AI in Board Game Design and Development (Report)

Author: Professor Paul Wake

Published 30th January, 2026

Artificial intelligence is reshaping analogue and hybrid game design as much as digital game production. This report extends STRATEGIES’ sustainability analysis into the tabletop domain to explore AI‑supported board game design methods. Alongside considering good-old-fashioned Paper‑AI systems for solo play across the tabletop, the research shows how designers are beginning to use generative tools in rule writing, narrative development, and component creation. Our researcher also provides a snapshot of current AI disclosure trends on crowdfunding platforms, analysing current attitudes across designer and players, as well as of hybrid AI‑enabled platforms and the sustainability questions they raise.

Drawing on a significant corpus of board games and platform data, the report demonstrates that accountability, transparency, and environmental responsibility are equally important in analogue game cultures.