It is a truth universally acknowledged that a board gamer in possession of a good group must be in want of a Jane Austen game. Enter Endearment, Dux Somnium Games' lavish adaptation of Austen's world, which turned into one of crowdfunding's biggest surprises and is now reaching tables.
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Set up your group for freeEndearment is a strategy game for 1 to 4 players that casts you as one of Austen's heroines, making your way through Regency England in pursuit of a good match. Across a series of chapters you improve your character's traits, navigate social rivalries and chase romance through stories woven from Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma. It is equal parts tactical jostling and drawing-room drama, and it leans hard into its source material rather than just borrowing the bonnets, which is exactly why it struck a chord with readers who never expected their favourite novels to become a proper hobby game.
The support was staggering. Its 2025 Kickstarter set a modest $5,000 goal and finished with more than $930,000 from over 8,200 backers (figures via Kicktraq), a runaway result that put a niche literary theme firmly on the map. Backers are now receiving their copies, and the game is open for preorder for anyone who missed the campaign.
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Find events near youIf your group counts a few Austen devotees, or you have ever wanted a cosy, characterful game to pair with a period drama night, this is one to watch for. Line up your fellow romantics and find a group to play with.
Sources: Dux Somnium Games | Kicktraq | Nerdist
