Kickstarter Kompilation: October 2021 edition

Rescue your games from the DEAD
Read +

October is here! We have begun Year FOUR of this monthly round-up of video game crowdfunding campaigns! Looking back at our very first entry, it seems that one project did not reach its goal and another is still unreleased, but all the rest have been funded and shipped! I hope those of you who backed past projects got what you wanted in a timely fashion.

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.

In three full years of writing these articles, I don't think I've seen a more perfect fit for Retronauts readers: This is a cartridge reader that can copy your save data from old games before the battery dies and the data is lost. It can also write data to the cartridge. They're not cheap (the basic model costs at least $100 US, plus shipping) but it will support Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Genesis, Nintendo 64, and GBA software (with an "optional adapter" for NES/Famicom). The unit also comes in a variety of colors!

  • Midautumn (October 6/September 2023) - Demo available

Very colorful "rogue-like dungeon crawler" for PC with a top-down perspective, featuring an all-Asian cast and, more significantly, an all-Asian development team. The story also addresses real-world issues like gentrification even if it is a pure-fantasy adventure with evil spirits and supernatural powers.

Hand-drawn 2D co-op Metroidvania starring adorable animals, rightfully acknowledges Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap as a "main influence." Coming to PC first, but a Switch port is a stretch goal. Pledges to tell its story without text, thus eliminating the need for localization.

Spooky season is here, baby, and this game is timed to take full advantage of that. Not only does the campaign end mid-October, the goal is to distribute the Steam keys within one week! Originally a game jam project, the husband & wife development team wants to complete the full project inside of a month. Also, it's "spooky" but not gory; this is an all-ages adventure, Haunted Mansion-style.

  • Keylocker (October 23/August 2023) - Demo available

"Cyberpunk tactical rhythm JRPG" set in a Footloose-style society where music is banned, but the player character is a singer/songwriter so she's in big trouble. Also includes a dating system "inspired by Stardew Valley" and will have both a digital and a physical edition for PC.