Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Lacrimosa Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 123 we provide our hot take review of Lacrimosa covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about preferences on leaving space for expansions in board game boxes, Chris give us a Lacrimosa themed cocktail, and then we all discuss One Deck Galaxy.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Poll: Do you prefer to leave space inside boxes for expansions or making it as compact as possible?
12:06 Lacrimosa board game description
14:21 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:27 Production and Theme
32:46 Final Thoughts
36:14 Lacrimosa themed cocktail
38:55 One Deck Galaxy

Tyrants of the Underdark Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 122 we provide our hot take review of Tyrants of the Underdark covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about spending time with board games outside of playing them, Chris give us a Tyrants of the Underdark themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Tiletum, Chocolate Factory, My Lil Everdell, and Sol: Last Days of a Star.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Poll: What's your favorite way to spend time with board games other than playing them?
10:32 Tyrants of the Underdark board game description
12:23 Gameplay and Mechanisms
25:20 Production and Theme
27:42 Final Thoughts
32:55 Tyrants of the Underdark themed cocktail
34:57 Tiletum
47:23 Chocolate Factory
54:49 My Lil Everdell
1:03:44 Sol: Last Days of a Star

Terracotta Army Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 121 we provide our hot take review of Terracotta Army covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about having game nights ruined by other players, Chris give us a Terracotta Army themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Clank! Catacombs, Draftosaurus, and Wingspan: Asia.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Poll: Do you plan to take advantage of Holiday Sales for board games?
04:07 Terracotta Army board game description
06:16 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:52 Production and Theme
25:50 Final Thoughts
29:44 Terracotta Army themed cocktail
32:16 Clank! Catacombs
39:30 Wingspan: Asia and Wingspan Nesting Box
45:30 Draftosaurus

Top 5 Board Games with Integrated Themes Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 120 we discuss our top 5 board games with integrated themes. We each pick our top 5 games where the theme really shines through in the mechanisms but we also call out where it misses.

We also discuss a poll on creating and strengthening relationships through board games.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Poll: Have you ever discovered or developed a very strong relationship through board games?
10:00 Top 5 Board Games with Integrated Themes
14:05 Wingspan
16:17 Clank! and Clank! Legacy
19:23 Golem
25:41 Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy
27:30 Nunami
29:44 Pan Am
32:34 Arkham Horror: The Card Game
34:21 Imhotep
36:47 Viticulture
41:18 Agricola
44:04 Root
48:06 Leaving Earth
51:04 Outlive
53:45 Final Girl
58:41 Baseball Highlights 2045

Teotihuacan: City of Gods Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 119 we provide our hot take review of Teotihuacan: City of Gods covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about having game nights ruined by other players, Chris give us a Teotihuacan themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Victorian Masterminds, Cthulhu: Death May Die, and Paperback Adventures.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Poll: Has another player ever ruined a game night for you?
11:15 Teotihuacan: City of Gods board game description
12:42 Gameplay and Mechanisms
29:11 Production and Theme
38:40 Final Thoughts
46:56 Teotihuacan: City of Gods themed cocktail
50:24 Victorian Masterminds
58:24 Envelopes of Cash
59:03 Cthulhu: Death May Die
64:04 Paperback Adventures

Carnegie Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 118 we provide our hot take review of Carnegie covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about where you learn about board games, Chris give us a Carnegie themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Envelopes of Cash and Slay the Spire: The Board Game.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Poll: Where do you learn about board games?
4:45 Carnegie board game description
6:32 Gameplay and Mechanisms
24:03 Production and Theme
30:21 Final Thoughts
37:05 Carnegie themed cocktail
40:16 Envelopes of Cash
49:40 Slay the Spire: The Board Game
56:52 Listener Shoutout

Cthulhu: Death May Die Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 117 we provide our hot take review of Cthulhu: Death May Die covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game and then discuss some of the new mechanisms that are being added for the standalone expansion Fear of the Unknown.

We also discuss a poll about competitive vs. cooperative games, and then we discuss some games on our table including Everdell: Mistwood, Can't Stop, Space Empires 4X, Agricola, and Last Will and give our future takes on Slay the Spire and Aqua Garden.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Poll: Competitive vs. Cooperative?
7:57 Cthulhu: Death May Die board game description
9:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:09 Production and Theme
31:00 Final Thoughts
36:23 Cthulhu: Death May Die - Fear of the Unknown preview
42:50 Cthulhu: Death May Die themed cocktail
47:23 Everdell: Mistwood and Everdell: Complete Collection
55:32 Space Empires 4X
1:02:20 Can't Stop
1:06:00 Last Will
1:12:07 Agricola
1:14:24 Future Take: Slay the Spire The Board Game
1:19:14 Aqua Garden
1:23:55 Listener Shoutout

Top 5 Board Game Designers Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 116 we discuss our top 5 favorite board game designers. We talk about our favorite designers, the games that we've loved by them as well as some we haven't, and the games that we want to try next by them.

We also discuss a poll on giving up while learning games.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: Have you ever given up while learning a game?
12:29 Top 5 favorite board game designers
16:03 Paolo Mori (Libertalia, Ethnos, Dogs of War)
17:21 Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, Tussie Mussie, The Fox Experiment, Mariposas)
19:12 Vladimir Suchy (Underwater Cities, Messina 1347, Praga Caput Regni, Last Will, Pulsar 2849)
21:13 Ivan Lashin (Smartphone, Inc., Furnace, Frozen Frontier)
22:22 Adam Kwapinski (Nemesis, Lords of Hellas, Lords of Ragnarok)
24:43 Bruno Cathala (Five Tribes, Jamaica, 7 Wonders Duel, Kingdomino, Cyclades)
28:29 Vlaada Chvatil (Through the Ages, Codenames, Galaxy Trucker, Mage Knight)
30:37 Simone Luciani, Daniele Tascini, Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli (Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Golem, Barrage, Grand Austria Hotel, Tiletum)
35:21 Stefan Feld (Castles of Burgundy, Bonfire, Carpe Diem, Trajan, Marrakesh, Notre Dame)
39:48 David Turczi (Anachrony, Voidfall, Imperium: Legends, Imperium: Classics)
42:16 Jamey Stegmaier (Tapestry, Scythe, Viticulture, Charterstone, Red Rising)
46:12 Shem Phillips, Sam Macdonald (Architects of the West Kingdom, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Viscounts of the West Kingdom, Wayfarers of the South Tigris, Scholars of the South Tigris)
48:11 Cole Wehrle (Pax Pamir: 2nd Edition, Arcs, Root, John Company 2nd Edition)
51:02 Eric Lang ( Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Marvel United, Victorian Masterminds, Chaos in the Old World)
56:49 Paul Dennen (Clank!, Clank! In! Space!, Clank! Legacy!, Clank! Catacombs, Dune: Imperium, Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne)
1:02:10 Listener Shoutout

Agricola Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 115 we provide our hot take review of Agricola covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about re-acquiring games, and then we discuss some games on our table including Gang of Dice, Fantastic Factories, and Bitoku and give our future take on Frozen Frontier.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:24 Poll: Have you ever re-acquired a board game?
10:12 Agricola Gameplay Description
11:17 Gameplay and Mechanisms
21:08 Production and Theme
32:43 Final Thoughts
41:52 Gang of Dice
47:06 Fantastic Factories
48:55 Bitoku
55:30 Future Take: Frozen Frontier
59:20 Listener Shoutout

Lorenzo il Magnifico Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 114 we provide our hot take review of Lorenzo il Magnifico covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about scorepads vs. score trackers, and then we discuss some games on our table including Fantastic Factories, Cafe, and Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization... and Chris goes on a rant about subtitles on board games.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Poll: Do you prefer Scorepads or Score Trackers?
09:10 Lorenzo il Magnifico Gameplay Description
10:34 Gameplay and Mechanisms
25:21 Production and Theme
31:24 Final Thoughts
35:59 Themed Cocktail of the Week
40:00 Fantastic Factories
48:32 Board game subtitles
51:14 Cafe
57:18 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:04:11 Listener Shoutout

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