There are a lot of trading card games trying to find their place right now, so when I come across one that is doing something a little different, I tend to pay attention.
That is exactly what caught my attention with Eikonic TCG.
Eikonic is being described by its creators at 4th Order Studios as a tactical JRPG played with cards. That is probably the easiest way to explain what makes this one stand out. The game pulls heavily from the kind of tactical RPG combat you would see in games like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, but turns that idea into a tabletop card game.
The newest Kickstarter campaign, Eikonic TCG: Compass of Creation, launches tomorrow, August 20 at 12 PM EST.
And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Eikonic on Kickstarter.
4th Order Studios previously brought the game to Kickstarter in late 2025. That campaign ended with $22,060 pledged from 116 backers against a $25,000 goal, falling short by just under $3,000. Instead of calling it quits, the studio continued working on the game and eventually partnered with Speedrobo Games to help with manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and organized play.
That makes this new campaign pretty interesting to watch.
So, What Exactly Is Eikonic?
At its core, Eikonic is a two-player tactical card game where players take on the role of an Eikon and command their forces across the battlefield.
The game puts a pretty big emphasis on positioning. Units work together as parties, attacks and abilities are influenced by where your units are positioned, and the cards use what the developers call a Combat Compass to show where a unit can attack or assist.
That is a pretty different approach from the usual TCG formula.
Rather than simply building a deck and worrying about what you can play from your hand, Eikonic wants you to think about the actual battlefield. You are managing your units, figuring out how they interact with each other, and trying to control the board while working toward taking down your opponent’s Eikon.
The official site sums it up pretty simply: players form parties, use Skills, play Tactics, and establish Bases to overcome their opponent’s forces.
There are also six factions in the game’s current setup: Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Red, and White. The developers have been showing off the different faction identities in the lead-up to the Kickstarter, with each one having its own mechanical focus rather than simply being a different coat of paint.
A Second Shot at Kickstarter
One thing I find interesting about this campaign is that we are not looking at a game that only exists as Kickstarter art and promises.
Eikonic has already been playable. Physical starter products were released earlier this year through the studio’s partnership with Speedrobo Games, and the game also has a print-and-play version and a Tabletop Simulator version available for people who want to try it out.
The Kickstarter also isn’t simply a repeat of the previous campaign.
The team has been steadily showing off new cards and campaign-exclusive versions leading up to launch. Some of those include full-art foil cards with artist signatures, including exclusive versions of characters such as Freya and Hadia.
There are also some collector-focused rewards being teased for the campaign. One of the more unusual ones is an add-on involving Vasuki, the Snake King, which includes a campaign-exclusive full-art card and an entry into a drawing for an original traditional artwork used for Eikonic.
That kind of stuff is always worth keeping an eye on with an indie TCG, especially when you’re looking at a game that is still building its community.
Worth Watching Tomorrow
I’m always interested in seeing what happens when a TCG doesn’t try to simply copy the biggest games in the genre.
Eikonic is clearly going after a specific audience. If you like tactical RPGs and also happen to enjoy trading card games, the idea of combining those two things makes a lot of sense. The real question is going to be whether the tactical mechanics manage to feel as good to play as they look on paper.
The good news is that people won’t have to wait very long to find out what the new campaign looks like.
Eikonic TCG: Compass of Creation goes live on Kickstarter tomorrow, August 20, at 12 PM EST.
I’ve got a video covering Eikonic as well, so be sure to check that out if you want to get a better look at the game before deciding whether it’s worth backing.
For anyone interested in checking out the campaign, you can follow Eikonic TCG on Kickstarter now and get notified when it goes live.
Follow Eikonic TCG on Kickstarter
