Playtesting
Shaping Games, One Test at a Time
Playtesting is a vital part of creating engaging and effective games, and at SPS, we’re dedicated to supporting this process through our online Playtest Programme. By participating, you’ll gain access to innovative games in development, help shape their final form, and contribute to the creative process. If you’re passionate about playtesting and want to stay updated on opportunities, please get in touch to receive regular updates and be part of this exciting journey!. Sign up now!
Jim Wallman, SPS Director and Master Game Designer, will host our next playtest.
Genius of Evil
DATE: Thursday 18th September
TIME: 6-8pm UTC
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Genius of Evil, Unleash your inner Criminal Mastermind! (white cats optional)!
This is a playtest of the early development of 'Genius of Evil', a game in which players act as criminal masterminds leading a global conspiracy, allocating Minions, Influence, and Genius Points to build the organisation, develop schemes, outwit rivals, build a covert base or two and thwart the efforts of Government agents to disrupt their operations.
While designed as a recreational game its mechanics might also lend themselves to serious applications - the strategic planning, prioritisation, and risk assessment is intended to be a big part of the game."
LED BY: Jim Wallman (SPS’ Director & Master professional game designer)
Upcoming Playtest Sessions
STONE AGE SURVIVAL
DATE: 9th October 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Stone Age Survival is an educational game aimed primarily at KS3 school pupils. The players represent adult members of a hunter gatherer tribe during the palaeolithic era. The tribe also includes children and elders, who are not played. The tribe’s children are its future: the more children who are born and survive to adulthood, the better. The tribe’s success is measured by the number of children it has as it strives to feed, shelter, and protect its people.
As time passes children are born and mature, which enables the tribe to survive and flourish despite the deaths of some members. Each game turn represents one year in the life of the tribe. During play, the tribe gathers around the campfire allocates members to various activities, which are then resolved separately by drawing cards. The outcomes of each turn (available resources, birth, death, and ageing) feed into decision making for the following turn.
LED BY: Bruce Walton – Experienced Facilitator and Trainer, Combining Expertise in Road Safety, ICT, and Creative Game-Based Learning
FREE
Operation scimitar
DATE: 13th November 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Tactical sci-fi Wargame, The dreaded Shia Khan Empire is driving towards the colonies and the critical junction world of Ghoygi is the only place they can be stopped before they reach them.
Whilst the Colonies prepare their military, the job of holding the Shia Khan forces back falls upon a ragtag group of militia, veteran service personnel and other ragtag forces.
You will command a squad, a platoon or the whole company during this tactical scale game that is about squad management, communication, attrition and combat.
Look after your men and equipment, plan your march and patrols and hold on until more equipment and replacements arrive.
This is a very early prototype so this playtest will be largely finding out how well the basic systems work
LED BY: Richard Hart
FREE
WHERE SWORDS POINT
DATE: 11th December 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: This game represents a fictional conflict in a fantasy-inspired setting, somewhat equivalent to the Middle Ages in terms of political and technological development.
The game primarily revolves around large numbers of individuals with personal power, and how they align themselves with each other (or how they don't) in the middle of a clash over power, cultures and resources. The game takes some very loose inspiration from history, including elements of the First Crusade, but it is not a historical game, with the inclusion of some magical elements.
The intention of the playtest will be to playtest the systems of the game "in full", but with a smaller number of players and over a shorter timespan, so participants will need to be comfortable familiarising themselves with the game's ruleset in advance.
LED BY: John Mizon – Creative Strategist and Internationally Acclaimed Megagame Designer Since 2015
FREE
Shaped by Experience: Drawing from Our Previous 2025 Playtests
Heart of the Possible
DATE: 9th January 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Hospital Simulation Game: This semi-megagame is intended as a speculative look at how a hospital in the UK may be able to improve its ability to help patients, with limited resources”
LED BY: Rob Grayston
FREE
Heart of the Possible (REPEAT)
DATE: 13th February 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Hospital Simulation Game: This semi-megagame is intended as a speculative look at how a hospital in the UK may be able to improve its ability to help patients, with limited resources”
LED BY: Rob Grayston
FREE
Water Water Everywhere 2
DATE: 13th March 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: This playtest will explore an updated and upgraded version of Water Water Everywhere. The game focuses on the impending rise in sea levels and its impact on the UK, using East Anglia as an example. Players will explore the impending effects, and compete and collaborate on how to define and describe them — Expect to be engaged, intrigued, and perhaps even horrified in equal measure.
LED BY: Nick Drage, assisted by Terry Martin
FREE
Lost Youth: Village War
DATE: 10th April 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: The experience of village communities during the Vietnam war - from the Vietnamese perspective.
LED BY: Jim Wallman
FREE
Adlerangrif (Eagle Attack)
DATE: 8th May 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Operational real time wargame of on 90 minute raid during the Battle of Britain.
LED BY: Jim Wallman
FREE
on the streets
DATE: 12th June 2025
LOCATION: Online
DESCRIPTION: Playtesting a game on civil disorder in an urban setting.
LED BY: Jim Wallman
FREE
GET IN TOUCH
To participate in a Stone Paper Scissors Playtest or for any questions, please reach out to us. We are here to help!