1. Introduction
  2. Theme
  3. Representations
  4. Writing
  5. Accessibility
  6. Prototyping
  7. Rulebook
  8. Conclusion

Representations

This section focuses on how characters—both playable characters and background figures—are represented in illustrations and text.

Diversity

Diversity refers to the full range of individual characteristics that define us. In short, it’s everything that makes each person unique. Some attributes are visible, while others are not. Typical dimensions of diversity include:

  • Age
  • Social class
  • Body diversity (e.g., body sizes and shapes, skin tones, hair types and colors, impairments, body hair, scars, visible signs of illness)
  • Ethnicity
  • Sex and Gender
  • Neurodiversity (e.g., autism, dyslexia, ADHD)
  • Sexual orientation
  • Country of origin
  • Cultural and religious values

Diversity means making our stories more accurate, more truthful, and allowing everyone to recognize themselves somewhere. The goal isn’t to “add a bit of everything,” but to build worlds that genuinely reflect the richness and complexity of the real one — in a way that feels respectful, coherent, and meaningful.

There are two main, complementary ways to approach this:

  • Reflect global diversity: Show a variety of identities, backgrounds, and experiences within the same universe — for instance, a game set in a multicultural city or community.
  • Highlight underrepresented voices: Focus the story on a group or perspective that rarely gets the spotlight — for example, a narrative game centered around a marginalized community.

Both strategies matter. The first normalizes diversity as part of everyday life; the second helps rebalance visibility where it’s lacking.

Ambiguity can also be a subtle yet powerful way to foster inclusion. A character whose gender, background, or appearance is left undefined — such as someone masked or in a full-body suit — can give players the freedom to project themselves into the story.

However, ambiguity should not be used to avoid representation or erase identity. It’s most effective when it opens possibilities, invites personal interpretation, and expands the imagination rather than flattening it.

# Visible Attributes

Double-sided character sheets are often used to give players a choice of their character’s gender. This is an excellent way to introduce more diversity without increasing the number of components. However, gender options should not be limited to female and male only. It’s important to remember that gender expression is not simply binary.

# Invisible Attributes

Some attributes cannot be represented visually. In these cases, other methods can be used. Adding a short biography for each character, for example, is a great way to reflect invisible aspects of identity.

When a game depicts romantic relationships, it is essential not to restrict representation to cisgender, heterosexual couples.

# Customization

In video games, it is common for players to customize their characters according to their preferences, but this practice is still relatively rare in board games. Yet, there are several effective ways to make it possible:

  • Provide spaces where players can write down their character’s traits, such as name, age, and pronouns
  • You can even invite players to create a short backstory for their characters, giving them greater ownership and personal connection.

Allowing everyone to customize their character would create more opportunities for representation for non-binary and transgender players. Every players would also benefit, as it would give them greater freedom to shape their characters as they wish.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes are simplistic and often inaccurate beliefs or generalizations about a group of people who share certain characteristics. For example, a common stereotype might suggest that everyone from a particular ethnic background shares the same tastes or behaviors. Stereotypes can be shaped by culture, media, education, or personal experiences. It is important to remember, however, that they lead to unfair and discriminatory judgments.

Stereotypes exist for nearly every characteristic that can define a person—such as gender, culture, age, neurodiversity, and more.

To create characters free of stereotypes:

  • Reflect critically and acknowledge that we all have biases. By doing so, we can begin to challenge and deconstruct the stereotypes we have unconsciously internalized.
  • Develop the character’s story first, focusing on their motivations, experiences, and relationships. This approach makes the character unique and complex, rather than reducing them to superficial traits rooted in stereotypes.
  • If your character belongs to a specific culture, conduct thorough research and consult reliable sources to avoid mistakes or inaccurate portrayals.
  • Remember that stereotypes are not limited to human characters—animals, aliens, or other fantasy beings can also perpetuate them. For instance, depicting a female mouse as the one responsible for cleaning is still a stereotype.
  • Humor has no place in perpetuating clichés, as it only reinforces false ideas and harms those targeted. Using humor in this context risks minimizing or legitimizing prejudice, which can hurt and marginalize affected players.

# Sexual Objectification

Sexual objectification is a major issue in how women are represented in games. A quick look at the way women in armor are often portrayed makes the scale of the problem clear: they are reduced to their physical appearance and sexuality. This leads to the creation of an idealized and unrealistic representation of women—typically thin, with large breasts, wide hips, and little clothing. Women are frequently shown as if they cannot exist without being sexualized. This pattern can contribute to anxiety and negatively impact the self-esteem of many women.

It is not that women cannot be depicted as attractive or seductive, but such portrayals should not be the only—or even the dominant—form of representation. Repetition of these tropes creates a very unpleasant gaming experience for women and contributes to their exclusion from the community. It is important to recognize these issues and instead promote more respectful and diverse representations of women.

For example, in the case of armor design, this video illustrates how women’s armor should realistically be portrayed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60lU68oyxK4.

# Geographic Origins

A character’s place of residence can certainly influence their representation, but it should not be the only determining factor. Human history has always been shaped by migration and population movement. In addition, elements such as genetics and climate can affect physical characteristics, including skin tone and body shape.

Despite this, characters from the same region are often portrayed in overly uniform ways. For instance, Latinx characters are frequently illustrated with darker skin, while in reality there is a wide diversity of skin tones across Latin America, including people with very light or very dark complexions.

It is therefore important to acknowledge this diversity and represent characters in ways that are more realistic and inclusive.

Historical Context

Entire groups of people are often erased from history, and this is reflected in many board games. For example, non-white individuals are rarely represented in games set during the First and Second World Wars, even though they played crucial roles in the outcomes of those conflicts. Similarly, there is little representation of African American, Mexican, and Indigenous cowboys and cowgirls, despite their significant presence in history.

It is therefore vital to conduct thorough research into the people who were truly involved in these events. By including populations that have been overlooked, games can offer a more accurate perspective on what really happened and broaden players’ understanding of history.

Intellectual Properties

Racebending refers to changing the ethnic background of a character. More specifically, whitewashing occurs when a non-white character is replaced with a white one. Many film productions have been criticized for this practice, such as the movie 21 (based on a true story) and the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Whitewashing deprives already underrepresented groups of the opportunity to be seen, valued, and recognized.

On the other hand, racebending can also be used positively to introduce more minority representation. It allows creators to revisit works produced at times when diversity was not valued socially or economically.

When considering changing a character’s ethnicity, it is important to ask yourself a few key questions:

  • When changing a character’s background, am I respecting the story and identity of the character from the original work?
  • Could this change reduce diversity within my game or reinforce existing imbalances in the industry?

By reflecting on these questions, you can make informed decisions that lead to inclusive characters and contribute to fairer representation of different cultures.