King Sugar Syrup, ruler of the Sweet Lands, is on his deathbed. Without him, the kingdom will fall into ruins. In his final days, he has called a contest to find his successor: He who can turn his designated land into a prosperous nation will receive the throne. You, noble sweet-dweller, must work with the local citizens to turn your kingdom from a simple sugar society into a full-fledged confectionery kingdom.
This is the premise of sweet landsa board game in development from Japanese game studio Uchibacoya. Known for games like water garden and Ostia (which, like this project, were initially funded on Kickstarter) Uchibacoya has become a rising star among board game developers in Japan. And while it's had production difficulties in the past, all signs point to a much more mature approach this time around.
Its most recent design, sweet lands combines the strategy-focused gameplay of European-style board games with the art style and innovative design that the publisher has become known for since launching in 2019. In less than a week, the campaign has far exceeded its initial goal of $10,000: earn more. of $350,000 at the time of publication, showing the board game industry's enthusiasm for the growing movement of international game designers and the work they bring to the medium.
sweet lands'Its core game's resource management approach expands beyond familiar games like The settlers of Catan. Unlike CatanThe game incorporates not only the material goods of the land but prioritizes collaboration with the people who live there. He sweet lands Kickstarter claims that the final product will have nearly 200 individually designed Citizen Cards that will turn these theoretical candy people into flesh and blood: chocolate and corn syrup people. The themes of monarchy, social responsibility, and industrialization (along with the picturesque pastoral illustration) border on Miyazaki-style aesthetics, without fully delving into the social commentary that would turn this relatively light-hearted board game into a full-on critique of the structures of feudal power. .
Multiple victory conditions and 14 different character options, each with their own strengths and approaches to city building, offer opportunities for a wide range of play styles as aspiring monarchs establish infrastructure, invest in industrial technology and They collaborate with residents to become the most powerful. prosperous kingdom. These developments, represented by more than 450 wooden tokens and stands, include milk carton research laboratories, ice cream clock towers, brownie buildings, cheese shops and puff pastry houses.
Although the initial funding level of the sweet lands Campaign is a bit pricey (with the lowest support level starting at $89), these intricate touch components make it clear where those costs are going. for adults candy land lovers, fans of European-style board games, or even Dimension 20 fans looking to live their candy crown fantasy, backing sweet lands' is an opportunity to get a complex strategy-based game while supporting the rapidly growing ecosystem of international designers.
He sweet lands The campaign will run until Wednesday, November 27.