A hybrid physical-digital board game designed to replicate the social chaos and strategic depth of Mario Party — without a screen at the center of the table.
Spaced Out was developed by a team of five designers as an exploration of how video-game mechanics — resource management, random events, player alliances, and mini-games — translate into physical play. The core design challenge: how do you create "Mario Party chaos" with cardboard?
Each deck was designed as a system — not just content. They shape pacing, risk, and social dynamics. Hover over the stacks to see how cards interact.
The board communicates progression, risk, and reward through spatial design and iconography. A key insight from playtesting: clarity and onboarding were critical to reducing cognitive load at the start of play.
Mobile minigames bridge physical and digital play — introducing skill-based challenges and moments of unpredictability. Players dodge asteroids, play rock-paper-scissors, or compete in reaction tests mid-turn.
Replicating video game feel in physical form required solving for: random event injection (Event cards), resource asymmetry (Items and Shop system), player interaction mechanics (trade, betrayal, alliance rules), and skill variance (mobile minigames).