When Matagot released Kemet back in 2012, it became an instant classic. The deeply strategic game was a hit with the board community, shooting up the Board Game Geek charts and into gamer's hearts everywhere. Now, the team is back with Kemet: Blood and Sand, a brand-new edition of the great original. Fans might remember the new Kemet 1.5 rules and wonder what this is. Well, it goes well beyond that ruleset and adds tons of great content.

The big news here is, undoubtedly, the new components. Kemet was never "ugly" per se, but Matagot has done a great job beautifying the whole product. From the gameboard to the tiles to the minis, everything just has a new sheen of quality. The creature minis, in particular, jump off the table the second you see them.

Of course, great art doesn't always equal a great game. Thankfully, we already know Kemet: Blood and Sand has an excellent foundation to build from. Matagot looks have done quite a bit of heavy-lifting to streamline the rules and make them much more intuitive. I'll have to hold judgment until I have the game in-hand; however, it certainly looks like a more fun experience.

Matagot is also letting players who own base Kemet upgrade for just $28. That's not chump change, but it is a commendable move from the company. For reference, buying the full game runs you $77.

Kemet: Blood and Sand is available to back on Kickstarter for 18 more days at the time of this writing. If you've never played Kemet and like strategic board games, I highly suggest you give it a look.