It’s often said that the first games you design will be terrible. But what if they aren’t? Here are some ways to approach your first design (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB6ln4buwxg

Tips for designing a board game for a 24-hour game jam from people who’ve done it:

https://pamwallsgamedesign.substack.com/p/tips-for-board-game-jams

A high-level, step-by-step guide to the earliest stages of designing a board game:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/how-to-make-a-board-game-a-step-by-step-guide/

Matt Leacock on how the industry has changed in the past 20 years, working with publishers, advocating for game designers, and more:

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2026/02/06/pandemic-creator-matt-leacock-on-fighting-for-designers-rights-working-with-effective-developers-and-his-publisher-pet-peeves/

New to board game design and not sure where to start? This Reddit board game design forum discussion goes into the processes that are most common for beginning designers:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1qz3avi/hi_everyone_im_new_to_game_design_and_i_wanted_to/

What methods do you use for physical note-taking? A Bluesky board game designers discussion:

https://bsky.app/profile/peterlmcpherson.bsky.social/post/3me4fwyhm3k2z

A grab bag of game design questions: considering component cost when designing, how to remain motivated with a game design, the pros and cons of self-publishing, and more (video):

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

A counterintuitive tactic for new board game designers: trying to make an intentionally bad game (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj3IZtxw_PI

Designing your first game? Here are 5 types of games that are ideal for beginning game designers to try making:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbhiLMrE3Ig

10 lessons about the process of designing board games from 2025 (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62zLZONQc4Q

Why it isn’t helpful to compare your game design efforts to those of other designers, and why it’s better to pay attention to your own progress instead:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/stop-comparing-yourself-to-others/

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

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

What do you do with your old prototypes? A Reddit board game designers discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1ozz02m/what_do_you_do_with_old_prototypes/

When should you start talking about your board game idea? A Reddit board game design forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1ozjd9o/when_to_start_talking_about_ideas/

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

Inka and Markus Brand on designing games as a couple and as a family:

https://thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/inka-and-markus-brand-our-minds-are-always-buzzing-with-ideas-for-games

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

https://daniel.games/

Ways to move forward when you're feeling stuck as a game designer (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yjYywuqJBM

The designer of Wyrmspan and the head of Stonemaier Games discuss the board games that they’ve learned the most from (video):

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

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