Strategy

A strategy game is a game in which the players' decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome. Strategy games often require decision tree analysis, or probabilistic estimation in the case of games with chance elements. Strategy games include abstract games, with artificial rules and little or no theme, and simulations (including wargames), with rules designed to emulate and reproduce a real or fictional scenario.

As Presented in August 2024

Designer(s) | Tanner Simmons

A mid-game example of a 2 player game of Shovels & Scallywags.

A hidden bidding, bluffing and set collection pirate game where you place Shovels (or Bombs!) face down to attempt to plunder the most valuable Booty cards and prove your (sea) salt!

Game Length

45 min

Player Count

2 - 5

BIDNESS – Entry #7469

As Presented in August 2024

Designer(s) | Joe Malden

Cover of the board game BIDNESS featuring the popular Beaver and Fox characters.

A strategic, card-driven game where players run tech startups, hire key employees, and outmaneuver rivals in auctions and lawsuits. Race to pay off your debts and become the ultimate business mogul.

Game Length

60 min

Player Count

3 - 6

Audience

Medium

Dev. Status

Nearing Completion

Playtest Platform(s)

| Custom Website

Interested to Play

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Bumbledragon – Entry #7455

As Presented in August 2024

Designer(s) | Nicholas Zrebiec

A game setup for Bumbledragon on Screentop.gg.

A light, two-player card-driven movement game where both players move the same game piece. Collect pollen through movement then make honey. The player with the most honey at end of game wins!

Game Length

30 min

Player Count

2 - 2

Audience

Casual

Dev. Status

Nearing Completion

Playtest Platform(s)

| Screentop.gg

Interested to Play Get Updates

Leave Playtest Feedback

See Details »

Intended Audience

Casual:
This game expects players to focus more on social interaction than strategy and/or takes under 45 minutes to play in full, including the rules teach.

Medium:
This game involves some strategy and takes 45-90 minutes to play, with no more than 15-20 minutes of that time spent on the rules teach.

Heavy:
This game focuses on strategy and takes 90 minutes or more to play, with 20 minutes or more of that time spent on the rules teach.

Development Status

New:
This is more of an idea to workshop than a game.

Middling:
You have playtested the prototype before, but you expect it to still have bugs.

Nearing Completion:
You know the game works but are trying minor adjustments.

Final Testing:
This will feel pretty close to playing a published game, but you’re still taking feedback.

Publication Path

Self Publishing
The game creator(s) will handle marketing, sales, distribution, and all other logistics of bringing the game to market.

Looking for a Publisher
The game creator(s) are looking for someone to partner with them to handle some or all of the process of bringing the game to market.

Under Contract with a Publisher
The game creator(s) have found a company or individual who will partner with them to handle some or all of the process of bringing the game to market. The publisher and designer might be the same person, but, beyond the self publishing option, a game that is “with a publisher” will publish under a brand that publishes for a variety of designers.

No Plans to Publish
The game creator(s) will not make this game available for sale to the public. The fun of creating and playing the game is all the reward they need.

Publication Method

Crowdfunding
The publisher will produce the game after a large group of people have paid in advance. Crowdfunding platforms include Kickstarter, Crowd Sales through The Game Crafter, Gamefound, Indiegogo, etc.

Retail Distribution
The publisher will distribute the game to retailers such as friendly local games stores (FLGS), Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Cool Stuff Inc., etc.

Print on Demand
Also known as POD. The manufacturer can print one copy at a time so that the seller doesn’t need to carry inventory. Popular POD services include The Game Crafter, Drive Thru Cards/RPG, and Board Games Maker.

Another Publishing Method
Other methods may include handmade games, print and play or monthly subscription games, creating a seller account on an online marketplace like Amazon or Etsy, and/or selling from your own website — or anything else the publisher can dream up!

Crowdfunding Status

Planning Stage
The campaign is not yet open for backer pledges. Interested players may be able to follow the project on social media and/or via email updates.

Late Stage
The campaign is either open for backer pledges or has recently finished funding. The publisher is making final tweaks to the product before sending final files to the manufacturer.

Rework Stage
A crowdfunding campaign launched in the past did not meet its funding goal or was cancelled before the campaign ended. The publisher plans to launch a new campaign using lessons learned from past campaign(s).

None
There is no plan for a crowdfunding campaign at this time.