adminKickstarter game funding can still help developers finance part of a project, build an audience, and test interest in a game. But the platform is no longer an easy source of money for an early idea: developers may need polished gameplay footage, a playable demo, an engaged community, and a carefully planned campaign before launch.
Figures from Ico Partners show that video game projects raised $26 million on Kickstarter in 2025, matching the total for 2024. In 2025, 443 games reached their funding goals, a 4% decrease from the previous year. Of those, 55 raised more than $100,000 and 11 raised over $500,000.
Image credit: Ico Partners
Thomas Bidaux of Ico Partners notes that the number of projects raising more than $500,000 had not been this high since 2015. Early signs suggested 2026 could follow a similar pace to 2025, though crowdfunding remains only one funding route within the wider games industry.
Kickstarter game funding requires preparation
David Harper, managing director of Skyhook Games, says developers face a crowded market in which players have many choices and marketing channels compete for attention. Economic pressures can also make it harder for studios to reach potential backers.
Campaigns have changed since the platform’s early years. Developers once had a better chance of raising money with a rough prototype or an initial concept. Now, Bidaux advises teams to prepare release-quality footage and, where possible, a playable demo. A campaign can extend a game’s reach, but it is much more difficult to build momentum without an audience that already knows the project.
This means crowdfunding may not be a practical emergency option when a studio suddenly runs short of cash. The work needed to make a game presentable and attract supporters usually has to happen well in advance.
Plan for pledge cancellations and campaign risks
Harper says Skyhook’s campaign for Lawn Mowing Simulator 2 received large pledges that were later withdrawn after the accounts behind them were removed. One cancellation happened during the final 24 hours and brought the campaign below its target, despite having appeared funded for more than three weeks.
Kickstarter offered to extend the campaign by a week. Additional supporters helped the project reach its goal, but the experience showed how a single large pledge can affect an all-or-nothing campaign. Harper suggests considering whether high pledge tiers expose a project to too much risk. Lowering their value may limit the effect of a cancelled pledge, although it can also restrict legitimate supporters who want to contribute more.
For developers, a useful precaution is to avoid relying on one or two unusually large pledges when assessing whether a campaign is safely on track.
Consider alternatives before committing
Daniel Milo, indie director at Timeless Toucan, has raised concerns about crowdfunding as a route to finance. He argues that successful campaigns often need both a nearly finished game and an existing audience. He also warns that selling Steam keys through a campaign may affect how a project’s core audience reviews the game, and that an unsuccessful campaign could complicate later efforts to find a publisher.
Milo also cautions against setting a funding target far below the amount actually needed. A campaign can technically succeed while still leaving a studio without enough money to complete the game. Developers should calculate what the target can realistically fund, including the work required to deliver promised rewards.
Other routes include seeking investment or publisher support. Milo also describes a revenue-sharing or “sweat equity” approach, where team members accept lower or no initial salaries in exchange for a share of future profits or the company. Each option has different risks, so studios should compare the likely costs and obligations before choosing.
Build a real community before launch
Several developers stress that audience-building should begin well before a campaign opens. Hrvoje Horvatek, CEO and game designer at Ironward, recommends creating a Kickstarter page in advance and waiting until it has at least 500 followers before launching. That audience can help create early momentum if other marketing efforts underperform.
Bidaux recommends at least three months of marketing work before opening a “Coming Soon” page and starting the campaign; some experts advise planning for six months. Harper adds that follower numbers matter less if they come from fake accounts or bots. Paid services may increase a page’s following without bringing genuine prospective backers, so studios should focus on attracting people who are actually interested in the game.
Image credit: Hrvoje Horvatek
Make the campaign page clear and compelling
A strong campaign page takes substantial work. Harper recommends preparing a range of concept art, screenshots, gameplay videos, logos, GIFs, banners, and well-written copy. These materials should give visitors a quick, accurate understanding of the game and help them see what makes it distinctive.
Anna Hollinrake, co-founder of Electric Saint, says gameplay GIFs and striking artwork can make a page easier to explore. Her studio’s Crescent County raised nearly £95,000 on Kickstarter in 2025, more than twice its funding goal.
Hollinrake also recommends showing how the game is being made. Work-in-progress sketches and early ideas can help backers understand the creative process. Clear, genuine explanations of a project’s goals can help build trust with its community.
Image credit: Electric Saint
Check reward details before going live
Review each reward tier carefully before launch. Hollinrake says her team regretted not adding images to individual rewards, because those details could not be changed after backers had claimed them. Some campaign elements are difficult or impossible to revise once they have been selected, although additional rewards may be added later.
Before publishing, check reward descriptions, images, prices, and delivery expectations. A clear presentation helps supporters understand what they are backing and reduces the chance of avoidable confusion.
Set a realistic funding goal
Past successes can offer useful examples, but Bidaux warns against copying a campaign without understanding why it appealed to its audience. Poorly planned rewards, for example, can create problems even for projects that raise substantial sums.
Studios can also speak with Kickstarter’s Games team, which supports creators on the platform. For the funding target, Hollinrake describes weighing the minimum development time and fair wages needed to combine the work already completed into a full experience. A practical target should be tied to a defined scope and the costs required to deliver it—not simply set low to make a campaign appear more likely to succeed.
Is Kickstarter game funding right for your studio?
Kickstarter game funding remains a possible source of support, but it calls for meaningful preparation, a credible budget, a genuine community, and a campaign page that clearly presents the game. The figures from 2025 suggest that projects can still raise significant sums, while the experiences shared by developers underline the risks of unreliable pledges, weak preparation, and unrealistic targets.
Before launching, assess whether the game is ready to show, whether enough people are already interested, and whether the funding goal can support a deliverable plan. With careful research and realistic expectations, crowdfunding may help finance a project and strengthen its connection with players—but it should not be treated as guaranteed funding.
