Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with not only festive events, but also creative initiatives. One of the highlights is the launch of its very first board game, ‘Academic Marathon’, which was unveiled to the community today.

This fun and educational board game invites players to dive into the adventures of student life – from the thrill of colloquiums and lecture marathons to unforgettable parties, lasting friendships, and, of course, the long-awaited diploma. Every moment of the student journey comes to life in this game.

Eimantas Zaksas, Cultural Activities Coordinator at Kauno kolegija’s Marketing and Communication Unit, shares the story behind the idea, offers a glimpse into the creative process, and talks about the challenges faced along the way.

Inspired by the world’s largest board game exhibition

E. Zaksas, the creator and initiator of the board game idea, shares that he has been passionate about board games for the past seven years. So, when planning activities and initiatives to celebrate Kauno kolegija’s anniversary, the idea naturally arose to create a board game – something that would continue to remind the community of this special milestone even after the festive year ends.

‘I’ve played many different board games over the years, and with that experience in hand, I wanted to get involved in the creation process myself,’ says Zaksas. ‘We hope the game will spark interest not only within our community but also more broadly, and that it might mark the beginning of a longer journey into board game development.’

The process from idea to finished product took nearly a year. The initial concept emerged in September of last year, with the core idea finalized by December. Testing began in February. ‘We started working on the design in May, submitted the final version for production in July, and by August, we were holding the finished game in our hands,’ E. Zaksas explains.

He also shares that the inspiration for ‘Academic Marathon’ came from ‘Spiel Essen’ – the world’s largest board game fair held in Germany, which brings together top creators from around the globe.

Rules, testing, and discovery: behind the scenes of board game development

According to Eimantas Zaksas, the biggest challenge in developing the ‘Academic Marathon’ board game was designing smooth, balanced gameplay – creating mechanics that would be engaging for board game enthusiasts while still accessible to newcomers.

‘We aimed to avoid any loopholes that could either break the game or make it too easy to win,’ E. Zaksas explains. ‘Every change to the rules had to be thoroughly tested – not just by experienced players, but also by beginners – to ensure that everything was clear, logical, and helped the game flow better.’

Despite the challenges, E. Zaksas says the development process was both exciting and rewarding. The most demanding part, he admits, was designing the game mechanics and coming up with ideas that would reflect the real experience of student life.

‘We wanted players to feel like they were going through an actual study journey – first getting familiar with the environment, then facing their first challenges, and finally reaching a real test at the end,’ he shares. ‘Our hope is that this game lets people relive the ups and downs of student life – with all its surprises, trials, laughter, discoveries, and friendships.’

Currently, ‘Academic Marathon’ is available to borrow from the Kauno kolegija library and public libraries across Lithuania. Looking ahead, E. Zaksas notes that plans are in place to make the game available for purchase through Kauno kolegija’s e-shop and in retail stores.

‘In the meantime, we invite everyone to join our giveaways for a chance to win a copy of the game – or simply visit your nearest library and try your hand at navigating the student journey,’ he adds.