Invent A Board Game
About 90 minutes, indoors, for ages 11 and up.
Where it works
Works in any indoor space
Who it's for
ages 11 and up
Try Designing:
- a start and a finish
- one rule that surprises people
- a way to fall behind
- a way to catch up
Today's Challenge
- 1.What made someone groan when they read the rules?
- 2.Was the game too easy or too long?
- 3.Which rule did you change after the first game?
Quick Start: What you need
- 1paper
- 2pencil
- 3small objects for pieces
The Goal
Draw a board, write the rules, then make someone else play it and see what breaks.
How to start
- 1
Gather what you need: paper, pencil and small objects for pieces. Nothing else required.
- 2
Head indoors and design: a start and a finish, one rule that surprises people, a way to fall behind, a way to catch up.
- 3
Talk about what you made. Start with "What made someone groan when they read the rules?"
- 4
Print the worksheet to plan it out and keep what you make.
Sketch Your Board
Draw your board below, with the start, the finish, and anything that happens in between.
People have been inventing board games for thousands of years, long before paper existed.
If you want to push it further
- Play it once yourself before showing anyone
- Write the rules in under ten sentences
Print it and go
The worksheet has the checklist, the prompts, and a space to draw in. One page, ready for a bag or a glovebox.