Board game icons: some simple ways of making them clear and easy to understand, whether they refer to a static resource or a game action:
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!
Here’s a small, free set of game icons for use in tabletop games:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rq33CJSQkiFXCjALAke6CKnd4mNfkocG
6 places to get a nice version of your board game’s prototype made:
https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/the-top-5-places-to-get-your-board-game-prototype-made/
Things new board game designers should know about the process—making prototypes, playtest meetups, expectations for a first design, and more:
https://firsttakesomedice.blogspot.com/2025/07/getting-in-zone.html
This printable template will let you make a foldable, no-glue cardstock box that can hold a deck of cards:
https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/5877/blogpost/175167/no-glue-cardstock-box
A simple way of making prototype dice that look nice:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1l8x5hw/my_favorite_way_to_prototype_dice/
A short thread about player aids and why it’s helpful to think about them even early on in your board game design process:
https://bsky.app/profile/drayerink.bsky.social/post/3lk6vqg3sek2g
Our annual Cardboard Edison Best Practices booklet, filled with board game design tips and resources for every step of the process, is back!
evaluating playtesters’ feedback
improving your rulebook
making your prototype more usable with graphic design
setting design goals for yourself
and lots more!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EPqJLYnwt0LXDEmZaZ8ebbA6M2MS_quN/view
