Hey, I’m Chris Backe (rhymes with hockey). I make tabletop games and help others make games.
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![Home 1 [#025] adding theme to mechanics, shelving a game, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Spies-hero-image-2.webp)
[#025] adding theme to mechanics, shelving a game, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design! UKGE is right around the corner, the sun is finally shining more consistently, I went on my first Parkrun (for the non-Brits, volunteer-organized 5K runs at local parks near you)… Life is good. A quick shoutout /...
![Home 2 [#024] A look at Boston FIG, a new way to make mechanics, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-05-22_10_39_17-UKGE_2023_Annotated_Map.webp)
[#024] A look at Boston FIG, a new way to make mechanics, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design!Had a fun time at the Boston FIG last weekend, both talking about one of my games (Kill Your Darlings) and chatting with other game designers / developers. I also gave a talk about some of the insights I’ve had into...
![Home 3 [#023] Confidence, pitching, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_4339-750x675.webp)
[#023] Confidence, pitching, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design!My Eurovision favorite (Finland) came 2nd place behind a dominant performance of Sweden, the ‘bookies favorite’ and a previous winner of the contest. Celebrate some weirdness below:I could do without the hour-long...
![Home 4 [#022] Why people don’t like board games, knowing your market, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_4342-1000x675.webp)
[#022] Why people don’t like board games, knowing your market, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design!Here in the UK, this is the first month with three bank holidays (read: extra days off from work) for most people in recent memory. Just another day at the office for me, but hopefully everyone’s enjoying the rainy day...
![Home 5 [#021] Backups, taking notes, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_3890-1000x675.webp)
[#021] Backups, taking notes, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design!It's May, and things are getting busy! Hope life is well with you?Something I learned about game design this weekWhatever you create, take a backup, people. I recently had a major issue with my entrogames.com website...

Book Review: The Board Game Designer’s Guide (2nd edition) – by Joe Slack
Sometimes, you just want a guide. Joe Slack's newest book is actually the 2nd edition of one of his previous books, just with 13 new chapters and five more years worth of experience under his belt. In that time, Joe's had 6 games and expansions published (2 of which...
![Home 7 [#020] Desire paths, playtesting well, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Desire_line.webp)
[#020] Desire paths, playtesting well, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design! Almost a third of the way through the year! How are you coming with your designs? Something I learned about game design this week So I'm working on a game with some worker placement, and some of the places to go have...
![Home 8 [#019] Input vs. Output Randomness, a couple of words out of order, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-04-02_15_37_34-Snorkel_by_B5_Productions___Kickstarter-1.webp)
[#019] Input vs. Output Randomness, a couple of words out of order, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design! Welcome to mid-April - Americans, hope your taxes are all done. The Brits do their taxes a bit different, so that's been a learning experience... Something I learned about game design this week So I accidentally wrote...
![Home 9 [#018] Playtesting with casual players, finding your level of ambition, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-04-10_12_47_02-The_Board_Game_Designer_s_Guide__The_Easy_4_Step_Process_to_Create_Amazing_Games-495x675.webp)
[#018] Playtesting with casual players, finding your level of ambition, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design! I put my winter coat away... FINALLY... Is there a term for when you leave the house during the day, knowing you'll be back in the evening when it's colder, and you have to decide whether to take the jacket or be fine...
![Home 10 [#017] Painters and sculptors, how to organize and save your files, and more](https://entrogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-04-02_15_37_34-Snorkel_by_B5_Productions___Kickstarter.webp)
[#017] Painters and sculptors, how to organize and save your files, and more
Welcome to your weekly dose of board game design! Well, you've made it through the first quarter of the year - how did you do? Reply and share =) Personally, it's been a lot of fun - I went to Airecon, playtested a lot, and have finally carved out some time to feel...
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