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Karl Lange

@thearkangell

Board game designer / developer / engineer / dad based in Melbourne Australia. Winner of 2021 Cardboard Edison Award. He/him.

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28.07.2023
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Latest posts by Karl Lange @thearkangell

Ok all packed for CanCon!
I'm bringing:
๐ŸŽฒ Whale Rescue - co-op hand management game
๐ŸŽฒ Nine Queens - 2 player area control
๐ŸŽฒ Dress up game - point salad outfits!
๐ŸŽฒ Spectacle - co-op codesign with Joel Kennedy
๐ŸŽฒ Row your Boat - kids push your luck game
Let's test some games!

20.01.2026 10:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Feeling a bit num and very mortal at learning of the passing of Steve Dee of @tinstargames.bsky.social.
Steve was a pillar of the Australian board game and RPG design scene both creating so much and supporting so many people, he will be sorely missed. RIP.

05.01.2026 07:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
18-Card Challenge: Cozy Games Finalist Announcement When we announced the 18-Card Cozy Game challenge, we admitted that we couldnโ€™t quite define what โ€œcozyโ€ means. Thankfully, we received more than 130 submissions that pointed the way for us! We saw ga...

Awoke this morning to discover my game A Walk on the Beach was selected as a finalist for the @buttonshy.bsky.social cosy game contest! What a surprise and great way to welcome in the new year. Congrats to all other finalists and submissions :)
buttonshygames.com/blogs/news-1...

01.01.2026 21:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
42 Reviews in 18 Minutes - with Tom Vasel
42 Reviews in 18 Minutes - with Tom Vasel YouTube video by The Dice Tower

Dice Tower speed review of Octocube = 7.5 from Tom! youtu.be/tL0I710FtUs?...

30.11.2025 20:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Last chance to turn it off.

On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.

To toggle it off ๐Ÿ‘‰ Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.

31.10.2025 13:37 ๐Ÿ‘ 3869 ๐Ÿ” 3586 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 89 ๐Ÿ“Œ 209

That's a good question, I've been making more family / gateway+ games which have been much faster to iterate. Primarily digital testing for the first half of a design saves tons of time physically prototyping, & doing more co-designs (4/12) to have a more finished product at pitch stage.

19.10.2025 20:44 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Just signed my 12th board game contract!
Currently have 2 games out of print, 2 released 2025, 3 releasing direct to retail 2026 + 3 to kickstarter in 2026, 1 direct to retail in 2027 and one direct to retail 2028!

19.10.2025 09:29 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Last day of @paxaus.bsky.social is kicking off in less than 2 hours! Come find me in Collabratory demoing Fragged Cosmos @fraggedempire.bsky.social

11.10.2025 21:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Home made box for Fragged Cosmos

Home made box for Fragged Cosmos

Home made player boards (ships) and central "Haven System" boards for Fragged Cosmos

Home made player boards (ships) and central "Haven System" boards for Fragged Cosmos

Stack of over 600 cards for Fragged Cosmos prototype

Stack of over 600 cards for Fragged Cosmos prototype

Various components packed into the box for Fragged Cosmos

Various components packed into the box for Fragged Cosmos

3 games in 3 days! I'll be demoing Fragged Cosmos at @paxaus #Collaboratory Friday arvo and Sunday morning! I have been working on this one for close to 3 years and we're nearing completion with crowdfunding by Fragged Empire RPG planned for 2026 #boardgames #prototype #design

08.10.2025 08:29 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of playing cards, and cardboard water & salmon tiles for my game Salmon Run, sitting on a green cutting board. Some tiles are still to be cut out and a metal ruler and craft knife are sitting waiting for me to finish this post.

Photo of playing cards, and cardboard water & salmon tiles for my game Salmon Run, sitting on a green cutting board. Some tiles are still to be cut out and a metal ruler and craft knife are sitting waiting for me to finish this post.

Another day another #prototype ! One more game I am showing at #DevCon on Thursday - Salmon Run.
Using programmed movement, players move salmon up the river, and position their bears to hopefully eat them before others get to them!
#boardgames #design

07.10.2025 10:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of cards from prototype game A Walk on the Beach in the process of being cut by guillotine

Photo of cards from prototype game A Walk on the Beach in the process of being cut by guillotine

Photo of cards from prototype game A Walk on the Beach laid out on a table

Photo of cards from prototype game A Walk on the Beach laid out on a table

First time in a few months to actually make a physical prototype - this one is: A Walk on the Beach - for the @buttonshy.bsky.social Cosy Game contest.
I will be testing it at #DevCon by #TGDA in the lead up to @paxaus.bsky.social
#boardgames #design #prototype

06.10.2025 10:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Great spot! I'll get a better photo for you, didn't even know they were doing it until I got my copies!

04.10.2025 12:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
6 games, designed by Karl Lange. From left to right: 
โ€ข Mythic Baths, coming March 2026
โ€ข Fragged Cosmos, coming to crowdfunding second half 2026
โ€ข Under the Mango Tree, released 2025
โ€ข Jabberwocky, released 2020
โ€ข A peaceful Garden, released 2024
โ€ข Octocube, released 2025

6 games, designed by Karl Lange. From left to right: โ€ข Mythic Baths, coming March 2026 โ€ข Fragged Cosmos, coming to crowdfunding second half 2026 โ€ข Under the Mango Tree, released 2025 โ€ข Jabberwocky, released 2020 โ€ข A peaceful Garden, released 2024 โ€ข Octocube, released 2025

My shelf is growing - 6 of my released and upcoming games!

03.10.2025 03:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 19 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Coming soon: OCTOCUBE โ€“ The Magnetic Cubes from the Ocean Depths Carefully choose the tiles you collect with your magnetic cube ๐Ÿ™ deep beneath the sea. Includes three game levels. US-only campaign.

For my American friends, Sit Down will be running a Kickstarter campaign to bring Octocube to the American market - this is one of my earliest designs and one I'm very proud of - please follow along to see when it goes live!

13.09.2025 22:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Great day today working on Tiny Homes board game and Fragged Cosmos board game, both coming to Kickstarter in the next 12 months!

05.09.2025 12:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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For people in Melbs @meepleuniversity.bsky.social is hosting the Tabletop Takeover at Big Games Night Out at Fed Square. They'll be playing a life size version of Octocube by @thearkangell.bsky.social This sounds so FUN! Oct 9, 4 pm til late.
www.biggamesnightout.com/tabletop-tak...

30.08.2025 04:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Designer Diary: Octocube | BoardGameGeek News

Well if this isn't exciting I don't know what is: my designer diary for Octocube is on the front page of @boardgamegeek.com! ๐Ÿคฉ

boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...

03.08.2025 13:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Me standing in front of the main GenCon entrance sign

Me standing in front of the main GenCon entrance sign

My standing in front of a large banner of the game Cytress, a game I did the development work on and designed the solo mode for.

My standing in front of a large banner of the game Cytress, a game I did the development work on and designed the solo mode for.

Cosplayers lined up inside the GenCon hall for photos.

Cosplayers lined up inside the GenCon hall for photos.

Moose Games networking event. From left to right, me, Beneeta, and Stella (photo courtesy Stella)

Moose Games networking event. From left to right, me, Beneeta, and Stella (photo courtesy Stella)

Day 4 of GenCon is about to begin! Crazy couple of days so far pitching, playing & buying games, and meeting lovely people!

03.08.2025 12:28 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

About to board my flight to Indie, GenCon2025 here I come!

30.07.2025 21:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Of my released games I am most proud of the simplicity and depth in Under the Mango tree and it was great to go back through the past versions during the writing of the diary and see its progression ๐Ÿฆœ

18.06.2025 22:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Under the Mango Tree โ€“ Designer's Diary โ€“ Deep Print Games

Deep Print Games has published my designer diary for Under the Mango Tree on their website where I go through my creative process and the changes that each element went through from idea to final game ๐Ÿ™‚

18.06.2025 22:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Get READY To WIN Big with Board Game Designers Strategies
Get READY To WIN Big with Board Game Designers Strategies YouTube video by Meeple University

A few days late, but I was invited to be in Meeple University's April Fools video this year ๐Ÿคฉ Come and join myself and other designers as you learn how to win every board game ๐Ÿ˜‰

03.04.2025 21:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Welp, there's a @semicoop.bsky.social comic of one of my games ๐Ÿ˜ถ

28.03.2025 08:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Crowdfunding will probably be toward the end of the year :)

15.03.2025 21:18 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Fragged Cosmos universe made up of Haven (our solar system) and 3 of 5 additional systems, each with their own sets of missions and stories to discover.

Fragged Cosmos universe made up of Haven (our solar system) and 3 of 5 additional systems, each with their own sets of missions and stories to discover.

A players ship with various resources, ship upgrade modules, completed missions, and crew

A players ship with various resources, ship upgrade modules, completed missions, and crew

A second players ship with upgrades, missions, crew, credits, and destroyed pirates

A second players ship with upgrades, missions, crew, credits, and destroyed pirates

One project that I have been committing a substantial amount of time to over the last 3 years is Fragged Cosmos - a non-destructive legacy sandbox game based on the Fragged Empire RPG universe.
We are coming to the pointy end of the project with a crowdfunding hopefully toward the end of 2025

14.03.2025 12:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Great day meeting people, networking and demoing Octocube at the Melbourne Toy Fair. I even found a copy of my upcoming game Mythic Baths at the Good Games booth (coming Q3 2025) ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

02.03.2025 11:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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At the Australian Toy Fair today!
Always interesting to check out new products and latest trends in the retail space.
I'll be demoing my latest game Octocube at the VR Distribution booth later today too - if you're here come say hi!

01.03.2025 23:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Another play of Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth.
Really enjoying it, I'm surprised how much just having a theme I'm invested in makes the game so much more engaging.

18.02.2025 09:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Completed landscape in Harmonies

Completed landscape in Harmonies

First game of Harmonies (that I was gifted for Christmas) great little thinky game. I just cracked 100 points. Very satisfying token arranging and lots of competing objectives.
It's interesting it gets compared to Cascadia as it is completely different in play and feel.

13.02.2025 10:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Had a great time playing through the first 4 chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring trick taking game.
Playing as the characters is great & the goals attached to them match their personalities & general intents well. Knowing the IP helps but to me it does feel like we are stepping through the story.

01.02.2025 21:04 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0