From 2007 and Neuroshima Hex to 2025 and Age of Galaxy, at Portal Games, we’ve always been science fiction nerds, and our catalog has made that pretty obvious over the years.
So when I got an email about a game where you play a bohemian artist in Paris in the 19th century… I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
I was about to write my standard reply — the one I use when replying to designers who pitch me games for kids, families, abstract puzzles, and all those other projects that are just blasted to every publisher under the sun.
Then I noticed a link to a video in the email.
I clicked it.
And that changed everything.
Reading time: 2 min
I strongly believe that good board game is the one that tells a good story. You play it and suddenly you are sucked into it, you feel chills on the skin. Emotions grow. In a moment you defend castle. You hear roar of warriors. You smell boiling oil. You are into it.
That's how I design my games. I always want to tell a good story. I want players to be into it. As deep as possible.
