DunDraCon Protospiel
California Ballroom Salon 4
Friday 9:00 AM - Monday 5:00 PM
Opening Ceremony: Saturday 9:30 AM
Prize Drawings: Saturday & Sunday 4:30 PM
Last Day to Register Protospiel Games is January 31, 2026
.The DunDraCon Protospiel
Join us again for another amazing DunDraCon Protospiel. This is the opportunity for game players to meet and game with game designers who need to get their games playtested. These are original, unpublished, board games, card games, and role-playing game designs you can't buy in a store yet. The designers are looking for your player feedback and your uncanny way of breaking their rules. This 4-day Protospiel game event will have: sponsored prizes, daily raffles, snacks, and the chance for all DunDraCon members to test out next year’s greatest games.
Game Designers
Any convention member, from veterans to rookies, can bring in their unfinished tabletop games for testing, feedback and refinement. Your games can be at the very earliest prototype stage, or polished and ready for BETA testing. We welcome all game designers and types of games. You can expect playtesters from the hundreds of eager DunDraCon convention members to provide useful feedback for your game. Test new player experience, rules comprehension, systems balance, fun factor, engagement, art direction, and all aspects of your game design. Tables are open in a first come, first serve, basis.
Playtesters
All DunDraCon members can participate in the exciting games and get a chance to meet the incredible designers. While playing you provide useful feedback and unique insights for consideration in the design of an unpublished game. Playtesters can just drop-in, meet a designer, and play any game that has space at any time. Your participation will not only gain you the gratitude of the game designers for your favorite genres, but also tickets to win prizes donated by the DunDraCon Protospiel sponsors. No sign-ups, no need for game registration, and likely no waiting as new sessions are starting all the time. If a game has a rule you really don't like or didn't understand, for once you can say so, and help influence better games! Of course, because you are playing a game with its designer, you will probably learn more and faster while helping them out.
Protospiel Community
Besides prizes, snacks and fun games you will also be part of this amazing collection of great players and designers supporting tabletop game development.Remember, all designers are also expected to spend time testing other designer's games. This is a way of paying back and paying forward for the help you will be getting back. If you can't find an empty spot to run your game, ask the friendly Protospiel staff to help you locate a table. Be kind to other designers and don't hog tables for extended sessions.
For regular updates, check out the Golden Gate Gamemakers.
Sponsors
Current Protospiel Offerings
Sam Trabucco
Biographical Notes: Background in crossword puzzle construction, got into game design this year.Battj LLC
Biographical Notes: I can't remember a time I haven't loved games. Video, card, improv, basically anything that doesn't require me to successfully catch a ball. I've made some prototypes over the years but Venusville is the first one I've actually played with others. I hope you like it!Ofmos Universe
Biographical Notes: Cristian Mitreanu is the founder of the human strategist platform Ofmos Universe, which equips students and professionals with higher-level decision-making skills and cognitive tools that are essential to success in an AI-powered world, where everybody is a manager and orchestrator of resources. He is building the platform's four experiential pillars — including the upcoming game OFMOS® and course BizBigPic™ — around a unique, unified understanding of humans, businesses, and economies through the lens of intelligent behavior.
OFMOS® Essential
Website: https://www.ofmos.com
Branum Games
Biographical Notes: I have Kickstarted 2 other tabletop games in the past and intend to kickstart Steam Masters.
Steam Masters
Website: branumgames.com
Charles Picard
Biographical Notes: While this is the first standalone game I've ever prepared for publication, I've been in the hobby since back in the day and have GMed countless games and played in many more. In fact most long time habitues of DunDraCon's RPG tables will probably recognize me from my game offerings from over the last 10+ years. You can read more about me on my blog, toomuchcontent.net
Hobo Noir
Website: https://toomuchcontent.net
d0 Games
Biographical Notes: d0 Games was born out of the lack of heavy, thematic, deterministic games in the market. We strive to create heavy thematic deterministic games with short playtimes that surprise and delight our fans. That being said, we still aim for inclusivity of gamers of all types (beginner, casual, competitive, or tournament players).Join the Discord!
https://discord.gg/7M2q9dEeJJ
Emissary: The Art of War
Website: https://d0.games