Wannabe Board Game Designer

Create a game using the traditional deck of playing cards.

The contest will be run with the help of the Design Contest Hub site.

Submission

1. Create a WIP thread for your game in the Works in Progress forum.
   Include the phrase [2026 Traditional Deck Game Design Contest] as well as [IDEA PHASE] or [RULES AVAILABLE] in the thread’s title.
   Include a list of any additional components needed to play your game, as well as player count, earliest age, and estimated length of play In your WIP thread’s first post.
   First post of the WIP thread should also include a link back to contest thread.
2. You must enter your game’s data in the Contest Form on the Design Contests Hub website.
   If your entry is not in the Entry List, it is not in the contest!
3. Post a link to your WIP thread to the contest thread, so that others know about your game.
4.  When the rules become available for your game, post the file link(s) in the top post of your WIP thread and also here. This will alert potential players that they can start to playtest your game.

Components

The main components of the game should be the cards from the traditional deck of playing cards (the poker deck).

If you are using multiple decks, these may have different backs or the same backs, and you may use these mechanically, within reason.

You can also adjust the size of the deck, removing unnecessary cards, though your final game must include and be based on a traditional deck of playing cards. Jokers are fine as well. You can also use a deck box as a component if you can find a mechanical reason to do so.

A small amount of coins, chips, cubes, dice or other common items is permitted. (The harder these items are to come by, the fewer players will play and vote for your game. So weigh out personally whether such components are really necessary.)

No printable custom components are allowed in this contest, with the exception of components that don’t have a gameplay function: the rulebook, scorepad, player aids or a reference sheet.

However, you are allowed to create a deck with custom illustrations for thematic reasons. But, no gameplay information other than standard ranks and suits should appear on the cards.

Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3761810/2026-traditional-deck-game-design-contest