This series features tightly focused looks at topics relating to game design.
The history of games goes back at least 5,000 years, and game materials are routinely found in archeological digs around the world. They are an integral part of what makes us human. Yet the scholarly study of games as a craft, tabletop games in particular, is a relatively recent development. Their study has gone hand in hand with an explosion of creativity in tabletop games, and increasing cultural penetration and acceptance in all their forms.
Because of their centrality to the human experience, it is unsurprising that the study of games touches on many spheres. Art, science, philosophy, storytelling, psychology, math, social dynamics, and system engineering are just some of the disciplines that inform and guide the design of games, and our reaction to them.
The goal of this book series is for each volume to do a deep dive into a single topic within this spectrum, authored by an expert in the field. The diversity of topics demands a diverse set of authors, each of whom brings their particular knowledge, experience, and perspective to the realm of game design.
For more resources about Tabletop Game Design, please visit the website of the Tabletop Game Designers Association at https://www.ttgda.org.
By Chris Backe
June 09, 2025
Playtesting Best Practices: Real World and Online covers the complete journey of playtesting - the iterative journey to shape and refine tabletop games from raw ideas to balanced and fun games. This step-by-step guide embraces the process and celebrates the purpose of every step, from early ...
By Steve Dee
June 02, 2025
Our modern world is dominated by giant media companies, and increasingly they don’t so much sell story, characters or gameplay as they do their setting. Fictional worlds are big business and represent big value to companies and audiences alike, and they are increasingly expected and demanded by ...
By Amabel Holland
January 27, 2025
Games can be used to model systems because they are themselves systems. Video games handle this under the hood and teach you as you play, but because board games are operated manually, and require the player to understand the system beforehand, they can be a valuable tool for recognizing, ...
By Daniel Solis
October 03, 2024
Board games are increasingly recognized as an artform of their own, but their design and aesthetics are just as important as their gameplay mechanics. In this handbook, art director and graphic designer Daniel Solis offers his 20+ years of expertise in graphic design in tabletop gaming. With a ...
By Sarah Shipp
January 29, 2024
Theme is often described as the "why" of a game. Themes help with rules comprehension by giving reasons for the mechanics. Themes can help set players’ expectations for what kind of experiences or emotions the game provides. Themes can also help to create the experience and provide atmosphere to ...