Got a board game prototype gathering dust? Or an idea that will not leave you alone? The Unpub Tabletop Mentorship Programme is accepting applications until this Sunday (20 April), offering free one-on-one mentoring from industry professionals.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeThe programme pairs aspiring designers with experienced mentors for 12 weeks, starting 25 May. Every other week, you get a 30-minute session covering whatever you need most, whether that is game design, self-publishing, production, or marketing. Programme coordination runs through email and Discord, with mentoring sessions held however works best for your pair.
Unpub has spent years supporting indie designers through playtesting festivals and community events. The mentorship programme is one of their standout initiatives, connecting first-timers with people who have actually shipped games to shop shelves. You can apply as a mentor, a mentee, or both.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeThe programme actively welcomes applicants from marginalised communities and costs nothing. Unpub simply asks that mentees consider becoming mentors themselves down the line.
If you have been running playtests at your local game night or sketching card layouts in notebooks, this is structured guidance from people who have done it before. Applications close 20 April, with the 2026 session running through 17 August.
Apply at unpub.org/mentorship.
Sources: Unpub Mentorship | Unpub April Newsletter
