King Sugar Syrup, ruler of the Sweet Lands, is on his deathbed. Without him the kingdom will perish. In his final days, he called for a competition to find his successor: the one who can transform his destined country into a prosperous nation should be given the throne. You, noble candy dweller, must work with the local citizens to transform your empire from a simple sugar society into a full-fledged candy kingdom.
This is the premise of Sweet countriesa board game in development by the Japanese game studio Uchibacoya. Known for games like Aqua garden And Ostia (which, like this project, were originally funded on Kickstarter) Uchibacoya has become a rising star among tabletop developers in Japan. And even though it was like that Production difficulties In the past, all signs point to a much more sophisticated approach being taken this time.
His latest design, Sweet countries combines the strategy-oriented gameplay of European board games with the artistic flair and innovative design that the publisher has been known for since its launch in 2019. In less than a week, the campaign has far exceeded its original goal of $10,000 – to earn more. The prize was over $350,000 at the time of publication, showing the board game industry’s enthusiasm for the growing movement of international game developers and the work they bring to the medium.
Sweet countriesThe resource management approach to its core gameplay expands beyond well-known games The Settlers of Catan. As opposed to CatanThe game not only takes into account the country’s material assets, but also emphasizes cooperation with the people who live there. The Sweet countries Kickstarter says the final product will feature nearly 200 custom-designed citizen cards that turn these theoretical candy people into flesh and blood — er, chocolate and corn syrup people. The themes of monarchy, social responsibility, and industrialization (along with the painterly pastoral illustration) poke at Miyazaki-style aesthetics without fully engaging with the social commentary that would transform this relatively light-hearted board game into a comprehensive critique of feudal power structures.
Multiple victory conditions and 14 different character options, each with their own strengths and approaches to city building, provide opportunities for a wide range of playstyles as aspiring monarchs build infrastructure, invest in industrializing technology and work with residents to become the most wealthy empire. Represented by over 450 wooden tokens and displays, these developments include milk carton research labs, ice cream clock towers, brownie buildings, cheese tents and cream puff houses.
Although the initial funding level of the Sweet countries The campaign is a bit pricey – the lowest support tier starts at around $89 – these intricate, tactile components make it clear where those costs go. For adults Candyland Lovers, fans of Euro-style board games or even Dimension 20 fans who want to live out their lives Crown of candy Fantasy, support Sweet countriesThe campaign is an opportunity to maintain a complex, strategy-based game while supporting the rapidly growing ecosystem of international designers.
The Sweet countries The campaign runs until Wednesday, November 27th.
