Jordan Brown

Each game I've made exists for those who play it. They live to cultivate experiences for players, whether they're funny, thrilling, contemplative, or curious. If an experience I have fostered makes someone's day a little brighter, it has fulfilled its purpose to the highest degree.

My work spans various genres, from combat-focused action video games to compact single-player tabletop experiences. In practice, my favorite part of the development process is playtesting and iterating on rules and mechanics, especially when I can tinker with values that change how a game feels. My work often draws upon my love of hard science fiction, fantasy, and cosmic horror, especially the works of Neal Stevenson, Dennis E. Taylor, Martha Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and the authors of the SCP Foundation. Their meticulous attention to detail and clinical approach to storytelling without sacrificing joy and humor embody the austere, unabashed games I love to create.

One game that exemplifies my values as a designer is Court of Gods, a tabletop role-playing party game in which a convicted criminal weaves together a short story to convince their gods to spare their soul. Behind the game's outrageously formal diction, procedures, and pomp lies a game that only wants to make people laugh.