Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Super Mini-Review Party! Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 313 we discuss a bunch of recent games that we've been playing. We also catch listeners up on the BGHT Beat The Expert Contest.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

08:52 Dawn of Madness

24:18 Trio / nana

29:23 Wingspan Pocket

48:17 Sanibel

46:30 Mister Diamond

51:07 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo

1:01:22 Stationfall

1:10:37 Dominant Species

1:14:46 Railroad Tiles

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

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

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Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (1-10) Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 312 we conclude the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Tournament of Champions Contest Update

03:25 Ark Nova

06:17 Azul

08:14 Pan Am

12:33 The Castles of Burgundy

16:27 Ankh: Gods of Egypt

19:23 Star Realms

23:41 Grand Austria Hotel

27:06 March of the Ants: Evolved Edition

29:16 Terraforming Mars

32:11 Nucleum

36:37 Pan Am

37:31 Blood Rage

39:54 Civolution

42:50 Smartphone, Inc.

45:33 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

48:12 Everdell

50:37 Wonderland's War

52:28 Gaia Project

55:29 Agricola

57:13 Sol: Last Days of a Star

1:02:44 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

1:05:28 Clank! Catacombs

1:08:20 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory

1:10:31 Distilled

1:15:18 Gaia Project

1:17:31 Dune: Imperium

1:20:25 Darwin's Journey

1:25:56 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

1:30:19 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

1:33:54 Tapestry

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠

Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (11-20) Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 311 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Contest Announcement

05:10 Underwater Cities

08:33 Tycoon India 1981

11:03 Luthier

16:00 Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

19:50 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

22:31 Speakeasy

26:18 Blood Rage

29:05 The Expanse Board Game

32:45 Echoes of Time

35:55 Cthulhu: Death May Die

41:06 Blood Rage

42:02 Endeavor: Deep Sea

44:32 Darwin's Journey

47:12 Lords of Vegas

49:16 Teotihuacan: City of Gods

53:16 Lost Ruins of Arnak

56:53 Dune: War for Arrakis

58:40 La Granja

1:02:33 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

1:05:26 Stockpile

1:08:21 Obsession

1:12:31 Wonderland's War

1:14:18 Baseball Highlights: 2045

1:16:47 Agricola

1:19:52 Terraforming Mars

1:21:24 Gaia Project

1:23:41 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar

1:27:05 Tichu

1:29:54 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

1:31:21 Lost Ruins of Arnak

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (21-30) Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 310 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 21-30.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:43 Le Havre

04:10 Shamans

07:02 Wonderland's War

09:22 Emberleaf

11:54 Tag Team

14:56 Azul

18:22 Marco Polo II: In The Service of the Khan

21:19 Emberleaf

23:44 Heat: Pedal to the Metal

27:28 Sea Salt & Paper

30:05 Frozen Frontier

33:36 Thurn & Taxis

37:00 Tapestry

40:22 Barrage

43:00 Reforest

45:50 Pirates of Maracaibo

48:10 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland

50:47 Civolution

53:16 Moon Colony Bloodbath

55:36 Battle for Rokugan

58:07 Ark Nova

1:01:55 Scythe

1:05:41 Dune

1:08:20 Scythe

1:09:32 Endeavor: Deep Sea

1:11:58 Terraforming Mars

1:14:27 7 Wonders Duel

1:17:27 Revive

1:19:47 Fractal

1:22:41 Barrage

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (31-40) Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 309 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 31-40.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Reforest

03:42 Ada's Dream

05:53 Rats of Wistar

08:57 March of the Ants - Evolved Edition

11:33 Brass: Birmingham

14:26 Yokohama

17:36 Thunder Road: Vendetta

22:30 Reforest

23:28 Crokinole

25:52 Rebirth

27:37 Echoes of Time

29:07 A Feast for Odin

33:27 Rising Sun

35:00 Biohack

36:43 Revive

39:10 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

42:50 Soothsayers

46:02 Godspeed

49:16 Stupor Mundi

53:40 Robot Quest Arena

54:29 Splendor: Duel

58:22 Clans of Caledonia

1:02:18 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization

1:03:45 Thunder Road: Vendetta

1:06:06 Boast or Nothing

1:08:11 Survive the Island

1:11:27 Outlive

1:15:44 Keyflower

1:18:54 SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD

1:22:33 Clank! In! Space!

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (41-50) Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 308 we start the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 41-50.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:50 Anachrony

06:31 Spirit Island

09:44 Let's Go To Japan

13:56 Harmonies

16:12 Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

17:32 Maracaibo

20:31 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization

22:02 Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico The Card Game

24:19 Biohack

27:05 Azul

28:51 Pax Pamir 2nd Edition

30:50 Cascadia

33:45 Woodcraft

36:10 Speakeasy

37:53 Emberleaf

42:39 The White Castles Duel

44:55 Revive

47:30 The Guild of Merchant Explorers

50:48 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game

53:51 Xenon Profiteer

55:08 Nemesis

1:00:16 Voidfall

1:02:41 Star Wars: Rebellion

1:03:59 Robot Quest Arena

1:06:41 Slay the Spire: The Board Game

1:11:39 High Society

1:12:49 Smartphone, Inc.

1:15:51 Tzolk'in The Mayan Calendar

1:17:54 Age of Galaxy

1:19:57 Cthulhu: Death May Die

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

2026 Mid-year Board Game Roundup Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 307 we reflect on the year of 2026 in board gaming at this mid point to talk about some of our favorite (and most disappointing) board games and experiences so far.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

1:30 Which game do you want to take on a 2nd date after your first play in 2026? (Speakeasy, Off With Their Heads, Ada's Dream)

4:33 Which games hit the table more than any other this year? (Azul, Darwin's Journey, Obsession, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Tapestry, Formaggio, Captain Flip, Sea Salt & Paper, The White Castle Duel, Boast or Nothing, Dune: War for Arrakis, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, Unicorn Fever)

07:47 What game's production and art has impressed you the most over the last 6 months? (Echoes of Time, Speakeasy, Dune: War for Arrakis)

13:28 What was your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment? (Steam Power, Reforest, The Old King's Crown, Earthborne Rangers, Aquaria, Tag Team, Amalfi: Renaissance)

22:36 What has been your most reliable introductory board game? (Flip 7, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Azul, Subjective, Lords of Vegas, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire )

28:50 Which 10+ years old title did you first discovery this year? (Thurn and Taxis, Parade, Medici: The Card Game, Biblios)

33:50 What's currently at the top of your wishlist? (Dawn of Madness, Everdell: Emerland, Entropy)

38:22 What's a creator, podcast, or channel that made your year better? (Punchboard Cathedral, Winner's Bias, Board Game Hangover)

45:00 What's your favorite episode you've created this year?

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

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

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Amalfi: Renaissance Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 306 we give our hot take review on Amalfi: Renaissance covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on kingmaking and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Unicorn Fever and Parade and Chris covers his first impressions after unboxing Dawn of Madness.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Poll Time: Kingmaking Decision

07:56 Amalfi: Renaissance Description

09:47 Gameplay and Mechanisms

20:27 Production and Theme

25:41 Final Thoughts

32:37 Unicorn Fever

39:10 Dawn of Madness Unboxing Thoughts

43:32 Parade

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

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

Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠⁠

A Barrage of Board Game Topics - Mailbag #8 Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 305 we answer a bunch of mailbag questions asked by our Patreon supporters.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

2:28 For what game do you prefer the digital implementation? What game do you refuse to play digitally?

11:48 At what point do you decide to buy a game?

20:52 How often do you get nostalgia for games you haven't played in many years?

26:32 Are there any goals for the pod over the next 5 years?

33:34 Has having the podcast taught us anything we didn't know about ourselves?

36:41 What legacy game would we want to play next?

42:25 What are some tips for teaching a complex game without a 30 minutes rules explanation?

48:35 If there's a game that your fellow hosts need a head start on what would it be?

51:54 What is one board game you'd like to see made into a movie or show?

56:53 If you can invite one guest onto the podcast, who would it be and what would you ask them?

1:01:10 What's your favorite game mechanic written in the form of a haiku or limerick?

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

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

Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

Emberleaf Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 304 we give our hot take review on Emberleaf covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on anthropomorphic animals in board games and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Dune: War for Arrakis and Blueprints and Chris discusses his excitement about finally receiving (after 8 years) his crowdfunded Dawn of Madness.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Poll Time: Anthromorphic Animals?

09:11 Emberleaf Description

11:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms

31:27 Production and Theme

39:44 Final Thoughts

47:48 Dawn of Madness

50:56 Dune: War for Arrakis

1:04:27 Blueprints

1:11:25 Listener Shoutout

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