventure?

Thank you, Very Special Games, for the description. I almost dismissed Shakeup Adventures when I first saw it. I thought it was a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) peripheral. I was interested in a randomizer for a dungeon crawl (D&D and other TTRPGs I play and DM) and marked Shakeup Adventures for later, thinking I’d add it to my TTRPG repertoire. And then I saw that it was a standalone board game. What? Despite thinking Shakeup Adventures was a TTRPG add-on, and JK Geekly doesn’t typically cover TTRPGs because there are so many releases each week, I still wanted to cover this project. Since it’s a board game, I don’t have to justify covering this game. Yes!

Just yes! Shakeup Adventures takes little time to set up. I love the randomization. Shakeup Adventures claims its game sessions take thirty minutes to an hour. If so, I don’t know of too many dungeon crawlers that take so little time to learn the rules, set up, and play than Shakeup Adventures’ claim. You had me at variable dungeon floors, Shakeup Adventures. And the fact that players shake the castle (pictured above) to randomize the dungeon floors is insane. The toy factor is through the roof. Shakeup Adventures pledges range from $39 to $269. The entry level isn’t as high as I would’ve thought. If you’re interested in Shakeup Adventures, check out its KickStarter page.

Stag Launches on KickStarter

Stag follows the life cycle of beetles — a game of planning and resource management, culminating in a social deduction showdown where you can lose it all if you’re too greedy!

Players plan their actions using their action tiles, then resolve them simultaneously. The aim is to score the most points
by progressing your beetles through their life cycle, going up the trait track and fulfilling personal and universal objectives.

Each stage of the beetle life cycle is represented by the card mats and rings circles on the board (with the middle ring rotating each round). Once two or more beetles reach the final stage, a showdown is triggered! After 5 showdowns points are scored to determine the winner.

Thank you, Split Stone Games, for the description. We have a stacked release for board games this week. GenCon is right around the corner, so we’ll see even more great games launching on KickStarter and GameFound. Each of these projects should still be active when the largest board game convention of the year begins. I’m stoked for Stag. The circle above is a rondel whose layers rotate. That’s so cool. The tiles pictured at the bottom are on top of a player board. These tiles can be moved to cover or reveal the symbols (like the double circle and red teardrop). Wow! Just wow! I said it before, I could say it for each one of this week’s board game titles. Split Stone Games has outdone themselves. Stag’s production value is fantastic.

You don’t see it in the picture, but those player boards have spaces underneath where players can slip cards into place, giving them extra abilities. You may be able to trigger more than one. I’m unsure of that. Stag has an intriguing design. It’s the second game this week to use double-layered player boards in a new way. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Pledges range from $60 to $129. Well, there’s also an opulent edition set at over $1000. I can’t believe that pledge level has seven backers. Wow! If you’re interested in Stag, check out its KickStarter page.

Dinoblade Releases

Dinoblade is an intense action RPG set in a prehistoric world forever changed by a cataclysmic event. Step into the role of a young Spinosaurus, wielding a colossal Great Sword. Confront rival dinosaurs, some armed with weapons of their own, all in a desperate fight to prevent a looming extinction.

At first, I thought Dinoblade was a joke, but you’re playing as a sword-wielding dinosaur. Yes, please. Dinoblade has received good reviews, so somehow Team Spino made this mashup work. I’m certain Season wouldn’t mind playing a game with samurai dinos. Dinoblade sounds right up her alley. And at less than $20 on Steam, Dinoblade has an enticing price point. $20 sounds like a good price for sword, dino hijinx.

Gurei Releases

Gurei is an unforgiving game with precise combat. Fight challenging bosses in any order, acquire their unique powers, and succeed on your own terms.

Okay. I learned a new video game term this week: boss rush. Gurei gives me crazy Cuphead vibes (in terms of its gameplay), and that’s because it’s a boss rush game, which is the same game type as Cuphead. Gurei’s aesthetic is closer to Hollow Knight. Gurei is yet another video game title this week that has received good reviews. Publisher Astrolabe is a prolific studio. They’ve put in a lot of what they’ve learned from previous titles into Gurei. The game looks slick. Gurei is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.

Splatoon Raiders Releases on Nintendo Switch 2

Splatoon Raiders differs from other Splatoon titles. It features a single-player story. Gamers can choose between playing an Inkling or an Octoling. Accompanied by members of Deep Cut (introduced in Splatoon 3), players explore a region known as the Spirhalite Islands.

I’ve played very little of the Splatoon franchise, mostly because I didn’t have enough friends on the Nintendo network to play multiplayer games. Splatoon Raiders hits different. I’ve always liked the polish of Splatoon games, but I’ve been reluctant to pick up a copy because I didn’t think the games had much of a story mode. Splatoon Raiders changes that, and like most Splatoon titles, it’s received high marks. I may need to watch out for Splatoon Raiders.

Those are all the new releases for board games and video games for this past week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: July 19, 2026; New Releases

Published on July 19, 2026July 17, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We’re in the middle of convention season. So, we’re sticking with new board game and video game releases for the week. And we have plenty of big releases to talk about. Let’s get to the games.

Kabuto Sumo Dice Launches on KickStarter

In Kabuto Sumo Dice, you’ll be forcefully throwing dice into a 3D arena with the goal of knocking out your opponents or getting the correct combination of pips to pin them. Last bug standing wins.

Each wrestler uses signature moves and pieces to try and gain an advantage!

Thank you, All Play, for the Kabuto Sumo Dice’s description. I have yet to play Kabuto Sumo, but I’ve always liked the game’s king-of-the-hill style of play. I also like Kabuto Sumo’s theme of bug combat. Yay! Kabuto Sumo Dice continues that trend with–well–dice. Combining dice chucking with a dexterity element is excellent. Love it. And All Play has a long history of creating some great, approachable board games. Kabuto Sumo Dice’s pledge levels range from $39 to $249. Quite the spread, but gamers have plenty of options. The lowest level only includes the base game. Add another $40 or so dollars, which includes two other games, Wild Berries and Imp. If you’re interested in Kabuto Sumo Dice, check out its KickStarter page.

Elementary Launches on KickStarter

Welcome to Monster Elementary, a mystical grade school where Snax are social currency and every lunchbox is a chance to make new friends. Bluff your classmates, collect delicious treats, recruit quirky monster friends, and build the lunch table every monster wants to join.

Elementary is a family-friendly bluffing and tableau-building dice game. Each round, players secretly shake and roll custom Snax dice inside their lunchboxes before taking turns raising the stakes, calling bluffs, and competing to earn first pick from the cafeteria’s vending machine.

The Snax you collect can be traded to recruit monster friends, each bringing unique abilities and elemental synergies to your growing friend folio. As your circle of friends grows, so do the powerful combinations you can create, rewarding clever planning as much as daring bluffs.

Over the course of the game, you’ll collect Snax, outwit your classmates, and make new friends.

Thank you, Littlest Lantern, for Elementary’s description. Flamecraft’s dream team, game designer Manny Vega and artist Sandara Tang, return. That tandem, along with Elementary’s theme of a monster elementary school, has me hooked. From what I see, players can convert items into other items, which could–ironically–make Elementary more complex than Flamecraft. And that’s okay. Flamecraft is already a great game for gamers who want to dip their toes into more complex games. Who knows? Elementary could further that concept. Elementary is definitely on my watch list. If you’re interested in Elementary, check out its KickStarter page.

The Isle of Penguins Launches on KickStarter

The Isle of Penguins is a competitive open-drafting and penguin-placement board game.

As a citizen of Squalls End, your expedition to the frozen lands of the north has suddenly become a rescue mission, and you must rescue as many penguins as possible before the ice melts. To succeed, you’ll travel to ice floes, gather fish, study ancient lessons, and clear rocks from your uniquely shaped raft. As you rescue penguins, you must find a way to fit them all on your raft while protecting their eggs and keeping families together.

The game features:

Open Drafting: Manage your speed to stay ahead in the rescue, and claim the discoveries you need most.
Penguin Placement: Rescue penguins, create families, and protect eggs, as you try to fit everything onto your raft.
Simultaneous Play: Everyone searches the ice together, placing tiles onto their raft at the same time.
Multiple Modes: Family, advanced, and expert modes, from young explorer to seasoned rescuer.

In The Isle of Penguins, every penguin matters. Will you master the ancient lessons, fill your raft, and bring every penguin home?

Thank you, The City of Games, for The Isle of Penguins’s description. Many gamers (Season is one of them) may have been fooled in April with an Icecraft meme, but The Isle of Penguins is a real game. I’m still holding out hope that we will get an Icecraft game from Manny Vega and Sandara Tang. The Isle of Penguins furthers concepts found in 2019’s The Isle of Cats. The Isle of Cats is yet another game I have yet to play. Season picked up a copy several years ago, and I’m still waiting for her to bring the game to the table. I like the theme of rescuing animals. Polyominoes are always fun. The Isle of Penguins’s simultaneous play has me intrigued. Games may not take too long, and simu-play tends to let games scale well at various player counts. The Isle of Penguins is yet another banger release this week. If you’re interested in The Isle of Penguins, check out its KickStarter page.

Culdcept Begins Releases on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

A hidden classic that fuses board and card games, Culdcept features a unique, innovative system that has captivated fans since its debut. Players become Cepters, wielding cards in intense battles where luck and strategy collide. After ten years, a brand-new story begins once again.

Oh…my…ghost! For the first time in over ten years, we get a new Culdcept game. Early last year, Season covered the Culdcept franchise’s history. Ah! I love it. In short, Culdcept combines elements of Monopoly with Magic: The Gathering. This combo shouldn’t work, but it so does. Graphics for the older Culdcept games haven’t aged the best. They were never bad, but they could’ve used an update. I like what I’ve seen from Culdcept Begins. Judging from the picture above, it looks as if Culdcept Begins upgraded the game’s interface. Upgraded lands appear to have levels to them, and that’s fantastic. I’m certain Geekly will pick up a copy. This may be one of the games we cover in 2027. I’m always down for a new game of Culdcept.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic Releases

Moss: The Forgotten Relic is an emotional and atmospheric adventure set in the pages of a living storybook, brimming with myth and ancient magic. Guide a tiny but determined hero on a heartfelt journey of challenge, courage, and connection.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes the popular VR game Moss and gives it a 3D platform puzzler twist. I’m a sucker for a cute and engrossing platformer. The platformer genre has seen some great additions in recent years. Ori and the Will of the Wisps, anyone? Moss: The Forgotten Relic has received solid reviews. At $20 on Steam, Moss: The Forgotten Relic may be worth the value. I don’t know if platformer games (outside of Nintendo titles) can charge full price. But at that price, I’ve added Moss: The Forgotten Relic to my wishlist. Moss: The Forgotten Relic is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News 05July2026 Sony Ends Physical Game Discs

Geekly News: July 5, 2026; Sony Ends Physical Game Discs

Published on July 5, 2026July 3, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. After the family emergency (surgery), we’re getting back into the swing of things with Geekly News. We have plenty of new releases for board games and video games, but first, let’s cover this week’s headline. And Sony makes yet another headline. Sony Interactive Entertainment just can’t stop making news, can they?

Sony Ends Physical PlayStation game discs in 2028

I know. I know. I’ve mentioned Sony numerous times during this year. When I first learned Sony had made the news, I wondered what they did this time. You may tire of Geekly covering Sony and PlayStation news, but we’re tired of the company making news. We’ll begin by being as objective as we can and then editorialize a little bit.

In a blog post this week, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will end production of physical game discs in January 2028. Sony cites gaming trends as the chief reason for making this change. Games released before January 2028, along with existing physical titles, will not be affected. Players will still be able to purchase and play those games as they do today. Sony said the move will allow the company to “align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”

In a separate announcement, Sony stated that they will close the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in July 2027. The digital storefront will shut down even earlier in some countries across Latin America and the Middle East. Sony claims the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita can no longer support their updated payment processing standards. Players will still be able to re-download games and other content they have already purchased for the “foreseeable future,” the company said.

Some of that may ring true. The PS3 and PlayStation Vita are aging systems. But the fact that Sony can cut off the digital libraries of those gaming systems proves why physical media matters. Players don’t own games they “purchase” digitally. Sony can yank player access to games on their digital store at any time. And while I do believe more gamers “purchase” their games online, “purchasing” games online is more like renting them. Players will need to pay full price for a game they don’t even own.

I know I’m in the minority here, but I hate the direction video games are headed. I may purchase older systems and get back into retro gaming. One may believe the PS3 is an old system. Who cares? But the PS4 and PS5 aren’t backwards compatible with the PS3. When those games disappear from the PlayStation store, some may vanish forever. That’s the thing about retro gaming and why I’m considering buying some of those older systems. I don’t have to worry about Sony (or some other video company) clicking a button and deleting my access to those older games. I own those games. Isn’t just big business to deny customers to own anything.

Okay. I’m done ranting. Let’s get to the fun stuff. New releases. Yay!

Sprout Launches on KickStarter

Sprout is a cozy, yet thrilling push-your-luck strategy game for 2-5 plant parents. Players take the role of roommates trying to sprout their newly adopted houseplants.

Choose how long to stay in your apartment collecting nutrients including Sunlight, Water, Plant Food, and even Love! The longer you care for your plants, the more nutrients you add into your pot.

Use nutrients to sprout your plant babies by meeting their picky needs. Every plant you sprout not only earns you bragging rights, but they also have unique sprout effects that help you further grow your plant family.

But be careful! If the same nutrient shows up too many times, you overwhelm your plants and wilt them! You’ll then need to give a little Love to bring them back to life.

You can also use Love to adopt new plant babies from the nursery. And with over 100 unique plants to choose from, there are infinite plant collections waiting for you to sprout.

Sometimes you’ll lend your roommates a helping hand by playing Roommate Cards. But other times, you’ll have to do what’s best for your own plants. Because at the end of the game, only one of you can claim bragging rights to the best plant collection!

Thank you for the description, Rabble. Nature-themed games have dominated the tabletop space. Sprout has plenty of competition. I’ve even recently played Verdant with a similar theme. But I like Sprout’s inclusion of push-your-luck and semi-cooperative game mechanisms. Semi-cooperative games are difficult to pull off. Believe me. I’ve tried. I’m interested in seeing how Sprout tackles the balancing act of players working together but having a reason to go against the good of the group. Rabble has a short but strong history of delivering solid games. Sprout looks charming. I’ve heard great things about the game’s player interactions. I’m keeping an eye on this project. Pledge levels range between $39 – $127. If you’re interested in Sprout, check out its KickStarter page.

Rolling Deep Launches on KickStarter

Rolling Deep is a Balatro-inspired roguelike dice-building adventure featuring a cornucopia of unlockable content, addicting challenges, and delicious combos. Each round, you roll dice representing your team’s daring actions as you push deeper underground. Decide when to act (scoring a roll) and when to try your luck (rerolling individual dice in pursuit of a stronger outcome).

When you score a roll, its value advances your progress toward a target score, the difficulty required to overcome the current stage of the journey. Each set of 3 rounds is called a chapter. Each chapter raises the challenge, and the final round of every chapter features a boss — a dangerous encounter that alters the rules for that round.

Between rounds, you visit the shop, where you spend coins to acquire upgrades and consumable gear. Some upgrades permanently alter the sides of your dice, changing their values and allowing them to generate coins or reroll potions when scored. Others boost your score, either every roll or when you score specific result ranges, rewarding careful control over how boldly (or cautiously) you push forward.

Your most valuable resources are time and reroll potions. Time determines how many opportunities you have to score your dice and accumulate a total score for the round, while reroll potions allow you to take a chance and — you guessed it — reroll individual dice before committing to a result.

Your goal is to survive 5 chapters and reach the volcano’s core. If you can overcome the final boss, you claim the treasure of the deep and escape, winning the game (and possibly discovering more mysteries to pursue in another expedition). If you fail to meet a round’s target score, you lose. Better luck next expedition!

Thank you, Bitewing Games, for the description. Bitewing has a strong history of delivering strong games. Rolling Deep looks to be another great game for their catalogue. Look at those components (pictured above). They look amazing. Rolling Deep allows players to modify dice. This concept has been tried with varying degrees of success. If anyone can pull off this feat, it’d be a publisher like Bitewing Games. I also like that Balatro serves as the basis for Rolling Deep’s DNA. I stink at Balatro, but I love how much strategic depth the game possesses. I wouldn’t mind if a board game attempted to adapt Balatro at face value. Adding the twist of a dice builder makes Rolling Deep an intriguing game combination.

And I love the Cuphead-inspired art. Yes. It may be a little overplayed, but Rolling Deep’s visuals look amazing. Bitewing Games is known for its production value, and Rolling Deep is no different. This is definitely a game you should have on your radar. Pledge levels range between $59 and $149. If you’re interested in Rolling Deep, check out its KickStarter page.

Artifox Launches on GameFound

Step into the bustling city of Artifox Famous for it’s beautifull Artifacts. As a fox living on the street, life is tough, but your cunning and courage can take you far! You dream of more, and you know that by perfecting the art of stealing, you can amass great wealth. Do you dare to take on the challenge?

Artifox is a strategic and interactive card game for 2 players that takes you on a whirlwind adventure full of cunning and deception. Start with a base deck and traverse the city to steal from various shops. Each card stolen will be added to your hand and eventually your deck. Use these tools, tricks or traps to manipulate the field and steal valuable loot. Guards are on the lookout so be carefull!

However, you are not the only one eyeing the city’s treasures. Your opponent is after the same loot and will do everything possible to outsmart you and steal your findings!

Have you gathered a Trick, Tool & Trap? Then it’s time to steal Mayor Silverfang’s treasures! These valuable artifacts are added to your deck and can be stolen by your Opponnent. When no Artifacts are left at Silverfang Manor, the fox with the most Artifacts wins!

Thank you, Octo Push Games, for the description. At first, I thought Artifox would include deck building. It does not. It’s more of an open drafting card game with plenty of hand management and a healthy dose of take that. If you know me, you know I don’t typically care for take that games unless they have a short run time. Artifox takes about thirty minutes to complete, which is on the long side of short. But Artifox is also a two-player only gaming experience. I don’t mind a longer take that game if it’s two-player only. Yes. I target you with all my nasty abilities, but since the game is two-player only, it feels less like I’m picking on someone because I choose to pick on them. They’re my only opponent. Great!

I love Artifox’s theme of sneaking through a bustling city and stealing items. Not enough board games include stealth. I’m interested to see how Artifox expresses this idea. My guess is that players will “push their luck” and journey deeper into the city. It also looks as if Artifox may have workers, but their write-up doesn’t include “worker.” I wonder if the meeples (pictured above) are guards. If so, neat. We have a healthy collection of board game new releases this week. If you’re interested in Artifox, check out its GameFound page.

Council of Serpents is a manipulative tug-of-war game with hidden objectives. Three noble Houses are vying for power, but you are not one of them… You are a member of the Council of Serpents, and manipulate these Houses to achieve your own ambitions.

You scheme to orchestrate the triumph or collapse of one of these great Houses by manipulating their three attributes; the strength of their army, the amount of gold in their coffers and their popularity with the people. If one of these attributes ever reaches the top of its track, the game is immediately over, and that House triumphs. Whereas if an attribute reaches zero, the game is also immediately over, and that House collapses.

You achieve this by playing Influence cards to cause Conflicts, escalate Conflicts into Wars, prepare for these Wars by playing facedown Intrigue cards, make Peace and orchestrate support from powerful Guilds. After playing an Influence card, you enact the top card of the timetrack, often causing the Houses themselves to act. When the timetrack runs out of cards you collectively build it anew, shaping the plans of the Houses for the turns to come.

Thank you, Wulfhorn Games, for the description. Council of Serpents sounds like a variant of a party game like We’re Doomed with more political intrigue. It features multiuse cards (always a favorite mechanism of mine), hidden roles, and negotiation. I’m not the best with negotiation, but I love it when a game uses the mechanisms. I can’t wait to see how I’ll screw up this mechanism. Council of Serpents’s production value looks amazing. That’s to be expected, most board game that launch on GameFound tend to have higher quality production values. Council of Serpents sounds like one of those games I’d love to play but wouldn’t be very good at. Still, color me intrigued. If you’re interested in Council of Serpents, check out its GameFound page.

Star Fox Releases on the Nintendo Switch 2

The original Star Fox gets its glow up with a brand new release on the Nintendo Switch 2. While I would’ve loved a new entry into the series (Nintendo has put Star Fox on the back burner for far too long, and his appearance in the recently released Super Mario Galaxy movie should’ve been accompanied by a new game, in my opinion), I’ll take a remaster or remake. The graphics look phenomenal.

Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 is more of a remaster. It doesn’t take long to finish, but finishing the story is only part of the game’s joy. Star Fox’s multiplayer modes offer extensive replayability. Players can play cooperatively to complete challenging missions, or they can challenge each other in a competitive mode. I don’t know if I care for Star Fox’s more “realistic” graphics. The game loses a little bit of its charm by deviating from its cartoon art design. Still, it’s Star Fox. If you’ve always wanted to play the original, the Star Fox remake on the Nintendo Switch 2 may be a great way to experience this classic.

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 21, 2026; New Releases

Published on June 21, 2026June 18, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We’re forgoing any headlines for new releases in board games and video games. I have some family obligations over the next few weeks, so Geek News may need to be new releases for a little while. But it’s games. Who doesn’t like new games? Let’s get to this week’s crop of new board games and video games.

Shiver Me Timbers Launches on GameFound

Shiver Me Timbers is a highly thematic, strategic sandbox game set in the Golden Age of Piracy. The game is heavily Euro-inspired: It uses a tactical card-based combat system and takes lots of strategic planning to use your available actions to optimal effect and become the most notorious pirate of your era.

Each playing will vary as you randomly reveal five of ten vastly different victory conditions: One game, you’ll be rescuing your lost family, the next you might have to conquer enemy ships and fortresses or face the hideous Kraken.

At the beginning of the game, each player secretly chooses two of the revealed conditions as their personal goals. After all players have chosen, they set-up the fully modular board, each of them trying to find a constellation that optimally supports their hidden agenda. Then they outfit their modable ship miniatures, select their starting abilities and equipment and set sails to fight, conquer, trade, loot, hunt for treasure and much more.

During play, every achievement is rewarded with victory points. The game continues until all five victory conditions have been met. There’s a final scoring in which players collect extra points if they managed to achieve the goals they chose, and highest point total wins.

Thank you, Weltflucht Verlag, for Shiver Me Timbers’ description. This game looks amazing. This will be a theme with this week’s board game new releases, but I don’t have too many pirate games. Shiver Me Timbers looks like a pirate game I wouldn’t mind owning. Exploration? Check. Cool pirate ship minis? Check. Shiver Me Timbers even throws in some dice chucking. Except for the description above, I have no idea how this game plays, but I’m interested in Shiver Me Timbers. Players’ ships are supposed to be customizable. What? I like the idea of building my own pirate ship. Yo ho! If you’re interested in Shiver Me Timbers, check out its GameFound page.

Siege Perilous Launches on GameFound

In this expansive (and expandable) Euro-style board game, 1 to 4 players will traverse 12 kingdoms that compose Arthur’s Britain, each kingdom containing unique interactable locations, including castles, churches, training towers, ports, markets, fountains, dungeons, and the famed Forest Sauvage. The map itself changes throughout the game, as new events arise, foreign campaigns become available, and Merlin appears with a task that needs doing.

As a player, you will choose from among 6 Player Characters: Dame Britomart, daughter of King Rience; Sir Claudin, son of the Gaulish tyrant; Sir Galleron, proud son of the Northern wilds; Dame Marfisa, warrior queen of the East; Sir Morien, hailing from distant Africa; Sir Priamus, descendent of Judas Maccabeus and Hector of Troy; Sir Sadok, former vassal of the foul King Mark; Sir Wigalois, a lost son of Camelot. Each character begins with a unique set of statistics, which you will endeavour to increase throughout play, plus a starting quest unique to them. From there, embark upon your knightly career as you see fit.

I don’t know much about Siege Perilous, but Play to Z makes phenomenal games. I don’t have too many Arthurian-themed board games. There are plenty of them on the market. But I personally don’t have too many of these types of games. Siege Perilous looks involved. It’s a heavy Euro-style board game. And Siege Perilous may be worth it for the art alone. The artist, Jay Johnstone, uses traditional medieval art methods to create these images. Ah! Siege Perilous looks amazing. If you’re interested in Siege Perilous, check out its GameFound page.

Sovereign: Shōgun Launches on GameFound

Sovereign: Shōgun is a competitive strategy game set in feudal Japan, where rival daimyos struggle for political dominance, military strength, and imperial legitimacy. Each player leads an asymmetric clan with unique advantages, competing to shape the future of the realm while a young heir sits at the center of shifting power.

On their turn, players select a single action using a River-style action track. Actions grow stronger the longer they remain unchosen, creating constant tension between acting early at lower strength or waiting for greater impact while risking that another player claims the opportunity first.

Core actions include Harvest to generate income from developed lands, Move to reposition armies, Develop to expand infrastructure and territories, Mastery to recruit and strengthen military forces, and Diplomacy to gain favor with temples and increase influence. Timing, positioning, and reading opponents are just as important as raw military strength.

The game ends when a player reaches the required threshold on either the Points or Glory track, or when a Harvest-related condition triggers the endgame. Victory belongs to the clan that best balances economic growth, military power, and political influence.

Thank you, PHALANX, for the game description. Wow! Look at Sovereign: Shōgun‘s miniatures. This looks like a highly interactive dudes on a map board game. Sovereign: Shōgun has the look of Risk or Axis and Allies, but the base building separates the two. I have yet to play Sovereign: Shōgun, but it sounds like players will need to balance their economy, military might, and political influence to win. A lot is going on with Sovereign: Shōgun. Publisher PHALANX is known for Brass: Birmingham and Scythe. Both of those games are near the top of BoardGameGeek’s all-time greatest games list. While I don’t put that much stock in BGG’s Top 100 Games, it is a good benchmark for a baseline great game. PHALANX can deliver on a game like Sovereign: Shōgun. If you’re interested in Sovereign: Shōgun, check out its GameFound page.

Survivalist: The Board Game Launches on KickStarter

Survivalist drops two to six empty-handed players into the brutal wilderness for ten nights. Each day forces a decision: stay warm at the fire, recover in the nearby clearing, or push into the backcountry and gather what’s needed to prepare for seven threats. As the game progresses, these threats grow worse and nearer: thirst, storms, hunger, illness, wildlife, fatigue, and isolation. The game plays out as a tense survival simulation where every round is a balancing act of action selection and resource management, shaped by limited time, limited backpack capacity, and the constant threat of injury.

The game ends when only one person is left standing. Whoever endures the longest is the true survivalist—and the winner.

Thank you, Homestead Games New Zealand, for the game description. I love the idea of a survival board game. Survivalist: The Board Game offers Push Your Luck, Risk Mitigation, Resource Management, and even Worker Placement. I love these mechanisms in board games. I have yet to play Survivalist: The Board Game, but the combination of game elements sounds interesting. The one mechanism that gives me pause is Player Elimination. I don’t care for games that feature player elimination if the game lasts too long. Fortunately, from what I’ve heard, Survivalist: The Board Game lasts no longer than an hour and a half. I hope this is the case, because Survivalist: The Board Game sounds like a game Mrs. Geekly would enjoy.

Survivalist: The Board Game offers plenty of pledge levels, ranging from $60 – $500. The $500 price tag sounds like a lot, but backers who choose this option can offer feedback for Homestead Games New Zealand’s next release. I have yet to see that offered in a KickStarter campaign. Curious. I’m keeping an eye on that to see if it takes off. You never know if Geekly may start a KickStarter campaign. If you’re interested in Survivalist: The Board Game, check out its KickStarter page.

Is That Sheep Looking at Me? Launches on KickStarter

Make sheep out of sheep heads and butts; you can even make weird ones. Use action cards to stymie your opponents or help you build the biggest flock in the flock-building party card game, Is That Sheep Looking at Me?.

Is That Sheep Looking at Me? has a quirky theme and game pieces to match. It sounds as if Is That Sheep Looking at Me? has plenty of Take That. While I’m not the biggest fan of Take That as a game mechanism, Is That Sheep Looking at Me? takes little time to set up and play, so I’ll give it a pass. And the artwork is hilarious. Is That Sheep Looking at Me? also has a reasonable set of pledge levels: $25 and $35. It’s worth a gander–wait, that’s geese. If you’re interested in Is That Sheep Looking at Me?, check out its KickStarter page.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Releases

A brand-new action RPG from the creators of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default. In The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, open new paths as you explore this untamed continent and reveal the world’s mysterious history. Enjoy intuitive and rewarding action-based battle with a healthy dose of strategic support abilities from a fairy.

Publisher SquareEnix states that The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales serves as a spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger. I’d like a true sequel to Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross or at least an HD remaster of Chrono Trigger. In lieu of that, I’m down with a title like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. Who knows? If The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales does well, SquareEnix may publish a true sequel in the Chrono series. Regardless, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales looks amazing. Its HD-2D graphics are on point. What else would one expect from the creators of Octopath Traveler. While I haven’t picked up a copy yet, I will in the coming days. Let us know if you’d like Geekly to write a review of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Turn tactical, turn-based strategy on its side in R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos! Making its debut on modern consoles, this two-game collection features revamped visuals, multiple campaigns, and branching missions!

I didn’t play the original release of these two games, almost forty years ago today. Yikes! The updated graphics look amazing. R-Type Tactics I * II Cosmos has a rather hefty price tag ($50) for a remaster, but you do get two games for the price of one. From what I’ve heard, R-Type Tactics I * II Cosmos has massive strategic depth. These games challenge gamers to use their wits and adapt to their environment. Experimentation is key. I love the sound of that. While I may not spend $50, especially without a playable demo, I’ve wishlisted R-Type Tactics I * II Cosmos. Like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, you may hear more about R-Type Tactics I * II Cosmos. R-Type Tactics I * II Cosmos is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

That’s all the news we have for you this week. Which game sounds the most interesting to you? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 14, 2026; New Releases

Published on June 14, 2026June 11, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle with another week of Geek News. Until recently, I was entertaining family from out of town, so we won’t have any headlines this week, but we have plenty of board game and video game new releases. Let’s get to the games that released this past week.

8 Dragons Launches on KickStarter

In 8 Dragons you play a mighty Dragon soaring across two kingdoms. But you don’t fly alone. Your Wyrmlings have just hatched and are eager to fly. You form Swarms, with your own Wyrmlings and those of the other Dragons.

On your turn, you visit wondrous locations and activate effects for yourself and every Wyrmling in your Swarm. When your Wyrmlings fly with others, you benefit from their turns too.

Along the way, friendly villagers help you expand your Lair, chamber by chamber. Collect artifacts, fulfill Missions, and hoard as much Gold as you can.

And as befits true dragons: whoever hoards the most Gold wins.

Thank you, Wonderbow Games, for that game description. I know very little about 8 Dragons, but it looks amazing. That centerpiece with the dragons and the infinity symbol leaves an impression. Everything I’ve read about 8 Dragons has me intrigued. Limited downtime. Turns don’t take long, and every turn will have each player invested. The lair building (the hexagonal tiles pictured beneath the board) sounds interesting as well. I love dragons as a theme. I also love puzzle elements (the lair building). And I like having multiple paths to victory. For me, 8 Dragons checks a lot of boxes.

8 Dragons offers multiple pledge levels, ranging from $57 to $87. That’s not a bad price point for what you get in the game. Obviously, the deluxe version will cost more than the standard, but the board game insert–that snaps into place within the game box–may be well worth the additional cost. I’ve spent about $30 on board game inserts before, and a custom-made insert by the board game company is a huge plus. If you’re interested in 8 Dragons, check out its KickStarter page.

Hexes of Sygon Launches on KickStarter

Your wizards gaze across the mystical planet of Sygon. Volatile volcanoes have blazed away much of the world, except for a precious clearing of land. Here lies the various landscapes of Sygon: meadows, swamps, dunes, mountains, forests, and caves.

Each landscape hosts a unique spell component crucial to developing civilization on Sygon. Collect gold and the various spell components – flower, elixir, spice, powder, mushroom, and crystal – and maneuver your wizards to conjure towns, workshops, and markets to quickly advance your civilization. Use alchemy or forage to obtain components outside your grasp.

Sygon relies on you to bring prosperity to its ravaged lands. However, you are not alone. Wizards loyal to other civilizations plot to loot you and compete for control of the planet. Be wary of where you place your towns and wizards and build walls to protect them against thieving wizards and volcano eruptions. Rise from the ashes and bring glory to your civilization on Sygon.

Thank you, Hexes of Sygon, for the game description. I’ve seen a lot of wizarding games recently–Wandering Towers is a great introductory game–but Hexes of Sygon may offer the most variability. Oh my! I haven’t played Hexes of Sygon, but the game has received solid reviews on BoardGameGeek. BGG also lists Hexes of Sygon as a 2025 release, so this KickStarter campaign may signal Hexes of Sygon’s second print run. That’s a good sign. I can’t get over the number of building types players may construct. Each player’s region may play vastly differently from one another. Hexes of Sygon features some nice artwork, too. I may get the game for the fungus tiles alone. If you’re interested in Hexes of Sygon, check out its KickStarter page.

Tokyo Hanafuda Launches on KickStarter

Hanafuda is a traditional Japanese card game that has been enjoyed for generations. Its biggest appeal is the designs of the card. Without the use of numbers or symbols, each card has a specialised design that uses flowers, birds, and nature, and is a design that transcends time and is well beloved.

Today, Hanafuda that use anime or game characters, or sets that depict local landmarks of various regions, have been created, and continue to charm many people.

Thank you, Kitamido (Tokyo Hanafuda’s publisher), for the game description. Quick Trivia Question: What was Nintendo’s first game? Yep. It’s Hanafuda.

While Nintendo added colorful characters (and you can get Mario Hanafuda decks), the traditional game featured flowers, birds, and nature, just like the description said. Tokyo Hanafuda brings Hanafuda back to its roots. You’ll notice that none of the cards have suits or numbers. You’re trying to match the cards in pairs. Simple, elegant. And I love that Tokyo Hanafuda features art by a Tokyo resident and Hanafuda enthusiast, Kitamido. Tokyo Hanafuda offers multiple pledge levels, ranging from $30-$67. If you’re interested in Tokyo Hanafuda, check out its KickStarter page.

Voidling Bound Releases

Become a Space Wrangler and take direct control of creatures called “Voidlings” in this action-packed sci-fi 3rd person shooter. Shape them through branching evolution paths and upgrade their abilities to overcome bubonic swarms, pestilent bosses, and reclaim lush planets overrun by corruption.

Hatch, evolve, and upgrade powerful space creatures in this action-packed sci-fi 3rd person shooter that reinvents the monster taming genre! Here comes Voidling Bound.

I’m a sucker for monster-taming video games. I just learned this game existed. Reading Voidling Bound’s premise, I’m hooked. The game has received good to great reviews. That’s a good sign. The new, indie studio Hatchery Games developed and produced Voidling Bound. Hatchery Games’ crew is comprised of ex-Skylanders and Borderlands developers, so you can see the inspiration behind Voidling Bound. Skylanders and Borderlands are a combination I wouldn’t expect, but it’s more than welcome. I downloaded Voidling Bound’s demo. You may be hearing more about this game from Geekly in the not-so-distant future. Skylanders meets Borderlands. What’s not to love?

That’s all the Geek News we have for you this week. Which game are you the most interested in? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 7, 2026; New Releases

Published on June 7, 2026June 5, 2026 by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. I got a surprise visit from family this week, so I reduced our board game new release coverage to the largest release of the week, and fortunately, there weren’t too many video game new releases. We’re skipping headlines this week and jumping in with new board game and video game releases for this week of Geek News.

Concordia Special Edition Launches on GameFound

Awaken Realms releases another special edition of a classic board game, Concordia. Concordia joins The Castles of Burgundy and Puerto Rico in this series. I love that Awaken Realms has updated these classic board games. While I don’t believe every classic board game needs a fancy special edition, if you really like a specific board game, it’s nice to have the option of a deluxe (special) edition of that game. And Awaken Realms is known for overproducing games. Like some of the other choices Awaken Realms has produced, Concordia could’ve used an update. This game looks amazing.

In case you missed The Castles of Burgundy and/or Puerto Rico, Awaken Realms has given gamers a chance to add these titles to their upcoming GameFound project. Fair warning, these games do cost about $100, possibly more with add-ons. Since this project is launching on GameFound (and I’ve only seen a preview), we don’t know exact numbers at this time. One thing is for sure: this version of Concordia looks fantastic. If you’re in the market for Concordia Special Edition, check out its GameFound page.

eFootball Kick-Off! Releases

Celebrating more than 30 years of football gaming, eFootball™ Kick-Off! brings together national teams and club teams from around the world, featuring top players and iconic legends. Whether competing on the global stage or building a dream squad, fans can experience the passion, intensity, and spectacle of the world’s game.

I haven’t played this series since it was called Pro Evolution Soccer (PES). To be fair, I have played the 2020 version of PES, but this remains the premier soccer (or football) simulation video game. No offense, EA Sports’ FC Series. This week the Nintendo Switch 2 gets its version of the game. It looks amazing. eFootball Kick-Off! is eFootball on Nintendo Switch 2. What’s not to like? I have yet to play the game (still don’t have a Switch 2), but if I wanted a mobile football sim, I’d look no further than eFootball Kick-Off! on the Switch 2.

CALX Releases

Flow across the WARP-corrupted planet Syro. Master movement as the Seeker. Double jump, dash, levitate and grapple through atmospheric ruins. Scan, solve puzzles, and engage in measured combat in waves of stillness and frenzy.

CALX looks amazing. It bills itself as an action-adventure game with hack-and-slash combat, and from what I’ve seen from trailers and screenshots, that sounds accurate. But I’d add platform and puzzle elements to its list of designators. I love the cel-shading art style. From what I’ve seen, the game flows well. CALX does have a playable demo, so you can see for yourself if the game is a good fit. CALX is available on Steam.

That’s all we have for Geek News this week. We’ll most likely be back to a normal schedule next week. Fingers crossed. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.