The decades-old game has been improved based upon player feedback, and the new version – Kingmaker: The Royal Relaunch- is clearly sought-after. 

Gibsons has announced its Kingmaker: The Royal Relaunch Kickstarter campaign has been fully funded in just 20 hours.

Marketing manager Samantha Goodburn said: “It’s incredible to see the backer numbers climb and that hard work paying off. Thank you to everyone who has backed the campaign so far: we couldn’t have done it without you.”

First launched in 1974, Kingmaker simulates the Wars of the Roses, the period of sporadic Civil War in England between 1450 and 1490. Invented by the late Andrew McNeil, the game is based on the premise that the powerful Noble families used the Lancastrian and Yorkist princes as pawns in a greater game of gaining control of England. Players control ‘factions’ using their military and political power to control and influence the royal heirs, supporting the heir in their control as king while trying to take down all of the other heirs. It’s a game of manipulation, deception and unforeseeable incidents – making each game unpredictable and a lot of fun.

Although this game has been enjoyed by many for decades, the original game has some shortcomings and fans have requested a new and improved version. After taking everything on board, Gibsons has reported that a new version of Kingmaker will arrive in spring 2023.

Gibsons worked with Kingmaker expert Alan Paull, from Surprised Stare Games, to help develop the new version. The main difference is that Kingmaker II will offer four games in one: the board will be double-sided so that players can still play the original game should they wish to. There will also be an extended version of the classic game and a revised version, which is shorter. All versions have physical changes to improve playability. For example, there will be new coloured counters and a board with updated symbols for better visibility.

Readers can join Gibsons’ Kingmaker: The Royal Relaunch Kickstarter campaign to have first access to Kingmaker as well as exclusive updates and behind the scenes content.