2024 Roundup
A look back over the last 12 months and forward to the next 12.
Top highlights from 2024
- 7 of my games hitting the shelves: Digsaw (Stronghold Games), Bangarang (Ginger Fox), The 50 States Game (Kaddo), A Midsummer Night’s Fayre (Gamewright), Skullduggery (Outset Media), The Jane Austen Game (Laurence King Publishing) and Top Secret: Briefs (Ginger Fox).
- Signing 8 new games to publishers: Osprey Games, Outset Media, Dranda Games, Hootenanny Games, Buffalo Games, Alley Cat Games and Thames & Hudson (x2).
- Working with some fabulous co-designers: Mandela F-G, Serena Fadlun, Fagner Silva and Andrew Beardsley.
The Jane Austen Game on the shelf in Waterstones next to The Shakespeare Game (also one of ours)
- Being named as one of the Mojo 100 Most Influential People in Toy and Game Design 2024.
- Winning UK Games Expo Awards: Best Party Game (Judges Choice) for Bangarang and Best Card Game (People’s Choice) for Skullduggery.
- The Dark Imp Blog being named as the Cardboard Edison Board Game Design Blog of the Year 2024.
- Running The Chapter Challenge – a game I designed for Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The game ran over a full day in January with 175 players (and a lot of moderators and supporters!)
- Visiting Hasbro HQ in Rhode Island as part of the prize for winning the Hasbro Women Innovators of Play challenge.
- Running 3 mini design conventions with Mandela F-G (affectionately known as Mandellie Con). Lots of playtesting, but also design topic conversations, game jams and micro talks. Thanks to everyone who attended.
- The wonderful London Friday Daytime Playtest UK group. Spending time with designers is truly the best thing ever.
- Mentoring new game designers through the Tabletop Mentorship Programme.
- Attending Mojo Play Creators Conference and Mojo Pitch, Nuremberg, Essen, Pax East and UK Games Expo.
Friday playtesting ♡
A few exciting things to come in 2025
- I think I have 8 games due to be released by publishers in 2025! I better make more room on my shelves. 🙂
- A 9th game will be released by a major US brand… can’t say more until they’ve announced it first.
- I’ve recorded a series of podcasts for the Game Design Round Table – to be released every other week from February.
- My first visit to to Cannes International Festival des Joux in February and returning visits to Nuremberg, UKGE, Essen and Mojo.
Being a full time board game designer is a dream job for me. I’ve never been happier. I love the huge variety of projects I get to work on – some speculative, some on commission or work for hire. I love creating something out of nothing – seeing a game go from initial idea to physical copy on a shelf. I love spending time with other designers – whether at co-designing, playtesting or at conventions. I love working for myself and keeping my own schedule. I’m very lucky. If you’re looking for a game designer to work with in 2025, do get in touch.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2025.
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