ÆRTHLINGS Launches Kickstarter as the Collectible Gaming Universe Expands Globally
ÆRTHLINGS is preparing for its biggest step yet, with the collectible gaming universe officially launching its Kickstarter campaign alongside the reveal of the brand-new Ascension Series.
For anyone unfamiliar, ÆRTHLINGS sits somewhere between collectible figures, digital gaming and community-driven trading. Think toys-to-life, but built around collecting, evolving characters and real-world trading between players.
Every physical ÆRTHLING figure can be scanned into the free mobile app on iOS and Android, turning it into a playable in-game character complete with its own abilities, attacks and upgrades. Players can then trade figures physically to grow their in-game collections, create LINEAGES and evolve characters through the wider ÆRTHLINGS ecosystem.
And now the universe is getting a lot bigger.
The newly announced Ascension Series introduces 24 entirely new species into the world of ÆRTHLINGS, set within a world dominated by the ancient Polara and Volcrys species. The new content will see players exploring frozen and volcanic biomes, battling MOONLINGS, collecting resources and climbing the new Spire of Ascension.
It definitely feels like ÆRTHLINGS is leaning harder into the world-building side of things now, rather than simply being a collectible product.
The Kickstarter campaign itself is focused on helping expand ÆRTHLINGS globally while also funding a PC version of the game alongside new gameplay systems, quests, characters and biomes — including a community-inspired Banana Biome, which honestly feels very on-brand for the kind of energy this game has.
For collectors, there’s also a pretty major incentive attached to the campaign.
Backers will gain access to some of the rarest ÆRTHLINGS figures released so far, including six Kickstarter-exclusive figures and two brand-new shiny Legendary characters that won’t be available outside the campaign.
That exclusivity side feels important for a project like this. A big part of collectible culture is rarity and community trading, and ÆRTHLINGS seems to understand that balance between physical collecting and digital progression.
“ÆRTHLINGS was created to make collecting feel alive again,” said Modern Games CEO Justin Kifer.
“We wanted to combine the joy of unboxing and collecting with an expansive game world where every figure has real meaning, utility and personality.”
Kifer also said the Kickstarter marks the next stage of growth for the franchise, helping push ÆRTHLINGS to a wider global audience while expanding the game itself.
The original Genesis Collection first launched in Australia and New Zealand before gaining serious attention at PAX East in the United States, where players were introduced to systems like LINEAGES, MUTÆTIONS and the wider world of ÆRTH.
What started as a collectible line has slowly turned into something much more community-focused, with players trading figures, building collections and uncovering more of the game’s evolving world together.
And honestly, in a market full of collectibles that end up sitting unopened on shelves, that’s probably the biggest thing helping ÆRTHLINGS stand out right now.
The ÆRTHLINGS Kickstarter campaign is live now.
