Designing narrative puzzle games: notes on immersion, tactile components, playtesting, and more (audio):
https://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-321-once-upon-a-puzzletale
You can adapt and use this free online form to collect feedback from playtesters:
form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1djp-n0RfIyTY-q4MbbFjX6Wi27zq9Tn6mVzZd-yGf-c/copy
details: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3274021/free-playtester-survey-handout-for-your-game
A quick guide to effective playtesting: setting objectives, balancing feedback, encouraging constructive criticism, and more:
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3267299/quick-guide-effective-playtesting
A board game design essential: the playtesting and development cycle and how it works:
https://www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2024/02/07/testing-and-development/
Use this one-page playtest log to keep track of feedback and ideas from your game’s playtesting sessions:
https://www.breakmygame.com/_files/ugd/d065b6_c82436ebef3f444689906224099709a9.pdf
Our annual Best Practices booklet, filled with board game design tips and resources, is back for 2024! Lots of articles and interviews covering all steps of the board game design process!
https://cardboardedison.com/award
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eM_Y1BBUi3ts7jaei99zojTya1N-qVzV/view
A good question when a playtester isn’t sure what’s supposed to happen next: “What would you like to have happen?”
https://subsurfacegames.ca/2024/01/17/reviewing-go-to-questions-to-ask-playtesters/
Adam Porter shares an epic list of 100 lessons about board game design and finding commercial success as a designer, learned over a decade in the industry (video):
Lessons 100-91: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D8omU-Ejj4
Lessons 90-81: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEbA8BYJ2Xs
Lessons 80-71: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYs3wApBYVE
Lessons 70-61: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INsfDpTQzlg
Lessons 60-51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozai-xir6G0
Lessons 50-41: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0EvkRnjzZI
Lessons 40-31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYVscmpj-A
Lessons 30-21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JITsKXWf7pI
Lessons 20-11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvol9tXnyFk
Lessons 10-1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIGP-CE0Dow
Malorie and Ryan Laukat offer some rapid-fire tips for board game designers: working on multiple games, collaborating, making changes, incorporating feedback, and more (video):
Some ways of running a smooth and successful playtest session: setting expectations, setting the tone, managing feedback, and more:
https://bsky.app/profile/drayerink.bsky.social/post/3kghtywgomj2l