Designing Games: From Game Theory to Your First Playable Prototype
Learn the mathematics of strategic decisions and turn it into hands-on design skill for board games, card games, and turn-based video games. You'll build, test, and refine real prototypes while picking up the core game theory concepts that make choices feel meaningful. By the end you'll have a playtested game of your own and the vocabulary to keep improving it.
What Makes a Game a Game
Build a shared vocabulary for rules, choices, goals, and fun before touching any math.
The Guardian of What Makes a Game a Game
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
Game Theory Essentials for Designers
Learn the classic tools of game theory using nothing more than tables and simple logic.
The Guardian of Game Theory Essentials for Designers
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
Information, Chance, and Fairness
Master the levers of uncertainty that separate chess from poker from Candy Land.
The Guardian of Information, Chance, and Fairness
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
Core Mechanics Toolkit
Survey the proven building blocks designers combine into new games.
The Guardian of Core Mechanics Toolkit
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
From Idea to Prototype
Turn a concept into physical or digital components you can actually play this week.
The Guardian of From Idea to Prototype
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
Playtesting and Balancing
Develop the discipline of testing, measuring, and revising your design.
The Guardian of Playtesting and Balancing
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
Polish, Publish, and Keep Going
Refine the experience layer and choose a path for sharing your finished game.
The Guardian of Polish, Publish, and Keep Going
8 questions · 3 hearts · 30s per question
The Final Boss
Final Exam: Designing Games — From Game Theory to Your First Playable Prototype
The Final Boss
15 questions · 4 hearts · 30s per question