Game, Toast, and Community: The Story Behind Toasty Toast

Welcome to our blog Coco!

Tell us a bit about yourself! 

My name is Coco, a tech marketing girlie by day and artist by night living in Brooklyn, NY. I always loved to doodle but never thought I would design my own card game (I barely passed my AP Art exam in high school).

I created Toasty Toasts, a deliciously competitive card game for family and friends. But on a deeper level, I aim to build communities that foster playfulness and joy. Life can be challenging, and I believe everyone deserves moments of lighthearted fun and laughter. By bringing people together through games, events, and everyday interactions, I hope to create small pockets of joy that remind us to stay curious, connected, and human.

What inspired your current work or creative path?

Honestly? My love for bread and lighthearted laugh. I wanted to create a game with a relatable theme, and bread felt perfect, since there are many kinds of delicious bread in every culture. That’s how Toasty Toasts was born. I ensured the game is easy to learn and has cute and playful designs (yes, there’s even a toast card with a thick booty in the game).

How does your AAPI/NH identity inform your creativity?

The tabletop game industry is quite small, and I immediately connected with fellow AAPI designers who generously offered mentorship and support. I also want to showcase more Asian-inspired flavors through my designs. In Toasty Toasts, one of the most loved cards is Sriracha, and I’m excited to bring even more Asian flavors into future expansions (Kaya toast, anyone?).

What’s something you wish more people understood about creating a game?

I wish more people understood how much hard work goes into creating even a simple card game - from developing the rule mechanics to designing packaging details. I’ve developed Toasty Toasts end to end, which is quite unusual since the industry standard is to work with graphic designers or publishers. But I truly enjoy knowing every part of my business and being hands-on in bringing it to life. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the amazing communities like On Waverly, who believed in me from the start.

My favorite part of the process has been hosting events and bringing people together. When I lived in San Francisco, I hosted a launch party at Gamescape and a boba happy hour at On Waverly (the very first event ever hosted there)! Seeing people gather to play Toasty Toasts, share laughter, and build community in person is when I feel most proud of what I’ve created.

What are you excited about right now — personally or professionally?

Right now, I’m excited to design the expansion called Cheesy Cheese. Many people told me they wished Toasty Toasts could be played with more people, so I’m adding new Cheese cards and rules to make the game even more dynamic and accommodate up to 6 players. I can’t wait to share this new cheesy adventure with this community!

Where can people find you?

IG: @toastytoastsgame; Website: toastytoasts.com; Pre-save Cheesy Cheese Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/toastytoasts/cheesy-cheese-a-toasty-toasts-expansion