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!

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...

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

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

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...

I spent 8 years avoiding writing my book—then finished it in 2 by changing one thing: I made winning easy. Learn the system that helped me write a book, design games, and stay sane. Read the full post & subscribe: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/make-winni...

🎮 Want to level up your game design skills? Think Like a Game Designer delivers 20+ years of industry insights. Subscribe to get free articles, lessons, podcast interviews, and access to exclusive content and community. justingarydesign.substack.com/about

I spent 8 years avoiding writing my book—then finished it in 2 by changing one thing: I made winning easy. Learn the system that helped me write a book, design games, and stay sane. Read the full post & subscribe: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/make-winni...

In this episode, Elan and I discuss into how his company built their rigorous playtesting culture, why marketing is inseparable from product design, and how pitching to Target and Walmart is just another kind of game. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/elan-lee-b... bsky.app/profile/elan...

Tim Ferriss is truly one of a kind. From 5 NYT bestsellers to a podcast with over 1B downloads, and early investments in Uber, Facebook, and more—his impact is massive. Now he’s bringing his talents to game design with the launch of Coyote. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/tim-ferris...

New Substack Post is live! justingarydesign.substack.com/p/how-to-cro...

In this episode of The Peoples Behind the Meeples, I share insights from decades of experience in the tabletop industry, the evolution of Ascension over the years, and my perspective on what makes lasting, impactful game design. gamefound.com/en/blog/post...

Here are the five most important lessons I've learned, each has transformed Ascension from a prototype to a global phenomenon. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/justin-gar...

Tim Ferriss is truly one of a kind. From 5 NYT bestsellers to a podcast with over 1B downloads, and early investments in Uber, Facebook, and more—his impact is massive. Now he’s bringing his talents to game design with the launch of Coyote. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/tim-ferris...

After years of studying great games and interviewing brilliant designers, I've come to appreciate a framework that cuts through the complexity and gets to the heart of what makes games truly memorable. Check it out: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/building-g...

In this episode, @colewehrle.bsky.social and I dive deep into the tension between control and chaos, discussing how historical research fuels good design, and why the best games ask players to grapple with uncomfortable truths. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/cole-wehrl...

New podcast just dropped! justingarydesign.substack.com/p/amy-lowe-f...

Jonathan Grant and Jordan Weisman sat down with me to discuss my journey from winning Magic: The Gathering championships to creating hit games like Ascension and SolForge! 🎥 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhND...

Creativity isn’t a divine gift for a chosen few—it’s a practice. You don’t create because you’re good at it. You get good at it because you create. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-sound-...

In this episode, we explore how to treat your life like a design problem, why marketing is part of the art, and how vulnerability and weirdness aren’t liabilities—they’re the keys to resonance. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/derek-sive...

New post went live: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/celebrate-...

Whether you're a founder, designer, or someone trying to follow your passion while staying afloat, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/dominic-cr...

New post just dropped! justingarydesign.substack.com/p/a-game-des...

it's been a hot minute since I've podcasted, and I forgot how fun it could be. thank you for the great convo and questions, Justin!

I always find Think Like a Game Designer worth listening to, but despite me knowing very little about the comics world, I really enjoyed @dafnap.bsky.social as a guest. One particular part I totally vibed with starts at about 46:40, discussing generative AI.

My substack is all about exploring creativity through the lens of a game designer and applying the lessons I learned to games and everyday life. It’s a great hub for finding articles on game design and creativity, along with podcast episodes and show notes. #gamifyyourlife #tips

If you’re a fan of game design, or just curious about the process behind building a unique hybrid TCG, you're in the right place. Read my 5 Quick Lessons About Crowdfunding: justingarydesign.substack.com/i/164586811/...