Making A Game Sell Sheet (with examples)

One of the most important things needed to pitch a game to a publisher is a good sell sheet.

What is a Sell Sheet?

A sell sheet is a one-page document that quickly communicates a game design to a potential publisher. It contains the key information and features that a publisher needs to know. The goal of a sellsheet is to get a publisher to continue communication with you and take a closer look at your game.

A sell sheet should include the following information:

Name of game
Player count
Play time
Recommended age
Category the game fits into
Game setting / theme / story
An idea of how to play / sample turn or round / the game’s mechanisms
Unique selling points / features
Photos or images of the game in play
List of components
Contact info

A sell sheet should NOT include:
-A full description of how to play the game
-Lots of text and no images

There are many approaches to making a sell sheet. Every game is different. Every publisher is looking for something different. The setting a sell sheet is used in may require different information.

When Is A Sell Sheet Needed?

Before making a sell sheet, a game design should be solid. The mechanics are set and it has been playtested plenty, including with strangers. While the game does not have to be perfect, it should be fully functional, clear, fun, and have something that makes it stand out. The more refined the gameplay is, the better it will come across to publishers.

Most publishers will require a sell sheet as part of their initial contact with a designer. Regardless, having a sell sheet will help a designer stand out and putting one together will help figure out the best way to present a pitch.

Designers should show their sell sheet to others for feedback before showing it to a publisher.

Sell Sheet Examples

Included below are some sell sheet examples to look at and learn from. These sell sheets were voluntarily given by Bay Area game designers. Some of the games pitched with these sell sheets were eventually signed and published.

The sell sheets here were not limited to any type of criteria, and strengths and weaknesses can be examined in each approach.