Alfa Diallo: When Game Design Challenges the Rules

What if the rules of a board game were not simply there to be followed… but could also be changed?

That is exactly the kind of question that inspires Alfa Diallo, the game designer we are delighted to welcome to the International Games & History Convention in Budapest on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October.

An energy economist, a father of two young children and a passionate board gamer, Alfa devotes his free time to another kind of analysis: designing games where players have to anticipate, adapt… and keep a close eye on their opponents!

Games for people who really love to play

Alfa’s games are primarily aimed at experienced board gamers. Rather than following the traditional eurogame formula, where players carefully build a long-term strategy, he likes to bring in more tactics, interaction and uncertainty.

In his games, the situation can change throughout the game. Other players’ decisions can completely disrupt your plans. And sometimes, the best strategy is simply to realise that your original strategy no longer works…

This philosophy is at the heart of his two current designs: Influence is Power and Mafia Control.

Influence is Power: What if you could change the rules?

In Influence is Power, each player takes on the role of a provincial leader in a newly established empire. But developing your province is not enough: you must also gain influence within the Imperial High Council and convince its members to elect you as Supreme Ruler.

Tableau building, bidding, action selection, drafting… the game combines familiar mechanisms for experienced players, while adding a particularly intriguing idea: players themselves can influence the rules of the game.

Laws that benefit their own interests, changing victory conditions… with 40 possible victory conditions, players do not simply play within the system — they help shape it.

The result is a tactical game where you must build an efficient resource-production system, adapt to a constantly changing environment and, above all, keep a close eye on what your opponents are planning.

Mafia Control: Welcome to the gang war

With Mafia Control, the atmosphere changes completely.

This time, players take on the roles of rival gang leaders fighting for control of the city. The game combines deck-building and worker placement, with a particularly promising twist: players build a shared deck, while an auction determines who gets to control the available cards each round.

Two very different settings, but the same philosophy: interact, adapt and never assume that the outcome is already decided.

Discover Alfa’s games at the Convention

Alfa Diallo will be at the Convention on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, presenting his work, meeting visitors and, most importantly, giving players the chance to discover his prototypes.

For fans of expert games, this is a great opportunity to discover games still in development, talk directly with their designer and perhaps even help shape their future by sharing feedback after a game.

Because that is also what makes game design so fascinating: before becoming a game in a box, an idea goes through dozens of playtests, changes, experiments and new ideas.

So, are you ready to play… and perhaps even change the rules?

📍 Alfa Diallo — Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October🎲 Influence is Power • Mafia Control🇭🇺 International Games & History Convention — Budapest 2026