🐙 Cosmoctopus Beyond the Inky Realm Expansion + 2nd Edition

February 2026 Update: Pledge Manager Surveys Close March 5th + Production Update + Pre-Production Rulebook + Something from the Archives!
4 months ago – Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 05:56:21 AM

Hello Devotees! 🐙 

We hope that you're all well 😃 Here's the latest transmission from the Inky Realm, including important pledge manager information, a production update and pre-production rulebook for your perusal and feedback!

⚠️ WARNING: Pledge Manager Surveys Close 5th March 

At the time of writing, 91% of backers have completed their surveys on BackerKit. We’re closing the pledge manager on 5th March so if you haven’t already, you need to take action now to ensure that you get your rewards. Once the pledge manager closes, you won’t be able to update your order, but you’ll still be able to change your address in the event of a move. We’ll be charging cards for shipping (plus any items added in the pledge manager) on 31st March; we’ll warn you about this via KS update and also via BackerKit email.

🍎❗Reminder for AppleID Users:

If you pledged to the campaign using AppleID (i.e. using a @privaterelay.appleid.com email address), it is likely to cause issues receiving emails from BackerKit. If you have used AppleID, please email us ASAP at hello@paperfortgames with your name, Kickstarter pledge number (which can be found in your Kickstarter pledge confirmation email) and an alternative email address; we’ll change it for you. 

❓Having Difficulties?

If you have any problems, please check the BackerKit FAQs; if you can’t find the answer there, please email us at [email protected] .

⚙️Production Update + Rulebook

Before Chinese New Year, we finalised all of the game’s non-rulebook print files. The multiplayer rulebook is currently undergoing its final review while the factories are closed for the holidays, and we’re sharing it here so you can provide feedback. We’ll use this, alongside the feedback that we’ve incorporated from external editors, blind playtesters and demo participants to add the finishing touches! The solo rulebook is being formatted as we speak, and will follow in a future update. 

👉 Read the rulebook and comment here!

Please note that page references in this version may be listed as [X], rather than a number - these will be update during final formatting.

You can comment directly in Dropbox via your browser (our preferred method, since it tracks comments to the right page and allows us to manage feedback in one place) by clicking the icon highlighted in pink below. A free account is required to do this; if you’d rather not sign up, you can email your feedback to [email protected] - please use the subject Line ‘Cosmoctopus Rulebook Feedback’ and be sure to include page numbers.

Thanks for helping us make the rulebook as clear as possible!

Once manufacturing resumes in March, we’ll request physical proofs of all components. These samples will be thoroughly checked and used to make any last adjustments before mass production begins!

🔍 Something from the Archives

We were recently reminded of this great article by tabletop polymath and GameTek host, Geoff Engelstein, exploring the exclusive use of Fibonacci numbers in the Cosmoctopus base game. It's a fantastic read if you're at all interested in number patterns or scoring systems within games. Near the end of the article, Geoff muses "...If there are expansions to Cosmoctopus, will they blow past 13 and go all the way to 21, the next Fibonacci number? We will have to wait and see..." As it turns out, his prediction was spot on, in the form of Prismatic Knowledge!

👀 What We're Looking Forward To

Judson Cowan (the game designer and artist behind the alt-art Deep Regrets First Contact cards you’ll all be receiving) has a brand-new game on the horizon, and we’re incredibly excited about it! Judson has been a joy to work with and if you've seen or played Deep Regrets you'll know how much care and love he puts into his work. 

Personal Demons is launching on Kickstarter later this year, inviting 1 to 4 players into a clever spatial puzzler where you take part in a therapeutic ritual to confront your inner demons. Each player controls their own summoning circle, placing a card from their hand before passing the rest to the next participant. Players will need to juggle their competing priorities, plan placements, and choose the path that best serves their demons. After three rounds, the player with the highest score has made the greatest progress and wins! We love the art style and overall premise of this game - we can't wait to get our hands on a copy. You can follow the Kickstarter here. 

👋 Until Next Time

We'll be back with another update in March; until then… keep it inky! 😃

 -Chris and the Paper Fort Games team

January 2026 Update: Pledge Manager Reminder + Deluxe Ink Samples + Oversized Glass Die
5 months ago – Fri, Jan 16, 2026 at 08:35:48 AM

Hello Devotees! 🐙

We hope 2026 is shaping up to be a wonderful year, wherever the Great Inky One’s gaze may find you 😊

📦 BackerKit Pledge Manager Progress

At the time of writing, 88% of backers have completed their surveys on BackerKit. Thank you! If you haven’t yet filled out your survey, please do so as soon as possible.

🍎❗ A Reminder for Apple ID Users

If you pledged to the campaign using AppleID (i.e. using a @privaterelay.appleid.com email address), it is likely to cause issues receiving emails from BackerKit. 

If you have used AppleID, please email us ASAP at hello@paperfortgames with your name, Kickstarter pledge number (which can be found in your Kickstarter pledge confirmation email) and an alternative email address; we’ll change it for you. 

❓ Having Difficulties?

If you have any problems, please check the BackerKit FAQs; if you can’t find the answer there, please email us at [email protected]. 

🏭 Manufacturer Samples

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been reviewing a range of samples from our manufacturer - most recently the oversized glass die and the deluxe ink resources.

🎲 Oversized Glass Die

All backers will receive the extra large 8-sided glass die, which was unlocked as part of our daily reveals. We tested several sizes, before settling on the one that:

• Felt best to hold and roll,
• Is clearly larger than a standard die, and
• Fits comfortably into the tentacle-shaped die holder.

Below, you can see the final size (in white - this is a die from another game; it will be made from the same material and have the same icons as the retail die) compared to the retail version. Not only does it feel fantastic in hand (and to roll!) but the larger size has the added bonus of making the icons easier to read from across the table.

🖋️ Deluxe Ink Resources

We also received samples of the deluxe ink bottles (included in the deluxe resources pack), and we're really happy with how they've turned out; by using 2 different colours of resin the factory have achieved our aim of making them look like glass bottles filled with ink! These have the same footprint as the base game wooden resources (as they still need to fit on Constellation cards and in the resource holder tray), but they have more curvaceous 3D shape and the resin adds a satisfying new sound when they come into contact with each other. 

⚙️ Development Progress

Alongside finalising the physical components, we’re hard at work putting the finishing touches on the expansion solo mode and completing final edits to the rulebook.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be finalising the game’s print files and submitting them to the manufacturer. Our goal is to have everything sent before Chinese New Year, allowing us to review eProofs (digital versions of component sheets) while the factories are closed for the national holiday.

Once manufacturing resumes, we’ll request physical printed samples of all components. These will be carefully reviewed and used to make any final tweaks before full mass production begins.

👋 Until Next Time

We'll be back with another update in February; until then… keep it inky! 😃

 -Chris and the Paper Fort Games team

Mini-Update: All Pledge Manager Surveys are Live + Reminder for AppleID Users
7 months ago – Mon, Dec 08, 2025 at 02:21:44 AM

Hello Devotees! 🐙

As promised, this update is to let you know that all pledge manager surveys have now been sent; keep an eye on your inbox for an email from BackerKit (if you can’t find your survey email, don’t forget to check your spam folder).

Please note; if you paid using Pledge Over Time on Kickstater, you'll only receive your invitation to the pledge manager once you've paid your final installment. 

🍎❗ Important Information for AppleID Users:

If you pledged to the campaign using AppleID (i.e. using a @privaterelay.appleid.com email address), it will cause issues receiving emails from BackerKit. This means you'll miss important updates and reminders. 

If you have used AppleID, please email us ASAP at [email protected] with your name, Kickstarter pledge number (which can be found in your Kickstarter pledge confirmation email) and an alternative email address; we’ll change it for you. 

Having Difficulties?

If you have any problems, please check the BackerKit FAQs; if you can’t find the answer there, please email us at [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible, but please bear in mind that it might take a few days for us  to get back to you due to the holidays!

Keep it Inky!

 -Chris and the Paper Fort Games team

December 2025 Update: Pledge Manager Smoke Test + Insert Testing + Soundtrack Preview
7 months ago – Fri, Dec 05, 2025 at 04:11:08 AM

Hello Devotees! 🐙

ℹ️ Pledge Manager Smoke Test

Our pledge manager 'smoke test' surveys will be rolling out over the next week! A small, randomly selected group of backers will receive their surveys first so we can make sure everything is running smoothly. Once we’re confident everything is behaving as it should, we’ll hit the button to send out the rest of the surveys.

We’ll post another update once the full survey wave goes live - don't worry if you don't see anything before then!

🍎❗ Important Information for AppleID Users:

If you pledged to the campaign using AppleID (i.e. using a @privaterelay.appleid.com email address), it is likely to cause issues receiving emails from BackerKit. This means that there's a chance youll miss important updates and reminders. 

If you have used AppleID, please email us ASAP at [email protected] with your name, Kickstarter pledge number (which can be found in your Kickstarter pledge confirmation email) and an alternative email address; we’ll change it for you. 

📥 Insert Testing

Right before PAXU, Chris put the game's organiser tray system through its paces using a prototype produced from a plaster mold. During final manufacturing, the trays will be made using precision aluminium molds, which deliver crisp detail and consistent shaping, but they’re also extremely expensive to create, so we only commit once we’re certain the design is final. At this stage, we use plaster molds to prototype quickly and cheaply. They’re slightly less precise, but perfect for checking general fit and making adjustments quickly. 

The great news is that the first insert sample was already very close to perfect - huge kudos to Bryce at Black Magic Inserts for such a strong first pass! While the team were at PAXU, Bryce made a few small tweaks to prevent components from shifting, and our manufacturer is now preparing an updated sample for us to review.

🎵 Soundtrack Preview

All eight tracks of the Cosmoctopus soundtrack are now complete! A huge thank you to Anatoly K (@anatoliigmusic) for composing these wonderfully atmospheric pieces. 

You can listen to all tracks here. For now, the tracks are not downloadable and are in MP3 format. As we get closer to fulfilment, we’ll make them downloadable and provide WAV versions too; until then, you are able to listen in your browser. 

👋Until next Time! 

We be back with another update when all pledge manger surveys go live. Until then… keep it inky!

 -Chris and the Paper Fort Games team

November 2025 Update: Naming Poll Result + Desktop Wallpapers!
7 months ago – Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 03:26:07 AM

Hello Devotees! 🙏 

🐙 Our New Adoptee Has a Name!

The naming poll has officially closed, and after 295 votes, our adopted octopus shall be known as… Cthuthbert!

It was pretty tight at the top; thank you to everyone who suggested names and took part in the vote 😊  

 🖥️ Desktop Wallpapers 

All backers will shortly be receiving a Kickstarter message containing links to our Prismoctopus desktop wallpaper in multiple sizes; we hope they bring a little cosmic excitement to your screens!

📦 Pledge Manager

We’re hoping to open the Pledge Manager in December, and we’ll post an update as soon as it goes live with more information.

💬 Comments and Messages

Just a reminder; we will be checking and responding to comments on the Kickstarter page and to Kickstarter messages once a week. If you require an urgent response, please email us at [email protected].

👋 We’ll be Back in December!

Thank you for all of your support; we can’t wait to share more with you over the coming weeks!

Keep it Inky 🐙

- Chris, Cthuthbert, and the Paper Fort Games Team