Portfolio / Board game
Niyama
Role
Narrative & balancing
Team
3 people
Format
Board game
Category
Coursework
Portfolio / Board game
In a distant future, the Mali Empire has become the world's leading superpower thanks to Niyama, a mystical energy rooted in Dogon beliefs. After centuries of prosperity, the balance of the world collapses when Emperor Aboubakari VII disappears during a space expedition, leaving behind a fractured empire torn apart by political conflict, social oppression, and ideological struggles. Upon his return, three major factions clash for control of Mali and the legacy of Niyama.
Niyama is a 3-player strategic board game combining territory control, resource management, and tactical combat within an afro-futuristic universe inspired by Malian history and Dogon cosmology.
Developed as a school project, the game focuses on strategic planning, faction synergies, and multiple victory conditions.
Niyama allowed me to explore the creation of a cohesive universe connecting narrative design, gameplay mechanics, and artistic direction. The project also taught me how to structure a complete ruleset and balance multiple asymmetrical playstyles.
One of the main goals was to create a strategic experience that remained accessible while offering depth through factions, resources, and varied victory paths.