Sign in

Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU

@connor.alwaysawake.games
693 followers 350 following 572 posts

Board game designer, illustrator and indie publisher Store: www.alwaysawake.games

PostsRepliesMedia
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 6h
Had a great test of Lost Controls last night! Also, I’m realising my games of late are all “what if everyone was confused and that was a good thing”. (The players across the table are trying to figure out how to get the robot to stack the dice in a specific way using unexplained voice controls)
190
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 06/10/2026
Another spooky game cover for October. I think this might be my October challenge. Just practicing doing quick game covers for games that don’t exist (yet…)
A quick game cover for a theoretical game called Frayed. It’s black and white showing a frayed curtain with spooky eyes peering out from behind
1130
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 02/10/2026
Kicked off October with a quick cover for a pun first game idea. Now I just need to make the game…
A card game box cover titled A Bit Much. There’s a silhouette of a vampire with an annoyed look looming over some stick figure people celebrating and running away. The background is a pink/red starry sky
190
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 23/09/2026
Well that’s a wrap on the campaign! I went to sleep early and woke up to us crossing 300%! Thank you so much to everyone who backed, supported and talked about the game. I can’t wait to get the games into your hands!
A screenshot from the ks page of out of sorts showing the final tally. 246 backers pledging $6196 of a $2000 goal.
2200
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 23/09/2026
Only a few hours left to back Out of Sorts! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw... And checkout the ks video! It’s got all of my favourite moments from the playthrough.
063
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 18/09/2026
Thoughtfully designed discomfort is what makes a game sing. As artists we already know that limitations breed creativity. Same thing for players.
Text blob from the article that says “The flip side of this is that gamers need to start getting comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable. So much of why everything sucks right now, especially with regards to genAI attempting to take over every part of our creative lives, is that we’ve somehow become conditioned to hate friction”
4182
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 17/09/2026
Took a break from Out of Sorts stuff last night and had a great test of some scenarios for Lost Controls. Turns out it works great as a sort of spectator game where you get to watch the alien players struggle to figure out what nonsense rules the robot is operating under.
There’s a dpad setup in the middle of the table that someone is about to press and in the background another player has their finger above a grid of dice.
1120
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/09/2026
Allllmossst there! Who's it going to be?
The out of sorts kickstarter at 98%
030
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/09/2026
Almost there!!
The Out of Sorts campaign at 89% funded
041
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 07/09/2026
Well it’s the last day of PaxWest! It’s been such a great (and exhausting) time. I’m sure I’ll do a while write up later, but it’s been a great first convention for Always Awake Games. I’m feeling good about my decision to get into this whole publishing thing.
A stack of prop books like the ones from Out of Sorts
1161
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 05/09/2026
Having a chill morning doing some ks prep before I’m off to pax west again
A black cat with her head leaning on my lap as I write a pre launch update for the out of sorts kickstarter on my laptop
1110
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 04/09/2026
If you’re at PaxWest come swing by booth 4504 at Summit Level 2! (I’m tucked away in the back but just look for all the teal)
A selfie of me in front of my teal Always Awake Games booth background so TJ a matching teal shirt on
0184
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 03/09/2026
I’m very pleased with myself for this
A stack of prop alien books with alien tentacles leaning against it
0100
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 03/09/2026
It’s getting there!
The always awake games booth at pax west almost setup
6360
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 02/09/2026
Feeling very fancy
A closeup of me wearing my newly acquired pax west exhibitor badge
1160
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 02/09/2026
Very happy with myself for how satisfyingly this all fits.
0110
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 29/08/2026
Just finished recording the Out of Sorts playthrough. Big thanks to Blue Highway Games for letting me record there. If you’re in Seattle, check them out, they’re the best!
Three people sitting at a table in a game store playing out of sorts while a camera on a tripod records.
1164
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 28/08/2026
At first I was like “yay I get to do a countdown!” But now there’s a countdown…. Well, make sure to follow the Kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
A screenshot of an Instagram reel with the banner for the Out of Sorts Kickstarter and a countdown above it showing 10 days and 22 hours
0113
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 24/08/2026
The Filigree & Follies playing cards are finally here! I’ve also been working on a little zine of games to go with them and those just arrived too! There’s a discount if you get both, so check them out! www.alwaysawake.games/product/fili...
A custom deck of playing cards box in the middle of a grid of cards from the deck. The cards are all decorated with swirling patterns. A zine standing upright titled The Hand You’re Dealt. The design in the cover matches the deck of playing cards.
5244
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 19/08/2026
And here’s an in app, subtitled version
021
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 17/08/2026
PaxWest is gonna be here in a few weeks and I’ll have my first booth! It’s tucked away in the back corner and the text is too small, but it’s there! Come say hi at booth 4504!
A map of pax west summit level 2 zoomed in on the back corner with the always awake games booth highlighted.
1163
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 16/08/2026
Now we’re getting somewhere!
170
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 15/08/2026
Bound is a strong word 😅 I just sticker papered some chipboard and glued a stack of paper into it. No way it’ll actually open…
000
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 14/08/2026
Doing a test for some ks video props. My favourite part of game design is still getting to do all sorts of random crafts
A prop version if a book from Out of Sorts. It’s a small “book” all blue with a weird symbol on the front. It’s being held above a cutting board.
1162
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 06/08/2026
Finally tested the Galaxy Trucker style mode for Out of Sorts that I put in as a bit of a joke, and it surprisingly worked! For an extra challenge (and some bonus time), you’ll look for matching books by peeking one at a time at the books spread across the table.
A pile of face down blue “book” cards that players are searching through
1100
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 03/08/2026
Had all the fancy lighting out for product pics and as usual this little one decide it was clearly all for her. She is cute though.
A picture of a black cat staring off to the side.
0150
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 30/07/2026
So I was messing with the librarian’s eyes for some closeup shots, but now I’m thinking maybe the cover works better with their eyes facing forwards too…thoughts?
Out of Sorts cover with the Librarians eyes looking down at the human standing nervously with a stack of booksOut of sorts cover with the Librarians eyes looking at whoever is holding the game box with one of their eyebrows raised
420
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 15/07/2026
Excited to announce the games for the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PaxWest! There’s a lot of really exciting stuff this year. The market opens at 7pm on 9/5. Hope to see you there! www.alwaysawake.games/pnw-tabletop...
The logo for this years PNW Tabletop Game Market. A evergreen forest at night with my ranier behind it and a pawn and dice peeking out from the trees.
0219
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 09/07/2026
Almost at 100 followers! I’ve been working to get more details on the preview page and there’s an updated rulebook too, so check it out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
The Kickstarter preview page for Out of Sorts 2e showing 97 people following the campaignA section of the preview page explaining how the game works. There’s a mess of cards at the top with a caption “so take this mess of books..”. Then an ordered line of cards with a caption “…and come up with a way to sort them!”  Finally a confused person with the caption “just make sure you can remember how to find them”
051
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 06/07/2026
These kinds of reviews make me very happy : ) And if you’re into this sort of thing as well, make sure to follow the KS! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
A review for Out of Sorts on BGG that says: “Thoughts:
This game was absolutely fascinating. Co-op, Real time, symbol sorting. I kind of hated it and it stressed me out BUT I also Could. Not. Stop. Thinking About. It. We spent about an hour discussing it and I had already messaged someone to buy it by the time I got home bc I wanted to try it again. I don’t even know if it’s more of an experience than a game but something about the absurdity of trying to order these symbols and describe them is really unique. Supposedly it’s similar to Wilmot's Warehouse but I haven’t played that as I am, generally, not a fan of memory games. (4/4/26)”
1152
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 04/07/2026
I originally hand stamped Umbra Via’s tiles and I just hand stamping shirts for my first convention booth. It’s coming full circle. I love making games : )
A freshly stamped teal shirt with the Always Awake Games logo. Hand dyed and stamped by me. The stamps are sitting next to the logo. 
A wire rack full of freshly stamped path tiles for the prototype of my first published game Umbra Via.
3180
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 02/07/2026
Oh oops it’s me. I thought that link preview would show up differently. I’m gonna have my first booth at PaxWest!
The Always Awake Games vendor page on the PaxWest site
191
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 01/07/2026
Working on getting some glamour shots before the decks arrive next week ✨ (Game design continues to be an amasing excuse to keep picking up new hobbies)
A grid of cards from a custom illustrated deck in a grid shot from an angle
0171
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 28/06/2026
Whenever I show my friend what I’m working she just keeps saying “wow, you really like eyes”.
A jacket sleeve with four eyes stamped on going from shoulder to wrist. The rubber stamp I used is sitting next to it and there are tape marks on the sleeve for where the stamp needed to line up.
0112
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 20/06/2026
December feels like so long ago…but now I’ve got the final approval copy from the factory! No matter how much it tried to kill my hand, I loved working on this project. Make sure to follow or sign up for my newsletter to get a copy when they go live! always-awake-games.kit.com/6e660f3e7a
3246
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 20/06/2026
Slowly coming together!
A test setup on my dining room table of a booth display table. There’s a three tiered display with game components and games on it as well as two upright peg boards with shelves with more games and components displayed on those
120
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 19/06/2026
Also, my favourite trick I learned for doing these is to plop down a bunch of rulers at the edge of the frame so you don’t have to keep checking if you’re lined up.
A behind the scenes shot of an unboxing video. Three rulers are placed to frame what is in and out of bounds of the camera. The game components are strewn inside that frame.
041
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 16/06/2026
Starting to figure out booth setup stuff. Got a three tier display I stained and then 3d printed these little individual card holders. I’m honestly getting more inspiration from craft market vendors than board game booths. We’ll see how it goes, but liking how it’s looking so far.
A stained mahogany three tier display shelf with cards from That’s the Spirit standing upright in a little diorama
5190
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 14/06/2026
Finally got a new 3d printer and the first thing I printed out was the insert @brstf.games designed for Club Spooky! 3d printers have gotten so much better since I got my first one 6 years ago. Check it out here: makerworld.com/en/models/28...
A 3d printed insert for the board game Club Spooky. It’s got little trays for each of the player tokens neatly organised.
180
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 13/06/2026
Working on the Out of Sorts KS page and wondering if I've committed to the bit enough. There's just something about teal.
Test layouts of KS game explanation. Everything is teal or white. The cards, text, background, everything.
060
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 10/06/2026
First pass at the cover is done!
Draft of a cover for my game prototype Lost Controls. Done in a vaguely art deco style, a big yellow alien is pressing buttons on a wall while watching a robot stack some dice through a window. All done in shades of yellow, black and white
7344
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/06/2026
Couldn’t find anywhere that had the right colour, so I did the logical thing
A tub of tote bags in a teal dye bath A freshly dyed teal tote bag with the always awake games logo painted on it in white with stars in the background.
3150
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/06/2026
Just did a photoshoot swap for Out of Sorts 2e and I think I got some good ones. Shoutout to @tedmannschaller.bsky.social and Becky Young for being great models (and Becky for organising)!
Ted looking confused as he stares at what the other players are doing over his hand of cardsTed looking concerned as the other players excitedly compare cards they've just foundTed laughing, covering his face with a hand while holding cardsA close up of the cards Ted is holding showing strange symbols on them.
182
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 04/06/2026
Just cause I always find this surprising: this is how much space ~700 small box games takes up in my office (stack is ~3ft tall) It’s not nothing, but it’s surprisingly manageable. And that’s all I need as an indie publisher.
A stack of boxes full of small box board games tucked in the corner. Each box holds 24 games. If condensed, it takes up about as much space as a large armchair
0110
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 28/05/2026
I’m glad : ) Honestly I was so happy when I figured it out. Here’s the first version back when the game was a magical library (just didn’t make as much sense the shelf moving down)
120
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 28/05/2026
Previous card version for comparison
150
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 28/05/2026
The judgemental librarian health tracker has an actual book now!
6262
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 27/05/2026
Look what just arrived!
A factory sample of a custom playing card deck called Filigree and Follies (covered in filigree) next to a stack of factory samples of Out of Sorts
0160
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 25/05/2026
Feeling good about this one, so I’m jumping straight to some cover sketches! (I’ve got a brand to stick to with these titles now)
Very early sketch of a cover for a board game called Lost Controls. The it’s all black, yellow and white. There’s an alien about to press a button on a wall of buttons while a robot is about to grab some dice.
2192
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 14/05/2026
Been working on something new while I wait for Out of Sorts 2e proofs. The player on the right has a control panel for the robot on the left and needs a task done. The issue is they’ve got no idea how the controls work. Having fun trying to make some goofy scenarios
1241