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Daviesdesign Games Ltd., Southend-on-Sea (2026)

02/07/2025

3D printed Mechs for my new game Mech Arena

30/05/2023

How to make a great game. It doesnt just happen overnight.

Ive been there before, presenting playtesters a half-arsed game, and I'm glad now I didnt waste more time on it.
If you ever created something you think is great: Remember your friends and esp. your children will be polite, and kids laugh at ridiculous stuff, even a bad game that kills you on turn 1.
But would they buy it?
But Dont give up.
Be prepared to throw out bits and make changes. Even if they say, "theres no game here" which sounds really harsh. I mean that there are big "no-nos" that will kill any game experience.
here are my top 3.
1. Lack of agency. If an intelligent player finds there is no choice, they are forced to play a rubbish action or no action at all, the game is just not fun. Its better to be eliminated.

2. If there is too much to learn in the first turn, that you feel you cant make an intelligent choice, and have to play badly simply because the card you need is deep in the deck, it is no fun. There shoudl be a positive option every single turn.

3. If the theme is nothing to do with the game, its a bad game. "Kingdom builder" is a good (or bad) example. You buy the game thinking its about building a kingdom, and find it only about collecting sets. Boring and a bit dishonest. Players will ask for their money back.
4. Too complex for new players. This is a common issue. I'd suggest stacking the game to make a simple start that increases as the game progresses. Make it about skillful decisions. Think what are the good decisions to reach the objective and try to include them.

Board Game Design Lab posted a good video about this with even more good advice! Go check it out!

Here's pretty much every tip about game design that I could think of!My recommendations for game design components and resources: https://a.co/cDh5lE0BGDL Fa...