Every month Designed in the DMV highlights events featuring tabletop game designers based in the DC - Maryland - Virginia region. We’re an artist collective helping game designers improve our craft and connect with our audience.
January Spotlight: Super MAGFest
Meet our region’s tabletop designers at the MAGFest Indie Tabletop Showcase (MITS), part of the Tabletop track at this annual convention in DC’s Inner Harbor. The event is sold out, but if you already have tickets, hop over to the Riverview Ballroom for…
Marn S. at MITS, late (late) last night
Axolotl with a Gun from Bright Bard Games
Bonds Between Cards and more from Graftbound Games
ColorJam by Gene Koo and Joe Kell, from LunarPunk Games
Long Road Ahead from Unicycle Games
Moon Rings and new things from Junk Food Games
Time to Drop and more from Marn S.
Tiny Mall Wizards from Green Intern Games
We’re Sinking! from Ludamus Games
Special thanks to local designer Adam Seats, who’s also one of the event organizers!
Other happenings
Sun, Jan 11
Break My Game: public playtesting event
Manassas, VA: Crossroads Tabletop Tavern
3:00-6:00pm
Sat-Sun, Jan 16-17
Congress of Gamers
Includes open playtesting with local designers!
Rockville, MD: Rockville Senior Center
Sat: 9:00am-11:00pm
Sun: 9:00am-8:00pm
Sat, Jan 17
Break My Game: public playtesting event
Frederick, MD: C. Burr Artz Public Library
12:00-3:00pm
Sun, Jan 18
Break My Game: public playtesting event
College Park, MD: Game Kastle
1:00-6:00pm
special guest Elizabeth Hargrave will be signing copies of her newest game, Sanibel, at 2pm
Sat, Jan 24
Journaling Games with DMV Designers
Alexandria, VA: Your Hobby Place’s Winter Bash
10:30am-12:30pm
Mon, Jan 26
Local Indie Tabletop Playtest
Washington, DC: Fantom Comics
6:30pm+
Sat, Jan 31
Break My Game: public playtesting event
Richmond, VA: One-Eyed Jacques
12:00-3:00pm
Our biggest regional events are incoming!
Hosted by Game Kastle College Park, local designers will run demos all weekend long. Show off your own game, or just volunteer to help!
March 13-15
Washington, DC: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Fri: 1:00-10:00pm
Sat: 10:00am-10:00pm
Sun: 10:00am-5:00pm
The nation’s premier event for board game prototypes, featuring award-winning and up-and-coming designers. Playtest tomorrow’s games today! Free for players (but donations and pre-registration welcome!)
March 13-15
Lithicum Heights, MD: Marriott BWI
Fri: noon-midnight
Sat: 9am-midnight
Sun: 9am-6pm
DMV-based crowdfund campaigns
Open for preorder… The Castle Automatic by Rise Up Comus: an expansion for the award-winning His Majesty the Worm
ZineMonth (February)... NULL_SPACE by Binary Star Games: survive as freelancers in the interstices of the 24th-century solar system
Coming soon… Arcana by Level Zero Gaming: Shape new realities through the science of spellcraft
DMV designer spotlight
This month MD-based Elizabeth Hargrave launches TWO major games: Sanibel (Hasbro), and Wingspan: Americas (Stonemeier Games). Watch her segment on Hasbro’s Women Innovators of Play.
Still want more?
Follow the Tabletop Designers of the DMV starter pack on BSky.
Check out the Designed in the DMV Summer 2025 catalog. (We’re updating it soon!)