How To Make A Board Game (Becoming Creative)

I believe that everyone is creative. I hear people say “I’m just not that creative.” Which is a straight lie.

To Create

You literally create things every day; sentences, jokes, routes to work, food, attitudes, emotions, movements, decisions. A creation is simply a bunch of material or ideas that you brought together in some organized manner that others can comprehend.

So never say you’re not creative enough! You are full of life that creates daily! When it comes to creating a board game, you just need practice. Just like how you practiced creating your first sentences as a child.

Where to Start

Growing up, my brothers and I were always creating different games or adding to ones we already liked. We even made our own version of Pokemon cards called Ottesemon. Probs worth millions if I could find em. My favorite game we made has to be “Crawl Ball.” which is a crawling version of soccer full of rug burns, but it was hilariously entertaining.

So think of a simple, but favorite board game. Think of why you like it and why you don’t. Think of ways you could add to it to make it fit your style. Start writing down your thoughts right now and how you can implement it in your next play session with friends. It doesn’t have to be huge changes. Play test it and see what others think. This is how you start learning how to make a board game. You simply mess around with mechanics you already like.

Play a Lot of Games

If you’re having a hard time coming up with game mechanics because “you’re not creative.” Then play a lot of board games. Play different genres. Go to a board game cafe and start asking people what their favorite game is and try it. Don’t just play it to say you did. Learn how to game works and why it works. Is the game balanced? What is hard to understand? What is the core mechanic that makes this game flow so well?

Once you start picking apart games it becomes easier to create your own.

Theme

Having a fun theme for a board game is how people get interested in even looking at it. Sometimes a good theme can even lead you to make cool and historically accurate game mechanics. In my opinion, the core mechanic of a board game is created first, then the theme. Once the theme is in place you can add all the other little details. Which could include more fun game mechanics.

I see blogs and facebook posts about what should come first: The game mechanics or the theme. In reality, they come together at the same time. More like this; Core Mechanic - Theme - Game Mechanics. However, others will pick a side and that’s fine too.

Get started!

So that’s how you start! Build off of other games first, then go play a great assortment of games, lastly pick a core mechanic and build a theme off of it to help make your first game!

Creating games is an absolute blast, I’m always writing ideas down. Organizing and balancing your game is a whole other topic I will get into next time.

What other ways help you get those creative juices flowing?