Kenzer and Company has launched a crowdfunding campaign for HackMaster 25th Anniversary Edition (HackMaster XXV), marking a significant milestone for a title that helped define the early 2000s old-school revival movement. The project, which seeks to formalise twenty-five years of rule refinements, has already surpassed its initial £7,433 funding target, attracting over 485 backers with more than 34 days remaining in the campaign.
This new edition centres on a “Core Quartet” of hardback rulebooks: the Player Character Codex, Player’s Guide to Adventuring, Hacklopedia of Beasts, and GameMaster’s Guide. Each volume is designed as a premium collector’s item, featuring tooled-basilisk and gorgon faux-leather bindings, gold foil stamping, and integrated bookmark ribbons. The mechanical scope of HackMaster XXV introduces streamlined skill systems, rebalanced core attributes, expanded species options such as Half-Ogres and Gnomelings, and a completely new social engagement framework.
Mechanics and Design Philosophy
While HackMaster maintains its reputation for tactical rigour and second-by-second combat resolution, this anniversary release aims to reduce the barrier to entry without softening the lethality of the game world. The development team has overhauled the proficiency and talent systems to ensure high-target rolls remain consistent across all skill checks. According to the campaign documentation, the goal is to bridge the gap between classic “zero-to-hero” progression and modern tactical play.
HackMaster XXV holds even more options and rules-tweaks that allow for greater flexibility and adventure, WITHOUT sacrificing the grit and satisfaction of hacking your way from peasant to conqueror.”
Kenzer and Company, which has maintained continuous operation and published Knights of the Dinner Table since 1993, is managing this release with a focus on supply chain stability. To avoid the logistical complexities often associated with overseas manufacturing, the publisher has confirmed that all printing for the physical editions will take place domestically.
Notable Reward Tiers
Backers can choose from a range of digital and physical support levels, many of which provide opportunities to influence the final state of the game’s lore.
- Pledge $5 (approx. £4): Basic Admission. Provides the HackMaster basic rules PDF and access to all digital stretch goals.
- Pledge $130 (approx. £97): Player’s Special. Includes both core player hardback books and the complete digital library.
- Pledge $180 (approx. £134): HackMeister Core 4 PDF. Delivers digital copies of all four core rulebooks plus bonus adventure modules.
- Pledge $290 (approx. £216): HackMeister Full Monty. The primary physical tier, containing all four core hardback books and their corresponding PDFs, with the backer’s name printed inside the books.
- Pledge $5,000 (approx. £3,717): Campaign With Legends. A high-tier limited reward offering in-person play sessions with designers David S. Kenzer and Jolly Blackburn in Chicago.
The HackMaster 25th Anniversary Edition crowdfunding campaign concludes on Thursday, 10 September 2026, at 10:00 PM BST. Digital fulfilment is scheduled for May 2027, with physical book shipments estimated to follow in August 2027.
