RPGs Born From Kickstarter Campaigns

In this modern era of gaming, developers of all kinds of budgets have been able to join the ranks. Part of that is due to better and more accessible tools than ever before, and the other reason is because of amazing crowdfunding sources like Kickstarter.

While there have certainly been some misfires to be sure, there have also been some great projects born from Kickstarter that came to life solely because the players wanted to see them brought into existence.

We're going to check out some of the more notable RPGs that came from Kickstarter campaigns.

8 Shenmue III

A Decades-Long Journey

Shenmue III was a labor of love, and one that was brought to life through Kickstarter by passion for a long dormant franchise that last saw a release on the Sega Dreamcast for an idea of how silent it's been.

It's an RPG that is half slice of life game and fighting, and it's one of the more bizarre and unique games ever made. It was a remarkable game when the first one came out in an era where open cities to explore and a heavy focus on narrative were not synonymous with games featuring a lot of action as well.

The third game, though, was pretty divisive. For fans of the first 2 games, they were likely thrilled, but for fans of modern RPGs, it felt pretty archaic in multiple areas. Ultimately, it was a welcome return to a long-gone franchise that at least kept the fans of the original games happy, but it's unlikely we'll see another one anytime soon.

7 Wasteland 2

The Original Wasteland

Wasteland 2 is a revival of a game that was dormant for over 20 years when it released. While Fallout is a bigger name undoubtedly, it was Wasteland that came first in the world of post-apocalyptic RPGs. The fans knew this and wanted to see the original masters of the nuclear-ridden world return.

It's one of the first notable games to get a Kickstarter campaign, and thankfully it did, because it brought the CRPG genre back in a big way. The tactical combat, the choices, the intensive RPG elements, were all back with Wasteland 2, and while it wasn't the most popular game, in a way, it was ahead of its time as the CRPG revival would happen just a few years later.

It's modest in the graphics department, but despite that, it's a fantastic RPG, with tons of ways to go through situations, either guns blazing, or by talking your way through things or using your various skills to get the job done. It nails the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world perfectly, and while it's pretty dark most of the time, there is a ton of charm and even some humor here. As far as CRPGs in the past 10+ years, this is definitely one of the better ones to check out.

6 System Shock

Reviving Shodan

System Shock is one of the most influential games of all time, but when the idea of it being remade became a thing, it wasn't like all the big studios were sprinting to be the ones to do it.

Instead, it was on the fans to make this amazing game again in the modern era. While it obviously isn't the biggest budget that it was made with, the result is an awesome, immersive RPG that brings the spirit of the original into the game in a big way. The look and feel of the game is a little bit different than the original, but the horror is the same, and the story is just as good.

The melee combat and the gunplay all feel much better, and it seems to have reignited the belief in the series and that genre in general, so we might be hearing more from the Shock franchise, and that's because the fans made it happen.

5 Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Building a New Franchise

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is as old school as it gets, from its isometric view, to the dialogue trees and the thorough amount of reading required, this game was made by those who loved the CRPG era of the late 90s PC games. Fans who loved games like Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, and the like flocked when Owlcat started building this one.

The result was fantastic, though, with a lengthy and in-depth RPG with a great combat system based on the DND formula and a wealth of paths to take in the story. You can find hours and hours of great, old-school RPG greatness here. The fans gave this little engine a chance, and suddenly, we're getting legit masterpieces like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. So next time someone scoffs at a Kickstarter RPG, make sure they know where Pathfinder came from.

4 Darkest Dungeon

Funding Your Nightmares

Darkest Dungeon is one of the most brutal RPGs I've ever played, and the fact that this was a Kickstarter game is just a shock considering how iconic a title it has become. For the uninitiated, Darkest Dungeon is a game where you and your squad of heroes explore various dungeons on your quest to expel a great evil.

The most brutal part of the game is the permadeath feature for all of your characters. The slightest slip-up can spell your doom, and even if you do everything perfectly, the game can just decide it's time for one of your characters to turn on another one, or have a heart attack, or just refuse to attack the enemy out of fear.

It's an amazing and painful experience in what is one of the more confusing feelings one can have while playing a game. Regardless, it's one of the true iconic RPGs of the 2010s and an example of how great something can be when the public gets behind talented creators.

3 Divinity: Original Sin

Crowdfunding a Legend in the Making

Before Larian was the king of the RPG world, they were a small developer with barely any recognizable success. They had one notable series, called Divinity, which routinely floated in the 6-7 range and churned out a surprising number of games, but none of them ever hit.

Then came their idea to revive the CRPG genre. But to do it, they needed a Kickstarter campaign and a ton of help from fans who wanted that genre back. So the public backed it, and Divinity: Original Sin was released, and while it wasn't really my cup of tea, it was a rousing success. Despite the somewhat goofy tone, the amazing environmental interaction within the combat was fantastic, and the writing was a standout in particular. It was the start of something special, but it wouldn't be till the next couple of games by Larian that they would receive their crown.

The big success of this game laid the foundation for the absolutely fantastic sequel and eventually, the budget to take on a project as important as Baldur's Gate 3.

2 Undertale

The One-Man Army

Undertale is one of the most well-known games in the gaming world since Toby Fox unveiled it to the world, and it's one of the most popular Kickstarter games of all time. Visually, it's exactly what you'd expect from a Kickstarter game. However, this game is the definition of more than meets the eye.

Your exploration through this strange world is one of the more interesting and profound journeys out there. The subversion of tropes, the incredibly creative combat system, the multiple routes to go through the game, it's all so great, and it's well known that one man is behind the controls of its creation. Still, he couldn't have done it without crowdfunding, and the result is one of the best and most unique RPGs you'll ever play.

1 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

From Zero to Hero

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an awesome RPG with considerable production values and some of the best voice acting and writing of any series. However, you may be shocked to know it's one of Kickstarter's shining achievements.

It had incredible graphics when it came out and seemed like a triple-A production in just about every way. The character animations and faces were as realistic as they got in the year 2017, and it's remarkable just how good it felt to play. As far as Kickstarters go, this is easily one of the most impactful, as Warhorse Studios took the ball and ran with it to fuel this franchise into becoming something that is unique and now, wildly successful on top of it.