Kickstarter Kompilation: May 2024 edition
Two Japanese crowdfunding campaigns? Good thing the yen is super weak right now.
May: The perfect month for crowdfunding. Maybe that new game looks interesting! Maybe it will come out someday! Maybe you can spare a few bucks to fulfill someone’s dreams! 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.
Devil’s Hideout (ends May 2 estimated reward date Sep 2024)
For my money, we don’t see enough horror adventure games, perhaps because that evolutionary branch of the genre folded into survival horror. Hence Devil’s Hideout caught my eye; you can commit your eyes, ears, and fingers to trying out the demo.
Free Stars: Children of Infinity (ends May 18 estimated reward date May 2025)
Given that we had two entire episodes dedicated to Star Control and its spiritual sequel, The Ur-Quan Masters, I knew I had to include this latest game in this month’s roundup. So even though the title is all-new, this is the latest outer space adventure from Pistol Shrimp (formerly Toys for Bob), the original developers of the aforementioned cult classics.
Tenshi no Uta Collection (ends May 26 estimated reward date Sep 2024)
We’ve highlighted the efforts of the Telenet Revival project before, as IP owner Edia seeks to resurrect the defunct Telenet’s back catalog of video games onto modern platforms. The target this time around is Tenshi no Uta, a pair of PC Engine CD-ROM RPGs. These games were never officially released outside of Japan and this campaign is targeting Japanese consumers, but the Switch is region-free so it’s yours if you want a copy.
They Came From Dimension X (ends May 27 estimated reward date Dec 2024)
Here’s a “wacky gravity pulp cosmic horror retro FPS” that’ll have you climbing the walls—and the ceiling, and any other flat surface. The project has been in the works for a while, and you can find demos on itch.io & Steam, although the developer says that those come from “a much older version of the engine.” Still, if you need to wrap your head around an FPS where up is down and vice versa, go for it.
Rebuild “Secret Base” (ends May 30 estimated reward date 2025)
Earlier this year, retro arcade “Secret Base” in Aomori, Japan incurred serious damage when a neighboring shop burned down and the fire ravaged their inventory as well. This campaign—which has already met its initial goals—seeks to get the business up and running again sometime next year.
