King Sugar Syrup, ruler of the Sweet Lands, is on his deathbed. Without him the kingdom will fall into ruin. In his final days, he has called for a battle to find his successor: whoever can turn their designated country into a prosperous nation will get the throne. You, noble candy resident, must work together with 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 from games like Aqua garden And Ostia (which, like this project, were initially funded through Kickstarter) Uchibacoya has become a rising star among tabletop developers in Japan. And while it has been like that production difficulties in the past, all signs point to a much more mature approach this time.
The most recent design, Sweet countries combines the strategy-focused play of Euro-style board games with the artistic flair and innovative design the publisher has been known for since its launch in 2019. In less than a week, the campaign has far surpassed its original goal of $10,000 – earning more than $350,000 at time of publication – demonstrating the board game industry’s enthusiasm for the growing movement of international game designers and the work they are bringing to the medium.
Sweet countries‘ resource management approach to the core gameplay extends beyond well-known games such as The Settlers of Catan. Unlike Katanthe game not only includes the material goods of the country, but also prioritizes cooperation with the people who live there. The Sweet countries Kickstarter states that the final product will contain nearly 200 individually crafted Citizen Cards, turning these theoretical candy people into flesh-and-blood humans – er, chocolate and corn syrup people. The themes of monarchy, social responsibility, and industrialization (along with the picturesque pastoral illustration) match the Miyazaki-style aesthetic, without fully delving into the social commentary that would turn this relatively light-hearted board game into a full-on critique of feudal power structures. .
Multiple victory conditions and 14 different character options, each with their own strengths and approaches to city building, allow for a wide range of play styles as would-be monarchs build infrastructure, invest in the industrialization of technology, and work with residents to become the best . prosperous rich. These developments, represented by more than 450 wooden tokens and standees, include Milk Carton Research Labs, Ice Cream Clocktowers, Brownie Buildings, Cheese Tents and Cream Puff Houses.
Although the initial funding level of the Sweet countries campaign is a bit pricey – with the lowest level of support starting around $89 – these intricate, tangible components make it clear where that cost goes. For adults Candyland enthusiasts, Euro-style board game fans, or even Dimension 20 fans looking to live it up Crown of candy fantasy, support Sweet countries‘ campaign is an opportunity to get a complex, strategy-based game while supporting the fast-growing ecosystem of international designers.
The Sweet countries The promotion runs until Wednesday, November 27.