Barn Boy Games Turns Family Play Into A Business

How do you turn a goofy argument like “Is a stop sign taller than an emu?” into a party game people can learn in seconds and replay for years? We sit down with Kerry and Ryan from Barn Boy Games out of Lancaster, PA to talk about their first Kickstarter board game, Height Fight, and the long, messy, surprisingly thoughtful road from homemade prototypes to a retail-ready product. We start with quick hits from our own tables, from the relaxing solo puzzle of Enchanted Ivy to a conversation-sparking Tales card set, plus a clever “face-down” twist that makes Catan feel fresh again. Ryan shares why Seven Wonders Architects keeps landing on the table with young kids, and we swap notes on the Wingspan universe, including how Wyrmspan can stretch game night into a real endurance run. Then we get into the heart of it: Height Fight is a family-friendly party card game built on relative height guessing, team debate, and that satisfying moment of reveal. Kerry and Ryan break down the gameplay loop, scalability for big groups, how they approached playtesting and rule trimming, and why they’re obsessed with premium components, great art, and a player-first experience. If you care about tabletop game design, Kickstarter board games, or finding a game that actually gets kids and grandparents laughing together, this one’s for you. Subscribe for more board game talk, share this with a friend who loves party games, and leave a review! We want to hear from our listeners! Send us a text with recommendations, weigh in on discussions, or just say hi! Support the show As always, come interact with us online, let us know if you have any feedback, and leave us a review/comment anywhere you get your favorite podcasts! https://www.instagram.com/operation_game_night_podcast/ Show your support for the OGN Crew by contributing to the OGN War Chest: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396881/support