Design – Test – Fail – Learn – Repeat
I love board game design contests as they’re a fun way to learn faster, because the constraints and deadlines force new ideas to happen. In this video, I open the contest calendar on my website and go through what’s available for February 2026: what kinds of contests are running right now, which ones look especially interesting, and what contests I’m planning on participating.
If any contest catches the eye, jump in let’s learn to design better games.
Unusually written by the designer himself, spellchecked by AI.
The design contest ended a week ago and I have had some time to think about the next steps. Unfortunately, I have no idea how the game was received, as only the top games in each contest category were named.
This is not too big of a disappointment, as there were so many great games in the contest. Congratulations to all designers who got their game to the podium! The games were great and all winners deserve their place at the top. If you have not checked them out, you really should do so: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3536713/2025-54-card-game-design-contest
What is a bit of a disappointment to me is that I did not get any feedback on Hack-a-Pad from other contestants, good or bad. Getting feedback and learning is one main reason for me to participate in these contests. Well, one can’t have it all. Luckily, I’ve had an opportunity to playtest the game outside the contest and received constructive feedback that way.
Based on the feedback from live playtests, I’ve concluded that the game has a lot of potential. It also seems that hacking a pad is not something everyone sees as engaging or interesting, but those who do seem to really like the game and want to play more than once. This indicates that the game is not for everyone, but there is definitely a group of people who like it. Now my job as a designer is to make it irresistible for the people it is for.
I will be continuing the design process now that I’m more free from the 54-card only limit of the contest. First things to do now, is to figure out more stable way to track AP and Privacy (perhaps spinners or player boards?) and to reintroduce mechanics for 3-4 (or even 6) player game that requires more cards. I’m also considering to create a solo player rules. So there is much to do with the game.
Transcribed by AI, dictated by the designer while driving.
As the contest deadline approaches, I’ve been making the final tweaks to Hack-a-Pad. The game is almost ready, and I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. I’ve been refining the rules and making sure everything is as polished as possible. I also recorded a 12-minute playthrough video to give people a better idea of how the game works. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
In addition to the Tabletop Simulator mod I made earlier, the game is now also available in screentop.gg. I hope that helps me to get more testers as screentop.gg is a free-to-play system website.
Overall, I’m feeling good about where the game is at. It’s been a lot of work, but I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. Now, it’s just a matter of making sure everything is ready for the contest deadline on October 15th. I’m hopeful that the game will be well-received, and I’m excited to see how it does in the contest.
Howto play video is now online for Hack-a-Pad card game.
This 12 minute video highlights the key rules of the game. The more detailed instructions, links to digital versions and PnP-files can be found from the game page.
(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer while driving a car to work and transcribed by AI.)
It’s been a while since my last entry—two hectic weeks, but I’ve made progress on Hack-a-Pad. I’m currently on version 1b.1a, which means just minor tweaks—spelling fixes and a few icons—no major changes.
I took the game to the Lautapelaamaan event in Helsinki, and to my surprise, all the feedback was quite positive. People had ideas for tweaks, but overall, they liked it. That’s really encouraging for a game that’s only been in development for about a month and mostly tested by me and my daughter.
Now, about version numbering: I use a system where the first version is 0.0, with the first digit representing the component version and the second representing the rules version. When I have a version that I can show to others, it becomes 1.0, meaning it’s the first full component version with some kind of documented rules. For minor tweaks like spelling corrections, I just add a letter (like 1a, 1b), so the core version number only changes with major updates.
I’ve put the game on Tabletop Simulator to get more feedback and I’m considering adding it to screentop.gg. I also made a print-and-play version that saves ink by not requiring certain card backs. And yes, I still need to do a tutorial video, even though my first attemptwas a bit rough.
Overall, we’re on track for the October deadlines. The game should be component-ready by October 1st and contest-ready by October 15th.
Hack-a-Pad version 1b.1 is now available as Tabletop Simulator mod. The mod is currently unlisted but you can access it via direct link https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3573534913
As of right now new PnP files are downloadable for Hack-a-Pad.
This version contains minor text fixes in cards and a new Hacking action “Crash an app”.
Download links for files and list of changes available at Hack-a-Pad Proto 1b.1 PnP-files.
As of right now new PnP files are downloadable for Hack-a-Pad.
This is the version of the game that is playable at Lautapelaamaan event in Helsinki 14.9.2025.
Download links for files and list of changes available at Hack-a-Pad Proto 1a.1 PnP-files.
(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer while driving a car and transcribed by AI.)
I made unexpected progress today on the rulebook for Prototype 1.1. Writing rules always gives me a much clearer picture of how the game is actually supposed to work — and what’s still unclear. Just like always, I found some things I thought were obvious in my head but turned out hard to express cleanly. That’s a good sign something needs refining.
I also looked back at the feedback from recent playtests with family and friends. One thing stood out: the start of the game still feels a bit too slow. So I changed the starting hand size and initial app install counts slightly to get things moving faster. Now it seems that playtime is about 30 minutes which was my target. This also makes early decisions more meaningful, which is a bonus.
Another small step forward: I’ve started prepared the print-and-play files for upload. They’re not fully polished yet, but I want to get the ball rolling so I don’t get stuck doing everything last minute. You can find them at https://wannabeboardgamedesigner.com/board-games/hack-a-pad/proto-1-1/
All of this is part of my prep for the Lautapelaamaan event in Helsinki, which is now only a few weeks away (Aug 12-14). I plan to bring Hack-a-Pad there alongside my other prototypes, so I want everything to be as smooth and testable as possible by then. Every day counts at this point.
(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer while driving a car and transcribed by AI.)
Last week was a pretty busy one, but I finally had a chance to start playtesting Hack-a-Pad. The good news: the core idea is working quite nicely. I ran numerous tests by playing solo, taking turns myself, and also involved my family in a few rounds. It’s been great to see it come to life and actually work on the table.
However, I’m a bit concerned about the game length. I’m aiming for a 20-30 minute game, but right now it’s stretching more into the 30-45 minute range. I’ll need to tweak that timing.
I’ve also realized I need to balance the cards a bit more. I’ve split the actions into three types: attack actions that target the other player’s apps, protective countermeasures to defend against attacks, and maintenance actions to boost privacy or uninstall unwanted apps. So that division is feeling good.
Next week, I’m going to start writing the rulebook and refining the rules. I’ve already adjusted the game flow a bit—now we have a marker for initiative each round, and the player with initiative installs an app first. Then they take actions, and the other player can respond with counters. Once the first player finishes, the second player takes their turn, and so on.
I’m hoping to have a first draft of the rules and a real card set ready for wider testing in about two weeks. Let’s see how it all comes together!