Insurgent: Algeria is launching on Kickstarter next week!

As a mini-celebration for the existence of a pre-launch page for Insurgent: Algeria, I decided to play a round of the game solo.

I designed the game so long ago now (the summer of 2022) that I had to refer to my own rules to play. I played my prototype copy, reading rules text I could very clearly recognize as my own (it would be edited once I signed it with Catastrophe Games in March of 2023).

Honestly, I was nervous as I played the first few turns. Somewhere along the way, I think I forgot how much time I had spent polishing the game and worried that it wouldn’t hold up. I suspect most if not all creatives have a similar anxiety, but it’s a new feeling for me.

About five turns into the game, I was already on the verge of defeat; The French had political dominance over my Algerian resistance; they had convinced the Algerian masses that their plan of “civilization” was the best path forward. Several of my leaders were in prison, or dead. With just two cards in my hand, my tactical options were limited.

The final game situation. I staved off a very popular French political campaign, and earned a victory of attrition with superior military and diplomatic efforts. I had a pretty good time, if I do say so myself.

I ultimately fended off this early assault, and a late wave of public support for the resistance’s diplomatic efforts won me the game. For a deck of cards, it was pretty tense and exciting. It took fifteen minutes.

Playing that game reminded me of the hundreds of worse versions of the game I made two summers ago, and all the friends, family and strangers who helped make it better. Despite my obsession with history, I tend to live in the moment. It has its perks, but it also means I have to remember my own past more intentionally.

So I owe it to myself to find a market for this game. Because it’s really good.

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I want to thank everyone who’s supported me on this ride to publication. Whether you’ve tested the game with me dozens of times, or sent me an email expressing interest in it, or decided to publish it, or even just asked me how the design was coming along, I’m extremely grateful.

If you could tell a friend about this Kickstarter, it would go a long way toward making this dream of mine come true. You can share the newsletter with the button below, but telling someone about the game would really make my day.

The game will go live on September 3rd, along with another title called Arabian Struggle by designers Tim Uren and Nick Porter.

Happy gaming,

Matt