Board Game Hot Takes

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**Board Game Hot Takes**

We tell you how a board game experience felt – just minutes after we finish playing. Three unique points of view. No non-game nonsense.

Latest Episodes:

Top 5 Filler Games Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 213 we discuss our top 5 filler board games.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:09 Top 5 Filler Games

06:54 Ticket to Ride: San Francisco

10:23 Pass the Pigs

16:22 Kingdomino

20:14 Imhotep

23:23 The Mind

28:43 Fantasy Realms

34:24 Can't Stop / Mountain Goats

38:40 Azul

42:47 Coloretto

45:25 7 Wonders Duel

52:20 Sea Salt & Paper

57:34 Onitama

59:49 Star Realms

1:07:04 Fantastic Factories

1:12:52 Strike

1:16:08 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

Tikal Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 212 we give our hot take review on Tikal covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on whose games you're playing. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Fractal: Beyond the Void, and 7 Wonders Duel.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Poll: Whose boardgames are you most often playing?

09:37 Tikal Description

10:36 Gameplay and Mechanisms

26:48 Production and Theme

29:55 Final Thoughts

38:00 Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig

49:05 Fractal: Beyond the Void

52:53 7 Wonders Duel

56:24 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

Rulebooks, Mechanisms, and More - Mailbag Episode #3 Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 211 we've gone back to the mailbag and answered our listener's questions.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:07 What mechanisms do each of you gravitate towards?

6:16 What are your feelings on board games becoming video games and vice versa?

15:48 What makes a good rulebook to you?

25:41 What games would you take on a trip that are appropriate to play outside?

30:33 What tactics have you used to get a non-gamer into board game night?

39:27 Describer your ideal 3 course board game meal.

48:17 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

Daybreak Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 210 we give our hot take review on Daybreak covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on quarterbacks in co-op games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Cat in the Box, and 7 Wonders Duel, and give a future take on Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Poll: Who's the quarterback when playing co-op games in our game group?

08:24 Daybreak Description

10:22 Gameplay and Mechanisms

20:57 Production and Theme

33:35 Final Thoughts

39:35 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles

49:45 Cat in the Box

55:27 7 Wonders Duel and Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth

1:01:21 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

Hot Topic - BGG Top 20 Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 209 we discuss the Board Game Geeks Top 20 games.

We also discuss a poll on whether you've been influenced to buy a game because it was high up on that ratings list.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Poll: Do you think a board game being in the Board Game Geek Top 20 ever influenced your decision to buy it?

07:35 Feature Discussion - Board Game Geek Top 20 Games.

58:24 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

Top 3 Production Pet Peeves Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 208 we discuss some of our biggest annoyances that some publishers do in regards to the production, components, or presentation of their board games. We look at games that have these problems but also games that we think solved those issues.

We also discuss a poll on whether a past production issue would turn us off from future games by that publisher.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:36 Poll: Has a production or component issue ever made you hesitate in buying another game from that publisher?

11:50 Top 3 Board Game Production Pet Peeves

13:50 Boring or non-thematic first player tokens (Discussed: Nucleum, Boonlake, Pan Am. Wingspan/Wyrmspan, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Dune: Imperium, Dinosaur Island)

20:03 Bad rulebooks (Discussed: Kemet: Blood and Sand, Bitoku, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Trellis, One Deck Galaxy, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Inis, Tainted Grail, This War of Mine)

28:34 Game boxes are too small (Discussed: Great Wall, Lords of Hellas, Blood Rage, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Return to Dark Tower, Lords of Ragnarok)

36:57 Paper thin player boards (Discussed: Terraforming Mars, Underwater Cities, Pan Am, Apiary, Tapestry)

42:44 Lack of diverse representation in art (Discussed: Hansa Teutonica, Grand Austria Hotel, Skyrise, Royal Visit, My Father's Work, Abducktion)

49:15 Repetitive Card Artwork (Discussed: Capital Lux 2: Generations, Nidavellier, Revive, Tapestry, Star Realms, Shamans)

55:48 Molded inserts that make setup or teardown harder (Discussed: Great Western Trail: 2nd Edition, Lords of Waterdeep, Apiary, Expeditions, Dwellings of Eldervale, Cat in the Box, Wonderland's War, Brass: Birmingham)

1:02:24 Production obstructs function (Discussed: Voidfall, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Trekking the World, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn, Trouble, Tacocat

1:09:26 Excessive Card Tucking (Discussed: One Deck Galaxy, Terraforming Mars, Revive, Expeditions, La Granja, Lacrimosa, Space Base, Aquatica)

1:17:30 Runner Ups (Discussed: Voidfall, Magic: The Gathering, Scythe, Carcassone, Baseball Highlights 2045, Star Realms)

1:21:56 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

Luthier Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 207 we give our hot take review on Luthier covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on publisher/designer behavior influencing your interest in buying games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion, Poetry for Neanderthals, and Sail.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:45 Poll: Do the personalities (good or bad), political stances, or past business practices (good or bad) of a publisher or designer influence your willingness to buy a game?

11:50 Luthier Description

14:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms

32:19 Production and Theme

39:10 Final Thoughts

47:15 Poetry for Neanderthals

51:14 Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion

1:00:58 Sail

1:06:40 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

Hot Topic - Why We Buy Games Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 206 we're joined by Arwen from the Cardboard Time Podcast to discuss the reasons that we decide to buy games.

We discuss a poll on how much thought you put into a game before purchasing it.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:45 Poll: How much thought do you put into your choice to purchase a board game?

09:24 Why do we buy games?

10:13 Interactive puzzle

14:16 Easy teach with strong decision space

18:12 I've played it, I LOVE it, and I have a group to play it with

22:14 Captivating system

27:34 Mechanically or thematically unique

31:15 The best version of a mechanism

34:27 Unique or novel

37:58 Accessibility

46:09 Intriguing and deeply discounted

50:22 Speed Round Questions

1:05:54 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

Arcs 2.0 Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 205 we revisit our hot takes on Arcs covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on traveling with games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Captain Flip, Architects of the West Kingdom, and A Gest of Robin Hood.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Poll: When you travel on vacation, how many games do you bring with you?

08:24 Arcs Description

10:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms

33:01 Production and Theme

42:50 Final Thoughts

49:58 Captain Flip

53:29 Architects of the West Kingdom

56:25 A Gest of Robin Hood

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

Top Board Games of All Time 2024 Edition (1-10) Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 204 we conclude the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:29 Chris #10 Apiary

07:13 Adam #10 Battle for Rokugan

11:30 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy

13:25 Chris and Tim #9 Agricola

18:08 Adam #9 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt

21:37 Chris #8 - Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy

23:54 Tim #8 - Pulsar 2849

26:20 Adam #8 - Sol: Last Days of a Star

29:31 Chris #7 - A Feast for Odin

33:48 Adam #7 - Shamans

37:32 Tim #7 - Tapestry

40:04 Chris #6 - Voidfall

44:09 Adam #6 - The Expanse Board Game

39:32Tim #6 - Cyclades

52:24 Chris #5 - Tapestry

55:51 Adam #5 - Gaia Project

59:20 Tim #5 - Lorenzo Il Magnifico

1:02:10 Chris #4 (Adam #3) - Dune: Imperium Uprising / Dune: Imperium

1:04:56 Adam #4 - Arcs / Brian Boru

1:11:40 Tim #4 - Nucleum

1:15:09 Chris #4 - Gaia Project

1:18:51 Tim #3 - Everdell

1:21:03 Chris #2 - Distilled

1:24:55 Adam #2 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

1:26:42 Tim #2 - Dune: Imperium

1:28:06 Chris #1 - Pan Am

1:31:33 Adam #1 - Fractal: Beyond the Void

1:35:35 Tim #1 - Gaia Project / Age of Innovation

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