To miniature or not to miniature...

From what I have seen, figures are mostly for adults. IDK of any 'kids' that spend hundred(s) on a board game.
Figures are 'collectible' & if they are of quality & at a price that is slightly better than a big name putting out figures, they will probably do well.
Figures also help people immerse more into the experience.
I don't see how a figure could add depth or extra strategy.

Ultimately you are talking about KS. Almost none of those titles will ever see retail release, thus making the figures actually collectible to many, since they will probably never be released again is the common thought.

But if it's aimed at kids, you might want to consider including wizard hats of each color :-)

agree with this.

You could always do what we're planning to do - and have minis as stretch goals to be added if you get a lot of support (but cost up properly - sculpting, moulding etc isn't cheap at all)

Only go miniatures when you already sold enough games? When you did sell enough games. You know the game is good. Then go for "graphics" in the form of miniatures.

Then I advice, to "don't".

A waste of money and time. Especially for a prototype.

Unless, you want to show the game in public gatherings. Then you want to show it.

I'm working on a minis game that's nearing its final stages, and my design partner and I are using nice standees to represent the miniatures. It's not worth the cost to produce prototype minis, but standees can still sell the theme and be more identifiable than generic wooden components. I can make these at home on my color printer. Then, if a publisher picks the game up, they'll do the minis.

It's a good halfway point thats still strongly thematic and usable for playtesting, and publishers can evaluate the game with standees and understand how it might play with minis.

Pic of standees prototype

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If 2d isn't your thing. And 3d is a bit far of. Try something in between?

Tin molding meeples is a way.

I had a time where I printed the pictures of my units. Then these pieces of paper where cut out into the shape that I needed.
Since shaping the wood is time consuming (and I am a lazy bum), I did this only once.
I used the shaped wood to press in hard clay. 2 long shaped blocks against each other. Leaving out the foot, you can get multiple meeple moulds with the same wooden block. The mould is used for molten tin to take shape.
After cooling, remove the rough edges.

3 mm thick meeples. Some proper glue. And the prints together. Gives you heavy colourful meeples. That keep standing properly.

Cheap, but requires you to get some different materials. It also helps to be NOT clumsy like me. I burned my hand by accident. Make sure the 2 clay blocks are locked together. Or else an accidental push might make a big mess.
Also ehm, give it time to cool off. Don't put them in the freezer either. Give it a day, inside the clay.

Did I miss anything?

Assuming the players are supposed to pick random tiles at some point, I still think that wizard hats are a better physical component. With the pointy end down, sew in two overlapping flaps about half-way between the brim and the point. All of the tiles can be put in there to use the hat as a tile bag, but it can also be worn on the head when its not your turn. When it is your turn, take off the hat, reach in, and "presto" out comes your next tile.

I know that pulling-something-out-of-a-hat is more of a stage magician trope than a wizard trope, but there are enough examples of wizards pulling things out of hats to make it seem natural.