RPGs Born From Kickstarter Campaigns

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Today, anyone can become a game developer, regardless of their budget. This is thanks to both improved, easy-to-use development tools and the rise of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, which make funding projects much simpler.

Kickstarter hasn’t always been successful, but many fantastic projects have been created thanks to the enthusiasm and support of people who wanted to see them happen.

We’re going to check out some of the more notable RPGs that came from Kickstarter campaigns.

8. Shenmue III

A Decades-Long Journey

Shenmue III was created with a lot of dedication and funded by fans through Kickstarter. It revived a series that hadn’t had a new game since the Sega Dreamcast, highlighting just how long it had been since the last installment.

This RPG is a unique blend of everyday life simulation and action-packed combat, making it one of the most original games ever created. When it first launched, it stood out because it combined a detailed, story-driven world with plenty of action – something rarely seen at the time.

The third game in the series created a split among players. Longtime fans of the original games generally loved it, but those used to more modern role-playing games found it felt outdated in several ways. While it was great to see the series return and please its original fanbase, another installment doesn’t seem likely in the near future.

7. Wasteland 2

The Original Wasteland

Wasteland 2 brought back a classic series after a 20-year hiatus. Though Fallout is more well-known today, Wasteland was the original post-apocalyptic RPG, and fans were eager to see the creators return to this world.

Wasteland 2 was a pioneering game, one of the earliest to successfully use Kickstarter funding. It played a huge role in bringing classic computer role-playing games (CRPGs) back into the spotlight. The game delivered engaging tactical battles, meaningful choices, and deep RPG mechanics. Although it didn’t achieve massive mainstream popularity, it anticipated the larger CRPG revival that followed a few years later.

While the graphics aren’t cutting-edge, this is a truly excellent RPG. It offers incredible freedom in how you approach challenges – you can fight your way through, talk to people, or rely on your skills. The game perfectly captures the atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world, and despite its often serious tone, it’s full of charm and even humor. It’s easily one of the best classic-style RPGs released in the last decade and well worth playing.

6. System Shock

Reviving Shodan

System Shock is a hugely important game, but when people started talking about a remake, major game companies weren’t immediately eager to take it on.

Ultimately, it was up to the fans to revive this incredible game for today’s players. Despite not having a huge budget, the result is a fantastic and captivating RPG that truly captures the essence of the original. While the visuals are updated, the game maintains the same sense of horror and offers a story that’s just as compelling.

The combat, both up close and with guns, feels significantly improved, and it’s given fans renewed hope for the series and the genre as a whole. This success is directly thanks to the support of the players, and we could see more games in the Shock series as a result.

5. Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Building a New Franchise

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a true throwback to classic role-playing games. With its overhead perspective, branching conversations, and extensive text, it’s clearly made by developers who are passionate about the CRPGs of the late 1990s. Players who enjoyed games like Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment were immediately drawn to it when Owlcat Games began development.

The game turned out incredibly well – a deep and extensive RPG with a fantastic combat system inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, and a story with many different ways to play. It offers tons of classic RPG enjoyment. The game’s engine was given a chance by fans, and now we’re seeing truly amazing games like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. So, if anyone doubts an RPG funded through Kickstarter, remind them of Pathfinder’s origins.

4. Darkest Dungeon

Funding Your Nightmares

Darkest Dungeon is a remarkably challenging RPG – it’s amazing to think it started as a Kickstarter project and has become so well-known. In the game, you lead a team of heroes on a dangerous journey through dungeons to defeat a powerful and terrible threat.

The hardest part of this game is that characters who die are gone for good. A small mistake can lead to total failure, and even if you play flawlessly, unexpected events can still happen – a character might betray the group, suffer a health crisis, or simply freeze up in battle due to fear.

This game evokes a uniquely bittersweet feeling – it’s both wonderful and heartbreaking, and can be quite confusing to experience. Despite this, it remains a truly iconic RPG from the 2010s, demonstrating what can happen when talented developers receive strong public support.

3. Divinity: Original Sin

Crowdfunding a Legend in the Making

Before Larian Studios became famous for their role-playing games, they were a small development team with limited success. They had a series called Divinity that consistently received decent scores – usually around 6 or 7 out of 10 – and they released quite a few games in the series, but none of them were major hits.

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The team decided to bring back classic computer role-playing games (CRPGs), but they needed funding and support from fans. A successful Kickstarter campaign allowed them to release Divinity: Original Sin. While the game wasn’t personally my favorite, it was a huge hit. It stood out for its fantastic combat, which let players interact with the environment in unique ways, and its excellent writing. It was a promising start, but Larian Studios truly cemented their reputation with their subsequent games.

This game’s strong performance allowed us to create a wonderful sequel, and ultimately secured the funding needed for an ambitious project like Baldur’s Gate 3.

2. Undertale

The One-Man Army

Undertale quickly became a beloved and famous game after its release, and it’s also one of the most successful projects ever funded through Kickstarter. While the game’s graphics are simple, as you might expect from an early Kickstarter title, it offers a surprisingly deep and rewarding experience.

This game offers a truly fascinating and meaningful adventure. It cleverly twists familiar ideas, features a remarkably inventive combat system, and lets you play through it in many different ways. It’s all thanks to the vision of a single creator, but they relied on support from players to bring it to life. The result is a truly exceptional and one-of-a-kind RPG experience.

1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

From Zero to Hero

Okay, so Kingdom Come: Deliverance is seriously a fantastic RPG. The production quality is amazing, and honestly, the voice acting and writing are some of the best I’ve ever experienced in a game. What blew my mind? It actually started as a Kickstarter project! I was shocked to find that out – it feels way bigger and more polished than most games funded that way.

When it was first released, the game boasted stunning graphics and felt like a top-tier, fully-funded production. The character models and animations were incredibly realistic for 2017, and the game was simply a joy to play. This is a particularly impressive Kickstarter success story – Warhorse Studios not only delivered on their promises but built a truly unique and now very popular franchise.

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2026-01-14 02:40