City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
@citysquarestudios.bsky.social
duo creating new original tabletop games every month from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Our games use stuff you already own!
32+ original games on Patreon part of the 52 Pickup zine series https://www.patreon.com/CitySquareStudios
Our games use stuff you already own!
32+ original games on Patreon part of the 52 Pickup zine series https://www.patreon.com/CitySquareStudios
Pinned
Come with us on a zine tour through our latest tabletop release, Guinea Pig Baseball!
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
Decision paralysis occurs when players can’t make a choice, usually because there are too many options or the outcomes are too complex. This slows the game down and often leads to frustration.
There are a few design techniques you can use to reduce this (🧵1/6):
🎲✂️ #gamedesign #gamedev
There are a few design techniques you can use to reduce this (🧵1/6):
🎲✂️ #gamedesign #gamedev
a cartoon of batman with his hand on his chin
Alt: a cartoon of batman with his hand on his chin
media.tenor.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Decision paralysis occurs when players can’t make a choice, usually because there are too many options or the outcomes are too complex. This slows the game down and often leads to frustration.
There are a few design techniques you can use to reduce this (🧵1/6):
🎲✂️ #gamedesign #gamedev
There are a few design techniques you can use to reduce this (🧵1/6):
🎲✂️ #gamedesign #gamedev
Solo tabletop games are pretty cool I think
December 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Solo tabletop games are pretty cool I think
A little intro!
We're City Square Studios, a duo based in New Zealand. We publish new tabletop games every month that use stuff you already own.
Think playing cards, chess sets, and dice used to make modern board games, card games, TTRPGs, and more.
#boardgame #ttrpg #promosky #tabletop
We're City Square Studios, a duo based in New Zealand. We publish new tabletop games every month that use stuff you already own.
Think playing cards, chess sets, and dice used to make modern board games, card games, TTRPGs, and more.
#boardgame #ttrpg #promosky #tabletop
December 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
A little intro!
We're City Square Studios, a duo based in New Zealand. We publish new tabletop games every month that use stuff you already own.
Think playing cards, chess sets, and dice used to make modern board games, card games, TTRPGs, and more.
#boardgame #ttrpg #promosky #tabletop
We're City Square Studios, a duo based in New Zealand. We publish new tabletop games every month that use stuff you already own.
Think playing cards, chess sets, and dice used to make modern board games, card games, TTRPGs, and more.
#boardgame #ttrpg #promosky #tabletop
The sea never leaves a tab open…
The next issue of 52 Pickup is coming very soon.
#boardgame #tabletop #indiegame #teaser
The next issue of 52 Pickup is coming very soon.
#boardgame #tabletop #indiegame #teaser
December 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The sea never leaves a tab open…
The next issue of 52 Pickup is coming very soon.
#boardgame #tabletop #indiegame #teaser
The next issue of 52 Pickup is coming very soon.
#boardgame #tabletop #indiegame #teaser
Potion Explosion is much better with the plastic dispenser from the 6th student expansion, would recommend
#boardgame
#boardgame
December 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Potion Explosion is much better with the plastic dispenser from the 6th student expansion, would recommend
#boardgame
#boardgame
Good so far!
Anyone been using Patreon quips? Any good?
December 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Good so far!
Late night xmas eve proof reading, yay. Maybe xmas day proof reading? Maybe I'll wrap it up and put it under the tree 😆
December 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Late night xmas eve proof reading, yay. Maybe xmas day proof reading? Maybe I'll wrap it up and put it under the tree 😆
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
Looking for a last-minute gift for the gamer in your life? Check out the locally-designed games at your neighborhood book, comic, or game shop!
Here in the DMV, @peoplesbooktakoma.com *just* restocked with indie zines after selling out earlier in the season -- come and get them!
Here in the DMV, @peoplesbooktakoma.com *just* restocked with indie zines after selling out earlier in the season -- come and get them!
December 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Looking for a last-minute gift for the gamer in your life? Check out the locally-designed games at your neighborhood book, comic, or game shop!
Here in the DMV, @peoplesbooktakoma.com *just* restocked with indie zines after selling out earlier in the season -- come and get them!
Here in the DMV, @peoplesbooktakoma.com *just* restocked with indie zines after selling out earlier in the season -- come and get them!
We've just refreshed our free issue collection, which includes two holiday themed playing card games (great stocking stuffer if you need some ideas!), our beginner friendly TTRPG Escape The Farm!, and many more!
patreon.com/collection/91203
#ttrpg #cardgame #boardgame #indiegame
patreon.com/collection/91203
#ttrpg #cardgame #boardgame #indiegame
December 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
We've just refreshed our free issue collection, which includes two holiday themed playing card games (great stocking stuffer if you need some ideas!), our beginner friendly TTRPG Escape The Farm!, and many more!
patreon.com/collection/91203
#ttrpg #cardgame #boardgame #indiegame
patreon.com/collection/91203
#ttrpg #cardgame #boardgame #indiegame
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
Ahem. You heard me blabber on about GulaGula shrine. Well now you can read it and maybe play it using your favorite dungeon crawl ttrpg or OSR system.
Submitted today for the Zungeon Jam by @idlecartulary.itch.io Now I can relax and see what others have made.
Submitted today for the Zungeon Jam by @idlecartulary.itch.io Now I can relax and see what others have made.
GulaGula Shrine by Drew_Makes
A short bullywug zungeon
drew-makes-games.itch.io
December 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Ahem. You heard me blabber on about GulaGula shrine. Well now you can read it and maybe play it using your favorite dungeon crawl ttrpg or OSR system.
Submitted today for the Zungeon Jam by @idlecartulary.itch.io Now I can relax and see what others have made.
Submitted today for the Zungeon Jam by @idlecartulary.itch.io Now I can relax and see what others have made.
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
Are you chilling by yourself tonight or maybe a friend just arrived and are waiting for pizza to be delivered
Get some Paladin action!
#ttrpg @itch.io #roguelike
noomue.itch.io/dig-dive-due...
Get some Paladin action!
#ttrpg @itch.io #roguelike
noomue.itch.io/dig-dive-due...
Dig Dive Duel - Paladin - a solo/duet roguelike game by Noomue
A d20 quick solo/dual character/duet roguelike game
noomue.itch.io
December 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Are you chilling by yourself tonight or maybe a friend just arrived and are waiting for pizza to be delivered
Get some Paladin action!
#ttrpg @itch.io #roguelike
noomue.itch.io/dig-dive-due...
Get some Paladin action!
#ttrpg @itch.io #roguelike
noomue.itch.io/dig-dive-due...
Some days you have the idea for a game, the time to start, but you can’t make progress.
Always tomorrow!
Always tomorrow!
December 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Some days you have the idea for a game, the time to start, but you can’t make progress.
Always tomorrow!
Always tomorrow!
Been working on a rosehip syrup based mocktail, looking for the perfect board game pairing for it, any ideas?
#boardgame #cocktail #tabletop
#boardgame #cocktail #tabletop
December 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Been working on a rosehip syrup based mocktail, looking for the perfect board game pairing for it, any ideas?
#boardgame #cocktail #tabletop
#boardgame #cocktail #tabletop
Anyone been using Patreon quips? Any good?
December 20, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Anyone been using Patreon quips? Any good?
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
For a long time, I've seen games as the medium of systems, the best way to both convey and experience interacting forces that follow rules. Recently I've started to see the centrality of systems as a soft dividing line between two aspects of the tabletop hobby:
🎲✂️
1/▶️
🎲✂️
1/▶️
December 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
For a long time, I've seen games as the medium of systems, the best way to both convey and experience interacting forces that follow rules. Recently I've started to see the centrality of systems as a soft dividing line between two aspects of the tabletop hobby:
🎲✂️
1/▶️
🎲✂️
1/▶️
Guinea Pig Baseball is free for less than week!
A 2-4 player dice and paper game full of chaotic casual fun.
Download your copy here patreon.com/posts/144647797
A 2-4 player dice and paper game full of chaotic casual fun.
Download your copy here patreon.com/posts/144647797
December 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Guinea Pig Baseball is free for less than week!
A 2-4 player dice and paper game full of chaotic casual fun.
Download your copy here patreon.com/posts/144647797
A 2-4 player dice and paper game full of chaotic casual fun.
Download your copy here patreon.com/posts/144647797
You can really feel the step up in game design going from Forbidden Island to Forbidden Desert.
My main critiques of Island, like the lack of interesting decisions in the early game, are completely solved in Desert.
I've yet to play Forbidden Sky so I wonder if the trend continues...
#boardgame
My main critiques of Island, like the lack of interesting decisions in the early game, are completely solved in Desert.
I've yet to play Forbidden Sky so I wonder if the trend continues...
#boardgame
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
You can really feel the step up in game design going from Forbidden Island to Forbidden Desert.
My main critiques of Island, like the lack of interesting decisions in the early game, are completely solved in Desert.
I've yet to play Forbidden Sky so I wonder if the trend continues...
#boardgame
My main critiques of Island, like the lack of interesting decisions in the early game, are completely solved in Desert.
I've yet to play Forbidden Sky so I wonder if the trend continues...
#boardgame
Got quite a number of firsts for upcoming game releases, including this month! Exciting...
December 19, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Got quite a number of firsts for upcoming game releases, including this month! Exciting...
We submitted our 52 Pickup zines to The Int'l Art of Zines MMXXV at the ANNO DOMINI Gallery, bringing some New Zealand representation to San Jose California!
Great to see great zines, and our small contribution next to them.
Great to see great zines, and our small contribution next to them.
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
We submitted our 52 Pickup zines to The Int'l Art of Zines MMXXV at the ANNO DOMINI Gallery, bringing some New Zealand representation to San Jose California!
Great to see great zines, and our small contribution next to them.
Great to see great zines, and our small contribution next to them.
Get an early present by finding the last remaining free memberships hiding in our game design blog posts!
Each membership will give you 2 months of access to the full 52 Pickup back catalogue; 32 issues and counting!
patreon.com/posts/membership-145963653
#boardgame #giveaway #tabletop
Each membership will give you 2 months of access to the full 52 Pickup back catalogue; 32 issues and counting!
patreon.com/posts/membership-145963653
#boardgame #giveaway #tabletop
Membership Giveaway 🎁 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Get an early present by finding the last remaining free memberships hiding in our game design blog posts!
Each membership will give you 2 months of access to the full 52 Pickup back catalogue; 32 issues and counting!
patreon.com/posts/membership-145963653
#boardgame #giveaway #tabletop
Each membership will give you 2 months of access to the full 52 Pickup back catalogue; 32 issues and counting!
patreon.com/posts/membership-145963653
#boardgame #giveaway #tabletop
Come with us on a zine tour through our latest tabletop release, Guinea Pig Baseball!
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
December 16, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Come with us on a zine tour through our latest tabletop release, Guinea Pig Baseball!
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
A chaotic 2–4 player dice-and-paper game where every guinea pig bats at the same time. It’s fast, silly, and full of veggie-flinging mayhem.
#boardgame #guineapig #indiegame #tabletop #zine
🧵1/3
Special collaboration TTRPG between City Square Studios and Dougfest.
A TTRPG where you form a band and try to get booked at New Zealand's hottest indie festival by tracking down Doug.
Available now for purchase or our Patreon members.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-booked-145737603
#ttrpg #rpg
A TTRPG where you form a band and try to get booked at New Zealand's hottest indie festival by tracking down Doug.
Available now for purchase or our Patreon members.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-booked-145737603
#ttrpg #rpg
52 Pickup: Booked at the DOUG-FEST 🎤 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Special collaboration TTRPG between City Square Studios and Dougfest.
A TTRPG where you form a band and try to get booked at New Zealand's hottest indie festival by tracking down Doug.
Available now for purchase or our Patreon members.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-booked-145737603
#ttrpg #rpg
A TTRPG where you form a band and try to get booked at New Zealand's hottest indie festival by tracking down Doug.
Available now for purchase or our Patreon members.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-booked-145737603
#ttrpg #rpg
We've been up to some exciting stuff this month:
- Guinea Pig Baseball game release (free for a limited time)
- Surprise bonus TTRPG release
- Refreshed free game collection
- 5 Patreon memberships giveaway!
Read all about them here 👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-145738945
#boardgame
- Guinea Pig Baseball game release (free for a limited time)
- Surprise bonus TTRPG release
- Refreshed free game collection
- 5 Patreon memberships giveaway!
Read all about them here 👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-145738945
#boardgame
City Square Town Hall: December 2025 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
We've been up to some exciting stuff this month:
- Guinea Pig Baseball game release (free for a limited time)
- Surprise bonus TTRPG release
- Refreshed free game collection
- 5 Patreon memberships giveaway!
Read all about them here 👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-145738945
#boardgame
- Guinea Pig Baseball game release (free for a limited time)
- Surprise bonus TTRPG release
- Refreshed free game collection
- 5 Patreon memberships giveaway!
Read all about them here 👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-145738945
#boardgame
Building some miniatures this evening, I have clumsy fingers.
Definitely fall more into the camp of enjoying playing miniature games over the building/painting side
Definitely fall more into the camp of enjoying playing miniature games over the building/painting side
December 13, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Building some miniatures this evening, I have clumsy fingers.
Definitely fall more into the camp of enjoying playing miniature games over the building/painting side
Definitely fall more into the camp of enjoying playing miniature games over the building/painting side
One of the great things about zine tabletop games is they are really easy to take camping or travelling.
All of our games are played with standard components, like playing cards, dice, chess sets, and coins, so they're really easy to take with you on the go.
#boardgame #cardgame #tabletop #zine
All of our games are played with standard components, like playing cards, dice, chess sets, and coins, so they're really easy to take with you on the go.
#boardgame #cardgame #tabletop #zine
December 12, 2025 at 9:23 AM
One of the great things about zine tabletop games is they are really easy to take camping or travelling.
All of our games are played with standard components, like playing cards, dice, chess sets, and coins, so they're really easy to take with you on the go.
#boardgame #cardgame #tabletop #zine
All of our games are played with standard components, like playing cards, dice, chess sets, and coins, so they're really easy to take with you on the go.
#boardgame #cardgame #tabletop #zine