8 of the best board games funded with Kickstarter

In an age when everything else is digital, board games seem to be more popular than ever. Here’s a look at some of the coolest new arrivals from Kickstarter.

8 of the best board games funded with Kickstarter
  • Why are board games so popular? Playing board games is a really social activity and there’s something for everyone.
  • What’s the best board game for beginners? If you’re a new player, try Clue or Pandemic for a quick burst of fun.
  • Why do board games launch on Kickstarter? Launching a board game is a risky business. By using Kickstarter, publishers can use crowdfunding to make sales before investing big bucks.

As our lives become increasingly virtual, you might expect board games to fade away. But if anything, this genre has hit new heights in the past few years — in part thanks to crowdfunding. To celebrate this success, we decided to pick out some of the board board games from Kickstarter.

coolest board games 04

Fun times ahead! (Credit: Lackland Air Force Base)

What are the most overfunded board games on Kickstarter?

Although successful crowdfunding is no measure of coolness, it’s hard to discount these super-successful board game projects.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster-15?ref=video

Kingdom Death: Monster 1.5

This co-operative horror game raked in over $12m from over 19,000 backers, making it the most funded board game ever on Kickstarter. It’s largely a game of chance, but there is good replay value for experienced players, with detailed stories to follow, and compelling characters.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1926712971/the-7th-continent-what-goes-up-must-come-down?ref=video

The 7th Continent

For anyone who loves adventure, this co-operative game is like a treasure trove. It provides players with over 1000 hours of fantasy fun, based around a fictitious land in the sky. Unsurprisingly, the game was very successful on Kickstarter, raising $7m of funding from more than 43,000 backers.

[tweet_box]Here’s a look at some of the best board games from Kickstarter[/tweet_box]

What are the best board games on Kickstarter?

Coolness is pretty hard to quantify, so you’ll just have to rely on our (excellent) judgment. Here are the board games that have caught our attention lately.

Jackal Archipelago

If you’ve ever fancied being a pirate — the “arrr” kind, not the sneaky downloader type — you need to try this game. You play as three pirates, as they explore Treasure Island, battling enemies and looking for gold. Archipelago is all about tactics, and your pirates carry acquired skills from one game to the next.

Tortuga 1667

Although Tortuga is another pirate-based game, it is completely different to play. Each game takes between 20 and 40 minutes, and it’s all about treachery. As one player put it: “I don’t trust my friends any more. But I love this game.”

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blacklistgames/brook-city

Brook City

It might have raised only $74k on Kickstarter, but we reckon this gritty co-operative game is a dark horse. You take the role of cops in a city with Grand Theft Auto levels of crime. Actually, Brook City has a very similar visual style to the GTA series — you even “drive” cars around the board.

Lightning & Bolt

This asymmetric adventure is specifically designed to allow younger kids to play alongside their parents, with a suitable difficulty level for both parties. There were only 100 packs available in the Kickstarter campaign, but we’re hoping more will be published in future.

Subatomic

This awesome game is based around particle physics and chemistry. Sound boring? You couldn’t be more wrong. Subatomic has received some great reviews from playtesters, and it’s a fun way to learn about science.

Noises at Night

Strictly speaking, Noises at Night is a card game — but it’s too good to leave out. It plays like a simplified version of Clue, with a story about a little boy exploring his Grandpa’s spooky house. Each game takes only 15 minutes, and it’s suitable for anyone aged six and above.

What’s your favorite board game? Tell us in the comments!

Mark is best known for writing about apps, but he also loves the tactile, hardware side of technology. Being a professional photographer, he's pretty handy with a camera, and he's a self-confessed tweetaholic.
Join the Discussion

You Might Also Like

The iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2: Precision Productivity for the Demanding Professional
The iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2: Precision Productivity for the Demanding Professional
In an era of constant notifications, open tabs, and scattered thoughts, organizing information has become more valuable than simply capturing it. For professionals navigating multilingual meetings, dense research, or critical interviews, turning raw input into meaningful action is the challenge...
Smart kitchen faucet skeptic? These 8 picks totally won me over
Smart kitchen faucet skeptic? These 8 picks totally won me over
I write about new gadgets for a living. And while I love sharing the latest tech news with you, when it comes to my own stuff, I tend to stick with the tried and true. So when a friend suggested..
These pro-grade laser cutters let you create custom projects from home or your studio
These pro-grade laser cutters let you create custom projects from home or your studio
Turn Your Ideas Into Precision-Crafted Products Ever wished you could make your own signage, personalized gifts, prototypes, or decor all with a professional-grade finish? Whether you’re a designer, small business owner, educator, or hobbyist, laser cutting machines open the door..
How is Perplexity AI different? Inside the AI assistant everyone’s talking about
How is Perplexity AI different? Inside the AI assistant everyone’s talking about
Since ChatGPT came out in 2022, it’s become my go-to productivity buddy. I rely on it to help me gather ideas and keep things organized. But just last week, I read that Samsung might soon add Perplexity AI’s search tech..
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Review: Premium Hype or the Real Gaming Headset?
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Review: Premium Hype or the Real Gaming Headset?
Well, well, It feels like we’ve seen it all. Those slick-looking headsets sitting at the top of every “Best Gaming Headsets” list. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has been one of those for a while now, and it’s not..
Why my phone case now has a side hustle as a storage drive
Why my phone case now has a side hustle as a storage drive
A deep dive into SIGRACEN: the 4-in-1 phone case that promises to do more than protect your phone. I never thought I’d say this, but my phone case might just be smarter than my actual phone. And not because it..