Small games, big ideas.
bitnikgames designs, tests, and publishes board games — from free print & play files to finished boxes. This is our catalog, our prototypes, and the ideas behind them.
Published games
A selection of what's already left the prototyping table.
Bulbous
Read the table, place your bet, and try to see through your opponents before Bulbous's creatures catch you off guard.
Capivaras
A simultaneous-bidding game about how many friends you can attract onto your capybara.
Bael's Grotto
Bael’s Grotto is a mysterious place located in the forbidden region. Elder legends tell stories of mysterious creatures and succulent bulbs from the depths.
Print it, cut it, play it
Prototypes and light games ready to print at home — some free, some pay-what-you-want.
Capivaras
A simultaneous-bidding game about how many friends you can attract onto your capybara.
Zombiquerque
Embark on an exciting competitive journey in the post-apocalyptic world of Zombiequerque, the board game that combines the excitement of the classic Alquerque with the relentless threat of flesh-hungry zombies.
Nine Oils
Nine Oils is a lightweight dice game for 2 players, where luck goes hand in hand with strategy.
Play without leaving your browser
Digital replicas of our board games — nothing to install, nothing to wait for in the mail.
Game design notes
Process, decisions, and useful failures behind each game.
Prototyping with index cards: is it worth it?
We tested three games in a row using nothing but index cards and a pen. The results were mixed.
Why we cut a mechanic at the last minute
Rio de Flores had a full auction system until three weeks before it went to print. Here's why it left.
What we learned publishing our first print & play
Semente was designed to be small. We weren't ready for what happened next.