Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Top 5 IPs We Want In Board Games May 08, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 143 we each discuss our top 5 intellectual properties that we'd like to see turned into board games.

We also discuss how we feel about the use of IP in board games.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Topic: How do you feel about IP based board games?
06:55 Top 5 IP we want in board games
08:10 The Expanse
12:35 The Stand
16:10 Perdido Street Station
19:11 Mass Effect
23:10 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
27:01 Severance
29:41 Life in Medieval Times
31:40 Ultima
35:26 The Dragonriders of Pern
38:27 Jurassic Park
43:10 Tales from the Loop
48:07 Paper Mario
51:10 The Culture Series
54:24 Coyote and Crow
58:35 The Shawshank Redemption
1:01:17 Runners Up - Avatar, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dune

Our Golden Geek Award Votes May 01, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 142 we discuss our votes for the 2022 Golden Geek Awards and cast our votes live while recording.

We also discuss a poll about which activity makes your favorite game night.
Twitter Poll Results:
Learn and play a new game - 60%
Play a game I know well - 35.6%
I hate your polls and you - 4.9%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Poll: What's your favorite type of game night?
04:57 Board Game Geek Golden Geek Awards.
09:15 2-Player Game
15:47 Artwork and Presentation
23:17 Cooperative Game
26:57 Expansion
33:12 Innovative
40:11 Party Game
43:18 Print and Play
44:58 Solo Game
47:44 Thematic Game
52:03 War Game
53:42 Best Board Game Podcast
57:56 Best Board Game App
1:02:02 Light Game of the Year
1:05:05 Medium Game of the Year
1:09:50 Heavy Game of the Year
1:15:50 Listener Shoutouts

Scythe Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 141 we provide our hot take review of Scythe covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about whether past experience with a designer may keep you away from a game by that designer.
Twitter Poll Results:
I don't pay attention - 21%
Yes - 40%
No - 29%

Then we discuss some board games on our table and future takes including Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum, Frosthaven, and They Live: Assault on Cable 54.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Poll: Do you avoid trying certain board games because of your experience with that designer's other games?
10:51 Scythe Description
13:01 Gameplay and Mechanisms
28:57 Production and Theme
35:21 Final Thoughts
40:51 Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum
48:31 Frosthaven
1:07:15 They Live: Assault on Cable 54

Mosaic: A Story of Civilization Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 140 we provide our hot take review of Mosaic: A Story of Civilization covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about how board game awards impact your interest in games.
Twitter Poll Results:
Yes, puts them on my radar - 62.8%
Yes, I need them now - 1.3%
If already interested - 13%
Nah - 22.9%

Then we discuss some board games on our table and future takes including Legacy of Yu, Clank! In! Space!, Clank! Catacombs, Clank! Legacy 2, and Galactic Renaissance.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Poll: Do you think board game awards influence your interest in board games?
04:40 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization Description
06:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms
24:53 Production and Theme
30:18 Final Thoughts
33:31 Galactic Renaissance
36:26 Clank! In! Space!, Clank! Catacombs, and Clank! Legacy 2
38:46 Legacy of Yu

Earth Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 139 we provide our hot take review of Earth covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about nature as a board game theme.
Twitter Poll Results:
Love it - 32%
Like it if done right - 39%
Variety is good - 21%
Will avoid - 8%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Scout, Votes for Women, and Distilled.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Poll: How do you feel about nature as a game theme?
08:32 Earth Description
11:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms
23:45 Production and Theme
33:40 Final Thoughts
38:46 Scout
46:15 Votes for Women
59:50 Distilled

Hasta la Vista, Baby - 10 Games Getting Terminated Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 138 we each discuss 5 games that will be leaving our collection. We talk about why these games are leaving, why they weren't getting played, and in some cases, what's replaced them on the shelves.

We also discuss a poll on Twitter about regret after culling games.
Twitter Poll Results:
Yes, Immediately- 4.5%
Yes, A While Later - 38.1%
No - 34.3%
I've Never Culled A Game - 23.1%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:50 Poll: Have you ever culled a board game from your collection and then regretted it?
08:31 10 Games Getting Culled
10:03 Hansa Teutonica Big Box
12:39 Dice Realms
17:35 One Deck Galaxy
20:18 The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game
23:49 18Ireland
26:40 A Feast for Odin
30:05 Snowdonia: Deluxe Master Set
33:06 Wayfarers of the South Tigris
36:43 Undaunted: Normandy
39:37 Lords of Waterdeep
44:31 Honorable Mentions - Long Shot: The Dice Game, Dice Throne, Furnace

Yokohama Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 137 we provide our hot take review of Yokohama covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll on paying more than MSRP for a board game.
Twitter Poll Results:
Yes, Money is No Object - 11%
Yes, I'd Pay a Bit More -61.3%
Nope - 25.2%
These Options Suck - 2.5%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including A Taste for Wine and Murder, Pioneer Rails, and Motor City.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:55 Poll: Are there any out of print games that you'd be willing to pay more than the original retail price for?
11:08 Yokohama Description
13:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms
29:15 Production and Theme
33:12 Final Thoughts
37:37 A Taste for Wine and Murder
42:22 Pioneer Rails
50:02 Motor City
1:01:24 Listener Shoutout

2-Player Deck Duelers Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 136 we provide our hot take reviews of 3 different 2-player deck dueling cards including Air, Land, and Sea, Radlands, and Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game.

We also discuss a poll on preferred length for 2 player games.
Twitter Poll Results:
<30 Minutes - 24.5%
30-90 Minutes - 58.3%
>90 Minutes - 2.6%
Depends on the Opponent - 14.6%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Poll: Preferred length of 2-player game?
5:23 Air, Land, & Sea Description
08:25 Gameplay and Mechanisms
14:01 Production and Theme
16:38 Final Thoughts
16:13 Radlands Description
20:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms
27:17 Production and Theme
29:35 Final Thoughts
31:13 Star Wars: The Deck Building Games Description
34:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms
42:28 Production and Theme
45:58 Final Thoughts

Distilled Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 135 we provide our hot take review of Distilled covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll on board game terminology.
Twitter Poll Results:
Mechanics - 52.4%
Mechanisms - 47.6%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Sea Salt & Paper, Teotihuacan: City of Gods, and Space Base.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll: Mechanisms or Mechanics?
4:51 Distilled Description
7:23 Gameplay and Mechanisms
24:43 Production and Theme
31:24 Final Thoughts
36:52 Distilled Themed Cocktail
40:36 Sea Salt & Paper
45:36 Teotihuacan: City of Gods
48:16 Space Base
53:21 Listener Shoutout

Top 5 Games over 1,000 on BGG Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 134 we each discuss our top 5 favorite board games that are ranked with a number higher than 1,000 on Board Game Geek 'top games of all time' list and talk about why we like them, whether we think they should be higher, and what might be keeping them that far down the rankings.

We also discuss a poll on Twitter about listening to music while playing board games.
Twitter Poll Results:
Always- 28.9%
Depends on the Game - 20.1%
Depends on the Players - 20.3%
Never - 30.7%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Poll: Do you listen to music while you play board games?
09:00 Top 5 games ranked higher than 1,000 on BGG.
13:49 Kabuto Sumo
15:54 Sentient
18:04 LACORSA Grand Prix Game
22:10 Asara
25:19 Trekking The World
28:31 Rap Godz
31:23 Terracotta Army
32:56 The Expanse Board Game
36:15 M.U.L.E. The Board Game
41:05 The Castles of Tuscany
43:53 Age of Galaxy
46:20 Tiki Topple
50:53 Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers
53:11 Capital Lux 2: Generations
54:45 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles
59:00 Honorable (or other) Mentions: Lacrimosa, Super Skill Pinball 4cade, Mariposas, Guillotine, The Artemis Project, Top Gun Strategy Game, Godspeed, Tic-Tac-Toe

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