A decade ago, crowdfunding felt like a gamble. Now, it’s helped bankroll some of the biggest games ever made. What started as a risky experiment quickly turned into a launchpad for some of the biggest, boldest, and most expensive projects in gaming history. From nostalgic revivals to ambitious space sims, these real campaigns prove that players are willing to fund the games they believe in, sometimes with jaw-dropping results. Here are 19 crowdfunded games that raised truly insane amounts of money.
1. Star Citizen
Amount Raised: $600+ million (ongoing)
No crowdfunded game comes close to Star Citizen. Originally launched on Kickstarter in 2012, the space simulation project expanded to its own funding platform and has raised over $600 million from backers. It remains the most funded crowdfunding project of any kind in history.
2. Shenmue III
Amount Raised: $6.3 million (Kickstarter)
When Yu Suzuki announced the long-awaited sequel at E3 2015, fans erupted. The Kickstarter campaign broke records at the time, becoming one of the fastest projects to hit $1 million and ultimately raising over $6 million.
3. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Amount Raised: $5.5 million
Created by former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi, Bloodstained tapped directly into fan nostalgia. It hit its funding goal in a matter of hours and kept climbing, eventually landing among the biggest game Kickstarters ever.
4. Pillars of Eternity
Amount Raised: $4 million
Obsidian Entertainment revived classic isometric RPGs with this massively successful campaign. Backers helped prove there was still huge demand for old-school role-playing experiences.
5. Mighty No. 9
Amount Raised: $3.8 million
Marketed as a spiritual successor to Mega Man, the project generated enormous hype. It became one of the highest-funded game campaigns of its time.
6. Double Fine Adventure (Broken Age)
Amount Raised: $3.3 million
Tim Schafer’s campaign was a turning point for Kickstarter. It showed that major industry veterans could successfully bypass traditional publishers and connect directly with fans.
7. Torment: Tides of Numenera
Amount Raised: $4.1 million
Branded as the spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, this RPG campaign became one of Kickstarter’s fastest-funded projects in gaming history.
8. Project Eternity (Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire via Fig)
Amount Raised: $4.4 million (combined Fig + investment)
The sequel built on the success of the first game, raising millions through Fig, a platform that allowed both backing and investment.
9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Amount Raised: $2 million (Kickstarter)
Warhorse Studios raised funds to create a realistic medieval RPG with no dragons or magic, and fans were fully on board with the vision.
10. Wasteland 2
Amount Raised: $3 million
Brian Fargo returned to his roots with this sequel to the 1988 classic. It became one of Kickstarter’s early breakout success stories.
11. Exploding Kittens (Card Game, Digital Tie-Ins)
Amount Raised: $8.7 million
While primarily a card game, its massive crowdfunding success, the most backed project in Kickstarter history at the time, helped fuel digital expansions and adaptations.
12. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Amount Raised: $4.5 million
A spiritual successor to Suikoden, this RPG quickly became one of the most funded games on Kickstarter thanks to overwhelming fan demand.
13. The Banner Saga
Amount Raised: $720,000+
Though smaller than others on this list, it massively exceeded its goal and helped launch a trilogy praised for its art style and tactical combat.
14. Yooka-Laylee
Amount Raised: $3.1 million
Developed by former Banjo-Kazooie creators, this colorful platformer soared past its funding target within hours.
15. Ouya
Amount Raised: $8.6 million
Though technically a console rather than a single game, Ouya became one of Kickstarter’s biggest gaming success stories in 2012. The Android-based microconsole promised a revolution in affordable gaming and raised over $8.5 million from more than 60,000 backers, making it one of the most funded gaming hardware projects ever on the platform.
16. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Amount Raised: $2 million+
Following the success of Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Owlcat Games once again turned to fans for major financial backing.
17. Psychonauts 2
Amount Raised: $3.8 million
Double Fine returned to crowdfunding via Fig for this sequel. The campaign combined traditional backing with investment opportunities.
18. Hollow Knight
Amount Raised: $57,000 (but became a global hit)
While modest compared to others here, its massive post-launch success proves that even smaller crowdfunding campaigns can launch industry-defining games.
19. Divinity: Original Sin
Amount Raised: $944,000+
Larian Studios used crowdfunding to prove there was still demand for deep, turn-based RPGs — a move that ultimately paved the way for their later blockbuster success with Baldur’s Gate 3.
Crowdfunding has produced everything from massive triumphs to controversial delays, but one thing is certain: players have proven time and time again that they’re willing to put serious money behind the games they believe in.
