How to pitch a board game

A door anyone can use

• 

  Czech Games EditionReads unsolicited workCzech Games Edition reads game pitches sent through the form on its Submissions and Pitches page, and replies when it can.

• 

  Exploding KittensHas a submission portalExploding Kittens takes game ideas through the Game Submissions page on its site.

• 

  Stonemaier GamesReads unsolicited workStonemaier is tentatively open to game submissions, through its submission guidelines page.

• 

  RavensburgerHolds open callsRavensburger no longer reads game proposals sent in unasked.
• Big Potato GamesHas a submission portalBig Potato takes game ideas through the submission form on bigpotato.com, and promises to take a look.
• Goliath GamesHas a submission portalGoliath takes inventions through its form at inventors.goliathgames.com, under a confidentiality agreement that lasts two years.
• University GamesHolds open callsUniversity Games takes original designs from students in a college or university design program, one each, and they must own the rights.

Only through an agent

• Wizards of the CoastOnly through an agentWizards of the Coast does not review game or card submissions it did not ask for, and sends inventors to an agent, broker or experienced…

No, or not stated

• 

  Fantasy Flight GamesDoes not take outside ideasFantasy Flight Games does not accept game design, development or writing submissions it did not ask for.
• AsmodeeNo stated policyAsmodee publishes no policy on outside ideas.
• GamewrightNo stated policyGamewright publishes no policy on outside ideas.
• ThinkFunNo stated policyThinkFun publishes no policy on outside ideas.

What these companies have bought from outside

1. 2023

   Big Potato Games · Chicken vs Hotdog from inventor Dominic Yard (This is Yard)

   “Dean worked with the award-winning inventor and engineer Dominic Yard (This is Yard) to create Chicken vs Hotdog, a flip-it-and-stick-it party game that’s perfect for all ages.” toyworldmag.co.uk

2. 2022

   University Games · Forbidden Games catalog (Raccoon Tycoon, Mosaic) from Forbidden Games

   “University Games inked a deal with Forbidden Games to acquire its entire catalog of intellectual property.” toybook.com

3. 2022

   Wizards of the Coast · D&D Beyond from Fandom

   “In April 2022, Hasbro acquired the digital toolset and game companion D&D Beyond from Fandom,…” en.wikipedia.org

4. 2021

   Exploding Kittens · Happy Salmon from North Star Games (designers Quentin Weir and Ken Gruhl)

   “Exploding Kittens has acquired the family game Happy Salmon, designed by Quentin Weir and game developer Ken Gruhl, from North Star Games, the company announced.” icv2.com

5. 2021

   Asmodee · Board Game Arena from its founders

   “The company acquired Board Game Arena, a digital tabletop simulator, in February 2021, for which they plan to adapt their games to add to its available library. [ 20 ]” en.wikipedia.org

6. 2020

   Czech Games Edition · Lost Ruins of Arnak from designers Mín and Elwen (Michaela and Michal Štach)

   “Lost Ruins of Arnak is a 2020 board game by the husband-wife duo Michal "Elwen" Štach and Michaela "Mín" Štachova.” en.wikipedia.org

7. 2020

   University Games · The Lagoon Group from Asmodee

   “University Games has purchased The Lagoon Group, a UK leader in gifts, games, puzzles and books, from Asmodee.” universitygames.com

8. 2019

   Goliath Games · Gator Golf (re-release) from toymaker Robert B. (surname cut off by the source's sentence split)

   “The game was released once again in 2019 by Goliath Games.” en.wikipedia.org

9. 2019

   Stonemaier Games · Wingspan (published) from designer Elizabeth Hargrave

   “Wingspan is a board game designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games in 2019.” en.wikipedia.org

10. 2018

    Fantasy Flight Games · KeyForge from designer Richard Garfield

    “Created by Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield, KeyForge differs from other collectible card games (CCGs) in that the game uses procedural generation to create unique decks.” en.wikipedia.org

11. 2017

    Ravensburger · ThinkFun from founders Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello

    “In 2017, ThinkFun was acquired by Ravensburger. [ 7 ]” en.wikipedia.org

12. 2016

    Asmodee · English-language rights to Catan from Mayfair Games

    “In January 2016, Asmodee acquired the English language rights to the Catan games from Mayfair Games, creating a new company Catan Studio, Inc.…” en.wikipedia.org

13. 2015

    Czech Games Edition · Codenames from designer Vlaada Chvátil

    “Krycí jména) is a 2015 party board game designed by Vlaada Chvátil and published by Czech Games Edition (CGE).” en.wikipedia.org

14. 2015

    Ravensburger · BRIO from its owners

    “Swedish toy train company BRIO was acquired by the Ravensburger Group on 8 January 2015. [ 4 ] In 2017, Ravensburger acquired American game company Wonder Forge. [ 5 ]” en.wikipedia.org

15. 2014

    Goliath Games · Pressman Toy (Rummikub and Tri-Ominos in the US) from its owners

    “Goliath Games is acquiring Pressman Toy, a move that supports Goliath’s goal of creating global brands.” toybook.com

16. 2014

    Asmodee · Days of Wonder (Ticket to Ride) and Fantasy Flight Games from their owners

    “In August 2014, Asmodee agreed to a merger with American board game publishers Days of Wonder. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Later that year, they also merged with Fantasy Flight Games. [ 11 ]” en.wikipedia.org

17. 2011

    Fantasy Flight Games · Star Wars card, miniature and role-playing games from Lucasfilm

    “In August 2011, Fantasy Flight Games acquired the license for card, miniature and role-playing games set in the Star Wars universe.…” en.wikipedia.org

18. 2010

    Gamewright · Forbidden Island from designer Matt Leacock

    “Forbidden Island is a cooperative board game developed by Matt Leacock and published by Gamewright Games in 2010. [ 1 ] Two to four players take the roles of different adventurers, moving around a mysterious island and looking for hidden treasures as the island sinks around them.” en.wikipedia.org

19. 2005

    Gamewright · Sleeping Queens from Miranda Evarts, age six, and her family

    “Sleeping Queens was invented in 2003 by Miranda Evarts at age six based on a dream she had. [ 2 ] Her family – Madeline, Denise, and Max Evarts – helped her develop the game and contact the games publishing company Gamewright Games with the idea.” en.wikipedia.org

20. 1998

    Wizards of the Coast · Pokémon Trading Card Game (English rights) from the Pokémon rights holders

    “…In January 1999, WotC began publishing Pokémon Trading Card Game after acquiring the rights in August 1998.…” en.wikipedia.org

21. 1998

    Asmodee · Jungle Speed from its outside creators

    “…One of the company's early successes was Jungle Speed, which they acquired in 1998 and promoted heavily to various toy stores and retail outlets in France, selling over 4 million copies.…” en.wikipedia.org

22. 1997

    Wizards of the Coast · TSR (Dungeons & Dragons) and Five Rings Publishing from their owners $25 million

    “Wizards of the Coast announced the purchase of TSR, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, on April 10, 1997.…” en.wikipedia.org

23. 1993

    Wizards of the Coast · Magic: The Gathering from designer Richard Garfield (via Garfield Games)

    “Garfield Games then licensed the production and sale rights to WotC until the court case was settled, at which point Garfield Games was shut down.” en.wikipedia.org

24. 1986

    Ravensburger · Labyrinth (Das verrückte Labyrinth) from psychologist Max Kobbert

    “The game was designed by the German psychologist Max Kobbert and published by Ravensburger under the name " Das verrückte Labyrinth ", which is a pun on the German words " verrücken " (displace) and " verrückt " (crazy), roughly translatable in English as " labyrinthal disorder ".” en.wikipedia.org