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Resources for Learning
There is a lot of valuable information about tabletop game design on blogs, podcasts, and videos. Here are some to check out.
To submit additional resources to include on this page, please email resources@ttgda.org.
BLOGS
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Balangay Entertainment | Blog by designer Nico Valdez |
| Board Game Design Course Blog | Joe Slack offers a free game design blog and podcast, as well as paid courses. |
| Daniel Piechnik | Blog by the designer of Radlands |
| Daniel Solis | Focus on graphic design for tabletop games |
| Entro Games | Game publisher also offering free design advice |
| GameTek | The Math and Science of Gaming. Based on the popular GameTek segment on The Dice Tower podcast |
| Ludology Game Design Checklist | PDF checklist of questions to ask yourself about your design |
| One Thousand XP | Game Design Tips |
| RPG Design Theories | RPG Design Theories from noted designer Monte Cook |
| ShippBoard Games | Design theory and analysis from designer and author Sarah Shipp |
| Skeleton Code Machine | A weekly publication that explores tabletop game mechanisms in board games and roleplaying games. |
| Stonemaier Games | Notes on design and publishing from designer Jamey Stegmaier |
| Tabletop Designers Association | Game design blog. (Not affiliated with TTGDA) |
| The Dark Imp | Notes on design from Ellie Dix |
| The Steps | Outline of the steps in designing a game from Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Limfrom |
| Think Like a Game Designer | Free and paid writings and podcasts on design from noted designer Justin Gary |
VIDEO channels
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Adam in Wales | Designer and player of card-games, board-games, and dice games from Wales, UK. |
| Board Game Blueprint | Weekly videos on design from Game Crafter |
| Board Game Design Lab | Podcast and video series hosted by Gabe Barrett |
| Cogito Design | A board game design team taking on the world of board games |
| Gaming Indoors | Lessons and interviews on game design |
| Gaming with Edo | Game design, skewing towards kickstarter and production |
| GDC Vault | Recordings of presentations at the Game Developers Conference. Recent videos are paywalled, older ones are free. |
| Georgetown University Wargaming Society | Topics in simulation design presented by various speakers |
| Heath's Geekverse | RPG design topiccs |
| How to submit a game to BGG | Useful video from W. Eric Martin about how to add a game to Board Game Geek |
| How we fight in board games | A Dice Tower video surveying different combat resolution mechanics |
| Meeple Syrup | Weekly live conversations about design |
| Pam Walls Game Design | Independent game designer on a variety of design-related topics |
| Stuff by Bez | Interviews with designers and design walkthroughs |
| Tabletop Network | Videos from the Tabletop Network conference and Tabletop Mentorship program |
Books
We are not providing links to books as they are available through the book selling platform of your choice.
| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| A Gamut of Games | Sid Sackson |
| A Theory of Fun | Raph Koster |
| Achievement Relocked | Geoff Engelstein |
| Board Game Design Advice from the Best in the Industry | Gabe Barrett |
| Board Game Designers Guide to Getting Published | Joe Slack |
| Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design | Geoff Engelstein and Isaac Shalev |
| Characteristics of Games | Skaff Elias, Richard Garfield |
| Designing Board Games - Volume 1: Game Structure | Enrico Feresin |
| Dice Games Properly Explained | Reiner Knizia |
| Game Design Workshop | Tracy Fullerton |
| Game Production | Geoff Engelstein |
| GameTek | Geoff Engelstein |
| Graphic Design for Board Games | Daniel Solis |
| Kobold Guide to Board Game Design | Selinker, Howell, et al |
| Make Your Own Board Game: Designing, Building, and Playing an Original Tabletop Game | Jesse Daniels |
| Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals | Katie Tekinbas, Eric Zimmerman |
| Tabletop Game Accessibilty | Michael James Heron |
| Tabletop RPG Design in Theory and Practice at the Forge | William White |
| Tabletop: Analog Game Design | Drew Davidson |
| The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses | Jesse Schell |
| The Board Game Designer's Guide To Careers In The Industry | Joe Slack |
| The Board Game Designers Guide | Joe Slack |
| The Top 10 Mistakes New Board Game Designers Make: (and How to Avoid Them) | Joe Slack |
| Thematic Integration in Board Game Design | Sarah Shipp |
| Think like a Game Designer | Justin Gary |
| Uncertainty in Games | Greg Costikyan |
| White Box Essays | Jeremy Holcomb |
| You Said This Would Be Fun: What makes a game good and how to make a good game | Jeff Warrander |
| Your Turn!: The Guide to Great Tabletop Game Design | Scott Rogers |
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