Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Top 10 Board Games of All Time Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 43 we discuss our picks for the top 10 board games OF ALL TIME!

Tim, Chris, and Adam list off our picks for the best games of all time. We discuss how we made those picks and if there were any surprises to us on our lists.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 How we made our picks
07:25 - #10
13:49 - #9
20:16 - #8
25:46 - #7
34:47 - #6
41:10 - #5
47:59 - #4
54:30 - #3
1:00:10 - #2
1:06:19 - #1
1:15:20 - Surprises on our lists

Rap Godz Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 42 we provide our hot take review of Rap Godz covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss some games we've been playing including Dice Throne, Doughnut Drive-Thru and Terraforming Mars and some games we're excited about including Paperback Adventures and AuZtralia.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:10 Rap Godz Description
03:03 Gameplay and Mechanisms
29:02 Production
29:16 Favorite Moments
35:46 Final Thoughts
44:51 Dice Throne
47:40 Doughnut Drive-Thru
49:17 AuZtralia
51:52 Terraforming Mars
52:42 Paperback Adventures

Lost Ruins of Arnak May 31, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 41 we provide our hot take review of Lost Ruins of Arnak covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game. We briefly compare Lost Ruins of Arnak and Dune: Imperium to let you know which of these deck building/worker placement games we recommend.

We also discuss some games we've been playing including Power Grid and Take 5 and some games we're excited about including Oath, Witcher: The Old World, and Elder Scrolls.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Lost Ruins of Arnak description
03:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms
21:55 Lost Ruins of Arnak vs. Dune: Imperium
27:59 Production
37:28 Exciting Moments
41:51 Final Thoughts
47:00 Oath: Chronicles of Empires and Exile
48:50 Power Grid
51:30 Take 5
54:33 Elder Scrolls
55:58 The Witcher: Old World

AuZtralia May 24, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 40 we provide our hot take review of AuZtralia covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss some games we've been playing including Kemet: Blood and Sand and Lost Ruins of Arnak and some games we're excited about including an expansion to Beyond the Sun and Twisted Fables.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:04 AuZtralia description
04:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms
42:55 Production
51:01 Exciting Moments
57:36 Final Thoughts
1:03:44 Kemet: Blood and Sand
1:07:02 Lost Ruins of Arnak
1:12:18 Beyond the Sun: Leaders of the Exodus expansion
1:14:00 Twisted Fables

House Rules and Variants May 17, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 39 we discuss house rules and fan variants in board games. We talk about why people may use them, how we feel about that, and what games we've house ruled with some notable examples including Orleans, Wingspan, Scythe, Castles of Burgundy, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy, Dune: Imperium, My Little Scythe, Dice Throne, Space Base, and Champions of Midgard.

We also talk about some official variants that you find in the rulebook including Res Arcana and Terraforming Mars.

We then discuss some games we've been playing this week including Dice Throne and Red Cathedral, and some game we're excited about trying including High Society, First Ascent, and VoidFall.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:55 House Rules and Fan Variants
01:52 Removing Complexity (Dice Throne, My Little Scythe, Space Base)
08:42 Zoom Compatibility (Wingspan)
10:30 Improved Variability and Easier Intro (Orleans, Champions of Midgard)
15:20 Better Strategic Decisions (Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy, Tapestry)
20:22 Exploring Games in Different Ways (Dune: Imperium)
26:02 Official Variants (Terraforming Mars, Res Arcana)
27:45 Fixing Balance Issues (Castles of Burgundy, Scythe)
31:05 Games We're Excited About
33:06 First Ascent
35:05 Red Cathedral
35:52 Voidfall
41:28 Kemet: Blood and Sand
43:46 Dice Throne
46:20 High Society

BGG Top 10 May 10, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 38 we discuss the top 10 games on boardgamegeek.com.

We talk about whether we've played them, whether we want to, and how we've rated the best games of all time according to BGG user ratings. We also discuss some games that we think might make a run for the top 10.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:04 - #10 Twilight Struggle
12:50 - #9 Star Wars: Rebellion
21:00 - #8 Gaia Project
26:30 - #7 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
32:20 - #6 Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
40:46 - #5 Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition
45:08 - #4 Terraforming Mars
51:30 - #3 Brass: Birmingham
58:52 - #2 Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
1:03:37 - #1 Gloomhaven
1:07:07 - Games we think might make Top 10

Cubitos VS. The Quacks of Quedlinburg May 03, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 37 we provide our hot take review of The Quacks of Quedlinburg and Cubitos covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the games.

We then compare the two games and discuss which is our favorite and why.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:17 The Quacks of Quedlinburg Description
03:13 Gameplay and Mechanisms
18:06 Production
21:32 Favorite Moments in Play
24:53 Final Thoughts
27:24 Cubitos Description
29:00 Gameplay and Mechanisms
39:50 Production
44:29 Favorite Moments in Play
49:25 Final Thoughts
50:47 Quacks VS Cubitos - Showdown

Clank! In! Space! Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 36 we provide our hot take review of Clank! In! Space! covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss the importance of diversity and representation in the board game industry and hobby and then highlight some games that we're excited about including Boss Battles and Red Cathedral, and look at the games published by Hollandspiele Games.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:23 Clank! In! Space! Description
05:56 Gameplay and Mechanisms
23:37 Production
34:20 Favorite Moments in Play
41:43 Final Thoughts
48:20 Diversity and Representation in Board Games
54:26 Boss Battle
58:17 Red Cathedral
1:02:30 Hollandspiele Games
1:06:30 BGHT Supports the Human Rights Campaign - and you can help!

Concordia Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 35 we provide our hot take review of Concordia covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss some recent plays including Fox in the Forest, Omen: Reign of War, and Trekking the National Parks. We also talk about a game coming to Kickstarter soon: Fractal: Beyond the Void.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Concordia Description
02:35 Gameplay and Mechanisms
12:55 Production
18:22 Favorite Moments in Play
21:43 Final Thoughts
26:40 Omen: Reign of War
27:33 Fractal: Beyond the Void
31:05 Fox in the Forest
37:55 Trekking the National Parks

Gaming Weekend Extravaganza - 10 Games in 90 Minutes Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 34 Adam and Tim discuss 10 games that they played during their first in-person gaming session in over a year! Chris joins in to heckle us.

00:00 Introduction and discussion on gaming in person
06:05 A Feast for Odin
15:27 Canvas
23:18 Dwellings of Eldervale
30:27 Baseball Highlights: 2045
39:33 Anachrony
50:40 Anachrony: Fractures of Time
51:35 Dune: Imperium
56:50 Underwater Cities
1:01:23 Path of Light and Shadow
1:12:49 Santa Monica
1:18:10 Star Wars: Rebellion
1:27:08 Weekend Highlights

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