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BOARD GAMES by DESIGN

@boardgamesbydesign

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Marco | Illustrator exploring the arts and crafts behind board games.
🎨 Illustration • UI/UX • Visual storytelling
✉ DM for collaborations

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Hi, I’m Marco 👋
I’ve always been a huge board game fan, and for more than 15 years, I’ve worked in the graphic design and printing field.

In the last 7 years, I’ve focused on book illustration, and I’ve noticed something interesting: there are many pages dedicated to the visual side of picture books, but when it comes to board games, what happens behind the scenes is still a mystery.

Board Games by Design is my way of exploring that world: a quiet space to look closer at how art, design, and small details shape the way we play. by @boardgamesbydesign

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a year ago

🎲 Games I'd buy again at SPIEL Essen 2026!

With hundreds of new board games coming out at SPIEL, it's easy to focus only on the new releases and the bgg hotness!

So I thought I'd share a few games debuting at SPIEL I already own, love, and would happily buy again. ❤️

I went with choices thet are a little harder to find, but they're all games I'd recommend to my friends without hesitation.

If you're heading to Essen this year, keep an eye out for these five:

What's one game you already own but would happily buy again?

Save this post for your SPIEL Essen shopping list, and let me know if you'll be at the fair! 👀

#SPIELEssen2026 #SPIELEssen #BoardGames #BoardGameRecommendations #BoardGameCommunity TabletopGames BoardGameCollection BoardGameGeek BoardGameReviews BoardGamesOfInstagram Spiel2026 BoardGameWishlist by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 days ago

I went to Bologna PLAY specifically to try Minikin City, so I’m very happy to say it absolutely lived up to the hype for me. 🥹

A clever trick-taking, engine-building and tableau-building card game with adorable artwork, satisfying little Minikin meeples, and way more strategy than its cute look might suggest.

Thanks so much to @craniocreations_global for the review copy! The game was provided for review, but no positive review was requested and all opinions are my own.

#MinikinCity #BoardGames #BoardGameReview #TabletopGames #bggcommunity by @boardgamesbydesign

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10 days ago

This time I’m taking a look at BIDLZ, a word-building auction game that fits, somehow, both "Family Game with Kids" and "Fun, Puzzly, Loud Tabletop Game for Auction Games Fans".

I won’t say much more here because the full review is in the carousel 👀

Game design by @exsystemate
Illustrations by @matthisdraws

A huge thank you to Ex Systemate for sending me a review copy of BIDLZ. The game was provided for free, but no specific content was requested, and all opinions shared here are entirely my own. An interview with them is coming soon!

#boardgames #boardgameillustration #BGGCommunity by @boardgamesbydesign

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24 days ago

🚀 New issue out now: Moon Colony Bloodbath

This time I’m reviewing Moon Colony Bloodbath, designed by Donald X. Vaccarino and published by @riograndegames .

A chaotic lunar colony engine building, a series of bad decisions, an impending disaster or eleven… and a game that ended up being one of our surprises of the summer.

Inside the carousel: my full review, thoughts on the gameplay, art direction, production, who I think the game is for and the newly announced expansion.

Rio Grande Games kindly gifted me a copy of the game, but they did not ask for a review or have any input on this post. I genuinely enjoyed the game and wanted to talk about it.

Have you played it yet? 🌕💥

#MoonColonyBloodbath #BoardGameReview #BoardGames #TabletopGames #BGGCommunity by @boardgamesbydesign

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a month ago

Wunderwaffen (a German term meaning "miracle weapons") were 'supposed-superweapons' or secret weapons of the Third Reich.

The term was used by German propaganda during the final stages of World War II.

The game is set during the last year of the war: when the Normandy landings paved the way to the occupation of Berlin and the resulting defeat of the German army.

With @alandamicoart we take a rare look at what happened behind the scenes of the cover design phase with @ares.games and @oliphante.it

Would you have chosen the same proposal?

#BoardGames #bggcommunity #boardgameillustration by @boardgamesbydesign

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2 months ago

Can an indie board game really use Mickey Mouse? 🤔

In this carousel, I explain how copyright, public domain, trademarks, and intellectual property actually work, and why characters like Steamboat Willie Mickey, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland can legally appear in modern board games.

Whether you're a board game designer, publisher, illustrator, or just curious about IP law, I hope you'll find it useful!

Which IP are you most excited to see enter the public domain?

And if you could design a board game around one public-domain character, who would you choose?

The game is Illustrated by @colemunrochitty

#boardgames #boardgamedesign #tabletopgames #boardgamegeek #gamedesign by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 months ago

This fast, tactical two-player game combines bluffing, timing and reading your opponent, all wrapped in an incredibly thoughtful production inspired by Japanese culture.

The artwork by @erosruscino gives the game a strong, sophisticated personality.

Yokozuna is coming to Kickstarter at the end of summer, so keep an eye out if you enjoy quick duelling games, tactical card play, bluffing and beautifully produced board games.

A huge thank you to @metamorphg for sending us a preview copy and giving us the chance to try it ahead of the campaign. Support independent creators that actually need crowdfunding to bring their games to life.

#Yokozuna #BoardGameReview #BoardGames #TabletopGames #TwoPlayerGames by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 months ago

🇮🇹 La Fifa World Cup 2026 è giunta al termine incoronando la Spagna sul tetto del mondo. Ma chi avrà vinto il mondiale dei giochi da tavolo “Notti Analogiche”? 🏆

Fateci sapere nei commenti se ha vinto il gioco per cui avete fatto il tifo e votato per tutto il torneo, o se siete delusi perché volevate un altro vincitore! 👑

Noi vi ringraziamo per aver partecipato a ogni round con entusiasmo e speriamo di avervi fatto divertire con questo torneo, un abbraccio da Paolo e Marco! 🫂

🇬🇧🇺🇸 The Fifa World Cup 2026 has come to an end, crowning Spain on top of the world. But who will have won the board game World Cup, “Notti Analogiche”? 🏆

Let us know in the comments if the game you cheered for and voted for throughout the tournament won, or if you’re disappointed because you wanted a different winner! 👑

Thank you for joining in every round with such enthusiasm, and we hope you had fun with this tournament, a hug from Paolo and Marco! 🫂 by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 months ago

This past weekend, we attended Berlin Brettspiel Con and found a convention full of heart, built by players, for players.

Our favorite part was the Community Playground, where we discovered plenty of new-to-us games and I finally had the chance to meet my friend @boardgamewelle in person.

Hopefully, this carousel will be helpful if you're thinking about visiting in the coming years!

#berlincon #berlinbrettspielcon #visitberlin #boardgames #bggcommunity by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 months ago

A quick mid-year recap through board games!
You can see the biggest successes at the table and what joined my collection

What were your favourite games of the first half of 2026?

#bggcommunity #boardgames #tabletopgames by @boardgamesbydesign

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3 months ago

Who will make it to the semi-finals? ⚽🎲
Chi volerà in semifinale? ⚽🎲

Vote in the stories of @boardgamesbydesign and @giochianalogici and help us crown the winner of Notti Analogiche 2026!

Votate nelle storie di @boardgamesbydesign e @giochianalogici e aiutateci a incoronare il vincitore di Notti Analogiche 2026!

#NottiAnalogiche #BGGCommunity #BoardGameLovers #BoardGames #GiochiDaTavolo by @boardgamesbydesign

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4 months ago