A Jane Austen board game that pulled in nearly a million dollars in pledges? It happened, and it is arriving on tables this year. Endearment, from Dux Somnium Games, casts one to four players as Austen heroines navigating Regency England in search of a good match, and it struck a chord far beyond the usual hobby crowd.
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Start organising for freeThis is a narrative social strategy game rather than a straight euro. You take on the role of a heroine, improve your traits, build connections and pursue romance while fending off social rivals, with play unfolding across a series of chapters. Randomised goals and several routes to victory mean no two courtships play out the same way, and the rules are pitched to be quick to pick up.
The numbers are the real headline. On Kickstarter the campaign raised more than $930,000 from over 8,000 backers against a $5,000 goal. That is a board game clearing its target by more than a hundredfold, powered by an audience the hobby usually struggles to reach. Nerdist called it every hopeless romantic's dream, and the crossover with book lovers is obvious.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeThe base game runs $59.99 and is due to ship in 2026. If your group counts a few Austen devotees, or you simply fancy something with more drawing-room intrigue than dungeon-crawling, Endearment is well worth a place on the table.
Sources: Dux Somnium | Kicktraq | Nerdist
