The best games that were crowdfunded via Kickstarter 💵 2026

Unfortunately, some good game ideas don't appeal to game publishers or they don't dare to take the risk. In the meantime, however, there are some platforms that allow donations from the masses to finance the market entry of such ideas - so-called crowd-funding. The most popular platform that enables this is Kickstarter.

Crowd-funding makes unusual game concepts possible

Fortunately, this has allowed many good games to appear that might never have made it to market: Gloomhaven, Brass Birmingham or Scythe - just to name a few.

List of the best Kickstarter board games 2026

For more of many really good Kickstarter games, check out our Kickstarter list:

(Games originally funded with the help of Kickstarter remain in this list, even if the Kickstarter campaign is over and the game has since been published by a publisher).

This list was last updated on June 6, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Monikers

    Monikers is a lively and entertaining party game inspired by the classic public domain game Celebrities. It is designed for players who enjoy guessing games and offers a fun challenge through a series of rounds where the methods of clue-giving evolve and become more restrictive.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Monikers
    • 👥 4 - 16 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 17+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Monikers

    • YouTube Review for the game "Monikers" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  2. HITSTER

    With HITSTER, the ultimate music card game, you can instantly throw a party! Listen to over 100 years of fantastic hits, arrange them chronologically on your music timeline, and relive unforgettable memories. The first player to collect 10 hits is crowned the HITSTER.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.

    More details for HITSTER
    • 👥 2 - 10 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 16+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  3. Monikers: Serious Nonsense

    Monikers: Serious Nonsense is a standalone expansion featuring 330 cards created by Shut Up & Sit Down. This new set also includes several requests for the return of Monikers, offering twelve delightfully ridiculous fourth rounds, minus the two least interesting ones.

    More details for Monikers: Serious Nonsense
    • 👥 4 - 20 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 18+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  4. It's not always easy to find teammates and then get them to the same table on the same night. Fortunately, many games have special rules that make board games playable for 1 person alone. Some games are even designed for one player (e.g. Friday or Hostage Negotiator - we have created a separate list for these games: The best games you can play only alone).

    The best board games that you can play alone (Solitaire games) →
  5. Cascadia

    Cascadia is a tile-laying and token-drafting board game that features the rich habitats and diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. It combines strategic tile placement with wildlife conservation themes.

    Nominated for 26 awards and won 15.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Cascadia
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  6. Wavelength

    Wavelength is a unique and engaging social guessing game that requires players to tap into their ability to communicate and interpret conceptual clues. This game stands out for its emphasis on understanding and interpreting the perspectives of others, making it an ideal choice for groups looking for a fun and thought-provoking experience.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 5.

    More details for Wavelength
    • 👥 2 - 12 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Wavelength

    • YouTube Review for the game "Wavelength" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  7. Light Speed: Arena

    🔥 Deal: 35% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers — at a recent low!

    More details for Light Speed: Arena
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 5 - 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  8. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

    Deception: Murder in Hong Kong offers a riveting game of deduction and deception designed for 4-12 players, providing an immersive experience in approximately 20 minutes.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
    • 👥 4 - 12 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  9. Project L

    Project L is a dynamic and visually appealing board game that combines tile-matching with engine-building elements. It's designed to challenge players with its strategic depth, encapsulated within an elegant and simple design. The game features unique triple-layer 3D puzzles and attractive acrylic pieces, making it not only a test of intellect but also a delight to play.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Project L
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  10. GROVE: A 9 card solitaire game

    Grove is a citrus-themed sequel to the award-winning 9-card solitaire game Orchard. It features orange, lemon, and lime trees, as well as a new "wildcard" element—glades—that enhance gameplay by offering more opportunities to boost your harvest. The game also includes recipe challenges on the back of the cards, providing alternative winning conditions for added variety.

    More details for GROVE: A 9 card solitaire game
    • 👥 1 Players
    • ⏱️ 5 - 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  11. Phantom Ink

    Renowned mediums compete to decipher a secret object and prove their connection to the "spirit world." The first team to identify the secret object wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Phantom Ink
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  12. If you are looking for a really good board game that you can play with 8 people... then we have something for you:

    The best board games for more than 8 persons →
  13. Star Realms: Frontiers

    Star Realms: Frontiers is a dynamic standalone game within the Star Realms series, offering fast-paced space combat with deckbuilding elements. Designed for 1-4 players, it can be enjoyed on its own or integrated with other Star Realms sets for expanded play.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Star Realms: Frontiers
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  14. Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game

    Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game is an engaging and compact solitaire tile-laying game that has captured the hearts of players with its simplicity, strategic depth, and quick playtime. Garnering acclaim by winning the 2018 9-Card Nanogame Print and Play Design Contest, Orchard challenges players to skillfully manage a limited set of resources — in this case, nine double-sided cards — to create a flourishing orchard.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game
    • 👥 1 Players
    • ⏱️ 5 - 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  15. The Resistance: Avalon

    The Resistance: Avalon is a standalone game set in the legendary world of King Arthur, combining the mechanics of secret identities and deduction found in The Resistance with a thematic backdrop of Arthurian legend and the struggle between good and evil.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Resistance: Avalon
    • 👥 5 - 10 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. Hanamikoji

    Hanamikoji is a strategic card game set in the historical context of Geisha culture in Japan. The game immerses players in the role of patrons who are competing to gain the favor of seven renowned Geishas by collecting items related to their art and performances.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Hanamikoji
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Hanamikoji

    • YouTube Review for the game "Hanamikoji" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Hanamikoji" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  17. Thunder Road: Vendetta

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Thunder Road: Vendetta
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  18. Coconuts

    Coconuts is a lively dexterity game inspired by the "Monkey King" character from Chinese mythology. In this engaging and playful game, players take turns launching coconuts towards cups positioned in the center of the play area. Successfully landing a coconut in a cup allows you to stack it on your board. Even more strategically, if you land a coconut in an opponent's cup, you can claim it and move it to your board. The game also features "Monkey King Magic" cards, which add a twist by allowing players to disrupt their opponents' shots in various ways. The first player to build a pyramid of six cups on their board is the winner.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Coconuts
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 6+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Coconuts

    • YouTube Review for the game "Coconuts" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  19. Secret Hitler

    Secret Hitler is a compelling board game set in the tumultuous political landscape of 1930s Germany. This game of deception and deduction requires players to conceal their identities while working towards opposite goals, depending on whether they are liberals or fascists.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Secret Hitler
    • 👥 5 - 10 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  20. One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak is a standalone expansion to the popular social deduction game One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Designed for 3-7 players, Daybreak offers a quick, engaging experience where everyone gets a hidden role with a special ability. In the span of just one in-game morning, players must deduce who among them is a werewolf, with the game's outcome hinging on uncovering at least one werewolf.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak
    • 👥 3 - 10 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  21. Marvel United: X-Men

    Marvel United: X-Men is an expansion to the cooperative board game Marvel United, focusing on the beloved X-Men universe. This game invites players to embody iconic Marvel heroes, joining forces to thwart the nefarious schemes of a villain who is orchestrating their master plan behind the scenes. With a mix of strategy, collaboration, and superhero flair, this game brings the X-Men's battles and stories to life on the tabletop.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Marvel United: X-Men
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  22. Cthulhu: Death May Die

    Cthulhu: Death May Die is an intense, cooperative board game set in the 1920s, drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's universe. Players take on the roles of daring investigators, embarking on a perilous mission to confront and eliminate Elder Gods.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.

    More details for Cthulhu: Death May Die
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  23. 5-Minute Dungeon

    5-Minute Dungeon is a fast-paced, cooperative, real-time card game that challenges players to escape a dungeon within a five-minute time limit. The game is characterized by its intense pace and the need for quick thinking and effective teamwork.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 5-Minute Dungeon
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 5 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  24. Slay the Spire: The Board Game

    The board-game adaptation of the popular deck-building video game. Craft a unique deck, discover powerful relics and climb the Spire together.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Slay the Spire: The Board Game
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 150 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  25. Santorini

    Santorini is a beautifully re-imagined strategy game that combines abstract elements with accessible gameplay, suitable for a wide range of players.

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Santorini
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  26. Nekojima

    On Nekojima, the "Island of Cats" in Japan, players build an electrical grid to supply various lively districts. Installing power poles becomes increasingly challenging due to the limited space and the curious cats that roam the cables.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Nekojima
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  27. One Night Ultimate Werewolf

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a dynamic and fast-paced game for 3-10 players that brings the excitement and deduction of werewolf stories to your tabletop. This game is all about quick thinking, bluffing, and trying to outsmart your friends.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for One Night Ultimate Werewolf
    • 👥 3 - 10 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  28. Hero Realms

    Hero Realms is a captivating, fantasy-themed deck-building game that builds on the mechanics of the highly acclaimed Star Realms. It offers a versatile gaming experience suitable for different player formats and styles.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Hero Realms
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  29. Sagrada

    Sagrada is a visually striking board game where players draft dice to create beautiful stained glass windows, combining strategy and aesthetics.

    Nominated for 13 awards.

    More details for Sagrada
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  30. Herbaceous

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Push Your LuckPush Your Luck
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    • Card GameCard Game
    +5 more

    Herbaceous is a charming and engaging card game that revolves around the theme of herb collecting. Players compete to gather and store a variety of herbs in the most effective way to score the highest points. The game is known for its simplicity, quick play, and strategic depth, making it a great choice for both casual and seasoned gamers.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Herbaceous
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Herbaceous

    • YouTube Review for the game "Herbaceous" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  31. Trekking Through History

    Players embark on a three-day journey through human history, traveling through time to experience significant moments from the past. Each day represents a round in which players choose historical events to spend hours on, gaining advantages like ticking off points on their itinerary and collecting time crystals to manipulate the space-time continuum in future turns. Points are also earned for visiting events in chronological order, and the player with the most points after three rounds wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Trekking Through History
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  32. The Red Dragon Inn: Allies – Spyke and Flower

    Spyke and Flower are Munchkins on a quest to defeat monsters, take their treasures, and level up for even more chaos. They arrive at the Red Dragon Inn to see what all the buzz is about, but their attempts to impress the regulars backfire. This standalone expansion allows two players to drink, fight, and compete to prove they are the best Munchkin, featuring a new drink deck and a variant for a third player, making it perfect for head-to-head play or combining with other sets for larger groups.

    More details for The Red Dragon Inn: Allies – Spyke and Flower
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  33. Looking for a really good game with asymmetric player powers? Then we have just the right thing for you: The list of the best asymmetric player power games 2026.

    The best games with asymmetric player powers →

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