Self-publishing vs. licensing: the pros and cons of signing over the rights to your game to a larger company (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u6K5aRvLyU

The latest installment in our series on board game publishing contracts is out now! We've been running these reports for more than 10 years, and this new report focuses on how the process of signing a game has changed over the years:

https://cardboardedison.com/reports

It may not be that the game is unfun—here are some common reasons a publisher might reject a game they’re pitched:

https://www.dmrcreativegroup.com/post/overused-ideas-overlooked-reasons-pitches-get-rejected

How to make a pitch video for your board game: writing, recording, editing, and uploading (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8N2m9xyphc

Why the pitch for your board game is so important, and some tips for making sure you’re on the right track:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/why-your-pitch-needs-to-be-amazing/

Expansions for successful board games: designing them, working on them for publishers, players’ views, and more:

https://faidutti.com/blog/blog/2026/09/08/les-extensionsexpansions/

Our 2026 reports on publishing contracts are out! Industry standards to know before signing:

💵 Part 1: advances, credit, creative control

🎲 Part 2: royalties, designer copies, promotion

🌏 Part 3: co-publishing, extra royalties, rights reversion

https://cardboardedison.com/reports

How to grade board game publisher licensing contracts and the terms contained within them (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky1RyAbgCcc

A short thread with one big piece of feedback for game designers making pitch videos for contests or publishers:

https://bsky.app/profile/leafydragongames.bsky.social/post/3mt4yjn2htc2x

TTGDA has released a scoring rubric to help designers assess publishers’ licensing contracts:

https://irp.cdn-website.com/2b6905d0/files/uploaded/2026-08-11+TTGDA+Licensing+Scoring+Rubric.pdf

This website lists various board game playtesting and pitching events across Europe:

https://prototyping.games/

Published board game designers offer their top advice to a new designer in this Reddit board game design forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1vezq19/im_sure_this_has_been_asked_a_lot_im_looking_for/

10 tips for making a better print-and-play version of your board game prototype for playtesters and publishers (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Z3rGnXBQc

10 board game publishers who are seeking submissions—a walkthrough of their processes and requirements (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92eIywsY6YY

What kinds of things should you look for in a publisher before signing a game with them? Here are 5 things to consider:

https://www.benrosset.games/designer-advice#h.a85tfbdoyed0

How many times should you playtest a game before pitching it?

https://pamwallsgamedesign.substack.com/p/how-many-times-should-you-playtest

A process for figuring out what it is about your game that’s going to hook publishers and players (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGMGdiar1J0

Turning a bad sell sheet into a good one (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uew1LKp3Mwo

Advice for your first time pitching to a publisher—a Reddit board game design forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1timcp3/first_meetings_with_publishers_this_weekend_what/

Walking through the submission process for 10 different publishers—and general tips for submitting your game for consideration (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgdxymyZC3s