Asmodee has run its first official crowdfunder, and it's a zombie pirate game. Zombicide: Dead Men Tales launched on Gamefound at 8pm UK time on Wednesday 22 April, and pulled in close to $800,000 from 3,000-plus backers in its first 48 hours. That makes it a notable moment for the industry. Asmodee traditionally steered clear of crowdfunding, leaving that space to studios like CMON.
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Find events near youThat changed when Asmodee acquired Zombicide from CMON last year, and Dead Men Tales is the first new Zombicide game produced under their banner. It's a 1-6 player co-op for ages 11 and up, built on the Zombicide core and stapled to a tropical pirate setting where crews of humans, orcs and elves scrap with undead hordes across a cursed archipelago. Expect rope-swinging between buildings, treasure-hunting, and underwater zombies who shamble up from sea zones when you thought things were manageable.
New twists for the pirate theme include split Governor and Pirate loot decks, Tavern tokens that let survivors down a fantasy grog called Grom for a combat boost, and sea zones that zombies can cross but survivors cannot. The main pledge sits around $110 with exclusives. Delivery is estimated for June 2027, which is standard Zombicide shipping.
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See how it worksFor co-op groups who cut their teeth on Black Plague, this looks like the most accessible entry point to the fantasy arc in years. Round up your crew for a Black Plague recap night while you wait for the pledge manager.
Sources: Gamefound | Tabletop Sentinel | ICv2 | Zombicide
