Happy February! As usual, there are quite a few creative and successful tabletop games featured on the platform this month, proving that if you’ve always wanted to design a board game, now’s the time! That isn’t it though.
There are also video games, hardware, games, graphic novels, and design projects that are doing great on Kickstarter right now. This list features some of the projects that have been quickest to reach their goals and gain the attention of hundreds – if not thousands – of Kickstarter backers in February thus far.
Keep reading this post to learn more about these awesome projects, a little bit about the creators behind them, and why they’re doing so well:
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past Board Game
Creators: IDW Games
Amount Funded: $392K+
Number of Backers: 3.1K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $120
Duration: February 3 – February 25 (23 days)
This is IDW Games’ third successful Kickstarter campaign and one that they are very excited about. In just under a week this project has blown past their (pretty high) $250,000 funding goal and raised almost $400,000. This game is designed by Kevin Wilson (Descent, Arkham Horror) and takes place in IDW Games’ ongoing comic book universe. The game gives you a chance to be one of the four Ninja Turtles and defend New York City! This Kickstarter exclusive game is currently available for as little as $90.
2. Battalion 1944 (PC/XB1/PS4)
Creators: Bulkhead Interactive
Amount Funded: £184K+
Number of Backers: 6.1K+
Average Pledge per Backer: £30
Duration: February 2 – March 3 (30 days)
Battalion 1944 is Bulkhead Interactive’s first Kickstarter campaign, but that hasn’t stopped them from almost doubling their £100,000 goal in less than a week! Battalion 1944 is a revitalized WW2 first person shooter that aims to bring back the classic heart-pounding multiplayer experience.
The team did an amazing job with their video, explaining their inspiration for the game, attention to detail, and showing backers what the game looks like so far. This game is going to be available for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. Backers can get Steam Early Access and the full PC game on Kickstarter starting at £15 (approximately $21 USD).
3. Rocketbook Wave: Cloud Connected Microwavable Notebook
Creators: Rocketbook
Amount Funded: $138K+
Number of Backers: 2.7K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $50
Duration: February 3 – April 4 (59 days)
The Rocketbook Wave is a revolutionary new notebook that allows you to enjoy the feel or pen and paper but use the storage and power of the Cloud. This is how it works: you take notes and mark one of seven symbols on the bottom of the page. Using your mobile device, you will take a picture of your notes, which will be uploaded to the cloud platform where they belong based on the symbol you chose – whether that is Dropbox, Evernote, Google Docs, OneNote or email!
When the pages are full, microwave your notes away and use the book over again! You can currently get one Rocketbook Wave with a black FriXion pen for $27 on Kickstarter.
4. Evolution: CLIMATE (a stand-alone boardgame)
Creators: North Star Games
Amount Funded: $60K+
Number of Backers: 1.5K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $38
Duration: February 8 – March 23 (44 days)
Evolution: CLIMATE is a stand-alone game in the Evolution Game System, which originally raised over $279K on Kickstarter. In this 2 to 6 player game, each player must “adapt their species in a dynamic ecosystem where food is scarce, predators lurk, and the climate can swing between scorching hot and icy cold.” To add to the fun, Climate also features beautiful, original watercolors by world-renowned nature artist Catherine Hamilton. Backers can get the Print & Play version on Kickstarter for $15 or the full stand-alone game for $55.
5. Escape Room In A Box: The Werewolf Experiment
Creators: Juliana Patel & Ariel Rubin
Amount Funded: $47K+
Number of Backers: 901
Average Pledge per Backer: $53
Duration: February 3 – March 4 (30 days)
Escape Room In A Box is a unique 2-6 player game that takes 60-90 minutes to complete. During this time, players must solve a variety of puzzles, crack codes, and find hidden clues to escape from a mad scientist… who wants to turn them into werewolves! This exciting and quirky game has received a lot of positive feedback from play testers, and quickly reached its conservative $19,500 goal. Backers can get one copy of Escape Room In A Box: The Werewolf Experiment on Kickstarter for $45.
6. Explorers of the North Sea
Creators: Shem Phillips
Amount Funded: $172,397 NΖD
Number of Backers: 1.1K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $144 NΖD
Duration: February 3 – February 24 (22 days)
Explorers of the North Sea is Shem Phillips’ fifth successful Kickstarter campaign, and it has raised more than triple its $50,000 in the five days since it went live. This 2 to 4 player game is part of an epic Viking trilogy that includes the Shipwrights, Raiders, and Explorers editions. Players must load their longships with Vikings and move around the maps transporting livestock, constructing outposts, raiding settlements and collecting valuable Runestones. Kickstarter backers can get one copy of Explorers of the North Sea for $74 or the whole Trilogy for $248!
7. The Offworld Collection
Creators: Leigh Alexander and Laura Hudson
Amount Funded: $36K+
Number of Backers: 686+
Average Pledge per Backer: $53
Duration: February 3 – March 4 (30 days)
Offworld started out as a website whose creators’ goal was to bring diversity to the world of gaming. It became a place that opened up mainstream gaming culture to the opinions and critiques of women, people of color and other marginalized groups. Now the team behind this website is turning to Kickstarter to publish a hardcover anthology of some of their best features. Backers can pledge $15 on Kickstarter for the PDF edition or $40 for a hardcover copy.
8. B.PULIDO’S NEW LADY DEATH GRAPHIC NOVEL: EXTINCTION EXPRESS!
Creators: Brian Pulido
Amount Funded: $59K+
Number of Backers: 479+
Average Pledge per Backer: $123
Duration: February 3 – March 4 (30 days)
Brian Pulido has successfully funded 5 graphic novels on Kickstarter! This latest edition in the Lady Death series – Extinction Express – follows Atrocitas, an insane angel/demon hybrid assassin dispatched by the Hellbourne Elders to destroy Lady Death. This graphic novel will also introduce an important new character to the Lady Death Universe. Backers can pledge $54 for all three Kickstarter edition softcover graphic novels in the Lady Death series or (if you’re already a fan) you can purchase Extinction Express #1 in softcover for $20!
9. PACE lid
Creators: Chris Way
Amount Funded: $43K+
Number of Backers: 678+
Average Pledge per Backer: $63
Duration: February 4 – 23 (20 days)
PACE is a lid for your reusable water bottle that has an extension for all of the essentials you need on any outdoor adventure, or just in your day-to-day life. This is the perfect place to stash small items that you might need, like an ID card, snacks, first aid supplies, keys, and more! The PACE lid is designed to attach to wide mouth Nalgene, MSR, and Klean Canteen bottles, and is available on Kickstarter for as little as $20.
Conclusion
These 9 projects have already reached their funding goals, proving that hard work and preparation DO pay off when it comes to crowdfunding. Some of the creators behind these projects are Kickstarter veterans, some are new to the platform, and others have successfully relaunched their projects after having failed or canceled them the first time.
The lesson here: there is not one linear path to crowdfunding success, creators take many different ways to get there!
Which campaign is your favorite?
