Hero Time Academy · Step 1 of 10
Board Game Design
Board game design is deciding what your game is, who it is for and how it plays, then proving it with prototypes and playtests until it is fun every time it hits the table. It is the first of the ten steps in how to make a board game, and it shapes every step after it: the pieces, the rulebook, the costs and the artwork.
Start With the Experience
Every game starts as a feeling. Decide the emotions you want players to feel and the moments that create them, then look for a spark: everyday materials, even a trip to a craft store, can suggest a mechanic, and our guide on how to come up with board game ideas turns one craft-aisle walk into ten. Study the types of board games to see which mechanics and play lengths fit your idea, and use board game statistics to understand who plays and what sells.
Design for Your Players
A player persona describes the player you are designing for: who they are, what they enjoy, how long they want to play and what they will pay. A persona sums up the player types you want to reach in one picture, and it guides your mechanics, your artwork and your price point.
Design for how the game is really played, too. A game that is bought but never played has failed. What makes a good board game is that it gets to the table, and that starts with the box size, the setup time and the length of the rules.
Develop, Prototype and Playtest
Board game development is a loop: build a rough prototype, playtest it, learn, change it and repeat. Start with paper or Tabletop Simulator rather than polished art, play at least five rounds, and test with strangers as well as friends; our five rules for board game playtesting show what to test for. Professional board game testing gives you an objective view before you commit to manufacturing. The best board game design tips all come back to that loop: test early, and test often.
Design for the Table
A game also has to earn its place on the table. The shared play area in the middle of the table is what players remember, from a striking foldable game board to tiles that are turned face up as the game unfolds; our guide to game board design shows how to make the board the centrepiece, from 3D boards to modular tiles. The box sells the game before anyone plays it, so board game box design matters as much as the components inside it; inside the box, board game insert design decides whether the pieces arrive intact and the setup is quick, and designing for component efficiency keeps setup quick and the price down.
Tools and Protecting Your Idea
Most designers lay out cards and boards in vector software; our guide to board game design software compares Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer 2 and the free Inkscape. If you plan to sell widely, learn how to patent a board game, and how a design patent, a trademark and copyright each protect a different part of it.
Next Step: Choose Your Board Game Pieces
Once your game plays well, turn it into a physical product. Continue with Board Game Pieces, step 2 of how to make a board game.