Calgary Local Boardgame Designers and How Their Boardgames Have Gone Viral
Calgary Local Boardgame Designers and How Their Boardgames Have Gone Viral
Calgary has quietly become a creative hub for boardgame innovation, with a number of local designers making waves both in Canada and around the globe. From beautifully crafted abstract games to wildly strategic party hits, these boardgame creators have put Calgary on the international map of tabletop gaming. Here are five standout Calgary boardgame designers whose creations have gone viral — each offering a unique and unforgettable boardgame experience.
1. Gord! and Santorini
One of Calgary’s most iconic boardgame success stories belongs to Santorini, a beautifully minimalist strategy boardgame designed by Dr. Gordon (Gord) Hamilton. Originally released in 2004 and revamped in 2016 with stunning 3D visuals, Santorini has become a viral hit thanks to its easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay. It’s real explosion came in 2016 when a redesigned version launched on Kickstarter. Thanks to its visuals and intuitive gameplay, it raised over $700,000 CAD, quickly going viral in the boardgame community. It was featured by major YouTube reviewers like The Dice Tower and Shut Up & Sit Down, and even reached mainstream toy stores. Today, Santorini is known as one of the most elegant and viral strategy boardgames of its kind.
Gord, a mathematician and educator, crafted this boardgame as an abstract duel of wits where players build and climb white-and-blue buildings reminiscent of the Greek island. Santorini became a shining example of how a Calgary boardgame can capture global attention.
He occasionally makes appearances at Y Not Today, a cozy and welcoming space in Calgary known for hosting board game events. During these gatherings, Gord enjoys meeting fellow game enthusiasts, sharing his insights into game design, and engaging in lively discussions about interactive gameplay. His presence adds a special touch to the events, inspiring both new and experienced players alike.
2. Sen-Foong Lim – Junk Art
Though now based in Ontario, Sen-Foong Lim, originally from Calgary, helped design Junk Art, a creative and unpredictable dexterity boardgame. One of the most creative is Junk Art, a dexterity-based boardgame where players build bizarre structures out of oddly shaped components. Its concept — stacking oddly shaped pieces to build unstable sculptures — was fresh, funny, and photogenic.This made it ideal for viral social media content and YouTube playthroughs, where viewers could laugh along with players.
It became popular at conventions like Gen Con and Spiel, with live events drawing crowds. Its table presence made it instantly InstagrammableThe game has won multiple awards and become a family favorite worldwide. It’s a unique twist in the boardgame world, combining strategy with physical skill — and it speaks volumes of the creative roots planted in Calgary.
3. Jay Cormier – Mind MGMT: The Psychic Espionage “Game”
Another Calgary-born designer, Jay Cormier, has co-created several viral boardgames, with Mind MGMT as a deeply immersive hidden movement boardgame based on a cult comic series. The boardgame is a deep, tense hidden movement game where players take on roles of psychic spies and rogue agents. What made it go viral was its innovative “shift system”, where each loss unlocks new components and story — a twist on the legacy format. It was a Kickstarter smash hit, backed by thousands, and praised heavily by content creators in the boardgame space for its depth and replayability. Word-of-mouth and rave online reviews led to sold-out print runs and a growing fanbase across Reddit, BGG, and YouTube. The boardgame blends art, story, and mechanics in a masterful way — reinforcing Calgary’s presence in the design world.
4. Colby Dauch – Summoner Wars
Though now operating Plaid Hat Games from the U.S., Colby Dauch spent part of his early design career collaborating with boardgame enthusiasts in Calgary. Summoner Wars became a viral sensation in the early 2010s for merging boardgame mechanics with the collectible card game (CCG) genre. Its digital and physical editions both found viral success in the tabletop community. The continued relevance and re-release of this boardgame years later show its lasting impact. It blew up in online forums like BoardGameGeek and gained traction via iOS apps — a rarity at the time for boardgames. Players loved the tactical gameplay and faction diversity. The game’s digital and physical success prompted a second edition and a devoted competitive community, keeping the buzz alive for years.
5. Chris Dias – Faction Fighters
Calgary local Chris Dias, founder of Dias Ex Machina, created Faction Fighters as a fast-paced, tactical boardgame focused on faction-based duels. Its independent, grassroots marketing — boosted by playtesting groups, RPG communities, and local comic cons — helped it spread through word of mouth. The boardgame was praised for its fast-paced action and replayability. It gained viral traction through Tabletop Simulator mods, Reddit buzz, and fans posting battle setups online. Its indie appeal, strategic depth, and support from Calgary’s tight-knit gaming community made it a viral cult hit. While not as mainstream as others, it cultivated a strong online presence and remains a hidden gem for indie boardgame lovers. His contributions reflect the thriving boardgame culture growing steadily in Calgary.
Begin by Why. “I want to be remembered"
Designing your own board game starts by connecting your personal passion with what excites other players. Think about the experiences you love in games—tense strategy, creative storytelling, or quick party fun—and then shape a clear vision around that feeling. From there, explore what themes and mechanics resonate in the market, identifying gaps or niches that your idea can fill. Draft a quick pitch that blends your theme, core mechanic, and unique hook. Build a simple prototype using paper and everyday objects, and define your core gameplay loop: what players do each turn, how they win, and where the tension lies.
Once you’ve got a playable version, start testing with people—first with friends, then with local design groups, and eventually with strangers who can follow your rules cold. Focus on observing what works, what confuses, and what needs trimming. Every test is a chance to simplify and strengthen your design. As your concept solidifies, create placeholder visuals and think about real production limits. Join online and local board game design communities for feedback, exposure, and collaboration. With each round of testing and refining, your idea moves closer to becoming a polished, publishable game.
Join the Calgary board game community to test out your ideas and connect with other board game lovers. Local game cafés, design meetups, and events like those at Y Not Today offer welcoming spaces where creators can share prototypes, get real-time feedback, and collaborate with fellow enthusiasts. Whether you’re fine-tuning your rules or just exploring an idea, engaging with the community can spark new insights and help bring your board game to life.
In conclusion
Whether it’s the timeless elegance of Santorini by Gord Hamilton or the gripping psychic duels of Mind MGMT, Calgary boardgame designers are proving that passion, creativity, and community support can turn a local idea into a global sensation. As more players seek thoughtful, handcrafted boardgames, Calgary’s contributions to the boardgame world continue to grow — one brilliant game at a time.
Check out our post about Top Board Game Events & Communities in Calgary | Play, Compete & Connect
0 Comments