Mythic Games, once a prominent name in the board game crowdfunding scene, has officially dissolved. The news comes following a series of financial difficulties, delayed projects, unmet promises, and escalating controversy that have left many backers and fans angry and disappointed.
According to an announcement published in Le Parisien on October 10, Mythic Games France SARL has been dissolved, with Managing Director of Mythic Games Pascal Léonidas Vesperini appointed as the liquidator to manage the closure of the company.
Mythic Games had been struggling for some time, most notably in recent years as the company attempted to navigate financial difficulties and backlash from its backers. The once-successful publisher became embroiled in multiple controversies regarding its unfulfilled Kickstarter promises, leaving projects such as HEL: The Last Saga and Anastyr incomplete and prompting the company to sell the intellectual property rights to CMON. Backers were offered redesigned core boxes by CMON, instead of the full scope of their initial pledges, a move that sparked widespread discontent.
In an interview with BoardGameWire, Mythic Games’ co-founder Leonidas Vesperini shed light on the company’s struggles. He shared that attempts to finish projects like HEL and Anastyr were hindered by financial constraints, and ultimately, the sale to CMON was viewed as the best course of action to provide backers with at least part of what was promised. Vesperini also discussed the immense pressure and personal attacks faced by company leadership, including threats and doxxing that followed the company’s announcements.
The dissolution marks a bitter end for Mythic Games, whose financial model and ambitious crowdfunding campaigns ultimately became unsustainable. Overlapping projects, mismanagement, and escalating production costs forced the company to repeatedly request additional contributions from backers to complete projects—a move that only further alienated their supporters. Despite delivering on many of its past campaigns, including games like Darkest Dungeon and 6: Siege, Mythic Games’ inability to uphold their promises to the backers of HEL and Anastyr proved to be their undoing.
Over the years, Mythic Games faced numerous controversies. Long delays became a hallmark of their campaigns, with high-profile games like Reichbusters: Projekt Vril and Solomon Kane taking years longer than expected to deliver. Poor communication during these periods only served to fuel the frustration of backers, who were often left without clear updates. Additionally, unmet stretch goals, quality issues with fulfilled products, and unexpected shipping cost increases all contributed to their tarnished reputation.
One of the more dramatic incidents involved a legal dispute over Time of Legends: Joan of Arc, which delayed production further and left backers in the dark. There have also been rumors of “Kickstarter juggling” – using funds from newer projects to fulfill older ones.
Any remaining funds from the liquidation will likely go towards paying off outstanding debts, but the backers of HEL: The Last Saga and Anastyr should not expect any refunds. CMON has acquired the rights to these games and plans to offer base versions of the games to backers, with additional costs for shipping and VAT, leaving many backers feeling that they have ultimately lost their investments with no true compensation.
Source: Tabletop Gaming News
