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Artwork for The Game Design Round Table

The Game Design Round Table

Dirk Knemeyer & David V. Heron
Game Design
Role-Playing Games
Playtesting
Board Game Design
Civilization VII
Tabletop Games
Board Games
Game Development
RPG Design
Serious Games
Tabletop Game Design
Wildermyth
Dungeons and Dragons
Creativity
Tabletop Rpgs
Indie Games
Game Mechanics
4X Games
Kickstarter
Dungeons & Dragons

Covering the full breadth of digital, tabletop, and role playing games, The Game Design Round Table inspires and educates aspiring and experienced game designers.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes390Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Game Design Round Table

Latest Episodes

Host Dirk Knemeyer, a veteran in user experience (UX) design, is joined by co-host David Heron, a long-time game industry professional known for his work across major console evolutions and mobile free-to-play titles. In this episode, they dive deep ... more

In this episode, host Dirk Knemeyer is joined by co-host David Heron to answer a series of deep dives from their community. The discussion explores the technical and philosophical underpinnings of game creation, ranging from the "Wild West" of QA pro... more

Join host Dirk Knemeyer and Co-Host David Heron as they discuss Dirk's transformative first month using Claude. Dirk, who previously avoided technical tools like the terminal, shares how he was "pill-popped" into AI-assisted programming to build a ma... more

Join hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron as they welcome back Cole Werhle, the designer of hits like Root and Oath. In this episode, Cole details his major career move from Leder Games to founding Buried Giant Studios. He explains his unique business... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

David Heron
Episode: Listener Questions May 2026
Cole Werhle
Founder of Buried Giant Studios, former Leder Games designer
Buried Giant Studios
Episode: Design Talk - Buried Giant with Cole Werhle
Raven Zachary
Designer of Navaros
Navaros (game)
Episode: Design Talk - Exploring Nevaros with Raven Zachary
Rohit Crasta
Long-time game designer; lead on Crossplay for the New York Times
New York Times
Episode: Design Talk - NYT Games with Rohit Crasta
Reed Erlandson
Designer of Rogue Hex
Top Stitch Games / Rogue Hex
Episode: Civ Series 13 - Rogue Hex with Reed Erlandson
Rikki Tahta
Designer of Coo and a pillar of the game design community
Episode: Design Talk - Designing large group games with Rikki Tahta
Mike Mearls
Game designer known for his work on Dungeons & Dragons.
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: Season: RPG - D&D with Mike Mearls
Brett Gilbert
A game designer known for titles like Mandala and Guild of Merchant Explorers.
Episode: BtC- Brett Gilbert on Abandonment and Rejection
Keith Baker
Creator of the Eberron campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Episode: Season: RPG - Constructing Eberron with Keith Baker

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 306 ratings
  • AI!?

    Boo! Hiss! Never entertain the theft machine wrapped in human skin. That’s an automatic one star.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    GregH343
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love this show

    I believe I’ve listened to every episode. I’m not a designer but design certainly interests me.

    Glad the show has stepped into discussion of RPGs in recent years, as that was the one facet that was missing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    deedoublejay
    Canada9 months ago
  • These guys are super annoying!

    Just listened to the slay the spire episode and I am impressed at how bad of interviewers these hosts are. They clearly want to seem smarter than the guest at all costs and it’s awful to listen to

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Njsjisisisndjd
    United States2 years ago
  • Your advertising plays again but the 2nd time over the top of your guests introduction. Might want to double check this episode.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Atrak
    2 years ago
  • A must-listen!

    I recently discovered Game Design Round Table and have been consistently impressed by the wealth of knowledge and insights share in each episode. No matter the topic - you’re guaranteed to learn something new every time you tune in. Go ahead and give it a “follow,” this podcast will quickly become a favorite in your feed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mvelasco07
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience benefits from a balanced mix of tabletop and digital design perspectives.
Feedback highlights thoughtful, rigorous conversations with actionable tips for designers.
Guests bring real-world experience; discussions stay focused on design and publishing.
Shows depth and practical insights for aspiring designers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#69
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#142
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#80
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#115
Italy/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#138
Germany/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Listener Questions May 2026
Q: What publisher models are commonly used and what do publishers actually do for developers?
Publishers vary widely, including who funds the project, rights ownership, advertising sharing, milestone payments, and revenue splits; their value lies in publishing resources, distribution access, and marketing, though the exact terms depend on the contract and the partner.
Listener Questions May 2026
Q: Is it better to self-publish or work with a publisher?
Editorial discussion suggests that publishers can provide funding, resources like QA and localization, and broader exposure, which increases the odds of getting a game to market, especially for indie projects; self-publishing may keep more control but requires substantial capital and effort to reach the market and succeed.
Design Talk - Exploring Nevaros with Raven Zachary
Q: What were the security concerns and how were they addressed?
A player exploited a gambling mechanic; Raven then ran a full security audit with AI agents, spawning multiple independent agents to review code and vulnerabilities until the game was deemed secure.
Design Talk - Exploring Nevaros with Raven Zachary
Q: How does Vibe Coding change your development process?
Vibe Coding lets you create a product brief and then have the AI ask clarifying questions to fill in the gaps, enabling an iterative approach where features are added one at a time, which reduces bugs and accelerates development.
Design Talk - Exploring Nevaros with Raven Zachary
Q: What is Navaros and how does it work as a game?
Navaros is a persistent browser-based game centered on maritime exploration and trading, with three phases of gameplay—captaincy and wealth through ports, land titles and nobility, and eventual colonization; it supports both casual quick play and deeper, longer sessions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Game Design Round Table

What is The Game Design Round Table about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program showcases practical insights from seasoned designers across board games, video games, and RPGs, with frequent focus on design methodology, QA, publishing models, and building sustainable studios. Episodes commonly explore playtesting, iteration, tooling, and the business side of game development, including crowdsourcing, self-publishing versus partnering with publishers, and managing large-scale projects. A distinctive strength is the balance between hands-on design advice and reflections on studio leadership, community engagement, and the evolving role of AI and tooling in modern game creation. This mix makes it useful for aspiring designers seeking actionable guidance and for sponsors or partners looking to reach a deeply enga... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Game Design Round Table?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Game Design Round Table:

1. Think Like A Game Designer
2. Board Game Hot Takes
3. The Dice Tower
4. Shut Up & Sit Down
5. So Very Wrong About Games

How many episodes of The Game Design Round Table are there?

The Game Design Round Table launched 14 years ago and published 390 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Game Design Round Table?

Recent guests on The Game Design Round Table include:

1. David Heron
2. Cole Werhle
3. Raven Zachary
4. Rohit Crasta
5. Reed Erlandson
6. Rikki Tahta
7. Mike Mearls
8. Brett Gilbert

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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