Protospiel Indy 2026

Protospiel Indy 2026!

The world's best game design convention is returning to Indianapolis for its seventh year!

If you are a tabletop game designer seeking professional-level feedback, there is no better place to get that feedback.

If you're a gamer who likes to try new things, Protospiel is amazing. You'll play dozens of new designs, and your input will help shape them before they hit store shelves or crowdfunding.

How does it work?

Protospiel is a casual event where you bring your board or card game prototype to be playtested in a supportive, cooperative environment. It's the best possible way to find where your game needs work and how to make it even better. It doesn't matter what level of polish the game has, or how close it is to completion.

What makes Protospiel work is for designers to share their time and expertise by playing each other's games. For example, after three designers playtest your game, you should try to playtest three other designer's games. This isn't a formally enforced rule, but the event works best when people follow it.

Other than that, there's not much structure, and no scheduled events. When people seem to be sitting down to a playtest, ask if you can join. When people look like they're deciding what to do next, offer your game for playtesting. When you get hungry, ask if people want to get food. Go to sleep when you're tired and come back the next day.

If you want to help designers improve games in any state of development, Protospiel is for you. If you want to improve your game design, Protospiel is for you. If only want to promote your finished game and aren't interested in playing the games of others, this event is not for you.

Additional info

Here are some helpful tips if this will be your first Protospiel.

Protospiel.events has info about various regional Protospiels.

The Protospiel group on Facebook is a great place to connect with Protospiel enthusiasts.

If you're in the Indianapolis area, join the Indy TableTop Game Creators! We meet to playtest at least once a month, usually on the third Saturday afternoon. It's like a 4-hour Protospiel every month.

Policies

At sign-in you will be required to indicate that you agree to comply with the policies of the convention. You must read these convention policies before you buy a badge.

Badges & Pricing

Here are the prices for attending Protospiel Indy:

• Designer 3-Day Badge - $65, OR $50 if you register by February 13.
• Playtester 3-Day Badge - $15
• Publisher Badge - If you have published a game which you did not design, contact us to request a free badge.
• Sponsor Badge - Contact us about opportunities to promote your brand.
• Press Badge - Contact us to request a free badge.

Tabletop.Event fees will be added to all credit card payments.

A limited number of badges will be available for purchase at the door with cash or credit card. Checks will not be accepted.

Venue

Protospiel Indy is hosted this year by GravityDrive at Launch Fishers in Fishers, Indiana. Outside food is allowed. Alcohol is not permitted. Parking is free.

Schedule

The event will run according to the traditional Protospiel structure, which is open design, collaboration, and play testing:

• Friday 9am - Doors and registration open
• Friday 6pm - Registration closes
• Friday 11:45pm - Doors close for the day
• Saturday 9am - Doors and registration open
• Saturday 6pm - Registration closes
• Saturday 11:45pm - Doors close for the day
• Sunday 9am - Doors and registration open
• Sunday 1pm - Registration closes
• Sunday 4pm - Convention ends

Sponsors

These great organizations make sure you have the best possible experience at Protospiel Indy.

GravityDrive provides UX research, design, evaluation, and support services to help your products drive a great user experience. They are hosting Protospiel Indy this year at Launch Fishers.

The Game Crafter (TGC) is the world’s first web-to-print game publishing company and offers a print on demand game publishing service. TGC empowers game designers around the world by allowing them to make a board game, card game, and custom playing cards through a website. They are a long-time supporter of many Protospiels.

Blue Luna Design is a specialized design studio serving tabletop game designers and publishers, offering illustration, component design, video, and visual design services.

Indy TableTop Game Creators is a group in central Indiana that helps game designers and playtesters create great tabletop games together. They organize Protospiel Indy.