From manuscript to tabletop: this is how we edit our games

At Culture Games, every game that reaches your hands has gone through a long journey full of decisions. It's not just about having an idea, but about turning it into a playable and beautiful experience, true to the story we want to tell and with the editorial care a cultural product deserves.

Today, we'll tell you about our process, from the first draft to the moment we open a freshly printed box. An inside look at what it truly means to edit board games with historical soul.

The origin: text, history, and purpose

It all begins with a clear narrative concept: a tradition, a celebration, an era.
But it's not enough to have a good story. We do serious documentary work, cross-referencing sources, talking to people who know the context, and creating a "base manuscript" from which to build the game experience.

This document contains:

-The historical or festive context.

- The characters involved.

- Possible mechanics that fit the spirit of the theme.

- Tone, rhythm, values.

In other words: it is the root of everything.

Board game editing: every card counts

Moving from manuscript to prototype involves making editorial decisions:
How many cards? What role does each one play? How is the information distributed? What narrative rhythm will the game have?

Here begins an intense process of playtesting, text rewriting, and rule adjustments. We want the game to flow without losing depth. Each card must be clear, coherent, and evocative.

And since we are an emerging publisher, Eva and Marcos do all of this ourselves, with the help of close collaborators. Editing is not just graphic design. It is decision, narrative, pedagogy, and rhythm.

Historical editorial illustration: telling stories with images

One of the pillars of our games is the art. But not just any illustration will do: we seek for each image to reinforce the context and tone without falling into clichés or caricatures.

Our editorial illustration is based on:

- A palette consistent with the era or festive imagery.

- Figures reminiscent of codices, manuscripts, or popular prints.

- Details that hide clues, references, or historical symbols.

We do not use stock images. Each illustration is custom-made, with a narrative and documentary intention.

Printing without losing the soul

We know that good printing can enhance (or ruin) a job well done. That's why we pay attention to:

- The quality of the paper (that it reflects the art well).

- The cut and format of the cards.

- Local production, when possible.

- The packaging: we want opening one of our games to feel like opening a time capsule of history.

Yes, printing in small runs is more expensive. But we prefer that to losing the artisanal and editorial character that defines us.

From cardboard to heart

When someone plays TRAICIÓN or El Santo Encuentro, what they hold in their hands is the result of many editorial, art, and content decisions.
And although we are a small publisher, we treat each game as a cultural work that should excite, teach, and stand the test of time.

Because for us, editing a game is not just manufacturing cards:
it is creating playable memory.