Designing card and board games. This started pre-covid and I have always enjoyed card games and board games. Playing games has always felt a bit like trying to

Designing card and board games. This started pre-covid and I have always enjoyed card games and board games. Playing games has always felt a bit like trying to solve a puzzle. Designing a game is simply making a puzzle for other people to solve. The great thing with analog card and board games is just the fun you get sitting around a table and visiting with friends over a shared activity. The time varies per project but you don't have to be an expert or need lots of equipment. Your first version of a game can just be hand-written on note cards and paper. I've designed some games that have I probably 100 hours on design (not done yet) and others that are done at 10 hours. I tend to make cards using regular paper and cut to size and sleeve in TCG sleeves. Boards and token can be printed and stuck to cardboard/foam/chipboard. The more your prototype game facilitates the game play, the better and more quickly it will improve. The best thing about analog card and board games is the immediacy. If you have a few like minded friends, you can test a game the same day you start it. It is great to see how the game evolves and you fix issues, re-design cards and as your play testers offer opinions about how the game works. Even if you never license a game to a publisher, you will always still have a game that you and your friends enjoy playing.