Board Game Barrage

#372: Kellen's Kull

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Perhaps inspired by our recent embracing of minimalism a month ago, Kellen's going all in on reducing his games. In fact, he's already done it, and is here to tell all about everything that's left his collection and why. Before we recover shelf space, we talk about Epona, and Cheops.

04:42 - Epona
15:59 - Beast Mode?
19:33 - Cheops
29:11 - Kellen's Kull

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#371: Essen SPIEL 2026 Hype List

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:01:00 +0000

We're not going to Essen, and frankly, may never, but that won't stop us from wishing we were going. From the mountain of games we won't get to play in person, we've mined for the diamonds that we think you should keep your eyes on. Before we get to digging, we talk about Hanami, Brink, and Railway Boom.

02:14 - Hanami
12:06 - Brink
24:22 - Railway Boom
36:05 - Essen SPIEL 2026 Preview
38:16 - 1st CEO
39:24 - Robo Run
40:56 - -60°
43:49 - Apocalypse
45:31 - Kalypso
46:51 - Timespan
49:42 - 17 Dice Bets
52:51 - KumoKumo Park
54:11 - Chronocritters
56:09 - Tikal Legend
57:38 - Ancient Empires
59:10 - Almighty
1:01:41 - Old Ones Origins
1:06:02 - Courtroom: The Noir Trilogy
1:08:51 - For the Gods!

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#370: On Brand

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:08:00 +0000

It's a designer spotlight, which means we're turning the focus away from us, and putting it on some prestigious designers instead! This week it's Inka and Markus Brand, whose story apparently has a whole enemies to lovers angle I did not see coming. Before we power duet, we talk about Party House: The Deckbuilding Game, Land and Freedom: The Spanish Revolution and Civil War, and Baba Is You: The Board Game.

01:50 - Party House: The Deckbuilding Game
06:35 - Land and Freedom: The Spanish Revolution and Civil War
13:03 - Baba Is You: The Board Game
28:53 - Designer spotlight: Inka & Markus Brand
32:10 - Catan
36:58 - The Great Dinosaur Game
37:40 - Village
40:56 - The Enchanted Tower
41:52 - Exit: The Game
46:22 - La Boca

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#369: The Life-Changing Magic of a Minimalist Board Game Collection

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:22:00 +0000

We're downsizing, imagining a brighter future where we don't have hundreds of games to fret about not playing, but a very slight, extremely manageable twenty. Some say it can't be done, but that's never stopped us before. Before we get low, we talk about After you, Betobeto-san, Skull Queen, and Star Trek: Captain's Chair - To Boldly Go.

01:53 - After you, Betobeto-san
09:11 - Skull Queen
17:21 - Star Trek: Captain's Chair - To Boldly Go
28:12 - Minimalist board game collections

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#368: I Will Always Love You

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:44:00 +0000

We love a good old game - there are a lot that of games over a decade old that we'd happily sing the praises of, but if we were being brutally honest, how many of them do we think would make it in today's markets? How much have tastes really moved on since these games were in their prime? Before we let nostalgia get the better of us, we talk about I'm Out, Evenglow, and Trials of Maya.

03:08 - I'm Out
09:28 - Evenglow
13:32 - Trials of Maya
29:40 - If old games were released today
31:29 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
39:14 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
42:22 - Terraforming Mars
44:30 - Star Wars: Rebellion
46:41 - Twilight Struggle
48:01 - The Castles of Burgundy
50:08 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
52:37 - Great Western Trail
54:02 - Brass: Lancashire
57:52 - 7 Wonders Duel
59:51 - Scythe

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#367: One vs. Many

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:07:00 +0000

We play a lot of games. Which is great, because a lot of games get made, and we get to play them ... but it does come at the cost of always having to learn (and teach) something new, grappling with rules, and gets in the way of enjoying the game. Would it be better if we just devoted ourselves to one game? Before we join a Mahjong club, we talk about Wingspan Pocket, Greylune, and Marrakesh.

01:53 - Wingspan Pocket
09:16 - Greylune
19:11 - Marrakesh
36:53 - Sticking with one game

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#366: Collaborative Draft: Games of 2017

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:23:00 +0000

We're back to collaborate (and listen) to figure out together what the best games of 2017 were. Are? It's a collaborative draft, and if you haven't heard one of these before, get ready for an honest to goodness mess. Before we draw up treaties, we talk about Prosciutto and Melon Game, and Steel Driver.

03:00 - Prosciutto and Melon Game
12:24 - Steel Driver
22:26 - Best games of 2017
25:35 - Calimala
30:48 - Ethnos
34:15 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
39:37 - Nusfjord
42:39 - Sidereal Confluence
46:35 - Startups
48:44 - Codenames: Duet
51:12 - Heaven & Ale
52:51 - The Quest for El Dorado
56:15 - Rumble Nation
58:09 - Azul
1:03:03 - Iberian Gauge
1:04:21 - Cursed Court

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#365: Gen Con 2026 Preview

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:33:00 +0000

Gen Con is Gen Coming, so we're looking in our wizard's glasses to tell you what's what. Whether you're going or not, you're gonna want to know what the hot games are, and we've got you covered. Before we Indianapolize, we talk about Koinobori, Compania, and Mood Swings.

02:32 - Koinobori
09:50 - Compania
19:52 - Mood Swings
25:39 - Gen Con preview
24:57 - Prague Unseen
28:27 - Triangulation
30:24 - All Mine!
32:25 - Hell of a Deal
34:51 - Night at the Zoo
36:22 - Stonk Market
39:45 - Bullseye
41:57 - Jibber Jabble
44:38 - The Lord of the Rings: Circle of Conflict
46:05 - Revenant
48:11 - FaeKin
49:32 - Mythologies
50:18 - World Order
52:28 - Greylune
57:22 - Corps of Discovery Duo

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#364: Mechanism Matchup

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:49:00 +0000

There are two board game mechanisms you just can't escape, they're on everyone's mind, flooding the discourse. That's combat, and card draw mitigation. Everyone won't stop talking about them. So we had to weigh in too, not just with what we feel are the best examples of games that have done them best, but some other quirky takes on them too. Before we mitigate our card draws, we talk about Rolling Deep, Eureka!, dnup, and Grinivil.

03:59 - Rolling Deep
15:12 - Eureka!
16:48 - dnup
24:48 - Grinivil
40:10 - Combat mechanisms
41:07 - Kemet
45:00 - Dune
48:40 - Shogun
52:42 - Forbidden Stars
53:51 - Dead Reckoning
54:48 - Gloomhaven
55:12 - Card draw mitigation
56:09 - Dark Pact
57:19 - La Granja
58:26 - Glory to Rome
59:58 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:02:07 - Race for the Galaxy
1:02:57 - 7 Wonders Duel
1:06:28 - The Vale of Eternity

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#363: The Dark Depths of Mailbag

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:32:00 +0000

It's been a while since we've plumbed the depths of the bottomless chasm we call "fanmail", so this week we're reaching our hands as far as we can and pulling out some questions that have yet to see the light of say. Before we dig too greedily and too deep, we talk about Politrickers, Marvel Champions: The Card Game, and Banana Governance.

02:19 - Politrickers
10:47 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
19:13 - Banana Governance
30:33 - Minimum expectations with new players?
40:59 - "Late to the Party" games?
47:19 - Stuff that we're looking forward to!
47:45 - The Danes
56:57 - Purple Haze

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#362: Hot Takes About Board Games

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:11:00 +0000

The people demand takes, so get 'em while they're hot. We're weighing in on some possibly bad, certainly edgy opinions, and deciding where we land (spoiler: we're always right). Before we get heated, we talk about Diplomacy: The Golden Blade, and Cozy Stickerville.

01:46 - Diplomacy: The Golden Blade
12:33 - Cozy Stickerville
25:41 - Hot takes!
26:11 - Co-op games are just single player games with an audience
32:01 - Catch Up mechanics ruin competitive integrity
37:39 - Legacy games are a predatory waste of money
41:22 - If a game takes more than 30 minutes to teach, it's a bad design
45:56 - Player elimination is actually a good mechanism
47:36 - Hidden victory points are a cowardly design choice
51:38 - Gateway games Like Catan or Monopoly should be actively avoided
52:44 - House ruling a game means you bought the wrong game
53:10 - Theme is a myth
54:13 - Kickstarter deluxe editions are actively ruining the hobby

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#361: Collaborative Draft: Games of 2016

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:11:00 +0000

We had such fun collaboratively coming up with our definitive Top 50 list back in December, that we've decided to do it again. In the spirit of award season, we're celebrating the games of yesteryear, or yester-ten-years to be precise. It's the definitive best games of 2016, as decided cooperatively by us! Before we come together, we talk about Shady Lady, In the Shadows: Resistance in France 1943 - 1944, and Duel for Cardia.

03:02 - Shady Lady
09:58 - In the Shadows: Resistance in France 1943 - 1944
20:25 - Duel for Cardia
27:12 - Games of 2016
32:28 - Krazy Wordz
35:00 - New Angeles
37:20 - The Oracle of Delphi
39:50 - Great Western Trail
42:06 - Scythe
44:40 - Fuji Flush
46:38 - A Feast for Odin
51:42 - Insider
53:48 - Inis
55:57 - SiXeS

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#360: Guessing Golden Geeks Galore

Thu, 07 May 2026 10:03:00 +0000

It's long been said that we're the foremost experts in knowing which way the awards winds blow, so we're putting our talents to use guessing, nay, predicting, nay, deciding who the winners in the Golden Geeks are going to be. Before we geek out, we talk about Chronicles of Crime: 2400, Quarto, and Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon.

04:07 - Chronicles of Crime: 2400
12:00 - Quarto
16:13 - Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon
30:16 - Golden Geeks 2025

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#359: Top Brass

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:52:00 +0000

There are big spiky moments that happen in the meta that is the board game hobby, and the Brass: Pittsburgh crowdfunding campaign feels like one of them. It is after all, a successor to the #1 ranked game on BGG. That's something! Enough so that it sent Mark into a bit of an existential spiral, and we're here to talk him down. Before we catch a falling Wallace, we talk about Hummingbirds, Fendo, and Soothsayers.

06:59 - Hummingbirds
14:44 - Fendo
18:53 - Soothsayers
29:23 - Brass: Pittsburgh crowdfunding

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#358: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2026

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:43:00 +0000

Oh man, oh man, it's time that we ask you (yes, you) to tell us (yes, us) what your favourite games are, because for one time a year, it doesn't matter what we think about games, but you better be ready to tell us what you think about games. A lot of you did, so here it is, the listener top 20! Before we ask you to do all the work, we talk about Emberheart, Gods & Mortals, and Feya's Swamp.

01:30 - Emberheart
14:11 - Gods & Mortals
23:46 - Feya's Swamp
37:14 - A Feast for Odin
37:55 - Agricola
38:32 - Terraforming Mars
39:17 - Guards of Atlantis II
40:09 - Concordia
42:05 - Tigris & Euphrates
43:16 - Blood on the Clocktower
44:00 - El Grande
44:47 - The Castles of Burgundy
46:12 - Inis
47:38 - Race for the Galaxy
48:06 - Arcs
49:08 - Ark Nova
49:30 - Root
50:06 - Innovation
51:11 - Spirit Island
52:05 - Ra
52:51 - Brass: Birmingham
53:26 - Dune: Imperium
54:04 - Hansa Teutonica

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#357: We Played a Mass of Games!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:23:00 +0000

We made it back in one piece, and all told I think we did pretty well! We got through a heck of a lot of what we wanted to play, and we're here to tell you all about it - including Dark Pact, Totally Human, and Banana Governance, and more!

02:36 - Totally Human
14:04 - Dark Pact
20:56 - Gold Country
28:21 - Staked!
32:58 - Secret Tribe
41:34 - Habemus Papam
50:11 - 3 Chapters
55:22 - Banana Governance
01:02:29 - Hellapagos

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#356: On the Road Again

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:46:00 +0000

By the time you're listening to this, we're probably already in Vegas for Dice Tower West! We're going to hang about all day playing games - which naturally leads to the question of what we're going to play? These are the games we came up with! Before we bite off more than we can chew, we talk about Ghost Lift, Cities, and I, Napoleon.

02:31 - Ghost Lift
08:13 - Cities
14:06 - I, Napoleon
24:40 - Dice Tower West anticipated games
26:05 - Biblios
27:04 - Feya's Swamp / Kaivai
28:26 - Cheese Thief
29:03 - Habemus Papam
31:15 - Wroth
33:33 - Greed Incorporated
35:39 - Dark Pact
38:45 - Secret Tribe
39:52 - Eternal Decks
41:03 - All In: Predictions
42:04 - Cthulhu: Dark Providence
44:14 - Robo Rally Dice

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#355: Anticipation Auction: Games of 2026

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:36:00 +0000

I think it's fair to say that we crushed this last year (although some of us better than others), so it's only correct and right that we should return to do it again. What are the best games of 2026 going to be? Well, only we know, but we're willing to part with that information. Get your fat stacks ready. Before we set ourselves up for failure, we talk about Alibis, Mosaic: A Story of Civilization, and Cyclades: Legendary Edition.

03:02 - Alibis
09:18 - Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
23:25 - Cyclades: Legendary Edition
36:27 - Anticipation Auction 2026
41:18 - The Game Makers
44:25 - Cozy Stickerville
46:39 - Brass: Pittsburgh
50:35 - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Trick-taking Game
54:04 - Revenant
56:21 - World Order
59:31 - Dark Pact
1:02:28 - The Great Library
1:03:56 - Spirited
1:05:25 - Realm of Reckoning
1:08:55 - Avalon: The Riven Veil
1:12:57 - La Pâtisserie Rococo
1:14:24 - Nippon: Zaibatsu
1:17:24 - Rewild: South America
1:18:44 - Movers & Shakers

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#354: Don't Call It a Comeback

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:46:00 +0000

All of this has happened before and will happen again. Everything comes back around, including games you could swear you've played before. Whether they're remakes, reimplimentations, or rejuvenations, we're tackling the world of board game revivals. Before what's old is new, we talk about Agent Avenue, 7 Empires, and Stellar Ventures.

02:24 - Agent Avenue
07:25 - 7 Empires
18:26 - Stellar Ventures
33:52 - Remakes
39:01 - Blood on the Clocktower
40:55 - Zoo Vadis
48:03 - Dune: Imperium - Uprising
54:14 - A Feast for Odin

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#353: Getting it Just Right

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:42:00 +0000

Sometimes you know the type of game you want to play, just not exactly which game quite fits the bill. Is that heavy Euro too heavy? That deck builder not builder-y enough? Before we sit down with Goldilocks, we talk about Rise and Fall, and JOYRIDE: Survival of the Fastest.

01:09 - Rise and Fall
12:53 - JOYRIDE: Survival of the Fastest
25:08 - Games that are Just Right
29:30 - Hanabi
29:57 - Wilmot's Warehouse
30:13 - Bomb Busters
33:25 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
37:59 - Lisboa
38:55 - SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
42:58 - Dominion

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#352: Combined Top 50 Games of All-Time 2025 Draft: 10-1

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:59:00 +0000

Well, we started this thing, so I guess we ought to finish it, as ill-advised as that might be. This is where all the chickens come home to roost, where we learn how badly we've set ourselves up to fail - but you never know, it might just all work out! It's the top ten greatest board games ... of all-time!

06:29 - #10 - Codenames
13:56 - #9 - The Resistance
18:15 - #8 - Age of Steam
23:09 - #7 - Troyes
27:52 - #6 - Hansa Teutonica
32:39 - #5 - Cthulhu Wars
33:48 - #4 - Hundreds of Horses
40:27 - #3 - Brass: Birmingham
44:40 - #2 - A Question of Scruples
52:05 - #1 - Time's Up!

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#351: Combined Top 50 Games of All-Time 2025 Draft: 30-11

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:49:00 +0000

Happy new year! We're back to continue the very peaceful, collaborative, kind endeavour that is coming together to harmoniously assemble our top 50 games. It's been nothing but chill, friendly vibes, and we expect that to continue into 2026. It's the next twenty games on our definitive top 50 board games... of all-time!

01:20 - #30 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
06:43 - #29 - Dominion
09:36 - #28 - Fuji Flush
11:13 - #27 - Innovation
12:53 - #26 - Blue Lagoon
14:27 - #25 - El Grande
15:11 - #24 - Dune
16:17 - #23 - Inis
19:16 - #22 - Decrypto
21:27 - #21 - The Estates
23:24 - #20 - Yellow & Yangtze
26:08 - #19 - Archipelago
27:34 - #18 - Agricola
30:04 - #17 - Guards of Atlantis II
31:33 - #16 - Taj Mahal
33:03 - #15 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
35:08 - #14 - I'm the Boss!
37:00 - #13 - Lords of Vegas
38:05 - #12 - A Feast for Odin
41:32 - #11 - Telestrations

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#350: Combined Top 50 Games of All-Time 2025 Draft: 50-31

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:43:00 +0000

Okay, things are a bit different this year. In honour of our 350th episode (a very important milestone), we're going to combine forces, like ... Voltron. I'm the head, and my left and right feet are here with me to collaboratively (yes, you heard right) compile Board Game Barrage's definitive (definitely definitive) top 50 board games... of all-time!

06:27 - #50 - Zoo Vadis
08:32 - #49 - Splendor
11:45 - #48 - Azul
14:51 - #47 - Imperial 2030
17:13 - #46 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
19:15 - #45 - Pictomania
25:50 - #44 - Stationfall
32:35 - #43 - Ra
34:20 - #42 - Food Chain Magnate
39:31 - #41 - Diplomacy
41:41 - #40 - Dune: Imperium - Uprising
43:33 - #39 - Race for the Galaxy
47:40 - #38 - Caylus 1303
50:59 - #37 - Root
54:34 - #36 - Cosmic Encounter
56:40 - #35 - Blood on the Clocktower
59:03 - #34 - Glory to Rome
1:01:04 - #33 - Fresh Fish
1:05:01 - #32 - Biblios
1:06:23 - #31 - So Clover!

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#349: Anticipation Auction 2025 - And the Winner Is…

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:34:00 +0000

Remember way back at the beginning of the year when we took some bets on what we thought the games of the year were gonna be? Well, all those good and bad decisions are back to help or haunt us, as we tally up where things stand with the end of the year results. Before we find a winner, we talk about Wriggle Roulette, Whale Street, and Scales of Fate.

04:45 - Wriggle Roulette
11:32 - Whale Street
19:12 - Scales of Fate
29:45 - Anticipation auction results

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#348: Got 'Em, Ghost Turkey

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:34:00 +0000

Somehow Ghost Turkey returned. And you never saw it coming! That might be because we forgot to remind people that it's Thanksgiving, but never mind that, the important thing is you're fools. Not us though, we're back with yet another juicy, cranberry soaked list of bird gaming goodness. Gobble gobble!

00:00 - ???

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#347: Bob's Design

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:44:00 +0000

BGBBOB is back, and it's been long enough that you might need a reminder. Ten game designers enter the ring, and through the arduous process of one vs one battles, we arrive at our (and not just our, but the) definitive ranked list of ... these particular designers. It's science. Before we fight it out, we talk about Iliad, The Old King's Crown, and Franchise.

03:29 - Iliad
13:56 - The Old King's Crown
34:01 - Franchise
42:04 - BGBBOB: Game designers

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#346: It's One Bananagrams, How Much Could It Cost?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 10:04:00 +0000

This episode is not about Bananagrams (at least, I don't think so), but it is about the price of things (though not Bananagrams specifically, shut up about Bananagrams). In a world where everything costs more, we're talking about the value of games, and how far a game has to go to justify its price. Before we decide if the price is right, we talk about The Presence, and River of Gold.

02:08 - The Presence
17:32 - River of Gold
27:03 - Board Game Pricing
27:59 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition - Thunder's Edge
33:20 - Biblios
34:15 - Agricola

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#345: Essen SPIEL 2025 Hype List

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:12:00 +0000

Not perturbed by Kellen's trip to Germany, we're all daydreaming about the motherlode of board game conventions, Essen SPIEL. There's a lot of games coming to the show, and because we're not going, and presumably you aren't either, we'll just tell you what's going to be there instead! The good stuff, anyway. Before we Germinate, we talk about Calimala, Tír na nÓg, and Typewriter.

02:42 - Calimala
09:42 - Tír na nÓg
16:15 - Typewriter
26:15 - Essen SPIEL 2025 Preview
28:49 - Mission: Red Planet (Third Edition)
31:18 - The Other Side of the Hill
33:29 - Severton
36:12 - Harvest Valley
38:11 - Pulitzer
39:26 - Echoes of Time
41:14 - Oopsie
42:55 - Feya's Swamp
43:46 - Baghdad: The City of Peace
45:25 - Ghost Lift
48:07 - Coming of Age
49:33 - The Presence
51:50 - Carnival of Sins
53:37 - The Republic of Rome: Remastered
55:22 - Theocratia

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#344: ... But the Second Leaves a Mark

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:39:00 +0000

Dreaded continuity! We're following up Episode 41 from seven years ago about the games that started our love for board games! After those first loves, what really got our hearts aflutter with the joy that the hobby had to offer? Before we yearn, we talk about Der Fliegende Holländer, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

02:52 - Der Fliegende Holländer
16:03 - The Hobbit: There and Back Again
27:14 - The games that made us
29:11 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
32:54 - Mage Knight Board Game
36:33 - Francis Drake
39:33 - Two Rooms and a Boom
42:44 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis!
46:46 - Grand Austria Hotel
49:53 - Dead Last
55:26 - Rising Sun

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#343: Fantasy Draft: Card Games

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:43:00 +0000

The draft's back! This time it's card games, and we're picking the bestof what ought to be a staple of any good collection. We love card games, we love drafting games, and you love winning money, so be sure to vote for whoever you think drafted the best set, and you could win a $100 gift card! Before deal everyone in, we talk about Money!, Venture, and Fishing.

03:02 - Money!
12:43 - Venture
20:27 - Fishing
28:39 - Card Games Draft
31:15 - Innovation
32:38 - Race for the Galaxy
34:20 - Hanabi
35:27 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
36:21 - Dominion
37:47 - SCOUT
39:28 - Glory to Rome
40:58 - The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
41:50 - Arboretum
42:12 - Lost Cities
42:57 - Bohnanza
43:57 - Tichu
45:06 - Skull King
47:00 - Res Arcana
48:07 - That's Not a Hat

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#342: Oops! All Foreplay

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:20:00 +0000

There's any number of subtle innuendoes we could've gone with, but this is what we're doing I guess. If you haven't got there yet, we're talking about games that aren't just slow rides, but instead leave you gasping for more right as they climax. Before we finish, we talk about No Loose Ends, Eselsbrücke, and The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship.

01:24 - No Loose Ends
09:08 - Eselsbrücke
19:33 - The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
33:52 - Comings and Goings
37:44 - Games that finish strong
40:17 - Agricola
40:44 - Splendor
41:14 - Voyages of Marco Polo
44:03 - Terraforming Mars
45:28 - Blood on the Clocktower
46:57 - Innovation
47:49 - Rumble Nation
49:50 - Moon Colony Bloodbath
52:12 - Dominion

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#341: A Little Bit of Mailbag

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

One, two, three, four, five, everybody in the car so come on let's ride ... to the mailbag! We're answering your pressing questions - and oh how they press - about all manner of things: Crowdfunding ads! Narrative games! Getting jaded about board games! You wrote in because you had to know what we thought, and who are we to say no. Before we get covered in papercuts, we talk about Wheedle, Dune: War for Arrakis, and Transgalactica.

02:05 - Wheedle
09:31 - Dune: War for Arrakis
19:52 - Transgalactica
34:00 - Mailbag
34:39 - Kickstarter red and green flags?
43:36 - Narrative in board games?
51:23 - Do we get jaded?

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#340: All by Myself

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:28:00 +0000

Are board games best played multiplayer? Who can say, but whether it's because you can't get people together at the appropriate time, or you're just itching to play something on your lonesome, there's a burgeoning scene of solo games out there waiting to be played, and we're going to talk about them. Well, some of us are, anyway. Before we go it alone, we talk about Hunted: Kobayashi Tower, Corps of Discovery, and Senji.

01:56 - Hunted: Kobayashi Tower
12:51 - Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny
26:30 - Senji
43:50 - Solo games
46:08 - For Northwood! A Solo Trick-Taking Game
48:09 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
50:22 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
53:49 - Guilty: Houston 2015
55:13 - Vantage
55:51 - Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood

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#339: One and Done

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:27:00 +0000

Sometimes once is enough, you know? Doesn't mean it was bad, but it might just be that you can have too much of a good thing. We're talking about board games that we'd recommend everyone play once, but only once. Before we hit and run, we talk about Kaivai, East India Companies, and Vantage.

01:44 - Kaivai
10:58 - Feya's Swamp
13:15 - East India Companies
21:31 - Vantage
39:41 - Games to play only once
41:22 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
41:47 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
43:44 - Sidereal Confluence
44:08 - Blood on the Clocktower
44:19 - Two Rooms and a Boom
45:19 - Mister Diamond
45:40 - Hearts of AttrAction
46:51 - Catan
49:21 - Sanctum
49:37 - Deal with the Devil
50:08 - Nemesis

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#338: Gen Con 2025 Preview

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:09:00 +0000

Gen Con! Where all the cool games are, before you even know they're cool. Or hot! We've got you covered, if you want to know what all the best stuff coming out of Indianapolis is going to before before anyone else, then look no further than this episode. Five games each that we're excited to hear more about at the show! Before we face the heat, we talk about Line of Fire: Burnt Moon, and Rise.

02:51 - Line of Fire: Burnt Moon
11:57 - Rise
21:46 - Gen Con Preview
23:53 - Party Panda Pirates
26:09 - Tabriz
27:33 - The Last Command
28:53 - Llama Llama
31:25 - Tearable Quest
33:22 - Furnace Duel
35:59 - Koinobori
37:58 - Galileo Galilei
39:59 - Merchants of Andromeda
42:02 - Ruins
45:03 - Slam Throne
47:34 - Lightning Train
48:40 - Guessocracy: Roll & Vote
51:22 - Habemus Papam
52:34 - Into the Machine

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#337: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2025

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:56:00 +0000

It's time again to turn the tables and get your take, to feel out the collective tastes of you, the listeners of the show. It's the annual Listener Top 20! You've been sending in all of your lists (thank you!), I've been compiling all of the data (you're welcome!) - and here it is, in a convenient list format. Before we ask the audience, we talk about Flip 7, Hot Streak, and Kolejka.

02:37 - Flip 7
10:40 - Hot Streak
19:47 - Kolejka
27:42 - Listener Top 20
29:05 - Agricola
29:55 - Gloomhaven
31:26 - Guards of Atlantis II
32:20 - Blood on the Clocktower
33:20 - Arcs
34:40 - Tigris & Euphrates
35:21 - Terraforming Mars
35:54 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
36:42 - Inis
37:24 - Innovation
38:13 - Race for the Galaxy
39:02 - Root
40:04 - Concordia
41:00 - The Castles of Burgundy
41:41 - Ark Nova
42:03 - Dune: Imperium
43:19 - Ra
43:35 - Brass: Birmingham
45:11 - Spirit Island
46:27 - Hansa Teutonica

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#336: Happy Little Accidents

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

When playing games it's easy to fall into the trap of over-anaylsing turns, or questioning whether the move we made was the right one, or even allowing people to roll back whole turns - so we're asking if maybe we've been wrong this whole time, and we should just ... embrace it? Are mistakes interesting? Before we have any regrets, we talk about Apiary, Wizards Cup, and Wroth.

02:43 - Apiary
13:43 - Wizards Cup
20:41 - Wroth
31:37 - Mistakes are fun?

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#335: A Cole New Wehrle

Thu, 29 May 2025 18:50:00 +0000

A dazzling place you never knew ... until now that is! We're diving deep on beloved designer Cole Wehrle in another designer spotlight. We dig back into his Roots, and explore the many Arcs that led to his Oath to revolutionize thematic board games. Before our traffic gets infamous, we talk about Toy Battle, Subjective, and Wild Tiled West.

03:43 - Toy Battle
13:51 - Subjective
22:11 - Wild Tiled West
30:43 - Designer Spotlight: Cole Wehrle
34:13 - Pax Porfiriana
40:03 - Root
46:21 - Oath
47:45 - Arcs
50:27 - John Company: Second Edition
56:49 - Molly House

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#334: Nothing's Done It Better

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:54:00 +0000

Well, we finally did it. We played CATAN, and it was ... good! And then we started wondering, is there anything that's done quite the same thing that that game is doing? And then that got us wondering how many games there are like that, where it's genuinely hard to say that nothing has done it better since. And then that got us wondering if, instead of all this wondering, we should record a podcast episode. Before we wander, we talk about Box Two, Catan: Cities & Knights, and An Infamous Traffic.

02:47 - Box Two
09:18 - Catan: Cities & Knights
19:50 - An Infamous Traffic
31:58 - Has anyone done it better?
32:26 - Catan
35:55 - Concordia
36:17 - Rise of Tribes
37:31 - Space Base
39:26 - Archipelago
40:38 - Dominion
41:17 - Aeon's End
42:22 - Star Realms
42:32 - Shards of Infinity
44:43 - Diplomacy
44:59 - Dune
46:48 - Battle for Rokugan
47:04 - A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)

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#333: Gold3n G33ks

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:43:00 +0000

Happy 333! In honour of our three hundred and thirty third episode, BoardGameGeek has decided to host an emergency session of the Golden Geek Awards, and we're here to tell you about all the nominees that satisfy the crucial conditions of being (1) good games (2) we played (3) last year. Before we open our third eye, we also talk about Einfach Genial 3D, Gazebo, and Stalk Exchange.

02:28 - Einfach Genial 3D
11:48 - Gazebo
19:08 - Stalk Exchange
28:43 - 2025 Golden Geek Awards
30:34 - Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
31:09 - A Gest of Robin Hood
32:45 - Ironwood
33:09 - Compile: Main 1
39:45 - Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion
41:08 - Monkey Palace
42:10 - City of Six Moons
43:43 - Flip 7
45:26 - Endeavor: Deep Sea
46:07 - Fromage
48:21 - Civolution
49:26 - Hister Bingo
50:57 - Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs

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#332: Hard Pass!

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:20:00 +0000

I would say that, for the most part, there's very little we won't play - but we also know what we like, and especially what we don't like. Every so often a game gets suggested that we have to say "literally anything but" to. Before we pass hard, we talk about TRICKTAKERs, Iquazú, and Hubworld: Aidalon.

02:49 - TRICKTAKERs
11:52 - Iquazú
21:47 - Hubworld: Aidalon
31:03 - Hard pass games
32:11 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
33:29 - Captain Sonar
34:04 - Citadels
35:19 - 7 Wonders
40:03 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
41:03 - Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
42:51 - Welcome To...
46:08 - Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

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#331: One Thing I Hate About You

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:12:00 +0000

We've spent a lot of time over the years singing the praises of the games we love, but they can't be perfect right? Surely there's something, one little thing, that bugs us - a small blemish in our otherwise most beloved games? Before we come clean, we talk about Classified Information, Starline Hill, Panda Spin, and SHASN: AZADI.

03:13 - Classified Information
11:54 - Starline Hill
13:35 - Panda Spin
25:32 - SHASN: AZADI
41:56 - Things we hate about games we love
42:39 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
44:14 - Tigris & Euphrates
44:36 - Archipelago
45:09 - Cthulhu Wars
45:17 - Cosmic Encounter
45:57 - Diplomacy
46:09 - Innovation
48:28 - El Grande
49:26 - Age of Steam
49:26 - Arboretum
49:26 - The Estates
49:26 - Fresh Fish
50:28 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
51:22 - Brass: Lancashire
51:30 - Barrage
51:38 - Agricola
53:57 - Blood on the Clocktower
54:08 - A Feast for Odin
56:22 - Sidereal Confluence
56:22 - Stationfall
56:22 - Alchemists
57:30 - Yellow & Yangtze

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#330: We Played a Load of Games!

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:53:00 +0000

We just got back from Dice Tower West, so you know what that means ... bunches and bunches of games! Between the convention, and the meetup, and just hanging out at Mark's place, we got a lot of great stuff played, and we're going to give you all the highlights, with such treats as Moon Colony Bloodbath, Out of Sorts, and Feierabend.

04:16 - Corporate America
12:19 - Acquire
18:09 - Inside Job
23:12 - Feierabend / Finishing Time
33:13 - Moon Colony Bloodbath
44:44 - Family Dinner: More or Less
52:00 - Mister Diamond
57:21 - Out of Sorts
1:07:16 - Dragon's Gold
1:08:13 - Carrom
1:11:15 - The Gang

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#329: All the Stars Are Here!

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:40:00 +0000

I'm not sure why you'd make a hall of fame that's not also a sidewalk, but that's exactly what BoardGameGeek have gone and done - they've curated 25 games into their hall of fame, and we're here to judge them for their choices. It's weird that they didn't come to us first, honestly. Before we deck the halls, we talk about Arborea, Beyond the Horizon, and Taiwan Night Market.

02:49 - Arborea
10:32 - Beyond the Horizon
20:43 - Taiwan Night Market
32:00 - BGG Hall of Fame
38:57 - Diplomacy
40:35 - Acquire
41:55 - Cosmic Encounter
43:25 - Civilization
45:05 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
45:46 - Magic: The Gathering
48:02 - Catan
49:03 - El Grande
49:58 - Tigris & Euphrates
51:04 - Ra
52:07 - Carcassonne
53:29 - Power Grid
53:49 - Ticket to Ride
54:16 - Caylus
55:26 - Twilight Struggle
56:26 - Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
58:17 - Agricola
59:35 - Brass
1:00:25 - Race for the Galaxy
1:01:53 - Dominion
1:02:38 - Pandemic
1:03:39 - 7 Wonders
1:04:51 - The Castles of Burgundy
1:05:14 - Terra Mystica
1:06:54 - Concordia

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#328: Anticipation Auction: Games of 2025

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:00 +0000

Okay, pay attention, this is gonna be different! We're looking at the rest of 2025, deciding what we think the most well received games of the year are going to be - but then we're going to be bidding on them, auction style. Whoever's slate ends up performing best in their categories at the end of the year gets all the glory ... and if you vote on who you think is going to win, you could get $50! Before we're going, going, gone, we talk about Nyakuza, Hooky, and Altay: Dawn of Civilization.

03:26 - Nyakuza
10:26 - Hooky
16:15 - Altay: Dawn of Civilization
27:16 - Anticipation Auction 2025
32:52 - Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
38:12 - Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition
41:10 - Molly House
45:03 - Nemesis: Retaliation
47:09 - Finspan
49:59 - Luthier
51:24 - The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era
55:23 - Transgalactica
59:18 - The Witcher: Path Of Destiny
1:01:56 - The Old King's Crown
1:04:07 - Star Trek: Captain's Chair
1:06:32 - Dune: Imperium – Bloodlines
1:08:38 - Zenith
1:10:26 - Galactic Cruise
1:12:10 - Speakeasy

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#327: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2024: 10-1

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:00 +0000

It's finally time to cap it all off with the cream of the cream, Mark and Neilan's final set of ten games each! These are the games that we think are the pinnacle of our respective tastes, that we'd never turn down, that any person ought to try at least once. It's the Top 10 Games of All-Time!

01:48 - Mark's #10 - Age of Steam
08:17 - Neilan's #10 - Brass: Birmingham
11:21 - Mark's #9 - Arboretum
17:35 - Neilan's #9 - Time's Up!
20:15 - Mark's #8 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
23:48 - Neilan's #8 - The Oracle of Delphi
28:35 - Mark's #7 - The Estates
33:44 - Neilan's #7 - Pictomania
35:14 - Mark's #6 - Time's Up!
38:26 - Neilan's #6 - The Search for Planet X
42:09 - Mark's #5 - Brass: Lancashire
45:59 - Neilan's #5 - Alchemists
48:49 - Mark's #4 - Fresh Fish
52:56 - Neilan's #4 - Sidereal Confluence
57:33 - Mark's #3 - Barrage
1:03:52 - Neilan's #3 - A Feast for Odin
1:09:03 - Mark's #2 - Agricola
1:14:01 - Neilan's #2 - Blood on the Clocktower
1:20:27 - Mark's #1 - Biblios
1:23:04 - Neilan's #1 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

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#326: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2024: Neilan's 30-11

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:40:00 +0000

Neilan's back to continue the journey down the lazy river of cardboard that is his top 50 board games of all time. It's games 30 through 11! I just counted, and that's twenty amazing games that I can't wait to tell you all about!

00:59 - #30 - Gloomhaven
02:58 - #29 - War Story: Occupied France
07:35 - #28 - Gaia Project
10:17 - #27 - Ark Nova
12:26 - #26 - Kemet
14:55 - #25 - Yellow & Yangtze
17:09 - #24 - Undaunted: Stalingrad
19:51 - #23 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
22:39 - #22 - Guards of Atlantis II
25:14 - #21 - The Quest for El Dorado
26:49 - #20 - Hansa Teutonica
28:33 - #19 - Exit: The Game
31:23 - #18 - Taj Mahal
34:05 - #17 - Cthulhu Wars
35:24 - #16 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
38:23 - #15 - The Resistance
41:28 - #14 - Patchwork
43:16 - #13 - Ra
44:58 - #12 - Stationfall
49:44 - #11 - Blue Lagoon

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#325: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2024: Mark's 30-11

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:21:00 +0000

And back to Mark! It's the soggy middle of his top 50, or as he insists on calling it, his numbers 30 through 11. That is twenty more delicious games, and he's here to tell you all about them while we continue to berate and praise him for his choices.

01:20 - #30 - Anomia
05:12 - #29 - Sidereal Confluence
08:47 - #28 - Chicago Express
11:46 - #27 - Rise & Fall
16:34 - #26 - Tigris & Euphrates
19:14 - #25 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
22:29 - #24 - Blue Lagoon
25:37 - #23 - Lancaster
28:07 - #22 - El Grande
30:57 - #21 - Modern Art
33:54 - #20 - Pictomania
36:58 - #19 - Ark Nova
40:19 - #18 - Stationfall
41:59 - #17 - Stephenson's Rocket
43:36 - #16 - Cascadero
45:19 - #15 - Ra
48:45 - #14 - Bus
50:49 - #13 - Tramways
52:40 - #12 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
57:05 - #11 - Caylus 1303

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#324: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2024: Neilan's 50-31

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:24:00 +0000

It's meeeeeeeeeee! So if you care to find my top 50 list, look right here. The first twenty incredible games on the list that early critics are calling "surprisingly tasteful" and "delightfully roomy" is finally yours to consume. It's the greatest board games of all-time, Neilan edition!

01:10 - #50 - Anachrony
03:56 - #49 - The Vale of Eternity
05:47 - #48 - Arcs
09:05 - #47 - Bus
11:26 - #46 - Wilmot's Warehouse
13:03 - #45 - Spectral
15:57 - #44 - Innovation
18:12 - #43 - Codenames
20:12 - #42 - In the Year of the Dragon
21:17 - #41 - Decrypto
23:50 - #40 - Werewords
27:27 - #39 - Challengers!
31:03 - #38 - Inis
33:39 - #37 - Watson & Holmes
35:17 - #36 - Twice as Clever!
36:17 - #35 - Scythe
39:45 - #34 - Iberian Gauge
41:47 - #33 - Cascadero
47:04 - #32 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
49:19 - #31 - Dune: Imperium - Uprising

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#323: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2024: Mark's 50-31

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:12:00 +0000

It's time! The grand spectacle that is our greatest games of all time is here at last! We're breaking things out a bit differently this year, so Mark's taking center stage while Kellen & Neilan mock his choices. It's the first twenty games from his list, so games 50 through 31. LET'S GOOOO!

01:53 - #50 - Cthulhu Wars
03:23 - #49 - Ricochet Robots
05:21 - #48 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
08:22 - #47 - Zoo Vadis
10:53 - #46 - Wilmot's Warehouse
12:45 - #45 - Tycoon: India 1981
15:17 - #44 - Dogs of War
17:30 - #43 - Dune: Imperium
20:42 - #42 - Decrypto
22:30 - #41 - Amalfi: Renaissance
25:33 - #40 - German Railways
28:44 - #39 - The Vale of Eternity
32:00 - #38 - Kutná Hora: The City of Silver
34:58 - #37 - Hansa Teutonica
37:12 - #36 - Cuba Libre
39:28 - #35 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
42:00 - #34 - La Granja
44:27 - #33 - Karvi
48:52 - #32 - Container
51:21 - #31 - Dungeon Fighter

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#322: And What a Year It's Been

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:30:00 +0000

As we approach the end of 2024, it's about time we stop, take stock, and dare I say look back at the year that's been. The highs, the lows, the mids - all the stars are here, and we're going to break them down for you with some of our favourite games, and biggest moments, and general assessment of the year that's been. Before we reflect, we talk about Let's Go! To Japan, Mombasa, and The Gang.

01:52 - Let's Go! To Japan
10:17 - Mombasa
15:05 - The Gang
21:00 - Looking back on 2024
22:01 - Arcs
27:54 - Cascadero
29:29 - Slay the Spire: The Board Game
31:17 - Wilmot's Warehouse

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#321: Fire Away, Ghost Turkey

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:48:00 +0000

Gobble Bobble, here comes trouble in the form of a pairing we never thought we'd see - Bob and the Ghost Turkey have delivered us another holiday nightmare. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Before we tuck in, we talk about Tapple, Mini Rails, and Naishi.

05:48 - Tapple
11:07 - Mini Rails
17:45 - Naishi
22:56 - BGBBOB Bird Games
24:45 - ICECOOL
24:52 - Root
26:17 - Rook
26:26 - Songbirds
28:05 - Fancy Feathers
28:15 - The Bird Told Me to Do It
29:09 - Piepmatz
32:17 - Wingspan
32:28 - Penguin Party
33:44 - Angry Birds: Star Wars - Jenga Rise of Darth Vader Game

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#320: We Played A Clump of Games!

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:04:00 +0000

We've been to Las Vegas and back for the very unofficial recurring gathering we like to call BarrageCon (which is really just all of us hanging out at Mark's place). We had a lot of games lined up to play, and I daresay we did a pretty good job of getting through them. Here's our report back, just a bunch of impressions of a bunch of games - including Rise & Fall, Fractured Sky, and Wilmot's Warehouse!

02:26 - Harvest
07:18 - Fractured Sky
18:13 - Penguin Party
22:10 - San Marco
27:14 - EGO
31:45 - Barony
37:30 - Rise & Fall
49:49 - Wilmot's Warehouse
56:45 - Tiny Laser Heist
1:01:32 - Nekojima
1:02:45 - Bottle Imp
1:07:45 - The Vale of Eternity
1:11:53 - Shogun

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#319: One Exception To Rule Them All

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:58:00 +0000

I think it's fair to say at this point, that we've pretty firmly established each of our respective tastes when it comes to board games, whether it's for genre, theme, mechanic, whatever. There's always something, though, right? Something that flies in the face of those rules and boldly proclaims, "I like this, even though..." Before we prove the rule, we talk about Andromeda's Edge, and Karvi.

03:05 - Andromeda's Edge
13:15 - Karvi
23:32 - Exceptions to our Gaming Tastes
24:47 - Through the Ages
26:41 - Ark Nova
30:57 - Stationfall
34:04 - Thunder Road: Vendetta
35:35 - Terra Mystica

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#318: A Mix of Things We'd Like To See with Mike DiLisio

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:45:00 +0000

The Fandango Tank returns! The ever wonderful Mike DiLisio joins us again, this time to collectively cast our minds forward to some things we'd like to manifest into the board game future. We've got a mess of ideas, a veritable mixtape of miscellany that we either want to play, or hope to see more of as the hobby progresses. Before we unspool, we talk about Fishing, EGO, The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth, and Key Market (Second Edition).

02:57 - Fishing
03:03 - I Made You a Mixtape
11:31 - EGO
21:00 - The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
27:46 - Key Market (Second Edition)
40:49 - Things we'd like to see

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#317: Fantasy Draft: Overrated Games

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:06:00 +0000

So we've done a lot of these drafts before, but I don't think we've done one quite like this. This time we're each trying to draft a set of five games that we think you might agree are incredibly overrated. What does that mean exactly? Well that's up for debate too. What isn't up for debate is that you could win $100 just by voting! Before we widen our delta, we talk about Undaunted 2200: Callisto, Nature, and Barcelona.

03:37 - Undaunted 2200: Callisto
13:10 - Nature
23:00 - Barcelona
31:22 - Overrated Games Draft
37:07 - Nemesis
39:10 - Frosthaven
41:15 - Star Wars: Rebellion
45:19 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
47:37 - Earth
48:45 - Wingspan
51:19 - 7 Wonders Duel
52:24 - Mechs vs. Minions
53:17 - Everdell
55:43 - Crokinole
58:52 - Caverna: The Cave Farmers
59:55 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
1:01:24 - On Mars
1:02:45 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
1:04:13 - Catan

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#316: Four Heads Are Better Than One

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 06:51:00 +0000

I'm in a bit of a quandary here, because Mark told me not to tell you what this episode is even about, but I want this description to be, well, descriptive but he's glaring at me really hard, and making a throat slitting gesture so I daren't risk it. It's about ... board games? Before we get ahead of ourselves, we talk about Binho, Stamp Swap, and First Rat.

03:33 - Binho
07:24 - Stamp Swap
17:04 - First Rat
30:16 - ???
34:47 - Agricola
34:47 - Bohnanza
36:28 - Patchwork
37:05 - A Feast for Odin
39:02 - Power Grid
39:43 - Friday
40:06 - Fearsome Floors
41:25 - 504
42:40 - Fast Sloths
43:03 - Fresh Fish
44:44 - Ra
45:28 - Tigris & Euphrates
46:45 - Lost Cities
46:52 - Yellow & Yangtze
47:23 - Blue Lagoon
47:43 - The Quest for El Dorado
48:22 - My City
49:13 - Through the Desert
49:28 - Ingenious
50:59 - Schotten Totten

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#315: Essen SPIEL 2024 Hype List

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 07:01:00 +0000

We may or may not be going to Germany (who can say), but that's where all the good gaming is gonna be, so that's what we're gonna talk about. It's almost Essen SPIEL! That sure is a lot of games debuting there though, so which ones should you care about? Don't worry, we've done the hard work for you. Before you go back to being eine faule socke, we talk about Nekojima, We're Sinking!, Hues and Cues, and Colorful.

02:46 - Nekojima
09:01 - We're Sinking!
15:31 - Hues and Cues
15:31 - Colorful
22:09 - Essen SPIEL 2023 Preview
22:57 - Æterna
25:32 - Babylon
27:17 - Bus & Stop
28:55 - COSCA: Take Over the Mafia
31:54 - Galileo Galilei
33:41 - SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
34:39 - Fishing
37:19 - AI Space Puzzle
38:59 - Zero to Hero
40:51 - The Gang
42:46 - Golden Cup
45:09 - Black Forest
50:02 - Battalion: War of the Ancients
53:01 - Beyond the Horizon
56:10 - Asian Tigers: A Story of Prosperity
58:16 - Skull Queen
58:38 - King of Tokyo: Origins
59:15 - Penguin Airlines
1:00:18 - Dungeon Exit

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#314: Bringing Out the Best in People

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:37:00 +0000

It's about people, right? Below all the mechanics, after all the rules explanations, beyond every crushing loss and glorious win, what really matters is people we're playing with. Some games make that more apparent than others, and we're here to celebrate that. Before we realize it's about the friends we made along the way, we talk about Arcs, and Luthier.

03:02 - Arcs
19:26 - Luthier
37:11 - Games that make you feel good about people
41:11 - Codenames
42:05 - Decrypto
43:09 - Time's Up!
43:38 - Telestrations
43:56 - Fuji Flush
44:04 - Mino Dice
46:01 - Word Slam
47:00 - Krazy Wordz
47:43 - Just One
48:16 - Pictures
48:44 - Stationfall
51:12 - The Estates
51:37 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
52:16 - The Resistance
52:16 - Blood on the Clocktower
52:55 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

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#313: That Don't Impress Me Much

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:11:00 +0000

The only thing worse than coming away from a first game with a really bad impression, is when it takes a really long time to shake. Imagine all the amazing games you're not playing because of one bad first game! Whether we saw the error of our ways or not, we're reflecting on the times that games left a mark that took a long time to fade. Before we make our impression, we talk about Things in Rings, Yedo: Deluxe Master Set, and Harmonies.

01:51 - Things in Rings
10:29 - Yedo: Deluxe Master Set
24:03 - Harmonies
30:05 - Draft winner!
32:48 - Bad first impressions
33:49 - Brass: Birmingham
33:49 - Hansa Teutonica
34:49 - Agricola
37:25 - Race for the Galaxy
37:37 - Tigris & Euphrates
39:04 - The Great Zimbabwe
39:51 - Ark Nova
41:25 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
42:43 - 7 Wonders Duel
45:29 - Ginkgopolis
46:51 - Arcane Academy
49:24 - Century: Spice Road
50:37 - John Company: Second Edition
52:27 - Stationfall
53:58 - Hanabi
56:10 - Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

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#312: Fantasy Draft: Spiel des Jahres Winners

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:40:00 +0000

It's awards season, which means that Germany's back to tell us what games are popping off over there. And that also means we're back to tell you what we think about what they think. More than that - we're looking through the annals of Spiel des Jahres history to drafting the winningest games of all the winners! Which means you too can be a winner of $100! Just vote! Before everyone's a winner, we talk about Chess, Vabanque, The Mandalorian: Adventures, and Path of Civilization.

04:06 - Chess
10:27 - Vabanque
14:06 - The Mandalorian: Adventures
20:14 - Path of Civilization
31:00 - Spiel des Jahres 2024 Review
36:19 - Spiel des Jahres Fantasy Draft
38:43 - El Grande
39:33 - Codenames
41:12 - Azul
42:29 - Dominion
43:02 - Wingspan
44:36 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
45:22 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
45:46 - Hanabi
46:21 - Cascadia
47:26 - Just One
49:52 - Camel Up
50:49 - Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
51:58 - Sky Team
53:04 - Dixit
53:33 - Challengers!

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Feel Better Walker!!

#311: Of Lovers and Travel

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

We've all been travelling about so much recently (some of us may or may not still be) that we often find ourselves asking, "what games should I pack?" Some games are better suited for playing on the go than others, and we're going to get to the heart of what makes a good travel game. Before our arms get tired, we also talk about Regicide, Golem, In the Shadow of Atlas, and DroPolter.

03:56 - Regicide
11:40 - Travel Games
15:47 - Pit
16:13 - Incan Gold
16:24 - For Sale
16:51 - Azul Mini
18:31 - Chess
19:19 - Scrabble Keychain
21:48 - Skull
23:18 - Linkee!
25:32 - Pickomino
32:26 - Marabunta
33:30 - DroPolter
37:38 - In the Shadow of Atlas
42:00 - Golem

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Feel Better Walker!!

#310: Bob's Decade Delights

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:10:00 +0000

Bob's back from his trip to 2014, and oh the wonders he's seen - games that not only were amazing back then, but somehow we're still talking about today! The counterpoint to our draft of games to last a decade, we're arguing about the games from ten years ago that are still relevant - BGBBOB style. Before we yearn for our youth, we talk about Cyberion, The Plum Island Horror, and Marabunta.

02:33 - Cyberion
09:18 - The Plum Island Horror
28:01 - Marabunta
38:17 - BGBBOB: Games from 2014
39:41 - Deep Sea Adventure
41:43 - Orléans
43:43 - Istanbul
44:47 - Star Realms
47:06 - Patchwork
47:38 - Kanban
50:35 - Evolution
51:26 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
53:49 - Splendor
54:49 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
56:07 - Imperial Settlers
58:10 - Camel Up
59:31 - Alchemists
1:00:23 - La Granja
1:03:09 - Dogs of War

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#309: Moretuary

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:01:00 +0000

More isn't always better, but that's sometimes a hard lesson to learn in the world of board games - we dig into an intriguing listener suggestion about how games (and gamers) can often fall into this trap. Also ... I guess we've got to plan some games for our funerals? It's a double hit of listener questions! Before we dress in black, we talk about Keydom's Dragons, Sagrada Artisans, and Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory.

01:49 - Keydom's Dragons
11:30 - Sagrada Artisans
18:51 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
30:57 - Draft winner
33:56 - More isn't always better
35:25 - Rising Sun
39:18 - A Feast for Odin
39:24 - Patchwork
46:02 - Games for funerals
46:38 - Biblios
46:53 - Time's Up!
47:54 - True Colors
48:18 - Fuji Flush

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#308: Fantasy Draft: Games To Last a Decade

Thu, 30 May 2024 07:24:00 +0000

It's back, and it's spicier, more harrowing, and more lucrative than ever before! It's the Fantasy Draft, and this time we're changing things up by asking you not to vote for favourite games, but for the set that you think will still be relevant ten years from now (AKA the far flung future). Vote to stand a chance to win a gift card for one hundred dollars! Before we say things we'll regret in a decade, we also talk about London (Second Edition), and Spectral.

02:58 - London (Second Edition)
12:51 - Spectral
22:10 - Drafting games to last a decade
26:05 - Ark Nova
28:08 - Dune: Imperium – Uprising
29:34 - Cascadia
30:55 - Blood on the Clocktower
32:18 - Heat: Pedal to the Metal
33:56 - Sea Salt & Paper
35:26 - John Company: Second Edition
35:53 - So Clover!
37:08 - Zoo Vadis
38:39 - Stationfall
39:50 - Age of Innovation
42:16 - Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes!
43:11 - The White Castle
44:11 - Guards of Atlantis II
46:52 - Sky Team

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#307: Gotta Guess More Golden Geeks

Thu, 16 May 2024 06:42:00 +0000

And by guess, I of course mean predict. Okay, you all know whether we're right or not by now, but cast your imagination back to a time where we had only the nominees for the 2023 Golden Geeks, and had to use nothing but our wits to determine the winners. How naïve/prescient we were! Before we divine the future, we talk about Ironwood, Kutná Hora: The City of Silver, and Slay the Spire: The Board Game.

02:41 - Ironwood
10:39 - Kutná Hora: The City of Silver
22:07 - Slay the Spire: The Board Game
37:52 - Golden Geek Awards for 2023

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#306: We Could All Use a Little Change

Thu, 02 May 2024 07:33:00 +0000

What? Your podcasters are evolving! While we're certainly steadfast in some of our opinions (ahem, Biblios) we were curious to reflect on how we've changed - nay, grown - in the years since we started. What do we feel differently about with regards to the games we like, and how we approach the hobby? Before we moult, we also talk about Twinkle Starship, Pirates of Maracaibo, and Skyrise.

01:45 - Twinkle Starship
12:42 - Pirates of Maracaibo
23:16 - Skyrise
35:23 - How we've changed
39:42 - Diplomacy
47:43 - Nucleum

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#305: Hook, Line, and Sinker

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:54:00 +0000

Sometimes a game has a conceit so good, that it's the only description you need to sell someone on it. Let's call it the hook. Do all games have them, or is it something that only a certain subcategory of game can get away with - and why don't they all just print that on the box cover? Before we get the hook, we talk about Havalandi, Courtisans, 12 Chip Trick, and Dune Imperium: Uprising.

02:55 - Havalandi
11:25 - Courtisans
18:59 - 12 Chip Trick
26:10 - Dune: Imperium - Uprising
41:09 - Games with a hook
41:34 - Of What's Left
45:05 - Everdell
47:09 - QE
47:28 - 12 Chip Trick
48:09 - A Feast for Odin
52:25 - Skull

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#304: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2024

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:57:00 +0000

Oh man, oh man, I always love this one. It's the latest edition of the Listener Top 20! We asked you all to submit your lists of your favourite board games, and we collected, collated, and compiled all of that beautiful beautiful data using a magical formula to get THIS: The definitive rankings of your collective taste in board games. Before we throw it to you, we talk about Shuffle and Swing, Mythwind, and Cat Blues: The Big Gig!

02:17 - Shuffle and Swing
14:11 - Mythwind
27:07 - Cat Blues: The Big Gig
35:46 - Listener Top 20 2024
38:00 - The Quest for El Dorado
39:00 - Azul
39:14 - Tigris & Euphrates
40:51 - A Feast for Odin
41:26 - Terraforming Mars
42:05 - Agricola
42:13 - El Grande
42:37 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
43:56 - Inis
44:30 - Race for the Galaxy
44:46 - Dune: Imperium
46:16 - Concordia
46:53 - The Castles of Burgundy
47:25 - Ark Nova
47:50 - Innovation
48:39 - Ra
51:05 - Spirit Island
51:35 - Root
51:46 - Hansa Teutonica
52:00 - Brass: Birmingham

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#303: We Played a Pile of Games!

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:13:00 +0000

We made it all the way to Dice Tower West in Las Vegas (and some of us made it out), and we're ready to talk about all of the amazing games we played over there, between outings for pinball and sushi. If you were there, thanks for hanging out with us! Stick around for talk about Faraway, MLEM: Space Agency, ito, Cascadero, and more!

01:08 - Faraway
12:20 - Medici
19:33 - MLEM: Space Agency
26:48 - ito
35:24 - Cascadero
44:09 - Mino Dice
49:54 - Unboxed
54:36 - Beowulf
55:55 - Of What's Left
59:53 - Hold Your Horses

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#302: A Lotta Prattle About Vlaada Chvátil

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:19:00 +0000

We're back with the terrible acronym and the branding nightmare that is BGBDOG - I don't even know what it stands for to be honest, but this week we're turning the spotlight on an incredible force in the industry, Vlaada Chvátil, touring his incredible games all the way through to the true modern classic that is Codenames. Before we check in on our favourite Czech, we talk about Wyrmspan, 3 Ring Circus, and La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War.

02:01 - Wyrmspan
12:29 - 3 Ring Circus
23:29 - La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War
39:39 - Vlaada Chvátil
42:32 - Arena: Morituri te salutant
47:47 - Prophecy
50:09 - Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
52:58 - Galaxy Trucker
54:44 - Mage Knight
56:13 - Codenames
57:26 - Space Alert
58:03 - Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game

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#301: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2024

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 09:41:00 +0000

We're in the thick of 2024 now, but there's still plenty more to come - and with that vast undiscovered country (as my father called it) ahead of us, we have loads of games to look forward to. But not all hype is made equally, so here are the ones we're most excited about. Before we mark our calendars, we talk about Savage Bowl: Trick Taking Game, Rear Window, and Cuba.

01:44 - Savage Bowl: Trick Taking Game
10:19 - Rear Window
17:42 - Cuba
27:48 - Most Anticipated Games of 2024
28:42 - Cities
32:41 - The Same Game
38:00 - We're Sinking!
40:50 - Keyside
42:45 - Arcs
45:00 - Mordred
47:34 - Civolution
48:55 - Undaunted 2200: Callisto
49:48 - Spectral
50:26 - Cysmic
50:58 - Red Dust Rebellion
51:22 - A Gest of Robin Hood
51:48 - Congress of Vienna
52:09 - Cthulhu: Dark Providence
52:47 - Slay the Spire: The Board Game
54:14 - RoboMon
54:58 - Cascadero

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#300: Resolutions and Ruminations

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:19:00 +0000

Three hundredth episode! But no time to celebrate, we're deep in the new year now, which means it's back to your regularly scheduled podcast, and it's time to reflect on the year past, and contemplate what lays ahead for us in a post-300 world. That's right, we're paying for the crimes of last year's resolutions. Before we look a little back, but mostly forward, we talk about Orichalcum, Mino Dice, and Last Light.

01:46 - Orichalcum
12:42 - Mino Dice
20:08 - Last Light
34:34 - Revisiting Mark's 2023 Resolutions
39:24 - Revisiting Neilan's 2023 Resolutions
42:11 - Revisiting Kellen's 2023 Resolutions
45:59 - Mark's 2024 Resolutions
48:50 - Neilan's 2024 Resolutions
42:20 - Kellen's 2024 Resolutions
56:32 - BGB in 2024?

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#299: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2023: 10-1

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:02:00 +0000

We made it! We've arrived at last at the final ten(-ish) games, in fact, our TOP TEN (or so?) favourite games of all time. Thanks for joining us again on this yearly pilgrimage, as always it's the journey that's the important thing - but that's not to say that there isn't some exciting moving and shaking to happen at the destination. That said, it's time to pass out on the couch.

01:34 - Neilan #10 - The Resistance
05:00 - Mark #11 - Caylus 1303
05:51 - Mark #10 - Arboretum
07:39 - Kellen #10 - Dominion
11:11 - Neilan #9 - The Oracle of Delphi
12:35 - Mark #9 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
16:33 - Kellen #9 - Telestrations
18:38 - Neilan #8 - The Search for Planet X
20:40 - Mark #8 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
23:14 - Kellen #8 - Inis
24:37 - Neilan #7 - Pictomania
26:17 - Mark #7 - Time's Up!
27:33 - Kellen #7 - El Grande
30:06 - Neilan #6 - Alchemists
32:42 - Mark #6 - Fresh Fish
35:07 - Kellen #6 - Wizard
39:14 - Neilan #5 - Time's Up!
40:11 - Kellen #5 - Time's Up!
41:39 - Mark #5 - Brass: Lancashire
43:30 - Neilan #4 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
48:34 - Mark #4 - Bus
50:55 - Kellen #4 - Archipelago
54:52 - Neilan #3 - Blood on the Clocktower
57:04 - Mark #3 - The Estates
1:00:02 - Kellen #3 - Dune
1:03:50 - Neilan #2 - A Feast for Odin
1:05:55 - Mark #2 - Agricola
1:08:52 - Kellen #2 - Cthulhu Wars
1:11:50 - Neilan #1 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:14:57 - Mark #1 - Biblios
1:16:03 - Kellen #1 - Innovation

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#298: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2023: 20-11

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:01:00 +0000

We're almost bursting at the seams, but there's room for a little more. It's the penultimate episode of our five part series, the Top 50 games of all-time! We're moving on to our 20th to 11th favourite games, which means it's time for some big risers and dramatic falls. Make yourself a coffee (sugar's over there in the corner), it's not time to sleep just yet.

03:45 - Kellen #20 - Cosmic Encounter
06:25 - Neilan #20 - Ra
08:09 - Mark #20 - Stationfall
11:25 - Kellen #19 - Lords of Vegas
13:18 - Neilan #19 - Patchwork
15:51 - Mark #19 - Glen More II: Chronicles
19:16 - Kellen #18 - Omen: A Reign of War
21:45 - Neilan #18 - Stationfall
24:05 - Mark #18 - Tigris & Euphrates
26:10 - Kellen #17 - Insider
29:45 - Neilan #17 - Taj Mahal
31:45 - Mark #17 - El Grande
33:33 - Kellen #16 - Fuji Flush
35:01 - Neilan #16 - Guards of Atlantis II
36:26 - Mark #16 - Chicago Express
38:13 - Kellen #15 - Maskmen
40:39 - Neilan #15 - Exit: The Game
42:31 - Mark #15 - Imperial 2030
44:22 - Kellen #14 - Babylonia
46:22 - Neilan #14 - Blue Lagoon
47:57 - Mark #14 - Lancaster
50:14 - Kellen #13 - The Resistance: Avalon
51:01 - Neilan #13 - Cthulhu Wars
51:46 - Mark #13 - Ra
53:06 - Kellen #12 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
55:50 - Neilan #12 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
57:54 - Mark #12 - Age of Steam
59:52 - Kellen #11 - Troyes
1:03:06 - Neilan #11 - Brass: Birmingham
1:05:58 - Mark #11 - Race for the Galaxy

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#297: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2023: 30-21

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:01:00 +0000

It's a new year which is an awkward time to be right in the middle of something, but we're doing a thing here. It's part three of our Top 50 games of all-time! This week it's our 30th to 21st favourite games, and this is where things start to get spicy. This is like five chilis next to the menu item hotness we're talking. Grab a bib and join us for another course!

03:45 - Mark #30 - Cuba Libre
04:08 - Kellen #30 - Coloretto
05:58 - Neilan #30 - Watson & Holmes
07:28 - Mark #29 - Stephenson's Rocket
09:06 - Kellen #29 - So Clover!
10:22 - Neilan #29 - Undaunted: Stalingrad
12:18 - Mark #28 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
13:59 - Kellen #28 - Keyflower
15:34 - Neilan #28 - Gaia Project
16:55 - Mark #27 - Tramways
18:47 - Kellen #27 - Hansa Teutonica
20:06 - Neilan #27 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
22:09 - Mark #26 - Modern Art
23:38 - Kellen #26 - SCOUT
25:06 - Neilan #26 - Yellow & Yangtze
26:09 - Mark #25 - Hansa Teutonica
28:01 - Kellen #25 - Glory to Rome
29:39 - Neilan #25 - Scythe
31:39 - Mark #24 - Container
32:50 - Kellen #24 - American Bookshop
34:34 - Neilan #24 - Decrypto
35:54 - Mark #23 - La Granja
37:36 - Kellen #23 - I'm the Boss!
39:32 - Neilan #23 - The Quest for El Dorado
40:26 - Mark #22 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
43:09 - Kellen #22 - Diplomacy
44:17 - Neilan #22 - Gloomhaven
45:43 - Mark #21 - Pictomania
47:39 - Kellen #21 - Decrypto
49:30 - Neilan #21 - Hansa Teutonica

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#296: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2023: 40-31

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:06:00 +0000

It's the second leg of the grand tour that is the top fifty. This week, we're doing our 40th to 31st favourite games ... of all time! It's almost like Christmas just keeps going! Grab a glass of sherry and join us by the fire, we're not about to stop any time soon.

01:21 - Neilan #40 - Bus
03:52 - Mark #40 - Panic on Wall Street!
05:38 - Kellen #40 - Pax Porfiriana
08:56 - Neilan #39 - In the Year of the Dragon
10:33 - Mark #39 - Ark Nova
12:04 - Kellen #39 - Seas of Strife
14:55 - Neilan #38 - Inis
16:29 - Mark #38 - Hanabi
18:19 - Kellen #38 - Codenames
19:59 - Neilan #37 - Iberian Gauge
21:43 - Mark #37 - Anomia
24:26 - Kellen #37 - Food Chain Magnate
26:33 - Neilan #36 - Codenames
27:32 - Mark #36 - Lords of Vegas
28:53 - Kellen #36 - Rumble Nation
30:26 - Neilan #35 - Azul
31:19 - Mark #35 - Dungeon Fighter
33:35 - Kellen #35 - Wind the Film! / Photograph
35:47 - Neilan #34 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
38:01 - Mark #34 - Tycoon: India 1981
40:39 - Kellen #34 - Square on Sale
42:26 - Neilan #33 - Werewords
44:06 - Mark #33 - Genoa
45:29 - Kellen #33 - Imperial 2030
47:19 - Neilan #32 - Twice as Clever!
48:35 - Mark #32 - Merkator
50:55 - Kellen #32 - Cockroach Poker
52:33 - Neilan #31 - Kemet
53:29 - Mark #31 - Blue Lagoon
54:56 - Kellen #31 - Bruges

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#295: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2023: 50-41

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:04:00 +0000

It's tiiiiiiime! It's the top fifty! That's right, the much anticipated, much celebrated, much imitated (we definitely did it first) event of the season is here. We're counting down each of our favourite fifty games of all time! Or at least, for right now! It's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and we'd love if you pulled up a chair and joined us for it.

06:36 - Kellen #50 - Santiago
07:59 - Neilan #50 - Jaipur
09:30 - Mark #50 - Findorff
11:22 - Kellen #49 - Genoa
12:37 - Neilan #49 - The Great Zimbabwe
14:32 - Mark #49 - Jump Drive
16:02 - Kellen #48 - 6 nimmt!
17:31 - Neilan #48 - Fun Facts
19:09 - Mark #48 - Cthulhu Wars
20:43 - Kellen #47 - Balderdash
22:24 - Neilan #47 - Splendor & Splendor Duel
24:38 - Mark #47 - Dominant Species
26:35 - Kellen #46 - Race for the Galaxy
27:45 - Neilan #46 - Cuzco
29:43 - Mark #46 - Ricochet Robots
31:57 - Kellen #45 - Feed the Kraken
33:57 - Neilan #45 - Mille Fiori
35:24 - Mark #45 - Splendor
37:38 - Kellen #44 - Root
39:22 - Neilan #44 - Challengers!
42:03 - Mark #44 - German Railways
43:24 - Kellen #43 - Acquire
45:11 - Neilan #43 - Anachrony
46:54 - Mark #43 - Signorie
48:33 - Kellen #42 - Brass: Lancashire
50:23 - Neilan #42 - Innovation
51:44 - Mark #42 - Smartphone Inc.
53:13 - Kellen #41 - Startups
54:48 - Neilan #41 - Ark Nova
56:00 - Mark #41 - Dune: Imperium

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#294: We Played a Stack of Games!

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:28:00 +0000

PAX Unplugged was a blast, and we played so much stuff that we're dying to tell you about - many of them with our beloved listeners. We braved the cold and the rain of Philadelphia, on the other side of the country, to bring you this episode jam-packed with games - so there's no room for any dilly dallying. Hits include Forest Shuffle, Arcs, Findorff ... and loads more!

02:14 - 5 Towers
06:57 - Nigoichi
11:01 - Cabanga!
15:00 - Age of Steam
17:33 - Falling
20:36 - Infiltraitors
24:38 - Tangram City
28:19 - The Great Zimbabwe
30:40 - Schadenfreude
35:57 - Forest Shuffle
40:35 - Arcs
48:36 - Findorff

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#293: The Great Epochs of Board Gaming

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:12:00 +0000

In what could be our most grandiose episode yet, we attempt to tame the wild history of all of board games. We traverse the timeline, unpacking what we consider to be the great epochs of the hobby, in an attempt to explain how modern game design evolved into its present form. Before we unpack the deep lore, we talk about General Orders: World War II, Oak, and Big Boss.

Timecodes:

02:36 - General Orders: World War II
11:47 - Oak
20:24 - Big Boss
31:20 - The great epochs of board games
31:45 - The First Epoch
33:17 - The Royal Game of Ur
34:37 - Senet
43:23 - The Second Epoch
44:50 - Monopoly
48:11 - Risk
50:29 - Operation
56:23 - The Third Epoch
57:22 - Catan
1:02:33 - Dominion
1:20:19 - The Fourth Epoch

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#292: Lightning Round

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:01:00 +0000

Uh oh, is that thunder? That must mean it's time for a lightning round - we're scooping up all the lovely questions and suggestions that just aren't big enough for the main event, and stuffing them in the blender. This week, it's public spaces, warning labels, gaming tips, and PAX Unplugged. Before we put fingers on buzzers, we talk about Gift of Tulips, Five Three Five, and Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods.

Timecodes:

01:36 - Gift of Tulips
10:20 - Five Three Five
16:52 - Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods
32:08 - How American society affects board gaming
39:54 - What are we excited to play at PAX
40:26 - Stationfall
40:56 - Blood on the Clocktower
41:30 - The Great Zimbabwe
41:50 - Pax Porfiriana
43:40 - Roads & Boats
44:49 - Warning stickers on games
48:22 - Hot gaming tips

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#291: Fantasy Draft: Reiner Knizia

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:01:09 +0000

Drafts are back, baby. And not just any old draft, no, but to celebrate the return of the greatest game, we're drafting none other than the best of the only true and living doctor, Reiner Knizia. Who ends up with the best list? Vote for your favourite, you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we doc it up, we talk about Empire's End, My Favourite Things, and Four Horsemen.

Timecodes:

02:33 - Empire's End
12:15 - My Favourite Things
21:15 - Four Horsemen
27:48 - Drafting Reiner Knizia games
33:44 - Tigris & Euphrates
34:49 - Zoo Vadis
36:32 - Ra
37:47 - Modern Art
39:19 - The Quest for El Dorado
41:03 - Blue Lagoon
42:03 - Lost Cities
45:29 - Medici
46:39 - Stephenson's Rocket
47:44 - My City
49:13 - Taj Mahal
52:09 - Babylonia
53:29 - Mille Fiori
55:14 - Yellow & Yangtze
58:04 - High Society

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#290: Stuck in the Mid With You

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:01:00 +0000

Are board games stuck? Not to be dramatic or anything, but it does seem like we keep circling the same ideas over and over again, right? We speculate on where we think the hobby is headed, and whether or not it needs a shake up. Before we plateau, we talk about Orchard, Hadrian's Wall, Terracotta Army, and Santiago.

Timecodes:

03:09 - Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game
06:49 - Hadrian's Wall
13:45 - Terracotta Army
24:34 - Santiago
35:45 - Board game stagnation
38:17 - Return to Dark Tower
41:55 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
43:55 - Turing Machine
44:09 - Cryptid
45:59 - Dead Reckoning
50:37 - Stationfall

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#289: Essen SPIEL 2023 Hype List

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:49:00 +0000

It's almost time for Essen SPIEL 2023, the great German Mecca of our people - and while we're not going ourselves, that's not going to stop us yearning. We're hear to tell you about all the amazing games available at the show this year that you ought to be excited about. Before we gaze longingly across the Atlantic, we talk about Asara, Skytear Horde, and Dwellings of Eldervale.

Timecodes:

02:31 - Asara
10:15 - Skytear Horde
14:04 - Dwellings of Eldervale
28:11 - Essen SPIEL 2023 Preview
30:04 - The Same Game
32:52 - Among Cultists: A Social Deduction Thriller
32:40 - Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West
34:11 - Civolution
35:25 - World Wonders
36:42 - Dying Message
38:27 - Kutná Hora: The City of Silver
40:24 - Tiny Mini Golf
42:19 - Arabella
43:38 - ArcheOlogic
45:41 - Terra Pyramides
46:51 - Sunrise Lane
48:25 - Evacuation
49:54 - TwinStar Valley
51:04 - Planta Nubo

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#288: Less is More

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:32:11 +0000

A little prune, a little embellish, a nip, a tuck, and a flourish, and we can get this thing just how we like it. We're looking at all the little things that we'd like to see more of, all the things we'd like to see less of in the world of board games. Before we giveth and taketh away, we talk about First in Flight, Tramways, and Wandering Towers.

Timecodes:

02:39 - First in Flight
11:57 - Tramways
23:32 - Wandering Towers
31:50 - What we want more and less of in games
33:13 - More middleweight
35:18 - More emergence
36:50 - Stationfall
37:13 - Troyes
37:13 - Glory to Rome
37:13 - Innovation
38:13 - Archipelago
39:03 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
40:02 - More rough edges
41:57 - Cosmic Frog
44:11 - More Saga
44:11 - Dead Reckoning
46:24 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
46:36 - More community conventions
47:49 - More games with less rules
49:09 - Less trick takers
51:05 - Less board games
53:35 - Less dour color palettes
54:54 - Eschaton
55:13 - 3 Ring Circus
56:02 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers
56:27 - Less generic themes
57:37 - Less individual player boards
58:44 - Less multiplayer solitare
1:00:23 - Less content creators working for publishers

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#287: There's a Time and Place for Everything

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:21:35 +0000

Timing is everything, which is why it's so important that this episode came out when it did. Had we made it too early, it would have felt dated, and any later, you wouldn't have been ready for it. Before it's about time, we talk about Planet etuC, Undaunted: Stalingrad, Undaunted: Battle of Britain, and Tycoon: India 1981.

Timecodes:

01:47 - Planet etuC
07:43 - Undaunted: Stalingrad
10:35 - Undaunted: Battle of Britain
14:01 - Tycoon: India 1981
30:36 - Can mechanics be dated?
39:42 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
40:16 - That's Not a Hat
40:48 - Thunder Road: Vendetta
41:38 - Cthulhu Wars
42:11 - Disney Lorcana

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#286: The Worst Duo, Kellen & Mark

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:40:57 +0000

I leave for one episode and these idiots are talking about eating board games. Hard hitting questions for hard hitting board game journalists, Kellen & Mark are on the scene reporting in. Before we claw our way back from this, we talk about Power & Weakness, Haggis, and Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game.

Timecodes:

02:40 - Power & Weakness
16:28 - Haggis
24:28 - Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
36:31 - What gets you excited about two player games?
46:04 - Azul
46:30 - What is the most edible looking board game?
47:10 - Through the Desert
47:54 - Azul: Master Chocalatier
48:25 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
49:04 - Juicy Fruits
49:54 - Wingspan
50:33 - Zendo

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#285: Starting is Easy, Finishing is Hard

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:08:59 +0000

A solid end game trigger can be such an overlooked part of the design of a game. The conventional wisdom for most things is to start strong and finish strong, so we look at some of our favourite ways that games can end. Before we reach the end of the road, we talk about Robot Quest Arena, Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020, and Expeditions.

Timecodes:

02:07 - Robot Quest Arena
08:52 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
30:11 - Expeditions
47:33 - Inis
48:09 - Azul
51:35 - Ethnos
51:52 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
52:31 - I'm the Boss!
53:12 - Archipelago
54:22 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
55:16 - Innovation
55:31 - Pax Porfiriana
55:41 - John Company: Second Edition
56:16 - Dune
56:51 - Stationfall
57:25 - 7 Wonders Duel
58:34 - The Quest for El Dorado
1:00:04 - Scythe
1:00:45 - Blood Rage

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#284: Gen Con 2023 Preview

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:13:22 +0000

It's convention season, and the big one is almost upon us, as board gamers across America prepare to descend on Indiana. Gen Con! We won't be there this year, but that won't stop us anticipating what we could be playing at the show. Before we want what we can't have, we talk about Fancy Feathers, Beast, Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020, and Mercator.

Timecodes:

02:43 - Fancy Feathers
08:31 - Beast
16:55 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020
22:43 - Merkator
29:53 - Aurum
31:12 - Age of Innovation
35:06 - Ahau: Rulers of Yucatán
37:03 - Inheritors
40:11 - City of the Great Machine
42:41 - The Fox Experiment
44:01 - SpellBook
46:13 - Tesseract
48:15 - Wild Tiled West
50:14 - Kutná Hora: The City of Silver
52:38 - General Orders: World War II
54:13 - 3 Ring Circus
56:21 - Wandering Towers
1:00:32 - The Search for Lost Species
1:01:02 - Legacies

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#283: Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:41:09 +0000

Not all are as blessed as we are by the gift of truly original thought, and so many turn to others for inspiration. Whether it's Newton standing on the shoulders of giants, or stealing from our rich neighbour Xerox, many great ideas are born from what has come before. Before we make the inspired choice, we talk about Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game, Innovation Ultimate, and Dawn of Ulos.

Timecodes:

01:59 - Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game
11:18 - Innovation Ultimate
21:45 - Dawn of Ulos
32:45 - Game Design Inspirations
34:41 - Apples to Apples
37:03 - Magic: The Gathering
40:53 - Final Girl
40:53 - Hostage Negotiator
42:26 - Acquire
42:49 - Witchstone
42:49 - Ingenious
44:19 - Blood on the Clocktower
44:44 - The Resistance
48:10 - Dark Moon
49:16 - Cthulhu Wars
49:16 - Chaos in the Old World
50:13 - Nova Luna
50:13 - Habitats
50:52 - Lowlands
51:25 - El Grande
52:04 - Red Rising
52:04 - Fantasy Realms

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#282: A Soupçon of Sackson

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:12:25 +0000

After much consternation at his exclusion from our Mount Rushmore of games, we've decided to honour legendary designer Sid Sackson elsewhere - a BGB Designer Spotlight! I think these used to be called BGB DOGs but even Mark forgot about that bit of branding. Oh well. Before we make amends, we talk about Magicalligraphy, Hamlet: The Village Building Game, and Tournament at Camelot.

Timecodes:

01:33 - Schedule update
03:11 - Magicalligraphy
09:30 - Hamlet: The Village Building Game
19:48 - Tournament at Camelot
27:56 - Sid Sackson
30:14 - Piggly Wiggly
32:16 - High Spirits with Calvin and the Colonel
35:54 - Bazaar
39:28 - Focus/Domination
40:20 - I'm the Boss!
41:18 - Can't Stop
42:48 - Acquire

The Sid Sackson Portal:
https://sacksonportal.museumofplay.org

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#281: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 901-1000

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:12:19 +0000

We've reached the end of our fantasy draft series, the last in this increasingly dire list of games from which we pluck five gems each, and then get you to vote on your favourites. There's a (potential) $50 gift card in it for you! Before the last dance, we talk about Seas of Havoc, Whale to Look, and Dorfromantik: The Board Game.

Timecodes:

03:12 - Seas of Havoc
10:42 - Whale to Look
19:50 - Dorfromantik: The Board Game
29:10 - Drafting BGG's #901-1000
32:17 - Caylus 1303
33:43 - Ready Set Bet
36:03 - Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
37:12 - Clever Cubed
38:51 - Condottiere
40:20 - Adrenaline
42:54 - Meeple Circus
45:13 - Automobiles
47:54 - Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume Two
49:12 - Lowlands
50:04 - Genoa
52:46 - Santa Monica
54:41 - Feed the Kraken
58:02 - Homesteaders
1:01:25 - First Rat

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#280: Equal and Opposite Interactions

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:03:46 +0000

We're veering into the dark roads of board game classification, but this time with a goal in mind - how to best highlight games that feature strong interaction. Shouldn't BoardGameGeek have a scale for that somewhere? And while we're at it, BGG ... Before we put our thoughts in the suggestion box, we talk about Guatemala Café, and Ride the Rails.

Timecodes:

01:56 - Guatemala Café
12:43 - Ride the Rails
23:09 - Quantifying interactivity
25:43 - A Feast for Odin
32:13 - Yucatan
34:31 - What else should be on a BGG page?
37:15 - Stationfall
44:20 - Biblios

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#279: Let the Golden Age Begin

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:01:00 +0000

Are we living in a golden age of board games? It's a simple question, but there's a lot to unpack - what even qualifies as a golden age, have we already had one, and if we are living in one, when does it end? Before we go for gold, we talk about That's Not a Hat, Pulsar 2849, and Barrage.

Timecodes:

01:39 - That's Not a Hat
02:19 - Cockroach Poker
10:52 - Pulsar 2849
19:58 - Barrage
33:30 - Are we in a golden age?
48:32 - Scythe
57:31 - Ark Nova

The BGG thread Kellen referenced:
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2556595/number-games-published-year

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#278: Check Check Check

Thu, 25 May 2023 07:34:06 +0000

We're lucky to have covered wide swathes of the board game world, but there was a time when some of those things were aspirational. Like achievements to cross off on the great board game check list ... or like that Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson movie. You know they invented that phrase? Wild. Before we make our list, we talk about Municipium, and Yucatan.

Timecodes:

02:27 - Municipium
12:47 - Yucatan
29:38 - Board game checklist/bucket list
31:17 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
35:15 - Diplomacy
35:57 - Playing landmark games
38:39 - Blood on the Clocktower
41:05 - Board game conventions
45:24 - Board game meetups
48:10 - You don't need everything for a game
48:29 - Dominion
49:52 - Guards of Atlantis II
50:38 - Two player and abstract games
52:26 - Designing a board game

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#277: Definitely Not a Mailbag Episode

Thu, 18 May 2023 06:51:37 +0000

It's just two of us, so we turn our attention to the burning questions that you've been asking us, in a feature we're calling Topic Talk Back. This is not to be confused with the format we've used before, mailbags are old news now, and we'd appreciate it if you'd stop bringing it up. Before we do anything but rustle in the cloth sack, we talk about By Stealth and Sea, and Undaunted: Stalingrad.

Timecodes:

02:38 - By Stealth and Sea
12:11 - Undaunted: Stalingrad
25:41 - Topic Talk Back
26:37 - Favorite Campaign Games
27:20 - Gloomhaven
27:44 - Frosthaven
30:56 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
33:31 - Games that are too short?
34:03 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
34:17 - Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
35:38 - Woodcraft
37:47 - Designer Mount Rushmore

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#276: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 801-900

Thu, 11 May 2023 07:24:31 +0000

It's the penultimate draft of the BGG Top 1000 series, and all of these games are garbage ... but it's up to us to sift through that garbage, and each find a collection of five games that's worthy of you. Vote for your favourite, and you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we find diamonds in the rough, we also talk about Paperback Adventures, and Woodcraft.

Timecodes:

02:31 - Paperback Adventures
13:29 - Woodcraft
23:51 - Drafting BGG's #801-900
26:27 - Babylonia
28:37 - Blue Lagoon
30:57 - A War of Whispers
32:22 - Signorie
33:19 - The Mind
34:52 - Pictomania
36:04 - Brian Boru: High King of Ireland
36:57 - Santiago
38:45 - Werewords
39:49 - Battle for Rokugan
41:19 - Vasco da Gama
43:20 - Cerebria: The Inside World
44:21 - Bullet♥︎
46:10 - Incan Gold
49:00 - Railroad Ink Challenge: Lush Green Edition

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#275: Building and Breaking Conventions

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:08:23 +0000

Any creative work is built on a lot of conventions - things that we take as granted, the unspoken rules that must be followed. We get a lot of really great games by following design conventions, but some times, in order to innovate we have to break them. Before we try to find the balance between convention and innovation, we talk about Darwin's Journey, Aleph Null, and Rome in a Day.

Timecodes:

02:00 - Darwin's Journey
13:44 - Aleph Null
21:07 - Rome in a Day
30:09 - Innovation vs. Convention
33:14 - Root
36:02 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
36:02 - Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun
36:17 - Tiletum
38:17 - Tower of Babel
42:04 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
42:31 - Horseless Carriage
42:49 - Atiwa
44:04 - Inis
45:14 - The Castles of Burgundy

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#274: Guessing Golden Geeks

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:51:08 +0000

We can all agree the Golden Geeks peaked last year, but I suppose we can continue the facade if we must. Nominees are out for BoardGameGeek's annual awards, and as the presiding champions of taste, we're declaring our favourites. Before we prognosticate, we talk about Big City, Spots, and Horseless Carriage.

Timecodes:

02:10 - Big City
09:33 - Spots
16:02 - Horseless Carriage
28:53 - Golden Geek 2022 Predictions
29:29 - Best 2-Player Game
30:33 - Wingspan Asia
31:20 - Beer & Bread
32:01 - Mindbug: First Contact
33:16 - Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes!
33:30 - Splendor: Duel
33:37 - Undaunted: Stalingrad
34:02 - Marvel Dice Throne
34:18 - Best Artwork and Presentation
35:11 - CoraQuest
35:31 - Blood on the Clocktower
36:05 - Best Cooperative Game
36:26 - Kites
37:20 - Dorfromantik: The Board Game
38:17 - Best Board Game Expansion
38:58 - Most Innovative Board Games
39:36 - Heat: Pedal to the Medal
39:54 - Turing Machine
40:07 - Deal with the Devil
40:25 - My Father's Work
40:57 - Light Game of the Year
42:14 - Long Shot: The Dice Game
43:27 - Medium Game of the Year
46:01 - Heavy Game of the Year
46:58 - Carnegie
47:13 - John Company: Second Edition
48:19 - Best Party Game
48:39 - Penguin Airlines
50:31 - Best Solo Game
52:04 - Best Thematic Game
52:33 - Nemesis: Lockdown
52:51 - Dead Reckoning
54:00 - Wonderland's War
54:51 - Best Wargame
55:38 - Best Podcast (which we already won)
58:53 - Best Board Game App

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#273: Bob Chat

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:42:21 +0000

Board games are a social medium, which is a big part of their appeal for us. It's not just about being heads down solving a puzzle, they facilitate conversation. Some games are better at this than others, so we put BGBBOB on the case to find our favourites! Before we natter away, we talk about Big Top, Autobahn, and Pollen.

Timecodes:

03:04 - Big Top
12:21 - Autobahn
23:25 - Pollen
34:51 - Dealt! / Krass Kariert
37:02 - Boast or Nothing
39:37 - Codenames
40:30 - Twice as Clever!
42:47 - Concept
43:45 - Biblios
45:25 - Dixit
46:07 - Coloretto
48:43 - Sushi Go!
51:46 - The Mind
54:25 - Qwirkle
57:09 - Dominion

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#272: Cool Story, Bro

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:39:30 +0000

Good storytelling isn't easy, and board games seem to struggle with it especially - which makes the ones that do pull it off, all the more memorable. We delve into the ways that games can engage us and create lasting experiences through stories. Before we spin a yarn, we talk about Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Artisans of Splendent Vale.

Timecodes:

01:36 - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
18:13 - Artisans of Splendent Vale
29:51 - Storytelling in games
30:40 - Gloomhaven
34:44 - The King's Dilemma
36:59 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
37:40 - Eldritch Horror
37:49 - Dead of Winter
38:44 - Phantom Leader
40:31 - Undaunted: Normandy
41:00 - Freedom: The Underground Railroad
43:34 - This War of Mine: The Board Game
47:23 - Return to Dark Tower
47:34 - Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
47:59 - Sleeping Gods

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#271: The Un-Episode

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:02:00 +0000

I mean, I don't know. Before we do whatever, we talk about Circle the Wagons, El Gaucho, Roller Coaster Rush, and Applejack.

Timecodes:

01:48 - Circle the Wagons
07:49 - El Gaucho
14:58 - Roller Coaster Rush
19:05 - Applejack
25:34 - What do I do with old campaign games?
25:48 - Frosthaven
25:48 - Gloomhaven
27:47 - What board game product would improve my gaming?
30:50 - What are good miniature games for people who don't like miniature games?
31:53 - For What Remains
33:12 - Are there modern classics of the war game genre that you would recommend?
34:48 - What are some good, one shot TTRPGs?
37:05 - What do you have to do to get heavier games played?
39:50 - Which games would be perfect for us that we've never mentioned?
41:02 - The big question

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#270: You May Feel a Little Discomfort

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:01:25 +0000

Board games are great! Mostly. But as great as they are, we've probably all had a moment where, through no fault of the game itself, things got uncomfortable. Whether it's because of an awkward play, or just particulars of the group dynamic, we look back at some of our most uncomfortable moments. Before we enter the discomfort zone, we talk about Dog Tag Trick, Deal with the Devil, and Yokai Septet.

Timecodes:

01:46 - Dog Tag Trick
10:01 - Deal with the Devil
19:44 - Yokai Septet
27:53 - When games make you uncomfortable
33:48 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
39:34 - Pictionary
40:42 - Fauna
41:27 - Inhuman Conditions
43:11 - Praise

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#269: Keep On Rollin', Bob

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:15:31 +0000

BGBBOB's back, and he's rollin' (rollin') rollin' on a river of amazing games, all of which feature some incredible dice play. As is our sacred duty, we won't rest until we've arranged them in some sort of numerical order, a ranked list, if you will. Before we rattle the bones, we talk about The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game, The South: Terminus, Beyond Baker Street, and The Defence of Procyon III.

Timecodes:

04:59 - The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game
12:05 - The South: Terminus
13:52 - Beyond Baker Street
19:54 - The Defence of Procyon III
27:56 - 701-800 Draft Results
29:30 - BGBBOB: Best Dice Rolling
30:53 - Tumblin' Dice
32:10 - Cthulhu Wars
34:49 - Space Base
35:17 - Cube Quest
39:00 - Dice Forge
39:51 - Lords of Vegas
41:38 - Dungeon Fighter
42:41 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
44:17 - Formula D
45:24 - Las Vegas
47:28 - Martian Dice
49:01 - Can't Stop
51:08 - FUSE
51:57 - Gang of Dice
54:03 - Quarriors!

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#268: We Played a Slew of Games!

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:01:05 +0000

We (well some of us) made it back from Vegas, and what happened there didn't stay there - we're reporting in from Dice Tower West 2023, a fun week of friends, casinos, and all you can eat sushi. To everyone we met, thank you for saying hey! We also played a lot of hot games, including Heat: Pedal to the Metal, and Stationfall.

Timecodes:

02:52 - Return to Dark Tower
08:47 - Magic Mountain
10:46 - Tower of Babel
11:58 - In the Year of the Dragon
15:06 - No Mercy
15:22 - Trick Raiders
16:20 - Pups
16:30 - Scharfe Schoten
19:19 - The Estates
20:23 - Coyote
22:26 - Time's Up!
24:08 - Heat: Pedal to the Metal
32:28 - Yokai Septet
33:35 - Ninja Master
35:30 - I Made You a Mix Tape
40:52 - Time of Empires
43:23 - Stationfall

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#267: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2023

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:05:00 +0000

I always love this one. It's the time of the year where we look at what your favourite games are, and discover whether there are any exciting movers and shakers in what you've been playing! It's the BGB Listener Top 20! Before we check in with all of you, we talk about Tower of Babel, Great Western Trail: Argentina, and Jump Drive.

Timecodes:

02:01 - Tower of Babel ...or why the eighth wonder was never built
11:16 - Great Western Trail: Argentina
18:26 - Jump Drive
29:21 - Listener Top 20
33:44 - Terraforming Mars
34:19 - Food Chain Magnate
34:19 - Cosmic Encounter
36:14 - Wingspan
37:32 - Inis
38:03 - Ark Nova
39:45 - Dune: Imperium
42:32 - Scythe
43:35 - Agricola
44:48 - Great Western Trail
46:12 - Race for the Galaxy
46:52 - Innovation
47:28 - A Feast for Odin
48:08 - The Castles of Burgundy
48:30 - Concordia
49:13 - Gloomhaven
50:05 - Root
50:53 - Hansa Teutonica
52:33 - Spirit Island
53:06 - Brass: Birmingham

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#266: Don't Mess with Cathala

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 08:12:08 +0000

Bruna Cathala is the focus of this episode's BGB DOG, the unfortunately acronymed series where we showcase a designer whom we love, and talk through the history of their career and designs. Before we pay tribute to the two player king, we talk about Smart Four Connected, Skytear Horde, and Endless Winter: Paleoamericans.

Timecodes:

02:56 - Smart Four Connected
06:30 - Skytear Horde
12:51 - Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
21:42 - Designer Spotlight: Bruno Cathala
23:26 - Fief
30:17 - Mr. Jack
32:00 - Five Tribes
32:51 - 7 Wonders Duel
34:00 - Kingdomino
39:43 - Zany Penguins

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#265: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 701-800

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:05:00 +0000

The draft is back, and while the lists are getting really thin at this point, that's not going to stop us doing our damndest to pick out a killer selection of five games each. Whose is the best? That's up to you - and if you vote, you stand a chance to win a gift voucher for $50! Before we put our fate in your hands, we talk about Shake That City, Clank!: Catacombs, and Galactic Renaissance.

Timecodes:

04:29 - Shake That City
12:39 - Clank!: Catacombs
19:27 - Galactic Renaissance
35:50 - Drafting BGG's #701-800
39:22 - The Estates
40:27 - Dogs of War
42:36 - City of the Big Shoulders
44:03 - Deep Sea Adventure
45:00 - Regicide
46:29 - Galaxy Trucker (Second Edition)
47:07 - Can't Stop
49:06 - Pax Renaissance: 2nd Edition
50:19 - Project: ELITE
52:17 - The Great Wall
54:01 - Black Angel
55:51 - Not Alone
57:22 - New York Zoo
1:01:29 - Menara
1:03:33 - Shipyard

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#264: Kellen

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:01:00 +0000

We've done deep dives into games before, but really when you get down to it, games are just the medium. The substrate. What it's always been about is people. We hope to pick at the minds of some of the hobby's best with this format - and until then, we have Kellen. Before we unpack the man, the myth, the legend, we talk about Cuba Libre, Gang of Dice, and Time of Empires.

Timecodes:

03:44 - Cuba Libre
13:00 - Gang of Dice
19:28 - Time of Empires
32:49 - Q1: Where are we playing?
39:25 - Q2: What's the table like?
41:35 - Q3: How many people?
43:23 - Q4: What are you eating?
48:03 - Q5: What is the theme of the game?
48:59 - Q6: What is the game like?
50:15 - Q7: What makes it memorable?

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#263: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2023

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:17:27 +0000

If there's one thing I can say for sure about 2023, it's that it will certainly be a period of time. We're casting our eyes forward to the year ahead, and getting excited about some of the board games that (we hope) will actually be coming. Before we look ahead, always ahead, we talk about Make the Difference, German Railways, and Tiletum.

Timecodes:

02:39 - Make the Difference
07:38 - German Railways
13:00 - Tiletum
24:40 - Most Anticipated Games of 2023
27:22 - Mission Control: Critical Orbit
29:12 - Beyond the Sun: Leaders of the New Dawn
30:50 - Watch Hockey, Get Drunk
31:50 - Skyrise
32:59 - Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies
34:45 - That's Not a Hat
36:32 - Darwin's Journey
37:50 - Seas of Havoc
39:56 - El Burro: A La Granja Game
42:05 - Red Dust Rebellion
42:59 - Unconscious Minds
45:45 - Yucatan
47:09 - Last Light
49:09 - Galactic Renaissance

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#262: The Sweet Sound of Mailbag

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:30:00 +0000

Where would we be without the mailbag? We get such lovely questions from you lot, that we rarely get the chance to answer, so when the opportunity comes, one has to strike. Time to hear what's on your minds, kids. Before we rustle in the cloth, we talk about Dinosaur Gauge, and Starship Captains.

Timecodes:

01:39 - Dinosaur Gauge
10:18 - Starship Captains
21:24 - Holiday games?
21:51 - Fire in the Hole
25:10 - Weather Machine
26:12 - Surprise Top 50 games?
29:56 - Has how you play games changed?

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#261: Resolutions and Ramifications

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 14:21:00 +0000

You know how at the start of the year you make a lot of promises to yourself that you have no chance of holding yourself to? Yeah, this isn't like that, we absolutely, definitely will not see out 2023 without following through on all of these whims. Before we hold ourselves accountable, we talk about Challengers!, Eleven: Football Manager Board Game, nana, and Zoo Vadis.

Timecodes:

04:49 - Challengers!
12:24 - Eleven: Football Manager Board Game
21:49 - nana
29:40 - Zoo Vadis
39:46 - Mark's Resolution(s)
47:09 - Neilan's Resolution
48:37 - Kellen's Resolution
53:19 - Christina's Resolution

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#260: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2022: 10-1

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:43:00 +0000

Here it is, the one we've all been waiting for, the Board Game Barrage top ten games of all time! It's been a long road and we'll wrap it up by seeing some old favourites ... and maybe a few new faces? Old or new, these are the thirty games we enjoy the most (at least, right now.) We loved sharing these lists with you and hope you've enjoyed listening to them!

Timecodes:

01:25 - Neilan #10 - Brass: Birmingham
02:46 - Mark #10 - Hansa Teutonica
04:19 - Kellen #10 - Cosmic Encounter
06:44 - Neilan #9 - Gloomhaven
08:46 - Mark #9 - The Estates
11:28 - Kellen #9 - Decrypto
13:47 - Neilan#8 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
15:50 - Mark #8 - Arboretum
18:11 - Kellen #8 - Diplomacy
22:36 - Neilan #7 - Guards of Atlantis II
25:04 - Mark #7 - Time's Up!
25:58 - Kellen #7 - Dune
29:11 - Neilan #6 - Pictomania
31:40 - Mark #6 - Race for the Galaxy
35:21 - Kellen #6 - Glory to Rome
38:39 - Neilan #5 - The Resistance
40:48 - Mark #5 - Brass: Lancashire
42:54 - Kellen #5 - Troyes
46:22 - Neilan #4 - Time's Up!
48:43 - Mark #4 - Fresh Fish
51:26 - Kellen #4 - I'm the Boss!
52:47 - Neilan #3 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
55:32 - Mark #3 - Bus
58:46 - Kellen #3 - Cthulhu Wars
1:00:44 - Neilan #2 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:03:09 - Mark #2 - Agricola
1:07:40 - Kellen #2 - Archipelago
1:10:06 - Neilan #1 - A Feast for Odin
1:15:14 - Mark #1 - Biblios
1:18:25 - Kellen #1 - Innovation

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#259: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2022: 20-11

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:07:29 +0000

We've reached the penultimate part of our five part series, the great series that is sometimes called our top fifty greatest games of all time! We're barreling close to the end now, but not without a lot of moving and shaking first. Here's another fine selection of thirty amazing games we love.

01:37 - Kellen #20 - So Clover!
02:50 - Neilan #20 - Blue Lagoon
04:14 - Mark #20 - Blood Rage
06:32 - Kellen #19 - El Grande
08:19 - Neilan #19 - The Oracle of Delphi
09:15 - Mark #19 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
11:01 - Kellen #18 - Time's Up!
13:33 - Neilan #18 - Blood on the Clocktower
16:12 - Mark #18 - Ra
17:57 - Kellen #17 - 6 nimmt!
19:47 - Neilan #17 - Scythe
21:03 - Mark #17 - Imperial 2030
23:18 - Kellen #16 - Telestrations
25:06 - Neilan #16 - Watson & Holmes
27:03 - Mark #16 - City of the Big Shoulders
28:06 - Kellen #15 - The Resistance: Avalon
29:54 - Neilan #15 - Hansa Teutonica
33:02 - Mark #15 - Container
35:54 - Kellen #14 - Omen: A Reign of War
37:47 - Neilan #14 - Taj Mahal
39:45 - Mark #14 - Tigris & Euphrates
41:15 - Kellen #13 - Inis
42:59 - Neilan #13 - Alchemists
44:21 - Mark #13 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
46:11 - Kellen #12 - Photograph
48:37 - Neilan #12 - Cthulhu Wars
49:57 - Mark #12 - Age of Steam
52:00 - Kellen #11 - Coloretto
53:45 - Neilan #11 - Exit: The Game
55:04 - Mark #11 - Caylus 1303

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#258: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2022: 30-21

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:27:10 +0000

It's a new year, but the list must go on. The list, that is, of our top fifty greatest games of all time! It's part three, which everyone knows is the dark middle chapter of every pentalogy, so expect some swoops, some turns, some revelations. Brace yourself for another thirty incredible games that we can't wait to tell you all about.

02:03 - Mark #30 - Genoa
03:17 - Kellen #30 - Splendor
04:50 - Neilan #30 - Azul
06:06 - Mark #29 - Modern Art
07:44 - Kellen #29 - Taj Mahal
09:06 - Neilan #29 - Gaia Project
10:43 - Mark #28 - Blue Lagoon
12:30 - Kellen #28 - Boast or Nothing
14:33 - Neilan #28 - Kemet
17:06 - Mark #27 - Pictomania
18:31 - Kellen #27 - Krass Kariert/Dealt!
19:41 - Neilan #27 - Werewords
21:31 - Mark #26 - The Gallerist
22:34 - Kellen #26 - Hansa Teutonica
24:33 - Neilan #26 - Patchwork
26:29 - Mark #25 - Glen More II: Chronicles
28:16 - Kellen #25 - Startups
29:53 - Neilan #25 - Codenames
31:21 - Mark #24 - Lords of Vegas
32:49 - Kellen #24 - Keyflower
34:36 - Neilan #24 - Ra
36:37 - Mark #23 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
38:39 - Kellen #23 - Fuji Flush
40:32 - Neilan #23 - The Search for Planet X
42:20 - Mark #22 - Lancaster
44:59 - Kellen #22 - Babylonia
46:47 - Neilan #22 - The Quest for El Dorado
49:18 - Mark #21 - El Grande
51:25 - Kellen #21 - Rumble Nation
53:14 - Neilan #21 - Decrypto

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#257: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2022: 40-31

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 08:05:56 +0000

I hope you all had a good holiday break, but it's time to get back to business. The very serious business that is the top fifty greatest games of all time. We return to our heroes in what the enthusiasts call phase two, and boy are things heating up! Thirty more incredible games that we absolutely love are coming right at you.

00:58 - Neilan #40 - In the Year of the Dragon
03:14 - Mark #40 - Splendor
05:09 - Kellen #40 - Zendo
07:45 - Neilan #39 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
10:04 - Mark #39 - Iwari
13:24 - Kellen #39 - Stephenson's Rocket
15:19 - Neilan #38 - Iberian Gauge
17:11 - Mark #38 - A Feast for Odin
20:12 - Kellen #38 - Codenames
23:04 - Neilan #37 - Inis
24:47 - Mark #37 - Imperium: The Contention
26:55 - Kellen #37 - Azul
28:53 - Neilan #36 - Ark Nova
30:52 - Mark #36 - True Colors
33:07 - Kellen #36 - American Bookshop
35:02 - Neilan #35 - Rising Sun
36:23 - Mark #35 - Anomia
39:53 - Kellen #35 - Genoa
42:15 - Neilan #34 - Spirit Island
44:23 - Mark #34 - Ricochet Robots
47:37 - Kellen #34 - Agricola
49:25 - Neilan #33 - Yellow & Yangtze
51:22 - Mark #33 - Dominant Species
54:24 - Kellen #33 - Wizard
55:54 - Neilan #32 - Twice as Clever!
57:16 - Mark #32 - Cthulhu Wars
59:02 - Kellen #32 - Race for the Galaxy
1:01:40 - Neilan #31 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
1:03:52 - Mark #31 - Archipelago
1:05:30 - Kellen #31 - Pax Porfiriana

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#256: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2022: 50-41

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 09:11:26 +0000

It's top fifty season! That's right, it's the time to reflect on every single game we've ever played, and see how we feel about them in the year of our lord, 2022. We sort through the chaff, and from it we weave a beautiful golden strand we call our top fifty greatest games of all time. Grab a glass, and join us.

10:18 - Kellen #50 - Smartphone Inc.
12:01 - Neilan #50 - Archipelago
13:22 - Mark #50 - Chicago Express
14:56 - Kellen #49 - Dominion
16:25 - Neilan #49 - Bus
17:50 - Mark #49 - Hanabi
19:36 - Kellen #48 - Root
20:52 - Neilan #48 - Imperium: The Contention
22:22 - Mark #48 - Cuba Libre
24:28 - Kellen #47 - Throne and the Grail
26:08 - Neilan #47 - Agricola
27:31 - Mark #47 - Stephenson's Rocket
28:55 - Kellen #46 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
31:46 - Neilan #46 - Bear Raid
33:08 - Mark #46 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
35:35 - Kellen #45 - Lords of Vegas
37:21 - Neilan #45 - Undaunted: Normandy
39:12 - Mark #45 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
42:01 - Kellen #44 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
43:46 - Neilan #44 - Dead Reckoning
45:57 - Mark #44 - Panic on Wall Street!
48:23 - Kellen #43 - Ingenious
49:38 - Neilan #43 - Innovation
51:41 - Mark #43 - Dungeon Fighter
54:10 - Kellen #42 - Bruges
56:18 - Neilan #42 - Anachrony
59:15 - Mark #42 - Lisboa
1:01:59 - Kellen #41 - Nusfjord
1:03:27 - Neilan #41 - Mille Fiori
1:06:00 - Mark #41 - Smartphone Inc.

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#255: Kellen Played a Hop of Games!

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:21:17 +0000

Kellen won't stop rubbing in that he went to PAX Unplugged without us, but at least he came back with a lot of cool games to talk about. Join us as he regales us with the latest from Philadelphia. Before we eat our Philly, we talk about Sea Salt & Paper, and Chicago Express.

03:49 - Sea Salt & Paper
10:19 - Chicago Express
21:57 - Dicke Dämonen
26:00 - John Company: Second Edition
34:46 - The Green Fivura
35:15 - Dois
35:55 - Nine Lives
38:37 - BANANINE

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#254: A Celebration of Innovation

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:26:22 +0000

One of the greatest things about taking part in this hobby, is seeing new and novel ideas bubble to the surface. We're looking at some our favourite recent innovations - stuff that makes us think, "Huh, why haven't we seen that before?" Before we do anything but imitate and iterate, we talk about Paint the Roses, and ISS Vanguard.

02:01 - Paint the Roses
12:33 - ISS Vanguard
29:29 - Mystic Vale
30:52 - Dead Reckoning
31:52 - Dive
32:37 - Maglev Metro
33:05 - Loony Quest
33:52 - Kitchen Rush
33:52 - Rush M.D.
34:06 - Pendulum
34:41 - Magic Maze
35:03 - Kites
36:06 - MicroMacro: Crime City
37:42 - Exit: The Game – Advent Calendar
38:37 - Brian Boru: High King of Ireland
39:24 - Kabuto Sumo
40:02 - Awkward Guests
40:26 - Turing Machine
42:04 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
42:21 - Destinies

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#253: The Ghost of Turkeys Past

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 21:41:53 +0000

How do you all keep falling for this? The Ghost Turkey moves in mysterious ways, and this year he's moving us to 2019, to atone for our sins. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

04:48 - ICECOOL
06:24 - Meeple Circus
06:49 - Root
07:57 - Sheriff of Nottingham
08:48 - Piepmatz
09:29 - Fauna
10:13 - Evolution: Flight
11:03 - Zany Penguins
12:26 - Gulo Gulo
13:16 - Funky Chicken
14:02 - Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn
14:58 - Rook
16:01 - Scythe
17:09 - Biblios

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#252: Digital Killed the Tabletop Star

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:34:47 +0000

We all saw this coming. The inevitable digital future has come, and suddenly Mark is a book store owner who just discovered Kindles. It'd be sad if it weren't so inevitable. We discuss the rise of digital gaming, and how it can, at least in some ways, replace parts of the hobby. Before we go down to Electric Avenue, we talk about Wormholes, Mogul, and Orichalcum.

02:07 - Wormholes
09:58 - Mogul
19:23 - Orichalcum
30:39 - Kellen's phone number
31:08 - Digital replacing physical games
43:15 - Garden Nation
43:41 - Living Forest
44:22 - Next Station: London
44:33 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
45:49 - Gaia Project
47:15 - 7 Wonders Duel
48:32 - Race for the Galaxy
49:13 - Riftforce
50:30 - The Great Zimbabwe

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#251: Tabling the Teach

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 07:36:50 +0000

Look, I wasn't there, but my understanding is that Kellen got very mad about certain board game words and decided to change the course of the episode midstream. Which, you know, would be one thing, but I once had to hear about how mad Kellen was about the word "apricot", so it's just like every day with this guy. Before we get etymological, we talk about Splendor Duel, and Seize the Bean.

02:19 - Splendor Duel
11:13 - Seize the Bean
23:13 - Feature topic Mark thought we were doing
23:33 - Feature topic we actually did: Board Gaming Jargon

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#250: The Times They Are a-Changin'

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 03:58:04 +0000

Two hundred and fifty episodes. That's ... a lot of episodes. That's a lot of time! And, boy, things have changed around here. Well some things. We look at what's different in the hobby since we started doing this whole thing. Before we cast our minds back, we talk about Stone Age, Blood on the Clocktower, Hansa Teutonica, and Aegean Sea.

01:58 - Stone Age
12:41 - Blood on the Clocktower
16:56 - Hansa Teutonica
18:53 - Aegean Sea
26:33 - What's changed since we started
43:49 - Gloomhaven
45:36 - Caylus
46:55 - Wiz-War

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#249: The Essence of Excess

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 01:35:38 +0000

Games are getting bigger and more lavish, especially in the age of crowdfunding, but how far is too far? How many luxury bits, giant boxes of minis, and silk-screened wooden meeples until it's all gone a bit far? Before we dress for excess, we talk about Habitats, Blood on the Clocktower, Twilight Inscription, and It's a Wonderful Kingdom.

01:59 - Habitats
13:07 - Blood on the Clocktower
18:44 - Twilight Inscription
21:40 - It's a Wonderful Kingdom
32:46 - Excess in games
33:28 - ISS Vanguard
35:40 - Too Many Bones
37:04 - Anachrony
37:55 - Everdell
38:19 - Millennium Blades
38:57 - Council of 4
41:37 - Puzzle Strike 2

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#248: The Need for Theme

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 06:03:53 +0000

The topic of theme has come up intermittently over the course of the podcast, but how important is it? Is it something that makes or breaks a game? Or would we be mostly okay if games were mostly non-thematic? Before we burst at the theme, we talk about Mamma Mia!, Football Highlights 2052, Kanban, and Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood.

01:46 - Mamma Mia!
08:20 - Football Highlights 2052
18:50 - Kanban
20:59 - Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
34:25 - The importance of theme
34:50 - Tigris & Euphrates
38:08 - Catherine: The Cities of the Tsarina
38:42 - Point Salad
40:04 - Abandon All Artichokes
43:29 - Glüx
47:25 - Décorum
49:08 - Deal with the Devil

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#247: We Played A Heap of Games!

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:00:00 +0000

What good would going to a convention be if we didn't play a lot of games? We're back from our trip, and it was filled to the brim of fine games played with fine people, and we're here to tell you about all of them, the good, the bad, and perfunctory. Before we return to Vancouver, we talk about Village Rails, The Guild of Merchant Explorers, and Puzzle Strike 2.

01:51 - Village Rails
12:43 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers
20:59 - Puzzle Strike 2
34:14 - Ghost Turkey!
34:41 - Games we played at SHUX
34:58 - Master Word
40:05 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
42:12 - Leaf
43:32 - Fit to Print
45:11 - Bumúntú
48:38 - Nitro Glyxerol
51:14 - Bridge City Poker
54:16 - Cubitos
57:54 - Blood Rage
1:01:27 - Photograph
1:02:20 - Arboretum

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#246: SHUX 2022 Live with Tom Brewster

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:08:41 +0000

We're at SHUX! Well, we were, and while we were there, we tricked Tom Brewster of Shut Up & Sit Down to take time away from his busy schedule to join us on stage. This episode was recorded live, and we talk about games that are in some ways, a little bit weird. Before things get odd, we talk about Dungeons, Dice & Danger, Fun Facts, Turncoats, and Flick Fleck.

03:52 - Dungeons, Dice & Danger
09:07 - Fun Facts
15:03 - Turncoats
20:58 - Flick Fleck
27:39 - Weird games
28:36 - Mord im Arosa
31:03 - Nyctophobia
31:26 - Tajuto
34:21 - The Field of the Cloth of Gold
36:01 - Cosmic Frog
36:58 - Turing Machine
40:45 - Chaosmos
42:50 - XCOM: The Board Game
43:52 - Now Boarding
44:39 - Flowerfall
45:30 - Who Soiled the Toilet?

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#245: Essen SPIEL 2022 Hype List

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:25:48 +0000

It's convention season, which means we're on the way to one convention, while talking about another. Every year a lot of new games get showed off at Essen SPIEL in Germany, and these are the ones we're most excited to hear more about! Before we start messin' with Essen, we talk about Plutocracy and Finca.

01:56 - Plutocracy
09:54 - Finca
19:09 - Essen SPIEL 2022 Preview
19:39 - The Great Split
21:57 - Time Capsules
23:45 - Heat: Pedal to the Metal
25:45 - La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War
27:49 - Applejack
29:22 - Rise & Fall
31:13 - Sauscharf
33:29 - Oros
35:08 - Tribes of the Wind
36:23 - Shark
38:34 - Tindaya
41:07 - Lacrimosa
42:43 - Virtù
46:38 - Revive
48:51 - Pilgrim

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#244: Quick Count

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 03:28:14 +0000

We're in and out quick and breezy, with a h-h-hot question about player counts. All things equally considered, how many people do you want at the table? Before we boot people from the game, we talk about Bitoku, San Francisco, and Caesar's Empire.

01:28 - Bitoku
12:21 - San Francisco
20:11 - Caesar's Empire
28:46 - Favorite Player Counts
36:08 - Star Trek: Ascendancy
37:04 - Churchill

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#243: We're on Each Other's Team

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:01:00 +0000

The best thing about being part of a team is even when things go wrong, your team is there for you. And boy, did things go wrong this week ... but I'm getting ahead of myself. This week we're talking about team games! Twice! Before we make the dream work, we talk about Art Decko, Feed The Kraken, and War of the Ring: The Card Game.

02:47 - Art Decko
09:03 - Feed The Kraken
20:08 - War of the Ring: The Card Game
32:51 - Team games
35:26 - Guards of Atlantis II
39:20 - Ingenious
40:10 - Tichu
43:32 - Concordia Venus
47:43 - Shadow Hunters
49:33 - Inkognito
51:27 - Between Two Cities
52:06 - Ladies & Gentlemen
53:16 - Space Cadets: Dice Duel
53:16 - Captain Sonar

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#242: Second Time's the Charm

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 07:01:00 +0000

Not every game makes the best first impression, but some stick in your mind enough to warrant a second try. So fittingly, the first and second best hosts are here to tell you about the games that they think deserve a revisit. Before we repeat stuff, repeat stuff, we talk about Mille Fiori, Rise of the Metro, and Turing Machine.

02:05 - Mille Fiori
05:57 - Rise of the Metro
12:48 - Turing Machine
22:29 - Games that need a second chance
24:01 - Gaia Project
26:39 - Space Station Phoenix
28:34 - Twilight Imperium: Third Edition
31:01 - Root
33:15 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
35:16 - An Infamous Traffic
35:16 - Panamax
35:16 - Maria
37:09 - Dune: Betrayal
38:10 - Beyond the Sun
40:06 - XCOM: The Board Game
41:56 - Quantum

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#241: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 601-700

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 07:01:00 +0000

Okay, this end of the BGG top list starts to get weird. Regardless, we must draft. Who's going to end up with the best selection of five games from this chunk of one hundred? That's up to you - vote and you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we pick a peck of paper products, we talk about Town 66, Akropolis, and Pampero.

02:09 - Town 66
08:24 - Akropolis
16:51 - Pampero
27:38 - Drafting BGG's #601-700
29:40 - Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
31:11 - So Clover!
32:49 - 6 nimmt!
34:19 - Bus
35:56 - The Oracle of Delphi
37:11 - The Estates
38:50 - Long Shot: The Dice Game
40:44 - Yellow & Yangtze
42:06 - Undaunted: North Africa
43:05 - Between Two Cities
44:02 - City of the Big Shoulders
47:05 - Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road
48:05 - QE
49:47 - Civilization: A New Dawn
52:18 - Fort

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#240: The Pillars of Recreation

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The pillars of board gaming are games that are so influential, so ubiquitous, that they're practically the shoulders on which many other board games stand. We talk about what are commonly considered the classic pillars, and try to make a more modern list. Before we get into Greek architecture, we talk about Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, Trailblazers, Photograph, and Ys.

02:34 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
04:01 - Trailblazers
11:38 - Wind the Film! / Photograph
18:22 - Ys
28:01 - Modern pillars of board gaming
32:33 - Codenames
36:09 - Splendor
39:01 - 7 Wonders
41:48 - The Resistance: Avalon
43:59 - Concordia
47:21 - Qwixx
51:38 - Scythe

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#239: We're Back and We Brought Lots of Games

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 00:40:03 +0000

Well, we've returned, and some of us are a little worse for wear, but if a week off doesn't get us back into gear, nothing will. Gen Con is behind us, and Mark, who sadly couldn't make the con, quizzes us about our highlights of the show. Before we cast our minds back to Indiana, we talk about Cat in the Box, Formosa Tea, and Twilight Inscription.

02:14 - Cat in the Box
08:31 - Formosa Tea
15:32 - Twilight Inscription
26:26 - Games we played at Gen Con
26:50 - Splendor Duel
33:38 - Green Team Wins
35:06 - Empire's End
38:23 - Kites
39:34 - Good Puppers
42:57 - War of the Ring: The Card Game
43:52 - Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods
46:28 - Freezer pants forever

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#237: Where Are They Now?

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 03:31:13 +0000

Given that we hyped up all those games last week, it's only fair that we prepare ourselves for the aftermath. We look back at some of the most famous and infamous games of yesteryear that were very highly anticipated, and wonder what became of them. Before we relive the comedown, we talk about Master Word, Living Forest, and Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef.

02:00 - Master Word
06:27 - Living Forest
13:29 - Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef
25:04 - Anticipated games of years past
26:56 - Founding Fathers
27:35 - Vinhos
28:32 - Wok Star
29:50 - 51st State
30:27 - CO₂
31:11 - Rex: Final Days of an Empire
33:01 - Glory to Rome
36:12 - Xia: Legends of a Drift System
36:50 - Cthulhu Wars
37:48 - Myth
38:43 - Conan
39:40 - Viceroy
40:32 - Mysterium
41:57 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
45:10 - SeaFall
47:57 - Cry Havoc
49:02 - Founders of Gloomhaven

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#236: Gen Con 2022 Preview

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 06:11:32 +0000

Gen Con is a week away! We're headed to Indianapolis (hope to see you there!) but before we do, we're looking down the preview list to get ourselves hyped. These are our five games we're each most excited to see at the show! Before we go Indy, we talk about Vabanque, Orongo, and Blood on the Clocktower.

02:06 - Vabanque
07:25 - Orongo
15:12 - Blood on the Clocktower
23:49 - Our most anticipated Gen Con 2022 games
25:50 - San Francisco
27:07 - Diamond Dig
28:28 - Turing Machine
29:55 - Weirdwood Manor
31:02 - Deal with the Devil
33:00 - Last Light
34:30 - Starship Captains
35:22 - Framework
36:49 - ???
37:04 - Time of Empires
38:38 - Green Team Wins
40:58 - Catherine: The Cities of the Tsarina
41:53 - The Shadow Planet: The Board Game
43:30 - Cat in the Box
45:30 - Autobahn

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#235: The Twin Game Showdown

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 07:50:03 +0000

There's a phenomenon called twin films, where competing studios release very similar movies at the same time. We imagine the same idea in board game land, and highlight some of the biggest board game grudge matches - and judge which game we think came out on top. Before there can be only one, we talk about Viking See-Saw, Dandelions, Codex Naturalis, and Luna.

02:38 - Viking See-Saw
05:32 - Dandelions
13:09 - Codex Naturalis
17:52 - Luna
28:30 - Twin game matchups
30:46 - Azul
30:46 - Sagrada
31:35 - Century: Spice Road
31:35 - Splendor
32:28 - Race for the Galaxy
33:28 - Roll for the Galaxy
33:45 - Dune: Imperium
33:45 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
35:08 - Cascadia
35:08 - Wingspan
36:29 - Eclipse
36:29 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
37:29 - Codenames
37:29 - Decrypto
37:47 - Ark Nova
37:47 - Terraforming Mars
38:19 - Azul vs. Sagrada
40:13 - Century: Spice Road vs. Splendor
42:48 - Race for the Galaxy vs. Roll for the Galaxy
45:43 - Dune: Imperium vs. Lost Ruins of Arnak
48:22 - Cascadia vs. Wingspan
51:22 - Eclipse vs. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
51:52 - Codenames vs. Decrypto
54:13 - Ark Nova vs. Terraforming Mars

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#234: It's About Family with Ambie Valdés from Board Game Blitz

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:23:50 +0000

Ambie Valdés, from the excellent podcast Board Game Blitz, joins us to talk about family games, and possibly also the Fast and the Furious franchise. Ambie actually has kids, so might know a little more about this than the rest of us. Kids love Vin Diesel. Before we edutain, we talk about Savannah Park, Cryptid, and Stroganov.

04:43 - Savannah Park
11:26 - Cryptid
17:51 - Stroganov
27:11 - Family games
29:55 - Tidy Up!
33:01 - Wingspan
38:03 - Ticket to Ride
40:04 - Flash Point: Fire Rescue
41:39 - Let's Catch the Lion!
43:05 - Qwirkle
43:29 - Gulo Gulo

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#233: A Decade of Missed Games: 2010-2019

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 08:07:16 +0000

Well, we can't play everything, and that was probably more true ten years ago than it is now. So we thought we'd look back at the decade past, and highlight some games that we feel like we missed out on. Before we prolong our backlogs, we talk about Loot of Lima, Yosemite, and Planted: A Game of Nature & Nurture.

02:13 - Loot of Lima
09:17 - Yosemite
14:56 - Planted: A Game of Nature & Nurture
23:01 - Games from last decade we want to play
24:14 - Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
25:53 - Black Friday
27:12 - Haggis
28:07 - Sentinels of the Multiverse
30:09 - Kolejka
31:30 - Eclipse
33:02 - Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery
34:20 - Copycat
35:31 - Caverna: The Cave Farmers
38:06 - Duel of Ages II
40:24 - Kanban
42:07 - Wir sind das Volk!
43:21 - Kingdom Death: Monster
45:18 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
47:23 - Mombasa
48:59 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game
50:14 - Arkwright
51:03 - Adrenaline
52:18 - This War of Mine: The Board Game
53:14 - Gaia Project
54:36 - Calimala
55:51 - Obsession
57:50 - Mage Knight Board Game
58:34 - Gùgōng
59:39 - Barrage
1:00:53 - Crusader Kings

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#232: Transcontinental Mailbag Express

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 07:55:21 +0000

We're spread across the world and time, so we do the thing we should never do; we put the questions to you. Yes, you! It's a mailbag episode, we're answering a trio, a trilogy, a trichopteran of your questions. Before we put in our hand and pull out a letter, we talk about Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes!, Symphony No.9, and Arrakis: Dawn of the Fremen.

03:46 - Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes!
11:36 - Symphony No.9
19:10 - Arrakis: Dawn of the Fremen
37:48 - Do you create game specific ambience?
43:45 - What games have you been returning to?
44:22 - The Great Zimbabwe
45:16 - Tigris & Euphrates
46:37 - Great Western Trail
47:49 - Cascadia
50:03 - Imperium: The Contention
50:24 - Mind MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game."
50:54 - What's a one sentence description of your tastes?

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#231: Why Fight When You Can Negotiate?

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:47:14 +0000

Yes, you could make the argument that every game is a negotiation game if you try hard enough, but for a lot of games it's more integral to the design. We look at games that we think integrate negotiation mechanics especially well, and ask how much is too much (or too little) when it comes to negotiation. Before we compromise, we talk about Septima, and Kremlin.

02:12 - Septima
18:09 - Kremlin
34:26 - Negotiation as a mechanic
35:51 - Catan
38:01 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
43:23 - Inis
45:45 - Rising Sun
47:31 - Between Two Cities
49:22 - Dune
50:28 - Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery
52:48 - Diplomacy

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#230: Worth the Weight

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 08:22:32 +0000

While we tend to enjoy games across the whole spectrum, there's something particular about sinking your teeth into a really heavy game. But it's not always an easy prospect; conditions have to be just right. So what makes a heavy game worth it? Before things get heavy, we talk about Barony, Bausack, Whitehall Mystery, and Dead Reckoning.

02:14 - Barony
13:17 - Bausack
18:07 - Whitehall Mystery
22:59 - Dead Reckoning
32:23 - Diplomacy
34:43 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
35:15 - A Feast for Odin
38:45 - Shipyard
40:03 - Vindication
41:21 - Mage Knight Board Game
42:35 - Forbidden Stars
46:59 - Food Chain Magnate
54:09 - The Great Zimbabwe

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#229: The Positives of Being Negative

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 06:42:50 +0000

There's a lot of discourse lately about the pros and cons of negative board game coverage, and so of course we thought we ought to weigh in. Is there value in negative criticism versus positive, or should there be a balance between the two? Before we take the good with the bad, we talk about Homeworlds, Ave Caesar, and Founders of Teotihuacan.

01:42 - Homeworlds
12:39 - Ave Caesar
18:03 - Founders of Teotihuacan
30:31 - Negative criticism
56:06 - Quest

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#228: Bob Is Beautiful

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 07:31:30 +0000

It's easy to get lost in mechanical discussions of games, and forget to appreciate them as physical creations. There can be beauty in games, and we're here to get to the heart of it the only way we know, the one on one fight to the death that we call BGBBOB. Before we get skin deep, we talk about First Empires, Mille Fiori, and Foundations of Rome.

01:44 - First Empires
08:25 - Mille Fiori
16:41 - Foundations of Rome
32:51 - BGBBOB: Beautiful games
34:18 - Photosynthesis
35:23 - Root
39:12 - Brass: Lancashire
40:34 - Rising Sun
43:26 - Spirit Island
44:36 - The Gallerist
46:28 - Yamataï
48:00 - Azul
49:51 - Agricola
51:17 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
53:26 - Wingspan
54:23 - Inis
56:41 - Foundations of Rome
57:33 - Startups
1:00:19 - Ark Nova

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#227: Board Games: The Sequel: Part II: Electric Boogaloo

Thu, 26 May 2022 08:24:48 +0000

It doesn't happen as much as it does in other industries, but every so often the people at the top demand serialization. We're talking about sequels in board games, when they work, when they (super) don't, and what we'd like to see get the treatment. Before we get franchised, we talk about Next Station: London, Dawn of the Zeds (Third Edition), and Azul: Queen's Garden.

01:23 - Next Station: London
09:29 - Dawn of the Zeds (Third Edition)
21:44 - Azul: Queen's Garden
39:51 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
40:42 - Uwe Rosenberg Puzzle Trilogy
43:15 - Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
45:13 - Brass: Birmingham
47:11 - Glen More II: Chronicles
48:21 - Empires of the Void II
48:36 - The Resistance: Avalon
49:44 - 7 Wonders Duel
50:10 - 7 Wonders: Architects
50:42 - Alchemists
52:05 - Lignum
52:27 - Francis Drake

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#226: Metapod

Thu, 19 May 2022 07:23:57 +0000

Metagaming is all about the game that exists within (and without) the game - it's everything that's not written in the rules. Whether that's something that emerges at your table, or in the community at large, it can be a big part of the social experience, and we're all for it. Before we get meta, we talk about Rum & Pirates, Box One, Shamans, and Crescent Moon.

05:00 - Rum & Pirates
11:24 - Box One
14:58 - Shamans
22:11 - Crescent Moon
38:55 - Metagaming
44:01 - Hanabi
44:40 - The Resistance
48:04 - Root
56:35 - Blood Rage
59:02 - Keyflower

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#225: Itchy, Tasty

Thu, 12 May 2022 07:56:58 +0000

With the middle of the year rapidly approaching, we've acquired our fair share of games that we're really itching to play. We talk about what's recently made its way into our collections that we just can't wait to get to the table. Before we break out the back scratchers, we talk about Ivanhoe, Freshwater Fly, Vindication, and Cryptid: Urban Legends.

02:23 - Ivanhoe
09:13 - Freshwater Fly
17:11 - Vindication
24:22 - Cryptid: Urban Legends
37:36 - Games we're itching to play
38:40 - Dead Reckoning
41:04 - Gloomholdin'
44:18 - Mille Fiori
46:29 - Foundations of Rome
49:57 - Innovation
51:31 - A Feast for Odin
52:17 - Biblios

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#224: Golden Geek Awards 2021

Thu, 05 May 2022 07:42:02 +0000

The Golden Geek results are in for 2021, and to avoid burying the lede ... we won! We're over the moon, naturally, but we couldn't have done it without you. We celebrate by giving our takes on the rest of the awards, how we voted, and what we think about the other categories. Before we bathe in our glory, we talk about Aristocracy, Senators, and Ark Nova.

06:08 - Aristocracy
15:51 - Senators
23:58 - Ark Nova
42:15 - Golden Geek Awards
43:29 - That Time You Killed Me
43:58 - Summoner Wars (Second Edition)
44:17 - Radlands
45:30 - Sleeping Gods
46:16 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
47:52 - The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
49:19 - PARKS: Nightfall
49:56 - The Adventures of Robin Hood
51:03 - 7 Wonders: Architects
52:00 - Cascadia
54:07 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
57:12 - Gloomholdin'
1:02:31 - Red Flag Over Paris
1:03:07 - Podcast of the Year

Check out the results here:
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2859849/16th-annual-golden-geek-winners-2021

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#223: Ye Olden Games with Mark Bigney from So Very Wrong About Games

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 06:33:12 +0000

It's easy to get caught up in the cult of the new, but there are so many amazing games that came out before we were even in the hobby. Mark Bigney of So Very Wrong About Games joins us to look at the games we love from yesteryear, and other older games we really ought to play. And stick around for even more special appearances after the show! Before we go back in time, we talk about Sobek: 2 Players, Phantom Leader Deluxe, and Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition.

04:30 - Sobek: 2 Players
11:59 - Phantom Leader Deluxe
27:56 - Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
37:07 - Acquire
41:45 - Bus
45:29 - Dream Factory
49:49 - Civilization
53:15 - Advanced Civilization
1:00:52 - Quo Vadis?
1:01:43 - Ikusa
1:03:20 - Antike II
1:03:52 - Die Macher
1:05:41 - Victory in the Pacific
1:10:18 - Subbuteo

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#222: Are You the Gatekeeper?

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 08:12:39 +0000

There are many ways that we can accidentally contribute to gatekeeping in the hobby - pushing those who want to embrace it away. Whether it's to those outside, or even, bizarrely, to those already in, we break down the subtle (and unsubtle) ways we do it, whether or not we mean to. Before we find the keymaster, we talk about San Marco, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, and Ghosts of Christmas.

02:28 - San Marco
10:57 - Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
20:34 - Ghosts of Christmas
32:03 - Exploding Kittens
32:18 - Catan
33:17 - Wingspan
43:02 - Codenames

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#221: P-P-P-Party Questions

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:45:49 +0000

It doesn't quite work the same, but what do you expect when Neilan's not present? Speaking of presents, it's Mark's birthday so the rest of the crew celebrate with a parade of (don't call them hot) questions, where they invent expansions, and save the planet. Before we get older, we talk about Time Barons, and The Key: Sabotage at Lucky Llama Land.

03:57 - Time Barons
13:37 - Hanabi Deluxe II
15:34 - The Key: Sabotage at Lucky Llama Land
28:06 - Beyond the Sun
30:57 - The Quest for El Dorado
32:38 - Biblios
33:32 - Pax Renaissance
36:54 - The Castles of Burgundy

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#220: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 501-600

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:41:45 +0000

It's been a little while, but we're back with the next hundred games on BoadGameGeek, and we're drafting a five game collection from them. Who ended up with the best picks? Vote and you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before things get drafty, we talk about Imperium: The Contention, Wonderland's War, and Gentes.

02:19 - Imperium: The Contention
07:20 - Wonderland's War
19:23 - Gentes
33:32 - Quantum
35:31 - Kemet: Blood and Sand
37:51 - Through the Desert
39:28 - Pax Renaissance
40:45 - Blitzkrieg!: World War Two in 20 Minutes
42:45 - Pax Porfiriana
43:27 - Coloretto
45:02 - Camel Up
46:14 - Cuba Libre
47:02 - Nova Luna
48:57 - Furnace
49:59 - Imperium: Classics
51:56 - Fort
54:09 - Space Empires 4X
57:47 - Carson City

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#219: A Perfect Ten

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 06:38:59 +0000

Does the perfect game exist? Probably not, but is that even the point? This week we discuss the elusive 10/10 rating, whether it makes sense to apply it, and what that means for rating games in general. Before we realize pobody's nerfect, we talk about Mind MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game.", Manila, and Picture Perfect.

02:11 - Mind MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game."
12:14 - Manila
16:55 - Camel Up
18:50 - Picture Perfect
31:05 - Tigris & Euphrates
37:58 - Ark Nova
40:17 - Wingspan

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#218: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2022

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 07:12:36 +0000

Wow, hundreds of you sent in your favourite games, and it was absolute chaos. But we got all the data together, cleaned up the typos, and crunched the numbers via a super secret algorithm, and here we are, your favourite games of all-time! For this year, at least. Before you take the stage, we talk about Schotten Totten 2, For Science!, and The Bridges of Shangri-La.

02:17 - Schotten Totten 2
13:13 - For Science!
23:17 - The Bridges of Shangri-La
33:59 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
35:07 - Inis
36:34 - El Grande
37:43 - Dominion
39:14 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
39:45 - Scythe
40:29 - Terraforming Mars
41:11 - Terra Mystica
42:53 - A Feast for Odin
43:18 - Agricola
44:20 - Race for the Galaxy
44:41 - The Castles of Burgundy
45:47 - Innovation
46:55 - Gloomhaven
47:36 - Great Western Trail
48:21 - Concordia
49:58 - Root
51:07 - Hansa Teutonica
52:21 - Brass: Birmingham
53:19 - Spirit Island

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#217: We Got Rid of a Bunch of Games!

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:00:14 +0000

There is a joy as equal in receiving a game, as moving it onto another person to enjoy. Especially, if you're Mark, when there's cash involved. We reflect on the many games that got left behind recently. Before we purge, we talk about Imperial Steam, Circus Flohcati, and Dogs of War.

02:33 - Circus Flohcati
09:37 - Imperial Steam
21:22 - Dogs of War
29:33 - Camel Up: Off Season
31:01 - Ciub
31:53 - Ten
33:18 - Visitor in Blackwood Grove
33:35 - Mr. Cabbagehead's Garden
33:52 - Bosk
34:08 - Castell
35:38 - Ninja Catfoot and the Covert Action
37:07 - In a Grove
37:07 - Dokojong
40:16 - Yokohama
40:59 - Castles of Burgundy
41:20 - Oath
41:46 - Feudum
42:23 - Lords of Vegas
42:32 - Chinatown
44:20 - Scape Goat
44:42 - Bequest
45:08 - Kardashev Scale
45:38 - Beez
45:56 - Llamaland
46:51 - Kobayakawa
47:07 - Lost Cities: Roll and Write
47:15 - Rebel Knox
47:36 - Tutto!
48:02 - Time Bomb Evolution
48:28 - My City
48:28 - The King's Dilemma
49:00 - Seikatsu
49:35 - Dinner in Paris
49:43 - Ruination
50:05 - Radlands
50:38 - Whirling Witchcraft
50:53 - Hadara
51:09 - Power Failure
51:28 - Mystic Paths
51:43 - Bazaar
55:07 - Blokus

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#216: We're Doing This Together!

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:25:39 +0000

Waiting your turn is so 2021. Simultaneous play is where it's at now. Fortunately, we got a chance to try A BUNCH of games featuring the mechanism at Dice Tower West! So, before we all hold hands and dive in all at once, we'll chat about Bear Raid, Loco!, Imperium: The Contention, and Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest.

04:30 - Bear Raid
12:18 - Loco!
18:09 - Imperium: The Contention
30:37 - Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
47:20 - Guards of Atlantis
48:49 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant

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#215: Some Like It H-H-Hot

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:27:45 +0000

We're on the way to Dice Tower West, so we're keeping this one easy breezy with just a hot question. How many games on your shelf do you think you could teach without looking at the rulebook? Before we turn up the heat, we talk about Yokohama, Final Girl, and Mystic Paths.

03:04 - Yokohama
11:35 - Final Girl
20:27 - Mystic Paths

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#214: Bob's Alright (For Fighting)

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:03:07 +0000

Return of the Bob! If you don't know what a BGBBOB, boy you've missed out. Twelve games enter, and, well, they all exit, but only once they've been arranged in the appropriate order via a series of one on one fights. And fights are doubly appropriate this week, because we're battling it out in search of the best combat systems. Before we wish for peace, we talk about 7 Wonders: Architects, Kokopelli, and Canopy.

03:18 - 7 Wonders: Architects
10:46 - Kokopelli
19:22 - Canopy
31:42 - Diplomacy
33:26 - Rising Sun
35:52 - Mage Knight Board Game
37:44 - Arcadia Quest
41:10 - Chaos in the Old World
42:18 - Eclipse
45:49 - Blood Rage
48:20 - Kemet
53:03 - Neuroshima Hex
57:11 - King of Tokyo
1:01:55 - Dune
1:05:17 - Inis

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#213: Approach Without Caution

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 04:01:21 +0000

Approachability and accessibility are incredibly important to a wide swathe of gamers, but for those experienced in the hobby, it can often get overlooked. We investigate how games can aid those both in and especially outside the hobby to be more immediately appealing. Before we have a beer with him, we talk about Shinkansen: Zero Kei, Project L, and Boonlake.

01:32 - Shinkansen: Zero Kei
11:30 - Project L
21:13 - Boonlake
37:34 - Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
38:13 - Wavelength
39:14 - Splendor
39:45 - Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
40:54 - Race for the Galaxy
42:07 - Scythe
43:22 - Troyes
49:27 - The Siege of Runedar
51:14 - Kitchen Rush
52:45 - Enchanted Plumes

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#212: Two Can Play At That Game

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 09:19:43 +0000

It's the triumphant return of the terrific trio - you know exactly who we mean - to talk about games where one of us would have to be left out. That's right, it's two players only at this table, and we're talking about our favourite games that fit the bill, and why we love them. Before we one-three-nine-take-two, we talk about Undaunted: Normandy, Fields of Arle, and That Time You Killed Me.

02:12 - Undaunted: Normandy
11:07 - Fields of Arle
17:27 - That Time You Killed Me
28:19 - Two player games
29:47 - Azul
30:56 - The Field of the Cloth of Gold
34:35 - Innovation
35:52 - Cthulhu Wars: Duel
36:25 - Cosmic Encounter Duel
38:40 - BioShock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia
39:42 - Magic: The Gathering
41:10 - Race for the Galaxy
43:53 - Ginkgopolis

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#211: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2022

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 04:54:38 +0000

New year, new games, and we're really in it now. We look ahead to the year ahead, and all the games that we're most excited to get our hands on ... but we couldn't do it without just a little bit of help from our friends. Before we consult our many crystal balls, we talk about American Bookshop, War of the Ring: Second Edition, and Coffee Traders.

01:56 - American Bookshop
06:42 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
22:21 - Coffee Traders
34:16 - Aegean Sea
34:35 - Hamburg
36:01 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers
37:26 - Eleven: Football Manager Board Game
39:12 - The Shivers
40:53 - Root: The Marauder Expansion
42:33 - Dungeons, Dice & Danger
42:52 - Hamburg
43:49 - Bear Raid
45:24 - Federation
47:32 - Dice Realms
48:37 - Vagrantsong
50:14 - Return to Dark Tower
51:16 - Weather Machine
53:10 - Crescent Moon
55:06 - Stationfall
57:36 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
59:39 - Ra
1:00:53 - Distilled
1:02:40 - Endless Winter: Paleoamericans

Please check out all of our guests' amazing work:

Paula Deming - https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulaDeming
Brain in A Jar - https://linktr.ee/brain_in_a_jar
Decision Space - https://decisionspace.podbean.com
Foster the Meeple - https://www.youtube.com/c/fosterthemeeple
Jason / Shelf Stories - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnaZ7055IWOdm8XCJfFRDcw
1 Minute Board Games - https://www.1minuteboardgames.com
Ruel - http://ruelgaviola.com
Board Game Hot Takes - https://boardgamehottakes.com
Mike Dilisio - https://sporadicallyboard.libsyn.com

#210: No One Man Should Have All That Power

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:39:48 +0000

Few things feel better than those moments in board games that make you feel powerful. Whether it's playing the perfect card, pulling off a perfectly executed turn, or splashing down that giant mini, we look at some of our favourite power plays in board games. Before we corrupt absolutely, we talk about Biblios: Quill and Parchment, Cryo, and Origins: First Builders.

03:00 - Biblios: Quill and Parchment
12:43 - Cryo
22:24 - Origins: First Builders
28:57 - Games that make you feel powerful
29:21 - Russian Railroads
30:22 - Le Havre
31:01 - A Feast for Odin
32:01 - Dominion
32:43 - Automobiles
33:49 - Cosmic Encounter
34:17 - I'm the Boss!
35:06 - Magic: The Gathering
36:35 - La Granja
38:45 - Cthulhu Wars
40:05 - Nothing Personal
41:32 - The Downfall of Pompeii
43:12 - Spirit Island
44:53 - Dominant Species
46:49 - Furnace
48:07 - Innovation

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#209: Holiday Hits and Hot Questions

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:40:29 +0000

And we're back! The holiday extravaganza is over, and it's back to business as usual around here. And what better way to get back into the swing of things than with some h-h-hot questions! Before that, we catch up on our holidays apart, with tales about the games that we played with our loved ones, including The Siege of Runedar, Snakesss, and Time Bomb Evolution.

02:18 - The Siege of Runedar
08:02 - Snakesss
14:49 - Time Bomb Evolution
19:04 - Sacred Rites
24:09 - Hearts of AttrAction
30:03 - Wits & Wagers Vegas
32:18 - Colorful
35:14 - Paperback
37:33 - Ten plays of one game, or one play of ten?
40:17 - The Great Zimbabwe
44:47 - Abandoning games halfway through?
48:56 - Time's Up!
51:36 - Blood Rage
52:10 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea

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#208: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2021: 10-1 (ft. Tom Brewster)

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:06:47 +0000

It's the grand finale of the event of events that is the BGB Top 50 Games of All-time! These are our ten absolute favourite games, and, fittingly, it's a bumper episode with more than one surprise. Joining us in the peanut gallery this week, it's none other than the manic imp of Shut Up & Sit Down himself, the absolute mad genius that is Tom Brewster. Buckle in, it's going to get weird.

02:36 - Kellen #10 - El Grande
04:08 - Mark #10 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
07:44 - Neilan #10 - Exit: The Game
11:08 - Christina #10 - I'm the Boss!
14:53 - Kellen #9 - Inis
18:05 - Mark #9 - The Estates
20:13 - Neilan #9 - Guards of Atlantis II
23:20 - Christina #9 - Lost Cities
28:28 - Kellen #8 - Diplomacy
31:18 - Mark #8 - Hansa Teutonica
34:02 - Neilan #8 - Pictomania
37:20 - Christina #8 - Twice as Clever!
41:07 - Kellen #7 - Dune
43:43 - Mark #7 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
45:33 - Neilan #7 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
48:14 - Christina #7 - Blood Rage
53:03 - Kellen #6 - Cosmic Encounter
55:03 - Mark #6 - Brass: Lancashire
56:56 - Neilan #6 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
1:00:06 - Christina #6 - Babylonia
1:05:31 - Kellen #5 - Troyes
1:05:31 - Christina #5 - Troyes
1:10:06 - Mark #5 - Arboretum
1:12:11 - Neilan #5 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
1:14:15 - Kellen #4 - I'm the Boss!
1:16:57 - Mark #4 - Fresh Fish
1:19:56 - Neilan #4 - Gloomhaven
1:22:25 - Christina #4 - El Grande
1:25:26 - Kellen #3 - Cthulhu Wars
1:25:26 - Christina #3 - Cthulhu Wars
1:29:37 - Mark #3 - Caylus 1303
1:31:38 - Neilan #3 - The Resistance
1:35:24 - Kellen #2 - Archipelago
1:38:02 - Mark #2 - Race for the Galaxy
1:41:12 - Neilan #2 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:45:45 - Christina #2 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
1:51:46 - Christina #1 - Innovation
1:51:46 - Kellen #1 - Innovation
1:57:28 - Mark #1 - Biblios
1:59:34 - Neilan #1 - A Feast for Odin

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#207: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2021: 20-11 (ft. Ambie Valdés)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The penultimate episode of the grand series is here, it's the BGB Top 50! As the journey approaches its end, we're venturing into our 20th to 11th favourite games, with some support from the peanut gallery. And with thirty more board games to blitz through, who better to help us than Ambie Valdés of Board Game Blitz!

01:27 - Mark #20 - Imperial 2030
03:02 - Neilan #20 - Decrypto
04:11 - Kellen #20 - The Resistance
06:19 - Mark #19 - Ra
07:35 - Neilan #19 - Patchwork
09:15 - Kellen #19 - Ingenious
11:32 - Mark #18 - Barrage
13:41 - Neilan #18 - Rising Sun
15:24 - Kellen #18 - Time's Up!
18:01 - Mark #17 - Pax Renaissance
19:32 - Neilan #17 - Taj Mahal
20:34 - Kellen #17 - 6 nimmt!
22:55 - Mark #16 - Archipelago
26:03 - Neilan #16 - Brass: Birmingham
28:00 - Kellen #16 - Telestrations
30:20 - Mark #15 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
32:07 - Neilan #15 - Watson & Holmes
33:44 - Kellen #15 - Decrypto
35:53 - Mark #14 - Bus
38:01 - Neilan #14 - Codenames
39:05 - Kellen #14 - Omen: A Reign of War
41:29 - Mark #13 - Tigris & Euphrates
42:59 - Neilan #13 - Alchemists
45:00 - Kellen #13 - Glory to Rome
47:52 - Mark #12 - El Grande
50:05 - Neilan #12 - Scythe
51:41 - Kellen #12 - Hansa Teutonica
54:31 - Mark #11 - Age of Steam
56:53 - Neilan #11 - Cthulhu Wars
58:29 - Kellen #11 - Coloretto

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#206: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2021: 30-21 (ft. Mike Walker)

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 09:36:48 +0000

What better way to send off the year than part three of the party to end all parties, the BGB Top 50! We're adding thirty more incredible games to the list, with our 30th to 21st favourite picks. This week, we have the Black Tank, Mike Walker of So Very Wrong About Games tearing apart our choices from the peanut gallery!

01:57 - Kellen #30 - Taj Mahal
03:32 - Mark #30 - Modern Art
05:48 - Neilan #30 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
09:11 - Kellen #29 - Race for the Galaxy
11:27 - Mark #29 - Francis Drake
13:02 - Neilan #29 - Gaia Project
16:33 - Kellen #28 - Krass Kariert / Dealt! / SCOUT
18:33 - Mark #28 - The Gallerist
20:37 - Neilan #28 - Twice as Clever!
22:33 - Kellen #27 - Rumble Nation
25:12 - Mark #27 - Panic on Wall Street!
27:30 - Neilan #27 - Azul
30:00 - Kellen #26 - Startups
32:49 - Mark #26 - A Question of Scruples
34:34 - Neilan #26 - Werewords
37:44 - Kellen #25 - Keyflower
40:09 - Mark #25 - Lancaster
43:23 - Neilan #25 - Spirit Island
46:33 - Kellen #24 - Smartphone Inc.
48:42 - Mark #24 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
50:41 - Neilan #24 - The Quest for El Dorado
53:01 - Kellen #23 - Codenames
55:34 - Mark #23 - Container
57:13 - Neilan #23 - Blue Lagoon
59:24 - Kellen #22 - Babylonia
1:01:52 - Mark #22 - Pictomania
1:03:05 - Neilan #22 - Inis
1:06:11 - Kellen #21 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
1:07:57 - Mark #21 - City of the Big Shoulders
1:09:51 - Neilan #21 - The Oracle of Delphi

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#205: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2021: 40-31 (ft. Monique & Naveen)

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:24:52 +0000

We're back for the second part of the year's greatest celebration, it's the top fifty! We've got thirty more incredible games to talk about this week, as we get into our games ranked 40th to 31st. This week in the peanut gallery, critiquing our picks, we're thrilled to have Monique (the Lavender tank herself) and Naveen of Before You Play!

01:29 - Neilan #40 - Coloretto
03:15 - Kellen #40 - Zendo
05:28 - Mark #40 - Ginkgopolis
07:46 - Neilan #39 - Aeon's End
10:06 - Kellen #39 - Stephenson's Rocket
12:47 - Mark #39 - Reef Encounter
16:09 - Neilan #38 - Dominion
17:49 - Kellen #38 - Genoa
19:46 - Mark #38 - Smartphone Inc.
23:22 - Neilan #37 - Archipelago
25:08 - Kellen #37 - Beyond the Sun
27:21 - Mark #37 - Maracaibo
29:54 - Neilan #36 - Innovation
32:33 - Kellen #36 - Dogs of War
34:45 - Mark #36 - Blue Lagoon
38:05 - Neilan #35 - Hansa Teutonica
39:58 - Kellen #35 - Pax Porfiriana
42:37 - Mark #35 - Genoa
44:57 - Neilan #34 - In the Year of the Dragon
47:10 - Kellen #34 - Agricola
49:42 - Mark #34 - True Colors
54:50 - Neilan #33 - The Search for Planet X
57:48 - Kellen #33 - Wizard
59:37 - Mark #33 - Glen More II: Chronicles
1:04:10 - Neilan #32 - Kemet
1:06:01 - Kellen #32 - Imperial 2030
1:08:07 - Mark #32 - Cthulhu Wars
1:11:03 - Neilan #31 - Yellow & Yangtze
1:13:41 - Kellen #31 - Fuji Flush
1:15:33 - Mark #31 - Dominant Species

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#204: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2021: 50-41 (ft. Mike Dilisio)

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000

It's time. The event of the year is upon us, as we begin counting down our FIFTY. FAVOURITE. GAMES. OF. ALL. TIME. We're kicking it off where you kick off all good top 50s, with our games ranked 50th to 41st favourite games. And we've also invited Mr Delicious himself, Mike DiLisio of The Dice Tower, to pick apart our choices from his lofty perch in the peanut gallery. Let's go!

03:15 - Kellen #50 - So Clover!
07:10 - Neilan #50 - Taluva
10:18 - Mark #50 - Glory to Rome
14:30 - Kellen #49 - Throne and the Grail
16:43 - Neilan #49 - Sagani
19:07 - Mark #49 - Stephenson's Rocket
22:13 - Kellen #48 - Root
25:23 - Neilan #48 - Troyes
27:35 - Mark #48 - Marvel Champions
31:14 - Kellen #47 - Splendor
33:25 - Neilan #47 - Letter Jam
35:44 - Mark #47 - Dungeon Fighter
39:05 - Kellen #46 - Brass: Lancashire
41:38 - Neilan #46 - Gùgōng
43:33 - Mark #46 - Babylonia
46:47 - Kellen #45 - Nusfjord
49:34 - Neilan #45 - Pipeline
50:49 - Mark #45 - Ricochet Robots
54:46 - Kellen #44 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
56:51 - Neilan #44 - The Great Zimbabwe
58:52 - Mark #44 - Lisboa
1:02:12 - Kellen #43 - The Game
1:04:31 - Neilan #43 - So Clover!
1:05:36 - Mark #43 - Cuba Libre
1:08:34 - Kellen #42 - Bruges
1:11:16 - Neilan #42 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
1:13:31 - Mark #42 - Rising Sun
1:16:22 - Kellen #41 - Lords of Vegas
1:18:52 - Neilan #41 - Orléans
1:20:36 - Mark #41 - Innovation

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#203: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:44:39 +0000

It'd be great if we could only ever play our favourites. But sometimes, perhaps more often than not, we have to put up with playing games not because we want to, but because it's the polite or kind thing to do depending on the company. This week, we're talking about games that we don't necessarily love, but for whatever reason we end up playing a lot of. Before we're held against our will, we talk about Mr. Cabbagehead's Garden, Sacred Rites, and Great Plains.

02:09 - Mr. Cabbagehead's Garden
11:53 - Sprawlopolis
14:01 - Sacred Rites
20:34 - Great Plains
25:46 - PAX Unplugged!
28:02 - Games we don't love but play a lot
29:13 - Zombicide
30:34 - Betrayal at House on the Hill
31:45 - 7 Wonders Duel
32:48 - Railroad Ink
33:24 - Karuba
34:22 - Hive
35:59 - The Mind
36:48 - Wavelength
37:44 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
38:20 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
41:51 - Space Base
42:57 - Crokinole

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#202: Your Fulfilled Potential

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:32:51 +0000

Looking back on the past made us all reflective. For instance, remember 166 episodes ago when we promised to play all those games on our shelves of shame? I thought you might. We're revisiting our crimes of yesteryear, and checking in on how guilty we are. Before we audit our past selves, we talk about Warp's Edge, Carolus Magnus, and Unfathomable.

02:32 - Warp's Edge
08:09 - Carolus Magnus
16:20 - Unfathomable
27:00 - A Look Back at Our Unfulfilled Potential
27:18 - Fog of Love
28:56 - Spirit Island
30:10 - Dungeon Petz
31:55 - Mini Rails
33:19 - Pax Porfiriana
35:45 - Keyflower
36:41 - Dogs of War
37:13 - Clockwork Wars
38:38 - Anachrony
39:40 - Lisboa
40:19 - Three Kingdoms Redux
41:59 - Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
42:51 - The Gallerist
43:40 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
44:35 - Diplomacy
45:40 - For-Ex
46:35 - Project: ELITE
47:31 - War of the Ring
49:50 - Roads & Boats
51:15 - Tammany Hall
51:28 - Fury of Dracula
51:50 - 1880: China
52:19 - Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery
52:45 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game
53:07 - Crokinole
53:48 - An Infamous Traffic
54:15 - Chaos in the Old World
55:07 - Great Western Trail
55:52 - Dune
56:48 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

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#201: I Choose You, Ghost Turkey!

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 20:10:06 +0000

Gobble gobble, gotcha again. What better way to follow up one of our biggest episodes yet, than with one of our stupidest? Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

02:35 - Cursed Court: Pokémon Edition
04:30 - Unfathomable
05:36 - Wings of War: Deluxe Set
06:22 - Gods Loves Dinosaurs
07:12 - Wings of Glory
08:16 - Seikatsu
12:59 - Bandada
14:22 - Concordia

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#200: The Big 200 Spectacular

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:10:50 +0000

We did it! Two hundred episodes later and we're still here. We're so grateful to every single listener, so we wanted to turn the mics back on all of you for your favourite voicemail memories from the show. Here's to another two hundred. Before we celebrate good times, we talk about Llamaland, Mansions of Madness: Second Edition, and Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition.

02:59 - Llamaland
12:03 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
18:26 - Cthulhu: Death May Die
19:36 - Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition
34:05 - BGB and SUSD at PAX Unplugged!
34:32 - Voicemail Memory Lane
34:44 - Jordan: Kingmaking
34:44 - Rising Sun
41:41 - Zeth4: The iconic duo
42:07 - Food Chain Magnate
44:26 - Donnie: Lacerda games
48:04 - Alex: Kinder Kellen
51:29 - Kevin & Camden: 139
55:00 - Sahara: Killing Concordia
55:00 - Concordia
55:47 - Curtis: Tank love
1:00:55 - Saroule: Mark's grand entrance
1:04:39 - Brent & Kirsten: Booty
1:04:39 - Don't Get Got!
1:13:26 - Nate: Summing it up

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#199: Amerigames and Eurotrash

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 08:19:49 +0000

The split between Eurogame and Ameritrash gamers is as old as it it is silly, but in the last ten years it's also become a lot more nebulous. It's less clear than ever which side of the fence games fall on, so why still use these archaic labels at all? Maybe it's time for a change. Before we heal the divide, we talk about Hostage Negotiator, Juicy Fruits, Sleeping Gods, and Witchstone.

04:25 - Hostage Negotiator
12:38 - Juicy Fruits
17:34 - Sleeping Gods
28:38 - Witchstone
35:10 - Ingenious
39:57 - PAX Unplugged & BGB Official Math Trade
40:37 - Eurogames and Ameritrash labels
45:33 - Forbidden Stars
46:35 - Kemet
46:35 - Scythe
47:44 - Eclipse
48:05 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
49:15 - Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire
49:40 - Blood Rage
50:17 - Gloomhaven
54:30 - El Grande
1:00:28 - Dune

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#198: Making Memories

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 08:29:09 +0000

If you've ever been a board game host, then you know it's not always just about playing games, it's about creating lasting memories for everyone playing. We'd never leave that to chance though, so of course we're often going out of our way to make a board game experience memorable. Before we do the unforgettable, we talk about Khôra: Rise of an Empire, Dune: Betrayal, and Santa Maria.

02:08 - Khôra: Rise of an Empire
13:02 - Dune: Betrayal
21:17 - Santa Maria
29:17 - Official PAX Unplugged Math Trade by BGB!
31:17 - Making board game memories
32:30 - Dune
37:36 - Divinity Derby
38:10 - Ra: The Dice Game
38:39 - Warhammer 40,000: Fireteam
39:16 - Cthulhu Wars
39:37 - Coyote
41:19 - For Sale
42:20 - Codenames
43:26 - Gloomhaven
49:50 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

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#197: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 401-500

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 08:54:47 +0000

It's part five of our venerable draft series, a series so loved that it's now in syndication! We're moving on to the tail end of the BGB Top 500, but the format stays the same: draft five games to build a standalone collection that's better than the others. Vote for your favourite, and you can win $50! Before we collect royalties, we talk about PARKS, Fairy Trails, Abandon All Artichokes, and So Clover!

03:39 - PARKS
11:04 - Tokaido
12:40 - Fairy Trails
16:37 - Abandon All Artichokes
20:48 - So Clover!
26:36 - BGB and SUSD at AwShux
26:58 - PAX Unplugged Math Trade
28:53 - Drafting BGG's #401-500
31:18 - Smartphone Inc.
32:09 - Pipeline
33:32 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
34:23 - Archipelago
35:37 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
36:21 - Pax Porfiriana
38:18 - Libertalia
40:29 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
41:22 - Wavelength
42:30 - The King's Dilemma
43:50 - Hanabi
45:33 - No Thanks!
47:18 - Ingenious
48:12 - Chess
49:49 - Taj Mahal

Check out our draft with Shut Up & Sit Down at AwSHUX:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1185759979?t=04h09m50s

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#196: Question Time with Jeremy

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:25:24 +0000

We love all of the emails we get from you, our lovely listeners, but without a regular mail segment, we can't often give them the attention they deserve. Well that ends right now, as we delve into the long neglected pile of mail, and answer some choice questions that have been waiting patiently for answers. Before we rustle in the mailbag, we talk about Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done, and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

01:42 - Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done
12:44 - World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
22:48 - Ghost Turkey 2021
23:45 - Boards Alive Podcast
26:15 - Thoughts on some Gen Con Games?
26:34 - Furnace
28:23 - The Loop
29:14 - Witchstone
30:05 - Oltréé
30:39 - Origins: First Builders
31:55 - Overhyped games?
32:26 - Terraforming Mars
33:45 - Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
34:15 - Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
35:05 - Lorenzo il Magnifico
36:54 - Great Western Trail
38:25 - Race for the Galaxy
40:41 - Convention plans?
41:01 - AwSHUX: BGB & Shut Up & Sit Down draft!
45:47 - Mark's Vegas gaming?
46:30 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
51:44 - Squid Game?

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#195: Eric, Eric, He's Our Lang

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 02:30:55 +0000

We're always excited for a new Eric Lang game, which makes him an obvious candidate for the absolutely-not-called BGB DOG - our series where we deep dive into a designer's .... designography. He's made a lot of our favourite area control games, and had his hand in some games we might not have even realized. Before we bang on about this Lang mang, we talk about What's Missing?, Polynesia, and TEN.

02:41 - What's Missing?
07:50 - Polynesia
17:47 - Ten
25:10 - PAX Unplugged
25:45 - Ghost Turkey 2021
28:45 - Eric Lang
31:30 - Mystick
32:05 - Dragon Ball Z: Majin Buu Saga
33:04 - Midgard
34:54 - Chaos in the Old World
39:58 - Quarriors!
41:48 - Dice Masters
42:20 - Blood Rage
45:47 - XCOM: The Board Game
48:13 - Duelyst
49:40 - Rising Sun
50:39 - Cthulhu: Death May Die
52:19 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
54:32 - Marvel United

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#194: Essen SPIEL 2021 Hype List

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 07:49:44 +0000

Convention season in the new world continues, and this time it's Germany's turn, with Essen SPIEL just days away from kicking off. But tanks, you say, I don't sprechen Deutsch. We've got you. We're going to highlight all the games that we think you ought to be paying attention to, no German necessary. Before we spend our Euros, we talk about Praga Caput Regni, Skulk Hollow, and Beez.

01:40 - Praga Caput Regni
11:51 - Skulk Hollow
18:17 - Beez
25:51 - Fantasy Draft Winner!
27:58 - Essen SPIEL 2021 Preview
28:32 - Dreadful Circus
30:17 - Star Fighters: Rapid Fire
32:16 - 1923 Cotton Club
34:52 - Catapult Kingdoms
36:21 - The Siege of Runedar
37:57 - Magellan: Elcano
39:59 - Squaring Circleville
41:37 - Bitoku
43:33 - What's Missing: Purple Version
47:00 - Imperial Steam
48:38 - Heuschrecken Poker
52:02 - Eriantys
53:20 - Hippocrates
54:46 - Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game

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#193: Three Dimensions of Space

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 08:44:03 +0000

There is one unenviable truth of board game ownership that we're forced to contend with - they occupy space. We've each had to wrestle with this reality in different ways recently, so we offer our thoughts on the awkwardness of sharing a physical world with our board games. Before we merely exist, we talk about Riftforce, Kabuto Sumo, and Whirling Witchcraft.

02:23 - Riftforce
11:38 - Kabuto Sumo
19:41 - Whirling Witchcraft
23:25 - Bullet♥︎
23:45 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
29:37 - So Very Wrong About Games charity fundraiser
30:05 - Ghost Turkey 2021
31:49 - Board games occupying space
45:28 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
48:06 - Inis
48:47 - Scythe
49:06 - Splendor

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#192: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 301-400

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:37:23 +0000

A new list of a hundred games to draft, and it only gets harder and harder. We're each picking a standalone collection of five games in a snake draft format. And the best part is you could win $50 just by voting on your favourite collection! Before we get to clubbing, we talk about Regicide, Dice Miner, and Let's Make a Bus Route, and SCOUT!

02:06 - Regicide
08:34 - Dice Miner
16:55 - Let's Make a Bus Route
16:55 - Get on Board: New York & London
18:56 - SCOUT!
22:42 - Drafting BGG's #301-400
25:18 - Biblios
26:56 - Innovation
28:18 - Monikers
29:20 - The Great Zimbabwe
30:42 - Ginkgopolis
33:34 - For Sale
35:24 - Nusfjord
37:45 - Bunny Kingdom
39:18 - Chinatown
39:38 - Twice as Clever!
41:17 - Macao
43:03 - Lancaster
45:05 - Obsession
48:23 - Lost Cities
50:36 - Gùgōng

See Badgers from Mars' statement on TGG Games:
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2723017/badgers-mars-and-tgg-games

Check out Mark playing Dice Miner on GameNight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouxIvYzh-s

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#191: Take Off Every Zig

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:34:45 +0000

While one of the appeals of following a specific game designer is the comforting familiarity of what they do best, it's also really fun to see them go off the garden path. We're looking at games and mechanics where one of our beloved designers zigged, when they easily could've zagged. Before we go our own way, we talk about Biosphere, The Ratcatcher: The Solo Adventure Game, and Stephenson's Rocket.

Timecodes:

01:46 – Biosphere
10:58 – The Ratcatcher: The Solo Adventure Game
19:10 – Stephenson's Rocket
30:51 – Neilan's at Gen Con!
31:42 – Designers "Zigging"
33:03 – Codenames
33:07 – Pictomania
35:25 – El Grande
35:36 – 6 nimmt!
37:25 – Blood of the Northmen
37:54 – Strasbourg
38:25 – FlowerFall
40:37 – Kitchen Rush
42:19 – Mercado de Lisboa
43:02 – Age of Steam Expansion: Portugal
46:51 – XCOM: The Board Game

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#190: Why Are You the Way That You Are?

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 06:29:21 +0000

One of the things we love to do, especially if we're playing a game for the first time, is analyse it while we're playing. We're sure this totally isn't annoying for those around us. In particular, we love picking apart little mechanical choices, imagining what the designer's thought process was, and wondering "why is that like that?" Before we get to speculating, we talk about Divinity Derby, Mexica, and Strasbourg.

03:28 - Divinity Derby
11:54 - Hab & Gut
13:22 - Mexica
19:06 - Strasbourg
24:35 - Taj Mahal
30:38 - Why is that mechanic like that?
33:28 - Risk
33:39 - Kemet
34:58 - Scythe
38:57 - Circadians: Chaos Order
39:57 - Tinner's Trail
41:22 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
42:58 - Rocketmen
45:09 - The Oracle of Delphi

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#189: Uwe Baby

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:17:12 +0000

We love Uwe Rosenberg around these parts, whether it's because of our infatuation with polyominoes, the need to keep workers fed, or the strange mechanisms of animal breeding. Join us down the (cottage) garden path of his designography, and make sure to plant some vegetables along the way. Before we get agricultural, we talk about Bosk, Spies & Lies: A Stratego Story, and Glen More II: Chronicles.

00:58 - Bosk
07:57 - Spies & Lies: A Stratego Story
12:37 - Love Letter
15:21 - Glen More II: Chronicles
24:52 - BGG 201-300 Fantasy Draft Winner
27:49 - Strategicon
29:01 - Uwe Rosenberg
29:56 - Bohnanza
33:58 - Agricola
37:19 - Le Havre
39:34 - At the Gates of Loyang
40:58 - A Feast for Odin
41:20 - Patchwork
46:45 - Caverna: The Cave Farmers
47:34 - Nova Luna
49:36 - Hallertau
53:59 - Mamma Mia!
54:28 - Nusfjord

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#188: Whatever It Takes

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:59:39 +0000

Sometimes, if you want a game bad enough, you're willing to go to absurd lengths to acquire it. Whether it's because it's out of print, or just hard to come by, we've all put more effort than we should've into finding or playing specific games. We tell our stories of just how far we've gone. Before we secure the bag, we talk about Tinner's Trail, and The Night Cage.

01:10 - Tinner's Trail
08:13 - The Night Cage
17:31 - Games you've gone out of your way for
18:39 - Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
23:36 - World of Warcraft: The Boardgame
27:06 - Discworld: Ankh-Morpork
27:57 - Dead of Winter
29:16 - Ugg-Tect
32:26 - HeroQuest
33:55 - Warhammer
35:38 - Watch the Skies

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#187: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 201-300

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 06:33:15 +0000

We're back with another fantasy draft, as we keep on moving down the BoardGameGeek top games list. If you're not familiar, we're each picking a standalone collection of five games before our picks get stolen out from under us. Want to win a $50 gift card? You've got to vote on whose collection is best! Before we get the knives out, we talk about Raiders of Scythia, and Ankh: Gods of Egypt.

02:01 - Raiders of Scythia
02:18 - Raiders of the North Sea
08:56 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
29:09 - Drafting BGG's #201-300
32:58 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
34:52 - Flamme Rouge
36:51 - Beyond the Sun
37:59 - Cthulhu Wars
39:14 - Modern Art
39:27 - Glory to Rome
41:35 - Dune
42:49 - Imperial 2030
43:36 - The Resistance
44:35 - Arboretum
45:47 - Hive
46:47 - Glen More II: Chronicles
48:20 - Dwellings of Eldervale
49:35 - Dixit
51:23 - Burgle Bros

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#186: Don't Knock It Till You Try It

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 07:37:55 +0000

We all have types of games that, for whatever reason, we steer clear of. Often all that we've been missing is a more suitable introduction to the genre, or a game that's just enough of an outlier. This week, we try to tempt you toward genres that you might have written off, with the games that may just sway you. Before we change your minds, we talk about Pocket Galapagos, Cascadia, and Bites.

01:36 - Pocket Galapagos
08:57 - Cascadia
12:53 - Bites
18:34 - Games that'll turn you around
20:19 - Battle for Rokugan
23:54 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
26:54 - Smartphone Inc.
30:53 - Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
33:23 - Santorini
35:13 - Snakesss
38:49 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne

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#185: The Most Important Meal of the Day

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 07:20:55 +0000

It's board games for dinner, but we're not just throwing whatever we could find on your plate. No, we've got menus. We lay out our ideas for a four course board game meal, complete with appetizer, amuse-bouche, entrée and dessert, in a fun little exercise suggested by a listener. Before we meal plan, we talk about Sequoia, The Mind Extreme, and MicroMacro: Crime City.

04:31 - Sequoia
10:07 - The Mind Extreme
13:36 - MicroMacro: Crime City
21:59 - Draft winner!
23:43 - Four course board game meals
24:12 - Christina's menu
25:26 - Happy Salmon
27:57 - Deep Sea Adventure
29:41 - The Quest for El Dorado
31:54 - True Colors
33:01 - Mark's menu
34:11 - Biblios
35:43 - The Estates
38:12 - Rising Sun
30:42 - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
41:35 - Neilan's menu
42:02 - Paku Paku
43:58 - Kitchen Rush
45:05 - A Feast for Odin
47:11 - Avenue
48:23 - Kellen's menu
48:55 - Auf Teufel komm raus
50:29 - Keyflower
51:57 - 6 nimmt!

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#184: Science Based Friction

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:57:38 +0000

Board game science is a delicate process, but thankfully BOB's here to help, in another BGB Battle of Board (Games)! This week, we're pitting our favourite science fiction themed games against each other. That's fifteen sci fi games, which we'll put in a fact based ordered list, ready to submit to the journal of your choice. Before we pollute space, we talk about Riverboat, Bug Council of Backyardia, and Rocketmen.

04:02 - Riverboat
10:05 - Bug Council of Backyardia
16:37 - Rocketmen
23:17 - BGBBOB: Science fiction games
24:57 - Eclipse
26:02 - Anachrony
28:18 - Quantum
29:19 - Forbidden Stars
32:03 - Beyond the Sun
32:48 - Imperial 2030
36:09 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
36:59 - Space Alert
38:55 - Dune
40:20 - Nemesis
42:34 - Gaia Project
43:35 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
45:30 - Race for the Galaxy
46:26 - Android: Netrunner
49:03 - Cosmic Encounter
1:04:28 - The final list

Keep an eye on Bug Council of Backyardia's Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engrogames/bug-council-of-backyardia

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#183: Catch a Falling Wallace ...?

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 08:34:41 +0000

Martin Wallace, titan of industry, man of steam and brass. He's made a lot of games, often involving trains, but sometimes also Cthulhu. We do a deep dive into the prolific designer's catalogue, in the next in the series that Mark (and nobody else) is calling BGB DOG. Before we put him in our pocket, we talk about Throne and the Grail, Race for the Galaxy, Dinogenics, and On Mars.

02:21 - Throne and the Grail
05:56 - Race for the Galaxy
09:19 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
11:19 - DinoGenics
18:19 - On Mars
26:44 - Martin Wallace
32:17 - Brass: Lancashire
34:29 - Brass: Birmingham
37:44 - Railways of the World
42:15 - Via Nebula
44:15 - Wildlands
45:58 - Age of Industry
46:51 - Nanty Narking
46:51 - Discworld: Ankh-Morpork
51:36 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
53:43 - Hit Z Road
54:55 - Anno 1800
56:10 - Liberté

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#182: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek 101-200

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 07:01:07 +0000

If you thought the Euro 2020 final was tense, wait until you listen to this episode. The next match in the world's most anticipated series is now here, as we continue down the BoardGameGeek top games list, drafting a collection of five games. Whose do you think is best? Vote to stand a chance to win a $50 gift card! Before we make like snakes, we talk about Chinatown, Curious Cargo, and Mercado de Lisboa.

02:14 - Chinatown
10:00 - Curious Cargo
16:44 - Mercado de Lisboa
24:45 - Drafting BGG's #101-200
28:32 - Hansa Teutonica
30:34 - Inis
31:56 - Cosmic Encounter
32:30 - Splendor
34:41 - Pandemic
37:20 - Kemet
39:37 - Ra
41:36 - Age of Steam
44:59 - Chaos in the Old World
46:15 - Dominion
47:24 - Res Arcana
50:01 - Yokohama
51:12 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
53:44 - Vinhos Deluxe Edition
57:02 - The Resistance: Avalon

Vote for your favorite draft at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/draft

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#181: Save Dat Money

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 03:42:45 +0000

Look, we know, we don't exactly help matters, but this hobby can be expensive. So, to make up for fueling your FOMO, we're gonna lay out some of the ways that we consciously try to curb our board game spending, while still keeping up with the zeitgeist. Before we balance our budget, we talk about Summer Camp, Wildlands, and Rome & Roll.

05:11 - Summer Camp
09:55 - The Quest for El Dorado
11:06 - Dominion
12:38 - Wildlands
21:12 - Rome & Roll
33:51 - Curbing board game spending
42:00 - Carnegie
43:03 - Gizmos
49:11 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
49:49 - Stationfall

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#180: The Rules of Investing

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 06:45:31 +0000

We often talk about the burden of rules, and how in some of our favourite games, they just get out of the way. But when is that burden worthwhile; what makes the price of a heavy rules overhead worth paying? Before we maximize our returns, we talk about Crash Octopus, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, Imperium: Classics, and Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile.

02:54 - Crash Octopus
08:33 - Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
18:47 - Imperium: Classics
30:41 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
40:44 - Return on rules investment
43:15 - Dune
44:17 - Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
44:50 - Gloomhaven
45:29 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
48:15 - Pax Renaissance
49:50 - Roads & Boats

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#179: Ignorance Is Bliss

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:30:29 +0000

Sometimes it's best not to know, right? You've just played a game, and you liked it a lot, but you're not quite sure whether that faction is quite balanced, or the designers accounted for that winning strategy. Should you find out? Or is it better just to enjoy the game on its own merits? Before we disobey our thirst for knowledge, we talk about Genoa, Durian, The Search for Planet X, and Pavlov's House.

02:04 - Genoa
05:50 - Durian
10:52 - The Search for Planet X
20:57 - Pavlov's House
27:35 - Draft winners
31:30 - Pre/post-game research
33:17 - Splendor
35:30 - Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun
39:00 - Cthulhu Wars: Duel
39:46 - Chaos in the Old World
40:12 - Root
45:33 - Hallertau
46:39 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

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#178: The Power of Production

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 06:20:09 +0000

Because making board games is hard, it's not enough just to have some solid mechanics - the best games have a production that coheres with the design. We look at some examples of games where production considerations (or lack thereof) have helped or hurt how they play. Before we executively produce, we talk about The King is Dead: Second Edition, Equinox, and Enchanted Plumes.

01:48 - The King is Dead: Second Edition
10:15 - Colossal Arena
10:15 - Equinox
22:06 - Enchanted Plumes
32:40 - Production and design
34:33 - Bunny Kingdom
35:35 - Smartphone Inc.
36:40 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
37:50 - Railroad Ink
42:30 - Nidavellir
44:45 - Mountain Goats
46:26 - Red Rising
47:58 - Scythe

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#177: Fantasy Draft: BoardGameGeek Top 100

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 06:59:41 +0000

Mark's trying to get us all into something he calls "sports", so as a compromise, we're doing a fantasy board game draft! We're going to pick games from the BoardGameGeek Top 100, until we each have five. Then YOU get to vote on whose draft is best, for a chance to win $50! Before we play to the crowds, we talk about Azul: Summer Pavilion, Roads & Boats, Ruthless, and Cthulhu: Death May Die.

02:09 - Azul: Summer Pavilion
11:33 - Roads & Boats
22:33 - Ruthless
29:53 - Cthulhu: Death May Die
32:46 - Drafting the BGG Top 100
34:58 - Brass: Birmingham
37:03 - Gloomhaven
39:20 - Spirit Island
40:20 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
41:22 - Scythe
43:11 - Root
43:47 - Codenames
44:56 - Concordia
46:55 - Wingspan
47:20 - El Grande
49:05 - Gaia Project
51:40 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
52:28 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game
55:14 - Clank!
56:53 - A Feast for Odin

Check out the campaign for Ruthless:
https://www.ruthless-game.com

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#176: Sweet Summer Lovin'

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:10:31 +0000

We've got a couple of quick questions from listeners that we thought made for some fun talking points. We're trying to figure out what the board game equivalent of black licorice is, and Before rustle in the mailbag, we talk about Trekking the World, Inkling, My City, and Ruination.

01:37 - Trekking the World
11:26 - Inkling
20:08 - My City
22:31 - Ruination
33:52 - Kemet
38:55 - Black licorice games
40:42 - Archipelago
41:12 - Safranito
42:23 - Millennium Blades
43:00 - True Colors
43:38 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
44:25 - Light summer games
45:16 - Splendor
46:13 - The Quest for El Dorado
47:23 - Race for the Galaxy
48:28 - Santa Monica
48:43 - Mountain Goats
49:40 - The Resistance
50:17 - Fuji Flush

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#175: Cute As a Button

Thu, 27 May 2021 07:41:31 +0000

As longstanding experts on being cute, we thought we'd finally bring both of our fields of expertise to bear on one topic. It's a return to the classic top five list, and we're counting down the cutest goshdarn board games we can think of. Before things get kawaii, we talk about Nations, Mountain Goats, and Brew.

02:34 - Nations
11:54 - Mountain Goats
17:11 - Brew
29:01 - Top 5 cutest games
30:31 - Calico
32:41 - Seasons
34:50 - Battle Sheep
36:01 - Takenoko
37:06 - Camel Up
37:49 - Mountain Goats
38:24 - Patchwork
40:04 - Walk the Dogs
41:36 - Startups
43:15 - Echidna Shuffle
45:08 - Sushi Go!
46:59 - Yura Yura Penguin
49:02 - New York Zoo
50:15 - Poseidon's Kingdom
52:07 - Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small

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#174: Live Your Legacy

Thu, 20 May 2021 07:31:17 +0000

We played a double feature of legacy games for Cinco de Ocho Dos, which got us thinking about how our thoughts on legacy mechanics might have changed since the heady days of young Board Game Barrage. Before we open that box, we talk about Bonfire, Nidavellir, and The King's Dilemma.

02:07 - Bonfire
10:02 - Nidavellir
18:58 - The King's Dilemma
33:34 - Legacy games
34:03 - Risk Legacy
34:50 - Charterstone
40:19 - My City
47:30 - Gloomhaven
51:42 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
52:48 - Scythe: The Rise of Fenris
54:10 - Bunker, Battlefield, or Blown Away
54:38 - Zoned Out
55:00 - Bronze Age
55:29 - Santorini
55:45 - Mini Express

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#173: Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Games

Thu, 13 May 2021 06:20:36 +0000

We talk about so many good games on this podcast, that it might seem like there aren't enough bad games to balance it out. There's a good reason we don't often play or talk about them, but maybe every so often we ought to. Before we break bad, we talk about Scape Goat, Bunny Kingdom, Bullet♥, and Four Gardens.

02:12 - Scape Goat
08:29 - Bunny Kingdom
11:13 - Bullet♥
13:53 - Four Gardens
20:49 - Bad games
22:01 - Trivial Pursuit
29:00 - Spicy
29:50 - Cards Against Humanity
30:55 - True Colors
32:37 - Betrayal at House on the Hill
35:11 - Money Bags
37:11 - Pucket
37:54 - Connect 4 Launchers
38:27 - Mord im Arosa
39:00 - Magical Athlete
40:34 - Panic Station
41:21 - Mascarade
41:41 - Bunker, Battlefield, or Blown Away!
42:36 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
43:46 - Solo
44:06 - Renegade
44:42 - Horrified

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#172: Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game

Thu, 06 May 2021 07:08:29 +0000

After last week's love-fest made us all uncomfortable, we had to get back to what do best, spirited in-fighting. To that end, we've devised three debates around the same core: is that often criticized mechanic a design problem, or a player problem? Before we pit designers against players, we talk about Red Rising, Via Magica, and Alma Mater.

00:48 - Golden Geek Awards
04:36 - Red Rising
14:21 - Rise of Augustus
14:53 - Via Magica
20:17 - Alma Mater
29:36 - Board Game Barrage Wiki!
32:26 - Design problem or player problem?
33:11 - Player elimination
36:47 - Skull
37:55 - Secret Hitler
38:29 - Food Chain Magnate
40:33 - Diplomacy
43:40 - Alpha gamers
46:34 - Spirit Island
47:00 - Pandemic
51:31 - Kingmaking
55:50 - Rising Sun
57:04 - Cthulhu Wars
57:42 - Inis

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#171: A Complimentary Compilation

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 07:27:26 +0000

We had so many fun ideas for this week that we couldn't settle on just one! It's always great getting topic suggestions from our listeners, but not all of them can make a full episode, so we figured we'd work through some of them here. Keep sending them in! Before we spice our lives with variety, we talk about Jekyll vs. Hyde, Seikatsu, and Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road.

01:28 - Golden Geek Awards
03:55 - AwSHUX
05:57 - Jekyll vs. Hyde
14:32 - Seikatsu
21:37 - Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road
29:54 - The first game we'll play together
31:06 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
33:36 - My City
35:23 - The King's Dilemma
37:22 - Ruination
41:07 - Board games we appreciate but hate
41:25 - The Estates
43:28 - Captain Sonar
45:05 - Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
47:20 - Cosmic Encounter
49:39 - Why we love gaming with each other

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#170: Friedemann Friese Frenzy

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:33:13 +0000

We love Friedemann Friese, so much so that we're devoting a whole episode to the green-haired designer - a comprehensive look back at his contribution to the hobby, and how we've gotten on with his games over the years. If you've never played one of his games, let us help correct that. Before we give the fantastic fellow our full focus, we talk about Kubb, Pictures, and The Field of the Cloth of Gold.

03:20 - Kubb
08:20 - Pictures
16:12 - The Field of the Cloth of Gold
23:39 - Golden Geek Awards
25:24 - Board Game Barrage vs. Shut Up & Sit Down!
27:44 - Friedemann Friese
29:17 - Power Grid
36:21 - Copycat
37:11 - 504
38:43 - Fearsome Floors
39:43 - Fauna
41:22 - Friday
42:03 - Fabled Fruit
43:41 - Fast Sloths
44:27 - Fresh Fish
45:46 - Finished!
46:20 - Funny Friends

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#169: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2021

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 01:08:16 +0000

We're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and with the exciting possibility of actually being able to play games together again, we cast our minds forward to all the wonderful games yet to arrive in 2021. Did I mention it's a BGBBOB? Before we look ahead (never back), we talk about Clever Cubed, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, and Keyper.

02:29 - Clever Cubed
10:22 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
19:16 - Keyper
26:40 - 300 by 4/11!
28:39 - Golden Geek Award Nominations
29:31 - Most Anticipated Games of 2021
31:02 - Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles
32:03 - Furnace
35:13 - Weather Machine
36:07 - Coffee Traders
38:54 - Brazil: Imperial
40:24 - Arkwright: The Card Game
42:18 - LAMA Dice
43:11 - Oathsworn: Into the Deep Wood
45:22 - Kabuto Sumo
46:31 - Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
49:35 - Darwin's Journey
50:24 - Skyrise
53:19 - Guards of Atlantis II
53:59 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
56:54 - Dokojong

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#168: Board Games Suck with Dan Hughes from Sporadically Board

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 08:03:23 +0000

Dan Hughes from Sporadically Board joins us to flip the podcast on its head. Now that we've spent a hundred and sixty seven episodes raving about board games, it's only fair that we discuss all the reasons they suck. Before we turn heel, we talk about Blackout: Hong Kong, Royal Visit, Marvel Champions: The Card Game, and Deckscape: Test Time.

03:34 - Introducing the Pigeon Blood Tank!
05:38 - Blackout: Hong Kong
10:56 - Royal Visit
14:51 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
22:03 - Deckscape: Test Time
27:25 - Why Board Games Suck
28:50 - Gandhi: The Decolonization of British India, 1917 – 1947
30:38 - Lisboa
31:54 - A Feast for Odin
36:03 - CoraQuest
37:04 - Trial by Trolley
50:00 - Mythic Battles: Pantheon
1:02:33 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Check out Dan's board game CoraQuest:
https://www.coraquest.com

Check out Dan's podcast Sporadically Board:
https://www.dicetower.com/game-podcast/sporadically-board

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#167: Cleanin' Out My Closet

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:42:59 +0000

As important as it is to talk about that which we have received, so must we mark the loss of the games whose time has passed. Board games leave our collections for many reasons, so we're going to revisit the ones that found better homes in the past year. Before we press F, we talk about Long Shot: The Dice Game, Hallertau, and Welcome to New Las Vegas.

02:43 - Long Shot: The Dice Game
09:30 - Hallertau
20:04 - Welcome to New Las Vegas
28:43 - Games We've Recently Let Go
29:34 - Res Arcana
30:20 - Seasons
31:58 - War Chest
33:04 - Oaxaca: Crafts of a Culture
33:35 - Kingdom Builder
35:11 - Pendulum
37:44 - Nētā-Tanka
38:00 - Nevada City
38:33 - The Magnificent
41:05 - Ethnos
41:24 - Crokinole
42:49 - El Grande
45:00 - Imperial Struggle
45:53 - Iwari
48:41 - Through the Desert
49:25 - Lords of Hellas
50:27 - Troyes
51:11 - Watergate

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#166: You've Got to Iterate to Innovate

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 07:30:28 +0000

Design often builds heavily on what has come before, but some designers, have made an art of iteration, taking their own beloved designs, and frequently reinventing them in new ways. We dig into this practice of extremely iterative design, and how it fits into an industry hungry for fresh ideas. Before we do it again, we talk about Dirge: The Rust Wars, Electropolis, Vinhos Deluxe Edition, Architects of the West Kingdom, and Sagani.

01:34 - Dirge: The Rust Wars
09:23 - Electropolis
10:28 - Vinhos Deluxe Edition
12:15 - Architects of the West Kingdom
21:39 - Sagani
24:55 - Nova Luna
33:06 - Iterative Games
34:44 - Azul
37:11 - The Game
41:43 - Indian Summer
42:46 - Zombicide
43:52 - Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
44:33 - Babylonia
45:50 - Yellow & Yangtze
47:04 - Caylus 1303
48:18 - Brass: Birmingham
52:07 - Strat-O-Matic Baseball
53:20 - Guards of Atlantis

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#165: Thriving or Barely Surviving?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 08:35:55 +0000

There are two good ways to create engagement in a board game: One is to let the player feel like they're achieving something constantly, the other is to keep them feeling like any wrong move could tank their game. We're dubbing this the "thriving to barely surviving" spectrum, but first, we need to figure out where some of our favourite games fit on it. Before we surthrive, we talk about Carnegie, Divvy Dice, and Underwater Cities.

03:56 - Carnegie
13:11 - Divvy Dice
20:56 - Underwater Cities
24:26 - Terraforming Mars
32:23 - The "Thriving to Barely Surviving" Spectrum
33:10 - Agricola
33:43 - A Feast for Odin
37:34 - Troyes
42:12 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
43:03 - Scythe
43:55 - Tapestry
45:20 - In the Year of the Dragon
45:52 - Macao
46:43 - The Castles of Burgundy
47:41 - Bruges
48:02 - The Oracle of Delphi
49:00 - Splendor
49:55 - Root
51:36 - Food Chain Magnate
55:12 - The Estates
56:00 - Biblios

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#164: Get Uncomfortable

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:23:45 +0000

It's getting a bit too comfortable around here. Time to put stones in our shoes, tighten our belts, and get out of our comfort zones. We talk about the times that we've found ourselves in unfamiliar or uncomfortable gaming situations, and what we learned about ourselves in the process. Before we unfluff our pillows, we talk about Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation, Reavers of Midgard, and Paleo.

02:01 - Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
13:50 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
15:20 - Reavers of Midgard
23:37 - Paleo
31:13 - Friday
34:23 - Leaving Our Comfort Zones
35:05 - Thornwatch
37:55 - Blood Rage
41:22 - Megagames
50:33 - Twilight Struggle
54:16 - Under Falling Skies
56:17 - Fiasco
1:00:50 - War Games

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#163: Our Listeners' Top 20 Board Games of All-Time 2021

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:37:12 +0000

Wow! We asked for your top twenty lists, and boy did you deliver. We've crunched the numbers on the hundreds of submissions, and created what we think is the definitive list of BGB listeners' favourite board games. Now let us tell you how we think you did. Before we outsource our work, we talk about Santa Monica, Steam Works, and Cthulhu: Death May Die.

02:09 - Santa Monica
08:05 - Steam Works
15:25 - Cthulhu: Death May Die
24:06 - BGB Listener Top 20
27:18 - Viticulture
29:34 - Everdell
31:17 - Orléans
32:09 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
33:20 - A Feast for Odin
34:24 - Terra Mystica
36:00 - Race for the Galaxy
37:13 - Food Chain Magnate
38:36 - Codenames
39:35 - Cosmic Encounter
40:48 - Inis
41:36 - Terraforming Mars
42:54 - Innovation
44:12 - Root
45:20 - Gloomhaven
46:30 - Great Western Trail
47:40 - Spirit Island
48:33 - Brass: Birmingham
49:19 - The Castles of Burgundy
50:25 - Concordia

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#162: God Does Not Play Dice

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 04:23:36 +0000

We're seeing a lot more versions of games that are X: The Dice Game or Y: The Card Game. These are (usually) simplified takes on beloved classics, but often end up changing the feel of the game dramatically. We discuss when we think this formula works, and when it really doesn't. Before we cast the die, we talk about Gods Love Dinosaurs, Nanga Parbat, and Ra: The Dice Game.

03:37 - Gods Love Dinosaurs
09:50 - Nanga Parbat
18:22 - Ra: The Dice Game
23:17 - Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun
24:33 - Ra
27:13 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
28:30 - Dice and card game spinoffs
32:46 - Troyes
32:46 - Tournay
33:17 - Troyes Dice
35:44 - Biblios Dice
36:46 - Zooloretto: The Dice Game
39:10 - Camel Up Cards
41:55 - Istanbul: The Dice Game
42:54 - Roll for the Galaxy
45:55 - Azul
46:41 - Gùgōng
48:40 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
49:33 - No Thanks
50:01 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant

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#161: Mechanically Bullish

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 08:07:08 +0000

Sometimes all it takes is a good designer (and the right game) to take what would otherwise be a mechanic we don't like, and utilize it in a way that feels right. We take a look at some mechanics that we usually don't love, and the games that turned us around on them. Before we see things in a new light, we talk about CloudAge, Mariposas, and Faiyum.

03:04 - CloudAge
12:37 - Mariposas
18:01 - Faiyum
28:27 - Games that rescued a mechanism
28:40 - Performative Clues
29:05 - Time's Up
31:29 - On a Scale of One to T-Rex
32:19 - Action Points
32:52 - Flash Point: Fire Rescue
34:00 - Blood Rage
37:18 - Hidden Movement
37:18 - Nuns on the Run
37:45 - Specter Ops
38:35 - Scotland Yard
42:16 - Card Drafting
42:25 - Agricola
42:46 - 7 Wonders
43:53 - Paper Tales
44:25 - Inis
47:22 - Player Elimination
47:22 - Werewolf
47:40 - Shadow Hunters
48:09 - Secret Hitler
49:15 - Blood on the Clocktower
50:50 - "The Dice Game"
52:00 - For the King (and Me)
52:41 - Ra: The Dice Game

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#160: Resolutions and Revisitations

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 01:37:57 +0000

Look, when we made those resolutions in episode 105, how were we to know? The world exploded, and here we are, one year later, sheepishly looking back on the goals we set. But we're not beaten yet, we cast our minds forward (always forward, never back) and set our sights on our resolutions for 2021. Before we make promises we definitely will keep, we talk about Sprawlopolis, Bandada, and Terramara.

02:15 - Sprawlopolis
09:06 - Bandada
13:53 - Terramara
23:51 - Revisiting 2020's Resolutions
27:09 - 2021 Resolutions
31:05 - Cthulhu Wars
36:14 - Anachrony: Infinity Box
37:29 - Import/Export
38:31 - Carnegie
40:05 - Rising Sun
40:52 - Tainted Grail
44:44 - Board Game Barrage Facebook Group!
45:44 - War of the Ring: Second Edition
46:42 - Red Rising

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Check out the Kickstarter for Bandada:
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#159: Picking Favorites

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 05:26:00 +0000

We've been doing it a lot lately, so we thought we'd reflect on the ways that we evaluate our favourite games. How do you even begin to compare extremely dissimilar games, some party, some strategy? The process of making and ordering our lists is a fun challenge every year, and one we'd recommend you try too! Before we make hard choices, we talk about Medici: The Dice Game, The Gallerist, and Iberian Gauge.

02:20 - Medici: The Dice Game
09:08 - The Gallerist
14:55 - Iberian Gauge
22:26 - How We Choose Favourites
26:02 - Tigris & Euphrates
28:04 - Power Grid
28:04 - Fresh Fish
32:53 - Telestrations
34:52 - Crokinole
36:28 - The Resistance
37:58 - Nanty Narking
39:22 - The King's Dilemma
40:04 - Beyond the Sun
41:33 - Eclipse
42:18 - CoraQuest
43:52 - CloudAge
44:21 - Board Game Barrage T-Shirts!
45:22 - Listener Top 20 Submissions!

Submit your top 20 games at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/top20

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Check out the Kickstarter for CoraQuest:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cabbagedan/coraquest

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#158: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2020: 10-1

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 06:48:27 +0000

It's the big one! We've come at last to the grand finale of the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time ... Top. Ten. Baby. These are our absolute favourite games, forty (thirty?) all together, that we'd just about never turn down a game of. Thanks for joining us on this ride, it's been wild.

09:36 - Christina #10 - I'm the Boss!
12:34 - Kellen #10 - Cosmic Encounter
15:18 - Mark #10 - El Grande
15:36 - Neilan #10 - Codenames
18:09 - Christina #9 - Twice as Clever!
20:48 - Kellen #9 - Coloretto
23:56 - Mark #9 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
24:20 - Neilan #9 - Pictomania
28:46 - Christina #8 - Blood Rage
33:38 - Kellen #8 - The Resistance
33:50 - Mark #8 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
35:58 - Neilan #8 - Guards of Atlantis
39:14 - Christina #7 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
42:28 - Kellen #7 - Inis
50:25 - Mark #7 - Brass: Lancashire
53:44 - Neilan #7 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
55:36 - Christina #6 - Troyes
55:45 - Kellen #6 - El Grande
55:57 - Mark #6 - The Estates
59:51 - Neilan #6 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
01:05:38 - Christina #5 - Archipelago
01:06:10 - Kellen #5 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
01:06:19 - Mark #5 - Fresh Fish
01:10:24 - Neilan #5 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
01:10:36 - Christina #4 - El Grande
01:16:56 - Kellen #4 - Troyes
01:21:56 - Mark #4 - Hansa Teutonica
01:24:49 - Neilan #4 - Gloomhaven
01:29:37 - Christina #3 - Cthulhu Wars
01:29:37 - Kellen #3 - Cthulhu Wars
01:35:10 - Mark #3 - Caylus 1303
01:38:56 - Neilan #3 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
01:44:00 - Christina #2 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
01:47:55 - Kellen #2 - Archipelago
01:53:31 - Mark #2 - Arboretum
01:56:22 - Neilan #2 - The Resistance
02:03:01 - Christina #1 - Innovation
02:03:01 - Kellen #1 - Innovation
02:10:20 - Mark #1 - Biblios
02:12:54 - Neilan #1 - A Feast for Odin

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#157: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2020: 20-11

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:14:44 +0000

We're moving into the terrible teens of the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time. I learned all I know about American teenagers from TV, so I assume this is where all the sex and drugs come in. Let's get to it then, forty (roughly) more games that we simply adore. As the list goes on, they only get better and better. That is, after all, the premise.

01:46 - Kellen #29 (Correction) - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
05:01 - Kellen #20 - Ingenious
08:06 - Mark #20 - Cthulhu Wars
11:27 - Neilan #20 - Blue Lagoon
15:01 - Christina #20 - Food Chain Magnate
18:47 - Kellen #19 - Genoa
23:26 - Mark #19 - Archipelago
25:53 - Neilan #19 - Dominion
28:51 - Christina #19 - Taj Mahal
32:32 - Kellen #18 - I'm the Boss!
36:33 - Mark #18 - Tigris & Euphrates
28:55 - Neilan #18 - Taj Mahal
39:44 - Christina #18 - Mezo
45:23 - Kellen #17 - The Game
47:16 - Mark #17 - Dominant Species
49:48 - Neilan #17 - Alchemists
52:31 - Christina #17 - Babylonia
56:50 - Kellen #16 - Telestrations
59:08 - Mark #16 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
01:00:56 - Neilan #16 - Rising Sun
01:04:59 - Christina #16 - Castles of Burgundy
01:08:30 - Kellen #15 - Decrypto
01:11:43 - Mark #15 - Barrage
01:14:26 - Neilan #15 - Exit: The Game
01:16:30 - Christina #15 - The Quest for El Dorado
01:18:05 - Kellen #14 - Omen: A Reign of War
01:20:07 - Mark #14 - Lancaster
01:21:53 - Neilan #14 - Inis
01:25:31 - Christina #14 - Hanabi
01:27:10 - Kellen #13 - Glory to Rome
01:29:43 - Mark #13 - True Colors
01:31:26 - Neilan #13 - Watson & Holmes
01:33:19 - Christina #13 - SiXeS
01:35:12 - Kellen #12 - Hansa Teutonica
01:36:33 - Mark #12 - Francis Drake
01:38:23 - Neilan #12 - Cthulhu Wars
01:39:36 - Christina #12 - Telestrations
01:39:57 - Kellen #11 - Diplomacy
01:42:19 - Mark #11 - Bus
01:43:54 - Neilan #11 - Scythe
01:45:37 - Christina #11 - Kemet

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#156: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2020: 30-21

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 06:24:15 +0000

It's the dark middle chapter of the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time. Time to call in a new director, change things up, and get subversive. Well, if there were any directors who'd still work with us. This week, we're barreling through our twenties in what we like to call reverse numerical order. Here's forty (odd) more games that we absolutely adore, and hope you will too.

02:45 - Mark #30 - Container
05:38 - Neilan #30 - Azul
05:46 - Christina #30 - Azul
08:54 - Kellen #30 - Zendo
11:42 - Mark #29 - Age of Steam
13:37 - Neilan #29 - Coloretto
15:12 - Christina #29 - Beyond the Sun
20:03 - Kellen #29 - Hanabi
22:52 - Mark #28 - Pax Renaissance
25:20 - Neilan #28 - Archipelago
28:03 - Christina #28 - Hansa Teutonica
30:02 - Kellen #28 - Krass Kariert/Dealt
32:50 - Mark #27 - Maracaibo
35:46 - Neilan #27 - Twice as Clever!
39:05 - Christina #27 - Glory to Rome
41:41 - Kellen #27 - Taj Mahal
44:49 - Mark #26 - City of the Big Shoulders
47:25 - Neilan #26 - Werewords
49:22 - Christina #26 - Modern Art
51:02 - Kellen #26 - Startups
53:19 - Mark #25 - The Great Zimbabwe
55:06 - Neilan #25 - Aeon's End
56:21 - Christina #25 - Chaos in the Old World
59:23 - Kellen #25 - Keyflower
01:01:57 - Mark #24 - Pax Pamir: Second Edition
01:03:38 - Neilan #24 - Spirit Island
01:05:30 - Christina #24 - Rumble Nation
01:07:33 - Kellen #24 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
01:09:22 - Mark #23 - Glory to Rome
01:09:58 - Neilan #23 - The Quest for El Dorado
01:13:18 - Christina #23 - The Crew
01:14:40 - Kellen #23 - Codenames
01:15:58 - Mark #22 - Modern Art
01:16:58 - Neilan #22 - Patchwork
01:18:44 - Christina #22 - Coloretto
01:19:54 - Kellen #22 - Insider
01:20:43 - Mark #21 - Imperial 2030
01:22:58 - Neilan #21 - Decrypto
01:24:29 - Christina #21 - Lost Cities
01:29:08 - Kellen #21 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#155: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2020: 40-31

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 08:44:08 +0000

Now we're getting into the thick of it, in fact some are calling it the most ambitious Part II released in any medium. It's the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time! We're in our thirties (even if we wish we weren't) and it's full speed ahead. That's forty(ish) more games, and ten spots closer to the grand finale. Now that we've got this train going, there's no stopping it.

01:06 - Neilan #40 - In the Year of the Dragon
03:19 - Christina #40 - Fuji Flush
05:39 - Kellen #40 - Rumble Nation
06:55 - Mark #40 - Pipeline
09:00 - Neilan #39 - Orléans
11:04 - Christina #39 - Cheating Moth
13:28 - Kellen #39 - Eye My Favorite Things
15:28 - Mark #39 - A Question of Scruples
17:26 - Neilan #38 - Hansa Teutonica
18:52 - Christina #38 - Carnival of Monsters
21:16 - Kellen #38 - Maskmen
22:22 - Mark #38 - Genoa
24:27 - Neilan #37 - Agricola
25:48 - Christina #37 - Ohanami
27:10 - Kellen #37 - Throne and the Grail
29:20 - Mark #37 - Ricochet Robots
31:59 - Neilan #36 - Yellow & Yangtze
34:15 - Christina #36 - Splendor
35:15 - Kellen #36 - Dogs of War
37:28 - Mark #36 - Great Western Trail
39:20 - Neilan #35 - Android: Netrunner
40:47 - Christina #35 - Dune
40:47 - Kellen #35 - Dune
43:57 - Mark #35 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
45:27 - Neilan #34 - Kemet
47:43 - Christina #34 - Startups
49:55 - Kellen #34 - Agricola
51:59 - Mark #34 - Rising Sun
54:36 - Neilan #33 - Brass: Birmingham
56:33 - Christina #33 - Anomia
59:13 - Kellen #33 - Hanabi
1:00:37 - Mark #33 - Ra
1:02:34 - Neilan #32 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
1:04:14 - Christina #32 - Fafnir
1:05:52 - Kellen #32 - Imperial 2030
1:07:48 - Mark #32 - Troyes
1:09:07 - Neilan #31 - Gaia Project
1:10:41 - Christina #31 - Biblios
1:15:04 - Kellen #31 - Fuji Flush
1:07:17 - Mark #31 - The Voyages of Marco Polo

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#154: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2020: 50-41

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:22:03 +0000

It's here at last, the big event! Yes, it's the first episode of the yearly ritual we inventively call the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time. And this year, for the first time, the Blue Tank, Christina is weighing in too. That's forty incredible games to kick us off! Join us in the weeks ahead as we sing the praises of our absolute favourite board games, because we're just getting started.

03:20 - Happy Salmon
04:20 - Piñata/Balloon Cup
04:56 - Bruges
05:32 - Air, Land, & Sea
06:55 - Christina #50 - Clank!
08:36 - Kellen #50 - Root
11:14 - Mark #50 - Innovation
12:58 - Neilan #50 - Modern Art
14:36 - Christina #49 - Fresh Fish
15:51 - Kellen #49 - Cursed Court
18:19 - Mark #49 - Blue Lagoon
21:02 - Neilan #49 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
22:53 - Christina #48 - Diamant/Incan Gold
25:24 - Kellen #48 - Wizard
26:49 - Mark #48 - Chaos in the Old World
28:07 - Neilan #48 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
30:06 - Christina #47 - Decrypto
32:10 - Kellen #47 - Blood Rage
33:54 - Mark #47 - Pictomania
36:56 - Neilan #47 - Nova Luna
38:56 - Christina #46 - True Colors
41:10 - Kellen #46 - Detective Club
42:48 - Mark #46/Christina #45 - Fast Sloths
45:15 - Neilan #46 - Innovation
48:18 - Kellen #45 - Nusfjord
49:30 - Mark #45 - Anomia
51:39 - Neilan #45 - Gùgōng
53:03 - Christina #44 - Krass Kariert/Dealt
54:46 - Kellen #44 - Smartphone Inc.
56:29 - Mark #44 - Dungeon Fighter
59:44 - Neilan #44 - Letter Jam
1:01:47 - Christina #43 - Battlestar Galactica
1:04:35 - Kellen #43 - Lords of Vegas
1:05:46 - Mark #43 - Cuba Libre
1:07:28 - Neilan #43 - Panic on Wall Street!
1:09:22 - Christina #42 - Ethnos
1:10:52 - Kellen #42 - Bruges
1:12:19 - Mark #42 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
1:14:33 - Neilan #42 - The Oracle of Delphi
1:16:12 - Christina #41 - Air, Land, & Sea
1:19:00 - Kellen #41 - Splendor
1:20:15 - Mark #41 - Wyatt Earp
1:21:36 - Neilan #41 - Pipeline

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#153: Never Look Back at 2020

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:17:00 +0000

Heads set firmly forward, we reflect on what's been a completely wild year. Despite our complete inability to play a lot of them, board games did happen, so we take a bit of time to talk about the biggest surprises and disappointments. Finally, we cast our mind ahead to the games we're looking forward to playing in 2021. Before we try to forget, we talk about Paris, The Fox in the Forest, and Cthulhu Wars: Duel.

02:27 - Paris
12:12 - The Fox in the Forest
16:58 - Cthulhu Wars: Duel
29:14 - Reflections on 2020
36:02 - 2020's Best Surprises
36:54 - Beyond the Sun
39:47 - The Red Cathedral
41:02 - Nova Luna
43:22 - 2020's Biggest Disappointments
44:16 - Tang Garden
44:45 - Troyes Dice
45:13 - Crystal Palace
46:41 - Sanctum
48:55 - Games to Play in 2021
49:21 - My City
49:56 - Dwellings of Eldervale
51:26 - Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road
51:42 - Dominant Species: Marine
52:20 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
53:39 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt

Check out Kellen's review of Cthulhu Wars: Duel here:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/2020/12/10/cthulhu-wars-duel-a-sandy-petersen-game-review

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#152: Bob's Holiday Gift Guide

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 02:43:24 +0000

'Tis the season, and if you're me, your first thought around this time of year is, "How many people can I just buy board games for?" But not all board game gifts are created equal! No, no, no, we need to find the best. So, of course, we put BGBBOB on the case. Before we start stocking stuffings, we talk about Pandemic: Fall of Rome, and Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers.

06:07 - Pandemic: Fall of Rome
13:31 - Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers
18:18 - Rajas of the Ganges
20:23 - BGBBOB: Board Game Gifts
21:39 - SHH
23:11 - Codenames
26:38 - Just One
27:00 - The Quest for El Dorado
29:31 - Modern Art
30:21 - Werewords
33:38 - Insider
35:38 - Unmatched
38:44 - Biblios
41:19 - Illusion
46:33 - Azul
48:40 - Fast Sloths

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#151: Your Attention Please

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 09:50:02 +0000

There's so much going on in board game land all of the time that it can be hard to know where to focus your attention. So, this week, we each give an example of people, publishers, and sites that we've been keeping an eye on, that we think you might want to as well. Before we turn your gaze, we talk about New York Zoo, Targi, Throne and the Grail, and The Red Cathedral.

02:07 - New York Zoo
02:40 - Bärenpark
10:36 - Targi
14:36 - Throne and the Grail
18:47 - Imperial Struggle
20:33 - The Red Cathedral
28:13 - Things to pay attention to
28:32 - Dire Wolf Digital and Paul Dennen
33:06 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
35:11 - New Release Lists
45:00 - Kramer & Kiesling
45:52 - Riverboat
53:40 - Paris

Check out Steph Hodge's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/3802/all-meeples-rainbow

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#150: Revenge of the Ghost Turkey

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:00:13 +0000

Gobble gobble, you got got! We wouldn't leave you hanging when there's important work to be done. Happy Thanksgiving!

02:54 - Marco Pollo: Sultry Poultry Edition
04:01 - Startups
05:33 - New York Zoo
06:49 - Hang on Harvey
09:27 - Fast Sloths
11:43 - ICECOOL
13:47 - Root: The Underworld Expansion
15:21 - Mariposas
16:25 - Fafnir
17:52 - Pokémon Trading Card Game
20:19 - Loopin' Louie
21:55 - Biblios

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#149: Have You No Shame?

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:45:08 +0000

Boy, what a year it's been for accumulating games that we can't play. The shelf of shame, the collection of games we own that are yet to see a single play, has been steadily growing, and it's about time we pruned it. We check in on the games most deserving of that first play. Before we take a walk of shame, we talk about Sonora, Troyes Dice, Macao, Quantum, and Rurik: Dawn of Kiev.

01:49 - Sonora
04:17 - Troyes Dice
07:14 - Macao
08:22 - The Castles of Burgundy
09:41 - Quantum
16:30 - Rurik: Dawn of Kiev
30:55 - Shelf of Shame update
40:12 - Star Wars: Rebellion
40:59 - Maracaibo
42:04 - Stock hold'em
45:25 - Bioshock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia
47:10 - Antike II

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#148: Your Comfort Zone

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:43:02 +0000

Put on your thick socks, wrap yourself in a blanket, and get comfortable with us in front of the fire. We're using our patent pending formula (aka BGBBOB) to find the best heart warming comfort games. Twelve board games enter, and ... twelve leave, but arranged in the scientifically correct order. Before we get comfortable, we talk about The Castles of Tuscany, Cooper Island, and SCOUT!

02:41 - The Castles of Tuscany
12:32 - Cooper Island
20:02 - SCOUT!
31:02 - Dominion
32:12 - Lost Cities
36:16 - Patchwork
36:42 - Telestrations
38:50 - Wizard
40:06 - The Game
43:09 - Coloretto
44:05 - San Juan
45:43 - Scrabble
47:52 - Sushi Go!
52:25 - Biblios
55:11 - Splendor

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#147: The Great Compromise

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:21:12 +0000

At least in some things, you've got to give a little to get a little, but what would you give to get what you want? We're coming up with our big board game compromises, the things we'd happily trade away to fix some of our biggest frustrations. Before we deal with the devil, we talk about Lost Ruins of Arnak, Ohanami, and Beyond the Sun.

01:49 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
02:39 - Dune: Imperium
13:47 - Ohanami
13:47 - The Game
21:53 - Beyond the Sun
22:42 - Innovation
27:52 - Through the Ages
38:38 - Board Game Compromises
39:22 - Cthulhu Wars (aka Squares vs. Circles vs. Triangles)
42:49 - Kemet
46:14 - A Feast for Odin
48:14 - Brass: Lancashire
48:14 - Brass: Birmingham
48:47 - Nemesis
49:20 - Biblios

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#146: Essen SPIEL 2020 Hype List

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Essen SPIEL is the latest of the conventions in 2020 to go digital, which is convenient for us, because we weren't about to fly to Germany any time soon. We perused the upcoming games that were showcased as part of the event, and picked our favourites to talk about. It's a top 5! Before we virtually convene, we talk about Babylonia, Veiled Fate, and Dune: Imperium.

02:29 - Babylonia
15:09 - Veiled Fate
25:37 - Dune: Imperium
35:35 - Essen SPIEL 2020 Preview
37:58 - Paris
40:05 - Paleo
41:32 - Beez
43:06 - Venice
45:11 - Clever hoch Drei
46:44 - Coyote
48:33 - The Red Cathedral
50:05 - Master Word
51:56 - Troyes Dice
53:05 - Faiyum
54:32 - CloudAge
55:55 - Krazy Pix
57:34 - Anno 1800
59:52 - Polynesia
01:01:10 - Beyond the Sun

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#145: Zero to One Hundred: $100 Collection Triple Triumph

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:04:01 +0000

We weren't going to let Kellen have the last word on what makes the perfect $100 collection, so the 139 squad is here to finish it out. Forgot the premise? You've lost all your board games, and only have $100 to rebuild it; what do you buy first? Before we make every penny count, we talk about Cosmic Encounter Duel, Hundreds of Horses, Billionaire Banshee, and Floor Plan.

03:45 - Cosmic Encounter Duel
11:53 - Hundreds of Horses
14:21 - Billionaire Banshee
17:50 - Floor Plan
23:08 - Mark's $100 Collection
23:53 - Biblios
24:40 - Arboretum
25:49 - The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine
26:34 - Race for the Galaxy
27:31 - The Estates
28:30 - Are You A Robot?
30:37 - Christina's $100 Collection
31:14 - Innovation
32:28 - Coloretto
33:24 - SiXeS
34:31 - Hanabi
36:00 - Troyes
39:54 - Neilan's $100 Collection
40:35 - Blue Lagoon
41:59 - Twice as Clever!
43:17 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
44:43 - The Resistance: Avalon

Check out our $100 Collection Geeklist, and add your own:
https://bit.ly/37vKztK

Mark & Kellen playing Hundreds of Horses at AwSHUX:
https://bit.ly/3ocjeCS

Christina & Neilan playing Billionaire Banshee at AwSHUX:
https://bit.ly/3klA002

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#144: Zero to One Hundred: Red Tank's $100 Collection

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 09:49:44 +0000

It's an awful notion, but bear with me. What if you lost your entire board game collection, and had to rebuild it from scratch? Here's the catch, you only have one hundred dollars. We try to predict what the Red Tank would do, before he talks us through what makes the cut, and why. Before we rebuild, we talk about 5211, Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan, and Cóatl.

03:10 - 5211
10:35 - Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
10:35 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
21:13 - Cóatl
26:15 - Sagrada
26:47 - Reef
29:37 - Ghost Turkey Registration
30:43 - Board Game Barrage Merch!
31:33 - Zero to One Hundred: Red Edition
36:16 - Azul
36:16 - Splendor
37:02 - Codenames
38:58 - Innovation
41:06 - Dune
44:32 - Hansa Teutonica: Big Box
46:17 - Telestrations
47:50 - Oink Games

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#143: Pace Yourself

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 08:08:56 +0000

Slow and steady might win the race, but it doesn't make for an exciting board game. Pacing is a vital component of most entertainment mediums that doesn't often get applied to board games, so we're going to climb and climb and climb and climb ... and then rapidly descend down the roller-coaster of emotion that makes for some of our favourite games. Before we set the pace, we talk about Bus, The Game: Quick & Easy, and Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun.

02:27 - Bus
21:40 - The Game: Quick & Easy
28:34 - Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun
41:50 - Teotihuacan
45:45 - Pacing in Board Games
50:53 - Fast Sloths
52:20 - The Estates
53:39 - Taj Mahal
54:03 - Kemet
54:29 - Rising Sun
55:22 - Food Chain Magnate
55:46 - Archipelago
57:47 - Escape Plan
58:39 - Troyes
1:01:28 - Splendor
1:01:58 - Dogs of War
1:01:58 - Cursed Court
1:03:07 - Time's Up
1:04:08 - The Voyages of Marco Polo

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#142: Play Me a Memory

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 08:14:38 +0000

Blessed are the forgetful, because they don't have to play memory games? After all, games with a strong memory component often get a bad rap in the hobby. We look at some of the reasons why very few games want to test your memory, and just to be otherwise, we discuss some of our favourite games that do. Before we walk our mind palaces, we talk about Fort, Under Falling Skies, and Tellstones: King's Gambit.

01:47 - Fort
10:15 - Under Falling Skies
17:56 - Tellstones: King's Gambit
29:37 - Ghost Turkey 2020
32:52 - Memory as a Game Mechanic
38:43 - Carnival of Monsters
39:38 - Inis
42:01 - El Grande
45:51 - Modern Art
47:50 - Tigris & Euphrates
48:43 - Time's Up!
51:09 - Cthulhu Wars
53:08 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
56:03 - Aeon's End
57:24 - Dune

Check out Optimal Play's Tellstones playthrough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3x7oZRfCs0

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#141: Expectations Great and Small

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 01:25:23 +0000

We often build up the idea of what a game will be before we play it, whether for bad or good, and the reality of the game itself might deliver something we weren't expecting. We take a look at what often leads to our expectations being shattered, and mention some of the games that most defied them. Before we expect the unexpected, we talk about SHŌBU, Pan Am, and Planet Unknown.

02:35 - SHŌBU
08:55 - Pan Am
17:58 - Planet Unknown
25:46 - BGB Perpetual Math Trade
27:02 - Board Game Expectations
27:37 - Terra Mystica
28:14 - Brass: Birmingham
32:56 - Macao
36:02 - Railroad Rivals
36:26 - Ragusa
37:02 - Sanctum
38:33 - Unmatched
40:38 - The 7th Continent
47:07 - Stamps
47:41 - Square on Sale
48:33 - Glory to Rome

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#140: All About Auctions

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:33:23 +0000

We return to our much loved feature from 2018, all about our favourite mechanics. This week, a mere two years later: auctions! We look at the good and bad sides of auction mechanics, and discuss our favourite games that feature them. Before we inflate the bid, we talk about Fleet: The Dice Game, Iwari, and Modern Art.

04:57 - Fleet: The Dice Game
11:02 - Welcome to Dino World
13:47 - Iwari
21:53 - Modern Art
33:10 - Auction Board Games
36:25 - Archipelago
38:18 - Biblios
39:03 - Watson & Holmes
39:51 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
40:35 - Power Grid
42:06 - Santiago
43:26 - Genoa
44:23 - Square on Sale
45:49 - Taj Mahal
51:29 - The Estates
51:29 - Container
53:05 - No Thanks!
54:32 - Bausack
55:06 - Fresh Fish

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#139: Bugbear Brawl

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 07:44:10 +0000

It's an unprecedented trio of hosts, but we're no less heated about our biggest board game bugbears. In fact, we're so upset about these little annoyances, that we couldn't help but order them in a list for your amusement ... BGBBOB style. Before we get bugged by bears, we talk about Calico, Telestrations: Upside Drawn, and Pendulum.

01:42 - Calico
09:05 - Telestrations: Upside Drawn
13:14 - Pendulum
25:17 - BGBBOB: Board Game Bugbears
28:54 - Merchants & Marauders
32:03 - Archipelago
32:53 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
40:26 - Broom Service
42:50 - Race for the Galaxy
46:19 - Power Grid
49:25 - Decrypto

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#138: Life's Lessons Learned

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:14:46 +0000

It would be hard for us to be as invested in this hobby as we are, if we didn't think there was something important underlying it. We share some of the lessons we have learned from board gaming, and some of the ways in which it has genuinely changed our lives. We also talk about Tyrants of the Underdark, The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples, and Nemo's War.

02:28 - Tyrants of the Underdark
08:00 - The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples
14:48 - Nemo's War (Second Edition)

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#137: Past Its Prime

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 07:02:57 +0000

Some games are built to last, and no, we're not just talking about the ... R-word. For others, the high highs of early games must give way to the dawning realization that all is not well. We look at reasons we might end up moving past games we once held in high regard. Before we overstay our welcome, we talk about Sandstone, Ctrl, The Fox in the Forest Duet, and Unmatched.

02:41 - Sandstone
11:09 - Ctrl
14:12 - The Fox in the Forest Duet
18:42 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
19:54 - Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One
24:16 - Dice Throne
32:27 - Games Getting Worse with Time
38:50 - Innovation
39:47 - Mysterium
40:20 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
41:18 - Camel Up
43:05 - Shadow Hunters
43:38 - Container
45:52 - Five Tribes
47:32 - Mark's Menagerie Mixup
48:20 - Dungeon Fighter
48:20 - Tumblin-Dice
48:20 - Coconuts

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#136: H-h-h-hot Hot Hot

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 07:51:33 +0000

Hot days call for hot questions! To counter the California heat wave, we get breezy with a round of hot questions. We take a long hard look at games we love, but don't play, and give our takes on the theme to end all themes. Before we get heated, we talk about Ctrl, New York Zoo, and Renature.

01:40 - Ctrl
07:06 - New York Zoo
15:24 - Renature
18:23 - Blue Lagoon
26:11 - OLWLG Math Trade
28:01 - Hot Questions!
28:17 - Can you have a favourite game you don't play anymore?
30:14 - The Resistance
32:36 - Cosmic Encounter
37:19 - What's the theme to end all themes?
39:52 - Sabotage

Thanks to Guanye for sending us the Jixia Academy pronunciation clip.

Watch us play New York Zoo and Renature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4qab78TtUw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihutcOJmCwc

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#135: Social Climbing

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 05:35:49 +0000

It's a Social Deduction BGBBOB! For those that don't know what that means, it's a Board Game Barrage Battle of (the) Board...games, where we pit all of the best social deduction games against each other in a fight to the DEATH! Or at least, a fight to be on our definitive ranked list. Before we release our social butterflies, we talk about Gemblo, and Quest.

02:54 - Gemblo
07:16 - Quest
15:46 - Camp Capstone
17:33 - BGBBOB: Social Deduction Games
20:11 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
22:06 - Timebomb/Don't Mess with Cthulhu
26:48 - Two Rooms and a Boom
28:02 - Detective Club
30:27 - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
32:01 - Insider/Werewords
35:01 - The Resistance/Avalon
35:35 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
39:05 - Spyfall
43:26 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
45:33 - Shadow Hunters
48:26 - Saboteur
1:01:12 - The Final List

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#134: CHAOS!

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 06:42:43 +0000

Some board games (and board game podcasts) thrive on chaos, which absolutely isn't the same thing as randomness. All of this has happened for a reason, it's just ... hard to tell what those reasons are exactly. Before we blame the butterfly, we talk about Path of Light and Shadow, Jixia Academy, and Chaos in the Old World.

00:47 - Chaos in board games
03:44 - Innovation
05:54 - Guards of Atlantis
07:21 - 6 nimmt!
11:06 - Path of Light and Shadow
21:30 - Chaotic board games
21:42 - Broom Service
23:05 - Wiz-War
26:33 - Space Alert
28:49 - Jixia Academy/Hanamikoji
34:34 - Chaos closing thoughts
35:05 - Cosmic Encounter
35:52 - Mission: Red Planet
37:12 - Colt Express
38:02 - Libertalia
40:26 - Scythe
41:59 - Chaos in the Old World
43:50 - Cthulhu Wars

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#133: Light It Up

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 06:12:48 +0000

Things got a bit heavy last week, so let's take things down a notch by exploring the other end of the scale. Light games are just as important for a board game collection, after all. We discuss what light games offer that heavier games don't, and mention some of our recent favourites. Before we lighten the mood, we talk about Reef, Clans of Caledonia, and Tutankhamun.

02:34 - Reef
09:18 - Clans of Caledonia
15:00 - Tutankhamun
22:01 - Light Games
23:48 - Werewolf
25:37 - Vast: The Crystal Caverns
26:28 - Ingenious
27:21 - The Quest for El Dorado
30:40 - Twice As Clever
33:24 - Dice Fishing: Roll and Catch
36:11 - Cacti
37:35 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
38:04 - Deep Sea Adventure
38:49 - Flamme Rouge

"Complexity bias in BGG" by Dinesh Vatvani:
https://dvatvani.github.io/BGG-Analysis-Part-2.html

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#132: Heavy Duty with Monique from Before You Play

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:25:20 +0000

Monique from Before You Play is with us to get heavy. We're discussing the allure of heavy games, and who better to talk us through them than a Vital Lacerda fan who loves to not just play them, but teach them? We dig into why we enjoy the occasional heavy game, and why you should too! Before we play, we talk about DURIAN, Animal Kingdoms, and Brass: Birmingham.

02:01 - Introducing the Lavender Tank!
10:03 - DURIAN
16:25 - Animal Kingdoms
23:40 - Brass: Birmingham
31:45 - Heavy Board Games
42:13 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
43:46 - A Feast for Odin
46:02 - 18XX
47:42 - On Mars
52:07 - Escape Plan
54:49 - Lisboa
55:32 - Vinhos Deluxe Edition
56:38 - Archipelago
1:04:04 - Scythe

Check out Before You Play at:
https://www.youtube.com/BeforeYouPlay

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#131: But At What Cost?

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 05:31:52 +0000

Even if the price is right, it might not be right for you. We all have different thresholds where a board game we're interested in crosses from, "maybe I'll wait for a sale" into "sure why not" territory, but where is that magical line? Has what we're willing to pay for games changed over time? Before we get sticker shock, we talk about Twin Tin Bots, Ticket to Ride: New York, Whale Riders, and Dead Reckoning.

02:20 - Twin Tin Bots
07:37 - Ticket to Ride: New York
14:36 - Whale Riders
22:55 - Dead Reckoning
39:30 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
41:38 - Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
45:30 - Food Chain Magnate
48:15 - An Infamous Traffic
48:57 - This Guilty Land
49:33 - Oink Games
50:17 - DURIAN

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#130: And the Award Goes To ...

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:02:06 +0000

It's award season when we say it is, so we're looking back at the Golden Geek Awards, The Dice Tower Awards, and the Spiel des Jahres nominees. We offer our thoughts on their picks, and how wrong they are. I mean, Wingspan winning "Best Four-Wheel Drive SUV" just seems a bit much. We also talk about Battlestar Galactica, Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small, Paladins of the West Kingdom, and The Boss.

01:56 - Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
08:09 - Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
12:45 - Nusfjord
14:01 - Paladins of the West Kingdom
19:48 - The Boss
25:03 - Board Game Awards 2019
25:13 - Golden Geek Awards
26:10 - Through The Ages: New Leaders and Wonders
27:35 - Dune
28:35 - Wingspan
29:40 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game
30:55 - The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine
33:01 - PARKS
34:30 - Tapestry
35:08 - Spiel des Jahres Nominees
36:16 - Plumber Pants
38:30 - The King's Dilemma
40:10 - My City
40:38 - Pictures
41:27 - The Dice Tower Awards
42:30 - Detective: City of Angels
43:37 - Slide Quest
47:22 - Letter Jam

Check out Kellen playing Battlestar Galactica over at Optimal Play:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/662734157

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#129: Fight for Your Right to Party

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:14:59 +0000

BGBBOB, party edition! For those not keeping up, that's BGB Best of Board Games, which is definitely not the final name (but also maybe is) for our recurring feature where we duel rank games into an incontestable ordered list. This week we confer, fight, and bargain our way to the best fifteen party games. Before we spike the punch, we also talk about Twice As Clever, Wavelength, and 6 nimmt!

01:38 - Twice As Clever
05:17 - Wavelength
05:58 - 6 nimmt!
10:43 - BGBBOB: Party Games
12:28 - True Colors
13:17 - Anomia
16:27 - The Resistance
17:13 - Scruples
20:52 - Balderdash
22:10 - Krazy Wordz
24:38 - Happy Salmon
25:53 - Telestrations
28:17 - Pictomania
28:52 - Codenames
30:33 - Time's Up!
32:30 - Wavelength
35:06 - SiXeS
36:03 - Panic on Wall Street!
38:48 - Detective Club
1:00:48 - The Final List

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#128: The Means of Production with Richard Simpson

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 07:50:36 +0000

We're joined by Richard Simpson of We're Not Wizards, who is definitely not a magician, Victorian or otherwise, to talk about the line between game design and production. Should production values be an integral part of the discussion of a game's merits, or should we learn to separate the two? Before we get productive, we talk about Doughnut Dash, Cities, Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra, and L.L.A.M.A.

07:25 - Doughnut Dash
17:10 - Cities
21:37 - Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra
31:01 - L.L.A.M.A
35:25 - The Power of Production
35:34 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
41:35 - The Last of Us Part II
47:15 - GKR: Heavy Hitters
49:24 - Cthulhu Wars
53:33 - Warhammer 40k
55:03 - Castles of Burgundy
55:29 - Container
56:10 - Tang Garden
58:09 - Krazy Wordz
59:23 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant

Check out We're Not Wizards at:
https://werenotwizards.podbean.com

Check out Kellen on We're Not Wizards Here: https://werenotwizards.podbean.com/e/boardgamebarrage/

Check out Neilan on We're Not Wizards Here: https://werenotwizards.podbean.com/e/neilan/

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#127: No Stupid Questions

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 05:06:22 +0000

We asked for your questions, and you provided! Some of you used Instagram, some of you used voicemail, but however you reached out, your voice was heard. We chose only a few to answer (quality notwithstanding), but we'd love to keep doing this, so keep sending them in! Before we corral your correspondence, we talk about Gloomhaven, Terra Mystica, Bloom Town, and Starlink.

03:25 - Gloomhaven
06:44 - Terra Mystica
09:03 - Bloom Town
18:16 - Starlink
27:20 - Listener Questions!
33:35 - Cyclades, Inis & Kemet
41:28 - Hive

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#126: So Very Wrong About Games

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 06:49:52 +0000

I know this is going to come as a shock, but sometimes we get things wrong. As we've worked our way through the hobby, we've discovered that some positions we once held, aren't ones we still do. So it's time to revisit our past transgressions and come clean. Before we admit our mistakes, we talk about Tang Garden, Fast Forward: FORTRESS, and Race for the Galaxy.

02:45 - Tang Garden
14:12 - Fast Forward: FORTRESS
21:04 - Race for the Galaxy
30:51 - Board Game Barrage Math Trade: Part II!
34:15 - When We Were So Very Wrong About Games
51:06 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

A big tip of the cap to our friends at So Very Wrong About Games. Listen to their podcast if you aren't already!!

Special thanks goes to What Does It Eat? for hopefully not being upset that we borrowed a snippet of their most excellent song F.O.S. before our theme. You can find them at whatdoesiteat.com.

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#125: REwrite the Stars

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 10:40:13 +0000

Once loved board games will often circle back into the limelight with reprints, but we're also starting to see a lot more get remasters and remakes too. We take a look at this trend, and discuss some re-imaginings our favourite board games, whether it's a full on new version, or just a new coat of paint. Before we re-re-re-repeat, we talk about Cities: Skylines, Colorful, and Maharaja.

03:29 - Cities: Skylines
08:25 - Colorful
15:36 - Maharaja
25:36 - REmasters, REemakes and REimaginings
29:13 - Brass: Lancashire and Brass: Birmingham
31:04 - Kemet
32:53 - Caylus and Caylus 1303
34:31 - Terra Mystica and Gaia Project
36:22 - Through the Ages and Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
37:22 - Dune
40:30 - The REsistance

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#124: Constraints You Can See

Thu, 28 May 2020 08:48:47 +0000

While all games have some restrictions, some games are more willing than others to let you go off the rails. For instance, some leave the economy entirely in the hands of the players, free to tank it if they please. We look at how games do (or don't) use player constraints to deliver unique experiences. Before we rein ourselves in, we talk about Tournay, Bullet♥︎, Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons, and Container.

01:46 - Tournay
01:57 - Troyes
07:10 - Bullet♥︎
10:44 - Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons
17:15 - Container
28:30 - Games with and without constraints
28:51 - Food Chain Magnate
31:14 - Sidereal Confluence : Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
39:24 - Power Grid
40:01 - Flamme Rouge
42:25 - Startups and Zogen
43:02 - Diamant
43:28 - Crokinole
45:56 - Tigris and Euphrates
49:15 - The Estates

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#123: Filler Up

Thu, 21 May 2020 09:52:14 +0000

Sometimes you have a little gap of time between larger, heavier games, and what you need is a palate cleanser, which brings us to the realm of games we lovingly call "fillers". We kick off the very first Ranked Duel Battle of the Boards (definitely not the final title) by ranking our favourite filler games! Before we pass the time, we talk about Aerion, Ingenious, The One Hundred Torii, and Taluva.

04:49 - Aerion
09:54 - Ingenious
10:56 - The One Hundred Torii
14:07 - Taluva
22:02 - Call for voicemail!
22:50 - Ranking our favourite fillers
30:08 - Coloretto
30:24 - Istanbul
31:11 - Shards of Infinity
31:45 - Arboretum
32:14 - Biblios
32:14 - No Thanks!
33:14 - Splendor
33:24 - For Sale
35:08 - Startups
35:30 - Blue Lagoon
37:33 - Zany Penguins
37:45 - The Game
39:09 - 6 nimmt!
39:38 - Twice As Clever
40:49 - Karuba

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#122: Strongest Starter

Thu, 14 May 2020 04:37:42 +0000

When you're playing a game for the first time, and barely know what you're even doing, how do you even begin to strategize? That's what we're asking ourselves this week, as we explore some of our approaches to first plays, how we evaluate the game space, and well, win. Before we push levers, we talk about Orléans: Invasion, Zoned Out, Santorini, and Mini Express.

02:03 - Orléans: Invasion
09:48 - Zoned Out
16:42 - Bronze Age
17:54 - Santorini
23:28 - Mini Express
32:40 - How We Approach First Games
37:53 - Troyes
38:47 - 7 Wonders
45:26 - Kemet
48:06 - Barrage
50:05 - No Thanks!
51:13 - Ra

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#121: FANTASTIC Four with Mike Walker from So Very Wrong About Games

Thu, 07 May 2020 06:45:52 +0000

Mike Walker from So Very Wrong About Games joins us to talk about games that we add to our collection, not for ourselves, but (gasp) for others. Sometimes you do what you have to placate your so-called friends, and their awful taste. Before we begrudgingly acquire games, we talk about The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, Solo, Renegade, and Horrified.

00:15 - A New Tank Appears!
03:53 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
06:15 - Innovation
07:54 - Nemesis
12:21 - Castles of Burgundy
12:50 - Trieste
14:03 - Watergate
15:20 - Watergate Retheme? (Patent Pending, TM, etc...)
17:51 - Solo
20:47 - Renegade
26:48 - Horrified
34:55 - Catering Games to Your Game Group
40:17 - Ankh

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#120: Light on the Horizon

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 06:58:20 +0000

We all need something to look forward to, so this episode we're eagerly anticipating all the good things in the world of board gaming that are yet to come in 2020. Some of it might be a ways off, but where's the harm in getting the hype train rolling early? Before we cast our eyes ahead, we talk about Splendor, Qwirkle, Bronze Age, and Guards of Atlantis II.

02:40 - Lost Cities
02:53 - Coloretto
03:39 - Splendor
05:03 - Bugs in the Kitchen
06:29 - Qwirkle
10:47 - Bronze Age
14:24 - Guards of Atlantis II: Tabletop MOBA
25:40 - Things We're Excited for in 2020
31:52 - Ankh

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#119: The Seven Week Itch

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 09:06:10 +0000

Look, digital gaming is great and all, but there are some games that either don't lend themselves well to the format, or aren't available. Whatever the reason, there are lots of games that we're itching to play once the world returns to normal. It's a top five countdown! Before our heart grows fonder, we talk about Exit: The Game - Sunken Treasure, Pandemic: Rapid Response, and Stockpile.

05:27 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
06:45 - Exit: The Game - Sunken Treasure
08:39 - Roll for Adventure
10:18 - Pandemic: Rapid Response
14:01 - Stockpile
22:59 - Games We're Itching to Play
25:00 - Awkward Guests
26:25 - Nusfjord
28:22 - Flotilla
29:32 - Kemet
31:13 - Insider: Black
33:16 - 1889
34:35 - Maracaibo
35:39 - Pipeline
37:00 - Brass: Birmingham
37:58 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
40:07 - Special Tank Appearance!
44:01 - Dune
45:09 - Cooper Island
46:21 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
48:08 - Square on Sale
48:58- The Crew

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#118: Of the Utmost Importance

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 09:21:10 +0000

What could be a more important topic than importance itself? This week, we're talking about the most important board games of the last decade, and what it even means for a board game to be worthy of the label. To us, at least. Before being earnest, we talk about Prêt-à-Porter, Riff Raff, Adventure Games: The Dungeon, and Innovation: Echoes of the Past.

03:09 - Prêt-à-Porter
09:59 - Riff Raff
16:20 - Scythe
19:16 - Adventure Games: The Dungeon
28:13 - Innovation: Echoes of the Past
30:46 - Important Games of the Last Decade
36:40 - Pandemic Legacy
40:13 - Kemet
41:35 - Chaos in the Old World
43:20 - Zombicide
45:02 - Codenames
47:45 - Splendor
50:31 - Scythe
53:57 - TIME Stories and Escape Room Games

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#117: All Decked Out

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:43:21 +0000

It's time for another "What we love, what we hate", and this time we're looking at deck builders! Its been twelve years since Dominion blew things up, and since then you don't have to look very far to see a game that uses the mechanic. We look at the highs and lows of deck building as a mechanic, and discuss some of our favourite games that use it. We also talk about Bruxelles 1897, Elysium, and Can't Stop.

01:07 - Golden Geek Award Nominations
03:46 - Bruxelles 1897
11:31 - Elysium
18:16 - Coffee Roaster
18:55 - Adventure Games: The Dungeon
19:23 - Hansa Teutonica
25:22 - Can't Stop
31:00 - What I Love, What I Hate about Deck Building
33:07 - Star Realms
34:32 - Clank!
35:05 - Dominion
35:50 - Sorcerer City
38:36 - Vikings Gone Wild
41:41 - Great Western Trail
42:20 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
47:04 - The Quest for El Dorado
47:29 - Aeon's End
48:54 - Automobiles
49:58 - The North
50:15 - SPQF/Fort
51:33 - Friday

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#116: The Cyber Reloaded

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 09:22:30 +0000

To make it through quarantine, we take another look at digital games in a time when it might just be our only option. We've got to get our board game fill somehow! We investigate how our relationship to the electronic side of the hobby has changed, and give our recommendations for the many options. Before we plug in, we talk about Remember Our Trip, Castell, and Caylus 1303.

01:58 - Remember Our Trip
08:16 - Castell
14:45 - Pipeline
15:44 - Caylus 1303
18:40 - Caylus
26:18 - Voicemail from Isla
28:57 - Digital games in quarantine
37:30 - Cthulhu Wars
38:12 - Bärenpark
42:29 - BGB Digital Game Night!

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#115: Gone But Not Forgotten

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:08:13 +0000

There's only so much space on our shelves, so games don't always stick around forever, but that doesn't always mean that we don't like them. There are many reasons that a good game might get the boot, so let's talk about them. We count down our top five favourite games we got rid of! Before we pay our respects, we talk about Through the Desert, Lords of Hellas, Troyes, and Watergate.

01:48 - Through the Desert
07:51 - Lords of Hellas
13:13 - Troyes
20:45 - Black Angel
22:01 - Watergate
29:12 - The best games we got rid of
29:45 - Yamataï
31:07 - Power Grid
32:37 - Indian Summer
34:23 - CrossTalk
35:20 - Agricola
36:27 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
38:22 - Dominion
39:50 - Terraforming Mars
40:47 - Forbidden Stars
43:10 - Glorantha: The Gods War (A Sandy Petersen Game!)
44:23 - Spirit Island
46:00 - Mage Knight
47:35 - Arcadia Quest
49:34 - Gloomhaven
51:03 - Terra Mystica

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#114: Let It Grow

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 10:20:22 +0000

Some games put their best foot forward on the first play, eager to have most players feel good right out of the box. Other games are content to take their time. This episode we're focusing on the latter, games that we've only come to appreciate as we've given them more time and more plays. Before we grow together, we talk about Ginkgopolis, Time Chase, and Food Chain Magnate.

01:31 - Ginkgopolis
08:46 - Time Chase
15:22 - Food Chain Magnate
26:58 - Games that grow on you
30:35 - Brass: Lancashire
31:28 - Agricola
32:24 - Biblios
33:57 - Wits & Wagers
35:13 - Bohnanza
36:35 - Tigris & Euphrates
37:07 - Yellow & Yangtze
38:08 - Nova Luna
41:17 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
41:53 - 18xx
43:31 - Just One

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#113: Trust is Good, Area Control is Better

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 06:46:20 +0000

Area control is the first subject of our new recurring feature, "What we love, what we hate", where we deep dive into a single mechanic and describe ... well, exactly that! We tend to enjoy games that have you fighting over territory, but what is it that specifically gets us excited about them? And what are the downsides? Before we assume direct control, we talk about The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, Stay Cool, and Mezo.

02:00 - The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
09:03 - Hanabi
11:55 - Trickerion
13:55 - Stay Cool
19:39 - Linkee
22:10 - Mezo
34:24 - Rising Sun
36:30 - Scythe
39:30 - Inis
40:45 - Mezo
42:24 - Cthulhu Wars ... sorry Mr. Cthulhu
45:10 - Dominant Species
45:30 - Tigris & Euphrates
45:40 - Twilight Struggle
46:00 - Pax Pamir (Second Edition)
46:30 - Risk
46:56 - Inis
48:38 - Diplomacy

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#112: We Played a Bunch of Games!

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 06:56:21 +0000

Let me set the scene: It's a late night at a hotel in Nevada, we're sprawled on the floor around a microphone, and we're flexing our tired hands after three days spent playing so many board games. Coming at you from Dice Tower West, we report on what we've been up to, and all the games we played. Before we're leaving Las Vegas, we talk about Don't Get Got!, Kemet, Master of Respect, and Nova Luna.

03:54 - Don't Get Got!
19:44 - Kemet
25:23 - Master of Respect
30:50 - Rumble Nation
35:07 - A War of Whispers
36:05 - Hearts of AttrAction
42:10 - Nova Luna

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#111: Conventional Wisdom

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:58:17 +0000

We've learned a thing or two about game nights and conventions over the years. The hobby has changed, and we've had to change with it! This episode, we talk about what's different with how we approach large meetings of board gamers in 2020, and offer what advice we can. Before we pack our game bags, we talk about Fast Sloths, Birdie Fight, Sorcerer City, Electropolis, and Isle of Cats.

01:44 - Fast Sloths
10:05 - Birdie Fight/Songbirds
11:03 - Sorcerer City
11:44 - Electropolis
18:07 - Isle of Cats
20:04 - Terraforming Mars
26:12 - Game Night and Convention Lessons
39:20 - Don't Get Got!
40:43 - Antike II
41:11 - 1920 Wall Street
42:08 - TOKYO TSUKIJI MARKET

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#110: One Small Thing

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:28:41 +0000

Sometimes a game is hitting all the right notes, and you want to recommend it wholeheartedly ... but there's just one tiny blemish you can't overlook. It's not enough to make a great game bad, but, man, just imagine if it someone had fixed that. This week we're looking at games that almost nail it. Before we smooth the last crease, we talk about Chaosmos, Subtext, On a Scale of One to T-Rex, and Empyreal: Spells & Steam.

01:26 - Krass Kariert
03:22 - Chaosmos
11:40 - On a Scale of One to T-Rex
16:52 - Subtext
20:58 - Empyreal: Spells & Steam
29:46 - Games with One Small Issue
31:44 - Kemet
36:06 - Root
37:28 - Cthulhu Wars
39:39 - Gloomhaven
42:14 - Decrypto
43:35 - Azul
44:53 - Point Salad
45:32 - Concordia

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#109: Harshing My Buzz

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 08:07:51 +0000

We're gluttons for punishment this week, because we're talking about harshness in board games. These are the sort of games where big moves or bad mistakes can be hard to recover from. Harsh games aren't for everyone, so when and why do we find them appealing? Before we grit our teeth, we talk about Wavelength, Genoa, Krass Kariert, and Oceans.

01:02 - Wavelength
05:39 - Genoa
07:30 - Krass Kariert
14:55 - Oceans
23:48 - Harshness in Games
24:24 - Biblios
24:48 - Arboretum
25:52 - Seasons
27:36 - The Estates
28:54 - Troyes
30:02 - Agricola
31:32 - A Feast For Odin
33:23 - Tigris and Euphrates
33:43 - Yellow and Yangtze
36:10 - Diplomacy
39:53 - Medici

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#108: We Have to Go Back

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 05:11:37 +0000

We're reflecting on the past this episode, looking back at the things we said - never wise, by the way. The games of 2019 had a lot of promise, but how young and dumb they seem to our aged eyes. Where are they now? Join us as we cast our minds back to last decade, to reflect on the games we were excited for so many months ago.

02:11 - XCOM: The Board Game
06:41 - Living Planet
13:55 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
14:47 - Heaven & Ale
18:06 - Mystic Market
19:49 - Essen 2019 Look Back
21:11 - The Magnificent
21:52 - Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula
23:47 - Welkin
24:08 - Rush M.D.
24:22 - Terramara
24:36 - Deep Blue
25:08 - Rome & Roll
25:21 - Paranormal Detectives
25:59 - Offshore
26:13 - Maracaibo
27:19 - Glen More II: Chronicles
27:40 - Kakerlaken Sushi
27:52 - Perserverance: Castaway Chronicles
29:24 - Crystal Palace
29:38 - Babylonia
30:08 - Gen Con 2019 Look Back
30:28 - Conflicting Legends
31:12 - Watergate
31:28 - Welcome to Dino World
32:47 - Tonari
34:21 - Time Chase
34:47 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
36:01 - SHOBU
36:46 - Barrage
37:12 - In the Hall of the Mountain King
37:45 - Seasons of Inis
38:19 - Pipeline
38:42 - Sanctum
39:45 - Black Angel
40:52 - City of the Big Shoulders
41:31 - MegaCity: Oceania
42:22 - Most Anticipated Games of 2019 Look Back
42:40 - TOKYO TSUKIJI MARKET
43:34 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
44:33 - Glorantha: The Gods War (A Sandy Petersen Game!)
46:17 - Pipeline
46:25 - Sabotage
47:39 - Living Planet
48:10 - Barrage
48:22 - Escape Plan
49:08 - Res Arcana
50:11 - On Mars
50:37 - ELO Darkness
51:26 - Black Angel
51:36 - City of the Big Shoulders
51:53 - Warpgate
52:37 - Mezo
53:41 - Best and Worst Guesses of 2019

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#107: Get It Right the First Time

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:41:18 +0000

You only get one chance to play a game for the first time, but sometimes events conspire to make that debut ... less than ideal. We look at some first plays that could've gone better, examine what contributed to them not delivering, and offer advice on how to make sure your brand new game doesn't stumble out the gate.

02:34 - Rumble Nation
10:16 - Neuroshima Hex
12:07 - Macao
14:05 - In the Year of the Dragon
21:24 - It's a Wonderful World
23:46 - Carnival of Monsters
25:51 - 7 Wonders
26:12 - Terraforming Mars
30:28 - Better First Plays
31:00 - Brass: Birmingham
35:18 - Dominion
37:01 - Race for the Galaxy
38:21 - Empyreal: Spells & Steam
42:53 - Endeavor
46:31 - Dixit
49:12 - Awkward Guests

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#106: Popcorn Time with Mike DiLisio

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:30:53 +0000

Mike DiLisio (of The Dice Tower, and Sporadically Board) makes his BGB podcast debut as the Fandango Tank! Mike's trying to sell us on popcorn games. These are games that may or may not be ... critically sound, but nevertheless provide fun experiences that we find ourselves returning to. But why wouldn't we just play something more substantive instead? We investigate.

00:16 - Mike DiLisio, the Fandango Tank!
07:10 - Fresh Fish
14:23 - Sanctum
23:59 - In the Hall of the Mountain King
31:44 - Popcorn Games
35:42 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
37:15 - Dragoon
40:24 - Cthulhu Wars
47:40 - Zombicide: Black Plague
51:39 - Meeple Circus
52:45 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
53:16 - XCOM: The Board Game
53:56 - Magical Athlete
54:19 - Nanty Narking
55:02 - Wiz-War
56:55 - Mission: Red Planet
57:16 - Arcadia Quest

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#105: Resolutions and Revelations

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 10:03:36 +0000

We're in a post top-fifty world, and it's about time we take this whole 2020 thing seriously. No more looking back, we've got to start looking to the year ahead, and what better way than making promises to ourselves that we're totally going to keep. It's board game resolutions time!

01:33 - Deep Sea Adventure
05:13 - Point Salad
08:48 - Sushi Go!
10:37 - Atelier: The Painter's Studio
14:52 - We're Doomed!
15:22 - The Menace Among Us
16:04 - Wavelength
23:25 - Board Game Resolutions for 2020
24:36 - Neilan's Resolution
26:45 - Fury of Dracula
31:46 - Mark's Resolution
36:17 - Kellen's Resolution
41:48 - The Contest 2020
46:11 - Sanctum
46:40 - BGB Meetups

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#104: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2019: 10-1

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 09:10:26 +0000

Here it is, the episode you've all been waiting for, the grand finale, the culmination of five weeks of episodes. These are our top ten favourite board games of all-time, games that we absolutely adore, and would happily play at a moment's notice. Heck, we'd even play the games on each others' lists ... on, you know, birthdays and special occasions. That's how good they are.

08:41 – Mark #10 – The Estates
11:29 – Neilan #10 – Pictomania
13:46 – Kellen #10 – Coloretto
15:23 – Mark #9 – The Voyages of Marco Polo
17:39 – Neilan #9 – Guards of Atlantis
22:26 – Kellen #9 – Inis
25:26 – Mark #8 – Time's Up!
26:33 – Neilan #8 – Scythe
30:04 – Kellen #8 – The Resistance
32:17 – Mark #7 – Brass: Birmingham
34:24 – Neilan #7 – Times Up!
35:54 – Kellen #7 – Troyes
37:59 – Mark #6 & Kellen #6 – El Grande
40:28 – Neilan #6 – Through The Ages: A New Story of Civilization
44:25 – Mark #5 – 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
46:34 – Neilan #5 – Codenames
49:44 – Kellen #5 – Time's Up!
51:17 – Mark #4 – Francis Drake
53:39 – Neilan #4 – Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
57:20 – Kellen #4 – Cosmic Encounter
1:00:50 – Mark #3 – Hansa Teutonica
1:04:00 – Neilan #3 – A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians
1:06:43 – Kellen #3 – Cthulhu Wars
1:09:18 – Mark #2 – Arboretum
1:11:31 – Neilan #2 – Gloomhaven
1:15:16 – Kellen #2 – Archipelago
1:18:31 – Mark #1 – Biblios
1:21:39 – Neilan #1 – The Resistance
1:23:29 – Kellen #1 – Innovation

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#103: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2019: 20-11

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:29:04 +0000

A new year, a new decade, a new podcast, and a new batch of games that we love talking about. It's the fourth in our five part series of our 50 favourite board games of all-time, and appropriately, we're kicking off 2020 by breaking into the top twenty. Synergy.

01:01 - Neilan #20 - Blue Lagoon
03:14 - Kellen #20 - Startups
04:33 - Mark #20 - Imperial 2030
06:00 - Neilan #19 - Taj Mahal
07:41 - Kellen #19 - Genoa
09:09 - Mark #19 - Dominant Species
11:31 - Neilan #18 - Alchemists
13:28 - Kellen #18 - I'm The Boss
15:06 - Mark #18 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
16:53 - Neilan #17 - Exit: The Game
19:20 - Kellen #17 - Zendo
21:42 - Mark #17 - Cuba Libre
23:51 - Neilan #16 - Watson & Holmes
26:46 - Kellen #16 - Telestrations
28:29 - Mark #16 - Pax Renaissance
30:13 - Neilan #15 - Rising Sun
33:32 - Kellen #15 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
35:23 - Mark #15 - Cthulhu Wars
38:34 - Neilan #14 - Dominion
40:19 - Kellen #14 - Omen: A Reign of War
42:11 - Mark #14 - Caylus
45:01 - Neilan #13 - Inis
47:15 - Kellen #13 - Glory to Rome
50:04 - Mark #13 - True Colors
52:36 - Neilan #12 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
54:49 - Kellen #12 - Codenames
56:01 - Mark #12 - Tigris & Euphrates
59:53 - Neilan #11 - Cthulhu Wars
1:01:30 - Kellen #11 - Diplomacy
1:03:47 - Mark #11 - Archipelago

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#102: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2019: 30-21

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 20:27:44 +0000

It's the season of giving, so our gift to you is more of our favourite board games of all-time! We're only just halfway, so get comfortable in front of the fire, grab an eggnog, and join us for thirty more incredible games. Oh, you got us something too? Ah. Socks. Thanks.

01:45 - Kellen #30 - Splendor
04:38 - Mark #30 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
07:22 - Neilan #30 - Azul
08:54 - Kellen #29 - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
11:06 - Mark #29 - Great Western Trail
12:47 - Neilan #29 - The Quest for El Dorado
14:29 - Kellen #28 - Cockroach Poker
15:50 - Mark #28 - Genoa
17:27 - Neilan #28 - Coloretto
18:36 - Kellen #27 - Hanabi
20:07 - Mark #27 - Le Havre
22:57 - Neilan #27 - El Grande
24:24 - Kellen #26 - Dogs of War
25:40 - Mark #26 - Ra
27:43 - Neilan #26 - Android: Netrunner
30:12 - Kellen #25 - Keyflower
32:16 - Mark #25 - Pictomania
33:53 - Neilan #25 - Decrypto
36:01 - Kellen #24 - A Study in Emerald (second edition)
38:15 - Mark #24 - Rising Sun
40:15 - Neilan #24 - Spirit Island
42:12 - Kellen #23 - Hansa Teutonica
43:46 - Mark #23 - Modern Art
46:32 - Neilan #23 - Patchwork
47:27 - Kellen #22 - Insider
49:15 - Mark #22 - Glory to Rome
50:46 - Neilan #22 - Archipelago
52:47 - Kellen #21 - Decrypto
54:23 - Mark #21 - Lancaster
57:19 - Neilan #21 - Aeon's End

Join the discussion at:
https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#101: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2019: 40-31

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 23:21:08 +0000

We're shifting up a gear, the stakes are higher, it's all to play for, and a whole host of other cliches, in the second of our five part series on the top fifty games of all time. Thirty(ish) more incredible board games coming at you, and we're not even halfway done yet.

03:36 - Mark #40 - Blue Lagoon
05:58 - Neilan #40 - Panic on Wall Street!
07:01 - Kellen #40 - Dune
08:36 - Mark #39 - Shipyard
10:30 - Neilan #39 - Kemet
11:37 - Kellen #39 - For Sale
13:21 - Mark #38 - Pipeline
14:19 - Neilan #38 - The Estates
16:04 - Kellen #38 - Crokinole
17:32 - Mark #37 - Bruges
18:41 - Neilan #37 - Alhambra
20:53 - Kellen #37 - Lords of Vegas
22:41 - Mark #36 - Zany Penguins
24:25 - Neilan #36 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
26:06 - Kellen #36 - Blood Rage
27:52 - Mark #35 - Scruples
31:06 - Neilan #35 - Pipeline
32:47 - Kellen #35 - Sixes
35:05 - Mark #34 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
36:24 - Neilan #34 - Agricola
36:41 - Kellen #34 - Agricola
39:22 - Mark #33 - The Great Zimbabwe
42:30 - Neilan #33 - Orléans
43:47 - Kellen #33 - Taj Mahal
47:09 - Mark #32 - Age of Steam
48:42 - Neilan #32 - Werewords
52:08 - Kellen #32 - Imperial 2030
54:05 - Mark #31 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
56:13 - Neilan #31 - Gaia Project
57:39 - Kellen #31 - Fuji Flush

Join the discussion at

https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#100: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2019: 50-41

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:19:34 +0000

We made it! The big one-oh-oh. That's a thing people say, right? We're starting a five episodes series, working our way down each of our top fifty games of all time. We'll discuss what might make a game move up or down our list, celebrate the highs that the hobby has to offer, and talk about a heck of a lot of amazing board games. Buckle up!

08:17 – Neilan #50 – Twice As Clever
09:32 – Kellen #50 – Maskmen
11:28 – Mark #50 – Codenames
12:56 – Neilan #49 – Air, Land & Sea
16:03 – Kellen #49 – Wizard
17:50 – Mark #49 – Carson City
18:59 – Neilan #48 – Innovation
20:27 – Kellen #48 – Ingenious
21:07 – Mark #48 – Wyatt Earp
23:52 – Neilan #47 – The Oracle of Delphi
24:56 – Kellen #47 – Detective Club
27:13 – Mark #47 – City of the Big Shoulders
29:46 – Neilan #46 – Anomia
31:13 – Kellen #46 – Cursed Court
34:24 – Mark #46 – Kemet
35:50 – Neilan #45 – In the Year of the Dragon
37:19 – Kellen #45 – The Game
39:11 – Mark #45 – Panic on Wall Street!
40:51 – Neilan #44 – Dead of the Winter: The Long Night
42:24 – Kellen #44 – No Thanks!
44:42 – Mark #44 – Pax Pamir (Second Edition)
47:19 – Neilan #43 – Grand Austria Hotel
48:57 – Kellen #43 – Diamant/Incan Gold
50:52 – Mark #43 – Innovation
52:58 – Neilan #42 – Letter Jam
55:26 – Kellen #42 – Bruges
56:10 – Mark #42 – Concordia
58:03 – Neilan #41 – Sol: Last Days of a Star
1:01:01 – Kellen #41 – Piñata/Balloon Cup
1:02:19 – Mark #41 – Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant

Join the discussion at https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#99: Sore Today, Strong Tomorrow

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 10:06:00 +0000

It's getting close now, can you feel it? Or are you just feeling sore from the game you just lost? We're talking sore losers and sore winners: people who are hard to be around when they lose or win a game. What can you do to avoid being that person, and what games bring out the worst in us? Before we fight our feelings, we talk about Paris: New Eden, Glory to Rome, and No Swap No Pay.

03:35 - Pipeline
06:29 - Paris: New Eden
14:54 - Glory to Rome
20:36 - Mottainai
22:48 - Innovation
24:14 - No Swap No Pay
32:09 - Sore Winners and Losers
37:00 - The Resistance
41:50 - Cthulhu Wars
42:54 - Cosmic Encounter
45:46 - Detective Club
46:13 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
48:16 - Archipelago

Join the discussion at https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#98: Thanks, Ghost Turkey!

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We're showing our thanks with a surprise podcast about ... well, maybe we'll just let the episode speak for itself. Gobble gobble.

03:23 - ICECOOL
04:46 - Meeple Circus
06:11 - Root
06:42 - Sheriff of Nottingham
07:47 - Fauna
08:22 - Piepmatz
09:07 - Evolution: Flight
09:56 - Gulo Gulo
11:29 - Zany Penguins
12:07 - Funky Chicken
13:56 - Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn
14:51 - Rook
16:19 - Chess
17:36 - Biblios
19:53 - Scythe

Join the discussion at https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#97: Eleven Herbs and Biases

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 10:34:06 +0000

We've all got them, whether we'll care to admit it or not, quirks and and biases that might be irrational, but nevertheless affect our judgement of the games we play. This week we're looking at a few of the little things that might weigh a game in or out of our favour, even if they don't necessarily make much sense. Before we exercise extreme prejudice, we talk about Flamme Rouge, The North, and Ragusa.

02:03 - Cursed Court
02:39 - Flamme Rouge
09:28 - The North
15:43 - Ragusa
24:08 - Board Game Biases
25:51 - Vindication
26:08 - Suburbia: Collector's Edition
30:39 - Anachrony
32:15 - Scythe
33:26 - Magical Athlete
36:16 - Pipeline
41:02 - Adrenaline
41:28 - Fog of Love
43:23 - The Battle at Kemble's Cascade
45:05 - Pandemic

Join the discussion at https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord

#96: The House of Bounce

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 00:38:22 +0000

Uh oh, you're not enjoying the game you're playing. Now what? Is it okay to excuse yourself? Maybe it's better that you just call it rather than continue to have a bad time. This week we're talking about scenarios where some or all of the players of a game might decide it's better to bounce than to wallow in misery. Before we make an early exit, we talk about SEAL Team Flix, Paranormal Detectives, and I'm the Boss.

01:21 - SEAL Team Flix
10:32 - Paranormal Detectives
18:53 - Mysterium
21:37 - Crokinole
22:12 - Cursed Court
23:27 - I'm the Boss!
31:50 - Bouncing off Games
33:49 - Menara
36:37 - Cosmic Encounter
38:45 - The Great Zimbabwe
39:40 - Megacity: Oceania
40:25 - Founders of Gloomhaven
43:52 - Diplomacy
45:22 - Swinging Jivecat Voodoo Lounge
46:08 - Merlin
47:00 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
48:54 - LLAMA
49:33 - Nemesis

#95: Holiday Hits

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 10:29:35 +0000

Where has the year gone?! It's almost time to start packing our bags for various family gatherings, and inevitably the most important question becomes ... what games are we taking? Whether it's specific games for specific people, or games that work in large inexperienced groups, we're here to make your holidays merry and bright. Before we head on home, we talk about Ethnos, Street Masters, Templari, and Carnival of Monsters.

03:02 - Ethnos
08:12 - Street Masters
11:39 - Sentinels of the Multiverse
14:08 - Templari
17:14 - Carnival of Monsters
25:21 - Top Five Games for the Holidays
29:16 - Werewords
30:20 - Letter Jam
30:20 - SHH
31:21 - Ingenious
32:53 - Sushi Go!
34:39 - Fast Forward: FORTRESS
36:01 - Cartographers
37:14 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
38:14 - Cryptid
39:36 - Cursed Court
40:43 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
42:16 - Coloretto
43:54 - Hanabi Deluxe II
44:56 - Just One
46:46 - Air, Land & Sea
47:51 - Res Arcana
49:13 - Codenames
51:05 - WINK
52:16 - Medium

#94: Even When You're Losing

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:22:35 +0000

It took us almost a hundred episodes, but we finally reveal how to have fun with your friends even when you're losing. Specifically, we're talking about games and mechanisms that help us enjoy our losses, because let's face it, we can't all be winners. Before we celebrate our setbacks, we talk about Sierra West, Mansions of Madness: Second Edition, and Black Angel.

01:37 - Sierra West
11:17 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
20:17 - Black Angel
24:02 - Troyes
27:18 - Solenia
35:30 - Q.E.
35:43 - Ponzi Scheme
35:59 - Biblios
38:52 - Aeon's End: War Eternal
40:59 - Ghost Stories
43:56 - Agricola
44:37 - Terraforming Mars
46:31 - Lords of Vegas
47:00 - Diamant/Incan Gold
48:20 - Twice as Clever

#93: Tap Tap, No Take-Backs

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 09:30:50 +0000

Blue Tank's back to talk take-backs, so take that to the bank. It's bound to happen, someone makes a mistake on their turn and desperately wants a do-over - but how do you handle it? It's a delicate balance of making sure everyone at the table is having a good time, and not slowing the game down. So what's fair? Before we undo, we talk about Air, Land & Sea, Menara, and Seasons of Inis.

02:57 - Air, Land & Sea
03:03 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
08:43 - Hanamikoji
10:59 - Menara
22:09 - Riff Raff
23:08 - Inis
23:08 - Seasons of Inis
53:31 - Dominant Species

#92: Chasing the MacGuffin

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 09:22:22 +0000

We're joined by the Blue Tank for a quick look back at SHUX, before we dive into a discussion on games that are better than their mechanics suggest. These are games that we might describe as not very good, but somehow still give us incredible experiences that we find distinct and unique. But that makes them good, right? Before we lose all credibility, we talk about Kingdomino Duel, Panic on Wall Street!, and Blood on the Clocktower.

02:22 - SHUX
06:27 - Kingdomino Duel
11:29 - Panic on Wall Street!
18:52 - Blood on the Clocktower
23:48 - The Resistance: Avalon
36:57 - Experiences that transcend mechanics
38:02 - Fuji Flush
38:58 - Happy Salmon
39:40 - True Colors
39:40 - A Question of Scruples
40:32 - Zombicide: Black Plague
41:26 - Hundreds of Horses
49:30 - Loopin' Louie

#91: SHUX 2019 Live with Quintin Smith

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 09:36:45 +0000

Shut Up & Sit Down's very own Quintin Smith joins us live on stage at SHUX 2019! We play a rousing game of Hundreds of Horses, discuss some games from the convention, and lay out the unspoken truths of board games - opinions about the hobby we vehemently hold, even if everyone else is too afraid to say it. Before we speak truth to power, we talk about Deep Blue, Curios, Obscurio, and Vast: The Mysterious Manor.

02:51 - Hundreds of Horses
08:05 - Deep Blue
11:44 - Curios
16:03 - Obscurio
20:55 - Vast: The Mysterious Manor
28:07 - Unspoken Truths of Board Games
29:05 - Neilan: Theme and storytelling
32:22 - Flamme Rouge
33:40 - Too Many Bones
34:16 - Kellen: The decline of interactivity
36:40 - Troyes
37:47 - Hansa Teutonica
38:26 - Agricola
38:26 - A Feast for Odin
39:10 - Mark: Playing to win
41:48 - Inis
45:20 - Twilight Imperium
47:55 - Quinns: Reading flavor text
50:03 - Pax Pamir (Second Edition)
50:58 - Scythe

#90: Timmy, Jenny, Spike

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Mark Rosewater, head designer for Magic: The Gathering, defined three player archetypes back in 2002, and we figured it'd be fun to see how we can apply them to, not just board games, but your three beloved hosts. We look into what makes a Timmy, Tammy, Johnny, Jenny, or Spike tick, and try to find some board games each might like. Before we profile ourselves, we talk about FlickFleet, Québec, and Ra.

02:13 - FlickFleet
06:19 - Québec
09:10 - El Grande
10:29 - Tapestry
15:00 - Ra
21:56 - Magic: the Gathering Player Archetypes
31:08 - Gùgōng
40:27 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
40:55 - Rising Sun
41:19 - Crokinole
41:47 - Dominion
42:47 - Terraforming Mars
43:15 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
43:50 - Cosmic Encounter
44:47 - Dune
45:31 - Glory to Rome

#89: Classified Information

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 09:15:12 +0000

Inspired by BoardGameGeek's new system for classifying board game mechanisms, we give our thoughts on the changes, as well as talk about classification in general. Somehow it always leads to heated discussions, whether it's arguing what a Civilization game even is, or why we need classification at all. I'm sure we'll all agree in the end. Before we taxi into taxonomy, we talk about Piepmatz, Era: Medieval Age, and Cursed Court.

02:45 - Piepmatz
05:05 - Arboretum
08:42 - Irish Gauge
10:38 - Era: Medieval Age
19:00 - Cursed Court
29:43 - Board Game Classification
36:53 - Codenames
51:35 - Tapestry
52:12 - Civilization
53:10 - Scythe
56:55 - Great Western Trail
58:30 - 18Lilliput

#88: Essen SPIEL 2019 Preview

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 09:43:00 +0000

Hello, again, Germany! Well, we don't actually ever go to Essen, but boy do we wish we could. There are always so many games that debut at Essen SPIEL that we wish we could play or buy ... and this year is no exception! We're counting down the games we would most anticipate getting our hands on if it weren't so goshdarn far. Before we cross the Atlantic, we also talk about Irish Gauge, Heroes of Terrinoth, and Tapestry.

01:00 - Irish Gauge
08:33 - Heroes of Terrinoth
16:21 - Tapestry
37:50 - The games we want from Essen SPIEL 2019
38:15 - Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula
39:27 - The Magnificent
40:22 - Welkin
41:46 - Terramara
43:10 - Rush M.D.
44:09 - Deep Blue
44:54 - Paranormal Detectives
46:04 - Rome & Roll
47:07 - Offshore
48:42 - Glen More II: Chronicles
49:38 - Maracaibo
50:33 - Kakerlaken Sushi
51:52 - Crystal Palace
53:29 - Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles
55:12 - Babylonia

#87: The Game of Life

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

No, not that game. We're talking about the life cycles of games, how we acquire them, how we end up moving on from them. Where do we generally get our games from, and how do we typically get rid of them? Things get a little bit existential before the end. Before we, blinking, step into the sun, we also talk about Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne, 18Lilliput, and Tonari.

01:38 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
10:06 - 18Lilliput
15:25 - City of the Big Shoulders
19:56 - Tonari
28:11 - The life cycle of games
29:05 - Exit: The Game
29:30 - Charterstone
35:06 - Piepmatz
35:50 - Nyctophobia
40:40 - Rising Sun
42:52 - Irish Gauge
44:17 - The Resistance: Avalon
45:07 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

#86: Shame! Shame! Shame!

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 09:37:18 +0000

Look, there's only so much time in the day, so we don't get to play every game we ought to. But some of those missed games hurt more than others, in fact, some of them are downright shameful. This week we're counting down the top five games we're ashamed that we haven't played. Before we atone, we also talk about Kobayakawa, Taj Mahal, and Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition).

02:07 - Nine Tiles Panic
03:36 - Kobayakawa
07:38 - Taj Mahal
17:47 - Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition)
33:53 - Games we're ashamed we haven't played
34:29 - Modern Art
36:18 - Kremlin
37:44 - Nothing Personal
38:12 - Ra
39:32 - Caverna: The Cave Farmers
40:50 - Macao
41:57 - Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
43:37 - Terraforming Mars
45:04 - Indonesia
46:26 - Dungeon Lords
46:26 - Dungeon Petz
47:43 - Seafarers of Catan
47:43 - Catan: Cities & Knights
49:16 - Antike II
49:51 - Trickerion: Masters of Illusion
51:48 - Cyclades
53:37 - Amun Re

#85: Episode Too: Attack of the Adjectives

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 08:59:45 +0000

Kellen's back, which some might say is too many hosts - apt, because we're an episode of extremes today. We're talking about games that are too simple, too complicated, too short, or too long, that might otherwise have been among our favourites. Before we venture outside the Goldilocks zone, we talk about Q.E., Cartographers, and City of the Big Shoulders.

02:58 - Q.E.
11:52 - Cartographers
19:36 - City of the Big Shoulders
37:25 - Games that are too long
38:36 - Citadels
38:51 - Alien Frontiers
39:04 - Cubist
40:41 - Dead of Winter
41:18 - Robo Rally
41:52 - Skull
43:19 - Mage Knight
43:52 - Forbidden Stars
45:17 - Twilight Imperium
45:51 - Las Vegas
46:17 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
46:55 - Games that are too short
46:59 - Above and Below
47:53 - Clank!
48:15 - Oink Games
49:37 - Agricola
50:15 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
51:05 - Games that are too complicated
51:19 - Burano
53:12 - Keyflower
53:39 - Nemesis
54:03 - Altiplano
54:37 - Escape Plan
55:07 - Skull King
56:36 - Games that are too simple
56:42 - Kingdomino
58:00 - Ethnos
1:02:41 - Bärenpark
1:03:30 - Betrayal at House on the Hill
1:04:56 - 3 Wishes
1:05:30 - Mint Works

#84: Best With Two

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Kellen graces us with his absence, which means it's time for Mark and Neilan to start talking numbers. Specifically, player numbers. We're talking about optimal player counts for games, whether games ever mean what they recommend on the box, and how well they scale. Before we count to ten, we talk about Vindication, Royal Palace, Throw Throw Burrito, and Pipeline.

05:40 – Vindication
12:05 – Royal Palace
17:28 – Throw Throw Burrito
21:37 – Pipeline
29:48 – Optimal Player Counts
31:51 – Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
32:50 – Caverna: The Cave Farmers
33:13 – Alien Frontiers
34:19 – Dead of Winter
37:13 – Throw Throw Burrito
38:20 – The Resistance
39:17 – Inis
39:45 – Rising Sun
40:09 – Maria
43:48 – Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant

#83: Dexterous Laboratory

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 09:39:43 +0000

We're running components through our fingers this week, because we're ranking our favourite games that require dexterity. Whether it's flicking, stacking, or balancing, dexterity games tend to offer a respite from brain burning crunchiness, and a chance to exercise actual muscles. Before our hands tremble, we talk about The Wizard Always Wins, Genoa, and Paku Paku.

01:29 - The Wizard Always Wins
06:36 - Genoa
13:55 - Paku Paku
17:53 - Listener Mail
21:59 - Our Favourite Dexterity Games
22:53 - Riff Raff
25:14 - Flick 'em Up!: Dead of Winter
27:25 - Bugs in the Kitchen
29:31 - Junk Art
31:46 - KLASK
35:44 - Hamsterrolle
37:28 - Animal Upon Animal
38:56 - Meeple Circus
42:18 - Drop It
44:57 - PitchCar
46:42 - Safranito
51:47 - Puzzle Dungeon Fighter
56:08 - Crokinole

#82: Tales from the Tables

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 09:56:23 +0000

We just flew in from Indianapolis, and boy are our arms tired! From carrying all these games. But, more than the games, it's the people you meet that make the memories, so we're recovering from a very long weekend at Gen Con by telling some of our favourite little stories from the floor. Before we revisit our weekend, we talk about Tuki, God of War: The Card Game, and Wits & Wagers Vegas.

01:03 - Tuki
05:41 - God of War: The Card Game
16:34 - Wits & Wagers Vegas
24:08 - Letter Jam
25:09 - Catch the Moon
27:17 - Wooly Whammoth
31:02 - Click Clack Lumberjack
32:14 - Foodies
42:26 - Seasons of Inis
42:48 - City of the Big Shoulders
43:20 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne

#81: Gen Con 2019 Day Three

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 06:29:57 +0000

Our trilogy of Gen Con podcasts concludes with one final foray between the sheets! Join us on the floor of room [redacted] for the last time, with our thoughts from day three. We talk about Sanctum, Potemkin Empire, MegaCity: Oceania, and Aegean Sea.

#80: Gen Con 2019 Day Two

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 04:41:49 +0000

Day two is over, but we're just getting started, because it's all about those Gen Con nights. We're up way too late, yet again, to give you the scoops from the floor. We talk about Finger Guns at High Noon, In Front of the Elevators, Realm of Sand, City of the Big Shoulders, and Medium.

#79: Gen Con 2019 Day One

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 05:30:26 +0000

Gen Con! It's time yet again for freezer pants, gourmet coffee and going between the sheets. Join us for our quick day one impressions from the floor, and I mean that quite literally. We talk about Gravity Superstar, Wakanda Forever, Mechanica, Mister Face, Nine Tiles Panic, Visitor in Blackwood Grove, and Letter Jam.

#78: You Gotta Get a Gimmick

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Gimmicks are elements of a game that are the fundamental selling point, the core attention grabbing mechanic or experience that the game is built around. This episode, we're breaking down gimmicks in board games, figuring out if they're good or bad for the hobby, and talking about some of the most notable. Before we cave to flashy marketing, we also talk about Are You A Robot?, Jaws, and FUSE.

01:17 - Bärenpark
03:12 - Keyforge: Age of Ascension
05:25 - Are You A Robot?
09:46 - Wingspan
10:37 - Jaws
13:55 - FUSE
18:34 - I don't even know
20:23 - Games with Gimmicks
22:27 - The Adventurers
23:22 - Niagara
24:31 - Shogun
24:31 - Wallenstein
24:59 - Amerigo
25:41 - Mord im Arosa
28:14 - Camel Up
29:18 - Sheriff of Nottingham
30:34 - Via Appia
31:33 - Dice Forge
32:39 - Alchemists
33:13 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
34:38 - Council of 4
35:11 - Mouse Trap
36:13 - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Interactive VCR Board Game - A Klingon Challenge
38:23 - The VCR Quarterback Game
42:01 - Hanabi
42:39 - Planet

#77: What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:12:16 +0000

This week we're talking about hidden trackable information. That is, information about the game state that could be remembered or recorded, but the game design (usually) assumes that players haven't. Is it okay to memorize or divulge this information? Before we take notes, we also talk about Papà Paolo, Oceanos, and Pax Pamir (Second Edition).

02:10 - Papà Paolo
07:25 - Oceanos
13:32 - Pax Pamir (Second Edition)
26:06 - Bonus episode!
26:30 - Hidden Trackable Information
42:13 - The Resistance
43:59 - Tigris & Euphrates
47:38 - El Grande
48:11 - I'm The Boss!
50:01 - Through the Ages
54:44 - Guards of Atlantis
56:20 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

#76: Gen Con 2019 Preview

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Gen Con 2019 is mere weeks away, and I bet you don't even know what games are going to be there. Fear not, we've got you covered! We're counting down our most anticipated games of the show, having meticulously studied BGG's preview list, and looked at all the pretty pictures. Before we plan our trip, we talk about Cryptid, Two Rooms and a Boom, and Planet.

03:25 - Cryptid
09:05 - Tobago
10:04 - Psychiatrist
11:59 - Two Rooms and a Boom
16:50 - Planet
24:35 - Gen Con 2019 Preview
26:46 - Watergate
28:27 - Welcome to Dino World
30:01 - Conflicting Legends
31:11 - Time Chase
31:53 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne
33:14 - Tonari
34:52 - Barrage
36:25 - In the Hall of the Mountain King
38:05 - SHŌBU
39:30 - Pipeline
40:35 - Sanctum
41:31 - Seasons of Inis
43:10 - City of the Big Shoulders
43:56 - MegaCity: Oceania
45:59 - Black Angel

#75: Failing Forward

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 09:27:29 +0000

So, you're coming in last. You could sigh, lean back, mutter to yourself about all the things you should've done better ... or you could get back in there, soldier! Back on your feet! This week on the show, we discuss what's worth fighting for in a board game, when you're clearly not going to win. Before we lose with dignity, we talk about Murder on the Cosmic Express, TAMSK, and Diplomacy.

02:52 - Patreon!
10:33 - Murder on the Cosmic Express
18:22 - TAMSK
23:09 - Diplomacy
40:04 - What to do when you're losing
41:22 - El Grande
49:54 - Archipelago

#74: Story Time with Paula Deming

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Special guest Paula Deming joins us this week to tell board game stories! We think back to especially funny times we had playing a board game, that were only made possible by the game itself. Before we spin yarns, we talk about Evolution: Climate, Terrible Monster, Sweet Nose, and Dice Throne: Season One.

00:15 - Paula Deming, the Orchid Tank!
07:35 - Claustrophobia 1643
09:10 - Evolution: Climate
13:38 - Terrible Monster
17:21 - Sweet Nose
22:21 - Dice Throne: Season One
29:10 - Paula's Story
29:22 - Modern Art
36:01 - Mark's Story
37:05 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
41:15 - Kellen's Story
41:40 - Lifeboat
46:44 - Neilan's Story
46:57 - Dark Moon

#73: Dictionary Attack

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 10:59:43 +0000

You don't need no education, but you're getting one anyway. This week we're going to be explaining the meaning of some common but unclear board game words, for we are nothing if not your humble servants. Before we define our terms, we talk about The Shipwreck Arcana, Kingdom Death: Monster, and Vinhos Deluxe Edition.

01:29 - The Shipwreck Arcana
09:05 - Kingdom Death: Monster
19:28 - Vinhos Deluxe Edition
28:13 - Board Game Terminology
28:44 - "Crunchy"
34:40 - "Fiddly"
36:38 - Agricola
37:24 - "Degenerate" vs "Broken"
38:41 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
39:05 - Archipelago
40:13 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
40:46 - Dune
41:56 - Glorantha: The Gods War
43:35 - "Eurogame" vs "Ameritrash"
46:15 - El Grande
48:35 - Scythe
54:07 - Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire

#72: The Long and the Short of It

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 10:08:52 +0000

Time is a precious resource, so let's not waste any; we're talking about game length. How long should a game be? Is it worse if a game is too long or too short? We wrestle with the fourth dimension in our search for answers. Before we watch the clock, we talk about Dice Forge, Gulo Gulo, and Millennium Blades.

01:28 - Dice Forge
06:53 - Gulo Gulo
10:53 - Millennium Blades
19:41 - Game Length
23:42 - Dominant Species
25:53 - New Angeles
27:05 - Formula D
27:37 - Robo Rally
28:35 - King of Tokyo
29:05 - Citadels
30:21 - Five Tribes
32:07 - Agricola
34:30 - Indian Summer
35:10 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
35:52 - Above and Below
36:53 - Archipelago
38:09 - Food Chain Magnate

#71: A Hate-Love Relationship

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:14:02 +0000

There's nothing sweeter than the softening of a heart, that precious feeling when all of the things you thought you'd dislike, suddenly become endearing. We're counting down our favourite games that we thought we were going to hate, but ended up loving. Before we go full tsundere, we talk about Indian Summer, Richard the Lionheart, and X nimmt!

01:55 - Indian Summer
09:26 - Richard the Lionheart
15:53 - X nimmt!
23:37 - Games we thought we'd hate
24:55 - Shadow Hunters
27:12 - Walnut Grove
28:52 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis!
31:34 - Great Western Trail
32:35 - Blood Rage
33:47 - Formula D
35:32 - Zendo
36:48 - Hansa Teutonica
38:18 - In the Year of the Dragon
39:47 - Majesty: For the Realm
41:21 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
42:25 - Chicken Caesar
44:27 - Yokohama
46:18 - Caylus
49:54 - Blue Lagoon

#70: Spiel des Jahres! The Games War!

Thu, 30 May 2019 10:36:01 +0000

Somewhere in Germany every year, a specialist team assembles to decide on the best board games ... that released in Germany that year ... that no one has ever heard of. Look, the Spiel des Jahres is a bit weird, and no one ever agrees about the winners, but we're going to talk about the nominees anyway, okay? Before ze Germans get here, we also talk about Glorantha: The Gods War, and Corinth. We also recap our weekend at Strategicon Gamex 2019.

02:05 - Glorantha: The Gods War
11:28 - Cthulhu Wars
20:06 - Corinth
27:27 - Strategicon Gamex 2019
28:52 - Now Boarding
32:25 - Spiel des Jahres
33:40 - Just One
34:44 - Werewords
36:05 - LAMA
38:46 - Who wins the Spiel des Jahres?
41:47 - Wingspan
42:35 - Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
43:42 - Carpe Diem
44:39 - Who wins the Kennerspiel?

#69: Bang for Your Buck

Thu, 23 May 2019 08:55:26 +0000

Everyone likes to get the most out of their hard-earned cash, but what is a board game worth? Maybe it doesn't matter what's inside the box, maybe the real value is the friends we made along the way? Haha, just kidding, it's totally all about the miniature total. Before we count components, we also talk about Aerion, Overbooked, Dinosaur Island, and Lancaster.

03:15 - Aerion
05:40 - Overbooked
11:36 - Dinosaur Island
25:08 - Lancaster
34:37 - Value for money
36:50 - A Feast for Odin
38:16 - Scythe
41:09 - Escape Plan
41:36 - Gloomhaven
41:54 - Mechs vs. Minions
42:55 - Terraforming Mars

#68: A Mailbag of Biblical Proportions

Thu, 16 May 2019 10:25:47 +0000

Letters! You love writing them, and we love reading them! This week, we look at portable and licensed games, why reviewers love social games, and give advice for your first board game convention. Before we break out the letter opener, we also talk about Fool!, Aerion, and Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar.

01:03 - Fool!
05:38 - Aerion
13:06 - Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar
22:24 - Listener Questions
22:48 - Best portable games?
23:29 - Oink Games
23:54 - Sprawlopolis
24:07 - SHH
25:01 - No Thanks!
25:10 - Skull
25:51 - Illusion
26:22 - Are reviewers biased towards more social games?
28:48 - Blood on the Clocktower
32:15 - Cosmic Encounter
33:08 - Convention tips?
34:52 - Nyctophobia
37:47 - Best licensed game?
38:02 - Dune
38:22 - XCOM: The Board Game
38:34 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
39:01 - Play new games or replay old ones?
39:37 - Why does Neilan have the best voice?
41:05 - ?!?!

#67: Shelf Life

Thu, 09 May 2019 10:21:42 +0000

We're well into May, so it's about time we did some spring cleaning. We talk about the games that have recently left our collection, and why it was their time to go. It's not always an easy thing, but I'm sure they're being loved by someone else on a farm upstate. Before we out with the old, we talk about Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto, Hyperborea, and Clockwork Wars.

02:28 - Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto
09:03 - Hyperborea
20:06 - Clockwork Wars
30:51 - Games that have left our collections
31:03 - Lowlands
34:12 - Key to the City: London
36:33 - Raptor
38:27 - Magic Maze
40:41 - Chinatown
43:32 - Yamataï
44:51 - Things we're looking forward to

#66: The Only Winning Move

Thu, 02 May 2019 11:47:34 +0000

Dominant strategies can ruin a game; if there's one clear best way to win, why not use it every time? We discuss these optimal strategies, whether they're always problematic, and how to deal with them at your game table. Before we break the game, we talk about A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians, Lost Cities: Rivals, and Second Chance.

03:16 - PUSH
04:53 - A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians
12:30 - Lost Cities: Rivals
18:12 - Second Chance
26:31 - Dominant Strategies
27:17 - A Feast for Odin
27:57 - A Few Acres of Snow
28:16 - Blood Rage
30:48 - Magic: The Gathering
32:45 - London
34:19 - Great Western Trail
36:39 - Chess
38:18 - Cthulhu Wars
43:36 - Food Chain Magnate
45:22 - Dominion
46:30 - Battle for Rokugan
46:51 - Kemet
48:53 - Ticket to Ride

#65: Board Games and Chill

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Slow down. Why're you always in such a rush? Kick off your shoes, join us on the couch and enjoy a nice, tall, refreshing ... board game. We're counting down our five favourite relaxing games, the ones we're drawn to at the end of a long game night. Before we slip into something more comfortable, we also talk about Heaven & Ale, Men At Work, and Yellow & Yangtze.

01:59 - Heaven & Ale
08:30 - Men At Work
14:08 - Yellow & Yangtze
18:18 - Tigris & Euphrates
24:50 - Our Favourite Relaxing Games
26:32 - Lanterns: The Harvest Festival
27:49 - Bärenpark
29:22 - Illusion
30:42 - Dixit
32:34 - Telestrations
34:35 - Crokinole
37:09 - Cottage Garden
38:34 - Karuba
39:54 - Rise of Augustus
41:19 - Between Two Cities
43:58 - Welcome To ...
45:00 - Red7
46:58 - Notre Dame
48:47 - Patchwork
50:15 - Camel Up

#64: Are Games Even Fun?

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 09:55:34 +0000

We're being serious. Are board games a base line level of fun that we ought to take for granted? We're all together, we're all playing a game, that's better than doing nothing, right? It couldn't possibly be that simple with us. Before we arithmetise entertainment, we also talk about Tiny Towns, Zendo, and Escape Plan.

01:41 - Tiny Towns
07:23 - Zendo
13:24 - Escape Plan
29:52 - Are games fun no matter what?
38:05 - Horse Fever
38:39 - Dominant Species
39:35 - Loopin' Louie
44:46 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf

#63: Hype Men

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 09:07:45 +0000

The train's pulling into the station and you've got a ticket, because this week we're talking all about hype. Why do we get irrationally excited about games we know nothing about? How much should we listen to our overly excited inner selves? Before it's all aboard, we also talk about Reykholt, PUSH, and Great Western Trail.

01:51 - Reykholt
10:13 - PUSH
14:54 - Great Western Trail
30:50 - Hype and anti-hype
32:41 - Res Arcana
33:45 - The 7th Continent
35:32 - El Grande
38:29 - Gloomhaven
38:57 - Brass: Birmingham
40:09 - Blood on the Clocktower
42:43 - Terraforming Mars

#62: A Melange of Games to Play Again

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

It's all well and good playing the newest, hottest games, but that doesn't stop us wanting to go back to some of the old goodies. We're counting down our top five games we want to revisit, to enjoy once more as we did in our youth. Relatively speaking. Before we get all wistful, we also talk about Eye My Favourite Things, On Tour, and Dune.

01:12 - Eye My Favourite Things
06:18 - On Tour
12:28 - Dune
18:40 - Cosmic Encounter
24:44 - Rex: Final Days of an Empire
26:10 - Root
31:55 - Games We Want to Play More
33:00 - Libertalia
34:19 - Ricochet Robots
37:01 - XCOM: The Board Game
39:09 - Ascending Empires
40:16 - Automobiles
42:22 - Kitchen Rush
43:52 - Two Rooms and a Boom
46:17 - Tribune: Primus Inter Pares
48:00 - Seasons
49:53 - Yokohama
50:56 - SpaceCorp
52:50 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
54:19 - Root
55:34 - Container
56:36 - Lords of Hellas

#61: Beware of the Cyber

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Electronic board games! What will they think of next?! There's been a trend of more and more board games being translated into web and mobile apps, so join us as we make the jump to cyberspace. Before we plug in, we also talk about Heul doch! Mau Mau, Architects of the West Kingdom, and revisit Nusfjord.

01:19 - Heul doch! Mau Mau
05:19 - Architects of the West Kingdom
10:55 - A Feast for Odin
13:44 - Nusfjord
26:26 - Digital Board Games
27:20 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
28:05 - Onirim
29:28 - Concordia
30:56 - Dixit
32:49 - Innovation
33:29 - Ortus Regni
36:41 - The Resistance

#60: Tabling the Discussion

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 10:08:06 +0000

We're at the table talking table talk, all the little things that get said while you're playing a board game. Sure, there's plenty to be said in a social deduction or negotiation game, but what about less talky games? What's appropriate and what isn't? Before we say something we regret, we also talk about Everdell, Concordia Venus, and Project: ELITE.

03:58 - Everdell
08:34 - Wingspan
12:07 - Concordia Venus
21:27 - Project: ELITE
25:56 - Escape: The Curse of the Temple
31:13 - Table Talk
37:01 - Codenames

#59: Ain't Nothing Like It

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:15:31 +0000

Some games offer an experience so unique, so unlike anything else, that you can't help but take notice. It might be a bold thematic setting, or a set of mechanics that you've never seen before. This week, we're counting down our favourite games that do something ... a little bit different. Before we stand out from the crowd, we also talk about Looting London, and Chimera.

01:05 - Looting London
04:17 - Chimera
09:45 - Unique Thematic Experiences
12:12 - Food Chain Magnate
16:11 - Space Cadets: Dice Duel
18:38 - Long Shot
21:23 - Dungeons & Dragons: Rock Paper Wizard
23:16 - Dead of Winter
26:42 - Pit
28:38 - Millennium Blades
33:11 - Alchemists
36:33 - Chaosmos
40:07 - Ponzi Scheme
42:24 - Space Hulk
45:39 - Adrenaline
47:37 - Diplomacy
51:06 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
53:22 - Captain Sonar

#58: Game Board Confessional

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:02:44 +0000

Time to 'fess up. We're admitting to all the transgressions we've made in the world of board gaming. We're not proud of it, but there are a lot of games we haven't played that we should have. There are Kickstarters we've overspent on, and some we regret backing. And what would a good confessional be without owning up to our guilty pleasures? Before we ask forgiveness, we also talk about Excape, Race for the Galaxy, and Biblios Dice.

01:30 - Excape
07:57 - Race for the Galaxy
13:49 - Biblios Dice
20:02 - Board Game Confessions
21:50 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
23:44 - Eclipse
25:31 - Terraforming Mars
29:08 - The 7th Continent
29:42 - Statecraft
30:30 - Tiny Epic Quest
31:42 - Glorantha: The Gods War
32:21 - Rising Sun
34:17 - Zombicide
34:42 - Betrayal at House on the Hill
34:55 - True Colors
35:45 - Hundreds of Horses
39:43 - Through the Ages
40:09 - Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team

#57: Where There's a Will, There's a Gateway

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Gateway games are an often requested topic, but we wouldn't be us without a big old debate about them first. Are they important? Should you be trying to convert your friends at all? Isn't every game a gateway game if you just talk slowly enough? Before we raise the portcullis, we also talk about Targi, and Catan.

01:25 - Targi
07:19 - Catan
09:35 - Gateway games
17:11 - Forbidden Island
18:38 - Codenames
19:01 - Sushi Go!
22:23 - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
24:56 - Bärenpark
27:47 - Biblios
32:16 - Splendor
35:31 - The Quest for El Dorado
38:12 - Blue Lagoon
41:05 - Dominion
43:57 - Wingspan
47:32 - Converting non-gamers?

#56: Shelf of Shape Up or Ship Out

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:43:23 +0000

It's always sad to see a game go. But sometimes it's just time to move on, to let it be free, to let someone else enjoy its esoteric rules and quirky components. Games leave our collections for many reasons, so let's take a look at some of them. Before we spark joy, we talk about Big Dig, Trains, and The River.

01:18 - Big Dig
05:00 - Trains
09:30 - The Quest for El Dorado
10:17 - The River
19:51 - Why Games Leave our Collections
27:40 - Through The Ages
27:40 - Mage Knight
29:02 - Founders of Gloomhaven
33:49 - Capital Lux
35:25 - Rapid Fire Send-offs

#55: Answerversary

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

One year, baby! We did it. It's our first anniversary, and we're celebrating by ... putting out an episode of the podcast. We got a couple of reader questions that we thought would be especially pertinent for this occasion, as we look back on the impact Board Game Barrage has had on us. Before we pop the champagne, we talk about The Quacks of Quedlinburg, Forum Trajanum, and Narabi.

04:37 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
08:57 - Forum Trajanum
15:08 - Narabi
21:00 - How has Board Game Barrage impacted us?
32:08 - Do review copies make us less impartial?
33:45 - Hyperspace
35:24 - Shouldn't Mark be the Red Tank?
39:08 - Guest reviews!

#54: 2019: An Up and Coming Year

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 10:03:44 +0000

2019 is well underway, but with so many amazing games on the horizon, it's hard to know what to look out for. Fear not, listener, that's what we're here for. Join us as we count down our most anticipated games of the year. Before we cast our eyes ahead, we talk about New Frontiers: The Race for the Galaxy Board Game, and Hansa Teutonica.

02:33 - New Frontiers: The Race for the Galaxy Board Game
09:25 - Hansa Teutonica
18:13 - Most Anticipated Games of 2019
18:59 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
22:09 - Glorantha: The Gods War
25:28 - TOKYO TSUKIJI MARKET
28:27 - Sabotage
31:04 - Living Planet
33:26 - Pipeline
36:20 - Escape Plan
38:04 - Res Arcana
39:36 - Barrage
41:03 - ELO Darkness
44:02 - Black Angel
45:18 - On Mars
46:43 - Warpgate
48:54 - Mezo
51:07 - City of the Big Shoulders

#53: Objection!

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 12:29:43 +0000

Objectivity is a nice goal, but what does it mean for board game criticism? Are there elements of board game design that we can have factual conversations about, without invoking our personal biases? We debate this in the only way we know how. Before we start shouting, we talk about Hyperspace, Gùgōng, and Wingspan.

02:30 - Hyperspace
08:52 - Gùgōng
14:43 - ZhanGuo
17:35 - Last Will
18:06 - Wingspan
21:37 - Innovation
26:26 - Critical Objectivity
26:58 - Nemesis
28:01 - Zombicide
32:01 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
43:04 - Monopoly
43:55 - Formula D
44:42 - Magical Athlete
46:18 - Diplomacy

#52: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Theme

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 12:38:58 +0000

Sometimes you're not looking to win or lose, you're looking for an experience. A lot of games promise to deliver thematic gameplay, but what does that mean for the mechanics? Does it have to be one without the other? Before we set the mood, we talk about Nusfjord, Paper Tales, and Nemesis.

03:25 - Nusfjord
09:43 - Paper Tales
15:25 - Nemesis
25:34 - Thematic Games We Like
26:08 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
29:58 - Nothing Personal
31:16 - Gloomhaven
31:35 - Android: Netrunner
32:05 - Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
33:19 - Captain Sonar
36:45 - The Resistance
37:48 - The Grizzled
39:19 - Dune

#51: The Best of Times

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

We throw back to our very first episode, with our biggest surprises and disappointments of the year gone by. 2018 was a year of highs and lows, but sometimes you just don't see them coming. The difference between expectation and the final product is what this week's episode is all about. Before we gaze back wistfully, we talk about Akrotiri, Blue Moon City, and This Guilty Land.

01:56 - Akrotiri
05:09 - Innovation
05:27 - Blue Moon City
10:31 - This Guilty Land
16:37 - 2018's Biggest Disappointments
16:57 - Rising Sun
21:29 - The 7th Continent
25:31 - Merlin
32:07 - 2018's Best Surprises
32:21 - Space Base
34:31 - Decrypto
37:18 - Lords of Hellas

#50: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2018: 10-1

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:11:58 +0000

Top ten, baby! We finally made it. And thus concludes our five part series of our favourite games of all-time. Frankly, we were changed by the experience, and will never be the same again. We hope you were too.

01:35 - Kalen #10 - Coloretto
03:30 - Mark #10 - True Colors
06:15 - Neilan #10 - Dominion
09:28 - Kalen #9 - Diplomacy
12:45 - Mark #9 - ??? (32:02)
13:10 - Neilan #9 - Guards of Atlantis
16:32 - Kalen #8 - ??? (01:24:54)
16:43 - Mark #8 - Brass: Birmingham
20:27 - Neilan #8 - Scythe
25:32 - Kalen #7 - Troyes
28:07 - Mark #7 - Cuba Libre
31:54 - Neilan #7 - ??? (32:02)
32:02 - Kalen #6 - Time's Up!
35:23 - Mark #6 - ??? (01:07:00)
35:29 - Neilan #6 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
38:57 - Kalen #5 - El Grande
38:57 - Mark #5 - El Grande
42:56 - Neilan #5 - A Feast for Odin
46:09 - Kalen #4 - Cthulhu Wars
50:47 - Mark #4 - 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
53:55 - Neilan #4 - Codenames
56:19 - Kalen #3 - Cosmic Encounter
59:47 - Mark #3 - Francis Drake
01:04:17 - Neilan #3 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
01:07:00 - Kalen #2 - Archipelago
01:11:35 - Mark #2 - Arboretum
01:15:15 - Neilan #2 - Gloomhaven
01:19:37 - Kalen #1 - Innovation
01:23:16 - Mark #1 - Biblios
01:24:54 - Neilan #1 - The Resistance

#49: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2018: 20-11

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The end is nigh! If you squint just right you can see it from here. We're almost done counting down our favourite fifty games of all time, so join us in the penultimate part of our five part series.

01:20 - Mark #20 - Caverna
03:18 - Neilan #20 - Archipelago
05:49 - Kalen #20 - Fuji Flush
07:43 - Mark #19 - Troyes
09:22 - Neilan #19 - Aeon's End: War Eternal
12:38 - Kalen #19 - Genoa
14:29 - Mark #18 - Cthulhu Wars
15:40 - Neilan #18 - Alchemists
18:38 - Kalen #18 - No Thanks!
20:09 - Mark #17 - 1846: The Race for the Midwest
22:09 - Neilan #17 - Inis
25:27 - Kalen #17 - Telestrations
27:05 - Mark #16 - Dominant Species
31:19 - Neilan #16 - Exit: The Game
34:20 - Kalen #16 - Inis
35:34 - Mark #15 - Imperial 2030
37:22 - Neilan #15 - Watson & Holmes
40:03 - Kalen #15 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
41:11 - Mark #14 - Tigris & Euphrates
43:15 - Neilan #14 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
45:26 - Kalen #14 - Omen: A Reign of War
46:46 - Mark #13 - Caylus
49:58 - Neilan #13 - Cthulhu Wars
51:15 - Kalen #13 - Dogs of War
53:03 - Mark #12 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
55:57 - Neilan #12 - Pictomania
57:38 - Kalen #12 - Codenames
58:00 - Mark #11 - Rising Sun
58:00 - Neilan #11 - Rising Sun
01:02:04 - Kalen #11 - I'm the Boss!

#48: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2018: 30-21

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Okay, we're past the middle. It's all downhill from here, but the good sort of downhill. We're counting down our fifty favourite board games, in part three of what the world is calling our most ambitious endeavour yet! Well, we're calling it that.

01:01 - Neilan #30 - Grand Austria Hotel
02:35 - Kalen #30 - Startups
04:20 - Mark #30 - Pax Renaissance
06:37 - Neilan #29 - Azul
08:57 - Kalen #29 - Imperial 2030
10:37 - Mark #29 - Kemet
11:52 - Neilan #28 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
14:26 - Kalen #28 - A Fake Artist Goes to New York
16:06 - Mark #28 - Castles of Burgundy
18:51 - Neilan #27 - Coloretto
20:53 - Kalen #27 - Hanabi
22:53 - Mark #27 - Blue Lagoon
24:36 - Neilan #26 - Spirit Island
27:03 - Kalen #26 - Cockroach Poker
28:50 - Mark #26 - Age of Steam
30:53 - Neilan #25 - Blue Lagoon
32:10 - Kalen #25 - A Study in Emerald (Second Edition)
34:40 - Mark #25 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant
38:11 - Neilan #24 - Alhambra
41:16 - Kalen #24 - Insider
43:16 - Mark #24 - The Great Zimbabwe
47:03 - Neilan #23 - Patchwork
49:24 - Kalen #23 - Splendor
50:11 - Mark #23 - Orléans
51:19 - Neilan #22 - Taj Mahal
52:16 - Kalen #22 - Decrypto
53:33 - Mark #22 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
57:02 - Neilan #21 - Android: Netrunner
01:00:09 - Kalen #21 - Glory to Rome
01:00:09 - Mark #21 - Glory to Rome

#47: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2018: 40-31

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Ten down, forty to go ... It's part two of our all-time top fifty lists! What surprises await us in this, the second installment of our historic feature?! Find out with us as we celebrate some fantastic board games!

Kalen #40 – For Sale
Mark #40 – Guards of Atlantis: Tabletop MOBA
Neilan #40 – Hanamikoji
Kalen #39 – Bruges
Mark #39 – A Feast for Odin
Neilan #39 – In the Year of the Dragon
Kalen #38 – Crokinole
Mark #38 – Sol: Last Days of a Star
Neilan #38 – Kemet
Kalen #37 – Taj Mahal
Mark #37 – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Neilan #37 – Codenames: Duet
Kalen #36 – Piñata
Mark #36 – A Question of Scruples
Neilan #36 – Dead of Winter
Kalen #35 – SiXeS
Mark #35 – Modern Art
Neilan #35 – Agricola
Kalen #34 – Lords of Vegas
Mark #34 – Decrypto
Neilan #34 – Decrypto
Kalen #33 – Wiz-War
Mark #33 – Terra Mystica
Neilan #33 – Sol: Last Days of a Star
Kalen #32 – SHH
Mark #32 – Le Havre
Neilan #32 – Orléans
Kalen #31 – Keyflower
Mark #31 – Codenames
Neilan #31 – Gaia Project

#46: Top 50 Games of All-Time 2018: 50-41

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 12:12:05 +0000

We're counting down to our 50th episode, and what better way than to give our definitive lists of our 50 favourite games of all time?! You've been asking for it, so we've only gone and done it. Brace yourselves, we're just getting started.

01:11 - Mark #50 - Dungeon Fighter
02:51 - Neilan #50 - Werewords
04:36 - Kalen #50 - Agricola
06:28 - Mark #49 - Chronicles of Crime
08:07 - Neilan #49 - Biblios
09:28 - Kalen #49 - Concept
10:55 - Mark #48 - Pictomania
13:02 - Neilan #48 - Mage Knight Board Game
14:54 - Kalen #48 - Hanamikoji
16:27 - Mark #47 - Kanban
17:28 - Neilan #47 - Splendor
19:26 - Kalen #47 - Ingenious
20:40 - Mark #46 - Samurai
22:55 - Neilan #46 - Clank!
25:09 - Kalen #46 - Evolution
27:54 - Mark #45 - ZhanGuo
29:23 - Neilan #45 - Innovation
31:39 - Kalen #45 - Mysterium
33:02 - Mark #44 - Ra
34:21 - Neilan #44 - Puerto Rico
36:48 - Kalen #44 - New Angeles
38:58 - Mark #43 - Wyatt Earp
41:29 - Neilan #43 - The Oracle of Delphi
42:18 - Kalen #43 - The Game
46:23 - Mark #42 - Blood Rage
50:04 - Neilan #42 - Anomia
52:00 - Kalen #42 - Lifeboat
53:51 - Mark #41 - Tzolk'in
55:39 - Neilan #41 - Panic on Wall Street!
57:56 - Kalen #41 - Diamant/Incan Gold

#45: Green Letter Episode?

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:51:25 +0000

It's question time again! After last week's massive success, we couldn't resist the urge to have you, loyal listener, once more do all the work for us. Before we turn the microphones around, we also talk about Brass: Birmingham, Exodus: Paris Nouveau, and Werewords.

01:52 - Brass: Birmingham
05:48 - Exodus: Paris Nouveau
09:55 - Werewords
15:30 - Listener Questions
15:39 - Should I play the classics?
15:39 - Catan
15:39 - Carcassonne
20:21 - What solo games do you like?
21:08 - Coffee Roaster
21:35 - Scythe
21:45 - A Feast for Odin
21:53 - One Deck Dungeon
22:18 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
23:35 - Onirim
24:50 - Hot Trivia Question
26:02 - Reviewing games after one play?
36:13 - Cry Havoc
37:49 - More convention showings?
39:32 - How do you pick game night games?
42:40 - YouTube?

#44: Red Letter Episode

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:03:46 +0000

It's your time to shine! We field questions from you, our adoring fans, in our first ever Q&A episode. You sent us the important topical issues you've been yearning for our take on, and takes ye shall receive. Before we line up in front of the mic, we also talk about Blokus, Brass: Lancashire, and Teotihucan: City of Gods.

01:42 - Blokus
06:16 - Brass: Lancashire
12:40 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
19:20 - World Chess Championship
21:51 - Listener Questions
22:10 - Does Kalen hate co-ops?
22:50 - Pandemic
23:24 - Spirit Island
24:23 - Has Kalen played more Spirit Island?
28:16 - Best "bang for your buck" board games?
32:10 - Castles of Burgundy
32:47 - Azul
33:15 - Splendor
33:46 - Taj Mahal
34:40 - Cthulhu Wars
37:27 - Archipelago
39:11 - How are you still friends?
41:23 - Rising Sun
44:36 - Giveaway! (Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra)

#43: My Triumphs, My Mistakes

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 12:06:57 +0000

We're getting introspective this week, weighing up the mistakes we've made in our collections, and reflecting on our earlier selves. Would you reset your board game collection? What games might you not buy if you had to do it all over again? Before we turn back time, we also talk about Between Two Castles Of Mad King Ludwig, Claustrophobia, and KeyForge: Call of the Archons.

01:39 - Between Two Castles Of Mad King Ludwig
06:17 - Claustrophobia
10:43 - KeyForge: Call of the Archons
21:12 - Resetting your Collection
21:50 - Innovation
22:22 - Patchwork
23:50 - Skull
25:53 - Forbidden Stars
28:10 - Through The Ages: A New Story of Civilization
28:55 - Cosmic Encounter
32:05 - Fury of Dracula
33:57 - Rising Sun
34:22 - Blood Rage
35:52 - Cthulhu Wars
54:28 - Giveaway! (Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra)

#42: We've Been Co-opted

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:11:50 +0000

Not everything has to be a competition, because this week we're talking about cooperation. I know, it's weird, in some games, you're not actually trying to beat the other players! We're counting down our favourite co-op games, "favourite" of course being a relative term in Kalen's case. Before we put our heads together, we also talk about SSH, Just One, and Hamsterrolle.

01:44 - SHH
04:39 - Just One
07:53 - Hamsterrolle
11:32 - Chess
14:12 - Our Favourite Cooperative Games
15:27 - Codenames Duet
17:44 - The Grizzled
19:15 - Kitchen Rush
21:40 - Aeon's End: War Eternal
23:46 - Burgle Bros
25:04 - Chronicles of Crime
29:57 - Exit: The Game
33:30 - Mysterium
35:49 - Dungeon Fighter
38:53 - Spirit Island
42:04 - The Game
43:18 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
45:21 - Gloomhaven
50:44 - Hanabi
52:16 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

#41: The First Cut Is the Deepest

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 10:46:20 +0000

There's no love like your first love, and this week we're talking about our early board game crushes. These are the games that first got us into the hobby, that made us want to shout our love for board games to all who'd care to hear. Before we walk down memory lane, we also talk about Key to the City: London, Empires, and Guards of Atlantis.

03:31 - Key to the City: London
09:14 - Empires
15:48 - Guards of Atlantis
29:49 - Our First Board Game Crushes
30:34 - Connect Four
31:33 - Scrabble
32:43 - Acquire
33:22 - Hang On Harvey
34:31 - Risk
36:49 - True Colors
39:08 - Dominion
41:52 - Space Hulk
43:27 - WarCraft: The Board Game
44:16 - The Resistance
46:32 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
47:09 - Alhambra
48:10 - Biblios
49:06 - Cosmic Encounter
50:22 - Genoa
51:25 - Through The Ages

#40: Bling It On

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000

We're doing some upgrades this episode, because we're talking about improving and enhancing the board games we already own through accessories, new components, and fancy inserts. Before we sleeve our cards, we also talk about Keyflower, The Palaces of Carrara, Welcome To...'s Halloween Expansion, and That's Not Lemonade!

01:41 - Keyflower
08:46 - The Palaces of Carrara
12:17 - Welcome To ... Halloween Expansion
15:22 - That's Not Lemonade!
18:50 - Component Upgrades
27:56 - Gloomhaven
33:59 - Archipelago
34:33 - Dominant Species
45:32 - Scythe

#39: Essen SPIEL 2018 Preview

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 08:31:48 +0000

Essen SPIEL 2018! Okay, we're not technically at Essen SPIEL, but we've got that Essen FEEL. We're each counting down the five games that we most wish we were in Germany to play this weekend. Before we hand over our Euros, we talk about SPQF, Le Havre, and Scythe: The Rise of Fenris.

02:09 - SPQF
07:17 - Le Havre
12:31 - Scythe: The Rise of Fenris
17:06 - Essen Preview
17:49 - Magnastorm
19:11 - Futuropia
20:27 - Big Shot
22:41 - Gùgōng
24:21 - Shadows: Amsterdam
26:41 - Smartphone Inc.
28:03 - Alone
29:40 - Solenia
30:44 - Tsukiji
31:51 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
33:26 - Pax Transhumanity
34:53 - Rebel Nox
36:09 - Warpgate
38:35 - Forum Trajanum
39:34 - 1906 San Francisco
44:43 - Scythe: The Rise of Fenris (SPOILERS!)

#38: Six Things I Hate About You

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 10:02:02 +0000

Board game dealbreakers, we all have them, and they're enough to dissuade us from buying or even playing some otherwise great games. This week, we go around the table and talk about two things each that put us off in board games. Before we start looking elsewhere, we talk about Illusion, and Food Chain Magnate.

02:16 - Illusion
04:46 - Food Chain Magnate
18:05 - Too Many Steps for Simple Tasks
18:35 - 1st & Goal
19:42 - Blood Bowl
21:04 - Baseball Highlights: 2045
21:36 - Automobiles
23:04 - Too Many Variants
23:35 - Agricola
26:26 - Mezo
27:33 - Battlestar Galactica
31:20 - Production Hampering Immersion
32:17 - Rising Sun
33:03 - The Great Zimbabwe
33:52 - Leonardo da Vinci
36:13 - Zombicide
37:20 - Sidereal Confluence
38:16 - Punishing the Leader
38:27 - Power Grid
39:35 - Gravwell
41:14 - Flamme Rouge
41:35 - Suburbia
43:03 - Point Salads
44:18 - Agricola
44:45 - Village
48:10 - Blue Lagoon
52:50 - Roleplaying and Improv
53:27 - Fog of Love
53:58 - Thornwatch
56:22 - Tales of the Arabian Nights

#37: Origin Story

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:00:56 +0000

How do you meet other board game enthusiasts? Just loving and owning board games isn't enough if you don't have anyone to play them with! It's not always easy to turn your friends into board gamers, so what are your other options? Well, sit back, as we cast our minds far, far back into the past, when the Board Game Barrage trio was just three separate unos. This is where it all began. Before we gather round the campfire, we talk about Crypt, Fool's Gold, and War Chest.

01:01 - Crypt
03:22 - Coloretto
05:17 - Fool's Gold
08:23 - War Chest
13:47 - Meeting Board Gamers
26:23 - Skull
40:40 - Twilight Imperium

#36: Your Unfulfilled Potential

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

What's your white whale? The one game you've been itching to get to the table for ages, but for whatever reason, just never have? Well, call me Ishmael, 'cause we're counting down not just one, not five, but ten games each that we haven't played, but really want to. Maybe this'll be the kick in the pants we need … but probably not. Before we dust off our shelves of shame, we talk about CIV: Carta Impera Victoria, Raxxon, and Scythe: The Rise of Fenris.

01:36 - Carta Impera Victoria
04:49 - Raxxon
09:28 - Scythe: The Rise of Fenris
15:18 - Games we Want to Play
16:56 - Fog of Love
17:38 - Spirit Island
18:47 - Dungeon Petz
20:16 - Mini Rails
20:45 - Pax Porfiriana
21:42 - Keyflower
23:12 - Dogs of War
24:09 - Clockwork Wars
24:37 - Anachrony
25:24 - Lisboa
26:17 - Three Kingdoms Redux
26:59 - Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
27:55 - ?!!?
28:50 - The Gallerist
29:36 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
30:13 - Diplomacy
30:58 - For-Ex
31:46 - Project: ELITE
32:40 - War of the Ring
33:23 - Roads & Boats
34:12 - Tammany Hall
35:04 - Fury of Dracula
35:51 - 1880: China
36:45 - Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery
37:41 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game
38:36 - Crokinole
39:32 - An Infamous Traffic
40:38 - Chaos in the Old World
42:11 - Great Western Trail
43:06 - Dune
44:40 - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

#35: The Power of Balance

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Asymmetry is a powerful tool for game design, if done right. There's a lot of replayability right out of the box, and finding a playstyle that works for you can be very satisfying. But this dark alchemy has a darker byproduct: imbalance. When so much is different between each player, how do you ensure that things stay fair? Before we nerf plz, we discuss Container, and more Root.

01:40 - Container
12:28 - Root
18:08 - Scoreboard Update
20:04 - Balancing Asymmetry
26:49 - Vast: The Crystal Caverns
27:26 - Cosmic Encounter
30:05 - Scythe
30:55 - Terra Mystica
33:20 - Cry Havoc
40:08 - Cthulhu Wars
44:14 - The Voyages of Marco Polo
45:27 - Rising Sun
47:55 - Sidereal Confluence
49:57 - Diplomacy

#34: You Know the Rules and So Do I

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 10:11:55 +0000

Board game rules, unlike other rules, were not made to be broken. They're to be strictly adhered to, trust me, this is going to be totally fun, there's just a few more things to go over and then we can start. Sometimes remembering and teaching rules can feel like a burden, so where's the line? Before we explain the turn structure, we discuss Dairyman, Riff Raff, and Lords of Hellas.

03:30 - Dairyman
07:12 - Blue Lagoon
09:00 - Riff Raff
10:49 - Lords of Hellas
20:24 - Board Game Rules
25:57 - Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team
32:38 - Gloomhaven
37:40 - Mage Knight
39:52 - Root
42:26 - Decrypto

#33: You Can't Win 'Em All

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 09:37:18 +0000

Look, sometimes we lose games. I know. It's weird. It's hard to talk about, to be frank, but it's important to realize that your heroes can have flaws. So, this week, we're counting down our top five games we're bad at! Before we admit defeat, we also discuss Yogi, Orléans, and Blue Lagoon.

01:38 - Yogi
05:25 - Orléans
11:56 - Blue Lagoon
18:28 - Good games we're bad at
20:26 - Santorini
23:50 - Spyfall
26:30 - Captain Sonar
27:45 - Avenue
30:01 - Incan Gold
31:31 - Deep Sea Adventure
32:54 - Splendor
34:38 - Glüx
35:49 - Pictomania
37:12 - Archipelago
39:11 - The Oracle of Delphi
41:45 - I'm The Boss
44:33 - Android: Netrunner
46:35 - Kanban
48:30 - Tigris & Euphrates

#32: Are We Having Fun Yet?

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 10:43:16 +0000

In this week's fun episode, we talk gaming etiquette, or the unspoken rules that surface when you're playing a board game. They often have nothing to do with the game itself, but what's appropriate? Should you deliberately help and hinder others at the table? Before we let the Wookiee win, we also discuss Let's Make a Bus Route, Sailing Toward Osiris, Fleet, and Founders of Gloomhaven.

01:45 - Let's Make a Bus Route
06:06 - Sailing Toward Osiris
10:10 - Fleet
15:30 - Founders of Gloomhaven
33:57 - Gaming Etiquette
39:25 - Puerto Rico
40:17 - The Resistance
41:02 - Root
42:04 - Archipelago
54:40 - Scythe

#31: Logged and Loaded

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 09:10:22 +0000

Just when you thought we couldn't get nerdier, this episode is all about logging plays and collecting statistics on your games. It turns out it's actually a pretty fun way to look back on your gaming history. We also discuss Fast Forward: FORTRESS, The Captain Is Dead, and Schummel Hummel.

02:38 - Fast Forward: FORTRESS
06:57 - The Captain Is Dead
12:57 - Schummel Hummel (Cheating Bumblebee)
16:22 - Logging Games

#30: Party Party Party

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 09:00:00 +0000

We're staying up all night to count down our favourite party games! You know the feeling. Everyone's at your place, no one's talking, it's a little bit awkward ... but then you break out some of these fifteen amazing party games, and suddenly everyone's back in, talking, laughing and shouting until the early hours. We also talk about JamSumo, Isle of Trains, and Root.

02:24 - JamSumo
04:05 - Isle of Trains
06:17 - Root
17:43 - Party Game Countdown
19:10 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
22:59 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf
25:08 - Cockroach Poker
27:20 - Krazy Wordz
29:26 - Pit
32:02 - Fuji Flush
33:32 - Pictomania
36:04 - Anomia
39:20 - Balderdash
41:41 - Codenames
43:03 - A Question of Scruples
44:56 - Time's Up: Title Recall
47:43 - The Resistance
51:22 - True Colors
53:32 - Telestrations

#29: Cult of the You Do You

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Shiny and new! Everyone online is talking about the latest, greatest thing, and you can't help but feel that you're missing out. How important is it to keep up with the cult of the new? We also talk about Cthulhu Wars, World Championship Russian Roulette, Kubb, and Word Slam.

01:38 - Cthulhu Wars
04:56 - World Championship Russian Roulette
07:47 - Kubb
09:35 - Word Slam
14:53 - The Cult of the New
32:25 - Alien Artifacts
33:25 - Patchwork
34:32 - Space Base
34:45 - Glorantha: The Gods War
46:14 - Chess
48:31 - Secret Hitler
49:39 - El Grande
50:19 - Codenames

#28: Dance Like Nobody's Watching

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 07:51:11 +0000

In the wake of Gen Con, we return home invigorated about just how grand and diverse the hobby is. We celebrate the games that we might not otherwise have thought to play, and encourage you to do the same! We also talk about Lift it!, The Estates, and Cat Lady.

01:57 - Gen Con Final Thoughts
09:30 - Lift it!
13:00 - The Estates
20:42 - Cat Lady
22:47 - The Breadth of Gaming
24:27 - Sushi Go
26:45 - Zombicide: Black Plague

#27: Gen Con 2018 Day Three

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 05:52:50 +0000

Day three of Gen Con is over, and that's a wrap for our coverage from Indianapolis! Enjoy our final thoughts from the show floor (at least for this week), while we trudge back to the west coast with as many games as we can carry. We talk about Istanbul: The Dice Game, Wendake, One Week Ultimate Werewolf, Show & Tile, Coimbra, and Trade on the Tigris.

#26: Gen Con 2018 Day Two

Sat, 04 Aug 2018 05:37:32 +0000

We're halfway through Gen Con, and we wrap up day two of the show with our thoughts from the floors and tables and beds (?!) of Indianapolis. We talk about Crusader Kings, Scarabya, Petrichor, Zogan, Flotsam Fight, Welcome To..., and Dice Fishing: Roll and Catch!

#25: Gen Con 2018 Day One

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:42:36 +0000

Gen Con! It's here at last, and we run through our quick impressions of the first day of the show. We talk about Exodus: Paris Nouveau, Reef, Nyctophobia, and Illusion.

#24: Gen Con 2018 Preview

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 10:01:41 +0000

Gen Con 2018 is almost upon us, and we're counting down the games we're most excited to check out! We also talk about Vikings, and Navegador.

01:43 - Spiel des Jahres
03:10 - Vikings
07:45 - Navegador
10:15 - Gen Con 2018 Preview
13:50 - Piepmatz
16:13 - Welcome To ...
19:01 - Dice Fishing: Roll and Catch
20:26 - Ultimate Werewolf Legacy
23:18 - Coimbra
25:24 - Lost Cities: Rivals
27:19 - Pikoko
29:29 - Wendake
31:30 - Nyctophobia
34:03 - Yellow & Yangtze
36:27 - Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
39:07 - Gizmos
41:03 - Newton
44:23 - Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team
52:30 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
53:26 - Hyperspace

#23: Are You Feeling Lucky?

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Luck is an element of almost every board game there is, but it's still a major point of contention. Whether it's the roll of dice, or the draw of a card, randomness can make or break a game. We also talk about Lowlands, Bilder, In the Year of the Dragon, and revisit Space Base.

00:54 - Lowlands
07:32 - Bilder
11:03 - In the Year of the Dragon
16:14 - Space Base
20:12 - Luck in Games
23:40 - Cthulhu Wars
31:24 - Guards of Atlantis
36:06 - Lords of Vegas
42:42 - Rising Sun
43:33 - Diamant

#22: Baby's First Social Interaction

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 10:30:29 +0000

Multiplayer Solitaire doesn't have to be a bad thing! Sometimes we're just not always looking for high interaction, high conflict games, and that's okay. We break down some games with low interaction, and what makes them great. We also talk about Joraku, Impulse, and Wyatt Earp.

01:36 - Joraku
06:25 - Impulse
16:34 - Wyatt Earp
19:29 - BGB on Twitch!
21:18 - Low Interaction Games
28:32 - The Godfather: Corleone's Empire
29:31 - Karuba/NMBR 9
34:05 - Agricola
38:55 - Cooperative Games
41:33 - Azul
46:15 - Castles of Mad King Ludwig

#21: The Beautiful Game

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 08:59:21 +0000

World Cup fever sweeps the podcast, as we consider the analogies between board gaming and sport. We also talk about Harvest, Caylus, Exit: The Game, and Trajan.

2:07 - Harvest
4:27 - Caylus
9:45 - Exit: The Game
13:39 - Trajan
14:48 - Board Games and Sport
19:45 - Balderdash
26:52 - Rising Sun
29:24 - Archipelago
33:24 - Care Bear Eurogame
36:22 - Diplomacy

#20: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:10:05 +0000

We're counting down games that replace other games in our collections! We also talk about Chimera Station.

01:31 - Chimera Station
05:16 - Games That Replaced Others
06:49 - Queendomino
08:28 - San Juan
09:56 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
13:55 - Space Base
16:36 - Cthulhu Wars
17:52 - Android: Netrunner
21:01 - Azul
23:49 - Cockroach Poker
25:56 - Watson & Holmes
29:31 - Pictomania
33:15 - Splendor
36:59 - A Feast for Odin
42:22 - Alchemists
44:45 - What Replaces Biblios?
45:44 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
50:48 - Aeon's End: War Eternal

#19: What Are You Made Of?

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:00:00 +0000

What would a board game be without components? Just rules and a box, I guess. Before we pick up our pieces, we talk about Wildcatters, Bärenpark, Chimera, Star Cartel, and Council of 4.

01:20 - Wildcatters
06:33 - Bärenpark
09:00 - Chimera
11:50 - Star Cartel
14:42 - Council of 4
20:38 - Components and Production
23:55 - Archipelago
27:02 - Splendor
27:52 - El Grande
29:03 - Cthulhu Wars
30:12 - Scythe
31:55 - Terraforming Mars
33:58 - Zombicide
34:56 - Twilight Imperium
38:47 - Viticulture

#18: You Get What You Give

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 08:57:11 +0000

Skill and experience should be important parts of determining the winner of a game, but what about new players? Accessibility is important too, so, where's the balance? We also talk about High Society, Rising 5: Runes of Asteros, The Tea Dragon Society Card Game, and Inkognito.

03:42 - High Society
07:16 - For Sale
08:20 - Rising 5: Runes of Asteros
12:17 - The Tea Dragon Society Card Game
14:36 - Inkognito
19:17 - Rewarding Experience versus Accessibility
20:53 - Food Chain Magnate
23:40 - Chess
28:27 - Power Grid
32:38 - Arboretum
33:45 - Through the Ages
39:35 - Innovation
41:37 - Guards of Atlantis

#17: The Best Things in Life Are $20 or Less

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 10:10:21 +0000

What games can you get for $20? Quite a few really good ones, it turns out. We also discuss Scythe, Watson & Holmes, and Mansions of Madness: Second Edition.

01:34 - Scythe
10:44 - Watson & Holmes
13:06 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
15:25 - The Best Games Under $20
17:12 - For Sale
19:56 - The Resistance
21:55 - Oink Games
24:29 - The Grizzled
26:41 - Krazy Wordz
28:50 - Time's Up! Title Recall!
30:50 - Sushi Go!
35:18 - Hanabi
37:53 - Innovation
41:19 - Patchwork
43:25 - Notre Dame
46:29 - Coloretto
49:37 - Decrypto
53:00 - Biblios
54:35 - Codenames

#16: How to Win Friends & Area Control People

Thu, 31 May 2018 08:57:50 +0000

We wrap up the mechanics trilogy with Kalen's pick, area control. We also talk about Herbaceous Sprouts, Fae, Explorers of the North Sea, Wiz-War, and Imperial 2030.

02:40 - Herbaceous Sprouts
04:53 - Herbaceous
06:08 - Fae
08:54 - Explorers of the North Sea
10:30 - Wiz-War
15:01 - Imperial 2030
19:40 - Area Control
25:32 - Blood Rage, Rising Sun
27:20 - Risk
28:10 - Kemet, Inis
32:10 - Hanamikoji, Battle Line
35:05 - Eclipse
35:30 - Twilight Struggle, Cuba Libre
37:18 - Notre Dame
37:52 - Scythe
41:14 - Ethnos
42:34 - Tigris & Euphrates
42:52 - Glüx
43:45 - Diplomacy

#15: Keep Your Hands to Yourself

Thu, 24 May 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Week two of our favourite mechanics in board games is Mark's pick, hand management. We also talk about Ascending Empires, Funky Chicken, Felicity: The Cat in the Sack, and New Corp Order.

01:47 - Ascending Empires
05:41 - Funky Chicken
07:14 - Felicity: The Cat in the Sack
08:25 - New Corp Order
11:34 - Hand Management
12:57 - Terraforming Mars
13:44 - Dominion
14:44 - Candyland
15:25 - Scrabble
19:33 - Gloomhaven
20:40 - Biblios
22:00 - Taj Mahal
23:17 - Biblios Again
25:17 - Red 7
26:15 - Arboretum
27:09 - Twilight Struggle
28:32 - Cuba Libre
30:47 - Glory to Rome
31:59 - Wiz-War
33:24 - Cosmic Encounter
34:35 - Bohnanza
36:19 - Hanabi
36:57 - Mage Knight

#14: Do You Want to Know a Secret?

Thu, 17 May 2018 08:56:56 +0000

We kick off three weeks of our favourite mechanics in board games with Neilan's pick, hidden information. We also talk about Omen: Fires in the East, Gaia Project, and Pioneer Days.

01:30 - Omen: Fires in the East
03:39 - Gaia Project
05:43 - Pioneer Days
09:59 - Drop It
11:21 - Hidden Information
13:31 - Archipelago
19:32 - Dead of Winter
23:04 - I'm The Boss
23:48 - El Grande
27:56 - Discworld: Ankh Morpork
30:21 - Hanabi
38:58 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis!
39:59 - Chaosmos
41:55 - New Angeles
43:21 - Lifeboat

#13: We're Still Right

Thu, 10 May 2018 09:00:00 +0000

We return to BGG's top list, but we're flipping it on its head. That's right, we're talking about much loved games that we don't much love. We're also giving away a copy of Drop It!

01:05 - Drop It
04:53 - Cosmic Encounter
09:59 - Above and Below
12:56 - T.I.M.E Stories
16:36 - Lewis & Clark
18:29 - Five Tribes
20:12 - Inis
23:56 - 7 Wonders
27:06 - Viticulture
33:07 - Mechs vs. Minions
37:05 - Robinson Crusoe
39:42 - Scythe
50:10 - Terraforming Mars
52:43 - Blood Rage

#12: More Isn't Always Better

Thu, 03 May 2018 09:00:00 +0000

This week, we explain and expound our experiences with expansions. Improvements, tweaks, variability: the benefits are clear, but what does tacking more onto a game mean for all your players? Is it always a good thing? How much is too much? Before we get there, we discuss Altiplano, Omen: A Reign of War, Felicity: The Cat in the Sack, and A Feast for Odin.

Timecodes:

01:41 - Omen: A Reign of War
09:39 - Altiplano
18:58 - A Feast for Odin
28:11 - Felicity: The Cat in the Sack
30:56 - Expansions

#11: Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 07:54:58 +0000

Why is everything so heavy? Well, we all played Dominant Species together, and so we're in a heavy sort of mood. There's a very vocal subset of the community that'll insist a game isn't worth playing unless it's mechanics are punching above a certain weight. But, surely there's room in a collection for the light games, the easy games, the so-called gateway games? We hash it out, but before we get into Dominant Species and games of its ilk, we revisit Codenames, Pictomania, Clank! and take a first look at The 7th Continent.

Timecodes:

01:37 - Codenames
02:28 - Clank!
08:52 - Pictomania
12:27 - Dominant Species
28:20 - The 7th Continent
37:37 - Heavy Games

#10: Everyone is Wrong and We are Right

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Did you know that sometimes the internet is wrong? Thankfully we're here to tell you what's up, and right the wrongs that BoardGameGeek hath wrought. You see, there are some games in their database that are just ranked way too low for how good they are. So, to fix these injustices, we each count down our top five games that BoardGameGeek got wrong, and we got right. Skip the timecodes if you don't want spoilers!

Timecodes:

00:46 - Azul Contest
01:13 - Games That BGG Got Wrong
02:16 - Safranito
05:13 - Sixes
07:56 - Anomia
10:11 - Quo Vadis?
13:27 - Fuji Flush
15:56 - Watson & Holmes
20:52 - Ugg-Tect
23:49 - Piñata
26:41 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
31:30 - True Colors
35:13 - CrossTalk
38:20 - Panic on Wall Street!
41:01 - Scruples
44:14 - I'm the Boss!
48:46 - Guards of Atlantis

#9: PhD in Legacy

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 17:31:18 +0000

Legacy. What is a legacy? It's podcasting in a studio you don't get to see. And now that I've drawn in all the Hamilton fans, let's talk about board games! Specifically, board games that have campaigns or legacy components. Is it a gimmicky trend, or does it add something meaningful to an experience? We also talk about Alchemists, Inis, and Through The Desert ... and on top of all that, we have a special announcement!

Timecodes:

00:18 - Contest!
02:24 - Alchemists
11:04 - Inis
20:25 - Through The Desert
27:18 - Campaign and Legacy Games
52:15 - The 7th Continent
52:58 - The Flow of History
54:32 - Omen: A Reign of War

#8: Just Deserts

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 09:24:44 +0000

Trapped on a desert island and forced to bring only five board games? We've all been there. And we're going back. To the island. The board game island. It's a question as old as time itself, a favourite philosophical discussion of great minds immemorial; if you had to pare your collection down to just five board games, to play for a very long time, which would they be? Avert your eyes from the timecodes if you want to listen unspoiled, but let's just say that you might be able to guess one or two.

Timecodes:

02:25 - Cthulhu Wars
04:29 - A Feast for Odin
07:31 - Cuba Libre
10:19 - Spirit Island
14:12 - Age of Steam
16:21 - Troyes
19:21 - Codenames
23:00 - Arboretum
27:51 - Cosmic Encounter
32:34 - Gloomhaven
36:44 - Innovation
38:50 - The Resistance
42:40 - Biblios

#7: Kicking and Screaming

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:16:41 +0000

Kickstarters. Can't live with 'em, can't rampantly overspend on incomplete unorthodox game designs without 'em. They're clearly a major force in the board game hobby, but are they a force for good, or for evil? Before we wrestle with that, we talk about the games we've been playing, namely, Imperius, A Tale of Pirates, and Heroes of Land, Air & Sea.

Timecodes:

01:23 - A Tale of Pirates
07:39 - Imperius
16:33 - Heroes of Land, Air & Sea
32:15 - Kickstarter
51:13 - Looking Ahead
52:44 - Fan Mail!

#6: Today's Theme: Pronunciation

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:54:55 +0000

Our feature topic this week is theme. How important is the theme of a board game to you? Does it affect your enjoyment of a game? What games best utilize their theme to put a neat little bow on their mechanics? We talk about all this (and more!!!) after a quick look at our week in games, which includes Tash Kalar, Krazy Wordz, Kanban, and The Mind.

Timecodes:

01:04 - Tash Kalar
02:32 - Krazy Wordz
08:38 - Kanban
17:56 - The Mind
24:00 - Theme
30:30 - Gloomhaven
40:44 - Lords of Vegas
41:47 - Android: Netrunner
42:45 - COIN Series
43:50 - Ponzi Scheme

#5: It's Good To Be Kingmaker

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:30:24 +0000

Kingmaking is our feature topic this week. If you can't win, what's your responsibility as a good player? It's a complex, divisive topic, but then, we're complex, divisive people. We also talk about Wyatt Earp, Coffee Roaster, and El Grande.

Timecodes:

01:24 - Wyatt Earp
08:15 - Coffee Roaster
13:47 - El Grande
19:16 - Kingmaking

#4: Buy Buy Buy

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 03:11:06 +0000

How many board games do you need? If you're Mark, you need them all. Before we get there though, we also talk about what we've been playing, namely, John Company, Coffee Roaster, Adrenaline and Innovation.

Topics discussed:

01:03 - John Company
08:40 - Coffee Roaster
09:42 - Adrenaline
14:30 - Innovation
22:10 - Collection Size

#3: Double Dragonfly

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:48:24 +0000

Rising Sun! Everyone's talking about it, and so must we. It's our feature topic this week, but first, a brief look at what else we've been playing: Spirit Island, Hardback and Decrypto. We close the show with a look ahead to what we're hoping to play.

Games discussed:

00:58 - Spirit Island
07:51 - Hardback
15:45 - Decrypto
20:20 - Rising Sun

#2: Catching Trains and Mathing Trades

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:41:46 +0000

We talk about what we've been playing (1830, Archipelago and Gaia Project), we dive deep into math trading for board games, and close out with what we're looking forward to in the weeks ahead.

Games and topics discussed:

01:10 - 1830
07:39 - Archipelago
14:04 - Gaia Project
20:34 - Math Trading
42:09 - Guards of Atlantis

#1: I'm Not Upset, I'm Just Disappointed

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 03:15:24 +0000

We each talk about a game we liked from 2017, a game that let us down, and what we're looking forward to in 2018, including When I Dream, Gloomhaven, Charterstone, Battle For Rokugan, and more.

Games discussed:

01:55 – When I Dream
04:16 – Charterstone
07:38 – Bob Ross: Art of Chill
09:45 – Battle for Rokugan
14:45 – Gloomhaven
18:01 – The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
21:27 – Tiny Epic Quest
24:01 – Sagrada
27:11 – Photosynthesis