The Art of
Localization
Translating a board game is a little more complicated than replacing English words with French or Portuguese ones (or any other language, for that matter!). There's the rulebook, where a poorly worded sentence can completely change how a mechanic works. Then you've got the cards, abilities, keywords, and all those little bits of text that need to stay consistent throughout the game. And let's not forget the lore, jokes, and cultural references that don't always survive a literal translation.
That's where I come in! I help tabletop creators bring their games to French and Brazilian players, taking care of both the language and the technical details that come with it.
What I Do
I translate tabletop games from English into French and Brazilian Portuguese, including rulebooks, cards, scenarios, box text, and, of course, narrative content. You name it! But there's more to it than translating one sentence after another. I work with glossaries, translation memories, and terminology databases to keep things consistent throughout your game, especially when you're dealing with recurring abilities, keywords, or expansions. We all know how much of a headache it can be when the same spell has two different names across expansions, and you spend hours trying to figure out the difference, only to realize they're actually the same thing! When the text calls for a little creativity, I make sure the humor, tone, and personality of your game don't get lost along the way.
Ever read a rule three times and still had no idea what it was trying to tell you? That's exactly the kind of thing I look out for. I review translated rulebooks for grammar, terminology, confusing explanations, contradictions, and mechanics that don't quite make sense on paper. I also check that the translation accurately reflects the original rules, because even a tiny wording change can have unexpected consequences once players sit down at the table.
A translation might look perfectly fine in a document, but things can get messy once you put everything back into the game. Text overflowing a card, awkward line breaks, missing symbols, or a keyword that doesn't match the rulebook... These are the kinds of issues I look for when reviewing localized game components. I check the translated content in its actual layout, whether it's a card, board, player aid, or rulebook, to catch problems before the files head off to production.
French and Portuguese don't always take up the same amount of space as English. Sometimes a short sentence suddenly needs three lines instead of two, and your carefully designed card isn't so happy about it. I work directly with Adobe InDesign and Illustrator to adapt the original layouts, adjust text placement, and make room for the translated content while respecting the game's visual identity. I can also prepare and check the final files for printing, so you're not left juggling translations, layouts, and production requirements on your own.
