The Spark of an Idea

Meet Tyler Masterson, our Game Director, as he shares the deeply personal and creative origins behind the game’s concept—one rooted in a lifelong love of gaming, storytelling, and community. Have questions for Tyler? Join the discussion on Discord and ask away!

• Early Spark:
  As a high-energy only child, Tyler turned everything into a game—even condiment packets at Wendy’s. His first true gaming experiences were weekends with his dad, diving into classics like Hero Quest, Risk, and obscure gems like This Game is Bonkers. He even played a family-invented legacy-style basketball sim called the Masterson Basketball Association, now 31 years running.

• Board Games Through Adversity:
  After a life-changing injury in 2012, Tyler turned to his love of tabletop games as a source of continuity and joy. Unlike other hobbies, board games remained accessible—and his passion only deepened.

• From Hobbyist to Competitor:
  Tyler began attending Gen Con, competing in tournaments (winning Puerto Rico and Evolution), and immersing himself in the tabletop community. The massive fanbase and creativity on display fueled his desire to create something new.

• The Big Idea – Remixing IP:
  Tyler observed how other media industries—film, fashion, music—are constantly remixing and collaborating across brands. But in tabletop, many incredible characters and stories are underutilized. What if those IPs could come together in a shared universe

• Enter Gambit:
  Gambit is built around this vision: combining fan-favorite characters from various tabletop games into a new, cooperative world with shared objectives and fresh storytelling. It aims to bridge the gap between tabletop and video games, drawing in a broader audience while supporting original publishers.

His goal with Gambit is to grow the tabletop audience, bring new life to existing IPs, and offer fans a collaborative experience unlike anything else in the hobby.