The Break My Game Discord channel and in-person playtesting specific events will set you up for success.
This is my favorite question to answer, because this is the question that will do the most to bring your game to life. Playtesting early and often not only will give you the best game, but also save you time investing a bunch of effort into a design that is broken or no one likes. But I’m preaching to the choir here, because you already asked the question of where to go to find these elusive playtesters!
Break My Game Discord
My personal favorite and usually the first spot I recommend is the Break My Game Discord (BMG) channel. This beautiful channel has online playtesting sessions every day of the week, with most days having multiple timeslots. The channel does a good job walking you through how to sign up, but basically you post the description of your game ahead of time and then when the session starts the meeting host organizes people to play posted games based on priority and interest. Some people are joining just as playtesters, but most are designers like you looking for playtests. This means there is a very real chance the first time you join your game won’t be played. However if your game isn’t played you’ll get priority the next time you join. Playtesting is a give and take activity. You have to be ready to provide good feedback in order to get some of your own.
Since this is an online playtesting platform you have to have your game in a digital format that is accessible to all players. I used playingcards.io for Quickdraw since it’s free, very simple with a pleasing interface, and good for a small card game. Many use screentop.gg (also free) for larger games since you can have more space, components, automation, etc. I do not see a lot of people using Table Top Simulator (TTS). Though a good tool it also costs money so it’s usually easier to get playtesters if you can just send them a link to a free site rather than buying/installing/running TTS. Don’t be turned away by needing to convert your game into a digital format. It’s not that hard and it’s well worth the time you put in to get wider access to playtesters.
In addition to playtesting, BMG also hosts rules reviews, general design and publishing questions, and just a whole community of excited table top gamers. I think anyone interested in design or publishing should check out this amazing community.
In person playtesting groups
If you life in a populated area, there’s a good chance there is a local playtest group near you. Meetup.com is a good place to check, as well as searching social media or just a good old Google search. While online playtesting is great, putting physical components on a table will uncover issues that might not be apparent playing online. And conversely, things that trouble you on an online platform may be smooth in person and not worth worrying about.
Because these tend to be a little more open ended than BMG’s structured format, it’s good to consider etiquette when heading to a group. First, make sure the group accepts playtest games. A lot of general board game groups are there for people to find others to play games they are excited about, and aren’t signing up to playtest something that probably isn’t fun yet (sorry, not sorry). And similar to BMG, there are lots of people bringing games. You likely will have to pay your dues by being a good playtester before getting your game out. When I’ve brought Quickdraw I’ve always been successful getting it to the table, but since it’s a two-player game that takes 15ish minutes to learn and play, its easier to squeeze in. The best bet when showing up to a new group is to find whoever looks like they are in charge and asking how the event is organized so you can fit in without accidentally offending anyone.
Other options
I think BMG and local playtest groups are the best online and in person options respectively, however there are some other options that might be less reliable but still useful.
- Friends and family. While good for early rounds to just make sure your game runs, don’t rely on friends and family to give you the honest feedback you need. It’s not their fault, they love that you created something and don’t want to squash your dreams. Instead, count on strangers to crush your design and therefore make it better.
- Board Game Geek – Seeking Playtesters. If you have a Board Game Geek (BGG) account, which you should if you’re a game designer…, you can post on their Seeking Playtesters forum. This is in my Other Options section since I personally haven’t used it, though it does appear to be rather active.
- General Social Media Groups. Posting in game design groups on Facebook, Reddit, or other social media sites can connect you with good Samaritans willing to playtest, but often those posts just get washed away in the tide.
- Solo. Don’t underestimate solo playtesting. While not right for all games, solo playtesting has been invaluable to me as I play hundreds of rounds of Quickdraw to make sure the balance is good.
Are there any other methods to find playtesters that you like which I’m woefully unaware of?