Board game development is a rich and complex field of study. You can learn so much about games, their creation, and the tools and techniques you use to bring them into existence. I’ve dedicated untold hours to sharing my personal experiences with board game development.
But you know what? Sometimes you need a different point of view! And for that, I’ve had many interviewees over the years. Their insight has taught me a ton and I hope it will teach you as well 🙂
Need help on your board game?
Looking for more resources to help you on your board game design journey?
What to Expect When You’re Making a Board Game: Time, Money, and Effort
Let’s say I’m a new board game dev. Hardly know a thing about making games. I ask you how long it’ll take to publish my first game. What would you tell me?
How to Design the Mechanics of Your Board Game
Game mechanics are how we bring a board game to life. Take away game mechanics and all you’re left with are abstract ideas.
How To Design the Rules of Your Board Game
Rules provide directions on how to execute activities within a board game. They explain, limit, and clarify so our game mechanics work.
How To Play-Test the Rules of Your Board Game
Writing good board game rules boils down to learning the art of instruction and communication. Write the rules you’d want to read!
How to Tell Great Stories Through Board Games
Telling stories is one of the most essentially human instincts. Whether or not we mean to, we tell stories through games.
How to Test Your Storytelling Powers & Make People Connect with Your Board Games
Storytelling is a human instinct. Whether or not we mean to, we tell stories through games. Embrace storytelling no matter how thematic your game is.
Bringing it Together – The Board Game as a Project
Board games are more than just what’s in the box. They’re the marketing, the advertising, and the footwork of the game developers who made them.
How to Develop Visually and Physically Accessible Board Games
Tokens you can’t tell apart by touch, tiny text, random placement of game symbols, poor contrast, paper money…all of these can make games less accessible.
How to Develop Mentally and Emotionally Accessible Board Games
This is one of the hardest categories for a modern designer game to do well within – how do you make a game cognitively accessible experience.
How to Develop Inclusive Board Games
When under-represented groups look at a shelf of board games and see only white men staring back at them, it makes them think “is this for me?”
How to Make the Perfect Board Game Rule Book
It’s easy to forget your own rules for a living, breathing project! Once a game is released, though, the rule book is both for teaching and for reference.
How to Create Specs for Your Board Game Artist
Asking for art can be one of the most daunting parts of the game development process. So let’s talk to a real board game artist to see how to do it right!
How to Find Artists for Your Board Game
I will usually start my search on Deviant art in the Job forums. I feel like there are many great undiscovered artists there, and those artists definitely deserve a chance to prove themselves. I will also use another website called Artstation.
How to Manage Artists on a Board Game Project
Artists are very important to creating a board game. Making sure they are happy and understand the needs of your project is critical to your game’s success.
An Inside Look at the Board Game Review Process
Having your board game reviewed for the first time can be nervewracking. A board game review doesn’t have to feel arbitrary and mysterious, though.
How to Use Reddit as a Board Game Dev
Reddit: the word that strikes fear into internet marketers everywhere. That’s part of the magic of Reddit, though – it’s not to be bought and sold.
Need help on your board game?
Looking for more resources to help you on your board game design journey?
How to Get Started with Board Game Conventions as a Board Game Creator, Part 1
Board game conventions have a certain mystique to them. The potential of reaching out to so many customers is enticing, and besides – they’re a lot of fun!
How to Get Started with Board Game Conventions as a Board Game Creator, Part 2
Board game conventions are the flashiest events in board gaming. They are wonderful gathering places for board gamers. But are they a place to sell games?
How to Live-Stream Board Games
Whether you use Tabletop Simulator or video cameras capturing gameplay on the physical tabletop, a live-stream can be a great way to share your game online.