The award-winning multi-platform game Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, which started with a modest Kickstarter campaign in 2012, went on to become a million-seller and is now among the biggest successes in crowdfinding history.

The game’s potential was revealed in the speed with which the $150,000 USD pledge goal was met and exceeded. The Windows version was released a few months after the campaign ended, followed by versions for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U in 2013.

The Giana Sisters remake is a jump ‘n’ run adventure in which players must rescue  one of the sisters — Maria — who is being held captive by a dragon in a dream world. The game’s mechanics allow players to switch from the real world to the dream world and back again.

“One million copies sold,” says Andreas Speer, Managing Director of Black Forest Games, “that absolutely qualifies Giana Sisters as an indie hit – and yet it took a Kickstarter campaign to be able to develop the game. It wouldn’t have been possible in the classic way through publisher financing. It is only thanks to the dedication of our 6,000 backers that one million gamers (and counting) got the chance to play Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams.”

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and the stand-alone add-on Rise of the Owlverlord have won several awards, among them:

• German Developer Award: Best Youth Game 2013 (GS:TD Rise of the Owlverlord)
• Casual Connect Indieprize Showcase Award: Best Audio 2013
• German Children Software Award Tommi: Best Computer Game 2013
• German Developer Award: Best Sound 2012
• Demonews Game of the Year Award: Best Jump ‘n’ Run and Puzzle Game 2012

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is also nominated in three categories at this year’s European Games Award: Best Art Direction, Sound and Game Design.