How a game is born at Culture Games: from archive to cardboard

Many people ask us how we create our games. Where do the ideas come from? How do we turn a festival or a historical event into a deck of cards with tension, humor, or difficult decisions?

It all starts with research

When we choose a theme — like Barbastro's Holy Week or Calatayud's Alfonsadas — the first thing we do is research.

We read historical texts, talk to experts and locals, collect interesting facts, anecdotes, and symbols that can have narrative weight.
We're not just looking for data. We're looking for stories. What makes that tradition unique.

Then comes the big question:

How do you play this?

This is where the creative part comes in: turning that content into a playable experience.
We think about mechanics that connect with the values, conflicts, and real decisions of each festival or period.

The story isn't just tacked onto the game: it is the game.

Afterwards: illustrate, test, and adjust (a thousand times)

Our games have a very carefully designed visual style. The illustrations are not just decorative: they convey atmosphere, context, and character.
And then comes the testing. Many games. Changes. Laughter. Some frustration. More changes.

And when everything clicks…

When the game is fun and tells a meaningful story, when it respects the essence of tradition and generates excitement at the table, then we know it's ready.