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waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Waterbear Workshop
@waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
110 followers 330 following 140 posts
Mini Company. Monster Ideas.

Board game designer and publisher providing analog experiences to the Greater Denver Area.

Find us at waterbearworkshop.com!
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waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Waterbear Workshop @waterbear-workshop.bsky.social · 2d
If anyone is in the Denver area and looking for an opportunity to support local game designers, artists, and other businesses, then come to The Indie Game Bazaar at Zymos Brewing next month!

Please share with anyone that might be interested, and let's show these Denver designers some love!
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
If anyone is in the Denver area and looking for an opportunity to support local game designers, artists, and other businesses, then come to The Indie Game Bazaar at Zymos Brewing next month!

Please share with anyone that might be interested, and let's show these Denver designers some love!
November 19, 2025 at 10:20 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Big thank you to Professor David Riche and his students for inviting Waterbear Workshop's Shadoe Konicek to speak with his @uofdenver.bsky.social students about playtesting and rulebook design, many of whom have games in the works themselves!

#boardgamedesign
University kids playtest a social deduction game where they are trying to find out which one of them is possessed. They are pointing fingers, smiling, and concentrating.
November 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Belated Happy Halloween to all those who aren't quite ready to let go of spooky season. We're keeping it going as we prepare for our next publication: Sinister.

#happyhalloween #horrorgames #boardgamesky
November 6, 2025 at 1:26 AM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Excited to double announce our upcoming publication, a social intrigue game about demonic possession in the early to mid 20th century, AND our presence at the Zymos Halloween Market in Littleton, CO!

Come experience the game, find out what sin plagues you, and learn what else we've got in store.
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
We did a podcast! Huge thank you to Mike at @gamesplayedbadly.bsky.social for hosting us.

We chat about the crazy experiment that was self-funding our first project and the importance for brands that otherwise live online to grow roots in their local communities.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCtG...
Game Creators Share BEST Tips for Self-Publishing Success
YouTube video by Games Played Badly
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
It's an interesting question: What do you get from playing a game if you don't or won't likely win? And what does that tell you about yourself?

I like to make my own satisfying micro-challenges. I play to win with my own little victories along the way. This tells I have ADHD.
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Waterbear Workshop
thebulwark.com
And now for a report from the hellish, war-zone that is Portland
October 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Iterative playtesting of a new abstract strategy game and a flight of Belgian beers for date night? Yes please. Happy belated anniversary post to Shadoe, my partner in life and in business. ❤️
September 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Waterbear Workshop
jdragsky.bsky.social
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
The Expressionist Games Manifesto
“Work! Intoxication! Brain-racking! Chewing, eating, gorging, rooting up! Rapturous birth pangs! Jabbing of the brush, preferably right…
possumcreek.medium.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Board games are like any other type of art: vessels for self-discovery, creative exploration, and education.
September 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Playtesting is a quantum puzzle! Join us in an exploration of playtest strategies inspired by Cat in the Box by @beziergames.bsky.social and quantum theory.

Curious? Take a look- waterbearworkshop.com/blog/playtes...

#boardgamesky #boardgamedesign #playtesttips
Playtesting is a Quantum Puzzle: Playtest Strategies Inspired by Cat in the Box
Our playtesting philosophy through the lens of Cat in the Box and its quantum roots. Learn more about why testing different ways matters.
waterbearworkshop.com
September 4, 2025 at 10:34 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
We are wicked excited to announce that we'll be featuring local Colorado game design company Studio Sp1cy for September's First Monday Tournament at Zymos Brewing!

Come mix it up with this bidding, bluffing, deck-building, card-battler! First place wins a FREE COPY!

#denverevents #boardgamesky
August 22, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Reposted by Waterbear Workshop
risiblegames.bsky.social
We will be in the Seattle Area for Dragonflight GameCon August 22–24th. We will be playing Brigade Brawl multiple time during the weekend, so come play a game with us!

http://dlvr.it/TMYPPH #BoardGames #Dragonflightcon
The box cover for Brigade Brawl from Risible Games
August 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Join us at Rook Rooftop Bar above the Catbird Hotel in Denver's #Rinoartdistrict!

Bring games you've made, games you love, or just a "can play" attitude!

www.meetup.com/waterbear/ev...

#denverbars #denvergamenight #boardgamesky #denversky
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Join us every 2nd Thursday from 6-9PM at The Tabletop Tap for...

1. Board games
2. New game playtesting
3. Conversation (probably about games)
4. Snacks (no relation to games)

Let's Play!

#denvermeetup #boardgamemeetups #denvergamers #coloradogamers #boardgameevents
August 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Pogs.
August 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
What a lovely theme. I could live in this board game...
gamefaery.bsky.social Game Faery @gamefaery.bsky.social · Aug 3
We purchased Chai Garam from Mosaic Games, an Indian based board game company. All their games are made in India right down the rd from their office. Chai Garam is a game about India’s chai culture complete with Aunties. #GenCon
Chai Garam game box. Man pouring tea for line of customers.
August 3, 2025 at 4:43 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
We're playing #SkyTeam, a 2-player co-op campaign that puts you in the pilot seat.

Controlled communication and hidden die make the co-op experience challenging, strategic, and fun.

Designer: Luc Remond
Artists: Eric Hibbeler and Adrien Rives
Publisher: Scorpion Masque

#boardgamesky
August 1, 2025 at 5:41 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Where cute meets cutthroat. Join Us!

#denver #gamenight #littletoncolorado

www.meetup.com/waterbear/ev...
The Mire Tournament @ Zymos, Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 5:30 PM | Meetup
Join Waterbear Workshop for an adorably cutthroat competition as they host a tournament for their [debut game](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/440759/the-mire) that has
www.meetup.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
Major art update for DIECATHLON. Here's a taste. Check us out on @gamefound.bsky.social to see more!

#boardgamesky #gamefound #gamedesign
July 30, 2025 at 12:28 AM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
If we'd had a wedding, this is definitely the energy we'd bring!
nickferris.bsky.social Nick Ferris 🔜 PAX Unplugged @nickferris.bsky.social · Jul 28
🎲✂️ 37th: With This Game, I Thee Wed (2017). A small 2-player card game designed as a favor for our small wedding. Each card is one of our real-life guests. Take turns seating guests or collecting attendants to meet goals. Based on the multi-purpose card mechanics from my earlier Les Misérables game.
Background: Elegant beige and gold, vintage wallpaper style Portrait: A smiling woman with dark hair, framed in a golden ornate oval Banner: Gold ribbon at the bottom with the name “Jennie” Typography: Classic serif font in black Card Text: At the start of the game, place Jennie this side up. Instead of taking a normal turn, the Jennie player may either search the deck and make any one card an attendant (shuffle the deck after) or seat an attendant as a guest in her section. Then flip this card to the reverse side. Background: Same vintage beige and gold as Jennie's card Portrait: A bald man with a goatee smiling gently, framed in the same ornate gold oval Banner: Gold ribbon at the bottom with the name “Nick” Card Text: At the start of the game, place Nick this side up. Instead of taking a normal turn, the Nick player may either search the deck and seat any one card as a guest (shuffle the deck after) or make one of his seated guests an attendant Then flip this card to the reverse side. Background: Pale lace-like pattern, lighter and more romantic than the others Portrait: A cheerful man in a suit and tie, framed in ornate gold with wedding rings and a blue rose at the top-left corner Banner: Purple ribbon at the bottom with the name “Kevin” Card Text: 1 VP per ❤️ in your row with the most ❤️. Examine the top card of the draw deck. Return it to the top or bottom of the draw deck. Background: Pale lace-like pattern, lighter and more romantic than the others Portrait: A demure woman with long, red hair and deep red lips wearing a black top hat and a black-and-gold butterfly necklace. Banner: Purple ribbon at the bottom with the name “Lela” Card Text: 1 VP per ❤️ in your frontmost non-empty row. You may flip your player card (Jennie or Nick) to its reverse side.
July 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
What's a little demon possession among friends?

Join us at Rook Rooftop Bar in Denver's Rino district every 4th Thursday and try out our social intrigue game Sinister!

#boardgamesky #denvergamers #denvernightlife
July 28, 2025 at 5:49 AM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
"It's so exciting to say I was there when they made the regrettable choice to publish that game!" - Future You

#boardgamesky #meetups #denvermeetups #denvergamers #breweries #gamenight

www.meetup.com/waterbear/ev...
Playtesting New Games and Free Play with Waterbear Workshop!, Sun, Jul 27, 2025, 4:00 PM | Meetup
Waterbear Workshop invites you to bring **games you've made**, **games you love**, or just a **"can play" attitude** to Zymos Brewing every 4th Sunday of every month from 4
www.meetup.com
July 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
waterbear-workshop.bsky.social
I DO love strategy video games and board games! @gamemakerfletch.bsky.social stop reading my diary...
July 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Waterbear Workshop
tabletopgamesblog.com
I have an open-ended question. I want your personal opinion, not what the law says. When does a review become advertising? If a publisher sends me free goodies, do my reviews of their games become advertising? What if a designer pays me on Patreon? Where do you draw the line? 🤔 #boardgames #reviews
July 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM