At Hero Time, we’ve worked with countless game creators who have taken their passion projects from an idea to a fully realized board game. One of the most exciting—and often daunting—steps in this process is launching a crowdfunding campaign. Whether you’re using Kickstarter, Gamefound, or another platform, crowdfunding can provide the resources needed to bring your vision to life. Having seen many successful campaigns (and a few that struggled), we’ve learned what makes a campaign truly work.

 

Understanding Your Audience and Market

Before you even think about launching, you need to understand your audience. Who is going to play your game? What makes it unique compared to others? Market research is crucial, and engaging with potential backers early—whether through social media, conventions, or online forums—will set you up for success. We’ve seen creators who engage with their audience months before launch build momentum that carries their campaign far beyond their funding goal.

 

Developing a Strong Prototype

You don’t need to have a fully manufactured game before launching your campaign, but having a high-quality prototype is a must. Backers want to see exactly what they’re getting. A well-produced prototype gives reviewers, influencers, and playtesters something to showcase. At Hero Time, we help many creators by producing high-quality prototypes, ensuring that they make a strong impression before manufacturing even begins. If you’re looking to create a prototype that truly represents your vision, reach out to us—we’re here to help!

 

Crafting a Compelling Campaign Page

Your campaign page is your storefront, and first impressions matter. A good campaign page should clearly explain your game, how it’s played, and why people should back it. High-quality images, an engaging video, and a well-structured description are key. The most successful campaigns tell a story—why you created this game, the passion behind it, and how backers become part of something special.

 

Pricing and Stretch Goals

One of the biggest challenges in crowdfunding is setting the right funding goal. If your goal is too low, you may not have enough funds to cover production and fulfillment. If it’s too high, you risk discouraging potential backers. Careful cost planning is essential to strike the right balance.

Learn how to price your board game effectively. The first step is researching similar games in the market to establish a competitive price—backers are less likely to support a game that is significantly more expensive than well-known titles. The next step is working backward to determine your manufacturing cost, ideally keeping it within 15-25% of the retail price. For example, if you plan to sell your game for $50, your production cost should fall between $7.50 and $12.50. Adjusting materials, components, or order quantities can help you stay within budget without compromising quality. Our project managers are available to guide you in finding the perfect balance.

Stretch goals can keep the campaign exciting and encourage additional pledges, but they need to be well thought out. Adding too many extras can lead to production delays and increased costs, making it harder to fulfill promises to backers.

 

Building a Community Before Launch

The most successful campaigns don’t start from zero. Months before launching, it’s important to build an engaged audience. Creating a mailing list, running social media ads, and interacting with board game communities online can help you develop a group of excited potential backers. Many creators also launch a pre-campaign landing page to collect email signups and gauge interest.

 

Managing Production and Fulfillment

Securing funding is just the beginning, the real work begins. Manufacturing and fulfillment can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. This is where choosing the right manufacturing partner makes all the difference. The number one killer of crowdfunding projects is bad reviews. If your game starts receiving negative feedback for quality, more backers will follow suit, creating a ripple effect that can severely impact your reputation. Crowdfunding backers are especially critical, and once trust is lost, it’s difficult to regain.

At Hero Time, we’ve worked with first-time creators and large publishers alike, guiding them through production with transparency, quality control, and reliable timelines. Choosing the right manufacturer ensures your backers receive a game they love, increasing the likelihood of a successful future campaign. If your first game is a hit, you can continue creating more. However, if it gets buried by bad reviews, your chances of running a successful second campaign diminish. We make sure that your game is produced to the highest standards, so your backers stay happy and excited for what’s next.

Logistics, shipping, and fulfillment need careful planning. Whether you’re handling fulfillment yourself or using a third-party service, having a clear plan prevents costly mistakes. If you need guidance, we’re always here to help simplify the process.

 

Communication with Backers

Transparency is key. Keep your backers updated throughout the entire process. Delays happen, and things don’t always go as planned, but backers appreciate honesty. Regular updates, behind-the-scenes content, and engagement with your community can turn one-time backers into lifelong supporters of your future projects.

 

Final Thoughts

Launching a crowdfunding campaign is a journey, and it requires careful planning, community building, and a clear execution strategy. We’ve seen game creators achieve incredible success when they take the time to prepare properly. At Hero Time, we’re passionate about helping creators bring their board game ideas to life, and we’d love to be part of your journey. If you’re preparing for a crowdfunding campaign and need help with manufacturing, reach out to us—we’re always happy to chat!

Your board game deserves to be made right, and we’re here to make sure that happens.