‘Fractured’ is a tactile tabletop game, designed to combat screen-addiction in young teens. Encouraging face-to-face interaction and imagination, it keeps players actively engaged, for a gaming experience that values attention and presence at the table. By offering a hands-on alternative to screen-based play, the game aims to reduce passive behaviour and dependence on digital devices.
Modular Game Board (Illustration)
The main modular game board is composed of five hexagonal tiles arranged around a central pentagonal tile, forming a fractured planet made up of distinct regions. Each tile represents a unique environment brought to life through vibrant illustrations, to immerse young players in a richly imagined world.
Each tile includes three movement spaces, allowing players to explore and navigate the terrain with their character meeples, as they progress through the game. This modular board layout enhances visual appeal, whilst encouraging a tactile sense of discovery and adventure.
3D-Printed Components (Character Meeples, Dice, Resources)
Modelled using CAD software, ‘Fractured’ includes custom 3D-printed components to support tactile interaction and reinforce a sense of progression. With three unique character meeples, each represents a distinct character type with its own playstyle. This variety offers young players the autonomy to choose a role that suits their preferences, encouraging active engagement through personal choice and strategic diversity.
Additionally the game includes a custom 4-sided die, used when drawing ‘Symbol’ cards, further contributing to the game’s tactile appeal and adding an element of chance and excitement.
The game also features smaller ‘Resource’ components that players can earn throughout gameplay. These are designed to be handled and collected, providing a hands-on experience that enhances immersion and the feeling of reward.
'Lore' Tokens
At the heart of the game’s narrative are double-sided ‘Lore Tokens’, each revealing a fragment of knowledge about the planet. These small tokens are curated to support hands-on gameplay and strategic decision-making, featuring iconography that matches the custom dice for a cohesive visual system.
'Ability' Tokens
In addition, ‘Fractured’ includes ‘Ability' tokens tailored to specific characters, visually representing each character’s core strength (‘Agility’ for Strider and ‘Magic’ for Sorcerer). Players spend these tokens and use their imagination to creatively respond to written prompts.when drawing ‘Resource’ cards. This encourages players to stay alert and strategically manage their tokens, fostering constant engagement and thoughtful play.
Card Design
Cards in ‘Fractured’ are key to driving narrative, exploration, and character interaction. Encouraging imaginative problem-solving, they are drawn by players to prompt actions, challenges, and opportunities to learn more about the fractured world. Divided into two types, ‘Resource’ and ‘Symbol’ cards, each presents a unique narrative prompt at its centre, to challenge players and advance their exploration of the planet. After reading the scenario aloud, players must complete a corresponding action in order to progress.
Player Dashboards
The game also includes three interactive player dashboards, each featuring space for tracking game components (tokens, cards, dice and other 3D pieces), to encourage focus, imagination and active participation. Inspired by role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, this promotes critical thinking, teamwork and strategic decision-making. The gameplay also incorporates a unique clay-moulding mechanic for the Forger character, enhancing tactile interaction and creativity.
Additionally, each dashboard includes a brief description of the player’s chosen character and their distinct playstyle, inspired by character sheets in traditional tabletop RPGs. This promotes imaginative storytelling, deepens player immersion and sparks creativity.
Ending Card
Once all regions of the planet have been explored, players are presented with a story sleeve. This delayed reveal builds anticipation and teaches patience, particularly for younger players. This sleeve contains the game’s final card, revealed through a sliding motion. This presents players with two narrative options, prompting a group discussion to decide how the story should end.
Encouraging collaboration and face-to- face communication, each choice leads to a unique outcome printed on the reverse of the card. These endings are written as open- ended consequences, allowing players to feel the weight of their actions and choices, in directly shaping the story’s conclusion.
This rewards active presence and engagement, contrasting with passive forms of entertainment like digital screens. By placing the emotional and narrative payoff in the hands of the players, ‘Fractured’ reinforces the value of active participation and imagination, for a memorable and meaningful closing to the game.
Drawstring Bag
Intentionally designed to be compact and portable, the board tiles and other components can be quickly assembled and disassembled. All pieces fit into a small drawstring bag for easy storage and transport, allowing players to take the game anywhere. This portability offers young people a playful, screen-free alternative they can turn to, in moments of boredom or device temptation.
