Creating my own boardgame.
Project
Status
Passion
Prototype (Hi-Fi)
Role
Activities
Product / Game Design
Competitor Analysis | Sketching | Paper Prototyping | User testing | Prototyping | Artwork | Isometric Design | Material Production
A passion project of mine to craft an inventive and entertaining board game, to be enjoyed by people with a shared taste in games. Given my proclivity for strategy games, I aspired to create one of my own.
Eventually, this undertaking reignited my aspirations to pursue a career in design, inspiring me to pursue an old dream with a newfound sense of purpose.
Inspiration
Create a boardgame with a perfect balance between strategy and chance.
While playing strategy board games, I noticed they often lean too heavily on either chance or strategy. Too much chance feels like you're not in control, while too much strategy overwhelms beginners against experienced players.
Inspired by Risk and Colonists of Catan, which balance strategy and chance, I extracted elements I admired from both games. I then combined these to create the foundation of my own unique game.
Ideation
Sketching out a competitive builder game.
I envisioned a game that combines the settlement-building of Colonists of Catan with the conquest and aggression of Risk. Starting with a detailed rule set and rough component sketches, I transferred these designs onto blank cards, creating the first prototype.
Continuous user testing to find the right balance.
Eager to test my game, I asked board game enthusiast friends to play and give honest feedback. Each flaw they found, I fixed and retested. This iterative process, though lengthy, taught me what worked and what didn’t. After countless revisions, the gameplay became fun, fair, and balanced.
This never stopped, though gradually I began focussing on the visuals of the game.
From a cards to a playing board with artwork tiles.
I started with simple tile artwork, but soon moved to detailed isometric designs for the tiles and board. Printing these brought the game to life, creating a more immersive experience. The latest production included a playing board, tiles, miniature units, coins, and dice.
Results
A hi-fi prototype ready for the next stage.
Holdfast has evolved into a fully-realized prototype, featuring balanced gameplay and unique artwork. Continuous testing drives ongoing adjustments, preparing the game for the next production phase and professional manufacturing.
Designed for 2-4 players, each 30-60 minute game of Holdfast can be won by either eliminating opponents or expanding your settlement to its maximum potential. Players can adopt different strategies, whether defensive or offensive, enhancing enjoyment and replay value.
Not just a passion.
Creating this game reignited my passion for design and inspired me to pursue a career as a digital designer. Realizing I loved this work enough to do it for free, I knew it was worth making it my profession—and I've never looked back. Developing this game underscored the value of user testing. Iterating based on constant feedback transformed it into a solid product, with every decision carefully considered. Watching live reactions provided invaluable insights.
Ultimately, it's a privilege and a joy to see people having fun with a game I've created.
