I may be trying to build an escape room right now, but I still designed a new card game today themed after crochet. I knew my newest hobby would make it into a game eventually! Working title: Granny Squares
Shannon McDowell
@shannonmcdowell.bsky.social
Board game and escape room puzzle designer based in Canada. She/her
Is it possible to build an escape room in 10 days? I’m going to try! I’ve spent the last few months gathering supplies and planning the design, and my goal is to have everything built by the end of the month. (Maybe it will happen, maybe not, but let’s try anyway!)
The end of a busy four days in Toronto! It was great to spend time with escape room friends and board game friends. Can’t wait to do it again!
Does anyone else spend the night before a convention frantically assembling prototypes?
The Cryptex Hint has officially launched!
Shannon McDowell@shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 2y agoThe last few days have been all Cryptex Hunt all the time as we gear up for the hunt start in a couple weeks. If you’ve ever been curious about puzzle hunts, this is a great one to be your first! Register a team at www.Cryptexhunt.com
Spending the day working on some escape room graphics and remembering why I’m not a graphic designer 😅
Only a few days left until Cryptex Hunt time! A warm up puzzle is currently available on the hunt site if you’re impatient 😄
Shannon McDowell@shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 2y agoThe last few days have been all Cryptex Hunt all the time as we gear up for the hunt start in a couple weeks. If you’ve ever been curious about puzzle hunts, this is a great one to be your first! Register a team at www.Cryptexhunt.com
Finished my first crochet cardigan! Still need to block it but love how it came out. Lessons were learned and I have a list of things to improve for next time. But I’ve already started on the next sweater!
Congratulations to all the @cardboardedison.com award finalists! Wanderlore didn’t make it through but the feedback will help me rework my pitch so that the gameplay is more clear in the future
Second row seats at the Lion King! So close I had to zoom out to get the picture 🦁
I’ve been doing some thinking on my board game design style recently. I design a lot of co-ops, which are typically focused on teamwork - not difficult to win but a clever puzzle for players to work together to solve.
The last few days have been all Cryptex Hunt all the time as we gear up for the hunt start in a couple weeks. If you’ve ever been curious about puzzle hunts, this is a great one to be your first! Register a team at www.Cryptexhunt.com
Cant wait to see everyone at Breakout Con!
Breakout 2027: It just gets better every year!@breakoutcon.bsky.social · 2y agoShannon @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social is a Canadian board game & puzzle designer who works with publishers & professional organizations to design escape room games & gamified learning programs. breakoutcon.com/articles/202... #breakoutcon #tabletopgames #boardgames #boardgaming #tabletopgaming
Shopping for used books as props in an escape room tomorrow. What books would a supervillain have on his shelves?
Tried to play some new board games yesterday. You know you’re exhausted/burnt out when you open the box, take a look at all the components you have to punch out and just give up lol. I am definitely appreciating clean, streamlined design recently.
How do you store your brainstorming notes for game ideas?? I need to get more organized. After checking all my folders and cloud files, I found the game in the notes on my phone 🙄
Conundrum is back on the market (again). If anyone knows of a publisher interested in a family-friendly, card only escape room game, please let me know!
Finished up a pitch video and submitted Wanderlore to the Cardboard Edison award. This game has so much potential and I can’t wait for more people to see it!
Excellent article! I’ve used many of these same tips in designing games for brands, educational purposes, films, etc. Very different world from hobby.
Ellie Dix@thedarkimp.bsky.social · 2y agoDesigning a game for a brand (a non-game company) is very different from designing a game for a game publisher. I've had such mixed experiences that I thought it might be helpful to pull together some practical tips for designers who embarking on these projects. www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2025/01...
Spent 4+ hours today working on a puzzle for an upcoming puzzle hunt. Positive side: the mechanics are all worked out!! Negative: Now I have soooo much writing and graphic design to do to finish it
Best practice is to not invest too much time or money into your board game prototypes. But sometimes you’re in a crafty mood and generic tokens just won’t cut it
It’s official! I will be building out my own mini escape room for (at least one) convention next year. Wish me luck!