Barnes and Noble Names Making Monsters Game of Year
The family-created title earns the national retailer's top honor for 2026 after a successful crowdfunding launch.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Board Games
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Barnes and Noble has officially named Making Monsters as its 2026 Family Game of the Year. The game was developed by local resident Joe Welsh to occupy his family during his medical treatment.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the game's rapid rise from a local crowdfunding effort to a national retail success. It serves as a testament to the game design process that involved the creator's family as key playtesters and contributors.
Making Monsters retails for $59 and showcases 72 unique monster art pieces. The game secured over $94,000 in funding during its 2025 campaign, significantly exceeding its initial $9,000 goal.
The players
Joe Welsh
The creator of Making Monsters who relocated his family from Colorado to Chapel Hill after a diagnosis of Waldenstrom's lymphoma.
Sky Lion Games
The production company founded by Joe Welsh that is releasing its first board game title.
Barnes and Noble
A major national bookstore chain that hosts retail locations and recognizes top-performing family games.
The details
Players compete to build a monster squad by acquiring parts using a rotating Lazy Susan board. The game design process was highly collaborative, utilizing family members and nieces as both playtesters and monster namers.
Timeline
2025: The crowdfunding campaign for Making Monsters raised over $94,000.
August 2025: Joe Welsh provided an interview with 97.9 The Hill.
October 28, 2026: A public game demonstration will be held at the Chapel Hill Barnes and Noble.
Culture Shift
This success marks the transition from grassroots hobbyist creation to national shelf presence in the modern board game market. It mirrors the broader trend of independent creators utilizing crowdfunding to validate niche concepts before achieving mass-market retail adoption.
Local residents can experience the award-winning game firsthand during the public demonstration event next Wednesday. The game is currently available for purchase at the 201 S. Estes Drive location for $59.
The takeaway
Developing a game can be an effective way to maintain family connection and creativity during challenging personal circumstances. Families interested in game design can look for opportunities to involve children as playtesters to improve gameplay mechanics.
Further reading
Explore more local hobby news in the Chapel Hill Board Games section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chapelboro.
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