Top 10 Kickstarter Board Games In 2025
Kickstarter board games bring fresh ideas, unique gameplay, and fun for all skill levels. We’ve tried dozens of titles to find the top 10 Kickstarter board games that will make your game nights unforgettable.
These picks balance strategy, adventure, and easy-to-learn mechanics, so both new and experienced players can enjoy them. Here’s our list for 2025.
Best Kickstarter Board Games In 2025
Wingspan
Wingspan is a smooth, nature-themed board game where players compete to attract birds to their habitats. It’s simple to teach but offers strategic depth. Beautiful cards and artwork make it visually appealing. Perfect for families or casual gamers looking to try easy-to-learn board games with sophisticated mechanics underneath, Wingspan delivers an elegant experience that appeals to both newcomers and experienced players. The engine-building gameplay creates satisfying moments as your bird collection grows more powerful each round.
- Quick to learn with intuitive mechanics that make teaching new players a breeze
- Gorgeous artwork featuring beautifully illustrated birds and detailed components
- Limited player interaction may disappoint those seeking competitive confrontation
- Can feel repetitive after multiple plays despite strategic variety
Nemesis
Nemesis delivers sci-fi horror at your table. Players face alien threats while managing trust and survival in a tense spaceship environment. Every session is full of tension, drama, and unexpected twists as hidden objectives create paranoia among the crew. It’s chaotic but exciting—ideal for groups who love intense experiences where betrayal lurks around every corner. The atmospheric gameplay and detailed miniatures make this one of the most immersive horror experiences in modern board gaming.
- Suspenseful gameplay creates memorable moments of tension and surprise
- High replay value with varied objectives and unpredictable alien encounters
- Long setup time requires patience before the action begins
- Can be stressful for players who prefer lighter gaming experiences
Everdell
Everdell is charming yet strategic. Players build cities with adorable woodland critters, managing resources and timing their actions carefully. The 3D tree centerpiece adds visual flair to your table, while the rules remain beginner-friendly and accessible. This game blends simplicity and depth beautifully, earning it a well-deserved spot among the most beloved Kickstarter successes. Worker placement meets tableau building in a package that looks stunning and plays smoothly at all player counts.
- Easy to learn despite offering meaningful strategic decisions
- Beautiful components including the iconic tree and detailed cards
- Setup can be slow with sorting cards and arranging components
- Competition can feel tight with limited worker placement spots
Frosthaven
Frosthaven is the cooler, harsher version of Gloomhaven. Players explore frozen wastelands, fight dangerous enemies, and complete challenging scenarios in a frost-covered world. The game is massive, with rich storytelling and deeply strategic combat that rewards careful planning. Perfect for those wanting a long-term adventure that stands among the best cooperative RPG board games, Frosthaven delivers hundreds of hours of tactical gameplay with meaningful progression and memorable moments.
- Deep campaign with evolving storyline and character progression
- High replayability thanks to branching paths and numerous scenarios
- Very heavy box requires dedicated shelf space and strong arms
- Complex rules create a steep learning curve for new players
Sleeping Gods
Sleeping Gods offers a massive, narrative-driven journey across mysterious islands. Players explore uncharted territories, make consequential choices, and experience a shared story that unfolds through exploration and discovery. Every session feels fresh with branching paths, and the cooperative gameplay is deeply immersive. It’s a standout among cooperative adventure board games for those seeking epic quests and meaningful decision-making in an open-world setting.
- Huge story content provides countless hours of exploration and discovery
- Cooperative fun encourages meaningful teamwork and shared experiences
- Long playtime demands significant commitment from your gaming group
- Can be overwhelming with numerous mechanics and systems to track
Scythe
Scythe combines alternate-history themes with resource management and strategic combat. The miniatures are beautiful, and the strategy is deeply rewarding as players carefully plan their moves. Players enjoy expanding territories, managing economies, and balancing calculated risks in this unique 1920s Eastern European setting. A must-play with its asymmetric factions and multiple paths to victory, Scythe offers a rich strategic experience that rewards both aggressive and peaceful playstyles.
- Strategic depth rewards careful planning and multiple playstyles
- Stunning components including detailed miniatures and artwork
- Moderate learning curve requires time investment to master
- Longer game time may not suit casual gaming sessions
Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is legendary for its story-driven gameplay and tactical combat system. Players explore dangerous dungeons, fight challenging enemies, and level up characters in a richly detailed fantasy world. Its massive box promises countless weekends of entertainment with branching storylines and deep character development. Definitely featured in any list of the best cooperative board games, Gloomhaven revolutionized campaign gaming with its innovative card-based combat and persistent world.
- Rich story unfolds through an epic campaign with meaningful choices
- Cooperative fun brings players together for memorable adventures
- Very heavy components make storage and transport challenging
- Long setup time can delay getting into the action
Burgle Bros. 2: The Casino Capers
Burgle Bros. 2 is a fun heist game with modular boards and clever challenges. Players sneak past guards and avoid traps in an exciting casino setting filled with security systems. The game is lighter than most heavy hitters on this list, but still engaging and entertaining with its puzzle-like gameplay. Perfect for groups seeking cooperative teamwork without overwhelming complexity, this sequel improves on the original with refined mechanics and increased replayability.
- Fast-paced action keeps tension high throughout each heist
- Easy rules make teaching and playing with new groups simple
- Limited player count restricts group size options
- Short gameplay may leave experienced gamers wanting more depth
The 7th Continent
The 7th Continent is an epic exploration game where players face mysteries, monsters, and survival challenges on a cursed island. Its choose-your-own-adventure style makes each playthrough unique with branching paths and meaningful consequences. Ideal for groups wanting immersive experiences with deep exploration mechanics, this game creates a true sense of discovery as you piece together the continent’s secrets. The massive card-based world provides hundreds of hours of gameplay across multiple curses.
- Vast exploration offers genuine sense of adventure and discovery
- Replayable adventures with multiple curses providing unique challenges
- Very long sessions require significant time blocks to play
- Complex setup involves sorting through hundreds of cards
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
Tainted Grail mixes dark fantasy with strategic choices in a twisted Arthurian setting. Players navigate a grim medieval world full of challenging quests and terrifying monsters. It’s story-heavy and deeply atmospheric, creating one of the most memorable narrative experiences available. Featured among the best cooperative storytelling board games, Tainted Grail delivers mature themes and complex moral choices that will stay with you long after the campaign ends.
- Deep story with mature themes and complex character development
- Immersive art creates an atmospheric and unforgettable experience
- Steep learning curve challenges new players initially
- Heavy box and numerous components require dedicated storage space
This list of the top 10 Kickstarter board games for 2025 ensures a mix of strategy, adventure, and family fun. Whether you’re looking for epic campaigns, cute critters, or tense heists, these games have something for everyone.
