Over the past couple of years we’ve featured quite a couple of Kickstarter campaigns. Of course I do realise that it’s always a gamble. Even if a project makes the funding threshold, it’s not sure yet that there’s really going to be a real game at the end of the road. So it’s not something you should do if money is tight at the moment, as you might end up getting nothing.
If it works out though, it means you have a fun game to look forward to. And the cost has already been taken, which is rather nice. The developers are mostly very good at keeping you updated about their progress, so you will be very involved.
Let’s see where those Kickstarter campaigns are now! This is Part 1, the games that have already been delivered!
Delivered: My Time at Portia – Simulation/RPG/Crafting – Switch
3,708 backers pledged $146,697. Campaign ended October 2017. Switch game released April 2019
The first Kickstarter where I got my hands on the finished product, and I loved it. Sure, there were some bugs at the beginning, but it didn’t impede my gameplay. By now, the game has been on Switch for 1,5 years and has had some updates. If you haven’t played it yet and are looking for a time sink, this is it. And the studio behind Portia has another Kickstarter in the works, My Time at Sandrock!
So what’s it about? You inherit a workshop at the start of the game, and by collecting resources and completing commissions for the townspeople you try to grow your workshop. It’s your home too, and can be upgraded into a bigger house, adding more rooms to hold all the furniture you manage to collect.
You can farm in the game, but not the kind were you have to water your crops everyday. You’ll be able to use a semi-automatic irrigation system. You can mine in abandoned dungeons and forage for the other stuff you need in your workshop. There’s fishing too, in rivers, swamps and even on a tropical island.
We reviewed the game here and made a beginners guide as well, which you can find here.
Delivered: Summer in Mara – Simulation/Questing – Switch
9,523 backers pledged €233,919. Campaign ended March 2019. Switch game released June 2020
Summer in Mara: a Kickstarter project by Spanish studio Chibig is a simulation adventure of the kind that the Switch still needs more entries of in its library. The game is based on quests: Koa helps out people on the islands and gets things in return. That’s the way to progress the story, and it’s also the way to make your Home Island more efficient, combining farming, taking care of animals and crafting along with a colourful cast of characters.
When you debate whether or not Summer in Mara is for you, you have to keep this in mind: you don’t play the game to go from A to B. You don’t play it to just to do all the quests and live the adventure. No, you do the quests to make the Home Island of Koa more beautiful, more bountiful and a real home. And meanwhile, you discover new islands, learns the story of new people and live through new adventures.
Find our review for the game here, and there’s an entire set of guides here.
The studio just successfully funded another Kickstarter project as well:Â Kickstarter Deiland: Pocket Planet Edition. More wholesomeness to come!
Delivered: Littlewood – Simulation/RPG – Steam
3,952 backers pledged $82,061. Campaign ended January 2019 . Steam game released August 2020. Switch release in the works.Â
Littlewood is looking quite reminiscent of older top down look simulation games like Harvest Moon, I really like the top down view for this game. You will have lots of work to do to bring your town back to its glory days! When you arrive in town it is full of trees. Time to get to work with a trusty axe. Lots of wood is needed to make new building and furniture for your house or the town folks houses. Lots of relaxation ahead in this  peaceful and relaxing RPG.
Wanna know more? Our article about the Kickstarter campaign is here, and the Steam page for Littlewood is here.Â
The game has been on Steam for a couple of months now, with a rating of Overwhelming Positive!
Delivered: Garden Paws – Simulation – Steam
1,361 backers pledged € 36,713 Campaign ended September 2018. Steam game released December 2018. Switch release in the works.Â
You have inherited your grandparents farm as they set off to travel the world. You work with Frank at the local construction shop to finish off the final touches on your new home. Plus, by aiding Frank and Mayor Wilson you can build up the town so it can reach its full potential.
To do so you need coins, and what better way to earn those then by running a shop? And of course, if you want to run a shop you will need items to sell. Explore the islands and its caves to collect everything from flowers to poop to sell in your shop. Over time and with each building built, new townsfolk sail to the island with new items for purchase and quests to complete.
The game has been out on Steam for quite a while and is rated very positive there. The developers are now working on a Switch version.
Delivered: KOFI Quest – RPG – Steam
1,471 backers pledged € 42,087 Campaign ended May 2018. Steam game released January 2020. Switch release in the works.Â
Kofi Quest: Alpha MOD is a not-so-serious adventure that brings together mechanics from Action RPG and RTS games. You’ll control Kofi, a weak, lazy and unlucky videogame character that will be followed by a group of interesting (and pathetic) characters aiding him to live a great adventure.
As a player you will control Kofi. Good luck though on trying to get him in action, as he is an RPG character that spends his days lazing around without leveling up. His game is a total mess and every character around him plays better. He is weak, lazy and unlucky and his followers are a group of interesting (but pathetic) characters. But what can you do? They are the ones aiding Kofi to live through the upcoming great adventure.
The game has been on Steam since the beginning of 2020 and the reviews are very positive.
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