Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 243 we give our hot take review on the latest expansion for Dune: Imperium, Bloodlines, covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game and discuss what we think is the best way to play Dune: Imperium now between all of the expansions, modules, and multiple standalone games available.

We also talk about some games that have been on our tables including Brian Boru and Clank! Catacombs - Lairs and Lost Chambers. We also discuss a poll on average weekly board game time.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Poll Time: On average how many hours of actual tabletop gameplay do you have per week?

05:14 BGG Golden Geek Awards

06:34 Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines

08:35 Gameplay and Mechanisms

27:49 Production and Theme

31:36 Final Thoughts

35:17 The Best way to play Dune: Imperium now.

44:54 Brian Boru

50:55 Clank! Catacombs - Lairs and Lost Chambers

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

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Top 5 Quirky Mechanisms Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 242 Steph Hodge joins us to discuss our top 5 quirky mechanisms in board games.

You can find Steph's blog here: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/3802/all-the-meeples-of-the-rainbow

and her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamersteph

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:12 Top 5 Quirky Mechanisms

08:11 Marrakesh

11:24 Time of Empires

14:00 Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia

17:34 Truffle Snuffle

19:25 Keyper

22:00 Viscounts of the West Kingdom

24:50 Trotofant

27:45 Redwood

30:31 Black Orchestra

34:10 Argo

37:13 Once Upon a Line

39:23 Greedy Kingdoms

42:58 The Faceless

45:35 Piazza Rabazza

48:24 Dungeon Petz

52:49 Honorable Mentions: Picture Perfect, Dungeon Fighter, Canvas, Captain Sonar, Turing Machine, Treasure Island, Bullet Heart, Mord Im Arosa

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

On The Table Extravaganza! Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 241 we each talk about 3 board games that we've played recently including Windmill Valley, Zoo Vadis, The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-taking Game, Captain Sonar and many more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:54 No Thanks

09:52 Zoo Vadis

22:12 Black Orchestra

32:37 Captain Sonar

41:35 Torchlit

49:51 Windmill Valley

58:44 Power Vacuum

1:07:11 Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods

1:21:10 The Fellowship of the Rings: Trick-Taking Game

1:27:25 Listener Shoutout

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

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Hot Topic - When Board Games Get New Polish Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 240 we discuss board games that have gotten a facelift. New productions, 2nd editions, and similar topics.

We also discuss a poll about leaving game groups.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Poll Time: Have you ever left a game group?

10:54 Board Games That Get Facelifts

13:45 Recent Examples - Castles of Burgundy, La Granja, Brass, Kemet, Cyclades, Irish Gauge, Ethnos, Acquire, Yokohama

20:33 How we feel about this - Terraforming Mars, Agricola, Great Western Trail, The Castles of Burgundy, Mosaic, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

30:50 What would we want out of Agricola refresh - Agricola: Dead Harvest

40:14 What Makeovers Do We Want - Gaia Project, Beyond the Sun, Le Havre, Quacks of Quedlinburg, The Expanse, Forbidden Stars

47:55 Are big refreshes a problem because of price? - Agricola, Marrakesh, Foundations of Rome, Foundations of Metropolis, Eclipse

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

Top 5 (Otherwise Great) Games That Outstay Their Welcome Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 239 we each talk about 5 board games that we love but can run a little longer than they should.

We also discuss a poll on publicly discussing your board game interests.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Poll Time: How public are you about your board game love?

12:08 Games we enjoy that can outstay their welcome

12:28 Trailblazer: The Arizona Trail

15:51 Kabuto Sumo

19:57 Tapestry

25:30 Lords of Xidit

29:37 Dominant Species

34:09 Final Girl

37:27 Star Wars: Outer Rim

41:38 Star Wars: Rebellion

44:22 Harmonies

49:43 Aquatica

55:20 Wonderland's War

58:16 Starship Captains

1:02:52 Chimera Station

1:05:43 Battlestar Galactica

1:09:39 Auztralia

1:14:10 Final Thoughts

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

Top 5 Board Games With Great Player Interaction Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 238 we each talk about 5 board games that have the types and level of player interaction that we really like.

We also discuss a poll on whether complexity and price should have a correlation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:44 Poll Time: Do you correlate complexity with price?

14:02 Player Interaction

19:52 Parks (Agricola)

25:35 Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Carnegie)

30:31 Clans of Caledonia (Gaia Project)

34:35 My Little Scythe (Wolves, Gaia Project, Sol: Last Days of a Star)

40:01 Stockpile (Pan Am, Lancaster, Modern Art)

45:24 Nidavellir (Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest)

48:54 Great Wall (Lancaster)

53:10 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory

56:44 Troyes

1:01:00 Carcassonne (Barrage, Terraforming Mars)

1:07:44 Baseball Highlights 2045 (Blood Rage, Magic: The Gathering)

1:12:31 Rebirth (Tigris and Euphrates, Samurai, Blue Lagoon)

1:17:17 Fractal (Rising Sun, Blood Rage, Dune, Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, Battle for Rokugan)

1:25:34 Bruxelles 1893 (Lancaster, Barrage)

1:30:33 Final Thoughts

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

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 237 we give our hot take review on SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We announce some board game giveaways and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Dinosaur Island, Stockpile, Guild of Merchant Explorers, and Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Patreon Board Game Giveaways

02:50 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Description

04:25 Gameplay and Mechanisms

18:42 Production and Theme

25:49 Final Thoughts

37:21 Dinosaur Island

44:46 Stockpile

53:40 Guild of Merchant Explorers

55:18 Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans

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

Hot Topic - Curating Board Game Setup Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 236 we discuss the decisions you make around setting up a game to make it the best possible experience for your game group including things like changes you make after random setup steps, how you pick asymmetric factions, and what expansions you add in.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Curating board game setup

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

The Guild of Merchant Explorers Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 235 we give our hot take review on The Guild of Merchant Explorers covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on how tariffs might impact board game buying habits and we discuss some games that have been on our table including Skyrise, Black Forest, Belaad, Oh No Volcano, and Slay the Spire.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Poll: If the percentage of prices on board games increase by double digits due to tariffs how much would that change your buying habits?

07:26 The Guild of Merchant Explorers Description

09:15 Gameplay and Mechanisms

21:15 Production and Theme

27:32 Final Thoughts

32:42 Skyrise and Black Forest revisited

37:42 Belaad: The Land of Swords and Quills

46:32 Oh no, Volcano!

50:51 Slay The Spire: The Board game

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

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

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

Top 5 Overlooked Games (2015 - 2019) Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 234 we look back at some hidden gems from 2015-2019. We each name a game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention.

We also discuss some our listeners board game highlights from 2024

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Listeners Top Picks from 2024

06:28 Top 5 Overlooked Games (2015-2019)

09:20 2015 - Chaosmos

12:20 2015 - Cthulhu Realms

16:17 2015 - Deep Space D6

20:07 2016 - Bloc By Bloc

23:01 2016 - Imhotep

27:03 2016 - Kingdomino

30:39 2017 - A Handful of Stars