GATEWAY GAMES: A True Entry Point into Tabletop Worlds
Created by Ben Brock — accessible, story-focused tabletop games for kids, families, and new players.
Gateway Games is a design philosophy and product vision focused on removing the learning-curve barrier from tabletop gaming. The goal is simple: help anyone sit down, start playing in minutes, and feel confident enough to explore deeper worlds.
Current prototypes include Arena: Fight for Freedom (a combat card game) and Roll Your Adventure (a narrative dice series).
Would you be interested in discussing Gateway Games or reviewing prototypes?
Email: Ben@ourworldourrules.com
What is a Gateway Game?
A Gateway Game is a tabletop experience designed to welcome new players into the hobby without fear, friction, or overwhelm. It doesn’t talk down to them or bury them in rules. Instead, it leads with story, clear choices, and intuitive play so kids, parents, and experienced gamers can all share the same table.
Core Principles:
Radical Simplicity – Every rule earns its place; the game can be learned in minutes, not hours.
Narrative First – Story carries players into the experience before mechanics do.
Zero Fear of Failure – New players are never punished for “not knowing enough.”
Teach While You Play – Fundamentals are learned inside the experience, not from a dense rulebook.
Multi-Age Compatibility – Games work equally well for children, adults, and mixed-skill groups.
The Gateway Dice System
The Gateway Dice System is a minimalist, roll-to-reveal engine that teaches core RPG concepts while keeping play fast and approachable. Players roll, follow a branching path, and immediately feel part of the story. No long explanations, no complex character sheets, no prep.
Key Traits:
Teaches choices and consequences through simple options
Reinforces imagination and collaboration over min-maxing
Reduces cognitive load so first-time players aren’t overwhelmed
Works across multiple genres and themes, making it ideal for a full product line
Proof of Concept Projects
Arena: Fight for Freedom (Prototype)
A fast, intuitive combat card game designed to feel like a streamlined TCG—without the complexity. Arena introduces players to timing, risk, and tactical decisions using clear iconography and lightweight resource management. It is a fully functional prototype intentionally kept from mass publication so it can be rebuilt with a professional team and positioned as a flagship Gateway Games title.
Roll Your Adventure (Gateway Narrative Series)
A narrative-first, roll-to-reveal adventure series built on the Gateway Dice System. Players roll, follow story prompts, and collectively shape an adventure while naturally learning the fundamentals of tabletop roleplaying. The current Fantasy Edition exists as a minimalist print-on-demand proof-of-concept and is intended to be rebranded, re-illustrated, and expanded with a publishing partner into a multi-genre line (Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Sci-Fi, etc.).
Why a Partner, and Why this fits Publishers
Gateway Games is designed to complement, not replace, deep narrative systems. A publisher known for rich worlds and story-driven play can benefit from a dedicated entry-level line that prepares new players for its existing catalog.
Gateway Games offers:
A true on-ramp for kids, families, and first-timers
A scalable system (Gateway Dice) that can support multiple products and genres
Products that naturally lead players toward more complex RPGs and settings
Long-term audience growth through accessibility instead of gatekeeping
The vision is simple: Let Gateway Games bring new players to the table, then let your flagship systems keep them there.
About Ben Brock
Ben Brock is a game designer, author, and storyteller focused on creating tabletop experiences that anyone can sit down and play. He developed the Gateway Dice System and the broader Gateway Games philosophy after years of designing for kids, new players, and mixed-experience tables who were often intimidated by traditional rule-heavy systems.
His work includes Arena: Fight for Freedom, a fast-paced combat card game, and Roll Your Adventure, a narrative book series for families and first-time role-players. Ben’s mission is to remove the barriers that keep people out of tabletop gaming and to build products that invite them into imaginative, collaborative play.
Contact: Ben@ourworldourrules.com
Confidential design vision – not for redistribution without permission.