BoardGameArchiveStomp Board Game
Leder Games’ new cooperative mech-versus-kaiju dexterity game. Discover the flicking gameplay, the designer’s inspiration and what’s confirmed about its 2027 Kickstarter.
Cooperative mech battles, kaiju threats and precise flicking shots.
What is Stomp?
Stomp is a new cooperative dexterity board game announced by Leder Games, the publisher behind Root, Vast and Ahoy. Instead of competing against each other, players take control of a squad of giant robots trying to defend a city from invading kaiju—oversized monsters with different behaviours.
The game is designed by Taylor Shuss, with illustrations by Evan Palmer. Its central twist is physical: you plan attacks as a team, then flick shots across the board to execute them. A theoretically perfect plan can go wrong when a shot misses its intended target. That mismatch between strategy and execution is the heart of the pitch.
Stomp was publicly revealed in a Leder Games broadcast on 3 November 2026, followed by the publisher’s Kickstarter announcement. This is a research-based preview; no hands-on playtest is claimed.
Stomp release date tracker
These dates and windows will be reviewed as Leder Games announces new information. A crowdfunding launch is not the same as delivery or retail availability.
| Milestone | Possible date / window | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Game announcement | 3 November 2026 | Announced |
| Kickstarter opening | 2027 (month and day TBD) | Publisher target |
| Pledge fulfillment | Not announced | Unknown |
| Retail release | Not announced | Unknown |
Next editorial check: January 2027, or sooner if a publisher announcement changes the date. At Kickstarter launch, update this page with verified campaign details; once the game ships, add a separate verified rules or strategy guide if warranted.
Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. Follow the official Kickstarter page.
Stomp release date and Kickstarter campaign
Stomp is planned for Kickstarter in 2027. Leder Games has not specified the launch day or month. A crowdfunding launch is not the same thing as a retail release or delivery date, and neither has been confirmed as of 9 November 2026.
You can follow the Stomp Kickstarter pre-launch page to receive a notification when the campaign opens. The existence of a pre-launch page does not mean pledges are open.
There is also no confirmed pledge price, international shipping schedule, tax breakdown, retail edition or fulfillment date yet. Those details should be checked when the campaign goes live, rather than inferred from other Leder Games campaigns.
How does Stomp play?
Stomp is a cooperative mech-versus-kaiju dexterity game. Players coordinate their robot team to protect the city from giant monsters. The challenge combines choosing useful attacks with physically executing them through flicking, bouncing and banking shots.
Identify the threat
Look at the monsters threatening the city and decide which problem needs attention first.
Coordinate your mechs
Discuss your team’s options and choose how to combine the different robots’ strengths.
Make the shot
Use the game’s physical flicking action to try to land the attack, including banked or bounced shots.
Adapt together
Respond to the actual result, even when the shot does not land as planned.
Preview note: These are the broad gameplay ideas described in the announcement, not an official turn sequence. Full setup, actions, victory conditions and detailed mech abilities should be checked against the final rulebook when available.
Mechs, monsters and city defence
The first revealed premise is that each mech and kaiju plays differently. Players are on the side of the robots, attempting to stop the monsters before the city takes too much damage. Reports of the launch preview describe kaiju that can create extra problems for the team, such as sending civilians running.
That gives Stomp two sources of challenge: tactical coordination (choosing the most useful shot) and manual accuracy (making it work). However, Leder Games has not yet published a definitive roster of playable mechs, monsters, special attacks or city-loss rules. We will not invent named characters or abilities ahead of those announcements.
Why the designer cites Dark Souls
Designer Taylor Shuss, previously associated with Walkable City, explained that one inspiration was the boss-fight pattern in Dark Souls: players may understand a threat and know the correct response but still need to perform accurately under pressure. In Stomp, flicking creates that final execution test.
The theme changed during development from an earlier fantasy concept to the more visually immediate mechs-versus-monsters idea. That does not mean Stomp is an official Dark Souls, Godzilla or Pacific Rim adaptation. Those names help explain design inspiration, not licensing.
Player count and playing time
Early event reporting describes 2–4 players and sessions of approximately 20–45 minutes. These are preliminary preview specifications reported by Consola y Tablero, not timings verified through an independent test or a final printed rules sheet.
Solo play, age recommendation, exact footprint and final box contents have not been reliably established. Before buying, consult the official campaign’s specifications and the completed rules.
Stomp vs Root, Mechs vs. Minions and King of Tokyo
Stomp comes from the publisher of Root, but it should not be mistaken for a smaller or cooperative version of that game. Root is a competitive asymmetric strategy game; Stomp is a team-based dexterity battler in which physical shots are central.
King of Tokyo shares the playful giant-monster imagery, but its dice-driven combat and competitive roles differ fundamentally: in Stomp you operate the machines fighting the monsters. Mechs vs. Minions is another cooperative robot-themed title, yet it revolves around programming commands rather than flicking attacks. The themes overlap more than the core mechanisms.
Who might prefer Stomp? Groups wanting shared tactical decisions plus a physical skill challenge. Players who dislike dexterity tests or want lengthy engine-building may prefer a different experience.
Price, components, availability and what remains unknown
Confirmed: Leder Games, designer Taylor Shuss, artist Evan Palmer, cooperative dexterity gameplay, mechs versus kaiju, and a Kickstarter campaign planned for 2027.
Not confirmed: exact launch and retail dates, pricing, pledge tiers, whether there will be deluxe components, shipping costs, final contents, official language editions or any retail exclusivity.
Once the campaign is live, compare the real game contents and total delivered price—including shipping and relevant taxes—before pledging. The best purchase decision depends on the final rules and production details, not the announcement art alone.
Stomp frequently asked questions
When does Stomp launch on Kickstarter?
Leder Games has announced a 2027 Kickstarter campaign but has not given an exact day or month.
Is Stomp a cooperative board game?
Yes. Players work together as mech pilots against giant kaiju.
Is Stomp made by the publisher of Root?
Yes, both are Leder Games titles, but their game systems and player objectives differ.
Who designed Stomp?
Taylor Shuss is the designer, with art by Evan Palmer.
Do you physically flick pieces?
Yes. Flicking, bouncing and banking shots are central to the announced gameplay.
How many players can play Stomp?
Early reporting lists 2–4 players; treat that as a preview detail until confirmed in the final campaign or rules.
Is Stomp a Dark Souls board game?
No. Dark Souls influenced its approach to boss-fight execution, but Stomp is an original mechs-versus-kaiju design.
Can I order Stomp now?
The Kickstarter page can be followed for updates, but the announced pledge campaign has not begun as of 9 November 2026.
Sources and editorial methodology
Publisher announcement: Leder Games’ November 2026 Stomp reveal (designer, artist, co-op dexterity design and intended Kickstarter year). See the official Kickstarter pre-launch page for future updates.
Reporting: GamesRadar’s designer interview explains the inspiration and flicking mechanic; Consola y Tablero (4 November 2026) reports preliminary player-count and duration information.
Last verified: 9 November 2026. This is an independently written announcement preview, not a hands-on review or an official rules reproduction. Information that remains unannounced is not filled with guesses. See our editorial policy for sourcing and corrections.