Making learning smarter through play
PlayWise is your go-to hub where the worlds of board games, education, and fun seamlessly intersect.
Our guiding principle is simple: Board games hold immense untapped potential for learning and growth. We're here to help you unlock and harness that potential.
Our story
Playing is a fundamental state, both for children and adults. Board games, more structured than our everyday games, often make us think of them as colorful, boxed, and expensive. Yet a board game can be as simple as three cards or a single dice. Anything, in fact, can become a game with the right attitude and a bit of knowledge. This is what we aim to help with at PlayWise. We reveal the naturally occurring gaming opportunities around us and invite you to 'gamify' your world, all while guiding you through the vast existing universe of board games.
Who we are
The guiding force and main editor behind PlayWise is Máté Lencse. He is a renowned author in board game pedagogy, with several professional articles and books to his credit. He's been designing board games since 2016, with 11 of his creations commercially available and more included in his three board game books, co-authored with Jesztl József.
Máté has lent his expertise to countless companies, nonprofits, and universities, helping them develop their own board games. His clients range from prominent corporations like Air France-KLM to esteemed educational institutions like the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME).
Máté
Dan
Dan Sallai, co-founder of PlayWise crossed paths with Máté Lencse at university where they studied pedagogy. This interest has stayed with Dan, however his career after university evolved towards digital marketing.
Beyond his background in pedagogy and digital marketing, he is also a father of two young boys, living in Barcelona, Spain since 2022.
Dori Marton is the graphic designer and illustrator shaping Playwise's visual experiences. She also met Máté and Dan during university years, and has worked as a Learning Experience Designer later on.
At Playwise, Dori designs the website, crafts the user experience or illustrates the print-and-play card games. She lives in Sweden with her family, who inspire her creativity every day.
Dori
What you said about us
"I thought it was brilliant that you brought attention to print 'n play games and that you pointed out (and encouraged!) which games can be constructed at home."
David Kays
High school teacher, Roosevelt elementary school
"Playwise helped me find the right types of games for my 6-year-old struggling with reading comprehension. The progress has been amazing."
Parent
Why use board games for learning?
Support core skills
Board games enhance memory, critical thinking, turn-taking, and social-emotional skills.
Engages kids emotionally
Fun and meaningful play improves focus and helps kids retain what they learn.
Backed by research
30 years of classroom research proves board games are a powerful educational tool.
Start learning through play!
Join hundreds of teachers and parents using Playwise to bring joyful, meaningful learning into their daily routine.