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Designed in Washington: New Games Worth Knowing
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
One of my favorite things about being a game designer in Washington state is the community. We are a genuinely supportive bunch. Even when we haven't all played each other's finished games, chances are we have sat across a table together at a playtesting meetup or a local event testing out prototypes in all of their various iterations. It is that kind of collaborative spirit that makes this such a fertile place for game design.
So when talented Washington designers release something new, I want to shout it from the rooftops. Here are four games hot off the press from some of the best indie designers in the state.
That's the Spirit
Designer: Connor Wake
Publisher: Always Awake Games (Seattle)
Players: 3-5 | Play time: 20 minutes | Ages: 14+
You and your friends have died, and one of you is to blame. Trouble is, you have all forgotten what happened. So who knows... it might have been you!
That's the Spirit is a game of deduction, second guessing, and unfortunate ghosts. If you love social deduction games with a spooky twist and a sense of humor, this one is calling your name.
lub Spooky
Designer: Connor Wake
Publisher: Always Awake Games (Seattle)
Players: 2-4 | Play time: 45 minutes | Ages: 14+
It is a busy night at Club Spooky and you are trying to assemble the coolest group of ghouls. One up the other players to win the VIPs over and hopefully put together a clique that gets along... or they might just leave!
Club Spooky is a game of picky creatures and bidding for attention. Charming, competitive, and packed with personality.
Sapling Scramble
Designer: Peter Norton
Publisher: Lichenwood Games (Washington)
Players: 2-5 | Play time: 10 minutes | Ages: 8+
Steal ingredients. Throw Berrybombs. Brew potions.
You and your friends are adorable Saplings scrambling about the forest floor, collecting ingredients in a race to brew potions first. Forage from the Tree, pluck ingredients right out of other players' hands, and set traps with Berrybombs along the way. Three minutes to learn, ten minutes to play, and endlessly replayable.
Trickadee
Designer: Rob Newton
Publisher: Coin Flip Games (Washington)
Players: 3-5 | Play time: 30-40 minutes | Ages: 13+
A trick-taking, flock-building card game about spotting the cool birds that visit your backyard feeder. Trickadee is not your standard trick-taker. The strategy is not just about the cards in your hand but how you draft birds and use abilities. It features asymmetric suits and a unique follow system that flips normal trick-taking strategy on its head. A fresh take on a classic genre from a Washington designer worth watching.
Support Local: Find These Games at Blue Highway Games
All of these designers are part of the Washington game design community, and several of their games can be found right here in Seattle at Blue Highway Games, one of the best local game stores in the city. If you are looking to pick something up in person, it is always worth checking their shelves first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy games made by Washington state designers?
Favorite local game stores including Blue Highway Games, Mox Boarding House and Meeples Games carry a selection of indie titles from Washington designers. Several Washington indie game publishers also sell directly through their own websites.
Where can I find family card games in Seattle?
Blue Highway Games in Seattle is a fantastic local resource for family card games. You can also shop directly from Washington-based publishers like Rainbow Rabbits Games, Always Awake Games, and Lichenwood Games for games designed right here in the state.
What are the best family card games available in Washington?
Washington is home to a growing community of indie game designers making some genuinely great family card games. Rainbow Bunny Bop (Rainbow Rabbits Games), Sapling Scramble (Lichenwood Games), and Club Spooky (Always Awake Games) are all worth adding to your game night rotation.
Know a Washington designer with a new game we should feature? Drop it in the comments or reach out at rainbowrabbits.com. We are always looking for the next great game coming out of this state.
— Becky & the Bunnies
