Introduction
Creating a well-structured playtest session is essential for gathering meaningful feedback about your game. The Boardssey Playtest Hub provides all the tools you need to set up, run, and document effective playtest sessions. This guide walks you through the process step by step.
Before You Begin
Before setting up a formal playtest session in Boardssey, ensure:
Your game has a testable version ready
Rules are documented enough for players to understand
You have clear objectives for what you want to learn
You know which game version you're testing
Creating a New Playtest Session
Navigate to the Playtest Hub
Click "Playtests" in the main navigation menu
You'll see an overview of existing playtests across your games
Select which game you want to playtest
In this view you see all playtests for this game
Initiate a New Session
Click the "Create new playtest" button
Configure Session Details
Date: Set the date of the playtest (defaults to current date)
Select whether or not this is a physical playtest
Game Version: Select the specific version you're testing
Number of players: Increase the player count to the number corresponding to your playtest. The scorepad below updates accordingly
Setting Up Tracking Parameters
Time Tracking
The Playtest Hub offers precise tools for timing different aspects of your game:
Game Time
Each time tracker can be manually typed (format HH:MM AM/PM)
or automatically logged by pressing "Log Time", a nifty solution during your playtest session.
Overall Playtime
Based on the values filled, we auto-calculate Overall Time and Playtime so you can easily track the actual time it takes to play your game.
Full Playthrough
This toggle is important for tracking whether or not this was a full/partial game playthrough
Player Information
Document who is playing your game:
Record player names for reference
Track whether each player is new to your game
Note their turn order
score
and role (if applicable)
You can delete any player by clicking on this icon
and then "Delete"
Feedback Collection
Before the session begins, consider:
Setting up to Collect Feedback
Decide what type of feedback you're seeking
Prepare specific questions you want answered
Consider what aspects of the game you're evaluating
We've already prefilled some questions you may want to use
Feedback Tab
Collect all your relevant feedback in this Notion-like editor
Additional Documentation Tools
Prepare to take notes during play
Set up for image captures if needed
Overall Engagement Rating
At the end of the playtest you can set the Overall Engagement Rating from 1 to 7
Save Playtest
When you finished collecting all your playtest data, click "Save Playtest"
Best Practices
For the most effective playtest setup:
Be Systematic
Use consistent parameters across multiple sessions
Track the same metrics each time
Maintain a standardized approach to enable comparison
Focus Your Objectives
Limit what you're testing in each session
Have clear questions you want answered
Don't try to test everything at once
Prepare Your Environment
Ensure adequate time is allocated
Minimize distractions
Create a comfortable space for honest feedback
Next Steps
After setting up your playtest session:
Conduct the playtest and observe carefully
Record feedback during and after the session
Review and analyze the results
Plan iterations based on findings