Not every great board game needs a giant box and a £150 deluxe edition. Kickstarter's Micro May initiative is back from 1 to 31 May 2026, spotlighting compact tabletop games that fit in a wallet, an envelope or a mint tin, and it's grown fourfold since the inaugural 2024 round.
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Find events near youThe pitch is straightforward. Creators apply to be included in the Micro May collection, then launch a tabletop campaign for a small-format game during the month. Kickstarter promotes the collection across its discovery pages, and 84% of participating projects hit their funding goal. The constraints (mint-tin sized, simple stretch goals, 30-day campaigns favoured) tend to push designers towards tighter, more elegant ideas.
Expect plenty of solo print-and-play roguelikes, two-player duels packed into card sleeves, and bag-building puzzlers that fit in a coat pocket. The format is a sweet spot for first-time designers because production costs are lower and fulfilment is easier than a full retail-scale box, giving indie creators a realistic shot at delivering on time.
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See how it worksFor backers, this is also where the bargains live. Most Micro May games come in under £15 and play in 20 minutes, which makes them ideal for opening a games night while everyone's still arriving, or as a "while we wait for the food" filler. UK gamers will find a fair few British designers in the line-up: Micro May has historically been popular with the small-press scene.
If you back something good, round up your group on Backseat Gamer and run a "first plays" night where everyone brings their May haul. Easiest themed game night you'll ever organise.
Micro May launches drip-feed all month, so it's worth checking the Kickstarter tabletop discovery page regularly through May.
Sources: Kickstarter Updates | Kickstarter Tabletop
