Your Favorite Roblox Game!
Design and build a tabletop prototype of your favorite Roblox game using cardboard, paper, markers, and simple rules, then playtest it with friends.
About this tutorial
Design and build a tabletop prototype of your favorite Roblox game using cardboard, paper, markers, and simple rules, then playtest it with friends.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick your favorite Roblox game and write down three things you love about it on a piece of paper.
- 2
Step 2
Choose the main objective players must reach to win the tabletop version of your game.
- 3
Step 3
Draw a simple top down sketch of the game board on paper showing the start area key zones and paths.
- 4
Step 4
Cut a cardboard base to the size you want for the game board.
- 5
Step 5
Lightly draw your sketch onto the cardboard base to mark where things will go.
- 6
Step 6
Cut and fold smaller cardboard and paper pieces to make terrain and buildings for the board.
- 7
Step 7
Glue or tape the terrain and buildings onto the cardboard base in the places you drew.
- 8
Step 8
Decorate the board with markers and colouring materials to match the Roblox game's style.
- 9
Step 9
Choose small objects to be player tokens and place them near the start area.
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Step 10
Mark each token with a unique color or number using a marker.
- 11
Step 11
Write six simple rule or event cards that change what happens when a player draws one.
- 12
Step 12
Play a full round with friends following your rules to see what is fun and what needs fixing.
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Step 13
Change one rule or one part of the board to make the game more balanced or more fun.
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Step 14
Share your finished tabletop Roblox game on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I design and build a tabletop prototype of my favorite Roblox game?
Start by picking one core mechanic from the Roblox game (racing, platforming, or collecting). Sketch a simple board layout on paper, then transfer it to cardboard. Cut out tokens, obstacles, and cards from paper or cardstock. Write concise rules and win conditions on a card. Play with friends, watch what works, and change rules or pieces between rounds to improve balance and fun.
What materials do I need to build a cardboard tabletop version of a Roblox game?
Gather cardboard or poster board, plain paper or cardstock, markers, pencils, scissors (child-safe for younger kids), glue or tape, and a ruler. Add dice, small tokens, stickers, or printed images for characters. Optional extras: index cards for rules and events, a spinner, and colored paper for terrain. Keep materials simple and safe, and supervise cutting and small parts around younger children.
What ages is this activity suitable for?
This activity suits kids about 6–14 years old. Younger children (6–8) can build and play with adult help for cutting and rule-writing; focus on simple mechanics. Ages 9–12 manage more detailed layouts and can help balance rules. Teens can design complex objectives, create card decks, and run playtests. Adjust challenge and supervision based on each child’s fine motor skills and attention span.
What are the benefits of designing and playtesting a tabletop Roblox prototype?
Making and testing a cardboard prototype strengthens creativity, problem-solving, and planning skills. Children learn rule design, iteration from playtesting, and how to give and receive feedback. The group play builds communication and cooperation, while cutting and gluing improve fine motor skills. It’s a low-cost way to teach basic game design, confidence in presenting ideas, and how to turn a digital favorite into a tangible, shareable game.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
I can't find cardboard or markers—what can I use instead to make the board and decorate it?
Use a stiff poster board or several taped-together cereal boxes for the 'Cut a cardboard base' step and swap markers for crayons, colored pencils, or paint to 'Decorate the board'.
Some terrain pieces keep falling off—how do I make them stay during the 'Glue or tape the terrain' step?
If glued pieces fall off, use double-sided tape, stronger craft glue, or a hot glue gun and hold each piece in place until the adhesive sets to secure your terrain and buildings.
How can I adapt this tabletop Roblox game for different ages?
For younger kids, simplify by using big toy figures as tokens, reducing the rule cards to three and making the objective easier, while older kids can create more complex objectives, detailed terrain, and additional rule cards from the 'Write six simple rule or event cards' step.
What are some fun ways to improve or personalize the finished game before sharing it on DIY.org?
Enhance your game by painting terrain details during 'Decorate the board', making illustrated custom rule cards, crafting themed tokens, and playtesting a house rule change from 'Change one rule' to tighten gameplay and reflect the Roblox game's style.