162: Why we can't make board games in the U.S. (guest: James Hudson)

Nov 6, 2025

All this business (or loss of) around tariffs has repeated raised a question from the gaming community: Why not just manufacture games in the U.S. instead of, say, China?

James Hudson, game designer and owner of Druid City Games, took time out of promoting his Wonderland's War Duel Kickstarter (check out our preview!) to explain why it's so difficult. We've heard the facts from the board game industry before, but James has additional insight worth hearing out.

Timeline

• 1:30 - Going Analog's game pick: Everbloom.
• 4:58 - James' game pick: Galileo Galilei.
• 11:35 - Wonderland's War Duel, a new Wonderland's War expansion, Madcala, Off With Their Heads!, and an expansion to Tidal Blades 2.
• 22:03 - James' topic: Why making board games in America is so difficult.