Archive - Finbar Games

How to Prototype Your Next Board Game

I thought my prior method of play testing was pretty efficient:

Mar 19 •

Run It Back: Replayability and Longevity in Tabletop Games

One oft-discussed feature of modern tabletop games is their replayability.

Mar 5 •

February 2025

The Five Levels of Theme in Board Games

As I brainstorm new game ideas, I tend to think about real world concepts and how I might simulate them on a tabletop.

Feb 19 •

A Software Update

After eight years of friendship and (internet) connection, I finally replaced my 2016 Microsoft Surface with a new Mac.

Feb 5 •

January 2025

How I escape design ruts

As I mentioned previously, the past couple of months have not been very productive in terms of game design.

Jan 22 •

2024 Year in Review

Since I began writing more regularly here this year, I thought now would be a good time to reflect on my year in game design and set some…

Jan 8 •

December 2024

Cooperative Board Wargames: An Oxymoron?

It dawned on me recently that I could not name a cooperative wargame off the top of my head.

Dec 18, 2024 •

Insurgent: Algeria is now available!

The past three years of designing and producing Insurgent: Algeria has led to lots of cool moments, like:

Dec 4, 2024 •

November 2024

Three Games That Are Getting Me Through

I’ve been in somewhat of a design slump lately, so I figured I’d discuss some games I’m inspired by at the moment.

Nov 13, 2024 •

October 2024

On Tabletop Neoliberalism

Recently I’ve been thinking about how neoliberalism, the laissez-faire economic philosophy which has dominated global markets for fifty years, is…

Oct 30, 2024 •

The Largest Simulation Imaginable

I recently read about the Brynania simulation, which explores seven or more months of an ongoing civil war and peace negotiations in a fictional…

Oct 23, 2024 •

Gaming Anti-Colonialism in the Classroom

As I was browsing Board Game Geek I stumbled upon a forum where a user asked for anticolonial board games to play in a high school world history…

Oct 2, 2024 •

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