Aaron Kempkes
aaronkempkes.bsky.social
Aaron Kempkes
@aaronkempkes.bsky.social
🎲⚙️ I'm a game designer from Nebraska in United States!

Ion & BFIG🥇, Cardboard Edison🥈, 18x Finalist- 3x Ion, 2x Premio Archimede, Boulogne, Fastaval, LUCI, BostonFIG, BGDL, 1x Cardboard Edison, TGC, HABA; 12x Semi-Finalist- Hippodice, 4x Granollers
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I didn’t ever think I’d be posting that I won an award at BostonFIG. But it happened! I won Best Family Game and was nominated as one of the three nominees in two other categories: Best Game In Progress and Best In Show! Thanks for a welcoming and amazing Fest @bostonfig.bsky.social!
A very late update about Archimede from September: 13th out of 30 finalists and 246 total games. I’m always driven to do better but I’m proud I hung with the group and had a respectable score. It was an amazing experience!
November 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
I'm a finalist for Premio Archimede as one of the final thirty for my game Stacking Frogs! The ceremony will be broadcast live on Twitch at 2:30PM CEST/7:30AM CDT at www.twitch.tv/iogiocotv if you want to watch it!
Twitch
Twitch is the world
www.twitch.tv
September 20, 2025 at 8:21 AM
This is a playthrough video for Rome & Write, a game releasing via Roll and Write Revolution on Kickstarter on 9/3. I run through the rules and a quick game, trying not to make the Emperor angry and make the cheapest blueprint. Many thanks to Benny Sperling!
youtu.be/pU3aAl11-TU
Rome and Write Playthrough (Roll and Write Revolution Kickstarter- 9/2025!)
YouTube video by Aaron Kempkes
youtu.be
August 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Hey everyone, I'm teaming up with Benny Sperling from Roll and Write Revolution for Rome and Write, a game where you are city planners in Ancient Rome trying to stay within the budget and unrealistic expectations of the emperor. Launching September 1 for only $5 as a PNP. bit.ly/3GJUvUz
Coming soon: Rome and Write
Build your Roman city as efficiently as possible to benefit your future citizens!
bit.ly
July 13, 2025 at 4:26 AM
It's been officially announced that three of my games are semi-finalists (top 60/246) for Premio Archimede 2025 in Venice! I'm so honored to have been chosen among games from designers who are past winners, fellow Ion Award finalists, published designers and newcomers alike.
July 7, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I discovered back in March I was a semi-finalist (top 30 of 126 entries) for the Boulogne Billancourt International Design Contest. I discovered this morning that I didn't advance to the finals. Although I was really hoping for another chance to present in Paris, I wish the finalists good luck.
June 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I got the nomination certificate and now I wait until the award ceremony in a little over 2 hours!
April 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I’m nominated for Best Board Game at Fastaval! Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with open arms & provided kindness, guidance &great conversation throughout the last few days. Congratulations to my fellow nominees & to the designers who didn’t get nominated.
April 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It’s oddly comforting to have this taste of Scandinavia again 🙂 on my way to Aalborg to settle in for Fastaval. Hoping Caps can do well but there’s some great competition!
April 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Congratulations to the Ion Award finalists! I did not advance this year.
February 1, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I just found out I’m a semi-finalist for the Ciutat de Granollers International Design Contest with Hectic Harvest, which I co-designed with my sister Amber Kempkes! Our game is one of 20 games picked out of 122 entries. The other four I entered were in Tier A and just missed the cut.
December 23, 2024 at 9:46 PM
Website official! Woooo! Congrats to all of the winners and thank you to everyone who played our games during
@bostonfig.bsky.social!
December 19, 2024 at 10:54 PM
I didn’t ever think I’d be posting that I won an award at BostonFIG. But it happened! I won Best Family Game and was nominated as one of the three nominees in two other categories: Best Game In Progress and Best In Show! Thanks for a welcoming and amazing Fest @bostonfig.bsky.social!
December 16, 2024 at 5:36 AM
Calling all gamers! ️ I'll be showcasing Thar It Rolls at
@bostonfig.bsky.social on Dec 15th. Come test it out and join the barrel rolling shenanigans! bostonfig.com
December 11, 2024 at 12:27 AM
It has been said the sky is bluer here so I'm heading over to check it out :)
December 8, 2024 at 7:34 PM
I can't wait to present Thar It Rolls as a finalist for BostonFIG's Tabletop Showcase! My prototype is ready, my sign is ready and I look forward to visiting Boston for the first time and meeting all of the awesome local designers and gamers.
Boston Festival of Indie Games event is coming up!

Date 📅: December 15, 2024
Location 🏙️: Cyclorama in Boston, MA USA

More about Boston FIG at: www.eventsforgamers.com/event/boston... @bostonfig.bsky.social #BostonFIG #GameDev
December 8, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Can't wait to present Caps at Fastaval in April! It will my first time attending Fastaval as a finalist and I look forward to visiting Denmark again.
December 8, 2024 at 7:29 PM