Board Game

9 Tips For Starting A Successful Board Game (2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: January 19th, 2023

Want to start your own board game? Here are some tips you should know:

Learn more about starting a board game:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a board game?
-> Pros and cons of a board game

Need inspiration?

-> Other board game success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a board game
-> Board game slogans
-> Board game names

Other resources

We've interviewed thousands of successful founders at Starter Story and asked what advice they would give to entrepreneurs who are just getting started.

Here's the best advice we discovered for starting a board game:

#1: Dave Schuman, founder of Kill Merlin!:

We chatted with with Dave, founder of Kill Merlin! ($19K/month). In our interview, Dave says:

At the end of the day, I’m a dad (and, perhaps, a human) who likes to lead by positive example. I want to show Zev and Zane that the act of creation is fun and achievable.

Read the full interview ➜

#2: Travis Hancock, founder of Facade Games:

We chatted with with Travis, founder of Facade Games ($30K/month). In our interview, Travis says:

We were able to produce 12,000 copies of the game in our first print. This opened my mind to the possibility of making more games and potentially doing this full time. I quit my job and started to get my feet wet as I learned more about fulfillment, manufacturing, retail, and distribution.

Additionally:

There is so much value in completing something. I’ve found that one of the staples of most entrepreneurial-minded people is that they have so many ideas and have started many projects, but finished very few.

Read the full interview ➜

#3: Greg Hughes, founder of Continuum Games:

We chatted with with Greg, founder of Continuum Games ($250K/month). In our interview, Greg says:

To this day, two of our strongest marketing efforts are producing a high-quality print catalog and attending key trade shows.

Additionally:

I didn’t get into the Toy business for the money. If I wanted to make more money, there were other easier paths. I chose Toys and Games because I love it.

Read the full interview ➜

#4: Will Roya, founder of PlayingCardDecks.com:

We chatted with with Will, founder of PlayingCardDecks.com ($140K/month). In our interview, Will says:

Try to keep things as simple as possible with systems in place. Don’t be afraid to try something new but also don’t be afraid to give it up if it isn’t working.

Additionally:

Start slow and steady and have a plan. Maybe start with the end goal in mind and work backward and break it down into steps and daily goals and activities.

Read the full interview ➜

#5: Will Roya, founder of PlayingCardDecks.com:

We chatted with with Will, founder of PlayingCardDecks.com ($140K/month). In our interview, Will says:

Don’t look for a magic bullet that will bring you success because there is no such thing.

Read the full interview ➜

#6: Travis Hancock, founder of Facade Games:

We chatted with with Travis, founder of Facade Games ($30K/month). In our interview, Travis says:

Focus on doing what you love, and focus on standing out. It’s tougher and tougher to “do things differently” than those around you, but that is how you will float to the top and be seen.