How To Design Board Games: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Designing board games is a thrilling and rewarding experience that allows you to create a fun engine that can bring joy and entertainment to people of all ages. A board game is more than just a game; it’s a way to connect with others, build relationships, and create lasting memories. The key to designing a successful board game is to maximize the time to fun ratio, ensuring that players are engaged and entertained throughout the game. By creating a game that is both challenging and enjoyable, you can provide players with an experience that they will want to come back to time and time again. So, whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, designing board games is a great way to unleash your creativity and bring joy to others.

The Board Game Design Process

Designing a board game is a complex process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. To create a successful game, designers must consider a variety of factors, including mechanics, theme, and components. Here are some important things to keep in mind when designing a board game:

🎲 – Mechanics: The mechanics of a game refer to the rules and systems that govern gameplay. When designing a board game, it’s important to create mechanics that are easy to understand but also offer depth and complexity. This can be achieved through the use of different types of actions, resource management, and other gameplay elements.

🎭 – Theme: The theme of a game is the setting, story, or overall concept that ties everything together. A strong theme can help players become more immersed in the game and feel more invested in their decisions. When choosing a theme, designers should consider what will appeal to their target audience and what will make their game stand out from others in the market.

🎨 – Components: The components of a game are the physical pieces that players interact with, such as cards, tokens, and game boards. These components should be well-designed and visually appealing, but also functional and easy to use. When designing components, it’s important to consider how they will be used in gameplay and how they will contribute to the overall experience.

🤔 – Interesting Choices: One of the most important aspects of board game design is creating interesting choices for players. This means giving players meaningful decisions to make throughout the game that will impact the outcome. To achieve this, designers should consider how different mechanics and components can work together to create interesting and challenging gameplay.

📈 – Playtesting: Finally, it’s important to playtest the game extensively to ensure that it is balanced, fun, and engaging. Playtesting can help identify any issues with mechanics or components and give designers the opportunity to make changes before the game is released.

PRO TIPS:

• Don’t be afraid to scrap ideas that aren’t working. Sometimes the best way to create interesting choices is to start over with a fresh perspective.
• Keep in mind the balance between luck and skill in your game. Too much luck can make players feel like their choices don’t matter, while too much skill can make the game feel too predictable.

Conceptualization

Conceptualization is a crucial step in designing a board game. It involves translating thematic elements into mechanics, operating on a scale between total abstraction and pure simulation, and designing a system and behavior, not just rules and actions. The goal is to incorporate elements that enhance the core experience and create meaningful choices for players. This process requires creativity, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of game design principles. By conceptualizing a game in this way, designers can create a unique and engaging experience that will keep players coming back for more.

HOW-TO: Conceptualization

What You Need:

• A clear understanding of your game’s theme and mechanics
• A willingness to experiment with different levels of abstraction and simulation
• A focus on designing a cohesive system and behavior, not just a set of rules and actions
• An openness to incorporating elements that enhance the core experience

Step-By-Step:

1. Start by identifying the key thematic elements of your game. What story are you trying to tell? What emotions do you want to evoke in your players? Once you have a clear understanding of your theme, think about how you can translate those elements into game mechanics. For example, if your game is about surviving on a deserted island, you might incorporate mechanics that involve gathering resources, building shelter, and fending off predators.
2. Consider the level of abstraction or simulation you want to use in your game. Abstraction refers to simplifying complex real-world concepts into game mechanics, while simulation involves creating mechanics that closely mimic real-world actions. There’s no right or wrong answer here–it all depends on the type of game you want to create. For example, a game like Monopoly uses a high level of abstraction, while a game like Pandemic uses a high level of simulation.
3. Focus on designing a cohesive system and behavior, not just a set of rules and actions. Your game should feel like a complete experience, with all of the mechanics working together to create a sense of immersion and engagement. Think about how each mechanic interacts with the others, and how they all contribute to the overall gameplay experience.
4. Finally, be open to incorporating elements that enhance the core experience of your game. This could include things like artwork, sound effects, or even physical components like miniatures or custom dice. These elements can help to create a more immersive and memorable experience for your players.

Tips To Remember:

• It’s important to strike a balance between complexity and accessibility. Your game should be easy enough for new players to understand, but deep enough to keep experienced players engaged.
• Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from other games or media. Just make sure to put your own unique spin on things.

Designing the Game

Crafting a board game can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. This section will explore the essential components of board game design, such as selecting a theme and objective, fleshing out the concept, creating player aids, promoting inclusivity in design, balancing the game, and considering player count.

Choosing a Theme and Objective

The theme and objective of a board game serve as the foundation for the entire game. It’s crucial to choose a theme that captivates and interests players, and an objective that is clear and attainable. The theme should be relatable and keep players engaged throughout the game, while the objective should be challenging enough to maintain interest but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating.

Fleshing out the Idea

After selecting a theme and objective, it’s time to flesh out the concept. This involves creating game mechanics, determining necessary components, and establishing rules. It’s important to keep the game mechanics simple and easy to understand while still providing enough depth to keep players engaged. The components should be visually appealing and well-designed, and the rules should be clear and concise.

Importance of Player Aids

Player aids are a crucial aspect of board game design as they help players comprehend the game mechanics and keep track of their progress. Player aids can include reference cards, score sheets, and player mats. It’s important to design player aids that are user-friendly and provide all necessary information without overwhelming the player.

Inclusivity in Board Game Design

Inclusivity is a vital consideration in board game design as it ensures that all players can enjoy the game regardless of their background or abilities. This includes color-blind accessibility, language dependency, and character diversity and portrayal. A game designed with inclusivity in mind ensures that all players feel welcome and accommodated.

Here are some tips to make your board game more inclusive:

🎨 Color blind accessibility:

– Use different shapes or symbols in addition to colors to differentiate game pieces or cards.
– Avoid using color alone to convey important information.
– Use color combinations that are easily distinguishable for those with color blindness.

🗣️ Language dependency:

– Consider creating language-independent components such as icons or symbols to convey important information.
– Provide translations or language aids for players who may not speak the primary language of the game.
– Avoid using culturally-specific references or idioms that may not be understood by all players.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Character diversity and portrayal:

– Include a diverse range of characters in your game to represent different cultures, genders, and abilities.
– Avoid stereotypical or offensive portrayals of characters.
– Consider consulting with individuals from diverse backgrounds to ensure accurate and respectful representation.

Balancing the Game

Balancing the game is a critical aspect of board game design as it guarantees that all players have an equal chance of winning. This involves adjusting the game mechanics and rules to ensure that no player has an unfair advantage. It’s important to playtest the game extensively to ensure that it’s balanced and fair.

Player Count Considerations

Finally, it’s crucial to consider the player count when designing a board game. Different player counts require different game mechanics and rules, and it’s important to design the game with the intended player count in mind. This includes 1-player games, 2-player games, and 3-player games, each with their unique challenges and considerations.

Playtesting and Refining

Playtesting and refining are crucial steps in the board game design process. Making a prototype is the first step in this process, and it involves creating a playable version of the game. This prototype should be functional, but it doesn’t need to look pretty. Once the prototype is complete, it’s time to playtest the game. Playtesting involves inviting others to play the game and taking detailed notes on their feedback. This feedback can be used to make improvements for the next edition of the game. It’s important to remember that playtesting and refining are ongoing processes, and the game will continue to evolve as it’s played and improved upon. By taking the time to playtest and refine the game, designers can create an enjoyable and engaging experience for players.

HOW-TO:

In this tutorial, we will be discussing how to playtest and refine your board game.

What You Need:

• A prototype of your board game
• Playtesters
• A notebook or recording device to take notes

Step-By-Step:

1. Making a Prototype
2. Gather all the necessary materials to create a prototype of your board game.
3. Create a rough version of your game using paper, cardboard, or any other materials you have on hand.
4. Make sure to label all the components of your game, including the board, cards, and game pieces.
5. Playtesting the Game
6. Invite a group of playtesters to try out your game.
7. Explain the rules of the game to your playtesters and answer any questions they may have.
8. Observe your playtesters as they play the game and take notes on their actions and reactions.
9. Ask your playtesters for feedback on the game, including what they liked and what they didn’t like.
10. Making Improvements for the Next Edition
11. Use the feedback from your playtesters to make improvements to your game.
12. Make changes to the rules, components, or mechanics of the game as necessary.
13. Create a new prototype of the game incorporating the changes you have made.
14. Repeat the playtesting process with the new prototype to see if the changes have improved the game.

Things To Know:

• It’s important to playtest your game with a variety of different people to get a range of feedback.
• Don’t be afraid to make big changes to your game if necessary.
• Keep track of all the changes you make to the game so you can see how it evolves over time.

Manufacturing

Board game manufacturing is a crucial step in the game design process. It involves turning a prototype into a polished, marketable product. The manufacturing process includes creating a final game board, writing out a rule sheet, and fashioning game pieces from ordinary objects. Once the game is ready, it is time to send it off to a manufacturer. China is a popular destination for board game manufacturing due to its specialization in printing and plastic figure production but there are definitely great options in the US, as well as in the rest of the world (Germany, anyone?). It is important to choose a manufacturer that can produce high-quality products at a reasonable cost. With the right manufacturer, a board game can be transformed from a simple idea to a tangible product that can be enjoyed by players all over the world.

Tips for Game Designers

As a game designer, it’s important to constantly expand your knowledge and experience. Tabletop game design is a collaborative process, and seeking out the input of others can lead to a better end product. By keeping these things in mind, you can create truly exceptional board games that will endure the test of time.

Here are some tips to help you overcome designer’s block and create amazing games:

🎲 – Play lots of different games: Playing a variety of games can help you get inspired and come up with new ideas. It can also help you understand what works and what doesn’t in game design.

🧱 – Break down your game into smaller parts: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try breaking down your game into smaller parts. This can help you focus on one aspect at a time and make progress more easily.

💬 – Discuss your ideas with other designers: Getting feedback from other designers can be incredibly helpful. They can offer new perspectives and help you identify areas for improvement.

📝 – Keep a notebook: Write down your ideas as soon as they come to you. This can help you remember them later and build upon them.

🎨 – Use visuals: Sketching out your ideas or creating a mood board can help you visualize your game and make it easier to communicate your vision to others.

Conclusion

Designing board games is a challenging yet rewarding process that requires hard work, creativity, and dedication. Throughout this article, we have explored the key concepts of board game design, including defining what a board game is, the importance of designing games, where to start, and finding the fun. We have also discussed the importance of playing lots of games, creating a minimum viable product, and getting feedback from other designers. It is essential to remember that designing board games is not just about creating a fun experience for players, but also about building relationships and creating lasting memories. With hard work, creativity, and dedication, anyone can design a board game that will bring joy and entertainment to players for years to come.