For example, “Risk” is a military strategy campaign in which players compete for world domination, while “Candyland” takes place in a colorful fantasy world where everything is made of sweets. Take inspiration from other games that you enjoy, paying close attention to how the theme relates to the way the game is played. [1] X Research source
If your game deals with pirates, the objective might be to find and uncover a stash of buried treasure before the other players. In a horror-based card game about a flesh-eating virus, the victor will be the player who manages to survive to the end.
This description will also serve as a kind of rough pitch should you ever attempt to sell your concept to a gaming company.
A combination of different elements can help make gameplay more sophisticated. For instance, players could roll dice to see how many spaces to move their piece, then draw a card matching the color of the space to receive directions for their next roll. Make an effort to tailor the complexity of your board game to the age range of its intended player.
In many classic board games, players roll dice and move their game piece a certain number of spaces depending on the number that comes up. More sophisticated games, like “Thunderstone” or “Settlers of Catan,” challenge players to build strong card decks or score points in order to win. For a game with a “paperboy” theme, players might roll to complete their newspaper route before the school bell rings while encountering obstacles like lawn sprinklers and unfriendly dogs on the gameboard. Keep them extremely basic at first. Little by little, you can make your rule system more intricate by adding secondary objectives, random events, or penalties for making poor decisions. [2] X Research source
Keep in mind that the more people you have playing, the more difficult it will be to make the game mechanics work. A head-to-head strategy game could be played by as few as 2-3 people, whereas one that involves identifying a criminal from a lineup of suspects would benefit from having more players in order to make the gameplay more of a challenge.
Stick to 1 or 2 components to keep the gameplay from getting convoluted. Players who are forced to juggle cards, coins, dice, and a pen-and-paper scorekeeping system will quickly find themselves overwhelmed.
The simplest game boards are there to direct the players’ movements. Others might serve as a platform for laying down cards and reading their outcomes, or provide clues for solving puzzles. Commit a crude version of your game board to paper as soon as an idea hits you. This will make it easier for you to work out any remaining kinks without losing the thread of the game.
If you find yourself stumped, it may help to zoom in on key images from the game. What’s the most desired object in the game, or the most important part of the “story”? Take your time thinking up the perfect name. This can be one of the hardest (and often final) parts of the creative process.
Don’t worry too much about how your prototype looks. The only thing that matters at this stage is whether it plays the way it’s supposed to. If you’re serious about making your game a reality, send your materials off to a custom printing company to have them printed professionally. The price will vary depending on the different components required, but you can typically expect to pay around $10-20 per game for a wholesale order. [5] X Research source
Make sure your players are people you can trust to give an unbiased opinion. That way, you can be sure that they’re shooting straight with you. Rather than giving your play-testers an in-depth spiel on how to play, write out the rules and see if they can figure them out for themselves. That way, you’ll know whether or not your instructions make sense. In order to draw out more helpful criticism, ask specific questions, such as, “Did the basic rules make sense?”, “Was there anything that confused you about the mechanics?”, or “What would have made this game more fun?”
After you’ve made a few tweaks, get your play-testing group back together and see what they think of the new version. [7] X Research source Designing a unique, innovative board game is a slow process. You may have to go through multiple versions before you end up with a game that’s anything close to what you originally imagined.
Shop your game around to different companies to find one you think would be a good match. Parker Brothers, for instance, specializes in turn-based, family-friendly games, whereas companies like Games Workshop and Arcane Wonders tend to put out titles with more emphasis on complex strategy and customization. Game developers don’t have time to look at each and every submission in depth, so it’s important that you send them a prototype that’s fully functional. easy to comprehend, and different enough from the rest of their catalog to warrant publishing. [9] X Research source
Stiff cardboard or composite board will be sturdy enough to hold up under hours of play. A sheet of vinyl backing (also known as “contact paper”) is another good choice. If you’ve got some graphic design expertise, use an illustrator program to create a design for your game board. Print the design on sticker paper, then transfer it to the board for a cleaner, more professional look. [10] X Research source
It’s important that you use clear, easy-to-understand language when typing up your rule sheet, especially if your game has a complicated structure. This is a good chance to see the game’s mechanics laid out in front of you and review for inconsistencies before you first play-through.
Make sure your accessories are just the right size for the game board. If they’re too big, they may look disproportionate. If they’re too small, they’ll be hard to keep up with and may be easily lost. Try buying and painting small figurines to create detailed, one-of-a-kind game pieces.
Include any other relevant information that the player might need during gameplay, such as category, point value, and directions for how certain actions should be followed up. One you’ve got your cards looking the way you want them, run them through a lamination machine. This will help safeguard them from tears, spills, and other accidents while lending them a sleek finish. [12] X Research source
Assuming you’re not as concerned with appearances, you could also invest in a compartmentalized carrying case to keep the game board, cards, player pieces, and other accessories neatly organized.
