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Game Design Maths

Build your own board game maths

Children design a simple board game while learning dice probability, counting, rules and scoring.

Quick answer

You can build your own board game using maths to make it fun and fair, by using dice for movement, counting spaces, and scoring points based on the numbers you roll.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use maths to design a simple board game that includes dice, counting, and scoring rules. Success signs:
  • You can explain how dice help decide where to move on a board
  • You can count spaces on a board game
  • You can make simple scoring rules for your game
  • You can play a game you designed with a friend or family member

Why this matters

Designing your own board game helps you learn important maths skills like counting, probability, and making fair rules. You use maths every day when you play games, but you might not notice it! When you create a game, you're using maths to make sure it's fun and everyone has a fair chance to win. It's like being a mathematician and a game designer at the same time.

How it works

Making a board game with maths is like being a builder. You start with a simple idea, then add maths to make it work. First, you choose what your game is about. Then, you decide how to move around the board, how to score points, and how to win. Dice are great for making decisions in games, and counting helps you move the right number of spaces. You can even use maths to make your game more exciting by adding special spaces or rules.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're making a game about collecting treasure. You have a board with 20 spaces, and you start at space 1. You roll a dice to decide how many spaces to move forward. If you roll a 3, you move 3 spaces. If you roll a 6, you move 6 spaces. You land on space 4, then space 5, then space 6. Let's say you land on a special space that gives you 5 points. You can keep a score sheet to count your points. If you roll a 1, you move 1 space and get 2 points. If you roll a 6, you move 6 spaces and get 10 points. This makes the game exciting because the numbers you roll change your score.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let's go on a treasure hunt adventure! You're going to make a simple board game about finding treasure on a desert island. Step 1: Draw a board with 10 spaces. Number them 1 to 10. Step 2: Decide what happens on each space. Space 1 is a rock, so you get 1 point. Space 2 is a shell, so you get 2 points. Space 3 is a coconut, so you get 3 points. Space 4 is a sandcastle, so you get 4 points. Space 5 is a treasure chest, so you get 10 points. Step 3: Use a dice to move around the board. Roll the dice and move that many spaces forward. Step 4: When you land on a space, add up your points. Step 5: The first person to reach 20 points wins! Try this game with a friend or family member. You can change the points or spaces to make it more fun.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Not counting spaces correctly when moving
    Why it happens: Children might skip numbers or count backwards when moving
    Fix: Use your fingers or a counter to count each space as you move
  • Mistake: Making scoring rules that are too hard or too easy
    Why it happens: Children might think they need to make the game very complicated
    Fix: Keep the rules simple, like: "If you roll a 1, you get 1 point. If you roll a 6, you get 6 points"
  • Mistake: Not using dice to make decisions
    Why it happens: Children might want to move without rolling dice
    Fix: Explain that dice make the game fair and exciting

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child by:
  • Playing the game together to understand how it works
  • Encouraging them to think of their own special spaces or rules
  • Using real dice or drawing dice on paper to make the game more fun
  • Letting them make up their own scoring system
  • Helping them count spaces and points
If your child gets frustrated, remind them that making a game is a learning process. It's okay to change the rules or start over if something isn't working.

Practice questions

  1. How many spaces are there in a board game with numbers 1 to 10?
  2. If you roll a 4 on a dice, how many spaces do you move?
  3. If you land on space 7 and get 7 points, how many points do you have?
  4. If you roll a 2 and a 3, how many spaces do you move in total?
  5. If you land on a space that gives 5 points, and you already have 10 points, how many points do you have now?
Answers:
  1. 10 spaces
  2. 4 spaces
  3. 7 points
  4. 5 spaces
  5. 15 points

FAQ

What kind of dice can I use for my board game?

You can use regular 6-sided dice, or even make your own with a spinner or number cards.

Can I use maths from other topics in my board game?

Yes! You can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, or even fractions. For example, you could say "If you roll an even number, move forward 2 spaces."

How do I make sure my board game is fair?

Make sure everyone has the same chance to win. Use dice to make decisions, so it's not always the same person who wins.

What if my child wants to make a really complicated game?

That's great! Start simple, then add more rules as they get better at making games.

Can I use board games I already have to learn about maths?

Yes! You can play with them and think about how the rules use maths, like counting spaces or adding points.