BOARD GAME DEVELOPMENT

Get oriented, meet your instructor, and see exactly how the course is structured. You'll leave with a clear roadmap of the lessons, assignments, and final pitch ahead.

• Instructor intro
• Assignments overview
• Housekeeping

Step inside the world of board game creation and understand how great games are designed, developed, and brought to life. Build a foundation for the journey from idea to finished product.

• Board game design & development basics
• Expectations for the course

Every great game starts with a strong core idea. Learn how to shape compelling concepts by balancing theme, mechanics, and creative intent from day one.

• Ideation & conceptualisation
• Theme vs. mechanics
• Defining core creative objectives

Assignment #1: Game Analysis
Analyse what hooks you in a boardgame. Is it the theme or the mechanics?

Explore the systems that drive player engagement and discover why certain mechanics work. Learn how to connect gameplay choices to the experience you want players to have.

• Modern industry trends
• Mechanical frameworks
• Workshop: Theme & mechanics

Create worlds, stories, and themes that enhance gameplay rather than compete with it. Learn how narrative can strengthen design decisions and solve mechanical challenges.

• Layering the narrative & worldbuilding
• Storytelling as a design constraint & guiding principle
• Narrative friction & mechanical bottlenecks

Assignment #2: Narrative Analysis
Analyse a game where the narrative guided the gameplay or, conversely, acted to hamper the mechanics.

Great design is often about what you remove. Learn how to identify weak systems, embrace iteration, and make tough creative decisions that improve your game.

• Navigating the iterative design process
• Embracing systemic changes
• Finding room to breathe, grow, evolve, or die
• Workshop: Altering mechanics

Turn ideas into something players can actually touch and test. Learn practical prototyping methods that help you move quickly from concept to playable experience.

• Moving from high-concept phase to practical execution
• Pitfalls & hardships
• Useful tools for generating prototypes

Assignment #3: Prototyping Tools
Explore the tools mentioned during the class to see how they can be implemented.

Design with your players in mind from the very beginning. Learn how to anticipate player behavior, define your intended experience, and run more effective playtests.

• Anticipating player psychology & reactions
• Defining your vision & goals
• Workshop: Working with playtesters

Separate useful insights from background noise. Learn how to gather, interpret, and apply playtester feedback that leads to meaningful improvements.

• Sourcing, vetting, & managing playtester demographics
• Identifying potential pitfalls
• Filtering actionable feedback
• Importance of direct engagement

Assignment #4: Playtesting Experience
Describe your own playtesting experience. What feedback surprised you?

First impressions matter. Discover how visual identity, presentation, and thematic choices shape player expectations long before the first turn begins.

• Visual asset design
• Tone & target demographics
• Consumer expectations
• Product presentation & packaging
• Workshop: Product expectations

Successful game creators know when to seek help. Assess your strengths, identify skill gaps, and understand the key roles involved in bringing a game to market.

• Understanding your skills & limitations
• Key production roles to get your product manufactured

Learn when to stop polishing and start publishing. Discover how to avoid endless iteration and recognise when your game is ready for the next stage.

• When to make things a reality
• Breaking the cycle of perpetual iteration
• Workshop: Discussing a failed game

Navigate the realities of the tabletop industry with confidence. Explore publishing pathways and identify the best route for your game and goals.

• Modern tabletop publishing landscape
• Best methods for getting your game created

Learn how to sell your game without selling out your vision. Build compelling publisher pitches that communicate both creative value and market potential.

• Sales strategies & publisher pitches
• Balancing creative vision with market flexibility

Assignment #5: Audience Analysis
Select an established brand/IP/franchise to work with. Analyse their audience, establish if it is worth pursuing.

Understand what happens after the design is complete. Learn how production pipelines work and how to keep your project moving through development successfully.

• Post-handoff operations
• Navigating development pipelines

Connect every stage of the design process into one cohesive framework. Learn the milestones, priorities, and critical decisions that shape a successful game.

• Synthesising the design lifecycle
• Tracking project milestones
• What to keep in consideration

Bring everything together and present your game with confidence. Showcase your final pitch, receive feedback, and take your next step as a board game designer.

• Pitch presentations