Hi ho, silvers! Yes, you are all my horses, and I will ride you all the way to Kickstarter, where I’ll be highlighting zines on that platform. This has a HUGE CAVEAT:

Kickstarter is a piece of shit platform. Why? Because it allows AI use as long as the creator declares it. GROSS. Because most of my information is from teaser pages, it is possible that at launch we learn that some of the following games use AI. The moment I find out, I will go back and eradicate it from this post, strikethrough style, so we may all bask in their shame.

If you’d like to know what’s going on at BackerKit’s Zinetopia event, I’ve got you covered. Check Pt 1 here. Hilariously, my goal was to attempt to elevate some crowdfunds that weren’t getting enough eyes. Some of those crowdfunds have since exploded with hundreds of followers, and I take full credit (I don’t).

On with the show!

Sanguis Sanctus

Well well well. Look who it is. My dear friend, compatible with Mörk Borg. We meet again.

I’m such a sucker for Borg games. I’m a Borg boy, if you will. I love the art by Emanuele Parascandolo, the example spread looks cool, and the setting of medieval Europe and themes of religion v. monsters got me. There’s a vampire Anti-Crusade. Yessssss.

Brais Mines

I’ve never played a game that uses BRP, but this might get me to change my mind. I really like the grayscale vibes, it does an excellent job giving the impression of an artifact from the time period, and the idea of exploring an alternate history with historical research gives me the tizzies. But like, good tizzies. What the hell is a tizzy? Maybe I’ll end up learning two words today …

Aqua Tofana

Can I tell you a secret? Do you know why I have a wife? Because I used to have a husband … but things happened to him. Did I blow through all the life insurance money? Is my wife next? Only time will tell …

This game gets an easy recommendation from me, both due to the very unique subject matter, but also because I know the creators! One-half of Wannabe Games, Alex Sprague, was my mentor through the Unpub Tabletop Mentorship program, and helped me make Blightfall! They are talented designers and I’m sure what they’ve got up their sleeve here will enchant us and definitely not give us any ideas.

Börü Borg: Denizens of the Dire Steppe

Yes, it’s another Borg! I can’t help it, okay. The colors are vibrant, the layout looks sick, and the art is wonderful (and not AI). Based on Eurasian, Turkish, and Middle Eastern folklore, you Borg it up in “a hard, wind-scoured expanse that grinds down steel and spirit alike.” Yet again … YESSSSSSS.

The Crypt Has Opened

Do me a favor: imagine a crypt. The crypt is closed. But wait. The crypt has opened. Uh oh.

Jeff is a local designer and I played this game with him for a one shot. We had a wacky adventure saving Atlanta from a giant peach gorilla. I lived inside of trash can armor. It’s a fun game with art that really echoes the 90s and campy horror. You can even find the full rules online, which I am always a fan of.

Mount Olympus Community College

This is the kind of variety we need and I’m here for it. I want to do a funshot of being some awful college stereotype/demigod and watch chaos unfold.

And do you see the Cerberus on the cover? The middle head is wearing sunglasses, ’cause he’s the cool one. What’s up, dog.

---

That’s it for me today! On a side note, my own Zine Month games launches TOMORROW. Absolutely surreal. I haven’t shared the trailer on the blog yet, so sneak a peek below and remember to back Blightfall tomorrow, Feb 2nd, when it launches on BackerKit!