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New Game!: The World We Left Behind

A 1-5 player worldbuilding game of exploring an abandoned planet

New Game!: The World We Left Behind

First off, hello to all new subscribers joining us from the Death of the Author campaign. Thank you for your interest in following my work!

Second, in the wake of this week’s political news in the US, I would like to take a page from Olivia Hill’s book and make a clear statement about Blinking Birch Games: If you’re a fascist, my games are not for you.

In addition, if you are against trans people’s rights, my games are not for you. My games are by a queer person, designed in community with other queer people. If you are reading this with a genuine desire to learn, here are some reads you can start with.

The World We Left Behind

Last month, I released not only Death of the Author but also a second, brand-new game:

The cover art of The World We Left Behind. Depicts an astronaut looking over the landscape of an alient world. The surface is dotted with odd trees and structures. Giant playing cards lay over parts of the ground.

The World We Left Behind is a worldbuilding game for 1-5 players about astronauts trekking across an alien planet. As you learn about the planet’s flora and fauna and uncover vestiges of the past, you slowly unravel the question at the planet’s center: What happened to the sapient species that called this planet home?

During gameplay, players draw symbols on playing cards to create a planet, populate it with traits, and uncover the mystery of the species that left this world behind. It’s GMless, with zero prep needed to play.

The beautiful art is by Helena Santana and the incredible layout is by Sinta Posadas! Working with them was such a pleasure - they brought this game to life in a way I couldn’t even imagine.

Digital and phyiscal copies are available on itchio, and physical copies will also soon be stocked at Indie Press Revolution, Heart of the Deernicorn, and Tabletop Bookshelf. Community copies are also avialable on the itchio page for those who cannot affort to purchase the game.

The Ballet

The World We Left Behind was originally commissioned by BalletCollective. Composer Phong Tran and choreographer Troy Schumacher played The World We Left Behind and used it as inspiration for the music and choreography of the ballet.

The ballet premiered in NYC in Fall 2023, performed by dancers from New York City Ballet. It came back for a revival in the recent Fall 2024 season.

A video of the livestreamed ballet is available to watch through Nov 10th! The World We Left Behind begins at time stamp 1:38:00.

The game has been heavily edited since the ballet first premiered, but the original version of the game presented to BalletCollective is free and available.

The Album

Phong Tran, the composer of the ballet, released an album through cmntx records of the music he composed for The World We Left Behind!

The album is available for digital purchase and in cassette form, all found on the Bandcamp page.

The Bundle

I’ve collaborated with cmntx records, who released a bundle for The World We Left Behind!

The box for The World We Left Behind bundle. A white cardboard box with a large sticker of the cover art of TWWLB. A couple smaller stickers of spaceships and starts dot the box.

The bundle includes both the game and the cassette of Phong’s music, as well as everything you need to play the game. There’s even a custom deck of playing cards with Helena’s art!

A copy of The World We Left Behind TTRPG, a cassette, a purple shimmery die, and a deck of playing cards with art from the TTRPG on the back of the cards.

There are only 25 copies of this bundle available. You can order one on the Bandcamp page. We’ve been planning this bundle for months now and I’m so excited that it’s finally here!

Updates on Death of the Author

Artwork of an Author. The author is standing with an open book held up in one hand, and a manniquine puppet held by strings in the other hand. Her face is obscurred by a smear of ink. Ink drips off of the open book and onto her sleeve. The top of the picture has the roman numerals XXII and the bottom reads The Author

Other than a few people who haven’t filled out the Backerkit survey, I’ve completed fulfillment for Death of the Author, and the game was released publically a few weeks ago! It feels fantastic seeing the game in people’s hands!

This month, I’ll be working on making the digital extras (audiobook, designer’s commentary, etc.). And after that, I’ll be starting on a new, very exciting game.

Physical copies of Death of the Author are currently found on the itchio page and Tabletop Bookshelf, but will soon also be available at Indie Press Revolution and Heart of the Deernicorn.

Also Aaron Voigt just released an extremely cool video essay about Death of the Author, Superdillin’s Metalepsis, and the musical Hadestown!

Crowdfunding Campaigns

While I myself am not running a crowdfunding campaign at the moment, I’m involved in two that are live right now!

A Fool’s Errand

The cover art for A Fool's Errand, which shows an android about to walk off the edge of a waterfall. They are carrying a flower and holding it out in front of them. Behind them is a small dog. The pose of the android and dog are similar to the tarot card The Fool.

I’m currently in the middle of developmental edits on A Fool's Errand, a tarot TTRPG by J Strautman and B Marsollier, the co-GMs of the Planet Arcana podcast. J, B, and I have been meeting every week to polish this game and each meeting is a delight.

In this science fantasy world, players take the roll of Fools on a journey. During their adventures, they gain the attention, favor, or jealousy of the gods: the Major Arcana.

If the project funds, I’ll also be serving as the game’s line/copy editor! This is a fantastic game that blends silliness and drama in an inspired world, so I hope you’ll check out the Kickstarter page.

The Time We Have

The banner image of The Time We Have, which depicts two brothers sitting down next to a closed door, on either sides of the door. At the edges of the picture are purple flowers. The infected brother has plants growing from his arms.

The Time We Have is a tragic, 2-player zombie game designed by Elliot Davis, played on opposite sides of a closed door. If the campaign is successful, I’ll be editing this project!

The characters are two brothers, and one has just been infected. Players roleplay the final conversations between these characters in the week the infected has remaining. In the end, will you open the door?

I’ve read the demo version of this game and I’m chomping at the bit to play it myself - it’s going to make me weep, I’m sure of it. If you like zombie fiction, this isn’t one to miss!

That’s all for now! Take care of yourselves and each other.

~ Sam Leigh