Big strategy. Small footprints.

Board games by Joe Klipfel that keep the hobby alive for busy people.

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“We make board games that keep the hobby alive for busy people.”

Mythfield Games is Joe Klipfel, a game and graphic designer and a father of young kids. He designs tabletop (and table-free!) games that can scratch the same itch as your large-footprint favorites.

In his words, a compact footprint is “an incredibly challenging and rewarding constraint.” His free, 18-card shrink of Gloomhaven spent over a week at #1 on BoardGameGeek’s Hotness list, and became Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs, which he co-designed with Nikki Valens.

His designs are published by Cephalofair Games, Chip Theory Games, Best With 1 Games, Button Shy Games and Rock Manor Games, and the rest he publishes himself.

More about Joe

Joe’s most popular games

Two hands holding a spread of Buttons & Bugs ability cards over the game board, with the box behind. — Photograph: Cephalofair Games.

No. 1 Cephalofair Games

Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs

Gloomhaven and its mercenaries get shrunk down in a stand-alone, single-player adventure: the same deep strategy combat, in a fraction of the size.

Set up and play a scenario in under 20 minutes, on a coffee table or an airplane tray table. Joe co-designed it with Nikki Valens, from his own free shrink, Gloomholdin’.

1 player · 20 min · ages 10+

Buy from Cephalofair More about the game

No. 2 Chip Theory Games

Dragons of Etchinstone

A solo-only, palm-playable, Mage Knight-inspired pocket adventure.

Four Mage action cards.

A cult classic of the print-and-play community, now reimagined by Chip Theory Games with gorgeous art and next-level production.

No dice. No chips. No backup plan.
Chip Theory Games

You play an apprentice mage, venturing forth from the Tower to investigate the reappearance of dragons in Vale. Just your brain and your 16 action cards against the adventure ahead.

Two expansions, Northvale and Siege, still fit in your hand.

1 player · 20–40 min · ages 14+

Buy from Chip Theory More about the game

The rest of the shelf

Hey, I’m Joe!

I’m the game and graphic designer at Mythfield Games. I love seeing busy parents, or folks with travel-heavy careers, using my games to keep their hobby alive in spite of their demanding schedules.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback. I love connecting with people in the community and would welcome hearing from you!