iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

This is a stand out party game for us. We play the original printing quite often and it does exactly what a party game should: it starts the fun immediately

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Reposted by Nick Major-Bowden

Quinns @itsquinns.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

New video! Last month I was invited to Spain's Guadalindie game convention to do a talk of my choice. I ended up giving an angry polemic about how the culture of games is failing designers left and right, because there is no games industry. There's just "play" www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Xm...

youtube.com

Why We're Doing Journalism Differently: The Future isn't Games, it's Play - PMG | Guadalindie 2026

YouTube video by MálagaJam

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Lots of great plays, Hot streak with 8 people turned into a 12 with spectators, and lots of getting pummeled by spirit island and daybreak

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Reposted by Nick Major-Bowden

Jon Perry @perryjon.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I really like this series by @connor.alwaysawake.games that pushes back on common board game design advice like "find the fun" and "stick to design" and I find myself agreeing with most of the points being made. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuoY...

youtube.com

Multiple Win Conditions: Welcome!

YouTube video by Always Awake Games

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Wow this sounds so fun and wonderful I love it. Gotta check it out! Really nice review.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Truly beautiful congrats! Can’t wait to play it

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

A light but eclectic week of games! My first war game with miniatures, first time playing tsuro which was fun. And then a hellish version of scrabble where adding letters must create at least two new words. Never again!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Played a ton of prototypes at Level Up but got to finish another blighted reach campaign, and base arcs and a new to me word game that was very fun.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Pretty clear that this is resonating with a lot of people, myself included. Thanks for making this video, as usual

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

I love how you use the word “tricky” for advice. Seems like all advice can fall under that category lol Thanks again for another great video, Matthew!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

I had a veteran game designer give me the single most important idea to improve my game I could have received. In the same sentence, he gave me the most gut wrenching opinion about the game that I had heard up to that point. I had to decide if they were right about both pieces of feedback!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Taking advice, even from established designers, like you do feedback of your game is something I wish I heard from the very start. And it’s really hard to do!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Of all of the research I’ve done while making my first board game, Matthew’s videos have been the most impactful for me. And somehow he uploads videos at the exact moment I need to hear it! It’s like having a friend on speed dial when you need to talk something out

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I hear the phrase “publishers take on all the risk” a lot. It’s exhausting and not the case. I wish I could’ve been there for this talk

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Trying to find L’oaf currently. It looks like a great time

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Not quite enough to fill the 4x4, but it was a great month. I’m in love with the Magenta series from @cmyk.games and Vantage from @stonemaiergames.com continues to be my favorite solo game.

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Reposted by Nick Major-Bowden

🥧 suzanne 🥧 @425suzanne.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

And I'm sorry. I'm sorry to the people that helped make AEG what it is today... to be treated as such disposable worthless cogs. And I'm sorry for aspiring designers and artists who want to work in games. Please know - many leaders in the industry understand your incredible value.

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Reposted by Nick Major-Bowden

Ella Ampongan @meampongan.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Creatives, do not take this into your soul, not one bit of it. He doesn't matter. This man hasn't had an original idea ever. He just feeds on the creativity of other people. He is replaceable. You are not.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Didn’t think he could get worse! Oh my god

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Encouragingly, some will get so sick of watching board game companies be run by men with their brains leaking out of their ears that they’ll try to do it better. And I’ll be there to support that however I can!!!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

I’m new to board games, but I’m not new to creative fields. A heartbreaking fact behind every creative project or company led by some unfathomably out of touch person like this, there’s almost ALWAYS a team of people who truly care about what they do and those people suffer the most from this

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

My wife and I play this every morning. It’s a nice calm way to get our brains groovin’!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Ooooohhh!!!! This is wonderful news 🪩🪩

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Cannot wait for this!! Looks incredible

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Always love to see Blaz games on your list. I haven’t yet gotten herd but very excited about it

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Paul’s game Dropolter is a wonder. It works well with every single group we’ve ever brought it to, it essentially lives in my pocket. Excited to read this thank you for sharing!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

This video is so awesome and needed. Thanks for all the info and shining the Spotlight on all these designers. Cannot wait for Indie games night market!!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I got play some games too! Tiny Runway from @nnoa.bsky.social was the standout for me. Players vote on what’s hot and what’s not in a fashion game with ever changing player led score conditions. It immediately worked for me and I’m really hoping I can play it again soon enough with a full group.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Metatopia was a turning point for my game, and for me as a designer. I entered feeling a bit defeated with my design, but I left with the confidence that I have a game that people might love to play. This is only because of the *incredible* designers and playtesters I met, and their feedback. 🎲✂️

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Oh, so all my money will be gone by the end of Indie Games Night Market…got it!! This looks awesome.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I’m very stoked for this game, been following along on Bluesky and hopefully can snag a copy at the night market!!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Wow, thank you so much Jay. I’m so glad you liked it and I loved chatting about my game with you. Excited to play more with you at PAX!

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Reposted by Nick Major-Bowden

Jay Vowles @etgoat.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Metatopia was excellent as usual. I had 3 very productive playtests of Smash Dash and got to play an interesting variety of games, the best of which was Look Into My Eyes from @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social. Elegant 2-player battle of wits with multiple juicy decisions every turn. Incredible game.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

I’m at my first game design convention today, Metatopia in NJ! I’ve brought my 2 player game Look Into My Eyes and I’m *psyched* to show it all 3 days🔮👀 Key takeaway from making my prototype games Metatopia: never trust a printer to do what it says it will do 🎲 ✂️

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Just backed! Good luck and can’t wait to play these 🪩

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Really great work here, this looks wonderful

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Very excited to play Crownfell soon, thanks for the insight. Awesome to see what designers love about their designs

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Suddenly the gravity of the situation sets in, the game gets more serious and the QR codes start getting scanned. It’s really something else, @mattleacock.bsky.social and @baddeo.bsky.social knocked it out of the park. Anyway, lots to think about. Thanks Jillian!

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Got it, I’m understanding what you mean! Thanks for the response. From my collection, Daybreak does this really well. Every time I’ve taught this game, without fail, there’s a gasp at the table when we do the first emissions stage.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Would you be willing to give a generic example of something you’ve seen in a game recently that shows empathy in design? I would definitely read a whole thread on this. I’m new to game design and this isn’t something that I’ve come across yet

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

We play on a circular table that is 42inches in diameter. Arcs, for example, requires side tables for each person to comfortably play with 4 people. I believe 11sq feet is almost 1 foot too big for our gaming table.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Question! Does mouse mode on switch 2 work for rise of the golden idol?

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Finally completed a tutorial map in Corps of Discovery by @senfoonglim.bsky.social and @offthepagegames.bsky.social. It’s the first time I felt like running a gauntlet during a tutorial 😅 My goodness, I am terrified of what this game has in store for me. I can’t wait to continue

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Congratulations, Jeff! Excited to pick this up and give it a go with our group.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Ive only played the gang here, and it’s really something special. The ability to bring it to the table with truly anyone, even our older relatives is like magic.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Can’t wait to get this to the table. Love your writing, this is a great piece.

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

This was a great listen, thanks for putting it together 🎲

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Nick Major-Bowden @nickmajorbowden.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Looks amazing. Super interested in everything here and can’t wait to play it all 🪩🪩

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