Before we post the finished designs, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes look at what it’s taken to bring this board game to life so far.
From the very beginning, we spent countless hours researching how to make a board game — watching videos, reading posts from other creators, and studying every step of their processes. After all that research, our own timeline came together like this:
1️⃣ Create the concept for the board game
2️⃣ Build a mock version
3️⃣ Develop the first full, revised version with better components
4️⃣ Find and commission an artist
5️⃣ Partner with a company to print a sample
6️⃣ Launch the full game
Right now, we’re near the end of Stage 4 — commissioning the artwork.
Our main goal was to make the game enjoyable whether you’re playing solo or with up to four players. It features two game modes: a simple version that’s quick and replayable, and a deeper, adventure-style mode where players explore and battle creatures. We experimented with tile-flipping mechanics similar to other adventure board games, eventually deciding on 2-inch tiles arranged in a 7×7 grid surrounding the central tile to balance distance and difficulty.
We first sketched the designs on paper, testing the mechanics and tokens by hand — gathering items, returning them to the start, and later layering in more advanced tiles like dark forests and dungeons. Once satisfied, I ordered 2-inch tiles from Amazon and hand-drew them with Sharpie, using wood chips as tokens and blank playing cards for player stats.
When the gameplay finally felt right, I began searching for an artist. After exploring multiple platforms, we landed on ArtStation, where we discovered our amazing artist @_boscolo.guilia_. She’s been incredibly supportive and has helped bring every character and visual element to life with care and creativity.
We’re now wrapping up the cover art, and next, we’ll move on to finalizing the board components — tiles, tokens, player pieces, and more.
