I hope everyone is embracing spooky season because October is here and we could all use a distraction. Sadly, none of our featured Kickstarters this month have any horror vibes (some of them are downright adorable) but that's okay because who knows when they'll actually be available. Well, one of them is an event with a hard October date, but the rest are anyone's guess.
As always, we have no insider information or financial interest in any of these projects, and no one at Retronauts has been compensated for including anything on this page. Also, in light of the ongoing pandemic, we recommend only backing crowdfunding campaigns if you feel comfortable with your own security and stability.
Dormiveglia
Platform: PC
Campaign ends: October 5
Estimated delivery time: January 2022
Minimum pledge to receive the game: €12 (about $15 US)
Demo available
We're starting this month right with an indie Metroidvania that uses lots of bright colors but also promises a "slowly-corrupting narrative." Also, the heroine has a whip that can latch onto things and lets her swing around which is always a good time. The title is an Italian word that allegedly means "half-asleep" or "semi-conscious." And I learned that just from reading the Kickstarter page! Imagine what playing the full game could teach me...
Yan's World
Platform: PC with a Virtual Boy stretch goal (!)
Campaign ends: October 5
Estimated delivery time: July 2021
Minimum pledge to receive the game: $10 US (digital only)
Demo available
Yan's World began as one middle-schooler's dream to make a "pixel art-based puzzle platformer stylized as a lost title for Nintendo's Virtual Boy" which means they're the coolest middle-school student I'll ever meet (disclaimer: we have not met...yet). The game is being designed for PC release but if this team gets enough funds they promise to port their dream title to actual Virtual Boy hardware. Guess that means Jeremy'll have to make another Virtual Boy Works video!
Doodle World
Platform: NES
Campaign ends: October 9
Estimated delivery time: January 2021
Minimum pledge to receive the game: $10 US (digital only)
Demo available
This project is a father-daughter collaboration: Nate Peters looked at his kids' drawings and tried to turn her sketches into pixel art. With her in mind, the final game will include "kids mode" aimed at younger players that offers "more lives, less levels, and easier enemies and bosses." There's also a wholesome stretch goal to purchase "games and consoles" for The Children's Hospital of San Antonio.
Note that backers looking for an actual NES cart must pledge at least $35 or $55 for a complete-in-box edition.
IndieCade: Anywhere and Everywhere
Platform: it's an online event
Campaign ends: October 11
Estimated delivery time: event is this month, other rewards come later
Minimum pledge to attend the event: FREE
Indiecade has been in the promoting-indie-games business since before I knew what an "indie game" even was. Since we can't really get together in a shared space to play games like that anymore, they're looking to build a "place that the indie community can benefit from all year round." The 2020 event will run from October 16-24 but the long-term goal is to create "a sustainable venue to experience new games, meet with developers, and see the latest updates." Attending the event does not cost money, but backers can receive "sketches" from popular game devs or even actual games at higher tiers.
Cleopatra's Curse
Platform: Sega Genesis/Turbografx-16
Campaign ends: October 16
Estimated delivery time: December 2020 - March 2021 (depends on tier)
Minimum pledge to receive the game: $15 US - digital only
Demo available
We tend to highlight a lot of Metroidvanias in this space (there's one above on this very page) but here's something we don't often see: a combination Sega Genesis & TurboGrafx-16 release! The developer promises that both games are done or nearly done which is why there are no stretch goals offered at all; this campaign is covering the costs of producing physical copies rather than fund the development itself. Note that the different platforms have different prices and release timelines.
Dirty Land: Thrill of the Sale
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Campaign ends: October 23
Estimated delivery time: November 2021
Minimum pledge to receive the game: CA$ 15 (about $11 US)
This looks like Glengarry Glen Ross: The Video Game and I am here for it. As the page says: "We want to capture the experience of working in a ridiculous sales office, without the commitment of actually having the job!" The devs say they've been working on this project for 2 years and now they're ready to reach for that Cadillac.