Fancy a card game that feels like settling in with a mug of tea and a good storybook? Smallfolk is a cosy tableau-builder from London studio Roc Nest Games, and it is one of the gentler highlights heading to UK Games Expo this month, fresh off a Kickstarter that drew thousands of backers.
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Set up your group for freeThe pitch is charming. One to four players take the role of an adventurer wandering a world stitched together from Greek, Celtic, Japanese and Arabic folklore, encountering mythical creatures and magical relics and collecting helpful smallfolk into a tableau that grows more powerful as the cards combine. Roc Nest leans hard into presentation, with hand-painted watercolour art across the deck, and it is built to stay relaxing while still asking you to think about how your cards work together. It is the sort of game that suits a wind-down after something heavier, or a friendly introduction for someone who finds a big box intimidating.
The crowdfunding numbers back up the appeal. The Kickstarter campaign raised £106,638 from 2,243 backers last autumn, comfortably over ten times its £10,000 goal. The game is now in pre-order through BackerKit while it heads towards a wider release.
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Find events near youYou will be able to try Smallfolk in person at UK Games Expo 2026, running 29 to 31 May at Birmingham's NEC. Cosy games travel well to a games night, so if your group leans towards the warm and welcoming end of the hobby, this is one to put on the demo list.
Sources: Roc Nest Games | Kicktraq | Our Board Game Life
