Rethinking Learning Through Play
PlayWise is your central hub where the worlds of board games, education, and fun seamlessly come together.
Our guiding principle is simple: board games hold enormous, untapped potential for learning and personal development. We help you discover and harness that potential.
Our Story
Play is a fundamental state, for both children and adults. Board games, more structured than our everyday play, often make us think of colourful, boxed, and expensive products. But a board game can be as simple as three cards or a single die. In fact, anything can become a game – with the right mindset and a little knowledge. That is exactly what we want to help with at PlayWise. We highlight the natural play opportunities around us and invite you to shape your world playfully – while guiding you through the vast universe of board games.
Who We Are
The driving force and editor-in-chief behind PlayWise is Máté Lencse. He is a recognised author in the field of board game pedagogy, with numerous professional articles and books. Since 2016 he has been designing board games – 11 of his creations are commercially available and more are included in his three board game books, co-authored with Jesztl József.
Máté has lent his expertise to countless companies, non-profit organisations, and universities, helping them develop their own board games. His clients range from major corporations like Air France-KLM to respected educational institutions such as the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME).
Máté
Dan
Dan Sallai, co-founder of PlayWise, met Máté Lencse at university, where both studied pedagogy. That interest never left Dan, even though his career after university moved towards digital marketing.
Besides his background in pedagogy and digital marketing, he is also a father of two young boys and has been living in Barcelona, Spain since 2022.
Dori Marton is the graphic designer and illustrator who shapes the visual identity of PlayWise. She too met Máté and Dan during their studies and later worked as a Learning Experience Designer.
At PlayWise, Dori designs the website, develops the user experience, and illustrates the print-and-play card games. She lives with her family in Sweden, who inspire her creativity every day.
Dori
What you've said about us
"I thought it was great that you highlighted print-'n'-play games and pointed out (and encouraged!) which games can be crafted at home."
David Kays
High school teacher, Roosevelt Elementary School
"PlayWise helped me find the right games for my 6-year-old who was struggling with reading comprehension. The progress was astonishing."
Parent
Why use board games for learning?
Strengthen core skills
Board games develop memory, critical thinking, turn-taking, and social-emotional skills.
Engage children emotionally
Fun, meaningful play improves focus and helps children retain what they have learned.
Backed by research
30 years of classroom research show that board games are a powerful educational tool.
Start learning through play!
Join hundreds of teachers and parents who use PlayWise to bring joyful, meaningful learning into their everyday lives.