Most board game creators devote considerable attention to crafting mechanics, drafting rules, and fleshing out the theme. All these things are good, yes. But there is one part of the development cycle that really is critical to making a game succeed. If you want to make a game work, you need to playtest it. No matter how beautiful the components, how polished the rules, or how appealing the theme, if you want to know how well your game will work in the hands of players, you simply must test it.

Defining Playtesting

Playtesting is the simple process of watching someone else play your board game. It is through this process that you are able to discover how your game actually works. A game is so much more when you are not the one sitting at the table. Players do many things that you never expected them to do. These reactions provide the necessary insight that planning and theorizing alone cannot give you.

Relying On Outside Help

Game designers become too familiar with their game. After all, they know all the rules and they are aware of the best plays. Because they have already played the game several hundred times, they can sometimes miss issues that players notice instantly.

Outside help can help designers see through a different lens. Someone who has never played your board game will be able to identify where your rulebook is lacking clarity. They will notice when your goal is not easily understandable. Most importantly, they will notice where the game does not work. This is the key to improving quality of the design.

Looking For Balance

The biggest thing you hope to discover when testing your board game is a balance problem. Sometimes a particular strategy will be far better than the others, which reduces the significance of player decisions.

Playtesting will help you find any patterns in your game. If you play the same strategy over and over to victory, then you are not balanced. When you balance, you do not force a tie between all possible strategies. You create multiple ways to win the game. This allows for variety in play.

Improving the Player Experience

It is quite possible for a board game to work perfectly, but still not be enjoyable to play. This is why game designers must always be thinking about player experience. As the designer, you should look for when players get excited, when they get confused, and when they get bored. The best games maintain player interest at every phase of the game. Players’ enjoyment is key to your game’s long term success.

Developing an Ability to Critique

Getting feedback from other players can often be difficult. You have dedicated hours to developing this game. Why are you listening to criticism?

You should think of feedback as a valuable resource. The designers who have the biggest success with games are those who hear feedback, consider it carefully, and find repeated suggestions.

A board game is never done after one playtest. It is an ongoing process of improvement.

The Value of Testing More

You should always look to make a better version of your game. Each test should focus on what you hope to accomplish with it. Some tests are about balance. Some tests are about how players react to your theme. Small differences make a huge impact. By continuing to improve your game, you make it the best it can be.

Improving Design Skills

Another benefit of playtesting is that you improve your design skills through every game. As a designer, you improve your problem solving and your communication skills. You learn to notice the most important details. The more games that you test, the more experience you gain as a creator. These insights are transferable and apply to any future projects. Playtesting your game is also playtesting your mind.

Board Game Testing is Essential

Playtesting is the most important process of making a board game. It is by playing the game that you will learn what the hidden design problems are. You will be able to improve your player experience. Most importantly, you will be able to see your game through the eyes of someone who has never played it before. It is only through this process that you develop the skills you need as a game designer.