Make Your Own Rules

Hexominos is designed to be a platform for your own creativity. Use the tiles and the grid as a starting point, then invent your own objectives, constraints, and scoring systems.

Best Practices for Designing a Game Mode

Start with a Core Action

Every good game mode centers on one thing players do — stack, match, race, surround, connect. Pick a single verb and build around it. If you can’t describe what a player does on their turn in one sentence, simplify.

Keep Setup Short

The faster players get from opening the box to making their first decision, the more likely your mode gets played again. Aim for setup that takes under two minutes. If your mode needs a complex starting layout, consider using a pattern card to speed things along.

Give Players Meaningful Choices

A turn should involve at least one real decision — not just executing a predetermined move. The best moments come when players weigh trade-offs: do I build toward my own goal or block someone else?

Constrain Before You Add

Before introducing new components or special rules, try constraining what’s already there. Limiting which pieces can be played, where they can go, or how many a player can hold often creates more interesting gameplay than adding new mechanics.

Balance Luck and Skill

Pure strategy can feel punishing for new players. Pure luck feels hollow for everyone. Dice rolls, card draws, or hidden information can add tension — but make sure skilled play is still rewarded over time.

Playtest Early and Often

Your first version won’t be balanced, and that’s fine. Play it with different group sizes. Watch where players get confused or bored. The rules that survive playtesting are the ones worth keeping.

Write Rules Clearly

When writing up your game mode, structure it the same way every time:

  1. Players — how many can play
  2. Playtime — a rough estimate
  3. Setup — what to do before the first turn
  4. Play — what happens on a turn, in order
  5. Scoring — how to determine a winner

Use numbered steps for anything sequential. Avoid ambiguous language — if a rule could be read two ways, rewrite it.

Share and Iterate

Post your game mode to the Hexominos Gamemode Forum. Other players will find edge cases you missed and suggest improvements you hadn’t considered. The best rulesets are collaborative.