Amid the shuffle of game pieces and the quiet intensity of strategic decisions, senior Saahil Herrero finds more than just entertainment — through playing tabletop games, he discovered a passion that would take him into the heart of the board game industry itself. His journey from casual player to industry insider began in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saahil started playing board games with his friends and family at the early age of four or five years old. By the time he reached middle school, one game in particular captured Saahil’s imagination — Gloomhaven, a cooperative, strategy-heavy board game where players work together to complete missions and progress through a branching narrative. 

“I’ve always enjoyed board games at an early age like Monopoly and cards,” Saahil said. “Christmas one year, I got this game called Gloomhaven, which is much more complex and a lot more strategy, so that got me more interested in board games.”

As he delved deeper into the strategies of Gloomhaven, Saahil found himself seeking a broader community with whom to discuss tactics, share experiences and explore new approaches. Saahil joined many online board game groups, where he could connect with other players sharing his interests. It was through these interactions that Saahil’s involvement in the board game world began to shift to a more active role as a playtester, contributing his advice to developers.

“Basically I would go through the entire process and flow of the game, which usually takes around 30 minutes but more for longer games,” Saahil said. “And then I would give feedback on what I liked and disliked.”

During this period, Saahil came into contact with the game development company Addax Games. Since Saahil previously worked on game graphics for someone at Addax, the company invited him to join their team as a playtester. His role involved providing comprehensive feedback on the overall flow and design of the games.

“They’ve seen what I’ve done previously with custom content,” Saahil said. “They trusted that I would give good feedback on their games. They thought that I was able to bring a new perspective to the table.”

The opportunity to work with Addax Games was a significant milestone for Saahil. Despite being the youngest member of the team, he felt confident that his fresh perspective could bring valuable insights. 

“A lot of team members at Addax Games had more experience than me, so there is a lot of stuff that I don’t know as well as they do about those games,” Saahil said. “In general, that would be bad, but when it comes to playtesting, that can be quite useful because not everyone who plays the game will be super experienced with board games.”

Beyond the realm of board games, Saahil’s personality and approach to life have also left a lasting impact on his peers. Close friend senior Aarav Borthakur appreciates how Saahil’s initially reserved demeanor often gives way to a more talkative and open personality as their relationship deepens.

“We play soccer at lunch every day. It’s been our tradition for years,” Aarav said. “He’s always the one initiating that. It would be 100 degrees outside and he would be the first one there. He likes to spend as much time as possible with his friends. That’s why I’m friends with him because he’s very enthusiastic about his friendships, which is something I agree with, that’s why we click together.”

Spanish teacher Abel Olivas, who taught Saahil AP Spanish Language in his sophomore year, echoes a similar perspective. He values how Saahil has a very strong voice during in-class discussions and debates.

“Once he gets into his role, into debate or discussion, then he’s no longer distracted by whatever it is that makes him a little more reticent to speak up,” Olivas said. “Whenever we’re focused on a discussion or a debate, he shifts and grounds himself in the activity he’s doing. When he’s delving into something he pushes away whatever inhibitions or anxieties that he might have.”

Saahil creates a relaxed and supportive atmosphere for all, exhibiting a light-hearted nature both with friends and those who interact with him, like close friend senior Ruhan Sahasi.

“The more you get to know him, the less quiet he seems and the more he’ll open up,” Ruhan said. “He’s very humorous. He is able to make jokes even in bad situations. Bringing that to a friend group and different situations is a big part of the friendship.”

But it’s not just Saahil’s enthusiasm and playfulness that his friends admire. For Aarav, what stands out most is Saahil’s reliability and dependability — qualities that he finds to be valuable in a friend.

“Saahil is a very reliable guy,” Aarav said. “As a friend, if you need something for him, he’s always there for you. So I think that’s the quality of him that I respect the most, because it doesn’t come too often.”