Axolotl with a Gun: The arcade-style RPG where the horrors persist, and so must you

Bright Bard Games has launched a Kickstarter for the second edition of Axolotl with a Gun, an arcade-style tabletop RPG that is exactly what it says on the tin. You are an adorable amphibian. You have a weaponised hobby. You have a gun. And you have to save your habitat from evil robots.

The project is live now and runs until February 26th, 2026.

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Designed by Jonathon Boyle, Axolotl with a Gun draws heavily on classic coin-op arcade games. It is a “short-shot” RPG designed for high-energy, low-prep sessions where the action is fast and the premise is absurd.

The core loop involves balancing your peaceful downtime with high-octane violence. Players take on the role of axolotls whose afternoon crafting time in their idyllic lake is interrupted by the “horrors of techbro robots.” To fight back, you build a dice pool of d6s based on your two main stats: AXOLOTL and GUN.

The “2nd Edition” brings a refreshed ruleset that leans heavily into the arcade aesthetic. New “Coin-Operated Mechanics” introduce elements like lives, continues, or high-score chasing to the tabletop. Beyond standard combat, characters now feature “Weaponised Hobbies” – whether you’re a knitter, painter, or baker, your pastime is integrated directly into the fight, allowing for unique attack modifications. Finally, staying true to axolotl biology, the game includes a regeneration mechanic that lets characters hop into a pool of water to heal up when the horrors get too overwhelming.

The campaign is structured to be affordable and accessible, with a “zine” format that fits the indie vibe perfectly.

• Pledge $10 (approx. £8): Digital Edition. A PDF copy of the core rulebook.
• Pledge $10 (approx. £8): Armed & Dangerous Digital Edition. A digital copy of the expansion zine, Armed and Dangerous.
• Pledge $20 (approx. £15): Physical Edition. The physical zine plus the digital PDF.
• Pledge $30 (approx. £22): [Early Bird] Early Axolotl. A comprehensive bundle including the physical core book, the digital expansion, and a “Thanks-A-Lotl” sticker.
• Pledge $125 (approx. £92): Thanks-A-Lotl Tier. The collector’s option. It includes both zines, a “fistful” of d6s, a pin, stickers, and two 3D-printed axolotl coins to use at the table.

The project is All or Nothing and must reach its funding goal by February 26th. Delivery is estimated for May 2026.