Nestled within a small booth at Gen Con is the publisher Incredible Dream, showcasing two of their games. One of them, Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall, commands attention with its imposing size and stunning box art. The other, Kinfire Delve: Vainglory’s Grotto, offers players a sneak peek into the future through a smaller, more accessible box, along with the promise of an upcoming release.
With two board games, a webcomic on Webtoon, and audio narration by Forteller, Incredible Dream hopes to make Kinfire the next big IP that emphasizes diversity. “Our mission is to bring people to the table through shared adventure,” says Ilya Ushakov, Incredible Dream’s Social Media & Community Manager. Ushakov stresses that the team aims to create collaborative storytelling experiences, which is why they focus on cooperative board games.
Players assume the roles of six distinct Seekers, entrusted with safeguarding Din’Lux city and rejuvenating the world beyond. Armed with kinfire lanterns, they will confront the enigmatic Starless Nights, engage in battles against emerging creatures, and unite to counter malevolent forces aiming to hinder their advancement. The game comprises three phases: adventuring, battling, and exploration. During the adventuring phase, players select from quest card options and fulfill tasks by flipping cards from their decks. Collaborative enemy encounters unfold in the battle phase on a physical map, with turns dictated by tokens drawn from a destiny bag. Action and boost cards augment strategies. Notably, the game persists despite setbacks, influencing subsequent choices. In the exploration phase, interactions with NPCs, deck enhancement, and choice-driven card play shape character progression and rewards.
One area that separates Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall from its peers like Gloomhaven or Middara is the ability to customize not only your character’s build but even their appearance with customizable skins. “One of my favorite aspects about this game is people can really feel and see themselves in their characters, says Ushakov. “We really try to create a really diverse range of characters as well.”
“So what’s really cool about the game as well are the skins,” says Ushakov. Incredible Dream tends to bring new skins to conventions, such as modern skins with hoodies. They also have upgrade packs with more feminine and more masculine presenting characters, as well as skins for one of the non-binary characters.
I was already captivated by the beautiful art, the skins, and the impressive mechanics, and then Ushakov impressed me more by opening the sizable Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall box. The lid is magnetic and simply pops off, and the other side of the lid acts as the base or table for the game. Players can instantly see that the game has a small footprint on the table. There is a little welcome book, and tons of small boxes inside, each representing a different chapter. The only thing that players need to read is a 12-page primer, and the rest of the rules will be taught as the player progresses. Players will be playing within 15 minutes of opening the box and participating in the first chapter which acts as a tutorial that still offers danger for the players’ characters.
With all of the cool things that make Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall stand out, I still find myself constantly drawn back to the art, directed by Katarzyna Redesiuk. “We do have an internal art team,” says Ushakov. “That’s something that’s really exciting because even stuff like skins are worked on an ongoing basis so we’re not like contracting different pieces out. ” Ushakov notes that Incredible Dream’s art team is a key part of their team and is involved in the progression of the game.
Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall is now fulfilling orders following a successful Kickstarter campaign last year. It is available for a retail price of $149.99.
Following the in-depth exploration of Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall, Ushakov introduced me to Incredible Dream’s upcoming game, Kinfire Delve: Vainglory’s Grotto. The initial standout feature was the compact size of the box, notably smaller and aligned with its $20 price point. Naturally, the remarkable artwork caught my attention, maintaining the same level of quality thanks to a consistent art direction.
Kinfire Delve: Vainglory’s Grotto is a tactical and cooperative card game designed for solo play or with a partner. Players are tasked with conquering challenges within a deck of cards referred to as Vainglory’s Well. The Well comprises four challenge cards encircling Vainglory, the Master of the Well. As players overcome challenges, new ones emerge from the card pool. Throughout the game, players are restricted to playing skill cards that match the color of the challenge they face. Collaborative efforts are vital, allowing players to assist each other by employing their cards as boosts. As the game progresses, cards are drawn face-down from the deck while players navigate to the well’s bottom. Ushakov states, “You only see 25% of the cards when you play the game. It takes four or five plays to really see everything in this game.” Ushakov also shared that replayability is enhanced by multiple available forms for the final enemy at the bottom of the deck.
At $20, Kinfire Delve: Vainglory’s Grotto promises tremendous value. The two games are also compatible in that the skins can carry over from game to game, offering more customization for players.
Ilya Ushakov, had one more surprise for me during our short meeting, a peek at their upcoming game. For now, I will hold the details, as I only saw a prototype build. Still, it seems to be another unique experience with excellent art direction, and interested players should see a Kickstarter in the coming months. “We’re excited to share what’s coming next from Incredible Dream,” says Ushakov. “Our ambition is certainly boundless.”
Kinfire Chronicles: Night’s Fall is available for purchase on the Incredible Dream webpage.
