Imperial Publishing Inc. has launched a Kickstarter campaign designed to bring Michael Kiesling’s acclaimed board game, Sanssouci, to the United States. The name Kiesling resonates with the community, as this is the designer behind such hit games as Azul, Tikal, Heaven & Ale, and many other prominent titles.
Sanssouci has already attracted a fair bit of interest with the modest funding goal of $5,000 having been met completely, and 829 backers pledging close to $34,500 at the time of writing. The campaign has 12 days to go, which means that there is plenty of time for new backers to arrive.
Sanssouci will be coming to the United States for the very first time, and it is one of the most accomplished titles by the designer. It has been referred to as Kiesling’s best design to date, and possibly the most successful one – better than even Azul. The game has fittingly been nominated for the Spiel des Jahres but fell short of winning an award.
Carcassonne, But Fun
In the meantime, the accolades showered on Sanssouci have not stopped, with the Dice Tower, a prominent reviewing service, granting its Seal of Approval and fans often referring to the game as a version of Carcassonne that feels more entertaining across the board. Sanssouci has been a globally acclaimed hit with its English version already available worldwide.
Imperial Publishing Inc. has been happy to have the opportunity to work on the English-language release of the game in the United States. The suggested price for retail release will be $50 whereas the Kickstarter price is set at $40 for a single copy. As is the custom with crowdfunded games, backers of the campaigns will have a first go at the localized release as they will be getting their copies ahead of the retail launch.
Sanssouci backers will also benefit from a new board expansion that is included in the core box with four wooden boars and their own specific rules. Imperial Publishing Inc. however has not promised that it would be bringing the game into retail launch, as there are limited copies of the game, and a reprint would depend on interest. The best way to get Sanssouci in the United States right away is to check out the campaign.