After raising $220,000 on Kickstarter, this art history board game is ready to be the prettiest one in your collection

Game pieces from Artistry which have an art noveau style
(Image credit: Dux Somnium)

Artistry is an art-nouveau-flavored strategy board game that’s recently entered crowdfunding… and I’m sort of obsessed with it already. Judging by the fact that the project has already raised 400 times its funding goal, I’m certainly not the only one.

There are plenty of reasons why we fall head over heels for the best board games. They might bring out your competitive side, really get the cogs of your brain a-turning, or just provide an opportunity to spend time with the people you care about. But even if you don’t notice it, the look and feel of a board game does some heavy lifting in your enjoyment of the whole experience too.

Designed by the creators of Botany and La Fleur (games rocking scores of 7.1 and 8 on BoardGameGeek), Artistry is currently in its funding period on Kickstarter. It’s a 1 to 4-player race to the heights of artistic acclaim done by way of gorgeous illustrated cards and ceramic tile-inspired game pieces. You don’t need to be a total art history buff to enjoy this game either, the works of artists like Alphonse Mucha and Maurice Pillard Verneuil speak for themselves.

Game pieces from Artistry which have an art noveau style

(Image credit: Dux Somnium)

Artistry sets out to be a light, abstract strategy title – meaning it's probably a lot closer to Azul than Catan. While I love a good crunchy, heavy-weight board game, there’s really something special about a game you can enjoy over a cup of tea with a friend within 30 minutes. Not to mention, you get to avoid the dreaded ‘explaining the rules to someone while their eyes glaze over’ experience.

With 28 days left to go, Artistry has already accumulated $220,156 of funding from its 2,251 backers – despite having an initial funding goal of just $5,000. It’s clear that I’m not the only one totally captivated by the delicate, ornate style of the game.

Backers who pledge $39 will receive a standard edition copy of the game at a 20% discount of its $50 MSRP. Meanwhile, the $75 deluxe edition is available at a 25% discount and you’ll secure a 33% discount on the MSRP of the ridiculously precious-looking jewellery box edition. If you’re a lover of fine things that can’t resist the allure of a faux leather box and velvet tile bag, it’s definitely worth hopping on the Kickstarter-exclusive deal.


Need something new to play? Give one of the best tabletop RPGs a try. For more suggestions on what to add to your shelves, why not check out the best card games or best two player board games?

Abigail Shannon
Tabletop & Merch Writer

Abigail is a Tabletop & Merch writer at Gamesradar+. She carries at least one Magic: The Gathering deck in her backpack at all times and always spends far too long writing her D&D character backstory. She’s a lover of all things cute, creepy, and creepy-cute.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Sparkly Catan Hex tiles and metal buildings with a hand reaching down to move them
This Catan Kickstarter will yassify your copy of the board game, and it's already hit $300,000 in pledges
Screenshots from the Fame & Fable Kickstarter
Fame & Fable is a post-lockdown D&D Dungeon Master's baby, born of "homebrew characters, monsters, and artefacts"
Malediction miniatures on a gray surface in front of dice, with a hand moving one whilst holding cards
Malediction is metal enough to make Elden Ring wince, and I can't wait to play this new wargame
Character from Malediction
Fully funded in 12 minutes, this card game combines 3D printable miniatures with deep strategic deckbuilding
Meeple in Doggerland on the board
Create megoliths and cave paintings in deep prehistoric strategy board game Doggerland, now half price
Catan box art with a large sun setting over a medieval scene
World of Warcraft artist who worked Catan 6th edition thinks artists who don't "just reproduce a trending style have [...] better chances to be noticed"
Latest in Tabletop Gaming
Upcoming support for underground and multi-level dungeons in Dungeon Alchemist
Dungeon Alchemist community manager is "a little concerned how it's behind a paywall to run games" in D&D's official Sigil VTT
Game pieces from Artistry which have an art noveau style
After raising $220,000 on Kickstarter, this art history board game is ready to be the prettiest one in your collection
MTG Final Fantasy art of Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI dropping potions into water
Following MTG Final Fantasy, another Square Enix Magic collab is “likely a matter of ‘when,’ not ‘if’”
Terraforming Mars TTRPG logo on top art of mars colonists
Terraforming Mars TTRPG crowdfund hits almost $200,000 in one day as fans flock to name a space city after themselves
Ticket to Rde and Catan art side by side
Two legendary essentials for your board game collection are better than half price right now
The White Deer Inn in the Suikoden game
Fans are concerned Critical Role's Suikoden one-shot will be ruined by one player's "complete incompetence and blaming the game"
Latest in News
Snow falls as guards in armor and red highlights wait in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Black Myth: Wukong empowered fellow soulslike devs to become China's first "elite" devs on par with Naughty Dog or Capcom: "The market has been validated"
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
After 26 years, a secret Star Wars reference to George Lucas has been uncovered: "We got a new Phantom Menace Easter Egg before GTA 6"
Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori
This stunning open-world horse game smashed its $65,000 Kickstarter goal straight away, and it's bringing my favorite part of Red Dead Redemption 2 to 13th-century Mongolia
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Parasite and Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho doesn't want to make a franchise film – unless it's an Alien musical
Four adventurers journey into a dim dungeon
Dark and Darker's legal battles are far from over as the popular extraction RPG has been pulled from the Epic Games Store again
Discord
Discord is reportedly "in early talks with banks" about going public, but the company won't comment on "rumours or speculation"