How the founder of UaiPiá uses hooks, fast iteration, and Boardssey to turn philosophical concepts into fun, market-ready games

From Philosophy Student to Published Designer

Renato Simões didn't follow the typical path into board game design. While studying philosophy as a hobby and playing modern board games, he had a realization: "I should create a game about a philosophical concept. A heavy euro game."

That spark of inspiration launched what would become UaiPiá, a studio known for games that blend clever design with genuine fun. Today, Renato’s creations includes FlipToons, Piratas!, Dexter’s Laboratory: The Great Invention, Bag & Baggage, Trick 100, and OZOB: A Cyberpunk Board Game, covering everything from sprawling miniature dungeon crawlers to compact, laugh-out-loud party games.

Designing for the Hook

Renato's design philosophy centers on one critical concept: the hook.

"Mostly I work on games that have strong hooks," he explains. "I envision a game and start working on its core so I can easily see what the hook for the game is. If it is strong for the market, I'll proceed to more in-depth iteration and playtesting."

This hook-first approach shapes everything about his process, from the games he chooses to develop to how he handles playtesting feedback. Currently, he's working on Blufrrr!, a small box bluffing game about hunter-gatherers that exemplifies this philosophy.

The Challenge of Speed

For Renato, finding the hook is just the beginning. The real challenge? Iterating fast enough.

"Games that rely on a hook tend to be really about the moment of the market and trend on what publishers are looking for," he notes. "Being fast on the development is very important so you won't miss the window of opportunity."

This urgency drives his choice of tools. He relies on Boardssey to organize tasks and track changes, paired with Illustrator and Tabletop Simulator for prototyping and testing. The combination lets him move quickly without losing important design decisions along the way.

Smart Playtesting: When to Listen, When to Trust Your Gut

Renato has developed a sophisticated approach to playtesting that many new designers would benefit from understanding.

Since he often works in partnership, he playtests extensively at 2-player counts first. "I am skeptical about some feedback on light-hearted, fun games," he admits. "You have to be very skilled to see what feedback you should consider for your game, and always take into account what you are aiming for it to be."

The danger of early external feedback:

"If you are creating a game with a hook, some early feedback from people not aligned with your design goals may drive you away from that hook. That's pretty bad. When you start designing, you are lost trying to find a way to your design goals, and feedback from outsiders may not help at that time."

When to open up playtesting:

Once he has confidence in the game, when he finds it fun to play, he brings in outside playtesters. But even then, he's strategic about what he asks:

• What they liked most about the game

• What was fun to do during their turn

• What annoyed them the most

"Those questions are useful because each person ranks and picks the highlights of the gameplay, and that's where the fun lies," he explains.

He also pays close attention to unspoken feedback: "Generally, it is best to playtest in person, so the unspoken feedback will also be perceived by the designer. For fun little games, people cheering and paying attention to others' turns is one really good sign that you are on the way."

How Boardssey Supports the Process

For Renato, Boardssey has become essential to maintaining clarity and momentum.

"It made my process better defined in steps," he says. "This brings clarity to where you are compared to where you want to be with your game. It also makes it easier to recap previous steps of the journey."

The platform solves a common designer problem: capturing ideas without losing them. "I can usually use it to write down ideas but not necessarily work on them right away, but without losing those notes."

His favorite features? The game catalog and the PnP Tool, two features that reflect his focus on presentation and rapid prototyping.

Advice for New Designers

Renato's guidance for those just starting their journey is direct and practical:

"Be resilient and prototype fast."

He also emphasizes the importance of networking: "Work on your network of contacts in the industry and do not skip any opportunities that come your way; just be very aware of exclusivity and other clauses in contracts that may tie you up."

Looking Ahead

Renato sees exciting trends in modern board game design, particularly around player engagement: "Very well-designed and balanced mechanisms for rewarding players constantly and keeping the game challenging. This makes games more compelling to a wider audience, especially these days of short attention spans and high dopamine delivery."

While his design hero is Reiner Knizia and his favorite component to work with is cards, Renato's own design philosophy is refreshingly grounded. He's not chasing innovation for its own sake, he's creating games people actually want to play.

Even what he considers the most underrated mechanic reflects this: "Take-that!" - a mechanism many designers shy away from, but one that creates memorable, laugh-out-loud moments at the table.

Final Thoughts

When asked what he'd like to share with our audience, Renato's answer was simple and genuine:

"Keep creating fun games! I'd love to play them along the way."

Want to see Renato's work in action? Visit his catalog at bdsy.cc/uaipia or follow him on social media @orenatosimoes & @uaipiagames.

Ready to organize your own design process like Renato? Try Boardssey free - no credit card required.