Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Tapestry - Fantasies & Futures AND Dune: Imperium - Immortality Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 133 we feature a couple of really exciting expansions including Tapestry - Fantasies & Futures and Dune: Imperium - Immortality covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the expansions as well as our rankings of our favorite expansions for these games.

We also discuss Brass: Birmingham taking the BGG #1 game of all time spot from Gloomhaven after 5 years.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Brass: Birmingham takes the BGG #1 spot from Gloomhaven
06:58 Tapestry - Fantasies & Futures
8:55 Gameplay and Mechanisms
17:57 Production and Theme
30:11 Tapestry Expansion Ranking and Final Thoughts
37:05 Dune: Imperium - Immortality
38:31 Gameplay and Mechanisms
51:45 Production and Theme
54:19 Dune: Imperium Expansion Ranking and Final Thoughts

A Feast for Odin Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 132 we provide our hot take review of A Feast for Odin covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll on if you special order games through your local game store if they don't have them in stock.
Twitter Poll Results:
Special Order - 21.6%
Order Online - 67.6%
I never shop local store - 10.8%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Capital Lux 2: Generations and In the Year of the Dragon.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Poll: Do you special order games through your local game store if they don't have them in stock?
07:30 A Feast For Odin Description
08:56 Gameplay and Mechanisms
24:18 Production and Theme
28:02 Final Thoughts
32:19 A Feast for Odin Themed Cocktail
37:20 Capital Lux 2: Generations
40:59 In the Year of the Dragon
39:33 Listener Shoutouts

Dungeon Petz Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 131 we provide our hot take review of Dungeon Petz covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll on if you feel bad or upset when hearing a reviewer saying something negative about games you love.
Twitter Poll Results:
Yes, they're wrong - 6.7%
Depends how it's stated - 40.3%
Nah, it's their opinion - 53%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw and Write and 7 Wonders Architects.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Poll: Do you feel bad when a reviewer says negative things about a game you like?
07:50 Dungeon Petz
10:19 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:32 Production and Theme
26:00 Final Thoughts
29:56 Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw and Write
34:37 7 Wonders Architects

Endless Winter: Paleoamericans Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 130 we provide our hot take review of Endless Winter: Paleoamericans covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss one time use games (legacy, escape room, etc.)
Twitter Poll Results:
Love Them - 21.3%
I Don't Mind - 35.4%
I Prefer Not To - 31.1%
Absolutely No - 12.1%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Woodcraft, Final Girl, Frosthaven, and It's a Wonderful World.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Poll: How do you feel about one time use games (Legacy, Escape Room, etc.)?
10:17 Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
12:50 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:51 Production and Theme
33:58 Final Thoughts
38:44 Endless Winter Themed Cocktail of the Week
40:45 Woodcraft
49:16 Final Girl
51:30 Frosthaven
59:05 It's a Wonderful World

BGG Top 101-200 Unplayed Analysis Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 129 we take a look at games 101-200 on the Board Game Geek 'top games of all time' list and discuss the games on that list that we haven't played. We list the top 5 games we each want to play from that list and the top 5 games that we don't want to play from that list and discuss why some of them are interesting to us and others aren't.

We also discuss a poll on where people met their gaming group.
Twitter Poll Results:
Games Store / Meeting - 15.4%
School, University, or Work - 13.9%
Existing Friends - 56.6%
Social Media - 13.9%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Poll: How did you meet your game group?
05:27 BGG 101-200 games we want to play
08:31 Radlands
09:38 Village
11:05 Nations
12:42 Magic: The Gathering
14:47 Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deckbuilding Game
16:51 Stone Age
19:12 Quest for El Dorado
22:11 Forbidden Stars
24:53 Yokohama
25:35 Trickerion: Legends of Illusions
27:02 Trajan
31:40 Trickerion: Legends of Illusions
33:07 Tigris and Euphrates
36:45 BGG 101-200 games that we don't want to play
37:14 Go
40:24 Paths of Glory
43:50 Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
46:30 Village
47:44 Captain Sonar
50:26 Concordia: Venus
50:54 Azul: Summer Pavilion
53:01 A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
54:25 Dominion
57:20 Concordia: Venus
58:41 Cosmic Encounter
1:00:17 Twilight Edition Third Edition
1:01:41 Pandemic Iberia
1:06:09 Age of Steam
1:07:57 Eldritch Horror

2022 Look Back and Board Game Awards Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 128 we look back at the games we played in 2022 and talk about our biggest hits, and biggest misses in 2022. This includes games that were published in 2022 but also games that were new to us in 2022. We also talk about our Board Game Revelations - the things that changed gaming for us over the last year.

We also discuss a poll on whether there is a price point where you will always buy a game.
Twitter Poll Results:
No: 45.6%
25% Off: 3.7%
50% Off: 25.7%
75% Off: 24.9%

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Poll: Is There a Price Point Where you Have to Buy a Board Game
06:24 2022 Awards
06:59 Biggest Surprises in 2022 - Bonfire, Barrage, Age of Galaxy, Nemesis, The Fox Experiment, Agricola, La Granja
15:06 Biggest Disappointment in 2022 - Catan, Merchants of the Dark Road, Carnegie, Ark Nova, Azul: Queen's Garden, Lorenzo Il Magnifico
23:39 Best New To Us in 2022 - Notre Dame, Barrage, La Granja
31:10 Best Published Components of 2022 - John Company 2nd Edition, Everdell: The Complete Collection, Wonderland's War
38:22 Best Game Published in 2022 - Wonderland's War, Paperback Adventures
45:06 Look Back at Best Game Published in 2021 - Ark Nova, Cascadia, Ankh: Gods of Egypt
49:48 Most Played Game of 2022 - Castles of Burgundy, Azul, Barrage, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilizations, Tapestry, Lost Ruins of Arnak
57:10 Board Game Revelations in 2022
1:04:08 Listener Shoutout

Chaos in the Old World Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 127 we provide our hot take review of Chaos in the Old World covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss the best board game randomization components.
Twitter Poll Results:
Dice - 34.1%
Cards - 40.9%
Bag Pull - 24.5%
Spinner - .5%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including My City, A War of Whispers, and the Tapestry Natural Rubber Playmat.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Poll: What is the best board game randomization component?
09:15 Chaos in the Old World
11:02 Gameplay and Mechanisms
36:21 Production and Theme
42:18 Final Thoughts
48:45 My City
54:59 Tapestry Natural Rubber Playmat
1:00:51 A War of Whispers

Sol: Last Days of a Star Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 126 we provide our hot take review of Sol: Last Days of a Star covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about how many times on average you get a board game played within a year after you purchase it.
Twitter Poll Results:
0-1 18.1%
2-5 64.1%
6-15 15.2%
16+ 2.5%

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Battlecrest, Disney Sorcerer's Arena: Epic Alliances, and Tsuro.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Poll: How many times do you get most games played within a year after you purchase them?
11:14 Sol: Last Days of a Star board game description
13:08 Gameplay and Mechanisms
25:19 Production and Theme
30:52 Final Thoughts
37:17 Battlecrest
47:39 Disney Sorcerer's Arena: Epic Alliances
57:20 Tsuro

Top 5 Games We Only Played Once in 2022 Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 125 we discuss our top 5 board games that we only played once in 2022. These are some games we haven't mentioned much on the show but that we wish we were playing more.

We also discuss a poll about board game related challenges.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Poll: Do you have any board game related challenges for 2023?
05:51 Top 5 Board Games we only played once in 2022
10:50 Golem
13:02 Messina 1347
14:12 The Fox Experiment
15:13 Circadians: Chaos Order
19:06 Terracotta Army
20:24 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland
21:42 AuZtralia
23:50 Boonlake
25:03 Rising Sun
26:58 Dice Forge
29:43 Francis Drake
32:28 Lacrimosa
33:47 Arcs
37:23 Tiletum
39:20 Wonderland's War
43:29 Listener Shoutout

Top 5 Games We Want to Play in 2023 Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 124 we discuss the top 5 games we want to play in 2023. We also review last years' lists and look back on the games we got played.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction

Last Year
2:06 #5 Chris Last Year - Azul
3:35 #5 Jen Last Year - Welcome To...
4:13 #5 Tim Last Year - Tyrants of the Underdark / The Quest for El Dorado
4:45 #5 Adam Last Year - Cryo
5:00 #4 Chris Last Year - Rising Sun
5:39 #4 Jen Last Year - Kokopelli
6:22 #4 Tim Last Year - Rolling Realms
7:20 #4 Adam Last Year - Barrage
8:34 #3 Chris Last Year - Nemesis
9:52 #3 Jen Last Year - Viticulture
11:06 #3 Tim Last Year - Sleeping Gods
11:41 #3 Adam Last Year - Organism
12:25 #2 Chris - Radlands
13:21 #2 Jen Last Year - Catan
15:04 #2 Tim Last Year - Ark Nova
15:51 #2 Adam Last Year - Reef Encounter
16:36 #1 Chris Last Year - Golem
17:18 #1 Jen Last Year - Calico
19:00 #1 Tim Last Year - Clans of Caledonia
19:20 #1 Adam Last Year - Brian Boru: High King of Ireland

This Year
21:12 #5 Adam - Paperback Adventures
23:10 #5 Tim - Welcome To the Moon
25:11 #5 Chris - Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
30:36 #5 Jen - Splendor
34:36 #4 Adam - Forbidden Stars
37:05 #4 Tim - Scout
39:46 #4 Chris and Jen - Mariposa
44:27 #3 Adam - Imperial 2030
45:56 #3 Tim - Tawantinsuyu: The Incan Empire
47:35 #3 Chris - Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods
51:53 #3 Jen - Honey Buzz
55:03 #2 Adam - Battle for Rokugan
56:42 #2 Tim - Revive
59:44 #2 Chris - Chaos in the Old World
1:02:19 #2 Jen - Bora Bora / Cuzco
1:07:00 #1 Adam - Pessoa
1:09:36 #1 - Tim - Marrakesh
1:12:28 #1 - Chris - My Father's Work
1:17:08 #1 - Jen - My Lil' Everdell

1:20:56 Honorable Mentions: Fortune and Glory, Where Humans Don't Belong

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