Board Game

5 Board Game Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Ever thought about turning your love for board games into a business? Launching a board game business involves designing unique games that captivate players and create memorable experiences.

You'll need to brainstorm innovative concepts, develop engaging gameplay mechanics, and test prototypes extensively. Once your game has a solid foundation, look into manufacturing options and consider crowdfunding to handle production costs.

This venture is both creatively fulfilling and commercially viable, offering a chance to bring joy to countless households. If you're passionate about games and looking to invest in a rewarding project, starting a board game business could be the perfect avenue for your entrepreneurial spirit.

In this list, you'll find real-world board game success stories and very profitable examples of starting a board game that makes money.

1. Continuum Games ($3M/year)

Greg Hughes, the founder of Continuum Games, Inc, came up with the idea for his business when he developed a card game called Discombobulation. Wanting to pursue his passion for games and toys, he quickly expanded his product line and launched a specialty toy distribution network. Today, the company generates $250k per month in the offseason, and up to $600k per month during peak season.

How much money it makes: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 8

How Creating A Card Game Turned Into A $250K/Month Board And Card Games Business

Continuum Games, Inc. President Greg Hughes started his toy and game distribution company with a $5 wholesale card game and today generates an average of $250k per month in revenue, rising to $600k in peak season from a combination of manufacturing and distribution of over 40 games.

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2. PlayingCardDecks.com ($1.68M/year)

Will Roya, the founder of PlayingCardDecks.com, came up with the idea for his business after noticing the increasing popularity of playing cards and the potential for selling decks online. After experiencing success selling decks on eBay, Will decided to launch his own website and has since scaled the business to generate an annual revenue run rate of one million within 18 months. With a focus on great customer service and constantly adding new products, the business is currently averaging 100k a month in revenue.

How much money it makes: $1.68M/year
How much did it cost to start: $80K
How many people on the team: 2

How I Started A $100K/Month Business Selling And Designing Playing Cards Decks

How Will Roya built a $100K/month business selling and designing playing cards and decks, using Kickstarter to fund his own decks, and focusing on great customer service, SEO, and new products to retain customers.

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3. Facade Games ($360K/year)

Travis Hancock, founder of Facade Games, came up with the idea for his business while playing board games that involved lying and backstabbing. After successfully raising over $100,000 on Kickstarter for his first game Salem 1692, he realized the potential of making more games and pursued his passion full time. With a total revenue of over $1 million and a growing customer base, Facade Games continues to thrive in the board game industry.

How much money it makes: $360K/year
How many people on the team: 2

How I Built A Successful Business Out Of My Passion For Board Games

Facade Games has raised over $1 million on Kickstarter and sold about 80,000 copies of their board games around the world, with the goal to publish one new game a year on Kickstarter and build on their line of games in books as well as a new party game line in the near future.

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4. Kill Merlin! ($228K/year)

Dave Schuman, a lifelong gamer, came up with the idea for Kill Merlin! while playing games with his two sons. Together, they brainstormed different game mechanics and settled on a wizard-themed strategy game with high player interaction. The game has been well-received by gamers, reviewers, and retailers, and their Kickstarter campaign reached its funding goal in the first day.

How much money it makes: $228K/year
How many people on the team: 0

Inventing A Board Game With Your Kids And Raising $19,000 In One Day

Father and sons team up to invent a wizard-themed strategy board game called Kill Merlin!, which became successfully funded on Kickstarter in just one day and will be carried in at least 18 retail stores with hundreds of backers.

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5. Twisted Boards ($12K/year)

Connecticut police officer Dave Cruickshank came up with the idea for his business, Twisted Boards, when he was relaxing with his ex-girlfriend and they molded their faces out of plaster for an art project. Holding the face mold against his dry erase board, Cruickshank had the idea to create a three-dimensional dry erase board. After building a thermo-molding machine in his basement and creating a prototype, Cruickshank realized the potential of his product when a friend's wife, who was a teacher, requested boards for her classroom. Thus, Twisted Boards was born.

How much money it makes: $12K/year
How many people on the team: 1

Creating A Unique Product And Getting Into 150 Retail Stores

Twisted Boards is a company manufacturing three dimensional dry erase boards with an impressive broad customer base, growing from a basement to a manufacturing plant and fulfillment center in Michigan, with start-up costs of approximately $100k, and developing an intellectual portfolio that will help the business grow.

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