Board Gamers Anonymous

Episode 588 – BGG Top 100 & BGA 13th Anniversary

Chris — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:35:09 +0000

Episode 588: 13 Years of BGA — Taking on the BGG Top 100

Board Gamers Anonymous is officially 13 years old! To celebrate, Chris is joined by Tim and Game Master Dave, together on the podcast for the very first time, for a special look at the BoardGameGeek Top 100 games.

All three of us are diving into the list and giving our hot takes: the games that deserve their spots, the ones that should be higher, the ones we can’t believe are still there, and the sacred cows we’re willing to knock down a few pegs. After 13 years of talking board games, we’ve accumulated plenty of opinions, and we’re not keeping them to ourselves.

Most importantly, a huge thank you to all of the friends who have been part of BGA over the years (especially Anthony) and to every listener who has downloaded an episode, shared the show, sent us a message, argued with one of our lists, or kept coming back week after week. And an extra special thank you to our Patreon backers, whose support helps make BGA possible. We couldn’t have made it to 13 years without all of you.

Here’s to 13 years of Board Gamers Anonymous, and plenty more games, debates, rankings, and questionable opinions still to come!

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Episode 587: The Clue Is…10 Games That Keep You Guessing

Chris — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:05:47 +0000

Episode 587: The Clue Is…10 Games That Keep You Guessing

The clue is…a great game night! Chris and Tim count down 10 games built around giving clues, deciphering hints, and guessing the right words or numbers. Some clues will lead straight to the answer, while others may leave everyone wondering what their teammates were thinking.

In Roll for Preview, Chris checks out DC Deck-Building Game: Green Lantern Corps, while Tim heads Abroad. Then, in Roll for Review, Chris puts the pedal to the prehistoric metal with Dino Racer, and Tim shares his thoughts on Whistle Mountain, Rebirth, and Hoplomachus: Origins.

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Episode 586 – Solitaire Game Commander Dave

Chris — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 22:15:38 +0000

Chris is joined by Game Master Dave for an episode packed with previews, reviews, and a dive into the world of solitaire gaming.

Roll for Preview: Chris checks out Reiner Knizia’s Medici Traders, a tile auction game that brings a new spin to the classic Medici system, while Dave digs into Drillers.

Roll for Review: Chris stomps into King of Tokyo: Godzilla, while Dave tackles Lumberjacks with Rocket Launchers, Hot Streak, and Flip 7.

Then it’s time for Solitaire Game Commander Dave! Dave takes command of the table to explore solo gaming, including Agricola, Master of Britain, B-17: Queen of the Skies, and The Hunters: German U-Boats at War, 1939–43. What makes these games work when there’s nobody sitting across the table from you, and what can modern solo games learn from them?

Auctions, drilling, kaiju, lumberjacks, horse racing, card games, and commanding an entire table by yourself- it’s another week of Board Gamers Anonymous!

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Episode 585 – Gen Con Post-Game Report 2026

Chris — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:18:43 +0000

Gen Con 2026 Postgame Report!

Gen Con is in the books, and Chris and Tim are breaking down the biggest news, announcements, and games coming out of another record-breaking year in Indianapolis. More than 74,000 gamers showed up and brought rain, leaking roofs, tornado warnings, and plenty of tabletop chaos with them.

We cover the growing presence of massive IPs like Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, Star Wars, Stormlight Archive, and Dungeon Crawler Carl before diving into the games that caught our attention, including Entropy, Gruntz, Drillers, Kokeshi, Layers, Three Witches, Thunder Road: Ignition, The Lord of the Rings: The King’s Gambit, and more.

Then it’s Roll for Review, with Tim hitting the table with Moon Colony Bloodbath, Finspan, and more.

The crowds were bigger, the announcements were louder, and somehow the cardboard survived. It’s our Gen Con 2026 Postgame Report!

The post Episode 585 – Gen Con Post-Game Report 2026 appeared first on Board Gamers Anonymous.

Episode 584 – If You Like The Odyssey, Try…

Chris — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:37:44 +0000

With the release of Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey, Chris and Tim set sail in search of board games that capture the timeless themes of Homer’s legendary journey. From perilous voyages and impossible choices to cunning strategy, loyalty, monsters, and the long road home, discover tabletop adventures that evoke the spirit of one of history’s greatest stories.

Plus, in Roll for Preview, Chris digs into Rosalie: A Rosy Game of Gardening, while Tim heads to the wizarding world with Defenders of Hogwarts. Then it’s time for Roll for Review as Chris takes a look at the travel-friendly Wingspan Pocket, and Tim shares his thoughts on Oh, My Pigeons! and Dizzle.

Whether you’re a fan of mythology, movies, or memorable game nights, this episode is an odyssey worth taking.

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Episode 583 – The World Cup of Game Designers

Chris — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 02:02:58 +0000

Hi all! Reuploading this to address an audio issue.

The World Cup has come to the tabletop!

In this special tournament episode of Board Gamers Anonymous, Chris and Tim continue their World Cup of Board Game Designers, where the greatest designers from around the globe represent their countries of origin in a head-to-head bracket to determine who deserves the championship trophy. This week, the competition heats up as we enter the Sweet 16, with legendary designers facing off in epic matchups based on their influence, innovation, iconic games, and lasting impact on the hobby.

Will Germany’s design powerhouse continue its dominance? Can France, Italy, or the United States pull off an upset? Which countries will survive to advance to the Elite Eight? Grab your bracket and play along as Chris and Tim debate the toughest matchups in board gaming history.

Feature Review:

The World Cup of Board Game Designers – Sweet 16

Who are you picking to cut down the nets and become the greatest board game designer of all time?

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Episode 582: If You Like Cascadia, Try…

Chris — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:42:10 +0000

Love Cascadia but looking for your next favorite game?

Chris and Tim explore a collection of board games that share a satisfying blend of thoughtful decision-making, relaxing gameplay, and rewarding puzzle-solving. From tile-laying and spatial planning to completing patterns and balancing multiple scoring objectives, they highlight games that scratch the same itch while offering unique twists.

Roll for Preview

Chris: Kemet: The Gates of Thonis

Tim: 8 Dragons

Roll for Review

Tim: Nippon: Genro and Nippon: Zaibatsu

Chris: Container

Whether you’re searching for another nature-inspired puzzler or simply enjoy games that challenge you to optimize every placement, this episode is packed with recommendations for fans of elegant strategy games. Tune in as Chris and Tim break down what makes Cascadia so compelling and reveal the titles that deserve a spot on your table next.

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Episode 581 – Board Game Convention Report

Chris — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:50:34 +0000

This week on Board Gamers Anonymous, Game Master Dave returns from the convention circuit with tales from the gaming tables, standout discoveries, and memorable moments in our feature segment, Game Master Dave’s Convention Report.

In Roll for Preview, Dave looks ahead to the geopolitical strategy game World Order, while Chris previews The Terror: Can You Survive the French Revolution?, a tense historical experience where survival is anything but guaranteed.

Then it’s time for Roll for Review. Dave shares his thoughts on the classic abstract strategy game Ingenious and the fantasy-themed Diplomancy: The Golden Blade. Chris rounds out the reviews with Rebuilding Chicago, a city-building game focused on restoring and reshaping the Windy City.

Join us for another week of board game news, previews, reviews, and discussion from around the tabletop.

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BGA 580 – Building up! Our Top 10 Games That Build Skyward

Chris — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:29:31 +0000

Building Up! This week on Board Gamers Anonymous, we’re reaching new heights with our feature review of the Top 10 Games That Build Skyward! From towering structures to layered landscapes, we’re celebrating games that feature vertical building mechanics, without venturing into dexterity-game territory.

In our Roll for Preview segment, Tim takes a look at Hover – A Surprisingly Brutal Hummingbird Game, while Chris explores the deluxe Concordia Special Edition.

Then, in Roll for Review, Tim shares his thoughts on Super Motherload, Mezo, and The Glade. Chris reports back on the epic conflict in Dune: War for Arrakis, the sprawling civilization-building experience in Civolution, and the galactic battles in Star Wars: Battle of Hoth.

Join us as we stack, build, and climb our way through some of tabletop gaming’s most impressive vertical experiences!

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Episode 579: The Sweet Spot: Six Players

Chris — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:27:26 +0000

The Sweet Spot: Six Players

What’s the ideal player count for a board game?

This week on Board Gamers Anonymous, Chris and Tim dive into one of gaming’s most debated topics: games that are at their absolute best with six players. From epic table experiences to hidden gems that shine with a full group, we discuss what makes six the magic number and highlight some of our favorite titles that hit that sweet spot.

In our Roll for Preview segment, Tim takes a look at War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time, while Chris previews Antifascist Tooth Fairy, Game Changer: Home Edition, and The Official Cyberpunk Trading Card Game.

Then, in Roll for Review, Chris shares his thoughts on Canvas Critters, and Tim reviews Pixies.

Join us for another week of board game news, previews, reviews, and discussion from around the tabletop.

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