Publisher

Plaid Hat Games

Plaid Hat Games — American publisher active 2009–2021, known for thematic fantasy and cooperative titles.

3 Games

Biography

Plaid Hat Games was founded in 2009 by designer Colby Dauch and released some 18 titles in our database through 2021. The company emphasized making games that are fun, thematic and interactive. Plaid Hat became known for narrative, character-driven games in fantasy and adventure settings.

Career

Between 2009 and 2021 Plaid Hat published a range of narrative and combat-focused titles, both cooperative and competitive. Dice rolling, cooperative play, variable player powers, hand management and area movement are recurring mechanics. The publisher balanced strong thematic presentation with campaign-driven designs (e.g. Stuffed Fables) and competitive dueling systems (e.g. Summoner Wars).

Most Famous Games

Top titles include Forgotten Waters (2020), Stuffed Fables (2018) and Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game (2014). Other notable releases are Mice and Mystics (2012) and Summoner Wars (2009). Several of these games received awards in categories such as Golden Geek and Board Game Quest.

Design Style

Plaid Hat focuses on thematic, story-driven games with direct player interaction and variable powers. Its frequent mechanics (dice, co-op, variable powers) support narrative campaigns and character play. The company's identity is closely tied to Colby Dauch's design vision.