Seven Castles Games is an independent tabletop game studio based in Dublin, Ireland. Founded by Hugo Silva and supported by co-founder Hugo Godinho, the studio is driven by a simple mission: to create board games that bring people together through strategy, creativity, and unforgettable shared moments.
We work with talented illustrators, 3D artists, designers, playtesters, and specialists across the world to bring our ideas to life. Each project is shaped by collaboration, imagination, and a commitment to quality.
If you’re interested in contributing as a freelancer, playtester, or creative partner, we’d love to hear from you
STAFF
Hugo Silva – Founder, Lead Designer & Creative Director
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Hugo moved to Dublin in 2013. With a background in software development and over 30 years immersed in the board-gaming world, Hugo naturally gravitated toward game design. In 2024, he founded Seven Castles Games and began building a creative studio dedicated to innovative and story-driven board game experiences.
Main Roles:
Game design, development, prototyping, creative direction, narrative, production coordination, community building, marketing, and Kickstarter strategy.
Hugo Godinho – Co-Founder & Game Designer
Also from Lisbon, Hugo Godinho is a software developer with a lifelong passion for comic books and visual storytelling. In 2024, inspired by his long-time friend Hugo Silva, he joined Seven Castles Games as co-founder. He brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and creative vision to the studio.
Main Roles:
Concept design, storytelling, mechanics development, documentation, and playtesting.
Luiz Imposimato – Game Developer & Playtest Coordinator
Luiz is a passionate board gamer, strategist, and analytical thinker who joined Seven Castles Games in 2025. With years of experience exploring complex and heavy strategy games, Luiz brings valuable insight into balance, mechanics refinement, and deep gameplay structure. He also expands the studio’s design portfolio by contributing new game concepts currently in development.
Main Roles:
Game development, rules refinement, balance, blind testing coordination, and new game designs.
Rob Ingle — Lead Designer
Rob Ingle is a respected board game illustrator known for immersive, story-driven artwork featured on BoardGameGeek and Tabletop Games Blog.
His style blends painterly depth with strong clarity, ideal for complex strategy games. He specialises in world-building, atmosphere, and cohesive visual direction. Rob ensures artwork enhances both gameplay and player immersion. For Steam Cities, he leads the overall art vision and visual identity.
Main Roles:
Art direction & visual identity, Hero artwork & key assets, Cohesive style across all components, Gameplay clarity & visual UX, Illustration pipeline & quality control
Piya Dechchareon — Lead Illustrator
Piya is a talented illustrator recognised on BoardGameGeek for detailed and expressive board game art. His work features intricate linework, vibrant colours, and dynamic compositions. He brings a distinctive style influenced by rich textures and stylised realism. Piya excels at creating visually engaging and thematic illustrations. On Steam Cities, he delivers high-detail artwork across key components.
Main Roles:
High-detail illustration & texture work, Vibrant and dynamic compositions
Strong thematic alignment with gameplay, Consistent quality across multiple assets, Scalable asset production support
Key Contributors
Seven Castles Games collaborates with a growing network of talented individuals, including:
– illustrators and visual artists
– 3D modelers and animators
– graphic designers
– translators and editors
– dedicated playtest groups
– production and manufacturing partners
– consultants for distribution and Kickstarter operations
It takes many people to bring a board game to life, and we’re grateful for each collaborator who helps shape our worlds and experiences. As we grow, we continue to welcome diverse perspectives that strengthen our creativity and our games.
Seven Castles Games 