Tack, a compact dice strategy game for two players from Zerua Games, has officially launched a new Kickstarter campaign this week. Zerua describes itself on the campaign page as “a one woman and two dog team.”
In Tack, two players race sailboats towards a lighthouse by gaining points. You’ll need to roll dice and strategically line them up against your opponent’s, trying to match the sum of your dice with a “wind value” on the board. There are also optional weather conditions to alter the gameplay.
Stretch goals include upgraded components, and a U.S. copy of the standard game pledge will cost just $24. The only add-ons include previous games from Zerua, such as Dino Dig and Hermit.
Tack has a simple yet clever premise, very much like previous Zerua Games. It’s hard to recall many designers who can pack as much content into so little square footage of conceptual space.
Tack looks surprisingly thematic with so few components. The dice and weather mechanics really seem to capture a sense of the sailing hobby itself. Working to meet nature’s demands is simply a great idea compared to other games in the genre, which often focus on car racetracks.
Tack also has gorgeous artwork that reinforces the cozy attitude. The hand-painted look was a smart approach, fitting the scope of the gameplay and the appeal of the ocean.
I haven’t gotten to play Tack, but it already seems promising. There appears to be more variety here than previous Zerua titles, and it’s similarly primed for gameplay on the go.
I can’t offer enough praise for small devs like Zerua putting in so much effort. So, be sure to support Zerua Games, as Tack has only reached a third of its pledge goal at this time.
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