From the moment players unbox your game, the rulebook is one of the first interactions they'll have with it. At the same time, the rulebook is often one of the most revisited pieces of the game. That's why having a rulebook that's confusing, ugly, or flimsy kills the momentum, creates endless forum threads and complaints, and leaves a poor impression.
On the other hand, having a polished, clear, attractive rulebook heightens the perception and value of the whole game, even if players eventually learn and teach each other how to play by memory, or make their own "house rules."
So what exactly makes a great board game rulebook? Let's go through it, piece by piece.
Start with a logical, player-centered flow
The structure of your rulebook is its foundation. The way you order information is important, since it mirrors the way a player actually thinks (and plays). Start first with the vision. Rather than dumping in every rule in alphabetical order, create an overview. Ask yourself: What's the theme? What's the goal? What does a sample round look like?
After that, you can drill into the core mechanics, then touch on edge cases and exceptions. We recommend presenting core actions before diving into special cases. Modern board game systems follow a "learn in phases" approach that works well for players of all ages.
Your rulebook should let a player be able to quickly look up common questions like "What happens when there's a tie?" or "What's the refund rule?" Having a detailed index and using terminology in the same way, consistently, can help make your board game easier to grasp for beginners.
Choose your words, carefully
One of the biggest issues of bad board game rulebooks is that they just throw a bunch of jargon at the walls and hope some of it sticks. To make your rulebook better than that, you'll need to choose your words carefully and keep definitions consistent. If there are certain rules that are more important, repeat or reinforce those.
It's a good idea to include a glossary of terms, especially for terms that have special meanings. Include callout boxes and "rules at a glance" that your readers can check on during gameplay. If a rule is more subtle, restate it in examples or with bullet points. Make use of sidebars or FAQs to isolate exceptions to the rule without muddying the main ruleset.
By following these tips, you'll have a true rulebook that players can actually learn from. That being said, though, there are still some additional points you can add to make your board game rulebook even better.
Include plenty of visuals
The best rulebooks include visuals but do so sparingly to help complement (and not replace) the text. "Turn in action" or "Before/After" snapshots to show game states, as well as consistent use of icons (with a legend) makes it easy for readers to understand what to do at different points in the game.
Keep readability front and center. That means using ample white space, readable fonts, and plenty of space in the margins. In this way, your rulebook feels more like a conversation and not a dense instruction manual!
Don't skimp on durability, format, and print quality
Your rulebook is the workhorse of your board game. Players will open it, leaf through it, flip it, and maybe even spill a drink on it. That's why durability, format, and print quality are so important, and why it makes sense to choose a printing partner that understands the nuances of rulebooks and how to craft them.
At OnPress Book Printing, we handle manual printing that combines text, diagrams, and schematics to give you sturdy, functional books. We also offer binding styles and trim and paper options to match different use cases. If you need something specific, our custom book printing services can make it happen.
Plus, thanks to our fast turnaround times and strict quality control, you'll get the best of both worlds. Many types of books can be printed within 2 – 5 business days, and we offer a rigorous prepress review to catch any layout or file issues.
Don't forget about supplemental material!
Rulebooks are rarely static. Errors can be found, sometimes clarifications are needed, and variants will come out. A solid rulebook is meant to evolve as your game evolves. We recommend including blank pages or reserving appendices for future errata or other variants of the game. You can also use optional "modules" or "advanced rules" that can be folded into advanced play, like layers for more sophisticated players that like a challenge.
Use understandable numbering and referencing that keep up with changes, like section numbers and rule IDs, so that even after expansions are released, referencing the rules of the game stays consistent.
Playtesting feedback
Your player is your final editor, which is why their feedback is invaluable. Give your draft rulebook to people who haven't played or designed the game and see how they try to play based solely on the rulebook. Track any issues and craft the FAQs. Find out where multiple groups stumble, or which sections might need rewrites or emphasis. Don't forget that not everyone learns the same; Some people learn quicker with visuals while others prefer examples. As much as possible, try to satisfy multiple styles.
Working with OnPress Book Printing for your board game rulebook
Playing is all fun and games, but the rulebook can make or break the experience. A great rulebook doesn't just explain mechanics, it invites players to step into the game world; answering questions before they're asked, guiding with callouts, and staying durable enough to handle being flipped, tossed and turned, page after page.
The best rulebooks are designed to quietly help you move from idea to PDF to table, and with OnPress Book Printing's manual printing, superior binding, and paper choices, you'll have a durable design that makes game night more satisfying than ever. Contact us today or visit our website to get started with a free quote.