Elestrals Awakened raises $1.3 million, as 2025’s most crowdfunded video game

Elestrals Awakened Pokémon-like becomes most funded game of 2025, raising over $1.3 million on Kickstarter

Elestrals Awakened, a Pokémon-inspired RPG developed by content creator aDrive, has become the most crowdfunded video game of 2025 on Kickstarter, raising more than $1.3 million from over 9,000 backers.

Created by YouTuber and Twitch streamer aDrive, Elestrals began as a trading card game launched in 2022 and quickly garnered a dedicated fan base.

The upcoming digital adaptation marks the franchise’s first expansion into video games, combining elements of role-playing, strategy, and monster collection.

Described as a 2.5D pixel-art RPG, Elestrals Awakened features more than 100 collectable spirits inspired by Greek mythology. Players can capture, train, and battle these creatures while exploring an elemental world filled with mythic lore.

On November 4, the official Elestrals X (formerly Twitter) account confirmed the project’s record-breaking status, writing: “Be part of history and the MOST FUNDED Video Game of 2025!” The message celebrated the support of fans who helped the campaign surpass its original funding goals.

According to the Kickstarter page, Elestrals Awakened is set to release on Steam and Nintendo Switch, with a projected launch window of December 2027.

Backer rewards include digital game copies, closed beta access, physical merchandise, and collector’s edition items linked to the Elestrals trading card series.

The campaign has already achieved multiple stretch goals, which will expand the game’s story, introduce additional spirits, and enhance visuals and audio design.

The success of Elestrals Awakened reflects the growing influence of community-driven game projects and the continued popularity of nostalgic, creature-collection RPGs.

aDrive’s franchise, which began as an independent card game, now aims to bring its universe to a wider audience through interactive gameplay.

With development underway, supporters are now looking forward to updates and previews leading up to the game’s 2027 release.