Sword World RPG surges past $2.5 million in first English-language crowdfunding campaign

Mugen Gaming’s campaign to bring Sword World to English launched earlier this week and has already raised more than $2.5 million on the Backerkit crowdfunding site.

The campaign began on 20th October with a $19,890 goal. By 24th October, it had passed $2.5 million from more than 7,600 backers. The campaign still has just under a month to go, not finishing until 20th November, so is continuing the trend of growing multi-million dollar TTRPG crowdfunding campaigns that have taken place this year.

Created by Group SNE and first published in 1989, Sword World is a long-running Japanese fantasy RPG. This campaign funds the first official English release of Sword World 2.5, with Mugen Gaming working alongside the original creators on the localization.

The game uses a 2d6 system for checks and combat, with characters able to develop across multiple classes. The campaign has loads of items available, including a replica sword and a range of plushies, but the meat of the game comes in the form of a Core Rulebook, Gamemaster’s Guide and Monster Manual, alongside a starter set and accessories. The three main books together run to more than 900 pages, and the Monster Manual includes over 300 creatures.

Japanese TTRPGs in English

The scale of the campaign is striking, but Sword World arrives as interest in translated Japanese RPGs continues to build. English editions over the last 15-20 years already include Ryuutama, a pastoral fantasy game about travel; Tenra Bansho Zero, with its blend of samurai, magic and technology; Shinobigami, a modern ninja game of secrets and shifting alliances; Golden Sky Stories; and Maid, but the momentum and translation rate has been steadily increasing in recent years.

Another recent example came from Green Ronin. Nobunaga’s Black Castle, a Sengoku-era doom-metal fantasy RPG compatible with MÖRK BORG, was published in English under licence from Japanese publisher CONOS. Its Kickstarter campaign closed on 8th October with $65,395 from 942 backers.

Sword World

The current edition is set in Raxia, a high-fantasy world of gods, magic, many peoples, dangerous monsters and ancient ruins.

Raxia’s creation myth centres on three legendary Swords of Genesis: Lumiere, the Sword of Harmony; Ignis, the Sword of Freedom; and Cardia, associated with wisdom and mana. The swords are said to have created the world, and magic is part of its fabric. The campaign describes a setting where adventurers explore dungeons shaped by swords and magitech.

The world has seen several great civilizations rise and fall. That gives the setting a strong frontier and rediscovery feel: adventurers can take guild commissions, explore dangerous lands, and seek out relics from earlier ages. Raxia has familiar fantasy elements - such as humans, elves and dwarves - alongside other peoples and the broad category of beings called Barbarous, who are often enemies of humanoid societies. The game’s lore also allows for adventures that explore Barbarous characters and communities.

Backerkit Loot

There is so much available in this campaign, both in a range of pledge levels which range from $25 for the Core Rulebook in PDF to a whopping $2,000 pledge which includes a load of items, many of them signed.

Sword World includess three times with over 900 pages to help guide your journey and give you the information you need. The Core Rulebook has everything a player needs to create a character and play the game. The Gamemaster’s Guide has rules specifically meant for GMs to help them run a game successfully and guide them in times of doubt. And last, the Monster Manual has over 300 creatures and monsters for your party to fight in their epic adventure.

You can get the books individually or in a set housed in a beautiful slipcase with GM Screen included!

Get started on your own grand adventures with the Sword World Starter Set: Labyrinth that Catches the Stars. This starter set contains everything you need to run a short form campaign of Sword World including premade characters spanning multiple levels, tokens, map tiles, scenario books, cards, standees, and more!

Explore the depths of a labyrinth through three separate scenarios. Work with your party through various puzzles and dangers until you reach the end to discover a most priceless artifact. Beware though! The labyrinth is a very tricky and dangerous place.

Theme your entire table with Sword World dice and accessories. In this campaign you can find the official sword World dice, a pack of 10d6 resin dice themed with Sword World colors. Maybe you can carry and store those those (or your Sword World pencils) in a dice scroll that rolls out to be the perfect mat to roll your dice on. You can also roll your dice in one of the three dice trays, two of which will be manufactured with premium materials.

Upgrade your experience and your look with some premium designed dice. Each with its own unique shape, these dice will elevate any table. There are four diamond sets, three have inclusions for Cardia, Ignis, and Lumiere and the other is a liquid core set. In the other box are the cylindrical dice which each have a sword inlcusion and the kanji pendant set. You can also go all out, and get all either premium dice sets in a beautiful collector’s case.

Sword World is currently funding on Backerkit and runs until Friday 20th November 2026.