Leder Games
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Board game publishing |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Patrick Leder |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul , United States |
| Products | Board games (Root, Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, Vast, Fort, Ahoy, Arcs) |
| Owner | Patrick Leder |
Leder Games is a board game publisher headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, and owned by Patrick Leder. The company is renowned for producing asymmetric board games such as Root and Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, both created by designer Cole Wehrle. Since 2023, their releases have commonly featured artwork by Kyle Ferrin.
History
Established in 2014 by Patrick Leder, Leder Games originated from his long-standing interest in designing board games. Leder, who earned degrees in English and psychology from Hamline University, transitioned from his role as a database programmer at Macalester College in 2016 to dedicate himself fully to the enterprise.
Business model
Leder Games utilizes Kickstarter as a primary platform for financing and promotion, focusing on launching fewer but more substantial titles to generate excitement rather than frequent smaller releases. Unlike many other companies, Leder Games maintains a consistent staff compensated with competitive salaries instead of depending on freelance contributors.
Games
The naming scheme for Leder Games’ products typically consists of four-letter titles.
Vast (2015)
The company debuted with Vast: The Crystal Caverns in 2015. This strategic game places players in roles such as knight, dragon, goblin army, thief, or even the cave itself. Initially funded through Kickstarter with a goal of $40,000, it ultimately raised $150,000; a subsequent print run generated $500,000 in funding.
Following this release, the series expanded with titles including Vast: The Mysterious Manor, Vast: The Fearsome Foes, and Vast: Haunted Hallways.
Root (2018)
In 2018, Leder Games launched Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right, designed by Patrick Leder. Between 2018 and 2022, four expansions were introduced:
- Root: The Riverfolk Expansion (2018)
- Root: The Underworld Expansion (2020)
- Root: The Clockwork Expansion (2020)
- Root: The Marauder Expansion (2022)
A digital adaptation developed by Dire Wolf Digital was released in 2020, broadening the game's audience. Furthermore, a role-playing game inspired by Root was published in 2021. As of December 2022, Patrick Leder was developing Path, an open-world board game set within the same universe.
Oath (2020)
Released by Leder Games in 2020 and designed by Wehrle, Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile explores themes of power struggles across generations. An expansion aimed at enriching gameplay mechanics was announced in 2022.
Fort (2021)
Created by Grant Rodiek, Fort is a deck-building game where participants strive to construct the most impressive fort. This title evolved from Rodiek’s 2018 game SPQF, which was originally themed around a forest animal kingdom inspired by Ancient Rome. At the 2021 SXSW Gaming Awards, it received a nomination for Tabletop Game of the Year. Reviewers highlighted its focus on social interaction and emotional involvement.
Ahoy (2022)
Designed by Greg Loring-Albright, Ahoy is a pirate-themed board game featuring four competing factions vying for control over the seas and cargo delivery routes. Marketed as an accessible alternative to Root, it provides quicker and lighter gameplay without complex political elements. Game Informer recognized it as one of the top board games released in 2022.
Arcs (2024)
Arcs is a campaign-style board game with a space opera setting, created by Cole Wehrle. It features a quasi-4X gameplay structure where participants strive to restore a collapsing empire. The design focuses on brief, procedurally generated sessions organized into a three-part narrative arc, with player abilities shifting from uniformity to differentiation over time.
The Kickstarter initiative secured more than $532,000 in just five hours, with fulfillment to supporters slated for December 2023 and a subsequent release in retail outlets. Polygon recognized Arcs as part of a movement toward more concise board game campaigns that enable quicker play experiences, alongside games such as Legacy of Yu.
Origins Awards
- Game of the Year 2019 – Root, designed by Cole Wehrle
- Best Board Game 2019 – Root, designed by Cole Wehrle
- Fan Favourite Board Game 2019 – Root, designed by Cole Wehrle
In 2020, Leder Games chose to return its Origins Awards due to reservations about the Game Manufacturers Association’s support for the BIPOC community.
SXSW Gaming Awards
- Tabletop Game of the Year 2019 – Root, designed by Cole Wehrle
American Tabletop Awards
- Complex Games 2019 – Root, designed by Cole Wehrle
Charles S. Roberts Awards
- Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame 2021 – Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, designed by Cole Wehrle
Golden Geek Awards
- Most Innovative Board Game 2021 – Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, designed by Cole Wehrle