About • The Journey
From early prototypes to the first production run.
— Hungry for TeaThe Journey
How it started
Hungry for Tea started in 2023 when Benjamin was 8. We’d been playing Monopoly over Christmas and ended up asking: how are board games made? And then… could we make one?
We set out some basics: a board with around 40 spaces, two types of cards, some penalties, trading, and a clear goal. The first prototype was as homemade as it gets — stickers on a wooden board, handwritten rules, and early characters like Hungry for Tea and Thirsty for Stuff.
The story, in six steps
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Christmas 2023 — The spark
Benjamin (8) + Monopoly + a big question: “Could anyone create a game?” We decided to try. -
Prototype #1 — Stickers on a wooden board
Handwritten rules, homemade cards, and the first playtests. It wasn’t polished — but it worked. -
Prototype #2 — The Hobbycraft upgrade
A sturdier board, coloured card, circle spots, and gold coins (yes, from eBay). This is when it started to feel “real”. -
2024–2025 — Playtests and a tradition
We kept playing, tweaking, and reworking the bits that didn’t land. It became “the thing we play at Christmas”. -
December 2025 — Manufacture, for real
Benjamin (10) asked what it would take to produce it properly. We did the research, found a manufacturer, and learned quickly how expensive this becomes. First run: six copies. -
Now — First production copies + next milestone
The box arrived. It looked real. It felt real. And now we’re planning to attend UK Games Expo at the NEC in May.
Where we are now
- Small first production run
- A polished, playable version we’re proud of
- Learning fast through feedback outside friends and family
- Next stop: UK Games Expo (NEC)
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