Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

You Asked, We Answered - Mailbag Episode #1 Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

In episode 173, we answer listeners questions in our first ever mailbag episode.

Then we discuss some games that have been on our table including Ark Nova: Marine Worlds, Planet Unknown, Azul, and Agricola.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:52 What games or mechanisms have we switched our opinion on?

08:16 What are our thoughts on updated versions or sequels to games?

21:09 What are some of our other hobbies and do they tie back to board games?

26:21 If we could retheme a game, what would it be?

34:21 What makes a good rules teacher or teach?

42:53 What do we think of Tabletop Simulator vs. Board Game Arena

50:37 Planet Unkown

55:59 Ark Nova: Marine Worlds

1:03:14 Azul

1:04:55 Agricola

1:09:15 Listener Shoutout

BGG Con 2023 Recap (19 Games Discussed) Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 172 Tim discusses his 5 days spent at BGG Con 2023 including tips about attending a con, con experiences and many games played.

We also discuss a poll about favorite gaming experiences.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:54 Poll Question: If you've ever attended a board game convention, what was your favorite part?

20:04 Sea Salt & Paper

21:22 Matryoshka

23:42 Evacuation

32:00 Voidfall

39:54 Nucleum

44:04 Dune: Imperium w/ Rise of Ix and Immortality

45:51 Fun Facts

48:51 Word Slam Family

49:38 Challengers!

51:06 Outlive

52:03 Summoner Wars

54:25 Age of Innovation

55:50 Ricochet Robots

58:25 Letter Jam

1:01:33 Federation

1:03:39 Clank! Catacombs

1:05:09 Scythe

1:09:34 Arboretum

1:12:10 Kutna Hora: The City of Silver

1:17:30 BGG Con Final Thoughts

1:25:20 Listener Shoutout

Board Games As Stories Part 4 - Top 5 Conclusions Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 171 we conclude our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this fourth part we talk about games that have a great conclusion.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Board Games as Stories - conclusion

04:20 Lacrimosa

06:40 Keyflower

10:29 Star Wars: Rebellion

14: 30 Paperback Adventures

18:49 Charterstone

24:36 Dune

28:42 Everdell

30:35 Scythe

32:15 Cascadia

36:58 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

41:22 Frosthaven

45:58 Return to Dark Tower

49:15 Shamans

53:07 Fantasy Realms

58:00 Tapestry

62:52 Dune: Imperium

1:05:45 Listener Shoutout

Age of Innovation Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 170 we provide our hot take review of Age of Innovation covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on gaming with your partner/spouse and then we discuss some board games on our table including Trekking Through History, Marvel Champions, and Heat: Pedal to the Metal.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:26 Poll: Is your partner/spouse part of your regular gaming group

09:30 Age of Innovation Description

10:44 Gameplay and Mechanisms

31:06 Production and Theme

38:18 Final Thoughts

43:19 Trekking Through History

49:37 Marvel Champions

55:31 Heat: Pedal to the Metal

58:49 Listener Shout-out

Board Games as Stories Part 3 - Top 5 Climaxes Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 169 we continue our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this third part we talk about games that have a great climax.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:08 Board Games as Stories - Climax
08:15 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
11:55 Baseball Highlights 2045
15:38 Blood Rage
18:10 Rising Sun
21:10 Wonderland's War
23:53 Can't Stop
25:40 My Father's Work
29:59 Sol: Last Days of a Star
32:33 Clank!
36:46 Heat: Petal to the Metal, Downforce
41:18 Dune: Imperium
45:11 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
47:50 Cryo
53:03 Pax Pamir: Second Edition 57:18 Scythe 1:01:33 Final Thoughts (Cthulhu: Death May Die, Frosthaven, Gloomhaven, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Dune, Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy, Star Realms, Shards of Infinity, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game)
1:06:14 Listener Shoutout

Hot Topic - Game Night Etiquette Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 168 we look at some recommended tips for game night etiquette and discuss whether those work for us.

We also re-visit the Castles of Burgundy and discuss how some games make it hard to revisit them and then we look at some games that have been on our table including Oath: Chronicles of Empires and Exile, Challengers, Pulsar 2849, and The White Castle.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Poll Question: Skipping Game Night Based on the Game
09:11 Board Game Etiquette Discussion
31:30 The Castles of Burgundy Double Take
44:02 Oath: Chronicles of Empires and Exile
53:59 Challengers
57:12 Pulsar 2849
1:01:09 The White Castle

Board Games as Stories Part 2 - Top 5 Build-ups Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 167 we continue our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this second part we talk about games that do the 'build-up' or development well.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:38 Board Games as Stories
12:27 Pan Am
16:56 Space Base
22:38 Auztralia
25:52 Anachrony
28:43 Brass: Birmingham
31:56 Final Girl
35:43 Marrakesh
38:41 Ankh: Gods of Egypt
42:33 Star Wars: Rebellion
45:55 Revive
50:20 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory
54:56 Root
58:55 Orleans
1:02:31 Final Thoughts (Spirit Island, Smartphone, Inc., Nemesis, Terraforming Mars, Lost Ruins of Arnak)
1:05:56 Listener Shoutout

Nucleum Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 166 we provide our hot take review of Nucleum covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including the Viticulture Wine Crate, Tacocat Spelled Backwards, and Vagrantsong.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:56 Nucleum Description
04:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:40 Production and Theme
28:14 Final Thoughts
31:00 Viticulture Wine Crate (Review Copy provided by the Publisher)
36:20 Tacocat Spelled Backwards
42:53 Vagrantsong
49:58 Listener Shout-out

Board Games as Stories Part 1 - Top 5 Intros Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 165 we kickoff a series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In the first part we talk about games that do the 'Intro' well.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Board Games as Stories
06:33 Cthulhu: Death May Die
10:17 Inis
15:25 Agricola
18:25 Distilled
22:28 Battle for Rokugan
26:08 Res Arcana
29:54 Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
33:59 Azul
39:57 Voidfall
44:56 Obsession
49:43 Spades (and Hearts)
53:41 Terraforming Mars
56:40 Nemesis
1:02:24 Barrage
1:05:22 Gaia Project
1:08:50 Listener Shoutout

Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 164 we provide our hot take review of Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll related to what makes a civilization game.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Best Candy on the Block, After Us, and Barcelona.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: Are there certain aspects that are necessary to call a game a civilization game?
07:51 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization Description
10:14 Gameplay and Mechanisms
30:42 Production and Theme
38:13 Final Thoughts
43:00 Best Candy on the Block
47:03 After Us
52:22 Barcelona
57:10 Listener Shout-out

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected