Getting Started

Getting started in game design can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to learn, and it’s not always obvious what you should learn first. Here you’ll find lots of resources to help you get off to a great start as a game designer.

Contents

Start Here

Board Game Terms Explained

More Board Game Terms Explained

10 Steps to Design a Board Game (Video)

Brief Crash Course in Game Design

Game Design for Dummies

Beginners’ Questions Answered

What’s a Game Designer?

Build a Knowledge Base

So You Want to Make a Game…

Game Basics: Mechanics

Game Basics: Theme

The Downfall of Aspiring Game Designers

How to Tell if a Concept Is “Valid”

Some thoughts for designers who are worried that someone will steal their game idea

Game Idea VS Game Product

Golden Rules of Game Design

Questions You Must Answer When Designing a New Game

When to Walk Away from a Game Design

Maximizing Your Game Design Time

Tips for Working with a Codesigner

An Introduction to Spreadsheets for Game Designers

When You Get Stuck on a Game Design

10 Things to Do at Home to Become a Better Designer

Self-Publish Board Games or Not?

How to Enter a Print and Play Design Contest on BGG

What I learned at SaltCON about Game Design

How to Make a Tabletop Simulator Demo of Your Game

Games Are Ready When They’re Ready

10 Elements of Good Game Design

Passion and Zeal are No Substitute for Skill

Multi-Tasking Is Actually the Best

What to Do with Your Brilliant Board Game Idea

A Crash Course in Board Game Development

6 Right and Wrong Reasons to Make a Board Game

Try, Try, Try Again: How to Fund after Failing Twice

6 Right and Wrong Reasons to Make a Board Game

Why You Should Go to a Protospiel

Games that Are Hidden Gems

18 Facebook Groups for Game Designers

Defining Your Game

Designer vs Developer vs Publisher

Top 10 Short-Term Ways to Stumble into Long-Term Success

Do You Ever Worry about Ripping off Other Games?

Get to Know Other Designers

Building a Game Design Community

How to Be Part of the Design Community (Audio)

How to Decide if You Need a Game Design Partner

5 Reasons to Co-Design

How to Build an Audience (Audio)

How to Create a Game Design Community (Audio)

Advice I Wish I Had When I Was Working on My First Game

What if Someone Steals My Idea?

How to Test Your Game by Yourself


Game Design Forums

The Board Game Design Forum

Game Designers Guild Facebook Group

Board Game Playtesters Guild Facebook Group

Design Forum on Board Game Geek

Design Forum on The Game Crafter

Design Forum on Reddit


Game Design Podcasts

Board Game Design Lab

Ludology

Board Game University

Building the Game

Game Design Roundtable

Breaking Into Boardgames

A Long List Ranking the Best Board Game Podcasts


Game Design Conventions

Protospiel

Unpub

Spielbany

A Game Designer’s Convention Packing List


Time Management

The Cost of a Board Game: Time

Balancing Family Life and Gaming Part 1

Balancing Family Life and Gaming Part 2

How to Find More Time to Make Games (Video)

How to Balance Life and Game Design


Staying Motivated

Forget Your Fears

How to Deal with Designer’s Block and Overwhelm (Audio)

Anything Is Possible if You Pay the Price

The Last 10% of Your Game’s Design

Maintaining Enthusiasm on a Design


More Reading

The Full Process of Getting Your Game in People’s Hands

Independent Game Design: What to Expect

The Path of the Game and the Path of the Designer

Understanding Design

A game designer’s core skills

How to Teach a Game

The Game that Won’t Get Published

Perception Is Reality: How To Be Bigger Than You Are

What Does a Game Cost the Designer

A Publisher’s Perspective on the Top 10 Mistakes New Designers Make

If You Love Your Design, Let It Go

Borrowing Ideas from Other Games

Confessions of a Game Designer

Your Game Idea Is Useless until You Do This

On the Viability of Game Design as a Full Time Job

Designer vs Developer vs Publisher

Going to GAMA

 

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