Phil Gross
@mistergross.bsky.social
Game design, rulebook editing. Past lives: improv, writing
Husband & father
He/him
Husband & father
He/him
My day job (1:1 w/ developmentally disabled adults) keeps me honest as a game designer.
The new Candy Land production is fantastic, the board is less punishing. This was the genuinely chill time we needed today.
The new Candy Land production is fantastic, the board is less punishing. This was the genuinely chill time we needed today.
December 22, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My day job (1:1 w/ developmentally disabled adults) keeps me honest as a game designer.
The new Candy Land production is fantastic, the board is less punishing. This was the genuinely chill time we needed today.
The new Candy Land production is fantastic, the board is less punishing. This was the genuinely chill time we needed today.
A new guy from Cazenovia came to playtesting today. He brought a prototype. We played for 40 minutes and talked feedback for 20. Afterwards he said, “this is exactly what I needed.”
Come get what you need in Syracuse y’all
Come get what you need in Syracuse y’all
December 22, 2025 at 2:01 AM
A new guy from Cazenovia came to playtesting today. He brought a prototype. We played for 40 minutes and talked feedback for 20. Afterwards he said, “this is exactly what I needed.”
Come get what you need in Syracuse y’all
Come get what you need in Syracuse y’all
I really hope a baby in a stroller rolls past Medusa’s Garden and suddenly gets their mind blown
Check out this lovely shelf of indie games for sale at Games and Stuff in Maryland! Thank you G&S for your support of indie game designers.
December 18, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I really hope a baby in a stroller rolls past Medusa’s Garden and suddenly gets their mind blown
Played LotR Duel with 11yo, who doesn’t always take to strategy games. She loved it. We ended on a true tie!!!
December 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Played LotR Duel with 11yo, who doesn’t always take to strategy games. She loved it. We ended on a true tie!!!
Spotted at my FLGS 😮
@tonytran.bsky.social
@tonytran.bsky.social
December 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Spotted at my FLGS 😮
@tonytran.bsky.social
@tonytran.bsky.social
Playing the Fit To Print team game, which really should be captured on video.
I am Igor, gathering advertisements for my master.
Such a pleasure to play this under the guidance of the designer. Thank you for coming out to Syracuse @peterlmcpherson.bsky.social !!
I am Igor, gathering advertisements for my master.
Such a pleasure to play this under the guidance of the designer. Thank you for coming out to Syracuse @peterlmcpherson.bsky.social !!
December 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Playing the Fit To Print team game, which really should be captured on video.
I am Igor, gathering advertisements for my master.
Such a pleasure to play this under the guidance of the designer. Thank you for coming out to Syracuse @peterlmcpherson.bsky.social !!
I am Igor, gathering advertisements for my master.
Such a pleasure to play this under the guidance of the designer. Thank you for coming out to Syracuse @peterlmcpherson.bsky.social !!
Introducing my wife to Pacts. “I like it. It’s very good.”
@enzyshade.bsky.social @dvcgames.bsky.social
@enzyshade.bsky.social @dvcgames.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Introducing my wife to Pacts. “I like it. It’s very good.”
@enzyshade.bsky.social @dvcgames.bsky.social
@enzyshade.bsky.social @dvcgames.bsky.social
Playtesting tonight:
4 designers 🤓
7 testers 😍
Don’t everyone move to Syracuse at once 😎
4 designers 🤓
7 testers 😍
Don’t everyone move to Syracuse at once 😎
December 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Playtesting tonight:
4 designers 🤓
7 testers 😍
Don’t everyone move to Syracuse at once 😎
4 designers 🤓
7 testers 😍
Don’t everyone move to Syracuse at once 😎
Played Chasing Shadows by @vawcer.bsky.social from IGNM
Imagine Bottle Imp only 3x more strategic and at least as tense.
David, between this and Torchlit, I’m buying anything you make.
Imagine Bottle Imp only 3x more strategic and at least as tense.
David, between this and Torchlit, I’m buying anything you make.
December 3, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Played Chasing Shadows by @vawcer.bsky.social from IGNM
Imagine Bottle Imp only 3x more strategic and at least as tense.
David, between this and Torchlit, I’m buying anything you make.
Imagine Bottle Imp only 3x more strategic and at least as tense.
David, between this and Torchlit, I’m buying anything you make.
This next batch is 🔥
I will be buying 6 copies of Kickabout for friends and family. Best soccer game I’ve played. Pure yomi goodness with a touch of exciting dice.
I will be buying 6 copies of Kickabout for friends and family. Best soccer game I’ve played. Pure yomi goodness with a touch of exciting dice.
Coming back to Kickstarter with more Mint Tin Games in February! Please click “Notify me on Launch” www.kickstarter.com/projects/gal...
Coming soon: Galen's Games Mint Tin Series 2
4 new Mint Tin Games and expansions for Series 1!
www.kickstarter.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This next batch is 🔥
I will be buying 6 copies of Kickabout for friends and family. Best soccer game I’ve played. Pure yomi goodness with a touch of exciting dice.
I will be buying 6 copies of Kickabout for friends and family. Best soccer game I’ve played. Pure yomi goodness with a touch of exciting dice.
Hey folks, please give my pal Ben Brin (designer of Pacts) a warm board game bsky welcome
@enzyshade.bsky.social
@enzyshade.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Hey folks, please give my pal Ben Brin (designer of Pacts) a warm board game bsky welcome
@enzyshade.bsky.social
@enzyshade.bsky.social
Looking to read up on May Follow trick takers. What are your favorites?
So far I know Brian Boru and Ghosts of Christmas. Any other hits?
Paging @dnlnwmn.bsky.social
So far I know Brian Boru and Ghosts of Christmas. Any other hits?
Paging @dnlnwmn.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Looking to read up on May Follow trick takers. What are your favorites?
So far I know Brian Boru and Ghosts of Christmas. Any other hits?
Paging @dnlnwmn.bsky.social
So far I know Brian Boru and Ghosts of Christmas. Any other hits?
Paging @dnlnwmn.bsky.social
Pyrotechnics is as tightly wound as a classic abstract. Excellent trade offs and tension. Feels like a beefier game than its smol size. Great work by @backwardscapgames.bsky.social and @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Pyrotechnics is as tightly wound as a classic abstract. Excellent trade offs and tension. Feels like a beefier game than its smol size. Great work by @backwardscapgames.bsky.social and @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social
Family gaming, this one’s a hit
November 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Family gaming, this one’s a hit
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Rick Danko said. The concert had lasted over four hours, then they launched into this propulsive encore.
youtu.be/ki3zzZ-GsGI?...
youtu.be/ki3zzZ-GsGI?...
The Last Waltz (1978) - Don't Do It Scene (1/7) | Movieclips
YouTube video by Movieclips
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Rick Danko said. The concert had lasted over four hours, then they launched into this propulsive encore.
youtu.be/ki3zzZ-GsGI?...
youtu.be/ki3zzZ-GsGI?...
A great distillation of what makes my friend Ben’s game so tasty.
Fair (and fairy) cake-cutting in Pacts! 🧚
Exploring how the divide and choose ("I cut. You choose.") mechanism in Pacts from @dvcgames.bsky.social combines with area control to create tough choices and meaningful decisions: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/pacts-cut-...
#boardgames #gamedesign 🎲✂️
Exploring how the divide and choose ("I cut. You choose.") mechanism in Pacts from @dvcgames.bsky.social combines with area control to create tough choices and meaningful decisions: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/pacts-cut-...
#boardgames #gamedesign 🎲✂️
Fair (and fairy) cake-cutting in Pacts
Exploring how the divide and choose ("I cut. You choose.") mechanism in Pacts from DVC combines with area control to create tough choices and meaningful decisions.
www.skeletoncodemachine.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
A great distillation of what makes my friend Ben’s game so tasty.
PAXU was a hoot. As always, it is a game about time. My body and mind cannot keep up, and there is so little time to spend with so many wonderful people. I love you all so much.
It was also way more productive than I anticipated, and I hope to share cool news in the coming months…!
It was also way more productive than I anticipated, and I hope to share cool news in the coming months…!
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
PAXU was a hoot. As always, it is a game about time. My body and mind cannot keep up, and there is so little time to spend with so many wonderful people. I love you all so much.
It was also way more productive than I anticipated, and I hope to share cool news in the coming months…!
It was also way more productive than I anticipated, and I hope to share cool news in the coming months…!
November 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This is my friend @gabegodoi.bsky.social ‘s game Pondcala. It is perfect.
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 AM
This is my friend @gabegodoi.bsky.social ‘s game Pondcala. It is perfect.
Me: “maybe someday when you’re older, I can take you on a trip. Would you like that? There’s so many games.”
5yo: “so many games in the world…but not in Florida.”
5yo: “so many games in the world…but not in Florida.”
November 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Me: “maybe someday when you’re older, I can take you on a trip. Would you like that? There’s so many games.”
5yo: “so many games in the world…but not in Florida.”
5yo: “so many games in the world…but not in Florida.”
My two main projects could not be more radically different. I’m also bringing this to Unpub. From 3-8 players to…one.
Honored to be working on this with @yutingxiang.bsky.social
Honored to be working on this with @yutingxiang.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
My two main projects could not be more radically different. I’m also bringing this to Unpub. From 3-8 players to…one.
Honored to be working on this with @yutingxiang.bsky.social
Honored to be working on this with @yutingxiang.bsky.social
I feel really good about the Dumpster Heist iteration that me and @stickydoodler.bsky.social are bringing to PAX Unpub. Hope to see you there.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I feel really good about the Dumpster Heist iteration that me and @stickydoodler.bsky.social are bringing to PAX Unpub. Hope to see you there.
I see a lot of top ten board games and across all of them, I’ve seen only one party game.
It’s your favorites! That’s fine. Count them however you like.
But I contend that Say Anything brought me at least as much joy as Battlestar Galactica, that Anomia is right up there with Twilight Struggle.
It’s your favorites! That’s fine. Count them however you like.
But I contend that Say Anything brought me at least as much joy as Battlestar Galactica, that Anomia is right up there with Twilight Struggle.
November 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I see a lot of top ten board games and across all of them, I’ve seen only one party game.
It’s your favorites! That’s fine. Count them however you like.
But I contend that Say Anything brought me at least as much joy as Battlestar Galactica, that Anomia is right up there with Twilight Struggle.
It’s your favorites! That’s fine. Count them however you like.
But I contend that Say Anything brought me at least as much joy as Battlestar Galactica, that Anomia is right up there with Twilight Struggle.
Wow. One week from tonight, this silliness will be popping up around PAX. That’s the dream. To spark joy around the convention. Pockets of weirdo statues. Mirrors raised high.
9) Finally, tooting my horn, here is the most amazing game of Medusa’s Garden to date. It has been so excellent to work with @dvcgames.bsky.social on this, and I can’t wait to see where our dev takes us next.
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Wow. One week from tonight, this silliness will be popping up around PAX. That’s the dream. To spark joy around the convention. Pockets of weirdo statues. Mirrors raised high.
LABOR OF LOVE 🎲✂️
I cannot wait to try this out
IGNM
I cannot wait to try this out
IGNM
How is a single copy of Fold & Fly! made? I decided to make my ideal version of the game, so there are a decent number of steps. It's all hand-made & put together (with one slight exception) so let's walk through it!
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 AM
LABOR OF LOVE 🎲✂️
I cannot wait to try this out
IGNM
I cannot wait to try this out
IGNM