Board Game Barrage

Latest Episodes:

#110: One Small Thing Feb 20, 2020

Show notes

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 Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

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 Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

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 Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

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 Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

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 Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

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 Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

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 Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

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 Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

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 Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

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

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