I Cast Fist

"Open Source" or similarly licensed boardgames?

https://programming.dev/post/20312886

"Open Source" or similarly licensed boardgames? - programming.dev

I’ve been interested in checking out some “DIY” boardgames, ones that you could just print the pieces/sheets/cards/tokens/etc and play. I’m mostly interested in boardgames that can be played with 4+ people and require little setup or rules introduction, as I’m pretty much being the “gateway drug” for the group (everyone I’ve shown Blokus so far has loved the game). I’m ok with knowing about heavy games (stuff that takes an afternoon to finish) to keep an eye on for future reference

Oct 8, 2024 at 2:36amWeb
Show threadhungover_pilotOct 8, 2024
Secret Hitler is CC 4.0. They have a print and play version you can download on the website for free.
Secret Hitler

A social deduction game for 5-10 people about finding and stopping the Secret Hitler.

Secret Hitler
Show threadℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠Oct 8, 2024
Parcheesi is public domain, easy to grasp, and supports four players.
Show threadvelxundussaOct 8, 2024

www.cardsagainsthumanity.com

It’s available in multiple language for download too I believe.

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people.

Cards Against Humanity
Show threadEinarOct 8, 2024
I had to smile reading their “about” page.
About - Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people.

Cards Against Humanity
Show threadouRKaoSOct 9, 2024

Man I love this company!

Ended up buying the 2024 Election pack – 100% of the proceeds are going to people who didn’t vote in 2020, apologize, and set up a voting plan.

Show threadTootSweetOct 8, 2024

Assuming you’re in the U.S. (though possibly even if you aren’t)…

The cool thing about game mechanics (boardgame, video game, school playground game, etc) is that they’re not covered by copyright. And (while this bit might be less true of video game mechanics) they’re rarely covered by patents.

So, for the most part, clones require no licensing or anything. You can make a knock-off of Carcassonne or Settlers of Catan or whatever legally, so long as you avoid trademark infringement. (Basically as long as you’re careful to make it clear your game isn’t by such-and-such company and you don’t have any affiliation with them.)

(Also, it’s worthwhile to mention that some games are as much or more so “flavor” as/than mechanics. In such cases, while I don’t know that there has been that much precent in the court, it’s likely the flavor would be considered copyrightable. So maybe if you’re copying the BSG boardgame, don’t include Cylons. Also, IANAL.)

I once designed/manufactured a 3d-printable clone of Cubed: Next Level Dominoes, which itself was a(n I’m pretty sure unlicensed) clone of The Grid Game.

Hexagonal Dominoes Game by AntiMS

A tabletop game similar to dominoes but with hexagonal game pieces. This game is inspired by The Grid Game (which was Kickstarted, funded, but never actually released), and Cubed: Next Level Dominoes (also Kickstarted and funded, and as of this writing, the delivery date is still in the future.)This Hexagonal Dominoes Game uses almost exactly the same rules as The Grid Game and Cubed: Next Level Dominoes except that this Hexagonal Dominoes Game substitutes numbers for colors and bar continuity for height matching. (Also, this Hexagonal Dominoes game doesn't include pieces for Cubed: Next Level Dominoes' 16-piece expansion pack.) You may be interested to see Cubed: Next Level Dominoes' rule book available here. But rules for this Hexagonal Dominoes Game are also included below.Unlike The Grid Game and Cubed: Next Level Dominoes, this Hexagonal Dominoes Game uses game pieces you can print yourself at home for only the cost of time, printer filament or resin, and wear and tear on your printer.

Thingiverse
Show threadroofuskitOct 8, 2024
The term you’re looking for is print and play. There’s a very large print and play community out there. Websites dedicated to sharing games. The board game industry is pretty open source as game mechanisms are not copyrightable. Only art and rules can be copyrighted.
Show threadHobbitFoot Oct 10, 2024

Cheapass Games seems to fit that bill.

crabfragmentlabs.com/cheapass-games

Hope you got access to a printer.

Cheapass Games — Crab Fragment Labs

The new home page of Cheapass Games, still bouncing around the Internet after all these years

Crab Fragment Labs