If a board game designer shared a feedback link with you that points to something on Boardssey, this page is a quick orientation.

You don't need a Boardssey account. Filling out the form takes a few minutes and helps the designer make a better game.

What this page helps you do

Understand what you're being asked to do.
Fill out the form well, even if you don't think of yourself as a "playtester."
Get back in touch with the designer if you have follow-up.

What the link is

The link the designer shared is a feedback form for a specific game they're working on. It might be from a session you played in person, an online playtest via Tabletop Simulator, or a print-and-play copy you tested at home.

Click the link, fill out the form, click submit. Done.

Tips for useful feedback

A few things designers consistently say make playtester feedback most helpful:

Be specific. "I didn't like the cards" is hard to act on. "The card text on the green action cards was hard to read in low light" is immediately useful.
Describe specific moments. "Around turn 6 I felt like I had no good options" beats "the midgame is boring" by a lot.
Mention what worked. Designers need to know what not to change too. If you loved a moment, say so.
It's okay to disagree with a question. If a question doesn't fit your experience, leave it blank or note that in the long-text field.
Don't filter for nice. Designers reading playtest feedback are expecting to learn about problems. Honest > polite.

You're not being graded; the designer wants the truth, not the kind version of the truth.

What if the form is long?

Some forms are long, especially after detailed online playtests. A few options:

Skip optional questions. Most fields are optional. Answer the ones you have a clear answer for.
Save the link, finish later. Most browsers will let you bookmark or re-open the URL; check whether the form auto-saves. (It often doesn't, so finish in one sitting if you can.)
Reply by email instead. If the form is too long and you'd rather send a free-form reply, email the designer directly with your thoughts, they can log it on their end.

Sharing more than the form allows

If you have feedback that doesn't fit in the form's questions:

Use the long-text "anything else?" question if the form has one.
Email the designer directly, most forms include a way to identify yourself, and the designer will follow up.
For visual feedback (a marked-up screenshot, a photo of your notes), email, most forms don't take image uploads.

What happens to your feedback

After you submit:

Your responses are stored privately for the designer and their team.
The designer reads them, often within a day or two.
They may use what you said to make changes, sometimes acknowledged publicly, often quietly behind the scenes.
If you provided your name or email, the designer may follow up with questions or to thank you.

Boardssey doesn't share your responses with anyone outside the designer's team workspace.

Tips & common questions

Do I have to give my name? Only if the form requires it. If "name" is optional, you can leave it blank or use a pseudonym. Some designers ask for an email so they can follow up, that's also usually optional.

Can I edit my response after submitting? Once submitted, the response is final from your side. If you remembered something you wanted to add, send the designer a follow-up email or submit a second response if the form allows.

The link doesn't open / says "not found". The playtest may have ended or been removed. Reach out to the designer to check.

Am I going to get spam from Boardssey? No. Boardssey doesn't email you because you filled out a form. Only the designer sees your contact info, and only they would follow up.

Can I see my own response after submitting? Most forms confirm submission but don't keep a copy you can re-read. If you want a record of what you said, draft your long-text answers in your own notes app first, then paste in.