Kickstarter's The Creative Download 2024 - Analysis with Focus on TTRPG Projects
1. Overview of Games and Tabletop Crowdfunding Performance in 2024
The Games category had a record-breaking year, leading all other categories in crowdfunding. Tabletop games, particularly TTRPGs, played a major role in this success.
Key Figures for Games on Kickstarter (2024)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total pledged to Games category | $270M |
| Total pledged to Tabletop Games | $220M (83% of Games category) |
| Number of launched Tabletop projects | 6,646 |
| Number of successfully funded Tabletop projects | 5,314 |
| Success rate for Tabletop projects | 80% (Highest in Kickstarter history) |
| Number of million-dollar campaigns in Games | 36 |
➡️ Takeaway: Tabletop Games (including TTRPGs) dominated the gaming sector on Kickstarter, with an exceptionally high success rate of 80%—the highest in Kickstarter's 15-year history.
2. Top-Funded TTRPG Projects in 2024
The highest-funded tabletop project in 2024 was Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere RPG, which set a new Kickstarter record.
Top 2024 TTRPG Campaigns
| Rank | Project | Total Raised | Backers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1st | Cosmere RPG (Brandon Sanderson, Brotherwise Games) | $15.1M | 55,106 |
| 2nd | Unknown Armies Remastered | $3.4M | 22,034 |
| 3rd | The Darkest Dungeon RPG Expansion | $2.9M | 18,642 |
➡️ Takeaway: Cosmere RPG became the highest-funded tabletop game in Kickstarter history, showing the continued power of RPG franchises when paired with established creators.
3. Growth of Digital TTRPGs and 3D Printing
A new trend in digital-only rewards emerged strongly in 2024, particularly in STL files for 3D-printed miniatures.
Key Trends in Digital TTRPG Crowdfunding
| Trend | Growth Indicator |
|---|---|
| STL files for 3D-printed miniatures | 📈 Rapid adoption among TTRPG creators |
| Digital rulebooks and virtual tabletop integrations | 📈 More campaigns offer FoundryVTT & Roll20 support |
| Collector’s Editions | 📈 Surge in deluxe, foil-covered RPG books |
➡️ Takeaway: More TTRPG creators are offering digital STL files and virtual tabletop content, allowing players to print their own miniatures and access their RPGs digitally.
4. Cities with the Most RPG and Game Pledges
Seattle once again emerged as the top city for pledges to gaming projects.
Top Cities for TTRPG Backing
| Rank | City | Contribution to Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Seattle | #1 in total game pledges |
| 2nd | London | Strongest growth in tabletop funding |
| 3rd | Los Angeles | Large backer base for RPGs |
➡️ Takeaway: Seattle remains the #1 Kickstarter city for TTRPGs, while London and Los Angeles are becoming major funding hubs.
5. Growth of TTRPG Campaign Success
The success rate for tabletop RPG projects is at an all-time high.
Success Rates by Year for Tabletop RPGs
| Year | Success Rate |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 72% |
| 2023 | 76% |
| 2024 | 80% (Highest ever) |
➡️ Takeaway: The increasing success rate shows that backers are more willing to support TTRPG creators than ever before.
6. The Future of TTRPG Crowdfunding
Based on trends from The Creative Download 2024, TTRPG crowdfunding will likely continue growing in these areas:
- More Million-Dollar TTRPGs → Established creators will dominate.
- Higher Digital Integration → More STL files, VTT modules, and digital-only RPGs.
- Greater Backer Interest in Collector’s Editions → Deluxe editions with gold-foil printing and exclusive art.
- More Cities Joining the RPG Boom → Berlin and Denver have shown rapid growth in game crowdfunding.
Conclusion
TTRPGs had their biggest year ever on Kickstarter in 2024, with record-breaking funding, higher success rates, and new trends in digital content and 3D printing. If these trends continue, 2025 could be even bigger for RPG crowdfunding.
For RPG Drop.com readers, this means:
- More high-quality TTRPG campaigns
- Better success rates for indie RPG projects
- New funding trends, including STL miniatures and deluxe editions
