Has the recent board game boom gotten you thinking that you should throw your hat into the ring and design your very own board game? Congratulations! You have entered an amazing, rewarding world. But before you dive into making your first game, take a moment and ask yourself; what do people want in a board game? Based on our experience, here are the top 3 things you need to do to create a board game people will love.
Create a Challenge
If you asked someone what they like most about playing board games, they would probably say “winning”. What players are actually after, however, is a feeling of accomplishment; the feeling that they got something scarce and valuable by winning, and that they are therefore smart or lucky. In addition, throughout the game, people will want to feel like they have a chance at winning, otherwise, why would they play the game? That means that you need to have an understanding of who your target audience is so you can know where the line between too easy and too difficult lives.
Create a Thrill
The moments that stick most with people are those filled with emotions: joy, shock, excitement, and relief. These are the kinds of emotions that board games can and should evoke in players and ones that will stick with them for years to come. There are many ways to create a thrill for your players, but almost all of them involve chance. You need to allow your game to keep players on their toes and surprise them again and again. Even a game as predictable as chess can fill players with anticipation as they wait to see if their opponent will thwart their elaborate plan.
Create a Story
Even the most exciting game will not engage players unless they are invested in the story of the game. Unless a game is a purely abstract game, a story is necessary to capture and keep your players interest. Tapping into the emotional associations of common themes and building a world for players to immerse themselves in gives an escape from the dirty dishes in the sink or the report due tomorrow, and allows your game to reward your players in a meaningful way.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Trying to make a fun board game is an important start, but there is a greater goal. You need to create a fair but engaging challenge, give players thrilling moments they will remember, and immerse them in a world that will allow them to escape from the day to day. Now that you know what you are aiming for, you can dive right back into brainstorming, prototyping, and playtesting your next amazing game.