10 of the most successful Kickstarter RPG campaigns of all time

By Carrie D. Langton January 30, 2022

A wooden chess set with light and dark pieces arranged at the start of a game on a folding board, shot against a plain white background

Kickstarter is a hugely popular crowdfunding site used by all kinds of startup projects, and tabletop roleplaying games have found an especially enthusiastic audience there. Over the years, several RPG campaigns have shattered expectations, raising millions of dollars and reshaping the hobby. Here are ten of the most successful Kickstarter RPG campaigns of all time.

10. The One Ring

The One Ring is a new version of the Lord of the Rings role-playing game, bringing Middle-earth to the tabletop with updated mechanics and stunning production values. The campaign drew legions of Tolkien fans and surpassed its funding goal many times over.

9. Heliana's Guide to Monster Hunting

Heliana's Guide to Monster Hunting lets players hunt monsters and use their coins, adding a crafting and harvesting layer to 5e-compatible gameplay. Backers responded enthusiastically to its vibrant art style and inventive rules.

8. Tanares RPG for 5e

Tanares RPG for 5e brought in some of the hobby's heavy hitters, featuring an epic campaign setting with lavish illustrations, miniatures, and a sprawling adventure path designed for fifth edition.

7. Strongholds and Followers

Strongholds and Followers offered a different style of D&D, introducing domain-level play where characters build keeps, attract retainers, and wage warfare. The book's success helped launch a new wave of third-party 5e supplements.

6. Dungeon Alchemist

Dungeon Alchemist is a new way to draw maps, using AI-assisted tools to generate detailed battle maps in minutes. Game masters praised its speed and the quality of its output.

5. Hero Forge 2.0

Hero Forge 2.0 updated the popular custom miniature tool with color printing, new posing options, and an expanded library of assets. The campaign demonstrated the enduring demand for personalized tabletop miniatures.

4. Reaper Miniatures Bones

Reaper Miniatures Bones is still very popular, with multiple Kickstarter iterations delivering huge assortments of affordable plastic miniatures. Each Bones campaign reliably ranks among the most-funded tabletop projects.

These campaigns highlight the creativity and community support that define the tabletop RPG space. Whether you are a dungeon master looking for new tools or a player hunting for fresh worlds to explore, Kickstarter continues to be a vital launchpad for ambitious gaming projects.