Kickstarter Kompilation: January 2025 edition
Y2K babies are old enough to rent cars now!
2025! We made it! I'm so excited to see listicles about "the best films/games/whatever of the first quarter of the 21st Century." Will one of these projects make that list someday? Only if they find enough support from backers like you.
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.
Hazard: Let Us Out! (ends Jan 9 estimated reward date Dec 2025)
This project began back in 2019 at a NESMaker game jam and over the course of six years, developer Gil Vera has come up with a "survival platformer" set inside a robot factory. Expect jumping and shooting and multiple endings based on who you rescue from the automatons.
In This House (ends Jan 11 estimated reward date May 2025)
If you're looking for a Game Boy horror title, In This House features a story inspired by "28 Days Later, the Silent Hill series, South American magical realism, David Lynch's films, Stephen King's The Shining, Skinamarink and The Exorcist." I adore the mock advertisements featured on the campaign page that could have run in magazines back in the 1990s.
Dreams on a Pillow (ends Jan 13)
You might remember Liyla and the Shadows of War, a 2016 freeware game that Apple initially refused to classify as a "game" on the App Store due to its political context. Developer Rasheed Abueideh eventually won that fight, and today he's looking for funding to complete a new project, this time focusing on the 1948 Nakba—the impact of which continues to this day.
Kirito The Game (ends Jan 31 estimated reward date Dec 2025)
This Mega Drive/Genesis beat-em-up pits Kirito, a (fictional?) retro gaming YouTuber forced to fight against other YouTubers. I had no idea competition on that platform had grown so fierce! A demo is available for download on the campaign page.
