Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit Fuses Mythology, Morality, and Strategy in a Bold New Board Game
I had the pleasure of speaking with the creative minds behind Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit, a game that dares to reimagine our relationship with myth, power, and progress. Set in an alternate world where cryptids fuel civilization, this stunningly illustrated board game blends Art Deco flair with strategic depth and emotional storytelling. The team at NoctiLux Games opened up about the lore, the mechanics, and the ambition that drives their debut release.
From Folklore to Fuel
How did the idea of cryptids powering cities and airships come about, and how did it shape the game’s worldbuilding?
In a world choking on pollution and overproduction, we started wondering, what if progress didn’t depend on oil or nuclear power? What if something, older, had been discovered instead? Cryptids have always been hidden in the shadows of folklore, elusive and mysterious. But what if, rather than being hunted for trophies, they were the key to a cleaner, more symbiotic future? In Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit, their Aether becomes the lifeblood of civilisation, not extracted through violence, but through a bond. Safe habitats are built. In return, cities glow with new energy. It was a noble idea, and like many noble ideas, it eventually got corrupted.
That’s the arc of our game. It begins with hopeful novice hunters in a low-tech world, slowly climbing to an era of abundance, shiny airships, global expeditions, and legendary discoveries. And then, the fall. Greed. Conflict. Cryptids become currency, and players are left to decide just how far they’re willing to go to stay ahead. The lore shaped the gameplay, and the gameplay reflects the world, it’s one big ecosystem of myth, ambition and morality.
Art Deco Meets Adventure
What inspired the game’s unique aesthetic, and how does the visual design influence the player experience?
When we thought about what abundance and ambition look like, we kept coming back to the Art Deco era. Think fluted gold columns, bold geometry, and cocktails served in smoky back rooms while the world burns outside. It felt like the perfect match for our game. A time when cryptid essence flows freely, hunters dress sharp, and airships crowd the skies. The style isn’t just skin-deep either. The opulence contrasts with the decay that follows. The visual design invites players into a world that’s seductive and dangerous , and just like the cryptids they chase, there’s always more hidden beneath the surface.
Strategy in the Shadows
The game includes both PvE and PvP elements. How do you balance cooperation, competition, and risk in the gameplay mechanics?
Is it you versus the world, or you versus everyone else? We say both. Kryptothera walks a delicate tightrope between PvE and PvP. At first, you’re racing to discover, hunt and thrive, and the biggest threat is the game itself. Event cards keep the world unpredictable, betrayal, unrest, breakthroughs, everything can shift in a moment. But as the turns progress, cryptids grow scarce, and hunters grow ruthless. Suddenly, it’s not just the world that’s dangerous. The player beside you might steal your quarry.
The twist? The game always stays close. It’s been engineered so no one runs away with victory. Every turn counts, and the final outcome is never certain until the very end.
If you’re more of a lone wolf or a cooperative crew, we’ve got you. The solo and co-op modes aren’t just bolt-ons. They’re entirely reimagined experiences, with fresh mechanics and unique challenges. You won’t just be chasing NPCs around a shared map. You’ll be tackling new threats, making hard calls, and uncovering parts of the lore that don’t appear in multiplayer. Each game mode is a different lens into the world, and no two playthroughs are ever the same.
Hunters with a Past
One stretch goal adds backstories to player boards. Why was it important for you to deepen the characters’ lore, and how does it affect gameplay?
Let’s just say, nothing in Kryptothera is random. These characters didn’t just appear with matching coats and cool goggles. Every hunter has a history, some heroic, some tragic, some best left unsaid. Adding backstories isn’t just for flavour. There’s a deeper connection to the mechanics than most realise.
(We could tell you more, but there are secrets buried in the gameplay that we haven’t unveiled yet. Let’s just say those stretch goals might matter more than they seem.)
What we can say is that this world runs on more than Aether, it runs on relationships, motives, ambition. And our characters are very much a part of it.
Debut Game, Big Vision
As a new studio, what lessons have you learned bringing Kryptothera to life, and what can backers expect from NoctiLux Games in the future?
We’re a small team, and that’s both our biggest strength and our biggest challenge. Every idea is passed around the table. Every component is discussed, debated, tested. We don’t cut corners. What we’ve learned is: you can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t try to. Vision matters. Sometimes doing the right thing looks weird from the outside, but we’ve learned to trust our gut.
Also, we probably need to show our faces more. We’re not cryptids (we promise), but with the workload we juggle, we sometimes forget to peek out of the mist.
As for the future? Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit is just the beginning. We already have the rest of the series mapped out, Europe and Africa, Asia Pacific, and finally, World Domination. Each will be its own beast, not just an expansion. Here’s our promise: we won’t even touch the next one until this first adventure is safely delivered to our backers. That’s the kind of loyalty our players deserve. And that’s what NoctiLux Games stands for.
Thank you to the team at NoctiLux Games for revealing the world behind Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit. With cinematic gameplay, bold aesthetics, and a heart rooted in moral choices and mystery, this project offers more than entertainment — it invites players to question the cost of ambition. We can’t wait to see where the next gate opens.
Kryptothera – Hunt Cryptids in a Stunning Art Deco World!
NoctiLux Games is an indie studio dedicated to crafting bold, cinematic board games rooted in immersive storytelling. Based in Europe, the team blends narrative design, visual art, and mechanical innovation to create unforgettable adventures. Kryptothera – The Cryptid Pursuit marks their debut release, combining emotional lore, striking Art Deco design, and dynamic PvE/PvP gameplay into one unforgettable journey.
