Yes, there are big, beautiful games on Kickstarter adorned with miniatures, replete with sculpted plastic, stuffed to the brim with custom components, and full of pizzazz. Big-box tabletop adventures, immense roleplaying settings, and high-dollar Kickstarter add-ons.
And those are wonderful in their own way. But sometimes you just want something a little purer. A little simpler. Something small and cozy and satisfying that doesn’t lose any charm for being so.
Well, KTBG is at it again with another game coming out on Kickstarter. Creature Comforts is their latest project and it’s an inviting family game from Roberta Taylor with vibrant art from Shawna Tenney that wraps around you like a board game Snuggie.
In this seasonal journey, players are preparing for winter by stocking their forest homes with the food, instruments, and furniture that will keep them company in the long, cold months ahead. Over several “months” of play, the gamers will collect resources from various locations in order to pay for these comforts, exchanging goods in the market when necessary and relying upon helpful interactions with visiting travelers. Crafting these Comforts and building home Improvements is the primary way of scoring points and the player with the highest total at the end of the game wins.
I had the opportunity to play last month and I’m so excited that the Kickstarter campaign is upon us!
GAMEPLAY
Not every critter has Mowgli to help gather food and supplies for the winter, so you’ll have to forage, trade, and work alone in order to get ready for the cold season. It’s springtime, though, so you’ve got some months ahead to prepare. You’ll have to make the most of it. Gather resources. Cook up your food, drink, and preserves. Craft musical instruments to pass the time. Build the furniture that your home lacks. And get ready to cozy up by the fire!
Creature Comforts features dice rolling, resource collecting, and worker placement in a game designed for 1 to 5 players.
It’s quite simple, too, so you’ll be able to pick up the game and teach it in no time. Here’s a quick overview:
Players compete over eight rounds called months.
There are locations on the board which provide benefits like resources, Comfort cards, or Improvement tiles. You’ll need resources to build Comforts and Improvements, which are the main ways to score points.
Locations have specific or general dice numbers that must be successfully activated before that spot can be used by a player. Send a worker there, hoping to get the right dice numbers to activate the location.
There are Village dice that everyone will get to use each round on their turn, but players also have two private Family dice that can help.
When all players have placed their workers, the turns begin with the Village and Family dice being used to perform actions on locations.
During your turn, use the resources to craft Comforts and Improvements
The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
If you want a more in-depth look at the game, check out Creature Comforts on the KTBG website.
From my time with the game on Tabletop Simulator, I appreciated the set collection with the Comfort cards. It encouraged aiming for specific cards, which can either grant the freedom to pursue cards that other players aren’t or force players to vie for the same sets. I also really liked the Improvement cards, which can give players an advantage through reduced costs and other permanent benefits. I didn’t get to experience the full scope of these cards’ influence, but I think there is enough depth or variability in the game to ensure adults will enjoy the game alongside their children.
Roberta Taylor has succeeded in creating a convincing debut game that will intrigue and excite young players while also providing a satisfying tabletop experience for veteran players in the hobby.
Also, the art is so charming. Shawna Tenney has really done a wonderful job. I can’t wait to see what components and other Kickstarter exclusives or add-ons accompany the base game because of the chance to see more of what Shawna has created thrills me.
EXPECTATIONS
I think this will be a great game to play with my son to get him into board games. I’ve played Zombie Dice, and I’m introducing him to Crokinole, but KTBG titles like Creature Comforts and other family-friendly tabletop games will be a fun way to share my hobby with him.
Roberta Taylor has crafted something with love and the result is as warm and fuzzy as you’d expect. The Travelers, Improvement tiles, Season cards, and the statistical nature of dice all provide enough variability that the family won’t get bored. Also, the Lessons Learned tokens give leniency to young kids and adults alike.
I’m interested to try a full playthrough in order to confirm all of my suspicions, but I currently have a lot of positive reactions to what’s being done in Creature Comforts.
It’s got the makings of a popular family game and I’m interested to see what’s next from Roberta Taylor and KTBG.
CONCLUSION
Creature Comforts is a cozy board game that balances accessibility, gameplay, and inviting artwork quite nicely. It's a charmer that will have adults and kids alike engaged in the seasonal hustle and bustle of woodland critters. It's like a warm bowl of soup in the winter--comforting and filling. Come for the custom meeples, stay for a delightful episode of HGTV in the forest.
I have great confidence in the Kickstarter campaign, given the success of previous KTBG and Burnt Island games that have launched on the platform. So check out the Kickstarter page if you’re interested in backing and enjoy the wonderful little romp in the woods from Roberta Taylor and Shawna Tenney.
No other game has yet acknowledged the wholesome pair of bread and soup. No other game lets you use dice for such cute purposes. And in no other game can you conceivably survive the winter with just a flute and a lamp… Looking at you, Sean!
As my kids start to get older, I’m more and more interested in games that I can play with them. Thankfully, Creature Comforts and KTBG has got me covered.
What do you think of this adorable family game? Let us know in the comments.
