Free League Publishing has launched a new Kickstarter campaign for its latest roleplaying game, The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game. The project reached its $24,000 goal, and has now almost tripled its goal after just a few hours.
The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game allows players to immerse themselves in the world of the dead and face the impossible choices that come with it. Players can choose to enter at any point in the timeline and encounter familiar faces and locations, or create new ones. The game is designed by Nils Hintze, with Joe LeFavi as producer and brand manager, and with Free League co-founders Mattias Johnsson Haake and Tomas Härenstam serving as editors and project managers. The game art is made by Gustaf Ekelund and Martin Grip.
The game offers two modes of play: campaign mode and survival mode. In a campaign, the story is not predetermined, allowing players to make choices and face the consequences. In survival mode, players are presented with a pre-determined and often acute problem that needs to be handled immediately.
However, Free League warns potential players that The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game deals with dark and existential themes that can be violent and distressing. It is not a game for children.
The game mechanics of The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game are based on the Year Zero Engine, used in award-winning games such as the ALIEN RPG, Blade Runner RPG, Tales From the Loop, and Forbidden Lands. The rules are designed to blend seamlessly with the story, letting players focus on character drama and pushing the game’s themes to the forefront.
The Core Rulebook of The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game features everything players need to create their characters and challenges they will face in the game. The Kickstarter campaign also offers a deluxe edition of the Core Rulebook with a special cloth cover exclusive to the campaign.
The boxed Starter Set includes a condensed rulebook, pre-generated characters, and the first full-length survival scenario for players to experience. Additional components will be added to the Starter Set if unlocked as stretch goals.
Backers who pledge within the first 24 hours of the campaign’s launch will receive a bonus art print of the Core Rulebook cover.
All backers will have early access to PDF versions of the complete Core Rulebook and Starter Set soon after the Kickstarter ends. The game is largely complete, and Free League is excited to share it with the players.
Players can also add Gamemaster’s Screen, extra copies of the Core Rulebook or Starter Set, or other Free League roleplaying games as add-ons to their pledge.
The Kickstarter campaign for The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game is live now and will end on April 5, 2023.