(Crowdfund Quest) MemoryCore

Crowdfund Quest is a daily column that takes us on an expedition into tabletop crowdfunding with a look at a current project in the tabletop gaming world.

MemoryCore by Horrible Guild

MemoryCore caught my eye this week, partially due to the novel way this series of tabletop role-playing games are being presented, Inspired by 90’s video game consoles MemoryCore is a curated anthology of 32-bit era-inspired TTRPGs, each paying tribute to a hit game of the past. Each game is even comes in a cardboard box, that recalls the iconic jewel cases of the era, which includes all the components needed to play that specific title. If that wasn’t enough, each phsyical pledge level includes a high-quality magnetic box styled like an old-school console which houses the individual games along with some tokens and other bits.

Each title introudces its own characters, mecahnics, and distinctive elements built on top of the MemoryCore System, adapting the aesthetics, narrative style, and design feel of its videogame inspiration to the tabletop. From survival horror to stealth, metrooidvanias to fighting games, racing titles to JRPGs, each game translates the defining sensations of its genre into tailored rules - while remaining fully compatible with the Shared Core System.

Pick a game, open the case, and jump into a zero-prep experience for 1 to 5 players (GM included).

There are six titles in this first collection, spanning a range of genres and visual styles. Two of the titles - Solid State Machine and Bloodsong: Hunters of the Night - are included in every pledge tier, along with the MemoryCore User Manual (main rulebook), with other tiers allowing you to add two other titles of your choice, or to receive them all.

The six titles available are as follows:

Each game title includes a full-colour 60-page manual that details the unique mechanics for that title, to be used in addition to the rules laid out in the main User Manual, and also features a dedicated campaign spanning 1 to 10 sessions. A deck of 32 mini-poker-sized cards featuring key gameplay elements such as weapons, items, or equipment - all ilsustrated with low-poly or pixel art. A cardboard Game Disc, which the GM will spin during the game to trigger unique rules and effects. 4 rewritable character boards, one for each pregenerated character, and a double-sided, full-colour, Exploration Map. The only set that doesn’t have all of the above is the Final Tournament game, which has an expanded set of Character Boards instead of Memory Cards or Exploration Map.

MemoryCoreis currently raising funds on Backerkit and runs until 30th June 2026.