Shadowdark Setting Looks Set To Be 2025's First Million Dollar TTRPG Crowdfunder

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Just launched today, the new Western Reaches setting for the Arcane Library's popular Shadowdark roleplaying game (which itself raised $1.3M in 2023) has flown past half a million dollars in the first few hours, and looks certain to join the Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarter Club imminently!

[[Edit/Update--and it's done it! $1M less than 12 hours into the Kickstarter campaign!]]

2025 has been quiet so far this year on the million-dollar crowdfunding front. This new setting is a sandbox environment with new classes and ancestries, and various areas such as the Gloaming Forest, Djurum Desert, and Myre Swamp. It comes in two 200-page digest-sized hardcovers. Also included are new issues of the game's Cursed Scroll zine. The full core set will cost you $129, or $149 for a premium version, with fulfillment expected in December 2025.

At $670K at the time of writing, just 3 hours into the campaign, The Western Reaches is already the 7th most first-day funded TTRPG ever, having just passed 2024's Terry Pratchett's Discworld RPG: Adventures in Ankh-Morpork. It looks set to pass 6th place very soon, which is 2023's Ryoko's Guide to the Yokai Realms - A 5e Tome. Only five TTRPG crowdfunders (so far!) have ever hit the million-dollar mark on the first day. You can see the full ranking at the Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarter Club.

The Western Reaches are an unexplored land of fragile civilizations, majestic landscapes, and forgotten horrors that lurk in the dark.

In the Reaches, you could play as:

• A painted witch from the steppes hunting for the secrets to deeper magic
• An armored knight from the City of Masks guarding frontier villages from attack
• A silent monk from the mountains searching for the assassin who killed his teacher
• A scarred pit fighter from the desert looking to make her fortune outside the arena
• A quick-witted explorer from the jungle who can find any artifact for the right price
• A seafaring warrior from the northern isles who fights for the glory of the Old Gods

This sandbox setting is fast, elegant, and flexible in the signature Shadowdark style. You don't have to memorize lore; you'll discover it as you go. The world moves and grows with you as you explore it.

 

[Bill Zebub]

And another thing....casual Fridays. What's up with that?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And another thing....casual Fridays. What's up with that?

It's a watered down version of Aloha Friday, which was started by the Hawaiian state legislature in the 1960s.

 

[DarkCrisis]

And another thing....casual Fridays. What's up with that?

(How’s that for a throw back reference)

 

[Nightfly]

The meme pics thing is the more modern: Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra

Yes! That is an apt comparison, and I totally know what all those words mean! Jarmokgra and Tandar, indeed!

What a great reference, fellow young and hip person who understands pop culture references, as I do!

 

[overgeeked]

It's about the power of metaphors and how stories have truths that can cut through differences. I don't think it has anything to do with neurodivergence.

Thank you for proving my point.

Shaka, when the walls fell.

 

[Von Ether]

It's a watered down version of Aloha Friday, which was started by the Hawaiian state legislature in the 1960s.

Which now facing competition from "Happy FriYAY!"

 

[Scribe]

Average pledge is almost $200, its still trickling in at 1.6+ Million.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Average pledge is almost $200, its still trickling in at 1.6+ Million.

Man, I am happy for everyone who can swing that in this economy, but that is a big hit on the wallet. I am trying to scrounge up some OT so I can justify dropping $155 on the slipcase set plus digital editions of the new PDF adventures.

 

[Scribe]

Man, I am happy for everyone who can swing that in this economy, but that is a big hit on the wallet. I am trying to scrounge up some OT so I can justify dropping $155 on the slipcase set plus digital editions of the new PDF adventures.

Yeah this is pretty much my hobby spend for the year, the savings on the big pledge are just too good.

I'd rather the economy not be getting intentionally tanked, but we don't always get what we want.

 

[Von Ether]

I want to do the digital pledge, but I am waiting on the shipping on another KS. That particular KS company said they won't charge supporters but tariffs will impact the retail prices afterwards.

Makes it a challenge to get new people onboard when the prices go up.