Eight years of success

It all started with an unexpected discovery. One day, my wife and I were reminiscing about our childhood and discovered that we had the same favorite board game called “Journey” (now we call it “Merry Journey”). This small coincidence made us want to bring back this piece of the past, but for our children. We started looking for the game, but it was almost impossible to find it in good condition. So I decided to restore it myself.

The first version was printed in a nearby photo lab on regular cardboard. This modest experiment became a real event for our family – the children were delighted, and my wife and I seemed to return to childhood. That’s when I had an idea:

• Maybe other people will want to have the same game?

At first, I created a simple website where I posted a description of the game and a few photos. This happened eight years ago, on November 11, 2016. Orders appeared almost immediately, which became a huge motivation for me. The game “Journey” opened the door to a whole world of Soviet board games, which have now become my passion.

Overcoming difficulties

On the way to success, I faced many challenges. Finding old games is only half the battle. Most of them were badly damaged: torn parts of the game board, faded colors, unreadable texts. This required restoration, but I did not have any knowledge of a graphics editor. I had to learn from scratch. Each restored game became not only a product, but also a small work of art, into which I invested my time and soul.

The key event was a request from a collector Dmitry from Odessa. He asked to restore several rare games for him, and his collection inspired me to expand the range. Thanks to Dmitry, our store was replenished with dozens of unique games that today delight our customers.

In addition, important ideas often came from customers. For example, one customer suggested placing the rules of the game and descriptions of the tasks that players would have to complete on the game board. This simple but brilliant suggestion became the standard for many of our games.

Key achievements

Eight years have passed, and I can proudly note our success. We have crossed the threshold of 100 games in the assortment, each of which is unique and carefully restored. Our store has become famous not only in our country, but also abroad. Today we send orders to Russia, the USA, Canada, Israel, Poland and Slovakia. This shows that interest in Soviet board games exists all over the world.

Board games for children aged 6–11 are especially popular. They are simple, fun and perfect for family evenings. To make them even more convenient, we started printing game boards on banner fabric. This material can withstand any tests: spilled drinks, active children’s movements and even accidental steps of adults. This quality allows you to preserve the games for a long time, turning them into real family heirlooms.

Stories and Acknowledgments

The greatest reward for me is the stories and gratitude from our customers. Many of them have been looking for their favorite games for years to feel like children again and share this feeling with their families.

One of these stories was especially memorable. I remember once I was asked to restore a rare game called “Gnome Gardeners”, which could not be found anywhere in good quality. I only had one photo taken from the side. It was not easy to work with, but I tried my best. The result was far from ideal, but the client was still happy. The main thing is that he was able to play his favorite game with his children.

My wife played a huge role in the success of this business. Her advice and support were an integral part of every step. It was she who suggested restoring our first game, and her faith in me helped me overcome all the difficulties. I always listen to her opinion, and this rule has become one of the most valuable lessons in my life.

Plans for the future

We are not going to stop there. New horizons lie ahead. Our plans include continuing to expand our range, restore rare games and create new ones, including educational games for children. We want board games to become not only entertainment, but also a way to develop skills, learn and communicate.

In addition, we are actively working on creating exclusive collectible sets that will be a real find for board game lovers. It is important to preserve not only the physical games, but also the atmosphere they create: comfort, laughter and family unity.

Invitation to our store

We invite you to visit our online store. Here you will find restored Soviet games that will bring joy, revive memories and help create new family traditions. Perhaps it is here that you will find the very game that will take you back to your childhood and become a favorite for your children and grandchildren.