The Power of a Strong Start: A Q1 2025 Open Call Recap
From the intimate charm of Make 100 to the genre-defying energy of Zine Quest and the cinematic storytelling of Long Story Short, here’s how Kickstarter creators made waves in Q1—and how you can get involved next.
Kickstarter creators didn’t ease into the year—they kicked the door open.
In Q1, our first three Open Calls of 2025—Make 100, Zine Quest, and Long Story Short—showcased the boldness and creativity that define this community. From debut creators to returning fan favorites, these campaigns showed just how many ways there are to launch with heart, originality, and vision.
Let’s take a look at the stories behind each Open Call—and what’s on the horizon if you’re ready to jump in.
Make 100: Celebrating Art with Limitation
There’s something special about setting a limit — it makes every pledge feel personal. That’s the spirit behind Make 100, where creators launch projects with only 100 available rewards.
This year was one of our biggest yet, it was an incredible showcase of creativity and community support, with backers enthusiastically championing limited-edition ideas.
Make 100 Highlights:
- Glasgow School of Art’s Product Design Engineering program joined the fun for their 10th anniversary, creating 100 unique items rooted in Scottish design.
- A few standout projects from this year’s lineup:
- Cipherling, a charming numbers-station robot
- Orbit Titanium Damascus Ring — where precision meets design
- Geometrical Atlas 1880–1920, a visual feast of mathematical beauty
The lesson? Sometimes, less really is more.
Kickstarter Staff
Zine Quest: RPG
February brought the 7th edition of Zine Quest, and it was electric.
This achievement marks it as the second-largest Zine Quest ever, surpassed only by the record set in 2021. The success stories varied widely, ranging from gothic solo TTRPGs to tarot-infused storytelling games.
Noteworthy Moments:
- A ton projects came from Superbackers turned creators — a growing trend on the platform that signals that our most loyal backers are stepping into the creator spotlight.
- 35% of first-time creators embraced the February challenge for their first launches, continuing a tradition of low-barrier, high-passion storytelling.
Nicole Amato
Long Story Short: The Big Win for Short Films
March rounded out the first 90 days of the year with Long Story Short, our Open Call for short films — and it was our biggest one yet.
This year saw a record-breaking number of launches, with standout films ranging from satire to drama to sci-fi animation.
Breakout Stories:
- Trial By Fire raised nearly over $370K
- Projects from Ringling College students used Kickstarter to debut their senior thesis animations, setting the stage for the next wave of visual storytellers
- 85% of creators were brand new to Kickstarter — a record for any Open Call this year.
Brandon Smithwrick
Want to Join Our Next Open Call? Here’s What’s Coming Up.
Coming up this May, we’re launching Micro May, a celebration of small but mighty tabletop games. If you’ve been dreaming up a quick-to-play, high-impact game, this is your moment.
Then in July, Heartstrings & Hardbacks returns for its second year. This Open Call is a love letter to storytelling — from hardcovers to paperbacks, ebooks, audiobooks, novellas, limericks, and everything in between. If you’ve got a story that stirs the soul (or maybe even shatters it a little), we know backers will be ready to devour it.
And of course, October brings the magic with Witchstarter. Each fall, we celebrate all things mystical and magical — decks, dice, divination tools, board games, books — you name it. If it casts a spell (literally or figuratively), Witchstarter is the perfect time to launch.
If you have an idea brewing, start prepping now — because Make 100, Zine Quest, and Long Story Short will also return in 2026, bigger and better than ever.
We can’t wait to see what you create next.
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