Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

The Isle of Cats Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 83 we provide our hot take review of The Isle of Cats covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll about favorite number and length of games for an ideal game night, Chris provides a themed cocktail for The Isle of Cats, and then we discuss some games on our table including A Feast for Odin and Rolling Realms and give our future take on Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Poll: Number and Length of Games for an Ideal Game Night
07:29 The Isle of Cats Gameplay Description
10:15 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:52 Production and Theme
35:16 Final Thoughts
40:13 Themed Cocktail of the Week
44:17 A Feast for Odin
52:48 Rolling Realms
1:03:00 Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies

Brian Boru: High King of Ireland Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 82 we provide our hot take review of Brian Boru: High King of Ireland covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll about things that motivate you to look closer at a game and consider buying it, Chris gives us his famous themed cocktail segment, and then we discuss some games on our table including Tapestry: Arts and Architecture and Now or Never.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Poll: What motivates you to consider buying a game
09:57 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland Gameplay Description
12:20 Gameplay and Mechanisms
27:03 Production and Theme
31:15 Final Thoughts
38:31 Themed Cocktail of the Week
42:06 Tapestry: Arts and Architecture
49:10 Checkers
51:42 Now or Never

Libertalia Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 81 we provide our hot take review of Libertalia covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game and then we discuss what we think of the changes in the updated and newly released version of the game, Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest.

We're joined by Riley Stock, the host of the Board Game Community Show podcast.

We discuss a poll related to favorite types of board game reviews and then we discuss some games on our table including Cartographers and It's a Wonderful Kingdom and a future take on Voices in My Head.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:19 Poll: Favorite Type of Board Game Reviews
05:08 Libertalia Gameplay Descriptions
06:54 Gameplay and Mechanisms
19:33 Production and Theme
26:16 Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest Differences
39:38 Final Thoughts
44:08 Cartogrophers
51:19 It's a Wonderful Kingdom
58:47 Voices in My Head

Top 5 Best and Worst Combat Mechanisms Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 80 we discuss our top 3 favorite combat mechanisms as well as our top 2 least favorite combat mechanisms.

We also discuss poll results on player counts and discuss favorite player counts.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:36 Poll: Player Counts
05:51 Favorite Combat Mechanisms - Lords of Hellas
8:05 #3 Tim - Dwellings of Eldervale
13:20 #3 Adam - Inis
16:35 #3 Chris - Fractal: Beyond the Void
20:44 #2 Tim - Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy
26:48 #2 Adam - Battle for Rokugan
29:37 #2 Chris - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
36:10 #1 Tim - Dune: Imperium
45:45 #1 Adam - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
51:35 #1 Chris - Blood Rage
56:51 Least Favorite Combat Mechanisms
57:28 #2 Tim - Star Wars: Rebellion
1:01:45 #2 Adam - Cthulhu Wars
1:06:37 #2 Chris - Scythe
1:13:44 #1 Tim - Root
1:18:10 #1 Adam - Path of Light and Shadow
1:20:52 #1 Chris - Risk: Legacy
1:26:20 Final Thoughts on Combat: AuZtralia, Cthulhu: Death May Die, Mage Knight, Magic: The Gathering, Star Realms, Maria, Forbidden Stars
1:32:20 Listener Shout Out

Dune: Imperium - The Rise of Ix Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 79 we provide our hot take review of the expansion for Dune: Imperium, The Rise of Ix, covering the mechanisms, the production, notable moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game and we discuss a poll related to favorite interactions types.

Then we discuss some games on our table including Cryo and some future takes on Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum and Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: Favorite Type of Interaction in Board Games
13:02 Dune: Imperium - The Rise of Ix
16:37 Gameplay and Mechanisms
38:52 Production and Theme
44:16 Memorable Moments
48:28 Final Thoughts
51:25 Cryo
58:56 Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum
1:04:28 Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
1:10:28 Listener Shout-out

La Granja Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 78 we provide our hot take review of La Granja covering the mechanisms, the production, notable moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game and we discuss a poll related to thematic sci-fi IP based board games.

Chris presents a La Granja themed cocktail and then we discuss some games on our table including Blood Rage, Gaia Project, Pan Am, Ra, and Nidavellir.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:17 Poll: Thematic Sci-fi IP based games
08:24 La Granja Game Description
11:13 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:42 Production and Theme
31:40 Memorable Moments
34:59 Final Thoughts
38:48 Themed Cocktail of the Week
40:57 Blood Rage and Gaia Project
44:31 Ra
50:47 Nidavellir
55:50 Pan Am
57:57 Listener Shout-out

Brass: Birmingham Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 77 we provide our hot take review of Brass: Birmingham covering the mechanisms, the production, notable moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game and we discuss a poll related to board game bonuses.

Chris presents a Brass themed cocktail and then we discuss some games on our table including Ark Nova, Abandon All Artichokes, Art Decko, and Radlands and we give our future take of Legacy of Yu.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 News and Poll: Board Game Bonuses
08:10 Brass: Birmingham Description
10:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms
33:11 Production and Theme
37:40 Memorable Moments
43:14 Final Thoughts
47:25 Themed Cocktail of the Week
51:07 Ark Nova
53:50 Abandon All Artichokes
56:42 Art Decko
1:01:31 Radlands
1:02:19 Legacy of Yu

2021 Wrap-up and Awards Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 76 we look back at the games we played in 2021 and talk about our biggest hits, and biggest missed in 2021. This includes games that were published in 2021 but also games that were new to us in 2021. We also talk about our Board Game Revelations - the things that changed gaming for us over the last year.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
3:23 Biggest Surprises in 2021
3:37 Chris - Keyflower, Gaia Project
7:00 Adam - Shamans
8:50 Jen - Camel Up
12:28 Tim - Smartphone, Inc., Shamans, The Expanse: The Board Game
15:06 Biggest Disappointment in 2021
15:34 Chris - Windward, AuZtralia
19:27 Adam - Cerebria, Outlive
22:03 Jen - Rajas of the Ganges
24:09 Tim - The Path of Light and Shadow, Obsession
25:19 Best New To Us in 2021
26:34 Chris - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
28:51 Adam - Smartphone, Inc.
30:52 Jen - Isle of Cats
34:09 Tim - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Paladins of the West Kingdom
36:48 Best Components of 2021
36:59 Chris - The Great Wall, Return to Dark Tower
40:00 Adam - Oath
41:40 Tim - Hadrian's Wall, Terraforming Mars: Big Box, Red Rising
48:27 Best Game of 2021
48:38 Chris - Cascadia
49:30 Jen - Cascadia
51:01 Adam - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
54:23 Tim - Ark Nova, Cascadia
58:16 Most Played Game of 2021
58:30 Chris - Welcome To..., Azul, Tapestry, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Terraforming Mars, Star Realms
1:00:07 Adam - Dune: Imperium
1:01:22 Jen - Quacks of Quedlinburg
1:04:44 Tim - Lost Ruins of Arnak, Quacks of Quedlinburg
1:06:50 Board Game Revelations in 2021

Merchants of the Dark Road Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 75 we provide our hot take review of Merchants of the Dark Road covering the mechanisms, the production, notable moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game and we discuss a poll related to what makes legacy games feel special.

Then we discuss some games on our table including Azul, Tzolk'in, The Great Wall, Abyss, Seasons.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: What makes a legacy game special?
11:45 Merchants of the Dark Road Description
13:29 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:47 Production and Theme
31:33 Memorable Moments
39:50 Final Thoughts
44:35 Azul strategy discussion
52:31 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar - Double Take
56:40 Great Wall First Impressions
1:02:10 Abyss
1:04:07 Seasons

Welcome To... and Azul Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 74 we provide our hot take reviews of Welcome To... and Azul covering the mechanisms, the production, notable moments in play, and our overall feelings of the games and we discuss a poll related to ideal board game playtimes.

Chris provides a Welcome To... themed cocktail and then we discuss some games on our table including Viticulture, Charterstone, and Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Poll: Board Game Playtimes
11:12 Welcome To... Description
13:04 Gameplay and Mechanisms
20:20 Production and Theme
23:30 Memorable Moments
26:48 Final Thoughts
30:30 Azul Description
32:17 Gameplay and Mechanisms
38:42 Production and Theme
43:45 Memorable Moments
47:55 Final Thoughts
55:10 Cocktail of the Week
58:36 Viticulture
1:00:16 Catan Junior
1:03:09 Charterstone
1:12:17 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun

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