Seven Secret Supervillains
Shaping Unique Gameplay Experiences Through Strategic Design
Shaping Unique Gameplay Experiences Through Strategic Design
As someone who has loved games since childhood, I always dreamed of creating one of my own. Seven Secret Supervillains became the realization of that dream—a passion project years in the making. From countless iterations to a successful Kickstarter launch, this unique 1-4 player card game brings supervillains and strategy together in a lighthearted, colorful way.
The core premise: You and your rival are super evil supercomputers bent on world domination! The first to amass four of the Seven Secret Supervillains conquers the world.
Kickstarter PageDesigning a game from scratch posed numerous challenges. I had to balance game mechanics with player engagement, create visually appealing and consistent designs, and ensure that the game remained fun and accessible across hundreds of playthroughs. Moreover, bringing the game to market required learning how to run a successful Kickstarter for a card game, manage printing and distribution, and gather user feedback for iterative improvements.
My goal was to design an affordable, accessible, and highly replayable card game with endless strategic possibilities. I wanted to create a game that not only provided a unique experience each time but also made players laugh with its lighthearted supervillain theme.
As the creator and designer of Seven Secret Supervillains, I had many responsibilities, including:
• Game Designer: Designed core game mechanics, expansions, and stretch goals.
• Brand Designer: Created the game’s visual identity, including card layouts and packaging.
• Content Creator: Wrote detailed prompts and used AI-generated art to craft a cohesive and vibrant comic book-like aesthetic.
• Project Manager: Managed the entire production process, including working with professional printers and distributors.
• Community Manager: Engaged with playtesters and Kickstarter backers, gathering invaluable feedback to refine the game.
Creating Seven Secret Supervillains required extensive iteration and testing. I started by designing a core set of 111 cards, then expanded the game based on feedback and stretch goals, eventually reaching 378 cards.
Key Step #1: Game Concept Development
The concept—super evil supercomputers vying for world domination—was designed to be quirky, engaging, and unique.
Key Step #2: Visual Design
Using Sketch and Figma, I designed each card to have a comic book-inspired look with vibrant splashes of color. To achieve a cohesive style, I generated art using AI tools and wrote specific prompts to maintain consistency across the game.
Key Step #3: Iterative Playtesting
Through rigorous playtesting and feedback loops, I refined the game mechanics, ensuring each playthrough was balanced and fun. The feedback I received from testers was instrumental in shaping the final version of the game.
Key Step #4: Scalability & Replayability
With 7 unique supervillains in the core set and an additional 19 supervillains added through expansions and stretch goals, the game offers over 500 million possible combinations. This ensures a fresh and exciting experience every time players sit down to play.
Engaging with the community was a vital part of the development process. The Kickstarter campaign not only provided the necessary funding but also helped build a passionate community around the game. I actively communicated with backers, shared updates on progress, and incorporated their feedback into final the final product shipped out to them.
Consistency and clarity were central to the visual design of Seven Secret Supervillains. The goal was to create an intuitive user experience for players while maintaining a distinct comic book aesthetic that was both playful and memorable. I utilized a variety of tools and resources.
Sketch & Figma
For creating wireframes, layouts, and visual assets.
DALL·E AI Art Generator
To produce consistent, high-quality art based on custom-written prompts.
Adobe Creative Suite
For additional graphic design and editing.
The successful launch of Seven Secret Supervillains demonstrated the game’s appeal and the strength of its community:
Successful Kickstarter Campaign
Fully funded within the campaign period, far exceeding initial goals.
High Engagement
Strong community support and participation in playtesting that refined the game and built anticipation.
Unique Replayability
With over 500 million possible combinations, players can enjoy a highly replayable and ever-evolving game experience.
Seven Secret Supervillains was not only a passion project but also a realization of a lifelong dream to create my own game. The experience honed my skills in design, project management, and community engagement—skills I am eager to apply to future creative endeavors. This project showed me the power of combining creativity with user-centered design and iterative development to create a product that brings joy to others. I look forward to continuing to develop games and expand on what I’ve learned from this incredible journey.
Creating Seven Secret Supervillains taught me valuable lessons about game design, project management, and user engagement:
Iterative Design is Essential
Playtesting and feedback were crucial in refining the game and ensuring it remained fun and balanced.
Community Involvement Drives Success
Engaging with the community throughout the process fostered loyalty and excitement, contributing to the game’s success.
Creative Problem-Solving
From writing art prompts for AI-generated designs to managing production logistics, I learned how to overcome new challenges creatively.
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