Kickstarter has released the stats for its Games category, which encompasses both video games and tabletop games like board or card games. According to Kickstarter, both the amount of backers and the amount of money going into the Games category doubled from 2014. The numbers for Kickstarter games overall:
- $144,407,094 pledged
- 978,189 backers
- 2,249,391 pledges
- 7,466 launched projects
- 2,259 successful projects
- Success rate: 30.3%
That success rate -- ouch. But with Kickstarter open to amateur and seasoned pro alike, not all projects are created equally. Breaking the numbers down further, it turns out tabletop game kickstarters are both more numerous and more successful than video game kickstarters. Here’s what the numbers look like for tabletop games:
- $88,916,039 pledged
- 522,061 total backers
- 1,230 successful projects
And for video games:
- $46,177,705 money pledged
- 480,382 backers
- 421 successful projects
The most funded Games project on Kickstarter fell into the tabletop category: Exploding Kittens, a quirky card game that raised $8.8 million from over 200,000 people. But video game creators on Kickstarter had a lot to be proud of, too. The Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Kickstarter raised over $5 million from 64,867 backers and briefly became the most funded video game project on Kickstarter. That is, until Shenmue III roared onto the scene, raising $1 million in 1 hour after being announced during Sony’s E3 presentation. Shenmue III ultimately raised $6.3 million from 69,000 backers ( unclear budgeting and repeated requests for more money aside).
Other video game projects on Kickstarter may have received less fanfare, but were just as much if not more promising: Divinity: Original Sin 2’s Kickstarter was launched and funded in less than 12 hours, while Yooka-Laylee (from the makers of Banjo-Kazooie ) breezed through their initial project goal in 40 minutes. Cool games like the XCOM/Lovecraft marriage Hard West and dystopian roguelike stealth game We Happy Few were funded, improving the landscape of gaming with their promise and success.
There was depressing news, too, like Kickstarter pledges going unfilled due to developer bankruptcy . Of course, everyone reacts differently to failure . But Kickstarter can be forgiven for its cheery, celebratory tone . Keep checking back and we’ll keep you posted on the best and worst of Kickstarter in 2016.
