{"id":3913,"date":"2025-03-03T16:20:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/?p=3913"},"modified":"2025-03-04T16:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T16:21:16","slug":"reconstruct-ancient-greek-pottery-decode-an-alien-language-and-watch-your-money-burn-in-real-time-cardboard-edison-nominees-revealed-as-unpublished-games-award-celebrates-10th-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/reconstruct-ancient-greek-pottery-decode-an-alien-language-and-watch-your-money-burn-in-real-time-cardboard-edison-nominees-revealed-as-unpublished-games-award-celebrates-10th-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Reconstruct ancient Greek pottery, decode an alien language and watch your money burn in real time: Cardboard Edison nominees revealed as unpublished games award celebrates 10th year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The long-running\u00a0Cardboard Edison Award<\/a> is celebrating a decade of highlighting the best currently unpublished board games, as it unveils the finalists for this year’s competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardboard Edison received a record 348 entries this year – up from 339 in 2024<\/a> – which it has whittled down to just over 20 finalists ahead of judging by a panel of more than 80 board game industry professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The always eclectic mix of designs includes Athenia, a real time game about reconstructing ancient Greek pottery, Invasion, a two-player battle between a ‘human’ player trying to decode an alien language and an ‘alien’ attempting to abduct the human’s cards, and Dot Com, an app-assisted economic strategy game where your money is burned away in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other entries this year include Slopeside, which sees players building a 3D ski resort, Slam Quest, in which your only way of communicating card strength with other players is how hard you slam them on the table, and Time to Line, a tableau and deck-building game in which players try to attract quirky guests to queue up for the latest attraction at an amusement park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Invasion, designed by Amelie Le-Roche and Ashwin Kamath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Each game’s submission video, featuring an overview by the designers, is available to watch on the Cardboard Edison Award website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year’s 85-strong judging panel includes The Op’s director of hobby Pat Marino, veteran designer and Tabletop Game Designers Association co-founder Geoff Engelstein, Wyrmspan and Apiary creator Connie Vogelmann and board game critic Dan Thurot, who pens reviews and deep thoughts on board gaming over at Space-Biff!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cardboard Edison Award suffered a public backlash last year after the winning game was unveiled as Crowded Frontier<\/a>, which was themed around the rush to colonise the American West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game’s designer Myles Wallace\u00a0issued an apology several days after winning the award last May<\/a>, saying he was \u201cin no way\u201d seeking to glorify America\u2019s westward expansion at the expense of indigenous people, who despite the theming are not represented at all in the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told BoardGameWire in January this year that he had made theme change a requirement as part of his contract negotiations for signing the game, which he said was at the pre-contract stage with a couple of publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Crowded Frontier by Myles Wallace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cardboard Edison co-founders Suzanne and Chris Zinsli said it \u201cbecame clear there was a blind spot in our judging process\u201d after the response to\u00a0Crowded Frontier’s win, and three months ago revealed a string of changes it hoped would \u201ccatch potentially harmful aspects of games\u2019 themes and notify designers about it\u2014without discouraging them from responsibly tackling a tough theme, if that\u2019s their goal\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They included asking its existing judges to suggest additional people to broaden the judging pool, with the aim of bringing in a wider range of perspectives \u2013 as well as updating the guidance given to judges so they know to be mindful of potential theming issues when reviewing games for the award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardboard Edison added at the time that it had become clear in the wake of last year\u2019s award announcement that there was \u201ca desire out there for more transparency about how the contest is run\u201d,\u00a0which it hoped will be addressed by its Inside the Cardboard Edison Award article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to BoardGameWire after this year’s nominees were unveiled, the pair said, “For this year’s contest, we added a new question to the judging form: ‘Do the game’s theme or mechanics raise any concerns for you?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

” The idea was to encourage judges to consider whether there might be any serious problems with a submission that fall outside our usual judging criteria. For example, an offensive theme or stolen mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In conjunction with that change, we reviewed all of the judges’ feedback in that field for the highest-ranking games before we settled on the list of finalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ultimately, we and the judges didn’t see any serious concerns about the games at the top of the list. That could be a sign that just having that question on the judging form influenced how judges thought about and scored the finalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We also read all the comments in that field for all of the submissions (from 1,775 judging forms) before we passed along the judges’ feedback to the designers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We found that many judges used that field as intended, and they flagged any concerns or potential concerns they saw. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But we also saw some judges using the field for other kinds of feedback, so next year we’re going to revisit the guidance we give judges to make sure we’re being more clear about that field’s purpose.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Cardboard Edison winners have included Octopus Scramble, which was signed up by Sit Down!, Winter, which has been published by Devir, and Umbra Via, which has been published by Pandasaurus Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 champion Diatoms<\/a>, in which players take on the role of Victorian naturalists growing microscopic mosaics from algae, went on to raise more than $63,000 from over 1,400 backers in a Kickstarter campaign last September<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diatoms is now set for a US retail release from 25th Century Games in March this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardboard Edison<\/a> was launched in 2012 as a board game design studio and hub, which has expanded from a well-read industry blog into a vast repository of information for board game designers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cardboard Edison Award was launched by Suzanne Zinsli in 2016, with the help of fellow Cardboard Edison founder Chris Zinsli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Cardboard Edison Award Nominees 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athenia <\/strong>by Mark Holmes\u00a0
2-5 players\u00a0
10 minutes\u00a0
A simultaneous, real time, plate reconstruction game.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/ySstgPrjDTY<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babble <\/strong>by Jonah Kagan\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
30-45 minutes\u00a0
A strategic word-building game. Builders cursed to speak different dialects build a tower to the heavens. Collaborate to build a tower of words, and compete to have your dialect score the most points.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/vurMI5L2Ln4<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bearden <\/strong>by Keith Donaldson\u00a0
1-5 players\u00a0
60-90 minutes\u00a0
A tactical dice-placement game where you compose artwork by drafting and positioning colorful Paint Dice on your canvas.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/tM98zHaPolQ<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Branching Out <\/strong>by Jeff Grisenthwaite and Eliot Michaels\u00a0
1-6 players\u00a0
30 minutes\u00a0
Players cooperate to grow and shape a beautiful 3D Bonsai tree together.
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nsyrhPufYlw\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chainbreakers <\/strong>by Kyle Cushman\u00a0
2-5 players\u00a0
60 minutes\u00a0
A card drafting and contract fulfillment game about bike mechanics developing their skills and getting people back on two wheels, with an action selection system revolving around a rotating bicycle wheel.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/N912CXhzFMc<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dot Com <\/strong>by Sammy Salkind\u00a0
2 players\u00a0
10-20 minutes\u00a0
An app-assisted economic strategy game where your money is burned away in real time.
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wOtII1YTWr8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Range <\/strong>by Pedro Ometto\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
10-25 minutes\u00a0
Players are farmers strategizing and pushing their luck to organize their chickens in the best possible way.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/sEXNe6nvkn4<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice Hotel <\/strong>by Bob West\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
45 minutes\u00a0
The Ice Hotel is melting! Rescue guests’ luggage before your tips wash away!
Pitch video: https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1f8TO3mMuebwl38YhPxmcSqPT2bz0NZYY\/view<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indie Alley <\/strong>by Mallory Hinks\u00a0
1-4 players\u00a0
20-30 minutes\u00a0
A competitive card placement game where you play as a small-town indie band manager promoting bands by strategically placing posters in an alley.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/kTqs2z3SeSY<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invasion <\/strong>by Amelie Le-Roche and Ashwin Kamath\u00a0
2 players\u00a0
20-30 minutes\u00a0
A deduction\/spatial puzzle game that pits Human versus Alien in a race for survival. The Human is trying to deduce what the alien symbols mean, while the Alien is trying to abduct Human cards.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/AKWFMmqj41o<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kingdom on the Rise <\/strong>by Piotrek Chojnowski\u00a0
1-4 players\u00a0
60 minutes\u00a0
A competitive game where all contribute to building a shared kingdom that expands and rises up as all tiles stack up on three levels.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/uZnnS8xIRX<\/a>A\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molcajete <\/strong>by Hugo Labravo\u00a0
3-5 players\u00a0
30-45 minutes\u00a0
Players mix chilis in your molcajete (a traditional stone mortar) to make the best salsa. Other cooks may help you complete your recipe, but others might try to ruin it.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/bUnxVjFS_2s<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pip It <\/strong>by Jay Bell
2 players\u00a0
15-20 minutes\u00a0
A light-strategy dice-tossing game where the pip value facing you determines the strength of your actions.\u00a0
Pitch video:\u00a0https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/18XVRhW0rSJ3n4huKZClnNqbSxCCLga9h\/view?usp=drive_link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Produce Bazaar <\/strong>by Adam Eschborn\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
30-45 minutes\u00a0
Set in a bustling farmers market, players strategically move two helper tokens around a circle of location cards to gain, trade, and get rid of produce.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qcKlHcqTZ0w<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renaissance Fair <\/strong>by Leo Taylor\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
60 minutes\u00a0
Craft your perfect modern-day Renaissance Fair, hire cosplay actors, attract the most guests, and host the most festive events in this midweight park-building game.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=T_oiytftJiE<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slam Quest <\/strong>by Jay Bucciarelli and Phil Gross\u00a0
2-6 players\u00a0
20 minutes\u00a0
In this cooperative game, you cannot speak, so the only method of communicating your cards\u2019 power to your fellow adventurers is how forcefully you SLAM it!\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/7EWEROIzJ1E<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slopeside <\/strong>by Scott R Smith\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
40 minutes\u00a0
Build your own fully functioning 3D ski resort from the ground up in this medium-weight game.
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/4dtxXVxVhPM<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theology <\/strong>by Manoj Gedela and Sabareesh Mamidipaka\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
60-90 minutes\u00a0
A worker placement and area control game where each player takes on the role of an Ancient Indian God that is trying to become the most worshipped.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/3nSdanZ0kK8<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to Line <\/strong>by Adam Zwain\u00a0
2-4 players\u00a0
30 to 45 minutes
A tableau- and deck-building game in which players must attract quirky guests\u2014each with their own interests and abilities\u2014to queue up for the latest attraction at an amusement park.
Pitch video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/UrUV6uS2pvs<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Triptych <\/strong>by Brooks Barber\u00a0
3-4 players\u00a0
45 minutes\u00a0
Players\u2019 goal is to complete a three-panel image with a shared slide puzzle that players manipulate through trick taking.\u00a0
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gpjMht-lADk<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wildcrafters <\/strong>by Katie Tam\u00a0
1-6 players\u00a0
10 minutes per player\u00a0
You\u2019re a budding apothecary competing to craft potions by foraging and filling your bottles with herbs, flowers, and berries to gain the most reputation before the Harvest ends.
Pitch video: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=c5ikfBNRp8U<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more stories like this direct to your email inbox, click here to sign up for BoardGameWire’s free email newsletter. \n\nAnd if you’ve found our reporting interesting or useful, please consider a paid subscription to help support our journalism!<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The long-running\u00a0Cardboard Edison Award is celebrating a decade of highlighting the best currently unpublished board games, as it unveils the finalists for this year’s competition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[949,16,6,135,140,978,1427,977,1355,673,1428],"class_list":["post-3913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-949","tag-award","tag-board-game","tag-board-games","tag-cardboard-edison","tag-cardboard-edison-award","tag-chris-zinsli","tag-crowded-frontier","tag-finalists","tag-nominees","tag-suzanne-zinsli"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3913"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3923,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions\/3923"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boardgamewire.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}