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
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
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
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