Create Your Own Board Game
Lesson Goal
Design and play a custom dice board game. We’ll choose a theme, plan rules, build a board, and then play-test!
- Design a dice board game
- Write a clear directions/rules sheet
- Make a playable prototype (board + pieces)
- Play the game together when finished
Warm-up: What’s your favorite board game and why?
Open notes for this warm-up
Step 1 – Choose a Theme 🎭
Choose one or more worlds for your game. Collect words/images that match your theme (characters, places, objects, events).
Add custom theme:
You can select multiple themes below, too.
Theme Library (click the orange area to expand categories)
C: Cowboy, Sheriff, Outlaw, Saloon owner
P: Desert town, Saloon, Ranch, Gold mine
O: Lasso, Revolver, Cactus, Horseshoe
X: Train robbery, Cattle rustlers, Shootout at dawn
C: Spy, Double agent, Hacker, Handler
P: Safehouse, Embassy, Secret bunker
O: Briefcase, Disguise kit, Hidden camera
X: Identity exposed, Mission compromised
C: Gangster, Boss, Hitman, Informant
P: Speakeasy, Docks, Warehouse
O: Tommy gun, Cigars, Stolen cash
X: Betrayal, Turf war, Undercover cop
C: Superhero, Sidekick, Villain
P: Secret lair, City rooftop, Headquarters
O: Cape, Utility belt, Kryptonite
X: Power loss, Civilian in danger
C: Sensei, Ninja, Fighter, Rival
P: Dojo, Temple, Tournament arena
O: Nunchucks, Headband, Scroll
X: Dishonor, Stolen technique, Surprise challenger
C: Pirate captain, First mate, Parrot
P: Ship deck, Treasure island, Cave
O: Treasure map, Cutlass, Rum barrel
X: Mutiny, Sea monster, Lost compass
C: Racer, Mechanic, Rival driver
P: Pit stop, Racetrack, Garage
O: Helmet, Tires, Turbo booster
X: Engine failure, Flat tire, False start
C: Wizard, Elf, Orc, Sorcerer
P: Forest, Dungeon, Magic tower
O: Staff, Potion, Spellbook
X: Cursed artifact, Evil uprising
C: Conductor, Passenger, Engineer
P: Train station, Dining car, Tunnel
O: Ticket, Steam whistle, Luggage
X: Derailment, Bandits, Missed stop
C: Athlete, Referee, Coach
P: Stadium, Locker room, Field
O: Whistle, Ball, Trophy
X: Foul, Injury, Tie game
C: Investor, Banker, Thief
P: Bank vault, Trading floor
O: Stocks, Gold bars, Calculator
X: Market crash, Insider trading
C: Detective, Suspect, Witness
P: Crime scene, Office, Alleyway
O: Magnifying glass, Clue board, Tape recorder
X: Misdirection, Disappearing suspect
C: Pilot, Co-pilot, Air traffic controller
P: Cockpit, Airport, Hangar
O: Jet engine, Headset, Map
X: Turbulence, Fuel leak, Bad landing
C: Cyborg, Scientist, Clone
P: Research lab, Underground base
O: Time machine, Hologram, Serum
X: Tech malfunction, Rogue AI
C: Ruler, Architect, Worker
P: Capital city, Marketplace, Fortress
O: Throne, Blueprints, Banner
X: Rebellion, Plague, Natural disaster
C: Talking banana, Dancing robot, Time-traveling dog
P: Upside-down world, Flying circus
O: Rubber chicken, Giant pencil, Marshmallow crown
X: Logic fails, Backward day, Speak in rhymes
C: Knight, Squire, Princess, Dragon
P: Castle tower, Throne room, Moat
O: Sword, Crown, Shield
X: Siege, Betrayal, Dragon attack
C: Space marine, Alien commander, Droid
P: Starship, Asteroid base, Battle station
O: Laser cannon, Warp drive, Plasma shield
X: Hull breach, Alien ambush
C: Director, Actor, Crew
P: Movie set, Backlot, Premiere
O: Camera, Script, Popcorn
X: Plot twist, Box office flop
C: Librarian, Author, Adventurer
P: Library, Bookshop, Fantasy realm
O: Quill, Magic tome, Bookmark
X: Lost manuscript, Cursed page
C: TV host, Contestant, Crew
P: Studio set, Control room, Stage
O: Remote, Communicator, Script
X: Cancelled show, Transmission glitch
C: Explorer, Cartographer, Local guide
P: Volcano, Rainforest, Glacier
O: Compass, Flag, Map
X: Lost, Natural hazard, No translator
C: Zookeeper, Animal whisperer, Wild animal
P: Jungle, Zoo, Ocean reef
O: Binoculars, Collar, Nest
X: Animal escape, Missing food
C: Vampire, Ghost, Haunted doll
P: Abandoned house, Graveyard, Foggy forest
O: Ouija board, Flashlight, Mirror
X: Curse, Disappearance, Nightfall trap
C: Caveman, Tribe leader, Mammoth
P: Cave, Volcano, Riverbank
O: Club, Fire, Stone wheel
X: Saber-tooth attack, Rockslide
C: Archaeologist, Tomb raider, Mummy
P: Pyramid, Dig site, Desert
O: Scroll, Pickaxe, Sarcophagus
X: Booby trap, Sandstorm, Lost map
Teacher notes (click to expand):
Prompts to spark ideas
– “Who lives in this world?” “What can go wrong?” “What cool items exist here?”
– Paste reference images into any theme’s notes box.
– Paste reference images into any theme’s notes box.
Step 2 – Plan the Game Rules 🎲
Decide how to win and what happens on turns.
Goal(s):
Players:
Obstacles:
Helpers:
Step 3 – Plan Your Game Board 🎨
Board shape:
Start & Finish:
Path style:
Space icons:
Board tips:
Drafting ideas
– Sketch with marker first; place special spaces every 4–6 moves.
– Add 2–4 “bonus spots” and 2–4 “trap spots.”
– Add 2–4 “bonus spots” and 2–4 “trap spots.”
Step 4 – Build & Play-test 🧪
Make a simple prototype: a printed/hand-drawn board, dice, and two tokens. Then play 1–2 quick rounds and write one rule to improve.
Teacher notes:
Play-test focus
– Is the game too long/short? Is there a dominant strategy?
– Did the theme show up in the actions?
– Did the theme show up in the actions?
📌 Lesson Recap (auto-filled)
- Theme(s): —
- Goal(s): —
- Players: —
- Board shape: —
- Start: — → Finish: —
- Path: —
- Spaces: —
Next: scroll down to your **MATCHING** widget to roll, track coins, and play!
Wanted Western — Rina’s Game
Quick Rules
Setup
- Players: 2
- Start at the Ranch. Finish at the Wanted Poster.
- Place 3 Magic Towers anywhere on the path.
- Use sheriff stars as spaces. Follow the path to the end.
- Each player starts with 3 coins (use the Scorekeeper).
- Pick your role on the Scorekeeper: Cowboy/Cowgirl or Outlaw (open roles).
How to Win
- Cowboy/Cowgirl: reach the Finish first or have more coins at the end.
- Outlaw: have the most coins when any player reaches the Finish.
Turn
- Roll the die → Move forward that many spaces.
- Optional: after moving, draw 1 Mission/Event card from the widget.
Spaces & Coins
- Magic Tower: +2 coins from the bank.
- Same Space as opponent: take 1 coin from them. If they can’t pay, they move back to Start.
- Off the path? Stay on the nearest star forward.
- At Finish: stop on it; game ends after that turn’s effects.
End of Game
- Ends when any player reaches the Finish.
- Count coins. Apply role goals above to decide the winner.
- Tie-breakers (in order): most Magic Towers visited → highest last die roll.
⭐ Mission / Event Cards (how we use them)
Draw after you move. Resolve immediately. If a card conflicts with a rule here, the card text wins for that turn.
🎯 Teacher/House Rules (editable notes)
Type any tweaks here… (e.g., Towers are +3 coins, draw a card only on ⭐ spaces, etc.)
Rina’s Board Gmae: Wanted in the Wild West
🎴 Mission / Event Card
Click “Draw” to see a card
click to toggle
Coins
3
click to toggle
Coins
3