Book Review: Make Your Own Board Game: Designing, Building, and Playing Your Own Tabletop Game

Make Your Own Board Game is a well-written, concise reference book on how to construct, proof, and play your own tabletop game. Although intended for younger readers, this book is an excellent reference for anyone considering creating a board game. Please note that the word “tabletop” does not mean that the game needs to be played on a table, or on a board. Tabletop games may be played on the floor, grass, table, or any surface.

Make Your Own Board Game references many different types of games, as well as fascinating trivia regarding games and gameplay. Never in my wildest dreams did I realize there was so much to making what appears to be a simplistic game, such as Uno. That one particular game involves color recognition, logic, cooperation, rule recognition, tactical skills, reasoning, memory, and the list goes on. 

This book would be an excellent resource to have in every classroom, whether the reader is in a traditional classroom setting or virtual. It applies to grade school children as well as college age students. According to the author, gameplay fosters social interactions, tactical cooperation, healthy competition, logic/reasoning, imagination, creativity, world building, and the personal achievement of goals. Wow, that is definitely not what I expected from playing a game of Go. Speaking of Go, did you know that it is considered to be the world’s oldest game? (Free Jeopardy answer for you.)

I was enthralled by the knowledge that is in this book. I love board games, but most specifically RPGs (role playing games), and would love to be a DM (dungeon master) one day. It wouldn’t make a difference if it was a Dr. Who RPG or Classic D&D, the power of holding that D20… but I digress. The power of the DM or GM is mentioned in the book, and goes without question. It makes for a more interesting game, and one that can be played repeatedly with varying outcomes. There is a chapter devoted to RPGs, so if you are considering constructing a world, check it out. 

Make Your Own Board Game goes above just talking about the various structures, mechanisms, and rules of the game. It gives you actual games/worlds to play, greatly encouraging creativity and making the game your own. This book will become a much used guide. 

Sue Cook

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Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.

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