Hey everyone, Tony here! I am so excited to finally share the first Nano Battle design journal with you. This is the start of something I have been dreaming about for years, 27 years to be exact! Today, I want to take you behind the curtain and show you how Nano Battle was created. From the spark that started it all to the little details that make it special, let me tell you the story of Nano Battle.

A Little About Me

First, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Antonio Robles, but most people just call me Tony. I am 37 years old, born and raised in California, and a proud husband and father to two awesome kids, my very own little monsters.

Growing up, my mom taught me some tough lessons about gaming. You don’t always win. In fact, she never let me win, not once! Tic Tac Toe, Checkers, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Flipping Flapjacks—you name it, I lost every single time. But you know what? It taught me to have fun, even if I wasn’t winning. I’ve passed that lesson to my kids now, especially when they face yet another Draw 4 right after shouting “UNO!” with so much pride.

Gaming has always been a part of my life. I grew up on tabletop games like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering in the ’90s. Later, I got hooked on games like Dominion, Marvel Champions, Warhammer 40,000, and Star Realms. If it’s a game you can play in under an hour, I’m in.

Video games were just as important. My parents and grandma got me a Game Boy, and it was everything. I’ll never forget sitting on my grandma’s porch playing Tetris for the first time. Later, it became my escape during long hours waiting at my grandma’s doctor appointments. She was often sick, but playing games with my mom, and eventually my siblings, helped pass the time.

I grew up loving classics like Castlevania, Mega Man, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy. Now, I’m all about modern gems like Into the Breach, Dead Cells, Hades, and Binding of Isaac. Roguelikes are my sweet spot because they mix unpredictable challenges with big rewards, even if they almost always end in my glorious defeat.

For over 17 years, I’ve worked in the toy industry while earning a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and a Master’s in Media Design. Over the years, I’ve done it all, prototyping, painting, 3D modeling, packaging, licensing, and full product development with overseas production. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible brands like Disney (Marvel and Star Wars), Hasbro, and WWE. As much as I loved bringing others’ ideas to life, I always dreamed of creating something of my own. That dream became Nano Battle.

The Inspiration Behind Nano Battle

Nano Battle is my love letter to the toys and games I grew up with. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, I was obsessed with little rubber figures like M.U.S.C.L.E., Monster in My Pocket, and Homies from quarter machines. These toys weren’t just fun to collect, they sparked my imagination.

Each figure looked cool but came with little or no backstory, so I had to dream up my own. I would spend hours imagining where they came from, what their powers were, and how they fit into a bigger world. With Nano Battle, I wanted to bring that magic back.

The Nanoverse, the world of Nano Battle, is where it all happens. This is a place connected by Rifts, mysterious tears in space that pull Nanoids from their home worlds into battle. The arenas, called Nano Fields, are built from hex tiles that change every time you play. With them, no two games are ever the same.

This isn’t just backstory, it’s part of the gameplay. Every Nanoid, every arena, and every part of the Nanoverse adds to the strategy and fun. Just like the toys I grew up with, I want every piece of your Nano Battle collection to feel unique and personal.

The Look and Feel of Nano Battle

When designing Nano Battle, I wanted it to have a bold, exciting style that stood out as something truly unique. Growing up, I was inspired by comics and the wild, colorful energy of Rat Fink and other retro designs. I wanted Nano Battle to capture that same kind of vibrant personality.

Every Nanoid is crafted to grab your attention. Alpha, for example, feels like a mix of Mega Man and Iron Giant, a perfect starting point inspired by two of my favorite characters. Then there’s Ninjack, a ninja with pumpkins for arms and a head. It sounds wild, but it’s the kind of character I dreamed about as a kid. Hexo brings a spooky, glowing edge with his terminator-like skeleton visage. And Wolvera? She’s a fierce werewolf with razor-sharp claws and a personality to match. Torn clothes and her half-transformed look leave you wondering, what happened to her?

Each Nanoid has a story that doesn’t need words. You can see it in their design. My hope is that they spark your imagination the way toys sparked mine when I was growing up.

The Road to Nano Battle

The idea of Nano Battle came back to me in 2010 while I was in college. I had to work on a project where we had to solve a problem in an industry. For me, that problem was big, complicated board games. I simply didn’t have the time for them.

So many games feel like a chore to play. They have long rulebooks, heavy pieces, and matches that drag on for hours. I wanted Nano Battle to be the opposite. It’s small, light, and quick. You can finish a match in five to fifteen minutes, but there’s still plenty of depth and strategy.

It wasn’t easy to get here. I spent years figuring out how to make the hex tiles work, how to balance the gameplay, and how to design figures that are both fun to use and tough enough to handle regular play. Every challenge made the game better, and now we’re finally here.

What Is Next for Nano Battle?

The wait is over! Wave 1 is ready for you to jump in and start battling. This first wave includes the start of Story Mode with Chapter 1 and five unique Rumble Packs. These packs feature Alpha, Ninjack, Blastrid, Trexx, and Wrecker Nanoids. Each pack has something new to offer, so you can start building your collection right now.

But this is just the beginning. The Nanoverse is expanding. We’re already working on future waves with more Nanoids, new arena tiles, and exciting surprises that will keep every match fresh. Whether you’re battling solo, with friends, or diving into Story Mode, the adventure is only going to grow.

So, grab Wave 1 and step into the Nanoverse. Your journey is just getting started, and I cannot wait to see how you play. Remember, grabbing a Founder Bundle now not only gets you my eternal gratitude but also 20% off all future releases!

Let’s keep the fun going! Next time, we’ll dive into the Command Card System and how just six cards and any Nanoid create gameplay that’s simple to learn but packed with depth. Make sure to subscribe to our email list!