ArticlesSave the Bloogs and the Value of Physical Play in a Screen-Heavy World

At a time when everything seems to be moving toward the digital, an interesting counter-movement is taking place: people are seeking more tactile, social, and in-person experiences. And the numbers confirm it — the global board game market is expected to reach USD 41.6 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group, driven largely by products that blend the physical and digital worlds.

It was in this context that Webcore Games developed Save the Bloogs, one of the exclusive launch titles for the Board — the new console created by Brynn Putnam that combines the physical feel of a tabletop with the digital interactivity of a video game. Working on this project allowed us to experiment firsthand with what this new category of hybrid games can offer.

Developing for Something That Didn’t Exist Yet

Creating Save the Bloogs meant building a game while the platform itself was still taking shape. The Board was evolving every week, putting us in an unusual position: beyond designing the experience, we were actively collaborating on hardware refinement — testing sensors, calibrating readings, and figuring out what it meant to design for a console that depends on the physical world.

Ten months of development brought together a full team of game designers, level designers, programmers, tech artists, and QA, along with essential contributions from Spark (art) and Andromeda (music and sound effects).

The initial concept for Save the Bloogs came from Seth Sivak — a veteran of projects like World of Warcraft and Spellbreak, now part of the Board’s core team. He introduced us to a starting point inspired by Lemmings: tiny creatures making their way through dangerous levels while the player intervenes indirectly to guide them.

But on the Board, that intervention needed to be physical.

Instead of menus, abilities, or digital commands, players place real pieces on the board to build paths, find creative solutions, and save as many Bloogs as possible. On the surface, the mechanic is simple — but it gains depth through the combination of real-world physics and digital interpretation.

Why Hybrid Games Are Gaining Momentum

As Save the Bloogs evolved, we noticed how strongly the Board aligned with broader market trends and shifts in player behavior.

Screen fatigue: With daily passive screen time increasing, people are looking for activities that offer cognitive relief. Games with real-world interaction provide that counterbalance.

More meaningful social interaction: Because the game happens in physical space, interaction isn't optional — everyone participates, discusses strategies, and solves problems together, side by side.

Technology as a bridge: At a time when AI accelerates processes and automates tasks, there’s growing demand for experiences where technology brings people together rather than separating them. The Board fits naturally into this space by integrating digital interaction into shared environments instead of isolating players.

The Board doesn’t aim to replace digital experiences, but to integrate them into shared spaces. Save the Bloogs builds on this idea: physical pieces form paths, solve problems, and give shape to the Bloogs’ charming chaos.

What We Take From This Experience

Developing Save the Bloogs highlighted a key point: hybrid experiences expand design possibilities, diversify forms of engagement, and respond to evolving player behavior.

Creating for the Board allowed us to explore a frontier that blends touch, presence, and technology in an integrated way — one that will likely grow in relevance as the market looks for more human and collaborative forms of play.

Learn more about the case on the Webcore Games website:
https://www.webcoregames.com/en/case/save-the-bloogs/