ABOUT WALLIS HOUSE
An old name. A new chapter.
Wallis House Games takes its name from John and Edward Wallis, whose illustrated games and puzzles are part of the history of British play.
Where the name began
John Wallis began trading in London around 1775. His business published maps, games and puzzles; his son Edward continued the family business after John’s death in 1818.
Their work brought pictures, places and discoveries onto the table. Surviving examples include illustrated board games and maps cut into pieces to be assembled—a world to explore with your hands as well as your imagination.
Why Wallis House?
We chose the name in their honour. There is something enduring about opening a game, spreading out its pieces and wondering where it will take you.
Wallis House Games is a new, independent publisher. Our connection to John and Edward Wallis is one of inspiration; we have no family or business affiliation with the original firm.
The games we want to make
A letter with something left unsaid. A map worth looking at twice. A small detail that changes your understanding of a story.
We’re developing illustrated mysteries and adventures for curious players: cases to share around a table, stories to follow online, and choices that lead somewhere unexpected. Some will suit families; others will give older players a more demanding enquiry.
We hope to carry a little of that earlier spirit of discovery into games made for today.
A little further reading
The history above draws on museum and library collection records. These links open in a new tab.
National Library of Australia: The Naturalist, by John and Edward WallisLondon Museum: A New Map of the WorldBritish Museum: Wallis’s New Game of Universal History and Chronology (1814)