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Think Like A Game Designer

Justin Gary
Game Design
Community Building
Creativity
C.O.R.E. Attributes
Playtesting
Marketing
Artificial Intelligence
Slay the Spire
Curiosity
Resilience
Game Development
Obsession
Empathy
Coyote
Tabletop Games
Crowdfunding
Creative Process
Gaming Industry
Game Mechanics
Tabletop Gaming

In Think Like a Game Designer, award-winning designer and Stone Blade Entertainment CEO Justin Gary speaks with world-class game designers and creative experts from various industries. Each episode deconstructs the creative process, offering insights into the art of game design and the broader cultural, technological, and business influences shaping a myriad of creative mediums. Join us for action... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes114Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureDesignArts

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Artwork for Think Like A Game Designer

Latest Episodes

About Zvi

My history with Zvi Mowshowitz goes back over 20 years to our days as teammates on the Magic Pro Tour, where we won a Grand Prix and top-8ed a Pro Tour together. After his competitive gaming career and a stint designing games at Wizards of... more

About Nate Heiss

Nate Heiss is a true game design chameleon. His 25-plus year career spans from competitive Magic: The Gathering play to designing iconic cards like Goblin Guide at Wizards of the Coast. He then took those skills into the AAA video g... more

About Mark

Mark Rosewater is the Head Designer for Magic: The Gathering and one of the most influential voices in modern game design. With decades of experience shaping one of the most successful and enduring games in the world, Mark has led the des... more

Ross Thompson is a marketing strategist focused on helping tabletop games and consumer brands grow through real-world connection. A veteran of the industry with over 15 years of experience in community building, events, and marketing, he most recentl... more

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Recent Guests

Nate Heiss
Veteran game designer with experience across trading card games, video games, and tabletop; collaborations with Stone Blade Entertainment
Stone Blade Entertainment
Episode: Nate Heiss — Removing Ego from Design, The Magic of Roguelikes, and Building Across Digital and Tabletop (#104)
Mark Rosewater
Head of Design at Magic: The Gathering
Wizards of the Coast / Magic: The Gathering
Episode: Mark Rosewater — Designing for Emotion, Embracing Complexity, and 28 Years of Iteration (#103)
Ross Thompson
Veteran in tabletop industry; Director of Marketing at Atomic Mass Games; Media and Events Director on the board at GAMA
Atomic Mass Games; Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
Episode: Ross Thompson—Real-World Marketing, Influencer Strategy, and Building Community That Lasts (#102)
Drew Corkill
UI/UX designer and solo game designer, creator of Small Time Heroes and Solo Game of the Month
Best With One
Episode: Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)
Keith Baker
RPG designer known for Eberron and D&D settings
Dungeons & Dragons (concept) / Keith Baker Designs
Episode: 50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom
Monty Cook
Renowned RPG designer and founder of Monty Cook Games
Monty Cook Games
Episode: 50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom
Raph Koster
Pioneer game designer, author of A Theory of Fun
Earlier works at Ultima Online
Episode: 50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom
Elizabeth Hargrave
Designer of Wingspan, known for thematic board game design
Animal-related Wingspan publisher
Episode: 50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom
Richard Garfield
Godfather of trading card games, creator of Magic: The Gathering
Doug/Legend of the Five Rings creator
Episode: 50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom

Hosts

Justin Gary
Award-winning game designer and CEO with extensive involvement in tabletop and digital game design and publishing.
Carly McGinnis
CEO of Exploding Kittens, experienced in leadership, culture, and scaling a popular tabletop publisher.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • Best Game Design Podcast

    I started listening to this podcast a couple years ago and I have learned so much. It is so entertaining and educational and I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tanner532
    United States3 months ago
  • Tim Ferris for the boardgame industry

    Justin thoughts and comments alone are worth listening but when you pair him with game industry titans, you get a fascinating conversation, always. Inspiring, thoughts provoking, I always walk away with something to think about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LafayetteSB
    United Statesa year ago
  • Awesome

    I’m now sure if this review gets attached to the episode or the show but either way. There are few podcast series that I have joined 40 episodes in and felt compelled to listen to every episode of the back catalogue. I love how Justin thinks, presents topics and engages with his guests. This episode was stand out though. As a game design nerd it’s great to listen to some next level ideas on the ways games and play can be viewed in the context of society and the individual. Great stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Henna.bob
    Australia2 years ago
  • Justin does a great job, amazing guests, really great insight, and a joy to listen to. If you are a game designer this is a must listen.

    Podchaser
    5
    George
    3 years ago
  • Inspiring!!

    Thank You, Justin Gary, for making this available to the public! This information is so valuable and important to any level of game designer, whether first year or fifteenth. I cannot recommend it enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    East Atlanta Game Lab
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fantastic
Awesome
Excellent!
Inspiring!!
Tim Ferris for the boardgame industry

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#76
Argentina/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#79
India/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#159
Philippines/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#171
Netherlands/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#194
Poland/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mark Rosewater — Designing for Emotion, Embracing Complexity, and 28 Years of Iteration (#103)
Q: What drove you to continue pursuing Mood Swings for 28 years, and what finally got it made?
Mark explains that persistence, a willingness to pitch to many different people, and finding the right champion at the right time—like the Secret Lair collaboration—were key. He emphasizes iterating through many versions, aligning concept with the Magic wheelhouse, and trusting that a good idea will eventually find a home.
Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)
Q: What makes a game stand out to be looked at, played, and potentially published when submitted to Gabe at Best With One?
Key criteria include packing a punch beyond the box size, a strong theme, concise and impactful design, and a clear core loop that fits within tight physical constraints, along with strong artwork and branding to help it stand out.
Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)
Q: What does the process look like for taking a project from an initial concept to crowdsourcing it at a rapid pace, especially in the Solo Game of the Month model?
The guest explains starting with small, affordable games in VHS-sized boxes, building an audience through monthly releases, and then leveraging partnerships and a publisher when scale and logistics became challenging, all while maintaining a cadence of frequent, focused iterations.
Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)
Q: So let's start at the beginning though. What brought you into games and what got you into the industry in the first place, and then we could talk about the course and everything else that came after that.
Drew describes his origin from being a graphic designer and Hearthstone enthusiast who moved into board games after seeking a non-digital way to recreate that experience; he joined Justin Gary's course, which helped him sharpen his design process and eventually lead to founding or joining successful solo and crowdfunding initiatives.
Theresa Duringer — UI as Game Design, Onboarding Without Friction, and the Ethics of AI (#99)
Q: How do you view the skill set that you've developed and where the strengths are?
Theresa reflects on her experiences at QA and moving through different roles in game development, noting the importance of having diverse skills.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Think Like A Game Designer

What is Think Like A Game Designer about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A design-forward series where a renowned game designer interviews top creators and industry leaders to uncover the creative process behind making games and other creative projects. Across episodes, listeners get practical lessons on rapid prototyping, playtesting, storytelling through mechanics, UI/UX, marketing, and leadership in startups. Guests range from board game designers to tech-enabled game developers and even authors, providing diverse perspectives on creativity, collaboration, and building communities around ideas. The show often highlights how play, iteration, and customer feedback drive successful products, with several episodes exploring the crossover between digital and physical design, mass-market distribution, and ethical c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Think Like A Game Designer?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Think Like A Game Designer:

1. The Game Design Round Table
2. So Very Wrong About Games
3. Fun Problems
4. Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast
5. Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

How many episodes of Think Like A Game Designer are there?

Think Like A Game Designer launched 7 years ago and published 114 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 Think Like A Game Designer?

Recent guests on Think Like A Game Designer include:

1. Nate Heiss
2. Mark Rosewater
3. Ross Thompson
4. Drew Corkill
5. Keith Baker
6. Monty Cook
7. Raph Koster
8. Elizabeth Hargrave

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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