Competitive with Kindness™: How We Design Board Games For Kids

For the past five years, when parents have asked me to describe our games at Treasure Falls Games, I’ve usually said something like this:

“They’re competitive games that encourage cooperation.”

That description has always been true, and is a nice way to describe the experience we are striving to achieve.

However, recently I found a phrase that better captures what I have been trying to build and has a bit more zip:

Competitive with Kindness™

It is a simple idea, but one that has quietly shaped every kids board game I have designed, starting with The Quest Kids and continuing with Super Trains: First Ride.

Where Competitive with Kindness™ Began: The Quest Kids

The idea first came to life in The Quest Kids, a fantasy adventure board game for kids ages five and up. I wanted a way for the game to move quickly and for most turns to feel fun and rewarding for young players.

In The Quest Kids, players compete to earn the most stars by exploring a dungeon, defeating monsters, and completing quests. Winning matters, and kids care about their progress.

However, when a player runs into trouble, the game creates opportunities for others to help.

If a hero cannot defeat a monster on their own, other players can choose to share ability cards. When they do, the helping player earns a Kind Kid card. These cards provide powerful, always positive rewards that can be used later in the game.

What surprised me most was not just that the system worked, but how kids responded to it. The biggest arguments in the game were over kids wanting the opportunity to help their opponent.

Nearly every positive review of The Quest Kids mentions the Kind Kid mechanic. Reviewers consistently talked about how it reduces frustration, encourages natural helping, and keeps everyone engaged through the end of the game.

That feedback made it clear that this was not just a clever game mechanic. It was something families genuinely valued.

“The Quest Kids really encourages my kids' camaraderie and the kindness in their hearts, and who doesn't want that in a game?!? - Jenny from 90 Second Nerd

Why “Competitive with Kindness™” Works

Describing these games as competitive games that encourage cooperation was accurate, but a bit awkward. It also only really hit home for people who already knew that "cooperative games" and "competitive games" are common slang in the board game world.

There is no forced cooperation, but also no uncomfortable tension around the table.

Competitive with Kindness™ is clearer, cooler and more intentional.

• Our games are competitive. Winning still matters.

• However, kindness is part of the strategy. In fact, it is often the smartest move you can make.

• Kids learn that success doesn’t require tearing others down. Competing and being kind can coexist.

Bringing Competitive with Kindness™ to Super Trains

When it came time to design Super Trains, our new superhero train board game for kids, I knew I wanted the same emotional experience.

In Super Trains: First Ride, players race around the robot city of Gearland delivering passengers and cargo, upgrading their trains, and earning stars.

Players are competing from the very first turn.

But when emergencies appear and one train cannot solve a problem alone, other players can step in to help. Doing so earns Kind Train cards, which provide special abilities, movement boosts, or extra stars later in the game.

And I'm thrilled to say that once again, it works! Players are just as eager to share magic gears in the City of Gearland as they were to share magic, power and wisdom in the Kingdom of Treasure Falls.

Because the reward for kindness is built into the strategy, the system works no matter the setting, whether it is a fantasy dungeon or a robot city.

The Philosophy Going Forward

Both The Quest Kids and Super Trains: First Ride are competitive games. There is a clear winner at the end.

They are also games where kindness is rewarded, helping others feels good, and every player has a chance to shine.

They are games where kids cheer for big moments, support each other naturally, and still care deeply about winning.

That is the kind of experience I want for my own family, and it is the kind of games we will continue to design.

That is Competitive with Kindness™.