Designer Diary #1: Chonker Party - How I created a card game

What is Chonker Party?

August 13 • 10 min read

Hi!

I’m Alexandra, the creator and designer of Chonker Party, and I’m absolutely thrilled to share this first Designer Diary with you. This game has been a labor of love, and I can’t wait to take you behind the scenes of its development, from the very first spark of an idea to where we are now.

A little about me

Before diving into the game, let me introduce myself. I’m a UI/UX designer by day and a passionate game designer by late-afternoon. Games have always been my creative outlet, ever since I was a kid tinkering with classic card games, trying to make them my own. There’s something magical about the way games bring people together—or tear them apart in the most hilarious ways. I also hava a profound love for chonky animals (as a former owner of one). These quirks all found their way into Chonker Party.

The Origins of Chonker Party

Chonker Party started as a simple idea: I wanted to create a game that was light-hearted, but with just enough strategy and trickery to keep everyone on their toes. (Hopefully) I want to say that my goal was to capture the joy of those late summer nights spent playing card games with friends and family. But no. I wanted to have that screw you factor. The rivalry. (I don’t think it’s just my family that enjoys seeing another member fail, just for the fun of it). And I wanted chonky animals! Especially one, in particular, that is my late childhood dog.

The journey began with a humble prototype made from cardboard I cut and wrote on by hand. Back then, it didn’t even have a name; it was just “Hey, let’s play my card game.” After about 30 test games with my closest friends, I knew I that I needed unbiased feedback as well. So, I printed the cards and started blind-testing with people outside my circle.

This was a game-changer. Through countless iterations, playtests, and feedback sessions, the game began to take shape. It evolved from “The Ultimate Chonker” into the Chonker Party you see today. The mechanics were refined, the rules simplified, and the game started to feel like a true party experience, all while maintaining some strategic depth found in a trick-taking game.

What is Chonker Party?

At its heart, Chonker Party is a trick-taking party card game where your mission is to gather as many points as possible—both salty and sweet. The first non-action card played in a round becomes the trump, and the chonks (the chunky animals) act as universal trumps. The player who plays the last chonk or trump in a round wins it.

The game has action cards that can shake things up—forcing players to play chonks, stealing cards from others, or even stacking effects to really mess with your opponents. It’s fast-paced, chaotic, and endlessly entertaining. Whether you’re in it for the competition or just the laughs, Chonker Party has something for everyone.

You can find more about how to play from this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/NJ-1eEJKX2I

Or, you could try it in Tabletop Simulator by searching Chonker Party: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3308213531

Resources

Creating Chonker Party has been an incredible learning experience. One of the biggest challenges was simplifying the game rules without losing the fun. As a UI/UX designer, clarity is everything, and the same principles applied to game design. I wanted the game to be intuitive, so players could focus on the fun rather than the rules.

I drew inspiration from various resources throughout this journey. Jamey Stegmaier’s blog was my one-stop shop, especially his posts on playtesting and crowdfunding. The Board Game Design Lab podcast was another valuable resource, offering practical tips and new perspectives on game mechanics. And though it’s not a board game design book, The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman helped me structure the game’s rules and flow, ensuring that Chonker Party wasn’t just fun but also easy to pick up and play.

Most importantly, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the local and online playtest communities. Their feedback was crucial in refining the game, and their passion kept me motivated throughout the process. Engaging with these communities was one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey.

What's Next?

I’m beyond excited to announce that Chonker Party will officially launch at Spiel Essen 2024! We’ll have both German and English versions available, along with some Essen-exclusive surprises. If you’re attending, come visit us at booth 2B531!

But that’s not all. To bring Chonker Party to a wider audience, we’re planning a crowdfunding campaign for a two new expansion called Chonker Party: Team Play and NSFW: Drunken Chonker. This will launch either in Q4 this year or Q1 next year, so stay tuned for more details.

I want to make Chonker Party the best game it can be, and I need your help to do it. I’ll be posting polls and updates on the BoardGameGeek page, as well as on TikTok, where you can vote on different design decisions and see the chonkers in action through some fun animated videos. Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the final game.

Join the Party!

If you’re interested in following the journey of Chonker Party, please consider following us on our BoardGameGeek page and signing up for our newsletter. Your input is invaluable, and I can’t wait to see what we create together.

Thank you for taking the time to read this first Designer Diary. I’m so excited to share more about Chonker Party in the future. If you have any questions or thoughts, please leave them in the comments below. I’ll be here, ready to chat with you all.

Until next time, keep the chonks chunky and the party going!