Translate a catalog
Set a catalog language, translate each game name, description, hooks and components, and show files in the right language.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026
A catalog can speak another language than your games. The Translations tab sets the catalog's language and lets you write each game's texts in it, so a German catalog shows German names, descriptions and hooks while your games stay in English in Boardssey.
What this page helps you do
- Set the language of a catalog.
- Translate a game's name, descriptions, hooks and components.
- Get a draft translation written for you with Auto Translate.
- Show the right files (rulebook, sell sheet) to each language.
You'll start from Catalog > Translations.
Before you start
- You need the games.write permission (Members and Admins) to save a language or a translation.
- Translating makes most sense with several catalogs, one per language. See Run several catalogs. You can also translate a single catalog, for example an English catalog for games written in Portuguese.
- Auto Translate comes with the Oracle and LaunchBoom plans. Writing translations by hand works on every plan.
Set the catalog language
In the sidebar, click Catalog, pick the catalog above the tabs if you have several, and open Translations. Under Catalog language, pick a language from the list (search with Search languages), or keep Same as the games.
Helpful details
- Key areas: the note under the picker tells you what the visitor will see: "Buttons, filters and menus show in {language}." when Boardssey speaks it, or that they follow the visitor's own language when it does not.
- What you can do: Boardssey's interface is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Any other language works for your texts; the buttons then follow the visitor's browser.
- Good to know: the language saves right away. It also decides which files the catalog shows (see below).
Translate a game
Under Game translations, every game in the catalog has a row with its progress: Not translated, or "{done} of {total} fields". Click Translate (or Edit once you started) to open Translate {title}. Fill in the fields you want and click Save.
Helpful details
- Key areas: Game name (up to 50 characters), Short description (85), Description (1500), Hook #1 to Hook #3 (150 each) and the Components list. Each field shows the original as a placeholder ("Same as the original").
- What you can do: translate only some fields. "Empty fields show the game's original text." Clear every field and save to remove the translation.
- Good to know: when you later edit the game in Boardssey, its row shows Game changed and the dialog warns you to check the translation against the new original.
Use Auto Translate
In the Translate {title} dialog, click Auto Translate. Boardssey writes a translation of every field into the catalog's language for you to review. Read it, fix what you want, then click Save.
Helpful details
- Key areas: the button shows Translating... while it works and "Translation ready. Review it, then save." when done.
- What you can do: use it as a first draft. "Nothing is saved until you click Save."
- Good to know: Auto Translate needs a catalog language ("Choose the catalog language to use Auto Translate.") and the Oracle or LaunchBoom plan. On other plans the button is disabled with the note "Auto Translate comes with the Oracle and LaunchBoom plans."
Show files in the right language
Rulebooks, sell sheets and other files come from each game's Media tab. Give a file a language there and it shows only in catalogs of that language.
Helpful details
- Key areas: open the game, go to Media, click Edit on the file and pick a Language, or keep Every language.
- What you can do: upload an English and a German rulebook, mark each with its language, and each catalog offers the right one.
- Good to know: "Files without a language show in every catalog." See Game media.
Tips & common questions
My catalog is in French but the Players filter is still in English. Check the Catalog language picker: it should say French, not Same as the games. The interface follows the catalog language when Boardssey speaks it.
Can two people translate at the same time? Each game's translation is saved as a whole when you click Save, so take turns on the same game. Different games are fine.
Does translating change my game in Boardssey? No. Translations live in the catalog. Your game keeps its original texts everywhere else.
What about the pages (About us, Contact)? Pages are written per catalog, so write them in the catalog's language. See Add pages and menu links to your catalog.