What I’m Excited to Receive in 2026

(Kickstarter Edition)

Artwork by Joan Piqué Llorens

Before I jump into the list, I want to make a small statement.

A couple of weeks ago, I said I didn’t want to purchase any new TTRPG books until I'd played or at least read more of the ones I already own. The goal for me is to buy beautiful books with great illustrations, interesting mechanics, and thoughtful system design. But also… to actually enjoy them.

I genuinely love reading TTRPG books for what they are. Sometimes just reading them is enough for me to feel happy with the purchase. I’m really interested in the design of a gamebook itself. What font did they choose? What’s the layout like? Is it full color? What type of paper did they print on? Is it A4? A5? Digest size?

All those little details matter to me.

Of course, the dream would be to play every TTRPG I own. But that’s simply not possible right now. Time is limited.

I also recognized that I spent a lot in 2025. And I didn’t want to repeat the same thing in 2026. I received so many books last year that I haven’t even read all of them yet. So I told myself: before spending more money, read what you already have.

That being said… I did make a few Kickstarter pledges in 2025 that are delivering in 2026. I can’t do anything about those now; they’re done, paid for, processed.

So this article isn’t about new purchases this year. These are projects I already backed. Think of this as a small sneak peek of what’s arriving at my door in 2026.

Have a good read.

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Shadowdark RPG: The Western Reaches

• Kickstarter Link

• Shadowdark Website

The campaign is complete (with slight delays), but I have a lot of trust in Kelsey Dionne and the Shadowdark team. I pledged for the premium slipcase set.

I already own the Shadowdark physical core book, and another third-party book, Unnatural Selection. But the Western Reaches just felt too enticing to pass on.

You get:

• Three new Curse Scrolls (4, 5, 6)

• A ~200-page Player’s Guide (A5 hardcover, ribbon bookmark, lay-flat binding)

• A ~200-page GM Guide

• A fully interconnected hex-crawl setting

The Player’s Guide alone includes 18 classes, 8 ancestries, full spell lists, gear (boats, mounts, poison), lore, factions, secrets, and more. The GM Guide includes a complete map, 16 regions (10 brand new), sandbox advice, monsters, and a brand new starter adventure.

I chose the premium slipcase because, for about $20 more, I got:

• All six Curse Scrolls in cloth-bound art covers

• Matching cloth-bound Western Reaches guides

• A heavyweight slipcase

• Stretch goals (mini adventures, holographic cards, a soundtrack, tokens, even a miniature)

When this arrives, I’ll definitely do a full in-depth review of each book + the core rules. Stay Tuned!.

👀 Psst, new website here, take a look

ShadowHack: An Expanded Ruleset for Shadowdark

• Kickstarter Link

What’s included:

• 20 ancestries

• 80 lineages

• 16 classes

• 150+ spells

• 150+ monsters

• 80+ magic items

I went digital-only for this one.

Usually, with third-party content, I prefer digital first. If the physical quality is excellent and reviews are strong, maybe I’ll upgrade later. But if the book ends up being flimsy, it’s more disappointing than not.

I don’t necessarily use third-party content exactly as written. I like it for inspiration. I tweak it. I hack it. I remix it. So this one looked fun for those reasons.

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The Streets of Port Noir (5e Solo Adventure)

• Kickstarter Link

• Obvious Mimic website

This is a noir-style 5e solo investigation set in a rain-soaked city full of canals, crime, and secrets.

It’s designed for level 5+, which is new for them. That alone makes it exciting.

Like their other solo adventures:

• No DM required

• No maps or minis required

• Pick your own path

• Play your own character

You’re pulled into the criminal underworld, looking for a missing woman, stolen property, and something darker lurking in the shadows.

I went digital here, too. I don’t always replay solo adventures that much, and I already own a lot of physical books. But the art always looks amazing.

I really like those solo adventures. I finished The Wolves of Langston and am finishing The Secret of Oki Island.

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Land of Eem: Beginner RPG + The Underlands

• Kickstarter Link

• Exalted Funeral Website

Land of Eem is described as “The Muppets meets Lord of the Rings.” It supports silly adventures, epic quests, or darker tones, depending on how you want to play.

The Underlands expansion adds:

• 300+ pages

• 4 underground regions

• 100+ locations

• 300+ NPCs

• 250+ quests

• Tons of rumors, factions, crafting, recipes

But what really makes this special for me is the Dungeoneer Adventures Beginner RPG.

It’s designed for kids. Streamlined rules. Custom dice. Character cards. Ready-to-play adventures. Easy for parents to run.

My oldest is four (turning five this year). She’s not fully ready for a full session yet. But I already love reading the books and looking at the illustrations with her. Out of all the Kickstarters I pledged for, this is the one closest to my heart.

Because this is the one I want to play with my kids.

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What About You?

These are the projects I’ll be receiving in 2026. Did you back anything you’re excited to receive? What games or systems are you most looking forward to in 2026? Cheers!