Discover the next great board game before it reaches store shelves at this local game design playtesting event on Saturday, June 27, at Lazarus Games in Harrisburg, PA. Board game players from across Central Pennsylvania are invited to try prototype games created by local designers and share feedback that can help improve gameplay, balance and the overall experience.
This free event is a great fit for anyone who enjoys learning new games, exploring fresh ideas and being part of the creative process. No design experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity, a willingness to play and your honest thoughts.
Central Pennsylvania has a strong and growing tabletop gaming community, and this event offers a chance to meet fellow players, support local creators and help shape the games of tomorrow.
Developers
The designers joining us for Developer Day represent a wide range of creative styles, gaming backgrounds and design approaches. Each brings a unique point of view to the table, along with a project they are excited to share with players.
Meet the creators who will be part of this year’s event.
Alex Sauer
Alex Sauer is an avid board gamer who attended last year’s Developer Day and left inspired to begin designing a game of her own. Over the past year, she has been developing a college-inspired board game and is excited to share it with fellow tabletop fans. Attendees can stop by to see her progress, talk design and connect over a shared love of games.
Empty Mountain, Nothing Can Die
Empty Mountain, Nothing Can Die is a small press of art-house analog games from designer James Pianka and collaborators. Its work centers on systemic narrative, materiality and playability, creating distinctive experiences for players interested in experimental and thoughtful game design. Learn more at emptymountain-ncd.com.
Greg Loring-Albright, Ph.D.
Greg Loring-Albright, Ph.D., he/him, is a game designer who lives along the Susquehanna River. He designed Ahoy, published by Leder Games in 2022, and Keep the Faith, forthcoming from Central Michigan University Press in 2026. He also co-designed Bloc by Bloc: Uprising with T.L. Simons, published by Outlandish Games in 2022. Greg is the program lead for the Game Design program at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Houndsong Games
Houndsong Games is a tabletop RPG developer based in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The studio’s flagship product is Relict RPG, an open-source, free game system designed for players and storytellers. Learn more at RelictRPG.com.
Joe Foner
Joe Foner is a game designer from southcentral Pennsylvania who has been surrounded by games for most of his life. His experience includes playing games from a young age, rewriting rules, designing games, running games at a local store and continuing to explore tabletop play throughout adulthood. For Joe, games are a meaningful way to connect people and exercise the mind.
Lizzy and Connor Loughnane
Lizzy and Connor Loughnane are game designers based in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Lizzy is the lead designer of A Game of Mates and Mischief, a romantasy-themed board game that blends RPG and worker placement mechanics in an easy-to-learn format. The game was crowdfunded in 2025 and is currently in production.
Magical Goat Games
Magical Goat Games creates animal-centric, lighter-weight games that can be played in under an hour. Their work brings a playful sense of humor to accessible tabletop experiences. At Developer Day, attendees can check out Possums with Knives, a secret-stabbing, trash-collecting, hiss-at-your-friends card game.
Manda Shafer
Manda Shafer is a board game designer and community organizer based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She self-published her first game, The Establishment, through crowdfunding in 2024. Manda serves as vice president of the Harrisburg Board Game Alliance, the organization behind Harrisburg Board Game Day, and runs Break My Game, a monthly playtesting event for local designers. Her work often focuses on strong themes and games that help players learn something new.
Matthew Kambic
Matthew Kambic is a board game designer, founder of MaKa Games and father of four. Since 2020, he has created family-focused tabletop games, including License to Krill and INK-tentions!. He also works as a technical training manager in the communications industry, where his passion for problem-solving and creativity continues to inspire his game design. Learn more at maka.games.
Mystic Tenny
Mystic Tenny is an independent game designer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, bringing a bold creative vision to the tabletop. His game, Necromancer’s Royale, combines drafting, engine building and necromancy into one distinctive board game experience. Developer Day attendees can meet Mystic Tenny and explore the world he is building through play.
No Name Games
No Name Games is a tabletop wargames company led by Chris Bahnweg from Enola, Pennsylvania. Chris has been passionate about tabletop wargaming since first getting involved with Warhammer in the mid-2000s. His current game, Eleven Bravo, draws inspiration from Chain of Command, Crossfire and Ambush Alley.
Rule Zero Media
Rule Zero Media is developing Chronicler, a modular tabletop roleplaying game designed to give players the freedom to shape their adventures. Players can delve into dungeons, lead armies, manage land holdings or combine those experiences in one evolving campaign. The game uses a single set of polyhedral dice to keep the mechanics approachable while still offering tactical depth. Attendees can get an early look at the growing world of Aylios.
Spooky Ghost Games
Spooky Ghost Games is a game development and publishing company led by Tyler Villegas, he/him, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Tyler creates approachable tabletop experiences with a friendly, playful style. At Developer Day, attendees can check out Lemon Game, his family-friendly light strategy card game. Learn more at linktr.ee/spookyghostgames.
Tim Yordy
Tim Yordy is an aspiring game designer from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. His work focuses on light to medium-weight games that create memorable play experiences without heavy rules overhead. Tim brings a thoughtful, player-friendly approach to design and looks forward to sharing his work with the Developer Day community.
Free to attend. Join Developer Day at Lazarus Games on Saturday, June 27, and enjoy a full day of prototype board games, demos and playtesting with local designers. Meet fellow gamers, try new games and help shape future releases through your feedback.
Tickets are not required, but they will help us determine the number of attendees and communicate prior to the event with anyone who is interested in attending.
Do you have questions about this event? Email Tyler Villegas from Spooky Ghost Games at ghost@spookyghostgames.com.
Thank you to our host, Lazarus Games.
