Zach Hoekstra
@zhoekstra.bsky.social
Game Designer with three published games and like 800 others I dabble in. He/Him
🎲✂️ idea, a highly detailed two-player aerial dog fighting game similar to blue max, but you're actually two seagulls fighting over a bag of french fries
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
🎲✂️ idea, a highly detailed two-player aerial dog fighting game similar to blue max, but you're actually two seagulls fighting over a bag of french fries
Today in "things my toddler thinks are high crimes against the crown":
I asked him if he wanted an orange, and he said no. But I did want an orange, so instead of putting the orange away I opened and ate it
I asked him if he wanted an orange, and he said no. But I did want an orange, so instead of putting the orange away I opened and ate it
November 14, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Today in "things my toddler thinks are high crimes against the crown":
I asked him if he wanted an orange, and he said no. But I did want an orange, so instead of putting the orange away I opened and ate it
I asked him if he wanted an orange, and he said no. But I did want an orange, so instead of putting the orange away I opened and ate it
I'm not the one being asked this, but genuinely if you have an appreciation for Trick Takers, Ambition by Mike Church is an underplayed gem.
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16...
If anyone in the New York design scene happens to know him, let me know, I'd love to talk to him
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16...
If anyone in the New York design scene happens to know him, let me know, I'd love to talk to him
November 14, 2025 at 5:27 AM
I'm not the one being asked this, but genuinely if you have an appreciation for Trick Takers, Ambition by Mike Church is an underplayed gem.
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16...
If anyone in the New York design scene happens to know him, let me know, I'd love to talk to him
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16...
If anyone in the New York design scene happens to know him, let me know, I'd love to talk to him
@amabel.bsky.social I'm looking to pick up Table Battles 2nd edition 1x expansion for the upcoming sale. Problem is, I can't decide what expansion I should get.
Which of the expansions would you recommend the most for someone likely to keep it historical but also try and play with non-wargamers?
Which of the expansions would you recommend the most for someone likely to keep it historical but also try and play with non-wargamers?
November 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
@amabel.bsky.social I'm looking to pick up Table Battles 2nd edition 1x expansion for the upcoming sale. Problem is, I can't decide what expansion I should get.
Which of the expansions would you recommend the most for someone likely to keep it historical but also try and play with non-wargamers?
Which of the expansions would you recommend the most for someone likely to keep it historical but also try and play with non-wargamers?
Reposted by Zach Hoekstra
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
I got to set pact up at spiel, but having it at spellenspektakl was amazing. At this point I can confirm that the graphic design and layout is attracting people that will enjoy the game for what it is.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I got to set pact up at spiel, but having it at spellenspektakl was amazing. At this point I can confirm that the graphic design and layout is attracting people that will enjoy the game for what it is.
I'm looking forward to having to explain to every single Dutch games journalist why my last name is Hoekstra yet I speak Dutch like a 2 year old
November 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I'm looking forward to having to explain to every single Dutch games journalist why my last name is Hoekstra yet I speak Dutch like a 2 year old
Outside the Utrecht train station and amid the pile of pop up tents selling Oliebollen and other greasy Christmas treats was a American Corndog seller.
I am skeptical but will try for scientific purposes.
This was $7 btw
I am skeptical but will try for scientific purposes.
This was $7 btw
November 7, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Outside the Utrecht train station and amid the pile of pop up tents selling Oliebollen and other greasy Christmas treats was a American Corndog seller.
I am skeptical but will try for scientific purposes.
This was $7 btw
I am skeptical but will try for scientific purposes.
This was $7 btw
Prepping for the PACT kickstarter, and all the effort to give this 🎲✂️ prototype a glow-up has really been paying off!
November 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Prepping for the PACT kickstarter, and all the effort to give this 🎲✂️ prototype a glow-up has really been paying off!
This song is stuck in my head but for some reason I'm not able to find anything else in the genre "Toxic Lesbian Country Murder Ballad". Man it's not like there's not an audience for this stuff, right?
Thia Kane
YouTube video by Emerson Woolf & the Wishbones - Topic
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 6:49 PM
This song is stuck in my head but for some reason I'm not able to find anything else in the genre "Toxic Lesbian Country Murder Ballad". Man it's not like there's not an audience for this stuff, right?
You ever notice how every major corporation has to cut a bunch of people right before Christmas? It's because that's usually when end of year bonuses are paid out and executives are looking for big savings they can enact so that they get rewarded.
Amazon and Walmart, the nation’s two largest private employers, swelled with hundreds of thousands of new workers in recent years.
Now, the retail giants are laying off workers or keeping headcount flat as they pledge to become leaner businesses.
Now, the retail giants are laying off workers or keeping headcount flat as they pledge to become leaner businesses.
The nation’s largest employers are putting their workers on notice
Amazon and Walmart are among firms warning employees of layoffs or disruption from AI as leaders across corporate America talk of increasing efficiency.
wapo.st
November 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
You ever notice how every major corporation has to cut a bunch of people right before Christmas? It's because that's usually when end of year bonuses are paid out and executives are looking for big savings they can enact so that they get rewarded.
In a hopeless attempt to get our 3 1/2 year old to understand that the toilet is good for more than sitting on it while watching fun videos, we are trying a no-pants weekend.
God help us.
God help us.
November 1, 2025 at 7:25 AM
In a hopeless attempt to get our 3 1/2 year old to understand that the toilet is good for more than sitting on it while watching fun videos, we are trying a no-pants weekend.
God help us.
God help us.
Grachtenpand wouldn't be where it was today without the dedicated talent of Jason Gamber, who has a unique talent for identifying and replicating exactly the vibe you need for any game. This man needs more work from board game publishers, STAT
www.instagram.com/jason_gamber
www.instagram.com/jason_gamber
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Grachtenpand wouldn't be where it was today without the dedicated talent of Jason Gamber, who has a unique talent for identifying and replicating exactly the vibe you need for any game. This man needs more work from board game publishers, STAT
www.instagram.com/jason_gamber
www.instagram.com/jason_gamber
And that's a wrap on SPIEL!
More analysis to come later, but Wulfhorn games got some good press and good reactions from everyone. Expect to hear more cool things next year, either through us or our partners!
More analysis to come later, but Wulfhorn games got some good press and good reactions from everyone. Expect to hear more cool things next year, either through us or our partners!
October 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
And that's a wrap on SPIEL!
More analysis to come later, but Wulfhorn games got some good press and good reactions from everyone. Expect to hear more cool things next year, either through us or our partners!
More analysis to come later, but Wulfhorn games got some good press and good reactions from everyone. Expect to hear more cool things next year, either through us or our partners!
Going through the German train system with a heavy duffel bag of games is certainly a fun experience
October 27, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Going through the German train system with a heavy duffel bag of games is certainly a fun experience
Me: "This $50 game entertains 5 people over 3 hours. At a cost ratio of $3 per player-hour, this game is a steal!"
*Proceeds to punch and then never play said game*
*Proceeds to punch and then never play said game*
It's actually extremely common with boardgames, being that most games rarely get played more than a couple of times at best.
October 24, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Me: "This $50 game entertains 5 people over 3 hours. At a cost ratio of $3 per player-hour, this game is a steal!"
*Proceeds to punch and then never play said game*
*Proceeds to punch and then never play said game*
Wulfhorn games mentioned!
New comic! Every year, we tell ourselves we're going to SPIEL just to “see friends.” Every year, our suitcase says otherwise. 😅
What board games are you most excited to check out at #SPIEL this year? 🎲
You can read this week's blog post at semicoop.com/comic/be-honest/ #boardgames
What board games are you most excited to check out at #SPIEL this year? 🎲
You can read this week's blog post at semicoop.com/comic/be-honest/ #boardgames
October 22, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Wulfhorn games mentioned!
If you had told me 5 years ago that there was an Essen booth with not one but two of my games, I would not have believed you
October 22, 2025 at 8:51 AM
If you had told me 5 years ago that there was an Essen booth with not one but two of my games, I would not have believed you
If you had told me 5 years ago that there was an Essen booth with not one but two of my games, I would not have believed you
October 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
If you had told me 5 years ago that there was an Essen booth with not one but two of my games, I would not have believed you
Most of my last month was spent getting 🦋Pact up to tippy top shape, so I never got the time to research and send pitch emails for 🌲Guiding Lights, my coop programmed movement game. If you know a publisher at Essen that might be interested in this, let me know so I can drop them a sellsheet!
Guiding Lights (Pitch Video)
YouTube video by Zach Hoekstra
www.youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Most of my last month was spent getting 🦋Pact up to tippy top shape, so I never got the time to research and send pitch emails for 🌲Guiding Lights, my coop programmed movement game. If you know a publisher at Essen that might be interested in this, let me know so I can drop them a sellsheet!
So outside of 🎲✂️ I am a GM that likes to build his own lived-in worlds, and so for 🦋🗡️Pact the real trick was to drip in fun background lore I had come up with and not blast it at the players like a Star Wars movie crawl.
October 21, 2025 at 4:55 AM
So outside of 🎲✂️ I am a GM that likes to build his own lived-in worlds, and so for 🦋🗡️Pact the real trick was to drip in fun background lore I had come up with and not blast it at the players like a Star Wars movie crawl.
Okay, people want to now, how did I make a highly detailed sticker sheet for my 🎲✂️?
You need
1️⃣a pipeline to make 🖼️ with transparent backgrounds
2️⃣A Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Design Space
3️⃣Full page label 📃 and a 🖨️
You need
1️⃣a pipeline to make 🖼️ with transparent backgrounds
2️⃣A Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Design Space
3️⃣Full page label 📃 and a 🖨️
October 20, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Okay, people want to now, how did I make a highly detailed sticker sheet for my 🎲✂️?
You need
1️⃣a pipeline to make 🖼️ with transparent backgrounds
2️⃣A Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Design Space
3️⃣Full page label 📃 and a 🖨️
You need
1️⃣a pipeline to make 🖼️ with transparent backgrounds
2️⃣A Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Design Space
3️⃣Full page label 📃 and a 🖨️
