Heropolis game on Gamefound celebrates everyday heroes through strategic city building

We spoke with the creators of the Heropolis game on Gamefound about the origins of their debut board game, a project that puts everyday heroes at the center of a living, evolving city. Designed by a small two-person team, Heropolis blends a clever rondel mechanic, asymmetric characters, and a striking 3D city to create a fast-moving, highly interactive experience. In this interview, the designers explain how the idea was born, why flow and interaction mattered more than complexity, and what it means to bring their first game to life with the Gamefound community.

The Origin of the Game Heropolis

What sparked the idea behind the Heropolis game on Gamefound, and how did the concept of “Everyday Heroes” become the heart of the experience?

Heropolis started with a simple thought. Heroes are not always caped icons. They are people who show up every day. Parents, friends, neighbors, people just trying to do the right thing.

We wanted a game that celebrates those everyday heroes. Not perfect. A bit chaotic. Sometimes overwhelmed. Still heroic.

The city came naturally from that idea. A living place full of small stories. Every decision matters. Every hero leaves a mark. That feeling became the heart of Heropolis.

Gameplay & Strategic Depth

Heropolis combines a rondel mechanism with city building and adventure elements. How did you design the gameplay to stay strategic while keeping turns fast and engaging for all players?

From the beginning, game flow was our top priority. Strategy should feel smart, not heavy and we wanted a low downtime between the players, so that you don't have to wait for your turn. We tested relentlessly to keep turns short. One clear choice.One meaningful consequence. No downtime. Balance was key for us.

We had a lot of struggle to find a mechanism that combines all the different actions in a fair and straight way until we came across the idea of a rondel mechanic.

The Hero-Radar was born and the solution to all our desires. Every action is done via this rondel mechanic. Beginners simply choose one of three moves, while experts plan far into the future. Since all moves happen on the shared rondel, this further promotes player interaction.

The short downtime and the strategic complexity of the rondel mechanic are what makes the game a unique experience every time you play it and allows a high replayability.

Immersion Through 3D Design

The foldable, stackable 3D city is one of Heropolis’ standout features. What challenges did you face when turning the city itself into a core gameplay and immersion element?

Turning the city into gameplay was exciting and scary at the same time.

The biggest challenge was function over spectacle. The city had to look great, but also work perfectly with the mechanics.

Stackable buildings, clear visibility, stable layouts. Everything needed purpose.

When we saw players physically grow their city and react emotionally to it, we knew the struggle was worth it.

Asymmetric Heroes & Interaction

Each hero in Heropolis has unique abilities and plays differently. How important was character asymmetry in encouraging interaction, competition, and replayability?

Asymmetry was non negotiable for us. Heroes should feel different, not just statistically, but emotionally.

Each hero bends the rules a little. That creates tension. You watch each other closely. You adapt. You react.

This drives interaction and competition naturally. It also makes every session feel fresh and brings high replayability to the table.

Why Gamefound & The Backer Experience

What do you hope backers will feel when they play Heropolis for the first time, and why was Gamefound the right platform to bring this city of heroes to life?

We are just a two-person team and HEROPOLIS is our first board game we created. We have a small budget and we rely on the support of the community.

Gamefound was the right platform because it understands board games. The tools, the community, the visibility. It feels built by people who care.

Bringing Heropolis to life with Gamefound and our backers feels like the final piece of the puzzle.

This interview highlights how the Heropolis game on Gamefound grew from a simple idea into a fully realized tabletop city shaped by player decisions. With its emphasis on flow, interaction, and emotional character design, Heropolis reflects a clear design philosophy: strategy should be engaging without slowing the table down. For a first project from a small team, the game stands as a strong example of how community-driven platforms like Gamefound can help bring thoughtful, personality-driven board games to life.

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FAQ about Heropolis Game on Gamefound

Is there a solo mode in Heropolis?

At the moment, Heropolis does not include a solo mode. The designers focused on refining the core multiplayer experience first. A dedicated solo mode would require its own design and balancing, but it is something the team is open to exploring in the future.

What is included in the X-MAS Winter Special expansion?

The X-MAS Special is a cosmetic winter edition of Heropolis. It includes all buildings in a winter look, snowed-in factories, and villains dressed in winter attire such as “evil snowmen.” All core game components are included as well, along with alternative illustrations. Depending on how the campaign performs, additional content like new NEWS cards or character sheets may also be added.

How many players can play Heropolis, and how long does a game last?

Heropolis is designed for 2 to 4 players and has an average playtime of around 60 minutes. The rondel-based system keeps downtime low, making it well suited for both casual game nights and more competitive sessions.

What comes in the box?

The game includes a fully realized 3D city experience with 36 foldable buildings, 4 heroes, 12 villains, 36 NEWS cards, 36 action cards, construction boards, tokens, markers, district tiles, and all components needed to build and grow the city directly on the table.

Is Heropolis difficult to learn?

Heropolis is designed to be accessible while offering strategic depth. New players can make simple choices by advancing one to three steps on the Hero-Radar rondel, while experienced players can plan several turns ahead. This makes the game easy to learn but rewarding to master, with strong replayability.

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About the Creators behind Heropolis Game on Gamefound

Heropolis is created by Michelle Schulz and Matthieu Chanton, an independent two-person design team who developed the game entirely in-house, from mechanics to artwork. Driven by a shared passion for games, storytelling, and human interaction, they extensively play-tested Heropolis at major board game conventions such as SPIEL and Berlin Brettspiel Con, refining a city-building experience focused on flow, interaction, and emotional engagement. For them, games are a way to connect people through shared stories and meaningful play.