18ZOO

🎉 Final Stretch Goal Unlocked! 🎉
4 months ago – Wed, Jun 24, 2026 at 11:02:56 PM

Hello everyone!

We did it!

Thanks to your incredible support, we've officially unlocked the final Stretch Goal of the campaign!

We honestly couldn't be happier.

From the very first day, our goal wasn't simply to fund 18ZOO—it was to make it the very best game we could. Thanks to all of you, we've been able to improve component after component, and today we've reached the final milestone.

Printed Wooden Pieces are now unlocked!

All the animal wooden pieces will now feature printed artwork, making every species instantly recognizable on the map.

This isn't just a cosmetic upgrade.

During gameplay, players constantly scan the board, and being able to immediately distinguish each animal faction improves both readability and the overall experience. At the same time, the printed meeples give the game even more personality and make the zoo truly come alive on the table.

It's exactly the kind of upgrade we hoped we'd be able to include from the very beginning.

Thank You

This Stretch Goal belongs to every single one of you.

Whether you backed on day one or joined us during the final days...
Whether you shared the campaign, commented, asked questions, or simply recommended 18Zoo to a friend...

Thank you.

Crowdfunding is much more than raising funds. It's about building a community around a project, and throughout this campaign you've continuously helped us improve the game with your ideas, your feedback, and your enthusiasm.

Many of the refinements we've shared during the campaign—from graphic design to component upgrades—were inspired by conversations with you.

For that, we're incredibly grateful.

The Journey Doesn't End Here

Although we've now unlocked every Stretch Goal, our work is only beginning.

Over the coming months we'll continue refining the artwork, finalizing graphic design, preparing the files for production, and sharing development updates as we move toward manufacturing.

We're committed to delivering the highest-quality version of 18ZOO possible, and we'll keep you informed every step of the way.

One Last Push!

The campaign isn't over just yet!

If you've been thinking about sharing 18ZOO with your gaming group, local club, or fellow 18xx enthusiasts, these final hours are the perfect opportunity.

Every additional backer helps strengthen the project and bring even more players into the 18ZOO community.

Thank you once again for believing in our vision.

We can't wait to put this game on your tables.

The 18ZOO Team 🦁🚂

🚂 Only 4 Days Left – New Double Copy Pledge Available!
4 months ago – Tue, Jun 23, 2026 at 06:49:16 AM

Hello everyone!

With only 4 days remaining before the end of the campaign, we'd like to start by saying a huge thank you to all of you who have supported 18ZOO so far.

The enthusiasm, feedback, suggestions, and encouragement we've received throughout the campaign have been incredible, and we're thrilled to see so many players excited to bring 18ZOO to the table.

New Double Copy Pledge

One request has come up repeatedly during the campaign:

"Can I get two copies of the game?"

Whether for a friend, a gaming group, or simply to take advantage of combined shipping, many of you have asked for a convenient way to pledge for multiple copies.

We're happy to announce that we've listened!

Starting today, we've added a new Double Copy Pledge that includes two copies of 18ZOO.

If you've been thinking about introducing a fellow 18xx enthusiast to the game, or if your group would like to combine orders, this is now easier than ever.

As always, existing backers who wish to switch to the new pledge level can do so directly through Kickstarter.

Just €1,000 Away from the Final Stretch Goal

We're also incredibly close to something we'd love to achieve together.

At the time of writing, we're only €1,000 away from unlocking the campaign's final Stretch Goal:

Printed Wooden Meeples

Reaching this goal would allow us to upgrade all tokens with custom printed wooden markers, making each species instantly recognizable while adding even more personality and charm to the game.

It's one of those upgrades that doesn't just improve the look of the game—it improves the overall experience every time it hits the table.

More importantly, it would allow us to deliver the highest-quality version of 18ZOO possible.

With only a few days left, we're entering the final stretch, and every pledge, share, recommendation, and mention can make a real difference.

If you've enjoyed following the campaign, now is the perfect time to tell your friends, gaming groups, and fellow train enthusiasts about 18ZOO.

Together, we might just push the project over the finish line and unlock that final upgrade.

Help Us Decide Future Add-ons!

As we move toward the end of the campaign, we're already thinking about ways to expand the 18ZOO experience after fulfillment.

One of the most frequently requested ideas has been the possibility of additional maps.

As many of you know, the game currently includes two maps, but the 18ZOO system allows for many more possibilities.

We're therefore considering future map-related add-ons and we'd love to hear your opinion before making any decisions.

Option A: Alternative Map

A double-sided map board featuring 2 additional maps.

• Retail price: €15
• Kickstarter price: €10

This option would expand the game with two new geographical setups while keeping the investment small and accessible.

Option B: Complete Map Pack

A double-sided map pack featuring 4 additional maps.

Combined with the maps already included in the base game, this would allow players to own all 6 maps currently designed for 18ZOO.

• Retail price: €20
• Kickstarter price: €15

This option is aimed at players who want the complete 18ZOO experience and maximum replayability from day one.

Cast Your Vote!

We've created a short survey to understand which option is more appealing to the community:

https://forms.gle/ijA7gvGnqEuv238R9

Your feedback will help us determine which direction to pursue and whether there is sufficient interest in making these expansions available.

As always, thank you for helping shape the future of 18ZOO!

Thank You

Whatever happens in these final days, we're already incredibly grateful for what this community has helped us accomplish.

Thank you for believing in the project, for sharing your ideas, and for helping us make 18ZOO the best game it can be.

Let's make these last four days count!

The 18ZOO Team

📜 Share Certificates: Designing for Readability
4 months ago – Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 03:56:09 AM

Hello everyone!

Today we'd like to share a first look at our ongoing work on the share certificates.

As we've mentioned in previous updates, one of our design goals for 18ZOO is ensuring that information remains easy to read during actual gameplay—not just when viewed up close in a product photo.

This is especially important for share certificates.

In any 18xx game, players constantly need to identify corporations, count shares, spot presidents, and evaluate the overall state of the stock market. The faster this information can be processed, the smoother the game becomes.

With that in mind, we've been experimenting with a new certificate layout.

Rather than treating the certificate as a small illustration with information placed around it, we've tried to build a stronger visual hierarchy around the information players use most often.

The current prototype focuses on three key elements:

Easy Corporation Identification

A prominent vertical company color band remains visible even when certificates are partially stacked. Combined with the animal artwork, this should make corporations easier to recognize from across the table.

Clear Share Values

Share values are placed in a dedicated corner area designed to remain visible when players fan their portfolios.

Instantly Recognizable President's Certificates

One piece of feedback we've received is that President's Certificates should stand out immediately. In this first iteration we're testing a much more prominent display of the presidency share percentage, making it easier to identify ownership at a glance.

Of course, this is only a first step.

As with every graphical element in 18ZOO, the real test comes when the game is on the table and players are making decisions under real gameplay conditions. We'll continue refining the layout and evaluating how it performs during playtesting before settling on the final design.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this direction!

Thank you once again for all the feedback and support you've given us throughout the campaign. Many of the improvements we're exploring today started with conversations right here among the backers.

— The 18ZOO Team

🎨 Development Update & 📦 Shipping News
4 months ago – Thu, Jun 18, 2026 at 07:14:19 AM

Hello everyone!

As the campaign continues, we wanted to take a moment to share a couple of updates from behind the scenes. While we're still focused on reaching new backers and unlocking more stretch goals, we're also continuing to work on improving every aspect of 18ZOO.

Today we'd like to talk about two areas that have received a lot of our attention recently: the map tile color palette and our ongoing evaluation of fulfillment options.

Tile Color Palette Update

One of the most frequent topics we've been working on recently is the color palette for the map tiles.

As many of you know, 18ZOO features a colorful world filled with different animal factions and terrain types. Finding the right balance between visual appeal, readability, and ease of play is therefore incredibly important.

Over the last few weeks we've been testing different color combinations, evaluating contrast levels, and trying to ensure that tiles remain easy to distinguish at a glance while still preserving the vibrant personality of the game.

We're happy to report that the current iteration is looking very promising!

The palette we're currently testing offers a much clearer distinction between terrain types while maintaining the visual identity we want for 18ZOO. So far, the results have been very encouraging, and we're quite satisfied with where things stand today.

That said, we're not ready to call it final just yet.

One of the most important tests still ahead of us is seeing the complete map assembled and evaluated under actual gameplay conditions. Individual tiles may look great on their own, but what really matters is how everything works together once dozens of tiles are on the table.

We'll continue refining the palette, testing readability, and making sure the overall map remains both attractive and easy to read before making any final decisions.

Our goal is not simply to create a beautiful map, but a map that players can comfortably read and navigate throughout the entire game experience.

Shipping Update: Exploring New Fulfillment Options

We also wanted to share some potentially exciting news regarding fulfillment and shipping.

Over the past few weeks, we've been exploring alternative logistics solutions that could help us improve the shipping experience for our backers.

One option we're currently evaluating would involve shipping games directly from China through a specialized fulfillment partner.

Why is this interesting?

Because preliminary discussions suggest that this solution could allow us to offer VAT-free delivery to many of the countries currently listed on the campaign page, while also helping us keep shipping costs as competitive as possible.

At this stage, however, we want to emphasize that nothing has been finalized yet.

We're still reviewing the details, verifying country coverage, and making sure that the service meets the reliability standards we expect before making any commitments.

The early indications are encouraging, and if everything checks out, this could become a significant improvement for many of our backers.

As always, our objective is simple: deliver 18ZOO safely, efficiently, and at the best possible value.

We'll keep investigating this opportunity and will share more concrete information as soon as we have confirmed details.

Thank You

Whether you're helping us unlock stretch goals, sharing the campaign with friends, providing feedback, or simply following our progress, thank you.

Your enthusiasm and support continue to help shape 18ZOO into the best game it can be, and we're excited to keep sharing the journey with all of you.

More updates soon!

The 18ZOO Team 

🎉 Stretch Goal Unlocked: Mounted Company Charts! 🎉
5 months ago – Mon, Jun 15, 2026 at 01:18:47 PM

What a fantastic milestone!

Thanks to your amazing support, we're excited to announce that we have officially unlocked our latest Stretch Goal:

All company charts will now be produced as sturdy mounted boards rather than standard cards or paper sheets, giving players a more premium and durable experience at the table.

This upgrade improves usability, enhances the overall presentation, and helps make every operating round feel even more satisfying.

None of this would be possible without you.

Every pledge, every comment, every share, and every recommendation has helped us reach this point. We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm this community has shown since day one. Seeing so many people excited about 18Zoo has been both humbling and motivating, and we're committed to making the game the best it can be.

❤️ Thank you to every backer who has joined us on this journey so far.

But we're not stopping here!

🎯 Next Stretch Goal: Printed Wooden Meeples

We're now setting our sights on the next milestone, just €3,000 away.

If we reach it, we'll upgrade the cardboard components with custom printed artwork, making each species immediately recognizable on the map while adding even more personality and charm to the game.

🦁 🦒 🐘 🐊 🐻 🐧 🐅

We're getting closer every day, and with your continued support, we can make it happen.

If you've been enjoying the campaign, please consider sharing it with friends, fellow gamers, and 18xx enthusiasts. Every new backer helps us unlock more upgrades and make 18Zoo an even better game for everyone.

Thank you once again for believing in this project.

Let's keep the momentum rolling! 🚂