One of my favorite lessons from talking with Ivan Van Norman: Done beats perfect. Learn from real feedback. Improve through iteration. You can't refine something that doesn't exist. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/ivan-van-n...

One lesson I keep relearning: Don't wait. The people we love won't always be here, and that's exactly why our time together matters. Reach out to someone today. Tell them you're grateful for them. You'll never regret it. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/a-tribute

Adaptability beats expertise. The people who thrive aren’t the ones with all the answers—they’re the ones who recognize patterns, learn quickly, and adjust when the world changes. Listen to the episode with Zvi Mowshowitz now 👇🏼 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/zvi-mowsho...

The Lord of the Rings shaped my love of fantasy, so getting to bring that world into Ascension has been surreal. The design captures fellowship, sacrifice, and epic adventure while staying true to the fast strategic gameplay Ascension is known for. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-quarte...

Designing for Elegance: Doing More With Less justingarydesign.substack.com/p/designing-...

One of my favorite insights from my conversation with @nateheiss.bsky.social: Great game design isn’t about “beating” the players. It’s about creating space for players to discover things for themselves. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/nate-heiss...

15 years ago, I sold the first copy of Ascension from a tiny Gen Con booth. I quit my dream job with no clear plan, just a prototype, a lot of fear, and friends willing to playtest for pizza and beer. One sentence from Rob Dougherty changed everything. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/an-ascensi...

Mark Rosewater has spent decades designing Magic: The Gathering, and one of my biggest takeaways from our conversation was this: Great game design isn’t about mechanics. It’s about emotion. Listen to the episode here 👇🏼 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/mark-rosew...

I ran a 2-hour hackathon using AI. The biggest breakthrough came from one simple shift: Don’t ask AI to build immediately. Ask it to interview you first. I wrote a full breakdown of what worked and the exact agenda we used on Substack. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/how-we-ran...

Ross Thompson’s marketing philosophy is simple: connection beats reach. Show up in person. Work with creators who actually care. Partner with stores that build community. Don’t just market your game. Build places people want to gather. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/ross-thomp...

Eric Lang (Blood Rage, Rising Sun) on what makes games stick: Great games aren’t just systems—they’re rituals. 👉 Design for player psychology, not just mechanics 👉 Lean into conflict to create emotion 👉 Collaborate with complementary strengths justingarydesign.substack.com/p/eric-lang-...

Stop relying on willpower. Design your environment instead. • Effortless (clear path) • Efficient (fewer distractions) • Enjoyable (something you want to do) Small changes = big results. Be the UX designer of your life. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/ui-ux-desi...

Theme gives your game identity. Mechanics make it work. Great design happens when the two align. Quick tips: • If you’re stuck, try a new theme — it can unlock better mechanics • Don’t overcommit early — let theme evolve with gameplay • Always Be Exploring (ABE) new ideas

I signed up to build homes in Mexico, but he biggest thing that changed was me. Gratitude replaced complaints. Perspective replaced routine. Action replaced restlessness. You don’t need experience to make a difference. You just need to show up. ❤️ justingarydesign.substack.com/p/change-liv...

Don’t just celebrate results — celebrate inputs. Results are often outside your control. Inputs are the things you do every day: ✔️ Showing up ✔️ Making thoughtful decisions ✔️ Learning from mistakes When you celebrate inputs, you create momentum. Small daily wins stack up into big outcomes.

NEW PODCAST ALERT! Drew shares how his background in UX shapes his approach to game design, what makes solo games uniquely powerful, and how community, structure, and relentless iteration can turn creative ambition into a sustainable career. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/drew-corki...

One of the most important lessons in game design: Make the player’s instinct the correct choice. Fix the incentives so the fun choice is also a smart one. We dive deeper into this inside Design Lab. 👇 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/design-for...

If you want to level up your game design skills, I just saved you a massive amount of time. I spent 50+ hours going back through our first 50 podcast episodes to pull out the single best piece of advice from each one. If you only listen to one episode, make it this one. Link in Comments!

If you want to level up your game design skills, I just saved you a massive amount of time. I spent 50+ hours going back through our first 50 podcast episodes to pull out the single best piece of advice from each one. If you only listen to one episode, make it this one.

Want to be a Game Designer? Enrollment is now open! justin-gary.lpages.co/designlab/

Today I want to give you a clearer look at what’s actually inside the brand-new Design Lab program, which launches next week on March 17th. Check it out 👇 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/from-stude...

Playtests are one of the most important parts of game design. But without a clear feedback loop, you can spend months tweaking a design and still feel like you’re going in circles. I wrote about this challenge and what designers can do about it. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/opening-th...

After 20 years working in the industry, publishing games, building teams, running crowdfunds, and mentoring designers, I’m excited to bring you the newest iteration of the Think Like A Game Designer course. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/opening-th...

When I first started designing games, I thought complexity was impressive. Over time, I realized that what I wanted wasn’t complexity, but depth. Here's the break down on what elegance is and how we achieve it: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/designing-...

Eric Lang is one of the most influential designers in modern tabletop gaming. If you’re interested in designing for tension, identity, and memorable moments, this conversation offers a masterclass from one of the industry’s most distinctive voices. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/eric-lang-...

Hard to believe how far the Think Like a Game Designer Podcast has come—next week is Episode 100 🎙️ I pulled together 10 insights that kept coming up again and again—ideas I keep returning to and expect to carry with me for years. 👉 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/10-lessons...

In this episode, Theresa Duringer shares insights on what makes a great digital adaptation, why performance and UX are inseparable from game design, and how to bridge the gap between physical and digital play without losing what makes tabletop special. justingarydesign.substack.com/p/theresa-du...

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...