When I was a child, I loved playing games like any other kid. However, what I truly enjoyed was creating my own variations of those games. When I played Yu-Gi-Oh, I would draw and design my own versions of the cards. When I played Dungeons and Dragons, I created dungeon maps filled with puzzles, riddles, traps, and monster encounters. Whenever my friends and I played our countless board games, there wasn’t a single session without a “house rule” or some variation to make the game more enjoyable for the group.
Like most kids, as I grew older, I shifted my focus to school and my future. While I still created games occasionally, it wasn’t with the same enthusiasm I had as a child.
My passion for game design was reignited by a life event that changed me forever—the birth of my daughter, Emilia Jade Anderson. She was born prematurely and placed in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). For seven days, I sat by her side, quietly jotting down ideas that came to me. These ideas were about games and rules—both for video games and board games—that I had been mulling over for years. With the hours between diaper changes and feedings, I had plenty of time to think deeply about each concept.
Tragically, on the seventh day, she passed away. Her loss shattered me. Even now, her absence weighs heavily on my heart, but she left me with a love I never knew was possible and a renewed passion for creating games—a passion that offers me glimpses of joy and meaning in the world.
Now, a little over a year and a half later, I have five game prototypes that I plan to bring to market once they are polished and playtested. During this time, I’ve immersed myself in learning everything I can about board games, the industry, and what it takes to publish a game.
This blog will document my journey—exploring each of my games, sharing the lessons I’ve learned, and recounting my adventures in the world of game design. I hope you’ll follow along and find something valuable in this journey. Thank you, and enjoy the ride!