Let The Games Begin: How One Founder Is Bringing Big Fun To Vancouver’s Events (Win!)

What started as a side hustle in a Sunshine Coast workshop has turned into one of Vancouver’s most playful event staples. Jessie Davies, founder of Knotty Games, is on a mission to spark joy and connection with her handcrafted wooden game rentals—oversized classics designed to get people off their phones and into the moment. We caught up with Jessie to talk play, purpose, and what it really takes to build a business that brings people together. —Noa Nichol

What was the first game you ever built—and did it work perfectly the first time?
(Spoiler alert: we’re hoping for a good blooper!)

The very first game ‘I’ ever made was for my 26th birthday – I asked my dad to make a Giant Jenga for me. He cut the pieces up, and the day of the party they still hadn’t been sanded. My poor sweet friends Leah and Seamus walked by the wood shop at the wrong moment and were pulled into do the sanding. That’s true friendship! The game was hit though.

And then there was Corn Hole, of course! It was… a bit rickety to say the least. Essentially just a rough, old length of plywood with two hinged legs. I ended up with more than a few splinters.

You launched Knotty Games as a side project in 2020. What was the “aha” moment that made you realize this needed to be more than just a hobby?

My first big success was having our games at a friend’s wedding and seeing how well received they were and the environment they created. It was the first time I started to really pay attention to the potential of adult play. The joy and laughter and fun the games bring about are fabulous, but I began to see those things as a byproduct of what was really happening – connection. Barriers get broken down and strangers can engage with each other on a deeper level.

Your games are total crowd-pleasers. What’s one that consistently brings out everyone’s competitive side?

Giant Jenga never fails – even the most introverted get lulled into the anticipation and can’t help but scream when the tower tumbles.

Knotty Games blends nostalgia with craftsmanship. What’s your favourite classic game to supersize—and why does it work so well at events?

One of my new favourites is a game called Shoot the Moon. It’s a recognizable 1940s game that has players fight gravity by guiding a ball along two sloped poles with the goal of getting from the earth (beginning of the table) to the moon (end of the table).

The game seems simple but is infuriatingly difficult (for most). It can keep a group of people entertained for ages. Technically it’s a single person game, but I rarely see only one person playing it. It draws a crowd, and folks start sharing technique ideas. It’s such a great ice breaker because it pulls people out of themselves to try to solve a problem. 

You’re all about sparking connection. What’s the most unexpected or heartwarming moment you’ve witnessed between guests during a game?

My favourite game moment is from before I had launched Knotty Games. I was in the process of building the games while still working as a recreation manager at a senior’s home. I brought corn hole to work and we had a seated Corn Hole tournament as part of a week-long Olympic Games tournament (July 2020 when Tokyo was cancelled).

There was one lovely resident who struggled with participation for a variety of reasons, but she marched up to the Corn Hole boards and shot three-pointer after three-pointer (bean bag in the hole) and won the gold medal for the event. It was not only so much fun to watch her succeed, but to see her then be celebrated after the fact. At the end of the week, we gave her the sharpshooter award.

A year later, I went into her suite and saw her gold medal and sharpshooter award displayed proudly!

You started in a small Sunshine Coast workshop. What was it like building those first nine games with friends and family? Any memorable DIY fails or proud moments?

There were many fails, miscalculations, and back-to-the-drawing-board moments. When putting the finishing touches on the first giant Connect4 board, we went to drop the discs down the slots. It was immensely satisfying to go down the board and drop them in… until the last column. I went to drop the disc down, and it got stuck about 2 holes deep! Fortunately, a full re-do wasn’t required, but we had to go back in and rip a few pieces apart and try again.

Sustainability and local support are part of your brand DNA. Can you share more about your partnerships with local makers and what that means to you?

Local craftsmanship is becoming such a challenge to sustain. Our local makers mean everything to me – to be able to support them and the local economy is so satisfying. It’s a small vote for keeping things local, and every small vote counts right now.

Almost every event I go to, I get asked about the craftsmanship (which is superb!) and I get to talk about the folks that make the games and supporting materials. Our main builder is now Del from Junior’s Jobs (Instagram: juniorsjobs). Check out his work! He is a fantastic artist and an all-around great human being.

I’ve also partnered with the fabulous folks at Marshmallow Monkey Design (https://www.marshmallowmonkeydesign.com/) who embroider our custom bean bags and are starting to do our embroidered clothing, too.

If Knotty Games had a signature slogan on a T-shirt, what would it say?

“Crafted for Connection”

What advice would you give to someone planning a corporate or community event who wants to bring more play into the mix?

If nothing invites guests out of their shell, they will stay in it. We need to intentionally create spaces that invite guests out of those shells.

The most important aspect of adult play is ease of access. Choose games that have a low barrier to entry – they should be easy to understand, spark nostalgia, or create immediate curiosity. The less rules, the better! Having clear signage and a game attendant or volunteer to pull guests in is a huge help in breaking the ‘first person’ barrier. No one wants to be the first person on the dance floor!

Lastly, align play with purpose. Why are you bringing in play? If it’s a corporate team-building event, choose games that require collaboration, not just competition. If it’s a community event, pick activities that bring generations or strangers together.

You’ve turned play into a profession—what’s something people underestimate about the power of games at grown-up gatherings?

How much time do you have?

Adult play is chronically undervalued and is easily written off as unnecessary. This is likely because it can be difficult and uncomfortable to switch into a playful mode. Like most things, if it’s a bit uncomfortable it’s probably worth doing. Play has the ability to pull you into the present moment. For individuals, it can be a mood reset; for companies, a culture reset.

Win! A 3-Game Rental From Knotty Games!

Congrats Aaron E. of Britannia Beach, BC, who will receive a 3-game rental, including delivery/pick up! Please note: game rental is subject to game availability on my brand’s end. Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.