How Much Does a Kickstarter Campaign Really Cost in 2025? A Realistic Breakdown for RPG Creators

We created this post after watching this incredibly detailed breakdown by LaunchBoom, one of the leading Kickstarter strategy agencies. If you're serious about crowdfunding your RPG or board game in 2025, their insights are essential—and we’re sharing them here with commentary and examples tailored specifically to our RPG community.

Launching a tabletop RPG, board game, or any geeky dream project on Kickstarter is more accessible than ever—but running a successful campaign? That’s a different beast entirely.

In 2025, launching a campaign is technically free. But building a campaign that actually raises serious money—the kind that funds books, minis, maps, art, printing, shipping, and your time—comes with real, unavoidable costs.

We dug into recent successful campaigns like Vicious Gardens ($555k raised), Desk Nest ($468k), and Loca Chai Maker ($626k), and pulled insights from LaunchBoom, a top crowdfunding consultancy. Whether you’re planning to launch your indie TTRPG, a 5e monster compendium, or a new card-based dungeon crawler, this breakdown will help you understand where your budget needs to go—and why.

1. Product Photography – Your First Impression

Cost Range: $100 – $2,500

This isn’t optional. In 2025, even the most niche backer expects your Kickstarter page to look polished. Think of product photos as your first handshake.

• DIY: Decent photos are possible with good lighting and a smartphone. Total: ~$600.
• Services like Suna: Ship your product in, get polished shots for ~$500–$1,000.
• Pro Photographers: $750–$2,500, but they’ll act like creative partners—not just button-pushers.

Tip: Use the “Photo Pyramid”—studio shots (base), lifestyle/location photos (middle), and action shots (top). Show the product, then show it in use.

2. Video – It’s an Ad, Not a Documentary

Cost Range: $100 – $15,000

Most creators overthink this and overspend. A campaign video should sell, not impress.

• DIY: Use your camera/phone, a lav mic, tripod, softbox lighting, and free editing software. Cost: $100–$500.
• Freelancers: $2,000–$5,000 for filming + editing.
• Agencies: $5,000–$15,000, but beware diminishing returns.

Great videos hook you in 5 seconds with a clear problem and show how your game solves it. Think: “Tired of one-shot sessions that go nowhere? Meet Strigovia.”

3. Page Design & Copywriting – The Core of Your Campaign

Cost Range: $0 – $5,000+

If the video gets attention, the page closes the deal.

• DIY: Tools like ChatGPT + Canva (free or $15/month) work well. Use templates from successful campaigns.
• Freelancers: ~$600–$1,200 for copy, $800–$2,000 for graphics.
• Agencies: $5,000+ for all-in-one services.

Don’t underestimate this: most backers skim your page before pledging. Make sure it's clear, beautiful, and tells a story that pulls people into your world.

4. Advertising & Marketing – The Invisible Engine

Cost Range: $2,000 – $60,000+

This is where the magic (and money) happens. Your amazing RPG won't matter if no one sees it.

• Start with a $2,000 test budget to see how well your ads convert.
• If cost per email is low (e.g. <$3), scale up. Successful campaigns spend 10–20% of total funds raised on ads.
• Example: Loca Chai Maker spent $60,000 on ads and raised $626,000.

Pre-launch is critical. Use lead magnets, VIP tiers, and email list-building to create a fanbase before you launch.

5. Campaign Management – Doing It All or Getting Help

Cost Range: $0 – $50,000+

You're not just launching a game—you’re running a mini-business. The more you outsource, the more it costs.

• Self-managed: Free, but you'll need to master video, marketing, design, and logistics.
• Guided support (e.g. LaunchBoom Accelerator): $4,000–$12,000, great for first-timers.
• Full-service agencies: $25,000+ plus ad budget plus a percentage of your funds raised.

If you have time and hustle, do what Vicious Gardens did: invest smartly in areas you can't DIY and lean on support where needed.

So… What’s the Total?

Here’s a quick breakdown of possible Kickstarter budgets:

Final Thoughts for RPG Creators

You don’t need to spend $50k to run a killer campaign—but you do need to spend strategically.

Ask yourself:

• Do I have the time to learn marketing and media skills?
• Am I building a list of potential backers before I launch?
• Is my game visually compelling from the first glance?
• Am I ready to treat this campaign like a business?

If yes—you’re on the right path.