Wild Ideas. Great Games. Big Wins.

Baltic Boar CEO Develops New Baltic-Themed Board Game Prototype at LT Game Jam 2026 in Kaunas LT Game Jam 2026, held from January 30th to February 1st in Kaunas at Santaka Valley, brought together creative minds from across Lithuania for an intensive 48-hour game development challenge. Among the participants was Baltic Boar CEO, Tomas Miliauskas, who developed a new Baltic-themed board game prototype titled “Midsummer”, inspired by ancient wedding traditions and cultural heritage. Introducing “Midsummer” “Midsummer” is a thematic board game set in ancient Baltic times, capturing traditional wedding customs and community rituals. Players take on the role of family elders seeking to create the most harmonious and strategically advantageous marriages. The goal is to match compatible couples, secure the highest dowries, and strengthen your family’s legacy. Unlike many typical board games, “Midsummer” combines strategy, resource management, and negotiation, while remaining lighthearted and fun. It introduces players to Baltic folklore and historical practices in a way that is interactive and engaging. Gameplay Overview Strategic matchmaking: Pair the most compatible couples for long-term success Resource management: Collect dowries and maximize family wealth Cultural storytelling: Learn about ancient Baltic wedding traditions through gameplay Social interaction: Negotiate alliances and handle unexpected events The game encourages both tactical thinking and social interaction, making it ideal for family and group play. Creativity and Fun at LT Game Jam During the LT Game Jam 2026 at Santaka Valley, the “Midsummer” prototype brought laughter, lively discussions, and unexpected twists to the table. Participants were impressed by the cultural depth and playful mechanics of the game. The experience highlighted the potential of combining historical themes with modern board game design. What’s Next for “Midsummer” The enthusiastic feedback and strong engagement at the jam suggest that “Midsummer” has real potential for further development. Baltic Boar is considering refining the prototype, expanding gameplay, and preparing it for future release. The game reflects Baltic Boar’s commitment to creating board games that are both entertaining and culturally meaningful. Stay tuned for updates on “Midsummer” as this exciting Baltic-themed board game evolves.

Every game has a story behind it. For UAB Baltic Boar, innovation often begins with a meaningful idea — and that is exactly how Fish ’em Up was born. The origins of the game trace back to Kaunas, Lithuania, during the annual Global Game Jam, one of the world’s largest game creation hackathons. It was there, in a fast-paced and creative environment, that the first concept for what would later become Fish ’em Up took shape. Inspired by a Real Environmental Problem The initial idea was inspired by a serious issue affecting the region — pollution in the Baltic Sea. The early prototype, originally titled “Light at the End of the Bubble,” told a symbolic and visually striking story. In the game’s first version, a giant bubble rises from the depths of the ocean, lifting Baltic Sea creatures toward the surface — a surface filled with garbage and pollution. The contrast between life below and waste above formed the emotional core of the concept. To visually communicate the difference between clean and polluted water, the early prototype used hand-painted watercolor artwork. The soft gradients and organic textures created a powerful atmosphere, reinforcing the environmental message behind the gameplay. From Hackathon Prototype to Long-Term Vision Even in its earliest form, the game attracted strong interest during Global Game Jam. The concept resonated with players and fellow creators alike, proving that games can combine entertainment with meaningful themes. This early success encouraged the author to continue developing the idea beyond the hackathon stage. What started as a rapid prototype evolved into a more structured and ambitious project under UAB Baltic Boar. For Baltic Boar, Fish ’em Up represents more than just another title — it reflects the company’s creative philosophy: combining engaging gameplay mechanics with relevant social and environmental themes. A Commitment to Purpose-Driven Game Design With projects such as Marijampolė, Politiškės, Dream City, and now Fish ’em Up, UAB Baltic Boar continues to demonstrate its ability to transform local inspiration into distinctive gaming experiences. The journey of Fish ’em Up — from a watercolor hackathon experiment to a fully developed concept — shows how strong ideas, when nurtured with passion and persistence, can grow into impactful creative projects. At Baltic Boar, every game begins with a story. And sometimes, that story starts at the bottom of the sea.

Druskininkai once again became the capital of Lithuanian board gaming as PineCon 2025, one of the largest board game festivals in the Baltic States, gathered enthusiasts for the ninth consecutive year. While the festival celebrated the best Lithuanian board games of 2024, a major highlight for the local industry was the success of UAB Baltic Boar and its founder, Tomas Miliauskas. Baltic Boar Recognized for Innovation During the PineCon Board Game Awards, the jury selected “Dream City” as the Best Board Game Prototype of the year. The game was created by Tomas Miliauskas, founder of UAB Baltic Boar — a company that has steadily established itself as one of Lithuania’s most promising board game creators. This recognition further strengthens Baltic Boar’s position in the Lithuanian board game market. Miliauskas is already well known for previous successful titles, including: “Marijampolė” – awarded Best Lithuanian Board Game of 2022 “Politiškės” – one of the nominees for Best Lithuanian Board Game of 2024 With “Dream City,” Baltic Boar once again demonstrated its ability to combine strong thematic concepts with engaging gameplay mechanics, earning recognition from both national and international experts. International Jury and Strong Competition The PineCon prototype competition featured 10 selected finalists whose games were tested live by publishers and industry guests from Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia. The jury included respected professionals from the European board game community: Michał Gryń and Artur “Bishop” Lutyński (Poland), representatives of the playtesting group “Pamper” and organizers of Designer Camp, the largest board game creators’ event in Central Europe Jānis Grunte and Jānis Tilaks (Latvia), members of the popular Baltic board game channel “Board Game Hangover” Lithuanian industry leaders, including representatives from Brain Games, Terra Publica, and Kadabra Being selected and ultimately winning in such a competitive and internationally evaluated environment marks an important milestone for Baltic Boar. Celebrating Lithuanian Board Game Excellence During the festival, other major awards were also announced. “Heated” by Marijus Lapinskas and Justina Lapinskienė (published by Explosive Fox Games) was named Best Lithuanian Board Game of 2024, while “Dungeon Fighter” (localized by Terra Publica) received the award for Best Localized Game of 2024. The festival also hosted the Lithuanian national championships for “Catan” and “Carcassonne,” organized by Brain Games. The winners earned the right to represent Lithuania at international championships. Baltic Boar’s Growing Impact The success of “Dream City” confirms that UAB Baltic Boar continues to play a significant role in shaping Lithuania’s modern board game landscape. From historically inspired titles to innovative new prototypes, the company is steadily expanding its creative portfolio and strengthening its reputation both locally and internationally. As PineCon 2025 demonstrated, Baltic Boar is not only participating in Lithuania’s board game movement — it is helping to lead it.

On May 13–14, 2023, board game enthusiasts from across Lithuania gathered in Druskininkai for the seventh edition of PineCon, the largest board game festival in the Baltic States. The event also marked the debut of the PineCon Awards, recognizing the best Lithuanian board games and prototypes of the year for the first time. The educational-strategic board game “Marijampolė” won multiple accolades: Best Lithuanian Board Game of 2022 Audience Choice Award Additionally, Tomas Miliauskas — founder of UAB Baltic Boar — received the New Hope Award for the prototype that impressed convention participants the most: “Mushroom War.” After sweeping all three awards, Tomas Miliauskas, a native of Marijampolė, encouraged fellow creators to continue developing new games and to strengthen the Lithuanian board game community.

The First Board Game by Tomas Miliauskas Marijampolė is the first board game created by Lithuanian game designer Tomas Miliauskas. Released before the founding of UAB Baltic Boar, this educational strategy board game marked the beginning of a professional journey in the Lithuanian board game industry. Designed as a strategic city management board game, Marijampolė allows players to compete by developing their own vision for urban growth. By combining local identity, strategic thinking, and artistic presentation, the game quickly gained recognition within the Lithuanian tabletop community. LT Game Awards 2022: Double Recognition In 2022, Marijampolė received national recognition at the LT Game Awards 2022, one of the most important gaming events in Lithuania. The board game won: Best Debut Board Game Best Artistic Style These awards positioned Marijampolė among the top Lithuanian board games of 2022 and highlighted its innovative game design and strong visual identity. The artistic direction and cohesive thematic design played a major role in the game’s success, helping it stand out in a competitive tabletop market. A Strategic City Management Experience Marijampolė is more than a local-themed board game. It is a competitive strategy game where each player shapes their own development plan for the city. Players make strategic decisions about urban expansion, infrastructure, and long-term growth. This combination of: city-building mechanics educational elements competitive strategy gameplay strong artistic style makes Marijampolė a distinctive example of modern Lithuanian board game development. The Foundation of UAB Baltic Boar Although Marijampolė was released before UAB Baltic Boar was officially established, it became the foundation for the company’s creation. The experience of designing, publishing, and promoting an award-winning Lithuanian board game gave Tomas Miliauskas the expertise to launch Baltic Boar as a professional board game publisher. Today, Baltic Boar focuses on developing original board games with strong themes, creative storytelling, and high production standards. Marijampolė was not just a debut — it was the starting point of a growing Lithuanian board game brand.

“Marijampolė” Officially Launched – A Historical Strategy Board Game Inspired by the City The educational strategy board game “Marijampolė”, created during the quarantine period, has officially launched. Developed by Tomas Miliauskas and Monika Sadauskaitė, the game is a unique cultural project designed to introduce younger generations to the rich history of Marijampolė, present the city to its visitors in an engaging way, and deliver a compelling experience for strategy board game enthusiasts. Build Your Own Version of the City In “Marijampolė,” 2–4 players compete to build a thriving and successful city. However, as history shows, every city creator has their own vision and ambitions. In the game, each player shapes Marijampolė differently — whether as a small trading settlement along the Jevonis stream, an interwar industrial metropolis, or a center of monastic culture. By constructing significant buildings, establishing companies, using the strengths of historical personalities, and navigating difficult historical periods that impacted Lithuania, players actively write their own version of the city’s story. History as the Core of the Game From the earliest development stages, the history of Marijampolė became the foundation of the game. The deck includes 114 chronologically numbered cards representing key historical events — from the first fishermen who settled near the Jevonis River to March 1989, when the city’s name was changed from Kapsukas back to Marijampolė. Special character cards feature prominent historical figures such as Jonas Basanavičius, Vincas Kudirka, Žemaitė, and many others whose lives were connected to the city. Each card description was prepared in consultation with local historians to provide authentic and meaningful historical context. The game also reflects broader historical challenges that shaped Lithuania and Europe — including world wars, occupation, and the press ban. These events influence gameplay and create obstacles that players must overcome while developing their cities. “We didn’t want to create just another quiz-style history game where players feel tested,” says co-author Monika Sadauskaitė. “Our goal was to give players — even those who have never visited Marijampolė — the opportunity to experience and build the city themselves.” A Board Game That Also Works as a City Guide Another distinctive feature of “Marijampolė” is its architectural element. Stylized illustrations allow players to recognize well-known city landmarks. Card descriptions provide additional insight into each building’s origin, significance, and historical journey. Game co-author and illustrator Tomas Miliauskas shares that capturing the city visually was one of the most enjoyable parts of the creative process. “One of the most exciting aspects was drawing the buildings I passed every day in my hometown or saw in historical photographs. Some were quite challenging — for example, the old Long Square building was so long that it simply wouldn’t fit on a single card,” Miliauskas recalls. New Projects on the Horizon The creators already consider “Marijampolė” a successful project, regardless of commercial results. During development and release, they connected with a warm and passionate board game community and received highly positive feedback from playtesters. The publishing partner for the game is the Kaunas-based game development company SneakyBox. The collaboration is set to continue, with new board game projects already in development. When asked about future ideas, Tomas Miliauskas smiles and reveals a long-standing creative ambition — to transform Justinas Marcinkevičius’s literary work “Grybų karas” into a board game format.