Star Wars Galactic Racer's roguelite systems were prototyped as a board game
Fuse Games used a tabletop prototype to test the roguelite progression in Star Wars Galactic Racer before building it in software. Creative director Kieran Crimmins and CEO Matt Webster said a board game let the team evaluate moment-to-moment decisions faster than an early digital prototype. The system awards tuning points, parts, credits, and persistent unlocks across runs, with rewards varying by event.
Fuse Games turned to tabletop methods while designing Star Wars Galactic Racer's upgrade and meta-progression. Creative director Kieran Crimmins said such a prototype can be assembled in a day, often from sticky notes, sketches, and dice, letting the team test whether the system felt right before committing to software.
CEO Matt Webster noted that modern engines make digital prototyping powerful, yet written ideas can still be captured faster. Decoupling from a digital build helped the team focus on moment-to-moment choices. In the final system, event rewards vary and can include tuning points, parts, credits, and unlocks that carry across runs.
This approach may influence how game studios prototype complex progression, potentially reducing early development costs and enabling faster iteration. Players could benefit if such methods lead to more polished reward loops, while developers and small teams may find tabletop testing accessible. It may also encourage cross-disciplinary design practices, though impact depends on genre and team.