Industry experts share their advice for running a successful Kickstarter campaign, why studios need to be wary of scammers, and why GIFs are vital to success

We might be long past the days of games companies raising eye-watering figures on Kickstarter, but the platform is still a viable way to raise money to fund – at last part of – your game.

Research from Ico Partners' Thomas Bidaux shows that in 2025, games companies raised $26 million on Kickstarter – level with 2024's figures, and one of the more successful years since the last big Kickstarter boom in 2015.

Last year, 443 video game projects were successfully funded on Kickstarter, a minor reduction (4%) from 2024's figures. 55 game projects raised over $100,000 in 2025, while 11 made over $500,000.

"Last time there were so many $500k-plus projects was in 2015," Bidaux says. "There are early indicators that 2026 will be in line with the 2025 pace. Kickstarter is not funding the whole video games industry, but there are good opportunities for the projects going on the platform."

David Harper, the MD of Skyhook Games, which recently took to Kickstarter to secure funding for Lawn Mowing Simulator 2, says that although crowdfunding has never been an easy option, there are different "background challenges" that can have an impact on a project's success.

"Gamers can be paralysed by choice," Harper says.

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