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CMON has stepped in to take over the Kickstarter projects of Anastyr and HEL: The Last Saga, originally launched by Mythic Games. The two board games, which were slated for release in 2021 and 2023, respectively, have been deemed “excessively difficult, if not impossible, to complete” by Mythic due to financial and logistical constraints. As a result, the company has sold the intellectual property (IP) rights for both games to CMON, the publisher behind Zombicide.
CMON’s Commitment and Challenges Ahead
In a statement released on January 26, CMON announced its commitment to fulfilling the games for original backers at no additional cost—aside from shipping and VAT fees. However, CMON also acknowledged that neither game is currently in a publishable state and will require substantial reworking before they are ready for release.
While CMON intends to remain faithful to the original vision of both games, it has indicated that HEL: The Last Saga will have a more streamlined narrative with fewer, but richer story elements, while Anastyr will see a reduction in complexity and fewer regions than initially planned. No firm timeline for the revised versions has been provided.
Backer Reactions: Frustration and Gratitude
The news has sparked mixed reactions among Kickstarter backers. Many remain frustrated, some have voiced concerns over missing extras and expansions that were originally promised as part of their Kickstarter contributions. Others are upset about having to pay for shipping and VAT again, costs they say they already covered with Mythic Games.
Despite this, some backers have expressed gratitude toward CMON for stepping in.
Industry Implications
Mythic Games released its own statement prior to CMON’s announcement, explaining that it could not complete the games without requesting additional contributions from backers—larger than the amounts already asked for in previous campaigns for Six Siege and Darkest Dungeon. The company deemed this an unacceptable solution and opted instead to sell off the IPs.
This is not the first time Mythic has faced controversy. Last year, it drew backlash after asking backers for additional funds to fulfill Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game, despite already raising $5.6 million through Kickstarter. Rising production and shipping costs, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have been cited as key reasons for the company’s struggles. Mythic still has one outstanding unfulfilled Kickstarter, Monsterpocalypse, which has not received an update since March 2023.
The Risks of Crowdfunding in Tabletop Gaming
The situation underscores the risks associated with backing crowdfunded board games, which often require significant financial contributions from supporters. While Kickstarter has become a key platform for tabletop publishers to gauge interest and fund production, it does not guarantee that backers will receive a finished product. As seen with Mythic Games’ struggles, unforeseen financial challenges can derail even highly successful campaigns.
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