Why Gallery Gambit is more than a fun board game

I kind of lost track of what is important. I got so immersed in making the online variant of Gallery Gambit, my card game where you build an art gallery from a shared market of paintings, that I forgot to update you on all the developments of the actual game.

We’re busy with many fun things. From making a trailer video, a collab with a worldfamous museum, the Kickstarter launch, and getting our booths ready for the SPIEL and Spellenspektakel conventions.

Here I share the latest exciting developments with you.

One small request: please follow the Kickstarter page. Then you’ll be notified when it goes live, and you can be the first ones to order. It also helps a lot to get it the traffic it deserves. Click ‘Notify me on launch’:

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More than a fun board game

The foundation of Gallery Gambit was designed by my girlfriend. She doesn’t even like board games. She wanted to make a game that gives that same satisfying feeling you get when you look at something that is just aesthetically right. That’s why Gallery Gambit is so much more than a fun board game:

The entire set of cards is a source of art inspiration and a tribute to modern design. Each suit stands for a distinct art movement: Diamonds are Bauhaus, Spades are Cubism, Clubs are Fauvism, Hearts are Pop-Art. On top of that, each rank represents a common recognisable art theme. For example, all 2s are a still life of flowers in a vase. And the aces are four of the most famous museums in the world. Every card in the deck is an original piece of art, and would not look out of place on an art lover’s wall.

The theme gives you the opportunity to start your own art gallery. As a curator, you acquire paintings from a market to build the most aesthetic exhibits. You want to become the finest gallery in town by collecting the most beautiful sets of art pieces.

illustrations & design by Julia July

Did you know? The cards are regular playing cards as well. This means you can play any card game with them. So are you an art lover that enjoys a casual game of poker or rummy every now and then? Gallery Gambit is for you!

Kickstarter launching 28 September

I’ve been working over a year now on this game: game design, coordinating the art and design, writing and editing rules, making the online versions, coordinating with the manufacturers, getting all the logistics in place, market the game and finally setting up the Kickstarter page. I’ve done it before, but it’s quite a lot of work! I’m so happy the game will soon be launched to the wider public. It really is around the corner now: Gallery Gambit launches on Kickstarter on 28 September. Please click ‘Notify me on launch’ to be the first to hear when it’s live:

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You’ll see the prelaunch page. This now contains a short how to play section, with some new video material. Definitely worth checking out!

We’re now finalising the Kickstarter page. Once it is done, I will share a preview with you first. Then you won’t have any surprises once the campaign goes live.

The perfect setting for a Gallery Gambit video

We shot a trailer video two weeks ago in the perfect setting: museum De Lakenhal in Leiden, the Netherlands. It’s a wonderful museum with art from Jan Steen, Rembrandt, Lucas van Leyden and many other famous painters.

The video captures both the gameplay and the vibe of the game as well as the art. And with the surroundings of this amazing museum, the game came to live in its natural habitat. I will share the trailer with you in the next post.

Be the first to play Gallery Gambit in the perfect setting

On Friday evening 16 October, we’re bringing Gallery Gambit to Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden for Lakenhal Laat at 19:00 to 22:00. You can play the game surrounded by actual paintings, enjoy the exhibits and more.

Tickets are limited. Secure yours now at lakenhal.nl.

So next up for you: the full trailer video and the very first reveal of the entire Kickstarter page.

- Robin