When I first started designing games, I thought complexity was impressive. Over time, I realized that what I wanted wasn’t complexity, but depth.
Here's the break down on what elegance is and how we achieve it: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/designing-...
Eric Lang is one of the most influential designers in modern tabletop gaming. If you’re interested in designing for tension, identity, and memorable moments, this conversation offers a masterclass from one of the industry’s most distinctive voices.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/eric-lang-...
Hard to believe how far the Think Like a Game Designer Podcast has come—next week is Episode 100 🎙️
I pulled together 10 insights that kept coming up again and again—ideas I keep returning to and expect to carry with me for years.
👉 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/10-lessons...
In this episode, Theresa Duringer shares insights on what makes a great digital adaptation, why performance and UX are inseparable from game design, and how to bridge the gap between physical and digital play without losing what makes tabletop special.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/theresa-du...
Industry veteran Jaimie Wolanski (Catan, Ticket to Ride, Exploding Kittens) joins me on the podcast to share tough truths about retail, building teams you trust, and knowing when to let go.
👉 Listen now: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/jaimie-wol...
AI is reshaping creative work—but the real question is how we use it responsibly.
Read my take on hybrid human–AI design and creative ethics 👇
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
I interviewed game design legend Vlaada Chvátil 🎲
(Codenames, Through the Ages)
We talk about why great games don’t need marketing, how designing for joy fuels longevity, and what makes collaboration actually work.
👉 Listen now justingarydesign.substack.com/p/vlaada-chv...
Want a simple way to level up next year?
Do an Energy Audit:
✨ Top 3 energizers
💀 Top 3 drains
Protect what fuels you. Batch/Automate/Delegate what doesn’t.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/energy-is-...
#Productivity #SelfGrowth #CreativeWork #FocusTime #EnergyManagement
Exploding Kittens CEO Carly McGinnis joins the podcast! 🎙️
From Hollywood hustle to leading a global game company with 25M+ games sold, Carly shares how she scales teams, navigates creative chaos, and builds a culture that brings big ideas to life.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/carly-mcgi...
⏳ Why Deadlines Aren’t the Enemy — They’re Your Secret Weapon
👉 Read the article here and try setting your next milestone today:
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/deadlines-...
Great games follow a clear order of operations:
1️⃣ Engine Design – Find the fun.
2️⃣ Engine Development – Build the structure.
3️⃣ Component Design – Define each piece.
4️⃣ Component Development – Balance the details.
5️⃣ Polish – Make it shine.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/leveraging...
This is a great post. I say this all the time to my boys about hockey. I don't worry about the goals. You put in the effort, and the goals will come.*
(*or the opposite, in the case of the goalie)
I've been listening to "Think Like A Game Designer", insightful game designer interviews by @justingary.bsky.social .
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
Thank you so much!
19.11.2025 17:41 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
I recommend listening to this fantastic episode of the "Think Like A Game Designer Podcast"; tons of insightful comments on balancing, Root, and much, much more! Thank you very much @colewehrle.bsky.social and @justingary.bsky.social justingarydesign.substack.com/p/cole-wehrl...
15.10.2025 06:42 — 👍 24 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
Big-wave surfer + storyteller Kyle Thiermann joins the podcast! 🌊✍️
We talk fear as fuel for creativity, surfing six-story waves, and how curiosity can reshape your work—and your relationships.
🎧 Listen to the full episode: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/kyle-thier...
On my Substack, Think Like a Game Designer, I interview top designers, share actionable creativity tips, and break down the art of making games you can apply to life too.
💡 Want to level up your creativity? Subscribe now for insights, lessons, and exclusive content: justingarydesign.substack.com
Game designer Touko Tahkokallio has mastered both tabletop and digital play. In this episode, he shares how to stay playful under pressure, why “mental playtesting” beats rushing to prototype, and how a physics mindset fuels creativity.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/touko-tahk...
Game designer Touko Tahkokallio has mastered both tabletop and digital play. In this episode, he shares how to stay playful under pressure, why “mental playtesting” beats rushing to prototype, and how a physics mindset fuels creativity.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/touko-tahk...
On my podcast, Think Like a Game Designer, I interview top designers, share actionable creativity tips, and break down the art of making games you can apply to life too. Subscribe now for insights, lessons, and exclusive content: justingarydesign.substack.com/about
04.11.2025 03:28 — 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Every aspiring game designer has that idea—the one they’ve been thinking about for years but never actually make. Why? Fear disguised as perfectionism.
The fix is simple: set a deadline.
👉 Read the full article here: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/deadlines-...
Jordan Weisman—creator of Battletech, Shadowrun, and Crimson Skies—has shaped generations of players and creators. This episode is a masterclass in lifelong creativity and emotional courage.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/jordan-wei...
What We Earn by Struggling: Finding Joy, Purpose, and Flow in the Work That Tests You.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-meanin...
On my podcast, Think Like a Game Designer, I interview top designers, share actionable creativity tips, and break down the art of making games you can apply to life too. Subscribe now for insights, lessons, and exclusive content: justingarydesign.substack.com/about
04.11.2025 03:28 — 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Every aspiring game designer has that idea—the one they’ve been thinking about for years but never actually make. Why? Fear disguised as perfectionism.
The fix is simple: set a deadline.
👉 Read the full article here: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/deadlines-...
What We Earn by Struggling: Finding Joy, Purpose, and Flow in the Work That Tests You.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-meanin...
Jordan Weisman—creator of Battletech, Shadowrun, and Crimson Skies—has shaped generations of players and creators. This episode is a masterclass in lifelong creativity and emotional courage.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/jordan-wei...
🎮 Jonathan Grant (Zynga, Orbital Games, We Thought It Would Be Easy) joins us to talk making bold bets, growing through feedback, and why the best games are full of mystery. Don’t miss this deep dive into creative risk & game design!
🎧 Listen now: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/jonathan-g...
