Our story

From a simple idea to something special

LIKE MOST OF US, WE GOT BORED DURING LOCKDOWN IN 2020. DOOMSCROLLING LEAD THE WAY, BUT WE WANTED TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TOGETHER. AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN A CLASSIC BOARD GAME. BUT THERE'S A TWIST...
Our first three board games displayed at the Cow Shed near Sittingbourne and example of our Travel games being easy to learn and play on the go

BRING IT OUTDOORS + INTO THE FUTURE

So we decided to build something simple.
Something that would get our twin boys off their phones and back to playing face-to-face.That’s where the first version of ButtChess was born.And yes they chose the name.It made them laugh. It made their friends laugh.
And honestly? It made people pay attention.What started as a fun, slightly ridiculous idea at the kitchen table quickly turned into something more serious a genuinely strategic abstract game that was easy to learn but surprisingly deep.

We believe great games don’t need hundreds of pieces or complicated rulebooks.They need:
  • Clear ideas
  • Smart design
  • Real interaction
  • And moments that make people look up from their screens
Group of players enjoying tabletop board games at an event, with ButtChess and pieces in play, showcasing social family games that are compact, portable and ideal for group game nights.

Growing one step at a time

Since those early days, Ralbru has continued to grow, with new games joining the range and our ideas reaching players far beyond the kitchen table.
We’ve taken our games to some of the biggest events across the UK, meeting thousands of players, retailers and industry professionals along the way. From attending UK Games Expo for three years running, to Tabletop Scotland, Canterbury Gaming Convention, Toy Fair and Spring Fair 2026, we’ve continued to put our games in front of both businesses and consumers.
For us, these events are about more than just selling games. They’re about meeting the people who play them, hearing what they think and seeing our games being enjoyed in real life.
The Ralbru Team on our train them display stand holding the Best Designed Stand Trophy at the London Toy Fair 2026, showcasing our travel friendly strategy games.

The story continues

Our goal is to keep growing Ralbru while continuing to create better, smarter and more exciting games. We want to develop new ideas that feel fresh and different, without losing what matters to us most: games that are easy to learn, genuinely fun and bring people together.
We’re also keeping travel-friendly gaming at the heart of what we do. Games should be easy to take on holiday, to a café, to a friend’s house or wherever you fancy playing. Compact, practical and ready to play wherever you are.
And we want to keep our games affordable too. We don’t believe you should have to spend a fortune to discover a great new game, so we’ll continue to focus on keeping prices low while improving the quality, design and replayability of every game we release.

Meet the team

Get to know the people behind our business.

Bigly board game displayed in a relaxed pub setting with the colourful hexagonal game board set up in front of the box, highlighting its compact design, strategic two-player gameplay and portable format for cafés, pubs, holidays and game nights.

Sam

COMMUNICATIONS & PLANNING

Favourite Game: Bigly
Sam joined Ralbru Games in 2022 and has been the main connection to suppliers in China helping to create fast production times and clear communication. Planning and organising events like our latest trip in September to Tabletop Scotland is handled by Sam to make the most out of our stands and deliver the games to all board game enthusiasts. 

ButtChess travel board game and box displayed outdoors, featuring a portable blue hexagonal game board with green and blue pieces. An easy-to-learn, replayable strategy board game for all ages, perfect for family game nights, holidays, travel and outdoor play. An affordable board game under £20 and a great gift for board game fans.

PAUL

MANAGEMENT & FINANCE

Favourite Game: ButtChess
Paul has been apart of Ralbru since it founded in 2022. He takes care of our finances and oversees the operations of the business to ensure everything is running smoothly. Making key decisions in meetings and researching the events and market whilst attending. 

Exit Strategy board game set up on a wooden café table with colourful playing pieces, dice and game box, showcasing a compact travel game priced at £17.99 for affordable strategy play on the go

JOSH

MARKETING & DESIGN

Favourite Game: Exit Strategy 
Josh joined Ralbru Games in 2024 and has take upon the role of managing our online presence through social media and our website. Whilst learning skills in design and 3D modelling bringing to life the games that offer. Josh attends most of our events with a camera in hand and has for sure played the most games of ButtChess.