Rebuilt from the ground up by Blood Bowl creator Jervis Johnson, DreadBall: All-Stars Kickstarter promises fast games full of chaos, tactics, and glory.
If your gaming group loves the energy of a good league night but groans at hours-long games, DreadBall: All-Stars is lining up to be a perfect addition.
The upcoming Kickstarter is a standalone sci-fi tabletop sports game that aims to get you straight to the good stuff: fast turns, big hits, wild scoring swings, and the kind of “did that really just happen?” moments that keep people talking until the next game night.
And yes, it comes with a pretty loaded pedigree. DreadBall: All-Stars is designed by Jervis Johnson, the creator of Blood Bowl and one of the key names tied to the tabletop sports genre, alongside veteran designer Alessio Cavatore, with art by Stefan Kopinski.
And of course, Mantic is still involved, so this version of the game will have serious legs.
What Is DreadBall: All-Stars?
DreadBall: All-Stars is a standalone game set in the DreadBall universe, the galaxy’s biggest sports spectacle. In the lore, mega-corporations sponsor violent sports entertainment, billions watch weekly, and fans pay absurd amounts to see legends collide on the pitch. It is sci-fi sports with a wink and a shoulder check.
The key is they say they rebuilt the game from the ground up to deliver a “completely new experience” while keeping what players loved about DreadBall and removing the barriers. The goal is simple: more playing, less fuss.
The Big Design Promise: Less Setup, More Action
Traditional miniature sports games, like Blood Bowl, often ask you to do a lot before you even roll a die: build a roster, tinker with upgrades, commit to long sessions, then hope everyone remembers how the rules work by week two.
DreadBall: All-Stars is aiming at the opposite of Blood Bowl:
- Pre-assembled miniatures
- Streamlined rules
- Fixed team rosters
- Designed to get you into head-to-head matches quickly
If you’ve ever tried to sell a sports miniatures game (like Blood Bowl) to a friend and watched their eyes glaze over at the “team creation” portion, you understand why that matters.
“If Blood Bowl Is Football…”: The Vibe Check
Jervis Johnson put it in a way that instantly tells you what kind of gameplay rhythm to expect:
“If Blood Bowl is like American Football, then All-Stars is like a full-contact version of NBA Basketball…”
Expect more scoring opportunities, more end-to-end momentum, and plenty of chances to flatten someone who thought they were safe. That faster pace also tends to make games easier to teach, easier to fit into a weeknight, and easier to run in a casual league without people missing half the season.
If your table likes aggression, big plays, and constant decision points, a “full-contact basketball” minis game is a pretty tasty pitch.
What You Get: What’s in the DreadBall: All-Stars Kickstarter Campaign?
The Kickstarter is set up with a “get playing fast” foundation and then layers for people who want more variety, more players, and more game modes.
Starting Pledges: The Smart Entry Point
Starting pledges include:
- A four-team box
- An arena
- Everything two players need to start playing
That is the ideal structure for a Kickstarter tabletop game, especially if you want to recruit friends. A box that supports two players out of the gate is how games actually get played, not just lovingly stacked in the hobby room like a shrine to good intentions.
Higher Pledges: More Teams, More Arenas, Bigger Nights
Higher pledge levels add:
- Additional teams
- New arenas
- Six-player Battle Royale
- Championship play
- Premium components
- More content and stretch goals
The headline here is flexibility. You can treat it as a tight two-player competitive game, or you can turn it into a party-night event with more players and a bigger table vibe.
Teams and Arenas: The Stuff That Makes a Sports Game Stay Fresh
All-Stars is listing some clear, practical content beats that matter for replayability.
Seven Teams, Distinct Playstyles
There will be:
- Seven teams
- Each team has five pre-assembled miniatures
- Each also has distinct playstyles
Five models per team feels like a sweet spot. It’s enough to feel like a squad with roles, but not so many that you need a second carrying case and a degree in organization. It also makes “bring a spare team to teach” extremely doable.
Four Arenas with New Modes and Events
You are also looking at:
- Four arenas
- New game modes
- Events
- A six-player Battle Royale
Arenas that change game modes and add events are how you keep a sports miniatures game from feeling samey. Different boards and formats force different decisions, which keeps experienced players honest and helps newer players feel like they can pull off something clever.
Championship Play and Legacy Cards
The campaign mentions championship play with out-of-the-box tournaments, plus legacy cards.
That combination is a big deal if you like structured play but don’t want a complicated season system. “Out-of-the-box tournaments” suggests you can run a small event with minimal prep, while legacy cards usually imply continuing story, evolving stakes, or reward-driven progression.
If you are the person in your group who always ends up running leagues, this is the line you circle in red.
Why This Kickstarter Could Be a Big Deal
DreadBall: All-Stars is positioning itself as a streamlined, accessible sci-fi tabletop sports game with serious designer credibility. The pitch is not subtle: this is meant to be the game you can get on the table quickly, teach without pain, and keep fresh through multiple teams, arenas, and formats. If you like the idea of Blood Bowl but want something faster, this might just hit the sweet spot.
If Mantic sticks the landing on rules clarity and replayability, this could be one of those Kickstarter miniatures games that actually becomes a regular in your rotation, not just a cool box you admire once a year.
Final Thoughts From us About Mantic’s “full contact” version of Blood Bowl
If you have been craving a miniatures sports game that feels energetic, teaches cleanly, and still delivers tactical choices, keep an eye on the DreadBall: All-Stars Kickstarter. Start with the pledge that gives you the four-team box, arena, and full two-player setup, then scale up only if your group truly wants more formats and more bodies at the table.
Either way, a standalone game built for speed, impact, and “one more match” energy has a very real chance to become your go-to weeknight brawler.
See the Upcoming Kickstarter Here!
