Need Games’ Kickstarter for a Fabula Ultima expansion has crossed one million Euros in pledges. The tabletop RPG is inspired by Japanese-style computer console roleplaying games, aka JRPGs.
The Kickstarter is for a hardback edition of the game, a collector’s edition, and a new Bestiary. The crowdfunding concludes on the 24th of October, with more than 5,000 backers. You can see progress on the pitch page.
There’s a free-to-download quickstart available at DriveThruRPG for those wanting to sample the game. This is helpful given that the bulk of the Kickstarter is to enable different versions of the whole game.
In Fabula Ultima, players collaborate to tell stories of heroes and villains in fantasy worlds filled with magic, unique monsters, and fantastic locations, drawing direct inspiration from the genre. The system has received significant industry recognition, winning a Gold ENNIE for Best Game and a Silver ENNIE for Product of the Year in 2023.
Designed by Emanuele Galletto, the game features a ruleset described as simple and intuitive, which focuses on collaborative worldbuilding and player-driven storytelling. Players are encouraged to set their own goals and make choices that have a direct impact on the narrative.
The game’s aesthetic is a core feature, featuring illustrations by several professional artists in a distinct JRPG style, complemented by pixel art to complete the retro-inspired presentation.
The Fabula Ultima Bestiary Vol. I is a sourcebook of over 300 pages for the JRPG-inspired tabletop game. The book’s primary focus is a compendium of more than one hundred unique creatures, designed to be adaptable and narrative-focused.
This deluxe edition includes all Fabula Ultima books published to date: Core Rulebook, Atlas: High Fantasy, Atlas: Techno Fantasy, and Atlas: Natural Fantasy, as well as the upcoming Bestiary Vol. I, all embellished with beautiful graphic covers that reflect the internal layout and themes expressed within.
Backers at €25 get their pick of two PDFs from the Fabula Ultima range (in English or Italian, as Need Games are based in Italy). As these are ready to go, the slated delivery date is November 2025.
At €45, backers are rewarded with the new Fabula Ultima Core rulebook and will have a choice of two covers: the exclusive Kickstarter edition or the Moryo design.
There’s a starting bundle that unlocks at €85 and which includes physical copies of the Core Rulebook in its standard hardback edition, the GM’s Toolkit, and the Press Start booklet. The package is completed with a set of Fabula Ultima dice.
The Level Up bundle is set at $130, and this pledge level includes standard hardback print copies of the Core Rulebook and the Bestiary Vol I, alongside an Item Pack, which contains a set of dice. After the campaign concludes, backers will have the opportunity to select their preferred cover art for the Core Rulebook, choosing between the original design by Moryo or a Kickstarter-exclusive version by Yoshitaka Amano. The package also includes PDF versions of the books, with all materials available in either English or Italian.
The top tier, outside retailer offers, is the Collector’s Box, which requires a pledge of €400 (or about £350).
The estimated delivery for the physical goods is May 2026.
