How to Make a Religious Board Game

Choose a religion. Monotheistic religions make for a more unified, simplistic games suitable for younger players, whereas polytheistic religions tend to have complex and colorful mythologies that stimulate the imagination. Animistic games can be useful for learning geographical features, since rivers, mountains and national boundaries can be associated with different spirits. Consult the links below for information on world religions.

Choose the sort of game you want. Do you want a quiz game where players are tested on their knowledge of the featured religion, a strategy game where they have to compete head-to-head or a more luck-based game heavy on dice rolling? For example, if you make a Christian board game, a trivia game could have players answer questions about Bible events to advance on the board, a luck-based game could have players advance through the different events in Jesus' life based primarily on dice roles, and a strategy game could have players competing for souls as the servants of God and the devil.

Design the basic mechanics of the game. Make a game board with the same number of squares you would have. Come up with at least some of the trivia questions you will be asking. Design enough of the game to try it out.

Play test your religious game. Get as many people as you can to play the game, ideally focusing on your target market: people who find your religion believable or entertaining. Get feedback about game play, religious content and whether they would recommend it to other members of their church, temple or coven.

Come up with some art. For almost all games, 90 percent of the work is decorating. Images of particularly significant conversions, smitings or adventures from the religion look good. For borders, you may want to use simple motifs from the religion. For example, an Egyptian board game would look good lined with scarab beetles, hieroglyphics, ankhs and other cultural motifs.