Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Hot Topic - Player Counts Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 223 we discuss player counts. Which genres and games are best at each player count and which player counts we like the best.

We also discuss a poll on listener's average player counts at game night.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Poll: How big is your average player count on game night?

05:50 Feature Discussion - Player Counts

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Let's Go To Japan Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 222 we give our hot take review on Let's Go To Japan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Looot, Frozen Frontiers, and The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Let's Go To Japan Description

02:58 Gameplay and Mechanisms

19:10 Production and Theme

29:11 Final Thoughts

33:41 Looot

39:41 Frozen Frontiers

49:11 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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Top 3 Games with Voting Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 221 we take a look at several games that have voting mechanisms or a theme based around voting.

We also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Stamp Swap, Flamecraft, and Frozen Frontier.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:07 Top 3 Games with Voting

05:12 Werewords

10:19 Godspeed

15:06 Balderdash

18:27 Votes for Women

22:11 Blood on the Clocktower

27:11 The King's Dilemma

30:17 Lancaster

34:57 Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition

40:27 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory

44:42 Stamp Swap

56:35 Flamecraft

1:05:26 Frozen Frontier

1:11:33 Listener Shoutout

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

Top 5 Games with Small Rulesets and Big Decision Space Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 220 we take a look at games that offer outsized gameplay decisions for their relatively small set of rules.

We also share our plans for BGG Con and where listeners can find us.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 BGG Con

02:50 Games with Small Ruleset and Big Decision Space

07:24 Welcome To...

10:45 Capital Lux 2

13:32 Tapestry

17:35 Carcassonne

20:35 Skyrise

23:40 Turing Machine

26:42 Tiny Towns

30:06 Mycelia

33:55 7 Wonders Duel

38:05 Istanbul

40:44 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland

45:09 Architects of the West Kingdom

48:24 Cascadia

50:37 Smartphone, Inc.

53:09 Calico

1:00:17 Listener Shoutout

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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Harvest Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 219 we give our hot take review on Harvest covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on where your board game collection is in your house. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Unconscious Mind, Star Realms: Rise of Empire, and Apiary: Expanding the Hive.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Poll: Is your board game collection displayed publicly in your house?

07:38 Harvest Description

09:07 Gameplay and Mechanisms

24:04 Production and Theme

30:01 Final Thoughts

35:06 Unconscious Mind

43:59 Star Realms: Rise of Empire

51:46 Apiary: Expanding the Hive

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

2024 Top Incoming Crowdfunded Games Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 218 we discuss the top incoming crowdfunded board games that each of us are excited to receive. We also take a look back at last year's list to see what's been delivered and how they hit for us as well.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Look back at 2023 Crowdfund episode

02:25 Wolves

03:54 Wonderland's War: Shards of Madness

05:53 Biohack

06:54 Star Realms: Rise of Empire

07:58 Cthulhu Death May Die: Fear of the Unknown

11:13 Galactic Renaissance

13:23 Teotihuacan: City of Gods Deluxe Master Set

16:04 Arcs

17:39 Star Tycoon

19:02 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3

22:40 Witchcraft!

23:41 Ceres

26:15 The Fox Experiment

27:21 Gloomhaven: Buttons and Bugs

28:57 Frozen Frontier

30:52 Top Upcoming Crowdfunded Games

33:55 Hyperspace

37:17 Red Dust Rebellion

40:25 March of the Ants Evolved Edition

43:25 Obsession: The Characters Expansion

45:21 Mycelia

48:33 Thunder Road Vendetta - Maximum Chrome

51:33 Unconscious Minds

54:17 Dawn of Madness

59:36 Cyclades: Legendary Edition

1:02:13 Dune: War for Arrakis

1:05:11 Final Thoughts - State of Crowdfunding

1:31:50 BlueSky

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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March of the Ants: Evolved Edition Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 217 we give our hot take review on March of the ants covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Boop and Tapestry

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:19 March of the Ants Description

05:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms

27:43 Production and Theme

33:25 Final Thoughts

37:21 boop.

41:27 Tapestry

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes

Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

5 Formative Games - The Games that Made Us Fall In Love With the Board Game Hobby Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 216 we get nostalgic about the board games that sucked us into the hobby.

We also discuss a poll about whether you still play the first game that got you into board games.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Poll: Do you still regularly play the board game that introduced you to the board game hobby? (7 Wonders, Ticket to Ride, Wingspan, Euphoria)

12:47 Guillotine (Magic: The Gathering)

17:46 SolarQuest (Tri-ominos, Mr. Big Mouth, Monopoly)

21:14 D&D: Computer Labyrinth Game, The Dark Tower

27:07 Dominion

30:32 Conquest of the Empire (Miles Borne)

33:50 Axis & Allies (Risk)

36:50 King of Tokyo

40:18 Tripoley (Kingmaker)

44:03 Catan

47:43 Lost Cities

50:32 Scrabble (Race for the Galaxy, Memoir '44, Boggle)

55:21 Scythe (Cthulhu: Death May Die, Blood Rage)

59:12 Five Tribes (Agricola)

1:02:39 Terraforming Mars

1:06:35 A Feast for Odin

1:09:43 Listener Shoutout

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes

Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

River of Gold Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 215 we give our hot take review on River of Gold covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on feelings about the huge amount of games being published. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Tikal, KMG, and Gems of Iridescia.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Poll: Does the huge number of board games available make you happy or stress you out?

05:30 River of Gold Description

06:00 Gameplay and Mechanisms

20:17 Production and Theme

26:39 Final Thoughts

32:57 Tikal

37:25 KMG

41:54 Gems of Iridescia

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes

Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

Board Game Topicpalooza - Mailbag Episode #4 Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 214 we dive deep on a whole bunch of our listener's board game queries.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Is there a point in a game where you should call it quits?

7:25 What are games you might enjoy more if the publisher added, removed, or changed one thing?

16:08 What games are you jealous of players experiencing for the first time?

30:58 Do good gamers make good game designers and vice versa?

36:32 Do you think you'll outgrow the hobby or slow down your current interests?

50:16 How much time do you spend playing games each week and are you playing them with friends or family?

55:58 Listener Shoutout

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes

Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

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