Ghosts in the Graveyard Board Game

When they open the box, players are first greeted with a signed letter from the game's mastermind, Gravewood Giggles.

Improvements We're Funding Through This Kickstarter

Backers, your support isn't just helping bring Ghosts in the Graveyard™ to life—it's transforming this handmade prototype into a polished, professional edition that feels like discovering a long-lost treasure in your grandfather's attic. We're raising funds to partner with top-tier manufacturers and experts so every copy delivers that authentic, eerie unboxing experience: an aged, distressed box hiding a good luck charm, a vial of "holy water," (to keep evil at bay), and a game board with built-in riddles that reveal the story behind the game.

BUDGET

Backers, your support turns our handmade prototype into a polished, retail-ready game that truly feels like an eerie treasure from your grandfather’s attic. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how we’re allocating the funds, with approximate percentages and realistic numbers based on producing 500+ quality copies:

• Manufacturing & Printing (60–70% of funds, ~$6,000–$14,000) Partnering with pros like Panda Game Manufacturing or similar for durable linen-finish cards, sturdy distressed “attic box,” custom components (Haunted Tree, Obelisk, Groundskeeper mini, props like charms & holy water vial), and reliable production. This is the biggest expense—ensuring every backer gets consistent, high-quality pieces that look and feel professional.
• Graphic Design & Artwork (10–15%, ~$1,000–$3,000) Hiring experienced freelancers to refine card illustrations, box design, rulebook, and lore booklet—adding richer gothic details, vintage engravings for Gravewood Giggles’ backstory, and seamless integration of the mystery riddle and ghost histories.
• Prototyping, Playtesting & Balance (5–8%, ~$500–$1,500) Professional prototypes and external testing to fine-tune the base game, Alternate Move Deck, Groundskeeper expansion, and planned Eliza Thorne reveal—making sure the strategy, chaos, and story all flow perfectly.
• Campaign Video & Marketing (8–12%, ~$1,000–$2,500) A short, atmospheric video showing the unboxing magic, lore teasers, and gameplay—plus targeted ads and outreach to reviewers/influencers to help reach more backers.
• Fulfillment & Shipping (10–15%, ~$2,000–$5,000 setup + per-unit fees) Working with reliable partners to pack and ship worldwide smoothly—building in realistic estimates ($10–$20 domestic, $40–$70 international) and buffers to avoid surprises.

These focused investments deliver the quality backers expect: stunning visuals, durable components, dependable delivery, and a game that shines as both strategy fun and Halloween decor. Thank you for helping us make Ghosts in the Graveyard™ the peculiar masterpiece it’s meant to be!

These upgrades will make Ghosts in the Graveyard™ stand out: not just a "Chess on steroids" with warped strategy, but a deeply immersive, expandable story experience wrapped in beautiful, thematic production. Successful campaigns like Gloomhaven or Cascadia show that investing in quality pays off—leading to rave reviews, repeat buyers, and long-term profitability through Etsy/Amazon sales post-campaign.

Your pledge directly funds these steps, turning our peculiar vision into a game thousands can enjoy. Thank you for helping us unleash the full haunt—let's make this the centerpiece of every spooky season!  

THE GAME AND THE STORY     Ghosts in the Graveyard™ weaves a chilling, layered narrative that unfolds across every session and expansion, created by the fictional, enigmatic Gravewood Giggles—a ventriloquist dummy with no handler and a shrewd businessman. 

In the standard game, players take on the roles of rival ghosts scheming to dominate the misty graveyard, maneuvering through shifting headstones as they spin The Midnight Clock and do its bidding, or while contending with the unpredictable wrath of the Haunted Tree (a gnarled sentinel) and the Cursed Obelisk (an ancient monolith that unleashes random havoc). The Tree and the Obelisk move independent of the players based on the draw of the move cards. Among other things, the cards announce curses that make players lose their turn or send them to the puddles in the graveyard where they are stuck for a time - no one likes wet sheets.  

The game's hidden bonus riddle unlocks the ghosts' true identities, revealing why these spectral foes are locked in eternal rivalry—tragic backstories of betrayal, lost love, or unfinished business that add emotional depth to the strategy. Expansions escalate the tale: the Alternate Move Deck floods the board with extra curses and doom, the Groundskeeper introduces a mortal guardian whose lantern repels spirits but flees in terror from the Tree, and the planned final chapter expansion pack unveils the ghost of fair Eliza Thorne—whose forgotten history deepens the divide between the White and Black ghosts, transforming the game into a richer, evolving saga of redemption, vengeance, and eternal unrest.

Beyond its gameplay, Ghosts in the Graveyard™ doubles as a stunning Halloween centerpiece that elevates any seasonal display. The hand-crafted, gothic 14x14 board—shrouded in misty purples, pale greens, and blood-orange accents—pairs beautifully with flickering candles, faux cobwebs, or jack-o'-lanterns, turning your table into an atmospheric haunted scene. The distressed "attic discovery" box, complete with thematic props like good luck charms and a vial of "holy water," looks like a genuine antique unearthed from a dusty closet, making it a conversation-starting decor piece long after the game ends. 

Whether displayed open with components artfully arranged or closed as a mysterious heirloom, it captures that perfect blend of spooky elegance and nostalgic wonder—ideal for family gatherings, Halloween parties, or year-round collectors who want their home to feel a little more peculiar.

HOW THE IDEA CAME TO ME . . . 

Summer 2025 - I was at the Howard County Fair, and I wandered into a tent that stood out from the rest—a shadowy haven of macabre crafts. The displays brimmed with dark delights: intricate skulls, flickering black candles, ghostly figurines, not the cutesy stuff you might see at Walmart.  Real cool eerie treasures.  This was my kind of tent. 

Then, amid the gloom, something caught my eye: a flat, square base about a foot across, edged with a delicate little fence. Inside, scattered across the surface, were polished stones meticulously painted—two rows of white ghosts with hollow black eyes on one side, and two rows of gray tombstones on the other.

"Is that a board game?" I wondered aloud.

It wasn't.  I was just a charming collection of painted rocks. But in that instant, inspiration struck like lightning. It should be a board game. And right there, the entire concept materialized in my mind, fully formed: two rival ghosts battling for supremacy in the graveyard.