Q&A for How to Make Your Own Board Game

Cardboard would be a good choice for your prototype, but because cardboard damages easily, a firmer board would be a better choice for your final product. If cardboard is your only option though, choose cardboard that is more durable or glue two pieces of cardboard together to make your board.

Write down many words that relate to your game. Pair them together until you find a nice combination. It helps to have others do this exercise with you.

It depends on how long you want your game to go on for. If you want a game to last for hours, then more challenges would be fine. If you want a game to go for 10 minutes or so, then it should be only one challenge.

Establish a clear set of rules. Make sure the rules are understood. For more complicated games, you may want to set the age limit higher.

You can 3D print the game pieces if you have access to such a printer, which makes the possible permutations endless. If not, consider making them using any materials you have at home already, to save money and time. For example, buttons, cotton reels, stickers on cardboard, cut-outs, plastic bits and bobs from the odd things drawer, ransacking other board games for pieces, small doll toys, tube caps, grocery product boxes/containers/bottles, etc. It's the perfect chance to be ultra creative!

Get creative. You can make 3D structures with cardbord or a number of other materials.

Think about how you play the game. Once you do, jot down things that you should and shouldn't do. Include time frames, extra shots, card usage, and alternative game play.

You could use A3 paper for the prototype and strong cardboard for the real thing. This would be better as it would allow you to have more players.

You can patent it if you feel it will get somewhere, but only do that if necessary because patents cost a lot of money.

You can use a foam board to make the game board, and small items from around the house, such as thimbles, thread spools, and buttons, for the game pieces.

You could use a piece of cardboard, a slab of wood, or any other flat material that you'd like.

You could have a yard sale on your front lawn selling homemade stuff. Aim it at kids; you will have buyers in no time! At first don't make the prices too high, but gradually increase them as more people become interested.

Recycle an old gameboard by covering it with paper.

Crowd funding is a bad idea unless you have a good enough concept. You need a full set of rules, a basic layout, and you need pretty much everything to be set out. Only try crowd funding if you are really sure about make this into a board game.

Sure. If it turns out well, maybe you could laminate it later.

Just choose a marker that you truly like, and you'll be happy with it. It's your game, so you decide.

It depends on how interesting the concept and gameplay are. If there are dull moments or confusing rules, people get much enjoyment playing for hours. It also depends on how patient the players are.

Yes.

You could make a base or holder for the pieces. You could also cut slits in the pieces that attach to corresponding slits on the game board.

You can make pegs for your game by painting pre-made models (available at hobby shops) or by fashioning your own using knick-knacks and hot glue. With a sharp knife or woodworking tools, you could carve pegs, too.

Paper works well for cards, especially for your prototype. When you make the finished model, you may want to use sturdier material, as the cards will be handled often by players. Card stock or laminated paper work well for cards.

Depending on your game, it may have books, manuals, examples, or special player items. The things you include in your game is a matter of preference.

Maybe you could make it a choose your own adventure type of game. You could also put objects in the middle of the board that players have to try to steal while no one's looking. It's up to you - be creative!

You can use anything that you have around your house and purchase any additional items at a grocery or craft store.

Just take some from a Monopoly game or buy some from a toy store. You can also get small pieces of paper and write the numbers on them.

You don't have to be. You can always print pictures from the internet and cut them out (unless you're going to sell the game), or you can just not have drawings. You could also enlist an artistic friend.

You can think about your hobbies and likes, then base your game off of that. You could also think about problems around you that need to be solved - like pollution, for example - and then use that to create a problem-solving game.

It can be based on a movie, TV show, etc., but if you use someone else's ideas or material, you can only keep the game for private use, you cannot distribute or sell it without being in violation of copyright laws.

Usually, the gameplay itself determines how long the game lasts, i.e. a complicated game with lots of rules will take longer to play than a simple game. But generally speaking, it's a good idea to aim for around 20 minutes to an hour.

You don't. Try and identify main themes and facts from the book and add that into your design or game play.