Our Story
Zone In was founded in 2016 by a group of passionate board game enthusiasts who recognized a critical gap in the industry: talented designers were spending years perfecting their games without access to professional, objective playtesting feedback.
Our founders had experienced firsthand the frustration of publishing a game that felt perfect in their inner circle, only to discover fundamental balance issues and confusing rules when it reached wider audiences. They knew there had to be a better way.
Today, Zone In has grown into a team of 15+ dedicated professionals including former game designers, data analysts, UX researchers, and professional playtesters. We've tested over 500 games across every imaginable genre, from quick party games to epic 6-hour strategy experiences.
Our mission is simple: help creators bring exceptional, polished, player-ready games to market faster and with greater confidence. We believe every game deserves to be experienced as its designer intended, and rigorous testing is the bridge between vision and reality.
Meet Our Team
A diverse group of experts united by passion for exceptional game design.
Sarah Chen
Co-Founder & Lead Analyst
Former board game designer with 12 years experience. PhD in Behavioral Psychology. Specializes in player motivation and engagement metrics.
Marcus Rodriguez
Co-Founder & Operations Director
Published 8 games through major publishers. Expert in production logistics and component design. Manages tester recruitment and session coordination.
Dr. Emily Watson
Senior UX Researcher
10 years in game UX research. Former lead at major studio. Focuses on usability testing and rulebook clarity optimization.
James Park
Data Analyst
Statistics background with passion for gaming. Builds custom analytics dashboards and ensures statistical rigor in all findings.
Deep Industry Expertise
Our team brings together decades of combined experience across all aspects of board game creation, testing, and publishing.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide everything we do.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of rigor and accuracy. Every finding is validated, every recommendation is actionable.
Passion
We genuinely love board games and care deeply about helping creators succeed. Your success is our success.
Objectivity
We provide honest, unbiased feedback even when it's difficult. Sugar-coating helps no one.
Confidentiality
Your ideas and designs are safe with us. We sign NDAs and maintain strict confidentiality protocols.
Work With Us
Ready to take your game to the next level? Let's discuss how our expertise can help you achieve your goals.
Get in Touch