WASHINGTON STATE
DELEGATE DIRECTORY
Spiel Essen 2025
October 23-26, 2025
Booth 5-A700
aknDesign is a WA–based design studio and publisher focused on creating high-quality, design-forward tabletop experiences. Its flagship product, Misfits, is a minimalist stacking game crafted with premium materials and modern aesthetics. Misfits has sold over 1,300 units internationally and has garnered attention from leading retailers and design communities. We prioritize inclusive play and artful design.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Misfits by aknDesign is a premium, designforward stacking game with tactile wood/ acrylic pieces, minimalist art, inclusive social mechanics, 2–6 players, 15–25 min play, 1,300+ units sold.
SERVICES
Misfits: Classic Edition
Alexander Neumann, Owner/Founder/President hello@misfits.co misfits.co
At Black Diamond Creatives our mission is to collaborate with teams of inventive and innovative people to design original, fun, and engaging games. We strive to push the boundaries of imagination, delivering unique experiences that bring people together through play.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
We provide educational and fun table top games created by experts in their fields.
SERVICES
Quibble - story creation game; Artbitrage - game that teaches about art galleries; Complexity - game that teaches about the world of DNA.
Brian Westad, Managing Partner +1 (425) 281-5202 seattle@bdsops.com | www.quibblegame.com
Seth Crofton, Partner | +1 (253) 261-1680 | SethCrofton@gmail.com | www.quibblegame.com
Cherry Picked Games is an independent tabletop game studio, founded in 2013 in Seattle, WA. We design and publish our own games that focus on unique player interactions and cheeky humor. Our catalog includes a variety of genres, from cooperative board games about working for space bureaucracies to role-playing games about demonic apocalypses. We bring you only the sweetest games!
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Far Away: Two-player cooperative game with limited communication and a unique roleplaying-based creature control system.
SERVICES
Games we’re bring to Essen: Far Away, Hair of the Dog, Far Away: Corporate Espionage (pending tariff-related production issues).
Alexander Jerabek, Creative Director | +1 (928) 606-1944 Alex@cherrypickedgames.com www.cherrypickedgames.com
Emily Kalivan, Social Media Director +1 (360) 420-3999 | Emily@cherrypickedgames.com www.cherrypickedgames.com
Flatout Games, based in Seattle, WA, is focused on designing and publishing approachable and easy to learn board games. Our most well-known products are the award-winning Calico (2020) and Cascadia (2021) and a series of quick card games (including Point Salad, Point City, and Point Galaxy). We partner with Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) for the retail release and international localization of our games.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Flatout Games’ games are great for both new and experienced gamers. We strive to create games that are easy to share with friends and family and have approachable themes.
SERVICES
Calico, Cascadia, Verdant, Fit to Print, Point City, Nocturne, Knitting Circle, Point Galaxy, and Propolis
Molly Johnson, Owner | +1 (206) 307-6942 flatoutgamesmail@gmail.com | www.flatout.games
Shawn Stankewich, Co-Founder | +1 (206) 953-3026 www.flatout.games
InDiPro handles importing, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution of indie board games in the U.S.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
We play every game in catalog, so we can speak for it to our clientele. We do 2-3 dozen events a year and build relationships with game stores to build a better indie game environment.
SERVICES
Indie board game importing, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution.
William Carson, Owner | +1 (302) 715-4855 | Will@indiprogames.com shop.indiprogames.com
We are a passionate family business who focuses on the tabletop RPG experience. We make premium and exotic miniatures as well as dice, paint, brushes, and other painting gear. We are based out of Washington state USA and exhibit all around the US and Canada.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Our models are a blend of sculpts by us and officially licensed models. We have created our own resin, printers and post processing process to deliver a master grade product.
SERVICES
We are a full service shop offering sculpting, prototyping, production runs, and customization services both 3D printed and laser engraved or cut.
Patrick X Rami, CEO | +1 (917) 309-2196 | PRami@lethalshadows.com | www.lethalshadows.com
Helen Esposito, COO | +1 (516) 996-3051 HRami@lethalshadows.ccom | www.lethalshadows.com
Nerdcore Medical is a publishing start-up devoted to developing unique games and study-aids about medical topics. We are passionate about gamifying education and making learning fun. With the help of game-designer Brandon Patton, we’ve devoted our time to adding game layers to various pieces of medical education.
UNIQUE
SELLING POINTS
We use fantasy battle storytelling to create an accessible and fun way to engage learning about antibiotics and infectious bacteria.
SERVICES
The Bacterionomicon - a fantasy bestiary Defenders of Soma - a fantasy board game
Brandon Patton, Head of Operations | +1 (718) 744-4163 | Brandon@nerdcoremedical.com
www.nerdcoremedical.com
Arun Mathews, Owner | +1 (505) 728-7115 | Arun@nerdcoremedical.com www.nerdcoremedical.com
Hadrai’da: Ascendant combines elements from RPG’s and TCG’s to create a unique and unforgettable tabletop gaming experience! Create your own character using weapons, armor, and magical abilities to battle with or against other players. Set within the post-apocalyptic fictional universe in the World of Kylia, you’ll find the game backed by rich lore and the perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Hadrai’da: Ascendant provides a unique TCG experience where dice rolling is the main action of combat. This lowers the skill floor and makes deck building easier while still providing depth.
SERVICES
We have booster boxes, draftable armory decks, and starter decks. We also sell auxiliary products like dice, deck boxes, and playmats.
Chase Lambert-Crittenden, CEO +1 (425) 943-1302 | Chase@iqpictures.com | worldofkylia.com
Gavin Toy | gavin@iqpictures.com worldofkylia.com
OUR SPIEL ESSEN 2025 TEAM
Shannon Halberstadt
Creative Economy
Sector Lead
Shannon.Halberstadt@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: +1 (564) 669-0378
Stephanie Prentice Office of the Secretary of State
Stephanie.Prentice@sos.wa.gov
Steve Hobbs Secretary of State
Secretaryofstate@sos.wa.gov
Maritherese Thomas Office of the Secretary of State
Maritherese.Thomas@sos.wa.gov