❌

Normale Ansicht

Published — 25. Oktober 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Published — 13. Oktober 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

Designer Diary: How I designed my own ABSTRACT STRATEGY game, Surikata

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
13. Oktober 2025 um 17:00

💾

Surikata is published by Gerhard Spiel & Design.
Available to purchase from:
https://www.spielewerkstatt.eu/gb/

Game Design: Adam Porter

The Meerkat Game - 1, 2, 3, What can you see?

Place the termite mounds on the empty gameboard. The first playing piece also brings the meerkat into the game:from its position it always looks horizontally and vertically in all four directions - but never over one of the termite mounds!

You cannot place pieces on the spaces it can see! However, a termite mound blocks its line of view and you can place pieces on the spaces behind it.

The playing pieces are placed alternately, the gameboard becomes busier and busier. With each turn the meerkat moves to a new position and the lines of view shift accordingly.

In Surikata, the aim is to place your own pieces strategically in order to block the spaces your opponent needs.
Published — 03. Oktober 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Published — 12. September 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

My FIRST LOOK at Emberheart

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
12. September 2025 um 21:15

💾

Pre-order Emberheart for €35 and get a free promo pack!
Offer only available until September 30, ships in early October.
https://mindclashgames.com

Game Design: Adam Porter & Rob Fisher
Art: Andrew Bosley
Ships to: EU, UK, USA, CAN, AU/NZ

Rescue dragons, rally heroes, and fight off poachers in this quick-playing, mid-weight worker placement game.
Published — 04. September 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Published — 01. September 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

How to design a COOPERATIVE board game

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
01. September 2025 um 17:00

💾

Adam explores cooperation in board games, highlighting the design choices made by creators in this space.

Review Copies Recieved: Between 2 Castles (Stonemaier Games)

----------------------------

My 'Adam in Wales: Game Design' books are available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon site for Adam in Wales..

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741588943&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&qid=1741588984&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589015&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589047&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Poland: https://www.amazon.pl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Sweden: https://www.amazon.se/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

----------------------------

0:00 Introduction
4:48 Playing for a precise outcome
5:12 Survival Games
8:54 Control the Spread
10:53 Tower Defence
13:09 Adam in Wales Legacy
14:39 Pick Up & Deliver
16:26 Automated Opponents
19:24 One Vs All
21:37 Team Games
22:16 Limited Communication
24:51 Alpha Players
26:12 Real Time
28:19 Difficulty Levels
33:19 Individual Powers
34:50 Multi-player Puzzles
37:26 Narrative Games
38:25 Traitor Games
41:27 Semi-Coop Games
43:01 Cooperation in Competitive Games
45:13 Summary for Designers
Published — 31. August 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

Which tabletop games truly created a LEGACY?

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
31. August 2025 um 16:27

💾

Award winning board game designer Adam Porter introduces you to his new book for tabletop game designers.

'Adam in Wales: Legacy' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Legacy.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2Wc4yk9
USA: https://a.co/d/hDl7MUQ
France: https://amzn.eu/d/5wH6HFs
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/4C6pqFl
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/4QCLmFb
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/2NeYSnv
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/4u29iKy
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/9MKyx6M
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/fZq8DTt
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/bIiIFbU
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/8Y5GALV
Canada: https://a.co/d/2sKWNdw

For five thousand years, people have gathered together to play games. Each of those games has something to teach us; not just about rules, mechanisms, and themes, but also about the business of games, publishing, and achieving lasting success.

Award-winning designer Adam Porter explores the 100 most influential tabletop games in history, from timeless classics like Chess, Go, and Mancala, through mass-market icons such as Monopoly, Connect 4, and The Game of Life, to modern strategy hits like Terraforming Mars, Gloomhaven, and Wingspan.

Each chapter examines a landmark title, uncovering the design choices behind its impact and the lessons today’s creators can draw from it. Whether you’re a designer, player, or student of game design, this book offers inspiration, insight, and actionable advice, derived from the games that shaped the hobby.

About the author

Adam Porter is an award winning game designer from the United Kingdom, known for making accessible games suitable for families, and for his popular YouTube channel Adam in Wales where Adam talks candidly about his experiences pitching and licensing games to publishers. Many new designers have looked to Adam for guidance when taking their first steps in the board game industry. Adam's published games include Pikoko, Doodle Rush, Kompromat, Qwuzzle, Zooligans, Thrown, Big Bazar, Happy Hoppers, Ballot Battle, and Zing-a-Zam.

Adam's four previous books are available from Amazon worldwide.
- Adam in Wales: Board Game Designer Journal
- Adam in Wales: Playtesting
- Adam in Wales: Product Design
- Adam in Wales: Getting Published as a Board Game Designer
Published — 29. Juli 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

Don't design board games... PLAY them!

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
29. Juli 2025 um 17:55

💾

Answering questions and responding to comments from the videos below:

10 TYPES OF BOARD GAME DESIGNER (AND HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR OWN STYLE)
https://youtu.be/5xPHJaCYJyg

HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM BOARD GAME DESIGN
https://youtu.be/-216eAqobYM

A DECADE OF GAME DESIGN WISDOM
https://youtu.be/cIGP-CE0Dow

FEELING LIKE A FAILURE: REJECTION AND BOARD GAME DESIGN
https://youtu.be/8NsZPhBo0Nw

PLAYTESTING: THE HEART OF BOARD GAME DESIGN
https://youtu.be/KmkW--oo9ac

HOW TO DESIGN A DECK BUILDING GAME
https://youtu.be/7-v3Oj9ofFc

---------------------

My 'Adam in Wales: Game Design' books are available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon site for Adam in Wales..

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741588943&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&qid=1741588984&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589015&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589047&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Poland: https://www.amazon.pl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Sweden: https://www.amazon.se/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk



-----------------

0:00 Introduction
0:30 What's the point of making more games?
7:04 Is playing existing games helpful?
11:49 Should first time designers design the game they like to play?
16:47 Re-pitching rejected board games
19:13 Fun is all that matters in playtesting
21:59 Deckbuilders stole their name from TCGs
Published — 25. Juli 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

What's the most DISAPPOINTING bit of your game?

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
25. Juli 2025 um 16:42

💾

'Adam in Wales: Playtesting' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Playtesting.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/72THuv2
USA: https://a.co/d/iccld1n
France: https://amzn.eu/d/hlNSWyJ
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/11d13Tj
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/deZUgi0
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/3GZWd7G
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/enmsOX7
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/1g2b6AN
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/jaKJ7gA
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/hUKFSAC
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/0wDBock
Canada: https://a.co/d/9cJZRF8

Playtesting is the heart of game design. Ideas flow thick and fast for many designers, but it is only by getting them on the table in front of players that we see what we have created.

Playtesting is the process by which designers turn ideas into experiences.

This book describes:

- The purpose of playtesting
- Types of playtests
- Protecting your idea
- How many playtests are necessary
- Documenting playtests
- Forms of playtester feedback

... and then goes on to describe 100 questions you should ask during the playtesting process, with a detailed rationale for each of them.

About the author

Adam Porter is an award winning game designer from the United Kingdom, known for making accessible games suitable for families, and for his popular YouTube channel Adam in Wales where Adam talks candidly about his experiences pitching and licensing games to publishers. Many new designers have looked to Adam for guidance when taking their first steps in the board game industry. Adam's published games include Pikoko, Doodle Rush, Kompromat, Qwuzzle, Zooligans, Thrown, Big Bazar, Happy Hoppers, Ballot Battle, and Zing-a-Zam.

Adam's previous book 'Adam in Wales: Board Game Designer Journal' is available as a physical book from Amazon worldwide, or as a download from DriveThruRPG.com
Published — 24. Juli 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

What Happens NEXT? Finding a publisher is not the end of the story!

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
24. Juli 2025 um 16:24

💾

'Adam in Wales: Getting Published' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Adam Porter is a seasoned board game designer with 10 published games, 4 books about game design, and more games and books on the way.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Getting Published.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/8mlspfi
USA: https://a.co/d/fnRSV7H
France: https://amzn.eu/d/0Ss9uUA
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/6KfEki3
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/bJWhchl
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/iNR85cz
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/b0ObIe0
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/8oRwgFS
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/dnXlQWv
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/agrKs1h
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/akL5U9X
Canada: https://a.co/d/6BZ6cvM
Published — 23. Juli 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

This is why your board game feels like WORK!

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
23. Juli 2025 um 17:44

💾

'Adam in Wales: Playtesting' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Playtesting.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/72THuv2
USA: https://a.co/d/iccld1n
France: https://amzn.eu/d/hlNSWyJ
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/11d13Tj
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/deZUgi0
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/3GZWd7G
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/enmsOX7
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/1g2b6AN
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/jaKJ7gA
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/hUKFSAC
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/0wDBock
Canada: https://a.co/d/9cJZRF8

Playtesting is the heart of game design. Ideas flow thick and fast for many designers, but it is only by getting them on the table in front of players that we see what we have created.

Playtesting is the process by which designers turn ideas into experiences.

This book describes:

- The purpose of playtesting
- Types of playtests
- Protecting your idea
- How many playtests are necessary
- Documenting playtests
- Forms of playtester feedback

... and then goes on to describe 100 questions you should ask during the playtesting process, with a detailed rationale for each of them.

About the author

Adam Porter is an award winning game designer from the United Kingdom, known for making accessible games suitable for families, and for his popular YouTube channel Adam in Wales where Adam talks candidly about his experiences pitching and licensing games to publishers. Many new designers have looked to Adam for guidance when taking their first steps in the board game industry. Adam's published games include Pikoko, Doodle Rush, Kompromat, Qwuzzle, Zooligans, Thrown, Big Bazar, Happy Hoppers, Ballot Battle, and Zing-a-Zam.

Adam's previous book 'Adam in Wales: Board Game Designer Journal' is available as a physical book from Amazon worldwide, or as a download from DriveThruRPG.com
Published — 15. Juni 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

How to Design a NATURE themed Board Game

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
15. Juni 2025 um 14:11

💾

Adam explores nature-themed board games like Finspan, highlighting their design choices. He also touches on the educational elements in games like Primates and Nature from NorthStar Games. Enjoy this deep dive into the board game industry and see some exciting board game releases, with loads of tips for board game designers.

Review Copies Recieved: Finspan (Stonemaier Games), Nature (NorthStar Games) and Primates (Green Butterfly Games).

----------------------------

My 'Adam in Wales: Game Design' books are available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon site for Adam in Wales..

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741588943&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&qid=1741588984&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589015&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1741589047&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Poland: https://www.amazon.pl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Sweden: https://www.amazon.se/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAdam%2BPorter&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DJ3NM9ZT?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

----------------------------

0:00 Introduction
2:47 Beauty
5:16 Simulation
7:38 Education
10:41 Fantasy
14:05 Game Design Books
14:54 Set Collection
16:09 Drafting
18:54 Tableau Building
23:51 Area Control
27:07 Animal Characteristics
29:08 Who are we?
31:01 Summary
Published — 22. Mai 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

Feeling like a FAILURE: Rejection and board game design

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
22. Mai 2025 um 16:46

💾

Adam Porter is a seasoned board game designer with hundreds of pitches under his belt. He is also a trainer in Communication Skills and Interview Technique. And like most board game designers, he's experienced a LOT of rejections. Here's how to take feedback while remaining professional.

'Adam in Wales: Getting Published' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Getting Published.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/8mlspfi
USA: https://a.co/d/fnRSV7H
France: https://amzn.eu/d/0Ss9uUA
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/6KfEki3
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/bJWhchl
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/iNR85cz
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/b0ObIe0
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/8oRwgFS
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/dnXlQWv
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/agrKs1h
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/akL5U9X
Canada: https://a.co/d/6BZ6cvM
Published — 12. Mai 2025 ⏭ Adam in Wales - Board Game Design

Make your players feel CLEVER

✇Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
Von: Adam in Wales - Board Game Design
12. Mai 2025 um 12:05

💾

'Adam in Wales: Playtesting' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.

Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Playtesting.

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/72THuv2
USA: https://a.co/d/iccld1n
France: https://amzn.eu/d/hlNSWyJ
Germany: https://amzn.eu/d/11d13Tj
Italy: https://amzn.eu/d/deZUgi0
Spain: https://amzn.eu/d/3GZWd7G
Australia: https://amzn.asia/d/enmsOX7
Netherlands: https://amzn.eu/d/1g2b6AN
Poland: https://amzn.eu/d/jaKJ7gA
Sweden: https://amzn.eu/d/hUKFSAC
Japan: https://amzn.asia/d/0wDBock
Canada: https://a.co/d/9cJZRF8

Playtesting is the heart of game design. Ideas flow thick and fast for many designers, but it is only by getting them on the table in front of players that we see what we have created.

Playtesting is the process by which designers turn ideas into experiences.

This book describes:

- The purpose of playtesting
- Types of playtests
- Protecting your idea
- How many playtests are necessary
- Documenting playtests
- Forms of playtester feedback

... and then goes on to describe 100 questions you should ask during the playtesting process, with a detailed rationale for each of them.

About the author

Adam Porter is an award winning game designer from the United Kingdom, known for making accessible games suitable for families, and for his popular YouTube channel Adam in Wales where Adam talks candidly about his experiences pitching and licensing games to publishers. Many new designers have looked to Adam for guidance when taking their first steps in the board game industry. Adam's published games include Pikoko, Doodle Rush, Kompromat, Qwuzzle, Zooligans, Thrown, Big Bazar, Happy Hoppers, Ballot Battle, and Zing-a-Zam.

Adam's previous book 'Adam in Wales: Board Game Designer Journal' is available as a physical book from Amazon worldwide, or as a download from DriveThruRPG.com
❌