Board game crowdfunding has become a popular way to finance new games. If you’re considering launching a board game crowdfunding campaign, we can help with our mostly free and always guaranteed services. Here is some general information and tips to help you get started.
Crowdfunding for Board Games History
Crowdfunding has played a significant role in the resurgence of board games. It has allowed independent designers and small companies to bring their creations to life.
Here’s a brief history of board game crowdfunding:
- Early Days (around 2010): Kickstarter started gaining traction in the late 2000s, and by 2009, it began hosting board game projects. Some early successes, like “The Doom That Came to Atlantic City” and “Alien Frontiers,” showed the potential for funding board games through this platform. If nothing else these initial board game crowdfunding successes proved that it could be done.
- Rise in Popularity (around 2013): The next few years saw a significant increase in board game projects. Games like “Kingdom Death: Monster,” “Exploding Kittens,” and “Zombicide game” raised millions, demonstrating the immense demand and potential for crowdfunding in the board game industry. Exploding Kittens, in particular, was wildly successful and is often thought of as truly launching the excitement of thi
s new form of Indie Crowdfunding. - Diversification and Innovation (2015-2020): Crowdfunding allowed diverse and innovative game concepts to be funded. Campaigns were about traditional board games and included card games, miniatures, and unique game mechanics. This period also saw the rise of campaigns for expansions to already successful games. Board game crowdfunding had become a widely known and thoroughly accepted possibility.
- Continued Growth and Challenges (2020-present): The trend continued with more games successfully funded through a wide variety of crowdfunding platforms. However, there were also challenges, such as increased competition, concerns about project delivery delays, and some high-profile campaigns facing criticism for various reasons. There still remained some significant successes, more and more each year.
Board Game Crowdfunding Today
Throughout this history, crowdfunding has been a game-changer for the indie board game development industry, allowing smaller developers to compete with established companies. It has given rise to a more diverse range of games and provided opportunities for innovation. However, it’s important to note that success in crowdfunding doesn’t guarantee a successful game launch, and some projects have faced difficulties in production, fulfillment, or meeting backers’ expectations.
As you enter the world of board game crowdfunding, there are initial steps you should follow. You may also want to study successful board game crowdfunding campaigns to learn from their strategies and avoid common pitfalls.
Game Development
The first step is to take your idea and develop a polished and well-tested board game concept. Try and playtest it extensively to ensure it’s fun, balanced, and free from major issues. Create attractive and professionally designed artwork and components. High-quality visuals are essential to grab backers’ attention.
Choose a Board Game Crowdfunding Platform
Popular crowdfunding platforms for board games include some that offer backers rewards-based crowdfunding, some that offer equity, and others that provide debt funding. Research your options regarding crowdfunding types and the sites themselves to determine which aligns better with your project’s needs and goals.
Board Game Crowdfunding Budget and Pricing
Calculate the total cost of production, including manufacturing, shipping, art and design, marketing, and fulfillment. Set your funding goal to cover these costs, ensuring you won’t lose money if your campaign succeeds. Determine the price point for your game that covers expenses and provides a reasonable profit margin.
Board Game Crowdfunding Next Steps
Once you have done the initial steps and your game is listed on a board game crowdfunding platform, you must nurture its success.
Crowdfunding for Board Games and Marketing
Build a pre-launch marketing strategy to generate interest in your game before the campaign starts. Utilize social media, email newsletters, and online board game communities. Create a compelling campaign video and engaging written content to explain your game’s features, gameplay and why it’s worth backing. Collaborate with influencers and reviewers to get your game to a larger audience if possible.
Keep in Touch with Board Game Crowdfunding Investors
Stay engaged with your backers during and after the campaign. Answer questions promptly, update the project’s progress, and build a community around your game. Plan stretch goals to incentivize backers to pledge more money by offering additional content or improvements to the game as funding milestones are reached. Once the campaign ends, research and select a reliable fulfillment partner or company to handle shipping and distribution so your investors get their games.
Conclusions and Our Services
Remember that crowdfunding can be challenging, and success is not guaranteed. However, with careful planning, marketing, and execution, you can increase your chances of reaching your funding goal and bringing your board game to life.
We can help! Our connection services are free, and our other services are fully guaranteed. Contact us any time to discuss board game crowdfunding.
