Some trends that shaped the board game industry in 2025 and what they have meant for game designers (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH4o2alaNoA

Our annual Cardboard Edison Best Practices booklet, filled with board game design tips and resources for every step of the process, is back!

In this edition, you’ll find:

• How to make the most of a playtest group

• What should be in a pitch video—and what shouldn’t

• Mistakes to avoid with your prototype’s art

• Onboarding players more smoothly

• How to prepare for indie game markets

…and lots more!

Three publishers on how they’re using—and paying to include—fan designs in their releases:

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/12/16/board-game-publishers-stonemaier-cmyk-and-eurydice-games-on-how-theyre-utilising-and-paying-to-include-fan-designs-in-their-releases/

A history of board game design (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTr3kVXd6LY

Answers to a bunch of questions about designing and publishing board games (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncobd6xxT2Q

Career paths in the tabletop industry: how to gain work experience that’s attractive to publishers and other gaming companies (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcjh97TFETE

Why the first play of a board game is the most important one—and what designers can focus on to make it count (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rboNxr1KCc

Leveling up as a board game designer: signs that your skills and practices are becoming more like an experienced designer rather than a beginner (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPWgQCNkRsM

The Daniel.games game design advice website has been updated with new and revised articles:

https://daniel.games/

A short thread on how potential customers browse at a game store and what designers can learn from it:

https://bsky.app/profile/kevinwilson42.bsky.social/post/3m3zqjfqi3c2b

Aspects of the tabletop industry that can contribute to burnout for board game designers (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2rC_8F10R8

Lessons learned from 10 years as a published board game designer (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONKWOTDranc

This chat with a game designer and developer considers what makes a game “cozy” and what makes it a good product (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux_BOmq9WCY

The designer of Ascension offers up five game design lessons from 15 years of the game:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/177249/designer-diary-5-lessons-learned-from-15-years-of

Legal basics for board game designers: patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing agreements, and more (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtzvEv5RSQA

Why it’s worth the cost for board game designers to attend gaming conventions (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwOK1j_BffQ

Designing the kinds of games that are currently trendy: why it’s not an optimal approach to game design and how it’s better to try and start a new trend than to attach your game to a current trend (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHRsdxdMFXc

Lifestyle games: what they are, what kinds of games can become lifestyle games, designing one today, and more (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_7v6HDWHAI

This board game designer glossary has brief explanations for tons of everyday industry terms that all designers should know:

https://streamlinedgaming.com/board-game-designers-glossary/

A roundtable discussion about board game development and how developers work with designers (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJF-qdk-sJ8