So you’ve created a board game. Maybe it’s a fun party game, a deck building game, or a tense murder mystery game. Kickstarter board game campaigns are useful for all. No matter the genre or the game, your goal is one and one only: to publish your board game and get it into the hands of players around the world. But how do you turn that dream into reality? The answer for many smaller creators ends up being board game crowdfunding.
Whether you’re launching on Kickstarter, Gamefound, or simply want to understand the best way to self-publish a board game, this guide covers everything you need to know about the main platforms, strategies, and a practical roadmap to make it all happen.
What Is Board Game Crowdfunding?
The basic definition is that Board game crowdfunding is the process of raising money from a community of supporters who pledge funds in exchange for a copy of your game, exclusive rewards, or simply to support your vision or because they like you. Platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound have been invaluable in helping thousands of creators bring their games to life.
Some creators that have used Tabletop Creator to design their games have benefited from these platforms, for example Neon Hope by Hopeful Games have used kickstarter to fund their game successfully.
Why is crowdfunding good for funding board games?
Unlike traditional publishing, crowdfunding gives creators direct control and a chance to validate their idea before mass production. It also builds a community of early supporters who can amplify your launch and drive future sales.
Crowdfunding also allows you to test your game concept with minimal risk. Instead of investing thousands of dollars into printing and warehousing your board game upfront, you can gauge demand and fine-tune your design based on backer feedback.
Kickstarter Board Game Funding: Why It’s the #1 Platform
If you’re wondering how to make a board game and get it in front of an audience, Kickstarter is still the reigning king. It has the largest board game backer community in the world.
Benefits of Kickstarter for Board Game Creators
- Massive audience: 80% of all game projects funded on Kickstarter in 2024 were tabletop games. That’s millions of dedicated board game enthusiasts already browsing the platform.
- All-or-nothing model: You only get charged (and receive funds) if your campaign hits its goal, which reassures backers and ensures you raise enough to fulfill promises.
- Proven success stories: From Exploding Kittens to Gloomhaven and Frosthaven, many iconic games started here and went on to become household names.
Running a Kickstarter board game campaign requires a polished prototype and campaign page. You’ll need gameplay videos, a clear breakdown of components, pledge tiers, stretch goals, and delivery timelines. Most successful campaigns also rely heavily on pre-launch marketing; Kickstarter is a powerful platform, but it rewards those who bring their own crowd.
Expect to pay about 5% in platform fees, plus 3% in payment processing. You’ll also need to plan for taxes, manufacturing, and shipping (especially global shipping), which can quickly eat into your funding if miscalculated.
Despite the work, Kickstarter remains the best platform to publish a board game from scratch. Its backer community is highly engaged, and many gamers actively seek out new titles to support.
Gamefound: A Kickstarter Alternative for Board Game Crowdfunding
Gamefound is a newer but fast-growing alternative to Kickstarter, built specifically for tabletop creators. Originally created as a pledge manager, it now supports full crowdfunding campaigns. It’s backed by Awaken Realms and used by major publishers for big-box games and expansions.
Why Choose Gamefound?
- Tailored for board games: Features like built-in pledge management, multilingual support, and component previews.
- High average funding: Although fewer campaigns run on Gamefound, those that do often raise more per backer.
- All-in-one ecosystem: You can manage your campaign, late pledges, add-ons, and fulfillment, all on one platform.
Gamefound is ideal for creators with an existing fanbase, deluxe games, or campaigns that benefit from more advanced tools than Kickstarter currently offers. However, it’s still smaller in reach and may require more effort to generate traffic.
Indiegogo: A Flexible But Less Common Option
Indiegogo allows for both fixed and flexible funding, which means you can choose to keep whatever you raise (even if you don’t hit your goal). This can be attractive for some creators, especially those outside the regions Kickstarter supports.
However, Indiegogo is less well-known in the tabletop space. Its community skews more toward tech gadgets and innovations, making board game crowdfunding campaigns harder to find and fund. That said, some creators have used it for reprints, late pledges, or regional campaigns.
Be cautious: while flexible funding sounds appealing, it can hurt trust with backers. Many prefer the all-or-nothing model because it ensures the creator has the resources to deliver.
Choosing the Right Platform to Publish Your Board Game
Here’s a quick comparison of the three major crowdfunding platforms:
| Platform | Best For | Key Strengths | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | Most creators, especially first-time ones | Largest audience, trusted for board games | Competitive, requires strong marketing |
| Gamefound | Deluxe games and experienced publishers | Integrated pledge management, tabletop-only | Less discoverability for new creators |
| Indiegogo | Flexible funding or niche campaigns | More relaxed entry, flexible models | Lower success rate for board games |
Ultimately, the best platform for you depends on your audience, goals, and resources. Many creators start on Kickstarter and use Gamefound or BackerKit for pledge management. Some larger publishers migrate to Gamefound once they’ve built up a following.
What to Have in Mind for a Successful Board Game Crowdfunding Campaign
Regardless of platform, publishing your game on a crowdfunding site isn’t just enough. There are some things that you have to do. The following tips are crucial to turn your idea into a funded campaign:
Build Your Audience Early
Start building your community 6–12 months before launch. Use newsletters, social media, Discord servers, and playtesting groups to generate buzz. A strong email list will outperform any social platform when it comes to converting backers.
Invest in Quality Visuals
First impressions count. Hire an artist or graphic designer to create appealing component previews. Showcase your game with clean renders or photos, and invest in a gameplay video. These assets make a massive difference in how backers perceive your project.
Price Carefully
Do market research and calculate costs for manufacturing, shipping, taxes, and platform fees. Include buffer room. Pricing too low may hurt your ability to deliver; pricing too high may discourage backers.
Engage with Your Community
Respond to questions, post regular updates, and build excitement during the campaign. Share stretch goals, behind-the-scenes content, and polls. Active campaigns attract more backers.
How to Make a Board Game and Fund It in 12 Months
If you’re serious about board game crowdfunding, you need a clear timeline. Here’s a step-by-step plan to help you launch within a year.
1) 1 Year before launching your game to a crowdfunding site.
- Finalize your core game mechanics.
- Begin playtesting with friends and local groups.
- Create social media accounts and a basic website or landing page.
- Create a Discord server where you can build and inform your community about updates.
- Although it’s not vital, you could start gathering an email list. Brevo is a good free option.
- You could add a form to your website, inviting people to join an emailing list.
2) 10–8 Months: Build a community and get useful feedback
- Attend prototyping events like protospiel online or board game conventions.
- Share design updates, art teasers, and theme reveals on your socials.
- Invite early followers to test print-and-play versions.
- Build hype and collect testimonials from playtesters.
3) 8–6 Months: Production Planning
- Reach out to manufacturers (LongPack, Panda, etc.) for quotes.
- Budget production and fulfillment based on different print runs.
- Decide if you will use BackerKit, Gamefound (as PM), or DIY post-campaign logistics.
4) 6–4 Months: Media and Marketing Assets
- Commission final art, packaging mockups, and iconography.
- Film a trailer and gameplay explanation.
- Contact reviewers and YouTubers (send prototypes early!).
- Start running small test ads to build your email list.
5) 4–2 Months: Campaign Setup
- Draft your campaign page with text, images, and rewards.
- Open your Kickstarter or Gamefound pre-launch page.
- Run polls for stretch goals, cover art variants, etc.
- Begin countdown campaigns on social media and newsletters.
6) 2–1 Month: Testing and Feedback
- Show your draft campaign to mentors, other designers, or online communities.
- Revise pledge tiers and stretch goals based on feedback.
- Finalize your manufacturing and shipping plan.
7) Launch Day
- Launch on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning for maximum visibility.
- Email your list and post across platforms.
- Be online all day to answer comments and boost traction.
8) During the Campaign
- Post updates every 2–3 days.
- Unlock stretch goals strategically.
- Keep backers excited with art reveals, livestreams, and progress bars.
9) After the Campaign
- Confirm funds and export backer data.
- Finalize your print files and start manufacturing.
- Maintain monthly updates until delivery.
- Start thinking about reprints, expansions, or retail partnerships.
From Crowdfunding to Publishing: What Happens Next?
Board game crowdfunding is just the beginning. Once your campaign is over, you’ll enter the production and fulfillment phase. This is where planning pays off: you’ll need to manage files, proofing, factory timelines, freight shipping, warehousing, and individual backer fulfillment.
Tools like BackerKit or Gamefound’s pledge manager can help manage shipping fees and late pledges. You may also want to work with fulfillment partners like Quartermaster Logistics or Spiral Galaxy to handle pick-and-pack and international logistics.
When your backers start receiving the game and posting pictures or reviews, it opens the door to new opportunities: retail sales, localizations, conventions, and even expansions.
If you’ve handled the campaign well and delivered on time, your next game will benefit from a loyal audience eager for more.
