The 5 best things we've backed on Kickstarter to date

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Pebble
Amazon

Thousands of movies, games, gadgets, albums, and art pieces owe their lives to Kickstarter. 

The first crowdfunding website to go truly mainstream, it's a place people go to help creators make something they're passionate about, while getting something in return. 

I've backed over 20 projects over the last five years, but wanted to know about what the Business Insider staff has helped bring to life. You can find their picks, along with mine, below and get your hands on them without having to wait a few months to see if they pan out. 

The Veronica Mars movie

VM
Amazon

The best thing I've ever backed was the Veronica Mars movie. Veronica Mars was a series about a teenage detective investigating the murder of her best friend. It starred Kristen Bell early in her career, and it was fantastic! Like many other gems, it had more of a cult following than a popular appeal. The series' creator, Rob Thomas, turned to Kickstarter to raise $2 million to make a Veronica Mars movie. Over 91,000 people contributed and raised over $5.7 million for the movie, which was released in 2014. At the time, it was a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign (it might still be the most money ever raised through Kickstarter), and I haven't regretted being part of it for a minute.  Libby Kane, deputy editor

Veronica Mars (multi-format), $7.11, available at Amazon

Secret Hitler

SH
Amazon

Don't judge Secret Hitler by its name. It is an excellent hidden role game, especially if you're interested in screaming at your friends and possibly ruining some fragile relationships. Everything about this game was so well thought out, from play to the artwork. The details in every piece of the game are beautiful. It is fun for everyone: for people who love board games, and for people who haven't played a better game than Monopoly.  Carrie Wittmer, entertainment reporter

Secret Hitler, $48, available at Amazon

*Note: currently available through third-party sellers with Amazon Prime.

Pebble

Pebble
Amazon

The Pebble and Pebble Time smartwatches, since they created just about the only wrist device with features you actually want and need. Other models don't really compare, not even the Apple Watch — and certainly not on price. Although Pebble as a company was recently bought and absorbed by Fitbit, I still wear a Pebble today.  Dave Mosher, science and technology correspondent

Pebble Time, $59.95, available at Amazon

 

Exploding Kittens

EK
Amazon

A silly card game with artwork from the web-comic artist The Oatmeal, this one quickly turned into a family favorite. David Torres, VP of application engineering

Exploding Kittens: A Card Game About Kittens and Explosions and Sometimes Goats, $19.99, available at Amazon

Joking Hazard

CAH
Amazon

I'm a big fan of the web comic Cyanide and Happiness, so when the creators decided to release a card game, I was instantly sold. Each card is a panel in a comic and the objective is to create the funniest comic possible. This definitely isn't a game for kids, but if you're planning a game night with some friends, it's a must-have. — Brandt Ranj, associate editor, Insider Picks

Joking Hazard, $24.99, available at Amazon

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2017. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.
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