PIDG: a Satirical Strategy Board Game Preview

Bert
Jun 12
4 min read

Predictive Intelligence & Data Governance

PIDG is a satirical look at the economy of the 2020s. The game is both a tongue and cheek and thoughtful reflection on the macro economics. Players will have day jobs that earn them a small wadge and a 401k that they can use to earn some savings. Players eventually turn their side gigs into full time businesses where they quit their day job and leave the 401k behind to invest in much more diverse and perhaps more risky ventures. Join me as I take a look at PIDGE coming to Kickstarter, created by Jessica Stapleton with collaboration from Nicolas Zippmann.

Setup of PIDG

PIDG is another economic game that sets up in the blink of an eye. I guess these games really want you to start with nothing and work you way up from there. The board for PIDG is really interesting it has a giant circle that's divided into thirds each representing a sector of the economy. There is tech, marketing, and real estate wedges in the circle and each of the sectors has 4 sub wedges (is that a thing? I guess it is now) these represent the side gigs that players can take on. and in the very center is the "day job" that we all love and hate (love to hate?).

In turn order players place one of their 4 player tokens on the day job and one of the side gig sub wedges (told you it was a thing). Only one player can have their token on a sidge gig sub wedge. Then each player starts with $100k in cash and provided you shuffled the three decks of cards you are ready to go.

Game Play Preview

There are three ways to end a game of PIDG. First, one of the players can get the amount of PIDGY coins to win (Changes on player count). Secondly the AI Utopia (definitely a satire game) card can be drawn. Last the Economic Collapse card can be drawn.

You defiantly do not need a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School to understand how to manipulate this economy.

How do players get these PIDGY coins? Players can purchase a PIDGY coin for 1 Million Dollars. The other way of getting PIDGY coins is from certain side hustles and upgrading a side hustle to a full business. Now is a great time to dive into the turn order and the actions players can take on their turns.

Turns consist of 3 phases, the first phase is the market phase. This phase is merely flipping the top Market Condition card over and then following its affect for the rest of the turn. Next is income, where we all make the big bucks. If players still have their day jobs they get $50,000 dollars and then a die is rolled to determine if and what income players get from their investments, side hustles and businesses. In PIDG its a good plan to diversify your businesses and investments.

After players have received their income the Action Phase happens. In the Action Phase players in turn order will take one of the four actions. Moving a token, buying a card, gambling, or buying a PIDGY coin. Players may move a token already on the board to a new location by paying the cost for the new space. Players may opt to put a token on the board, They have 4 each and if they are able to get all 4 out then they may purchase the Autonomous Agent (there is only one). The Autonomous Agent acts as another token for the player that purchased it. There are cards in the Inside Scoop deck that allow other players to steal it. Players may also upgrade their side hustles to a business by paying $500k. This is the most efficient way of getting PIDGY coins.

Virtue cards are the only way to prevent Economic Collapse (shared loss).

A player can also buy a card (if you have a business) from either the Virtue Deck or from the Inside Scoop deck. Virtue cards are the only way to prevent Economic Collapse (shared loss). Players will want to get Virtue Cards early as the price goes up after the first three are purchased. Inside Scoop cards give players some special actions they can play anytime. Players can also discard a Inside Scoop card to steal the Autonomous Agent.

There are a few ways to get to the winning spot and I think the gambling route adds a lot of excitement for the whole table.

Players can gamble in PIDG, gambling consists of paying $50 and rolling a die. Players can lose the money, brake even, get $100K, or get a PIDGY coin (the cheapest most risky way). This is a fun stand in for the (defiantly not gambling markets) like Kalshi and Polymarket. There are a few ways to get to the winning spot and I think the gambling route adds a lot of excitement for the whole table.

Players will expand their portfolios and try and get all those PIDGY coins to beat out the other players to victory all while trying to avoid complete Economic Collapse. Players can also end up in AI Utopia which I think is one of the most tongue and cheek jokes in this game. Everyone wins in AI Utopia except the player with the most virtue they win the most.

Thoughts PIDG

PIDG is a fun game and its simplistic economics makes it easy for a casual game. You defiantly do not need a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School to understand how to manipulate this economy. PIDG dose not take itself seriously but behind the funny jokes and fun art is a critique on late stage capitalism and where we might be headed. PIDG is headed to kickstarter this June.

Game Details

Players: 2-6
Year Published: 2026
Recommended Ages: 14+
Time to Play: 30-60 minutes

Bert's Tabletop Games was provided a preview version of PIDG by Vacant Lot Creative for this review. This is a pre-production copy and the final product may differ from what is pictured in this preview.