Van Life Challenge: Off the Eaten Path

Let me introduce myself

Welcome, and thank you for joining me on my accidental quest.

I’m Bill, a game designer and co-owner of Gray Dog Games. Our first game, Hand & Foot Remastered, was a faithful improvement of an existing, beloved card game. It was meant to be a hobby, but it soon became a business. So I quit my dream job at Ferrari North America and, with the support of my wife and co-owner, Kim, set out into the unknown.

Our second game, Bread & Milk, was inspired by the time we spent living in Maine. Every time the news mentioned snow our friends, neighbors, and colleagues collectively lost their minds and rushed to the store to buy Bread & Milk. I’ll admit to running to the store myself, but in search for steak and wine.

When it came time to work on our third game, Van Life Challenge: Off the Eaten Path, inspiration came from a much larger project I want to bring to life: one about food, its traditional importance and the pride it brings the people who make it around the world. The project, as I envision it, is daunting. So I decided to start close to home and focus on helping others discover the regional foods of the United States they may not yet know.

Growing up in Central New Jersey (yes, it exists), I witnessed the passion people had for two foods in particular: Pork Roll (there is no such thing as taylor ham) and Trenton Tomato Pie. My last meal request would consist of a Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese on a poppyseed bagel, Chicken Vindaloo, my wife’s German Chocolate Cake, and at least one Trenton Tomato Pie. 

But I digress.

While designing the game I found myself in Madison, Wisconsin, for a playtesting event. I asked the players about their favorite regional foods, and one looked up and said, “Tomato Pie”. There are many foods called Tomato Pie, but only one Trenton Tomato Pie, so I asked him to clarify. I was shocked to learn a restaurant serving it was just four blocks away.

I no longer live in New Jersey and cannot get Tomato Pie very often, so I ran to the restaurant. When I opened the door, I saw a picture of the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” bridge. The joy I felt was immense, and I couldn’t wait to eat.

That’s the feeling I worked to include in the game, Van Life Challenge: Off the Eaten Path. When players pick up a card and see a food they haven’t had since college, or one their grandmother made when they were sick as children, I can see in their eyes the joy that food brings back.

How to Play

You’re a contestant on Van Life Challenge, a reality competition where regional foods are your ticket to winning viewers. Grab your RV, plan your route, and build the most popular food adventure!

Travel, taste, and grow your audience. On your turn, discard Food/Fuel cards to fuel your RV’s movement, or draw an Explore card for a free trip to a surprise destination. Reach a state’s star with a matching Food card in your hand, and you can try that dish by adding the card to your contestant board. Draw two cards to end your turn.

Every card is a choice. Save a dish to earn its viewers, or spend it as fuel to reach your next stop? Foods farther off the eaten path attract more viewers. Collect matching food families, such as pizzas or hot dogs, to multiply their value, and try foods from different states to earn bonus viewers.

Expect detours. Food Court cards send you to face the judge, while Road Hazards mean a trip to a repair shop. Both move you without spending fuel, but leave them unresolved and you’ll lose viewers at the end. Meanwhile, Producer’s Challenges offer races and other twists that reward contestants with extra viewers, cards, or advantages.

Make your final stops count. When someone fills all twelve food spaces on their board, everyone else gets one final turn and can try multiple foods if they have enough fuel to reach them. Add up food viewers, bonuses, and challenge rewards, then subtract penalties. The contestant with the most viewers wins!

2-6 Players
45-60 Minutes
14+

Rule Book

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bckm8nd18et53mlaoln4s/Van-Life-Challenge-Rule-book.PDF?rlkey=v8fur6rr3f9iu3pptwkbihhmp&dl=0

What's Included

1 Game Board
6 RV Contestant Markers
6 Contestant Boards
330 Food/Fuel Cards
25 Food Court Cards
18 Road Hazard Cards
51 Explore Cards
35 Producer's Challenge Cards
24 Contestant Cubes
Rule Book

Reward Tiers

Super Early Backers Tier
Save 40% off retail

Very Early Backers Tier
Save 33% off retail

Early Backers Tier
Save 25% off retail

Backers Tier
Save 15% off retail

Add ons

Van Life Challenge Cook Book
Bread & Milk Card Game
Hand & Foot Remastered 4 Player Edition
Hand & Foot Remastered 8 Player Edition
 

Stretch Goals

We want to ensure this project is as successful as it can be, so we have decided not to complicate the campaign with unneccessary upgrades.

Shipping

To ensure a smooth, timely, delivery we will be shipping to the U.S. only.

We've worked with our fulfillment partner to identify the most cost-effective ground shipping method available, so we have a good idea of what to expect when it comes time to fulfill the campaign.

Estimated shipping costs will be from $XX

Shipping will be calculated and collected after the campaign through our pledge manager. The exact cost will depend on your destination, pledge level, add ons, and the final packed size and weight of your rewards.

Timeline

The game development for Van Life Challenge: Off the Eaten Path is complete. The molds for the player pieces have been created and the artwork has been drawn.

If this campaign is successful we are in position to place our manufacturing order with our manufacturing partner, Gameland, immediately. Production should begin in March 2027.

We anticipate our inventory arriving at our warehouse in June or July, 2027, with shipping to commence upon receipt.