How a custom board game takes shape: from first idea to finished box

You don’t need rules, artwork, or a component list to get started. You mainly need four things: who the game is for, what it should achieve, how many copies you need, and when they should be ready.

Everything else can be designed.

1. The goal and the brief

First, decide what job the game should do. A gift? An explanation of a service? A conversation starter at an event? A training tool?

A useful starting brief can be short:

We want a family game for clients that simply shows our product’s journey from production to the customer. We need 500 copies by November.

That gives us a stronger starting point than a list of favourite games without a clear goal.

2. The practical details

The brief connects your goal with the practical requirements: audience, budget, quantity, deadline, and how the game will be used. The current minimum order is 100 copies.

3. The concept and format

Your audience, message, and intended use guide the choice of a board, card, or mini game.

There are three main routes:

• a familiar format with your own artwork,

• an adapted, proven game principle,

• an original game built from the ground up.

A familiar principle takes less explaining. Original mechanics can express your brand more precisely, but need more design and testing.

4. Designing mechanics and rules

Game mechanics define what players do: find pairs, collect sets, plan a route, trade, cooperate, or respond to chance events.

The rules need to bring three things together:

• the game is understandable,

• the game is enjoyable,

• the brand fits naturally.

If one is missing, the result falls short. Unclear rules get in the way of play. A dull game does not invite another round. A logo alone does not tell your brand’s story.

5. Artwork and print files

The best results come when one team handles game design and artwork. We start with your logo, brand guidelines, colours, typography, photos, illustrations, and other materials. From those, we create a visual system for the whole game, from the box, board, and cards to icons, rules, and small components. If you don’t have suitable materials, we can create the visual direction from scratch.

Graphics need to reflect your brand and help people play. Colours distinguish card types. Icons make information easier to find. Text hierarchy shows players what to read first.

That’s why we recommend letting us handle the design and print files. Visuals, mechanics, and production options are developed together, keeping the game true to your brand and reducing unnecessary revisions. If your internal studio needs to create the artwork, we’ll supply precise templates and technical materials and check the finished files.

6. Components

Formats are flexible. Depending on your goal, we can combine a board, cards, questions, tasks, tokens, playing pieces, dice, products, a box insert, gift packaging, QR codes, online rules, or a microsite.

7. Prototyping and testing

A prototype needs to show whether the game works. Its looks can come later.

During testing, we focus on:

• whether players understand the goal,

• where they ask questions or get lost,

• whether they have meaningful decisions to make,

• how long a game takes,

• whether the main message gets buried under the rules.

Testing matters especially for an original game. Artwork can make a product look better, but it cannot fix mechanics that don’t work.

8. Production, assembly, and delivery

A board game box might contain:

• a folding game board,

• cards in different sizes,

• cardboard tokens,

• playing pieces,

• a die,

• rules,

• a box and an internal insert.

A card game may only need a deck and a box. A mini game might be a compact set for an event or a product extra. Explore the available options in our game types.

Finished components need checking, placing in the box, arranging in the insert, and packing. Shrink-wrapping may also be part of the project. Then the game is ready for storage, an event, or delivery to clients.

What does a custom board game cost?

There is no single price. Two boxes of the same size can involve very different amounts of development and production.

The main factors are:

1. Development scope. Building on an existing principle is a different task from creating an original game from scratch.

2. Artwork and print files. The number of cards, illustrations, icons, and pages to lay out all matter.

3. Number and type of components. Cards, boards, playing pieces, tokens, dice, inserts, and special shapes each have their own production requirements.

4. Materials and finish. Size, material weight, surface finish, and box construction affect both the result and the cost.

5. Production quantity. Setup costs are spread across the number of copies, so the price per copy usually changes with the size of the run.

6. Assembly and packaging. More small parts mean more work to assemble each box.

7. Deadline and transport. Express or more complex overseas production has different requirements from a standard project.

A quote based on a specific brief gives you a useful price for the game you actually need.

How long does production take?

A full project usually takes 1 to 4 months, depending on scope.

This is an indicative range. The schedule depends on how ready the brief is, whether the format is existing or original, rules development, testing, artwork, approvals, quantity, and production. If you need the game for a fixed date, such as a trade fair or Christmas, include that deadline in your first message.

What to send for a more accurate estimate

Answer these eight questions:

1. Who is the game for?

2. What will it be used for?

3. Do you prefer a mini game, cards, a board game, or would you like advice?

4. Do you have your own rules, or just an idea?

5. Do you have a logo, brand guidelines, or other materials we can use?

6. Would you like us to handle the complete design, or do you need templates for your internal team?

7. How many copies do you need?

8. What is your preferred deadline?

If you’re unsure about something, say so. Your first enquiry doesn’t need to be a technical drawing.

From an idea to the first game

A good game comes together when every component supports one goal.

Take a look at our completed projects and send the basic details for a free estimate. You can include a logo, brand guidelines, or an example of a style you like. We’ll get back to you within three working days and suggest a game and visual direction.

FAQ

Do we need to supply finished rules?
No. You can bring your own rules, just an idea, or have us create the game mechanics as part of the project.

Can you handle artwork and print files too?
Yes. For the best results, we recommend letting us handle the complete design. We can work from your brand guidelines and existing materials or create the visuals from scratch. If you need to prepare the artwork internally, we’ll provide precise templates and check the finished files before production.

What’s the minimum production run?
The current minimum is 100 copies. Specific options and prices depend on game type, components, and production technology.

Can you make just cards with our logo?
Yes. We can create classic decks, custom card backs, packaging, and more complex original card games.