Through the Mountains sets October 27 Kickstarter launch
Created By Adam Davis Fernsby
Allplay is preparing to launch Reiner Knizia’s Through the Mountains on Kickstarter on 27 October 2026, giving the standalone sequel to Through the Desert a firm crowdfunding date. The game trades desert caravans for yak routes through a mountain landscape, while retaining a deliberately simple central action.
The date appears on Allplay’s campaign preview, with ICv2’s 13 October report confirming the Kickstarter platform and year. This is a campaign launch date, rather than a confirmed delivery date or retail release.
Two yaks, new decisions
On a turn, players place two yaks to extend their routes. Allplay presents that as the game’s sole action, with the choices coming from where those pieces go and how the competing routes develop across the board.
The publisher also highlights new Valley and Temple mechanics. Its preview positions Through the Mountains as a sequel with different decisions, rather than simply the same game with different animals. Detailed scoring and the full implications of those new systems will need to be judged from the complete rules.
For players who enjoy planning connections across a shared map, that makes it a title worth watching. Our Ticket to Ride rules guide covers another familiar approach to competitive route building, although its card-driven train routes work differently from Knizia’s piece-placement system.
A standalone follow-up to a 1998 game
Through the Desert first appeared in 1998. The new game therefore arrives almost three decades after its predecessor, but it is a standalone design rather than an expansion requiring the older box.
ICv2 lists Through the Mountains for two to four players, ages 10 and up, with a playing time of 40–60 minutes. The artwork is credited to Hien Le. Those details put it in the space of a full evening’s strategy game without the length of a sprawling campaign title.
Deluxe options alongside the campaign
Allplay’s preview shows a deluxe version with resin yak pieces and metal leader tokens. The publisher is also preparing Through the Desert Deluxe, featuring resin camels and oases, metal leaders and an upgrade option for existing owners. Mojo Nation’s reporting independently describes both projects.
Pledge prices, shipping destinations and a delivery timetable are not confirmed in the information cited here. For now, the practical date for interested players is 27 October: the point when the crowdfunding offer is due to open, and when those purchasing details should be checked before committing.