Quick start in 5 minutes
The shortest path through Boardssey on day one. Create a game, try one tool, and pick what to come back for.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026
Welcome to Boardssey tells you what the app does. This page tells you what to do right now. Five minutes, three steps: you will have a real game in Boardssey, you will have used a tool, and you will know where to go next.
What this page helps you do
- Get past the empty workspace on day one.
- Make Boardssey useful in your first session.
- Pick the one thing to come back for tomorrow.
You'll start from Games in the sidebar.
1. Create a game (about 2 minutes)
In the sidebar, open Games and click New game.
- Leave Game development status on Idea, or pick the stage your game is at.
- Type a Game name. A working title is fine.
- Leave Expansion? on No.
- Click Create Game.
- A dialog asks "Add game details?". Click Edit now.
- Write one sentence in Short description and click Save game.
Helpful details
- Key areas: the game page has tabs for Game Info, Media, Rules, Components, Outreach, Sell Sheets, Invoices & POs, BGG Forums and Permissions. Do not try to fill them all today.
- What you can do: already have the game on BoardGameGeek? In the New game dialog, paste the BGG link or id into Import from BGG (Optional) and Boardssey fills in the details for you.
- Good to know: Save & Add Another keeps the dialog open so you can add several games in a row. Your plan sets how many games a team can hold: 5 on Adventurer, 20 on Pathfinder, unlimited on Oracle.
2. Try one tool (about 2 minutes)
In the sidebar, open Tools, then All Tools. Pick the one that matches what is in front of you today.
- Designing a card and not sure your colors work for everyone? Color Blindness Simulator.
- Have card art and want to print a prototype? P&P Cards Layout.
- Need to split a list of values or icons into groups for your cards? Variables Distribution.
- Want to specify meeples or tokens for a manufacturer? Component Spec Sheet.
- About to playtest? Score Pad, Timer or Starting Player.
Helpful details
- Key areas: each tool is a small page with one job. Open it, use it, leave.
- What you can do: click the pin on a tool's card so it sits at the top of Tools and shows up under Pinned Tools when you press Cmd+K or Ctrl+K.
- Good to know: every tool is included on every plan. See Trying out the tools.
3. Decide what to come back for (about 1 minute)
Boardssey has a lot. Next time you sign in, come back for one of these, depending on where your game is.
- Still designing? Open Whiteboard and sketch on the page named after your game (Pathfinder and Oracle plans).
- Have a draft ready to test? Open Playtests, click Create Playtest and share the feedback form link. Playtesters do not need an account.
- Need to organize the work? Open Projects, click New project, link it to your game and add tasks.
- Ready to share? Open Catalog to put the game on your public page (any plan), or Sell Sheets to build a one-page pitch (Pathfinder and Oracle plans).
- Want a box render for social media? Open 3D Mockups in the sidebar if your team has it (beta, Pathfinder and Oracle), or Digital Mockups in Tools.
Helpful details
- Key areas: your Dashboard (the first item in the sidebar) shows what needs you today once games, tasks and playtests exist. See Dashboard tour.
- What you can do: jump anywhere with Cmd+K / Ctrl+K and type part of a game, task, playtest, project or tool name.
- Good to know: you do not need a plan or a roadmap. Pick the most pressing item and click into it.
Tips & common questions
Should I read the whole help center first? No. Open an article when you hit a question. Most of the app explains itself once a game exists.
Do I need to set up my team first? Not on day one. Boardssey created a team for you during sign-up. Invite people when you need them; see How Boardssey is structured.
I clicked Later on the "Add game details?" dialog. How do I add details now? Open the game and click Edit game. Everything you skipped is there.
What if I get stuck? Click the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of the app to reach the Boardssey team, or open Help Center from the profile menu at the bottom of the sidebar.