As a person with a Zine Month project (cough), I’ve noticed a lack of conversation about Zine Month projects in the spaces I frequent (Edit – Literally days after I wrote this, the conversation about Zine Month exploded online. I feel like a fool!). I certainly see a lot of us trying to get the word out, desperately begging the masses to take a look at our projects. More coverage will certainly come once February rolls around, but I wanted to get the ball rolling now.

Please note that there are a lot of projects out there, and I am but one man, who has very specific tastes. So the games I’m highlighting are going to meet my own set of criteria. If you’re project isn’t included, it could mean that:

1. I didn’t see it!
2. It’s not my bag! Not everything is for everyone!
3. I hate you. Yes, like you suspected, this was a personal attack against you. Wow. I’m the worst.
4. Your project is already super popular and doesn’t need the help.

The following projects are games that have small audiences at the time of writing (with one exception), intrigue me, and are on BackerKit! I plan on covering some of the other platforms as well in coming weeks, though I will say, some platforms are an ABSOLUTE MESS KICKSTARER.¹

Don’t Torture Puppies

Hey. Puppies probably don’t deserve to be tortured. But … what if … hear me out … we could make profits?

It’s a game that’s inspired by the creators’ own time working in the world of small business and facing the capitalist pressures of doing bad things to survive and trying to square that with being a “good person” or whatever.

All I can see is the teaser page, which doesn’t give much info on mechanics. That’s fine! It’s a teaser page. I’m more of a vibes-based person when it comes to marketing anyways. I want to leave you with this quote from the teaser, because I find it charming (and I’m a bad person, fyi):

“And it sure would be easier to be innovative if you could test your product on puppies. It seems like that might go against your core values.  But.. the puppies probably enjoy the testing, right? It’s in such a colourful room full of treats. There’s no way that could count as torture. Plus you can instruct the testers to only go for the dog’s eyes because they mostly communicate through smell anyway.”

Great Hexpectations

Another game that got me on the text copy on the teaser page. A zine with hexes, hexes, and more hexes to add to your hex-based adventures. Plus, if you follow the project, you’ll get a one-page hex map about being chased by wolves! It’s got very nice iconography, I must say.

Again, I’m going to leave you with a quote:

“Ah yes, the humble hexagon. First invented by Genghis Dickens in the year of our Lord 1432, it revolutionised the turniptop role playing scene. It soon spread to other more parochial game scenes where it has flourished ever since, allowing players to participate in hex crawls– a hilarious variant where players must craftily quaff a yard of ale before crawling through the hexagonal nagus of an inebritated snollygoster!“

Orcs & Crafts

The Matthews yearn for the mines … specifically, the cardboard mines. I am intrigued by skirmish games and want to try out Cauldron as my first one. I’ll likely end up playing online because no one wants to hang out with me after they meet me in person, because of all my deficiencies, both physically and in personality.

But I am so intrigued and this is such a unique offering compared to the losers who are posting their tired and trite dark fantasy games. Like, look at this. LOOK:

Barba Bianca

A game by Cristian Sisto and published by Nessun Dove. Nessun Dove is a popular publisher in Italy and I am currently waiting for their game, Our Queen Crumbles, to arrive at my doorstep. The production values on this look slick, with reusable laminated sheets and maps.

It’s a GM-less, zero prep game about a quiet, old recluse named Barbabianca and the town that might blame him for all their misfortunes. The artwork is intriguing and I’m very curious about this game.

Three Punk Games

There are a lot of things to love about these games. Hex & The Punks is sharing their digital version free, and is all laid out and ready to go. We Were Punks has a butt on the cover, is also all laid out … and is also free digitally! And yeah, I’m sure those games have merit.

BUTT (the extra T is on purpose) … I don’t care. I DON’T GIVE A HOOT.

Because you need to know about SEX/VIOLENCE/POOP 3: REBELLION ON PLANET TURD.

Yeah. What makes SEX/VIOLENCE/POOP 3: REBELLION ON PLANET TURD special? Sure, it’s available digitally for free. Sure, it’s got a ridiculous name. But most importantly … THEY ARE GOING TO PRINT IT ON TOILET PAPER SHEETS.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

And if you don’t like the game, you can wipe your ass with it. Seems like a win-win to me.

Vralkast

Vralkast: Monstrous Metropolis is a SETTING from Jamie Bernstein. System-neutral, shove this baby into any game and save yourself the struggle. You’ve got a city carved into the cliffs of a sunless sea, a town bustling with activity, and tables galore.

Plus, I’m biased! I know Jamie from the internet, and he is a cool dude that hasn’t committed any grand theft auto to my knowledge. Rumor has it, the cover to Vralkast is going to be SICKKKKK.

The Black Tower Hack

Dark fantasy western. Inspired by The Dark Tower from Stephen King. Built on the NSR goodness of The Black Sword Hack by Kobayashi. Everything about this game is catnip to me.

Plus, you can get a free 50 page preview to start playing now. I think it’s always a vote of confidence when the designer is release a free version of their game².

The Deepest Dark

I’ve read the entire of this game and I recommend it. How did I read it? Did I break into the designer’s home, in an expensive, international scheme to get zines before their release date? Likely. Or we’re cross-collab partners for Zinetopia and she shared it with me. One of the two.

This is a GM-less, collaborative game of doomed people journeying into a cave. Yes … more doomed people. I am truly just a parody of myself at this point. This gives such Descent vibes and I am here for it.

And if you back both of our games, you get cool stuff. What exactly? I’m not allowed to tell you yet. But it’s not a 1996 Ford Mustang GT. I looked into it and the numbers aren’t quite working out.

Blightfall

Haven’t looked much into this. Author seems weird. Still, pretty cover by artist Sarah Mason.

I’ll see you next week for more zine goodness. I sort-of love you and goodbye.

1. You click on Zine Quest and you are shown 1,835 games, which include EVERY ZINE QUEST EVER. Who thought that was a good idea? ↩︎
2. Check out Blightfall: Bleak Edition, which is the entire game in black and white, art-free format. Will be free starting campaign launch! ↩︎