What is The Big Squeeze?
The Big Squeeze is a game about your lemonade stand vs. the apocalypse! It’s an irreverent engine-builder designed to be your new go-to gateway game thanks to a secret recipe: the game is split into two eras!
Splitting the game into 2 parts lets The Big Squeeze gently introduce new players to the tableau-building, while simultaneously challenging experienced players to chart their strategy across two distinct phases. This game is for 1-4 players and takes 60 minutes to play.
Last updated: April 30, 2026 10:08
Will this game be available at retail later?
The Big Squeeze will be available for online purchase in USA after all backers have received their game. Our goal is for The Big Squeeze to become available in select stores across USA and Canada, and to branch out into as many territories as we can, but distribution to your local game store / state / country is not guaranteed.
The Cosmic Ingredients mini-expansion and the Deluxe Wooden Tokens will not be released in stores. They will be promo-only and limited-time, only becoming available at some conventions and some online offers until we run out of stock.
The Collector’s Edition box sleeve will be printed once and NEVER again. It’s specifically to reward campaign supporters and we won’t undermine that with a sleeve reprint. This will also be promo-only, only appearing in a few select areas until the prints run out.
Last updated: May 04, 2026 13:03
What versions of the game are available?
Base Edition is the game at its most straightforward, designed to be identical to what you’ll find in stores. You will receive your game before The Big Squeeze becomes available in stores.
Launch Edition gives you the game in its complete full design, including the promo-exclusive Constellation Cards and Cosmic Ingredients. These additions allow for more customization to your earlygame and more power to your endgame. It’s designed specifically for board game hobbyists. Backers get to vote on the art and name of the Constellations during the campaign!
Small Batch Collector’s Edition is a backer-only, limited-run, pure-dazzle upgrade. This doesn’t add new gameplay, but instead makes your game look fancy with 200+ wooden ingredient tokens, a foil-treated box sleeve and a unique Small Batch code. If you’re one of the first to pledge at this level, your name will get added to the Founders list on the box sleeve so you can physically show your game group that you were there when it all began.
Last updated: May 02, 2026 03:39
Is the gameplay finished?
Base game: Yes! The Big Squeeze has been fully designed and tested extensively across 3 years of refinement, and is considered finished. There are some prototype print errors and graphic design improvements to make before the finished version — for example, there is a known layout issue with prototype copies causing gameplay to run a few more rounds than anticipated, and we’re responding to feedback around adding reminders to player boards — but the core game is complete.
That being said, we are continuing to keep an eye out for specific interactions in case any additional tuning can be done during our final playtesting.
Cosmic Ingredients & Constellation Cards: Due to the nature of the campaign, we’re building out these Constellations together. Our goal is to tweak the Constellation gameplay to match the art. So while we have tested and validated each potential design, there will be a few weeks of final balance changes once the campaign is finished. If you join our Discord, you are free to playtest with us!
Stretch Goals: We have character designs under early testing, but we’d like to continue rigorous playtesting to ensure these are just as solid as the original cast.
All of these phases will be complete within 1-2 months, concurrently with the finalization of factory files, so we do not expect fulfillment will to be delayed by gameplay polishes.
Last updated: May 11, 2026 07:08
How much luck is there vs skill?
We’ve designed The Big Squeeze for setup variance to ensure that the same character can have very different games based on the hand they’re dealt. And as we’ve designed this game for explosive combos, surprising synergies and huge comebacks, both new and experienced players have a chance to make an awesome build if they find the right cards.
We’ve ensured that the game length of Era 2 is shorter than typical engine-builders, so that once a player blasts off, things end with a bang. Every player has the ingredients for absurd synergies, so it’s a race to see who can maximize their combos first!
But if you’ve played poker or competitive card games, you’ll know that randomness and skill are not mutually exclusive. It’s not whether life gives you lemons, but what you do with them.
Last updated: May 06, 2026 06:56
Are the characters all balanced relative to each other?
We’ve decided to balance each character around gameplay at a high-experience level. This does mean for first-time players, things are more in the chaotic and casual end of the spectrum.
Once you begin taking into account cross-era synergies, stashing tempo, bounty blocking, upgrade priorities and action optimization, characters reach an equal level and the more skilled player is more likely to win regardless of who they’re playing.
Last updated: May 05, 2026 12:40
When will I receive my copy?
Estimated fulfillment is 8-12 months after the campaign.
This is a wider range than in our previous campaigns due to the volatile shipping situation around the world. We will keep you updated on the game’s progress as it moves through each of the production stages.
Last updated: May 04, 2026 13:01
I have a Returning Backer / Prelaunch Follower bonus, but the number isn't applying at checkout!
The Pledge Manager is the survey that gets sent out post-campaign to collect your shipping address, and that’s when you’ll see the bonus applied to your costs.
If you should be getting the bonus but don’t see it in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, email us at [email protected]. If you’ve changed emails, you’ll need to tell us the one you previously used and we can manually link you up!
Last updated: May 31, 2026 12:09
Why can't I get certain add-ons outside of USA?
We work with a number of publishing partners to sell our games in a wide range of territories, and those partners have exclusive rights over how games are sold in their area(s). Additionally, the actual warehousing of each game determines where they are allowed to be shipped and sold.
Essentially, we can only offer some add-ons to USA residents due to logistics.
Last updated: May 03, 2026 16:31
I have a free ugprade bonus. How do I apply it?
As long as you’ve pledged for the Launch Edition or Collector’s Edition, it’s automatically set! You’ll see on Checkout that you have a $10 credit.
If you qualify for the free upgrade and accidentally pledged for the base game, email us at [email protected] and we’ll sort it out.
Last updated: July 09, 2026 07:59
What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.