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I don't think I've ever fallen so hard for a D&D adventure as I have with Neon Odyssey, and it seems like gamers agree; this blend of RPG questing, Cowboy Bebop, and SNES classics is now over 8,500% funded.
Neon Odyssey combines beloved anime and classic '80s vibes with D&D for a phosphorescence-soaked new world by Legends of Avantris, the team behind folk-horror setting Crooked Moon. Available to back via crowdfunding on Kickstarter, it has a $60K goal… but is currently sitting at well over $5 million in funds with weeks to go before the campaign ends. I'm not sure I've seen a D&D project so stratospherically popular before, but it's completely understandable; besides offering something not really seen from the best tabletop RPGs, it has a killer aesthetic combined with phenomenal marketing. Check out the animated trailer on the Kickstarter page and tell me you aren't all in.
Rather than being a neon-hued reskin of current-edition D&D (5E), this campaign builds on it with a new class, starship combat, vehicle rules, 20+ subclasses, a host of character species, monsters, and an entire universe of lore. This is all split across three distinct books; a core handbook, setting guide/bestiary, and an expansion with a profession system alongside loads of extra missions.
If you want an idea of what developer Legends of Avantris has done before, check out Crooked Moon (available via Amazon). This feature-rich setting and campaign introduces an original, folk horror-inspired world that ended being one of my favorite additions to D&D in recent years.
I've been digging through the free playtest materials that are available via the Kickstarter page, and damn – this is a comprehensive package, not a pipe-dream. Classic D&D classes have been intelligently reworked to fit a sci-fi setting, and its vehicle rules are well thought-out. They're certainly more in-depth than what we got with Spelljammer: Adventures in Space, anyway. Because that was such a missed opportunity, it's nice to see someone making good on the promise.
However, the thing that gets me is its nostalgia-driven approach to lore. There are species drawing from a host of inspirations here (including Star Fox ), and its vehicle rules contain unashamed references to F-Zero. Neon Odyssey is clearly a love-letter to all things '80s/'90s, whether it's SNES video games, anime, or even Saturday morning cartoons like the Biker Mice from Mars.
Speaking of Saturday morning cartoons, the animated trailer really nails the adventurous yet heartfelt energy that made them so beloved - I was instantly sold after about 30 seconds of its story focusing on found friends helping to overcome a dark past rising again. It featuring a song by synthwave band The Midnight definitely helps, of course; it's the perfect accompaniment that drenches the visuals in exactly the kind of emotional '80s nostalgia it thrives on. Chef's kiss, no notes.
Anyway. Considering how good the team's previous project, Crooked Moon, was, I've got a really good feeling about Neon Odyssey. It's gonna be a long wait before the proposed November 2027 delivery…
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For something to play while you wait for Neon Odyssey, don't forget to check out the best board games or the best card games.
