The opportunity
Board game enthusiasts have BoardGameGeek for cataloging and reviews, but there was a gap in the market for a streamlined, social-first platform focused on play logging and community building. Think Letterboxd, but for board games.
I identified key user needs that existing platforms weren’t addressing:
- Quick, frictionless play logging (not buried in forums)
- Social feeds showing what friends are playing
- Group management for regular gaming sessions
- Personal stats and gaming insights
- Discovery based on what similar players enjoy
The goal was to create a platform that celebrates the social nature of board gaming while making it effortless to track and share your gaming life.
Design philosophy
I approached Your Move with a mobile-first mindset, recognizing that most play logging happens right after a game session, often at the table. The interface needed to be fast and intuitive enough to use without interrupting the social flow of game night.
Core features
Quick Play Logging
- Streamlined form design with smart game search and autocomplete
- Player tagging and scoring in a single, focused flow
- Optional photo uploads to capture memorable moments
- Location tagging for tracking favorite game venues
Social Feed
- Activity stream showing recent plays from friends and groups
- Like and comment on plays to spark discussions
- Filter by game, player, or group
- Curated recommendations based on your network’s activity
Groups & Communities
- Create private groups for regular gaming circles
- Schedule game sessions with RSVP functionality
- Group statistics and most-played games
- Shared game libraries and wishlists
Personal Stats Dashboard
- Play count and hours tracked over time
- Top games, players, and locations
- Winning percentages and scoring trends
- Year-in-review summaries
Technical implementation
Built as a modern full-stack application with performance and scalability in mind.
Frontend architecture
- React + TypeScript for type-safe component development
- TanStack Query for efficient server state management and caching
- React Router for client-side routing
- Tailwind CSS for rapid, consistent styling
- Progressive Web App (PWA) features for mobile app-like experience
Backend & infrastructure
- Node.js + Express API with RESTful endpoints
- PostgreSQL for relational data (users, plays, games, groups)
- Redis for caching frequently accessed data and session management
- AWS S3 for image storage and CDN delivery
- Elasticsearch for fast game search with fuzzy matching
Key technical challenges
Game database integration Integrated with BoardGameGeek’s XML API to provide a comprehensive game database while handling rate limits and caching strategies. Built a sync system to keep game metadata up-to-date without overwhelming the external API.
Real-time updates Implemented WebSocket connections for live feed updates and notifications, allowing users to see friends’ plays as they happen without manual refreshes.
Performance optimization
- Image optimization pipeline with automatic resizing and WebP conversion
- Infinite scroll with virtualization for large activity feeds
- Database query optimization with strategic indexing
- Response caching for frequently requested data
User testing & iteration
Launched an invite-only beta with 50 board game enthusiasts from local gaming groups. Key insights from the beta period:
- Users wanted photo uploads to be more prominent (moved from optional to encouraged)
- The rating system was too complex (simplified from 10-point to 5-star)
- Discovery needed improvement (added “Based on your plays” recommendations)
- Mobile keyboard shortcuts were essential for power users
These iterations resulted in a 40% increase in daily active play logging during the beta.
Results & traction
Your Move launched publicly in August 2024 and has grown organically through board gaming communities:
- 2,500+ registered users in the first 4 months
- 18,000+ plays logged with an average of 3.2 plays per active user weekly
- 450+ active groups ranging from local game nights to online communities
- 85% mobile usage validating the mobile-first approach
- Average session duration of 4.2 minutes - quick and focused
User feedback
“Finally! A simple way to track plays without navigating BGG’s complex forum structure. The social feed makes me excited to see what my friends are playing.” - Sarah, beta tester
“Your Move has completely changed how my gaming group operates. We schedule sessions, track our collective plays, and discover new games through each other.” - Mike, game night organizer
Future roadmap
With a solid foundation established, the next phase focuses on enhanced discovery and community features:
- Recommendations engine using collaborative filtering
- Challenges and achievements to gamify play logging
- Integration with game stores for wishlists and price tracking
- Event planning tools for conventions and large gaming gatherings
- Native mobile apps for iOS and Android
Your Move demonstrates how understanding user needs and building for specific workflows can create a differentiated product in an established market. By focusing on the social experience and removing friction from play logging, the platform has carved out its own space in the board gaming ecosystem.