Cardboard Edison’s List of Active Board Game Design Contests

 

The 18 Card Challenge: 9 Cards Per Game

Host: Button Shy Games

Deadline: January 15

Design restrictions: design an 18-card game that only uses nine cards per game

Judges: industry participants

Prizes: the winning designer gets $100 cash, and all entries may be considered for publication

Cardboard Edison Award

Host: Cardboard Edison

Deadline: January 31

Design restrictions: none

Judges: industry participants

Prizes: none

44th Boulogne-Billancourt Board Game Designer’s International Contest

Host: Boulogne-Billancourt

Deadline: January 31, or until 120 games have been submitted

Design restrictions: none

Judges: industry participants

Prizes: none

ZSA Cards Challenge

Host: The Game Crafter

Deadline: March 3

Design restrictions: games using the ZSA deck of cards

Judges: industry participants

Prizes: $250 cash, $250 in shop credit, consideration to be included in a ZSA Cards book, and more

2025 9-Card Nanogame Print and Play Design Contest

Host: BoardGameGeek

Deadline: March 15

Design restrictions: 9 cards and a few bits

Judges: BGG community

Prizes: GeekGold

Premio Archimede

Host: studiogiochi

Deadline: March 31

Design restrictions: none

Judges: industry participants

Prizes: winners accepted for publication will receive a €3,500 advance on future royalties

2025 Children & Family Game Design Contest

Host: BoardGameGeek

Deadline: April 15

Design restrictions: children and family games

Judges: BGG community

Prizes: GeekGold