Imagine this: you’re bursting with ideas for the next great boardgame. You’ve spent hours dreaming up intricate mechanics and unique components, only to realize that bringing your vision to life is more challenging than you anticipated. Many creatives just like you have been there, boardgame design isn’t easy (but it’s so fun).
Something that we like to do is ask our community about their experience in tabletop design. Through conversations with professional designers—like Dominik Schönleben, co-creator of Neon Hope; and Alberto Aznar, creator of Número Perdido, who whent from newcomer to published designer in a year —we’ve discovered pretty usefull and universal insights.
This tiny guide is here to share those lessons and help you avoid common errors, making your creative process way better.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: Start Simple, Iterate Later
When diving into boardgame design, it’s tempting to include every exciting idea right from the start. But trust me, simplicity is your friend. Begin with a core mechanic that defines your game—whether it’s deck-building, tile-laying, or something new. Once you’ve nailed the core, you can layer on complexity.
Focus on the ultimate goal, not just on mechanics you want to implement, as that may hinder the experience of the player. ¿What do you want to achieve?
For example, Dominik Schönleben shared how Neon Hope focused on a branching narrative and dynamic character development. The core mechanic revolves around players managing the story progression as they navigate through a dystopian world, making critical decisions to reach the best outcome possible.
By focusing on this as the core, they created a strong foundation that allowed for iterative improvements. They designed all their components to focus on the storytelling and world building, and as they playtested they kept modifying, improving and making all the elements more balanced for a better playthrough experience.
Starting simple also makes it easier to adapt during playtesting. Remember, great games evolve through iteration, so don’t be afraid to refine your ideas as you go.
Lesson 2: Playtesting Is Everything in boardgame design
Playtesting isn’t just a step in the process; it’s the heart of boardgame design. The earlier you start, the better. Even a rough prototype can reveal glaring issues you might miss on paper. During our research, we spoke with Alberto Aznar, who emphasized how crucial playtesting was in shaping Numero Perdido.
Alberto’s early sessions revealed balance issues and areas where players needed clearer instructions. By incorporating this feedback, he refined the gameplay to create a smoother experience. You don’t need to overcomplicate things, even sitting down with friends and family with a rough print of your prototype can be an enlightening experience!
Playtesting helps you:
- Identify balance problems.
- Gauge player enjoyment.
- Spot areas where rules need clarification.
However, don’t limit yourself to friends and family—they might be too kind. Reach out to local gaming groups or online communities for unbiased feedback. It’s better to hear tough criticism now than after your game hits shelves (if it even does, better to change things soon to impress publishers!)
Check out our article about playtesting here!
Lesson 3: Prototyping Tools Are Your Best Friend
Creating physical prototypes can be time-consuming and costly, but that’s where an easy-to-use boardgame design software like Tabletop Creator comes in. With this tool, you can quickly design components, make your own playing cards, and even export them to physical (PDF) and digital (Tabletop Simulator) formats. This streamlines the entire process, allowing you to focus more on refining your game rather than worrying about production logistics.
Nathan, the creator of Loot Box, shared how using Tabletop Creator allowed him to quickly prototype card layouts and adjust designs between playtests. This flexibility saved him time and enabled him to test new ideas faster and easily.
Lesson 4: Theme and Mechanics Must Align
A mismatched theme and mechanics can confuse players and dilute the experience. When designing a game, ask yourself: does the gameplay support the story I’m trying to tell? If you’re designing a game whith a time limit, you’ll want mechanics that emphasize speed and urgency. Or for example, a game about political intrigue might benefit from bluffing and negotiation elements.
In our conversation, Alberto Aznar explained how Numero Perdido’s mechanics were crafted to complement its theme of deduction and strategy, keeping the concept and focus simple.
Lesson 5: Embrace Constraints
Constraints might sound limiting, but they’re often the catalyst for creativity. Whether it’s a limited budget, a specific player count, or a strict time limit for gameplay, working within boundaries forces you to think outside the box.
For example, Nathan limited the components for Loot Box to cards and small tokens, which not only kept production costs low but also made the game highly portable and accessible. It makes it way more simple to play in a digital format too, which widens the audience the game can reach. If you are thinking of uploading your game to be played on Tabletop Simulator o Tabletopia, this is something to have in mind, as the playing experience changes vastly between having the game phisically or not!
By setting clear constraints from the start, you’ll have a framework to guide your decisions and keep your project manageable.
Common Myths Debunked
Myth 1: You Need a Big Budget to Make a Great Game
While it’s true that some games have high production values, a big budget isn’t necessary to create a fun and engaging game. Many successful games started as simple prototypes made from household items. Do you have an old poker deck? Use it to stick your designs on top of the cards and make them your own! Do you have post it notes? Use them as tokens, coins, meeples,… Find ways to make your game playable for others, then you can focus on crowdfunding or finding a publisher.
Self-publishing may be expensive, but that’s not what we are talking about in this section. What you shouldn’t do is try to have something perfect and ready for sale from the start.
Myth 2: Every Idea Must Be Original
Innovation is great, but it’s okay to draw inspiration from existing games. Some of the best games borrow mechanics or themes and put a unique twist on them. The key is to bring something fresh to the table, whether it’s a new way to score points or an unexpected thematic element.
Myth 3: You Should Perfect Your Game Before Sharing It
Is it cringey to say perfection is the enemy of progress? Well, that doesn’t make it any less true! Sharing your game early, even in its roughest form, allows you to gather invaluable feedback. Many designers wait too long, only to find they’ve been polishing mechanics that don’t resonate with players, or that their game isn’t even playable. Don’t be afraid to show your work-in-progress and learn from the process. Alberto’s approach with Numero Perdido was to start testing as soon as the basic mechanics were playable, which helped him refine the game quickly.
Start Your Boardgame Design Journey Today
Ready to bring your boardgame ideas to life? Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. With the right tools and a willingness to learn, you’ll be on your way to creating something amazing. Explore resources like Tabletop Creator—a user-friendly boardgame design software that simplifies prototyping and makes it easy to bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting, this tool can save you time and enhance your creative process. Take the first step in your boardgame design journey and turn your vision into reality today!
