Tabletop games are more popular than ever, with people discovering board games every day. But what does it take to be a board game publisher, and what does the landscape look like in 2026? Top tabletop game publishers and designers—Deirdre Cross (WiT—Women in Toys, licensing & entertainment, board member), Justin Gary (Stone Blade Entertainment, CEO), Matt Fantastic (Forever Stoked Creative, creative director), Heather O'Neill (9th Level Games, CEO), Erica Hayes-Bouyouris (Spin Master, lead designer), and Luke Peterschmidt (Asmodee, head of active category management)—share a look at the current marketplace, trends, and where the industry is headed.
