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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 monthlyEpisodes388Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsDesign

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Game Design Round Table

Latest Episodes

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

Hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Raven Zachary, a veteran tech executive and product leader known for his work in spatial computing, AI, and the internet industry. This episode explores the intersection of traditional game design and... more

Join hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron as they welcome Rohit Crasta, a longtime game designer and former lead designer of Wordscapes who now serves as a lead designer for the New York Times. This episode dives into the design philosophy behind the ... more

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

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
Marcus Ross
Game designer from Omaha, Nebraska
Episode: BtC- Marcus Ross on conventions

Hosts

Dirk Niemeyer
Co-host with extensive experience in game design and education, contributing valuable insights related to both tabletop and digital gaming.
David Heron
Co-host known for his engaging discussions on game design and the gaming industry, providing perspectives on various game topics.
Ellie Dix
Host with a strong emphasis on community engagement and the personal aspects of game design, often facilitating discussions with a range of industry guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 304 ratings
  • 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
    Canada8 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
  • Serves its niche well

    Probably not as interesting if you’re not a designer, but I am and it’s always something worthwhile. They have a wide range of guests, and the combination of tabletop and digital expertise works nicely.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    David Dunham
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

While many find the content indispensable, some critiques target the delivery and format changes that may have affected listener engagement over time.
Feedback highlights the engaging discussions and interviews with diverse guests, showcasing the realities of both tabletop and digital game design.
Listeners praise the wealth of knowledge and insights provided throughout each episode, making it a go-to resource for aspiring and experienced game designers alike.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#135
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#87
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#187
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#44
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#111
Germany/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#183
France/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Design Talk - NYT Games with Rohit Crasta
Q: What motivated the shift to a separate Crossplay app and what design challenges did you face in making the game feel distinct from the daily puzzles?
The team recognized a different audience and play pattern—social, competitive, and strategic—requiring a separate app with its own UI/UX; challenges included asynchronous multiplayer, trust in matchmaking, aligning with NYT's broader audience, and balancing expectations between puzzle purists and new multiplayer players.
Design Talk - NYT Games with Rohit Crasta
Q: How did you come to work on Crossplay, and what was your path into game design?
Roh describes a winding career from early passion for design in youth, through formal education at RIT with a co-op emphasis, early work at Sneaky Games and Demiurge Studios, to Wordscapes leadership and ultimately joining NYT to help build Crossplay, driven by a mix of curiosity and a strategic sense for serving a long-tail audience with a socially-driven, async multiplayer experience.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Recent episodes cover a wide array of topics in game design, focusing on both tabletop and digital formats. Significant discussions include narrative mechanics in role-playing games, design challenges faced by game creators, and the emotional landscape of game development, encompassing themes of abandonment and innovation. Notably, the show features diverse guests from the game design community, providing practical insights and personal anecdotes that enrich the dialogue. This podcast notably emphasizes the intersection of storytelling and mechanics, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of creating engaging gaming experiences.

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How many listeners does The Game Design Round Table get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Game Design Round Table?

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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. Shut Up & Sit Down
3. So Very Wrong About Games
4. Board Game Barrage
5. The Dice Tower

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

The Game Design Round Table launched 14 years ago and published 388 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Game Design Round Table?

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What guests have appeared on The Game Design Round Table?

Recent guests on The Game Design Round Table include:

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

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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