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Brain Golfing – a pen-and-paper strategy game I designed

Brain Golfing – a pen-and-paper strategy game I designed

by mkdesign·Mar 19, 2026·1 point·0 comments
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AI Analysis

●●SolidCozyNiche Gem

Self-contained A7 booklet with printed dice strips needs zero external components.

Strengths
  • •Printed dice strip on each page removes need for external components.
  • •DIN A7 constraint forces genuine portability that mobile apps can't match.
  • •Hand-designed hex layouts show deliberate care over typical procedural generation.
Weaknesses
  • •Shipping physical booklets creates friction compared to instantly downloadable mobile apps.
  • •Author admits similarity to Paper Apps Golf, lacks unique thematic differentiation.
Category
Gaming
Target Audience

Commuters, tabletop gamers, analog hobbyists

Similar To

Paper Apps Golf · Traveler's Notebook · Solo RPGs

Post Description

Hi HN, I spent a year designing a pocket-sized golf game around two constraints: DIN A7 (palm sized) and it has to work with only a pen. No battery, no screen.

Coming from web and app design, designing for paper was new territory. I hand designed every hex layout, built a dice strip onto each page to make it playable without a die. And after feedback from several playtesters I added power-ups, portals and a strict target score (Par) to undercut - this added quite some complexity and more fun.

One caveat: there's a similar-sounding product called Paper Apps Golf that inspired me. Starting out it was just a side project and I focussed on the mechanics, not the theme (in hindsight I could've just used another theme). The next one will have a different angle, I want to explore how mobile game mechanics translate to pen and paper. Like jump'n'run or tower defense.

PS: About the name - I think it was a Dilbert comic about not paying attention to a meeting that led me to this name.

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