Shasn (meaning rule or governance in Sanskrit) is a political strategy board game released via Kickstarter in 2019, the game quickly became an international success, raising over $340,000 against its initial $25,000 goal. Blending political philosophy, real-world dilemmas, and competitive strategy, Shasn positions itself at the crossroads of game design, storytelling, and political education.

It is more than a game, it’s a simulation of politics that forces players to grapple with the moral ambiguities of power, ideology, and decision-making.


Every player takes on the role of a politician in the midst of a political campaign. With each turn, players must draw an Ideology Card and take stands on divisive and urgent political issues. These choices will help them gather resources to influence voters or purchase strategic powers. Players can build diverse Ideologies with every policy decision, to best reflect their beliefs and play style. As they progress in the game, players must choose between sticking to their ideals or molding them as per their needs. In a game of trading, coercion, and strategy, players must do whatever it takes to survive and dominate.

Origin Story

On a sunny afternoon in February 2018, sitting in our Versova studio, along with creator of Shasn, Zain Memon and documentary filmmaker Vinay Shukla, we were brainstorming ideas for the DVD release of his new film 'An Insignificant Man'. Anand Gandhi, known for his films like Ship of Theseus and Tumbbad, wanted to explore how power operates in society (just like its seen in the film). Together, we envisioned a medium that could combine narrative, interactivity, and philosophy - and a board game became the perfect platform.

Development

We assembled a tiny group of talented writers, game designers and a product designer at Memesys Culture Lab and began designing a prototype. We pulled inspiration from:
Real-world politics and history
Game theory and negotiation mechanics
Philosophical debates around democracy, freedom, and governance

Kickstarter Launch (2019)

Shasn was pitched as "a political strategy board game that lets you walk in the shoes of politicians." The campaign resonated globally, with support from gamers, political thinkers, and artists. By 2020, Shasn was shipped to 50+ countries. It became not just a game, but a conversation starter about democracy, used in universities, political forums, and cultural festivals.

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Design Goals

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The team outlined three major goals:

Immersion in Political Choices: Make players feel the weight of real political dilemmas.

Ideology Building: Let players construct and shift their ideological stance through gameplay.

Accessibility + depth: Ensure that both casual and serious gamers can engage with the mechanics.

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Solutions:

Instead of abstract mechanics, the team grounded every decision in real political questions, ensuring relevance and depth.

Simulate how politicians evolve ideologically - sometimes consistently, sometimes opportunistically.

The game board was divided into constituencies (modeled after real-world election maps like the US, India, etc. in different editions).

The visual language was designed to be bold, contemporary, and provocative.

Card art features graphic, poster-like visuals inspired by political propaganda and street art.

Typography and colors draw from campaign aesthetics, creating an atmosphere of urgency and confrontation.

Each ideology has a distinct color scheme and symbol, reinforcing identity-building.

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Achievements & Milestones

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Kickstarter Success (2019): Funded in under 48 hours, raised $340K+, one of India’s biggest board game campaigns.

Global Recognition: Delivered to 50+ countries; received coverage in Forbes, The Hindu, and The New Yorker.

Cultural Impact: Used in universities, film festivals, and political discussions as a teaching tool.

Expansions: Released Shasn: Azadi (2021), focusing on freedom struggles around the world (India, American Revolution, Irish Revolution, etc.).

Awards & Accolades: Nominated in multiple tabletop design communities for innovation and thematic depth.

Shasn is a landmark in modern board game design. An interactive political simulator that merges game theory, storytelling, and civic education. Its origin as a cultural experiment grew into a global product that challenges players to rethink power, morality, and governance.
By turning politics into a playable experience, Shasn proves that design can provoke thought while still being deeply entertaining.