TIL that over 60% of board game Kickstarters actually lose money for the creator

I was reading this breakdown on a blog called Stonemaier's game design site, and it showed that something like 62% of board game Kickstarters never turn a profit once you factor in shipping and manufacturing. That blew my mind because I always assumed they were raking it in. So for every big hit like Gloomhaven or Frosthaven, there's dozens of smaller games that basically cost their creators thousands of dollars out of pocket. Has anyone here actually backed a campaign that ended up underwater like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellac9719d ago

Yeah that Staton thing about 62% losing money. I remember hearing a podcast where a guy broke down his Kickstarter costs. Shipping alone ate up like 30% of the funds. Plus manufacturing delays. Plus they had to pay for art and prototypes up front. So many indie creators just don't realize how much it costs to actually get the game made and shipped. It's brutal out there for small designers.

lily_schmidt5319d ago

Actually that Staton number is closer to 60% of board game Kickstarters that fail or lose money after all expenses. But yeah you're right about shipping being a killer. The real sneaky cost is fulfillment splitting - shipping to one warehouse is fine, but if you promised free shipping to backers worldwide you get hit with customs fees and different carrier rates everywhere. Plus inflation hit manufacturing hard in 2022-2023, so people who budgeted their project a year earlier got crushed when they actually had to print.