Ask yourself:
Would this make someone play differently?
If yes, you’re probably onto something.
What makes an achievement interesting?
Great achievements often do one of these things:
Encourage a different strategy
They push players to try an approach they wouldn’t normally consider.
Win a game of Catan without trading with another player.
Add a fun restriction
They challenge players to succeed while limiting their options.
Win a game of Azul without ever taking a penalty tile.
Create a memorable moment
They lead to stories players will still be talking about after the game.
Discover the final cure on the turn before the outbreak track would have ended the game.
Reward mastery
They celebrate players who know the game inside and out.
Complete a single city containing a cathedral worth at least 20 points.
Three common mistakes
Too vague
Players should know exactly what they need to do.
If two players might disagree about whether an achievement counted, make it more specific.
Too dependent on luck
Players should be able to influence the outcome through their decisions.
Luck can add excitement, but it shouldn’t be the whole challenge.
Too much bookkeeping
Achievements should add fun, not homework.
If players need a separate spreadsheet to track it, it might be worth simplifying.
Five examples from the community
Here are a few achievements that work well, and one short reason why each one does.
Win Ticket to Ride without claiming any route shorter than 4 trains.
Interesting because it encourages a completely different strategy.
Win a game of 7 Wonders without building a single military symbol.
Interesting because it removes an option most players lean on.
Win a game of Splendor holding at least three noble tiles.
Interesting because it rewards planning several turns ahead.
Win Pandemic without causing a single outbreak.
Interesting because it creates an unusually controlled board state.
Win King of Tokyo by reaching 20 victory points without ever leaving Tokyo.
Interesting because it turns a risky position into the whole challenge.
Before you publish
Ask yourself:
- Is the goal clear?
- Can players verify it easily?
- Does it fit the game?
- Would it make someone play differently?
- Is the difficulty reasonable?
If yes, publish it.
The community can help refine the details later.