COMBO Festival Milano Celebrates Female Board Game Designers with 'Un gioco da ragazze'

The first edition of COMBO Festival di Pedine, Dadi e Carte, dedicated to board and role-playing game culture, takes place in Milan on October 3-4, 2026. A key highlight is the immersive installation 'Un gioco da ragazze' at the former industrial complex Morel Milano, which since 1930 housed the offices of the eponymous textile manufacturer. The exhibition showcases fourteen female game designers who have significantly contributed to the field, including Elizabeth Magie Phillips, who patented The Landlord's Game in 1904, a precursor to Monopoly. The installation displays each designer's most representative game, opened and illustrated to reveal their design approach, surrounded by 1950s and 1960s furniture. Portraits of the designers, created by graphic designer Paola Rondi, are also featured. Cristian Confalonieri of Studiolabo, one of the event's promoters, stated that the homage 'does not want to separate female talent, but to make it finally evident: because the history of the game has no gender, but is much richer, more innovative and surprising than what has emerged so far.' The event aims to recover and celebrate the contributions of these often overlooked designers.