BoardGameGeek communities

BoardGameGeek (BGG) is the encyclopedia of the hobby, a database of well over a hundred thousand games plus forums for every one of them. For designers, the most valuable corner is the board game design forum area, which includes dedicated forums for works in progress, design theory, and design contests. It has been running for two decades, so nearly every design question you will ever have has a thoughtful thread already.

BGG's strength is depth. Where Facebook and Discord conversations evaporate, BGG threads persist and are searchable, and the regulars write long, considered replies. The works-in-progress forum is a standard place to keep a public design diary for your game, which builds a paper trail, attracts playtesters, and documents your process for future pitches.

The design contests are a hidden gem. BGG hosts regular community contests (small-format games, print-and-play challenges, themed contests) with real deadlines, structured peer feedback, and a culture of everyone reviewing everyone. Many published designers got their start finishing a contest entry, because a deadline forces a design to actually get done.

BGG is also where you research your own game's niche. Before you commit to a design, search for games with similar mechanisms, read their forums, and see what players praise and complain about. Knowing the three games yours will be compared to is essential for pitching later, and BGG is where you find them.