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).
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Monikers
All details & ratingMonikers 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.
4–16 30–60 min 17+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
HITSTER
All details & ratingWith 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.
2–10 30 min 16+ Immediately playable -
Monikers: Serious Nonsense
All details & ratingMonikers: 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.
4–20 60 min 18+ Immediately playable -
Cascadia
All details & ratingCascadia 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.
1–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Wavelength
All details & ratingWavelength 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.
2–12 30–45 min 14+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
All details & ratingDeception: 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.
4–12 20 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Project L
All details & ratingProject 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.
1–4 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learn -
GROVE: A 9 card solitaire game
All details & ratingGrove 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.
1 5–10 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Phantom Ink
All details & ratingRenowned mediums compete to decipher a secret object and prove their connection to the "spirit world." The first team to identify the secret object wins.
2–8 10–15 min 13+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price20 € at Amazon* -
Star Realms: Frontiers
All details & ratingStar 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.
1–4 20–45 min 12+ Easy to learn -
The Resistance: Avalon
All details & ratingThe 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.
5–10 30 min 13+ Easy to learn -
Hanamikoji
All details & ratingHanamikoji 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.
2 15 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price14 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Thunder Road: Vendetta
All details & ratingThunder Road: Vendetta is Restoration Games' rev-happy remake of Milton Bradley's 1986 cult classic: a dice-driven car-combat game for two to four players, set in a post-apocalyptic landscape of asphalt, junk metal and pitch-black humor. Whoever still has a moving wreck on the road at the end wins.
2–4 45–75 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Coconuts
All details & ratingCoconuts 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.
2–4 20 min 6+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Secret Hitler
All details & ratingSecret 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.
5–10 45 min 13+ Easy to learn -
One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak
All details & ratingOne 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.
3–10 10 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Cthulhu: Death May Die
All details & ratingCthulhu: 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.
1–5 90–120 min 14+ Medium complexity -
5-Minute Dungeon
All details & rating5-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.
2–5 5–30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price21 € at Amazon* -
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
All details & ratingThe board-game adaptation of the popular deck-building video game. Craft a unique deck, discover powerful relics and climb the Spire together.
1–4 30–150 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Santorini
All details & ratingSantorini is a beautifully re-imagined strategy game that combines abstract elements with accessible gameplay, suitable for a wide range of players.
2–4 20 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Nekojima
All details & ratingOn 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.
1–5 15–30 min 7+ Immediately playable -
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
All details & ratingOne 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.
3–10 10 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Hero Realms
All details & ratingHero 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.
2–4 20 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Sagrada
All details & ratingSagrada is a visually striking board game where players draft dice to create beautiful stained glass windows, combining strategy and aesthetics.
1–4 30–45 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Herbaceous
All details & ratingHerbaceous 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.
1–4 15–20 min 8+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Monikers currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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