Board Game Hot Takes

Latest Episodes:

Top 3 Board Games We Wish We'd Designed Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 323 we're joined by board game designer Connie Vogelmann to discuss our top 3 board games we wish we'd designed.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:56 Connie tells us about Tideward and Weaverbirds

12:16 Top 3 board games we wish we'd designed

15:26 Baseball Highlights 2045

19:04 The Gang

23:05 Dominion

26:27 Glass Road / Black Forest

33:03 Smartphone, Inc.

36:34 It's a Wonderful World

40:14 Blue Lagoon

44:47 Nemesis

49:56 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

52:58 Fromage

58:54 Super Motherload

1:04:08 Nexus Ops

1:12:29 Will the BGHT Hosts ever design a board game?

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

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Hot Topic - When are Epic Games Worth It? Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 322 we discuss epic (big, long) board games. How do you define an epic game? Are they worth the time investment? What games do you consider epic games? How often do you want to be playing them?

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

Bus Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 321 we give our hot take review on Bus covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on Duel Games and then discuss some games on our table including Ostia, Gunsen, and Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Poll Time: How do you feel about Duel games?

12:12 Bus Description

14:15 Gameplay and Mechanisms

29:01 Production and Theme

33:39 Final Thoughts

38:20 Ostia

51:26 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo

55:57 Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon

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 - Board Game Collecting Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 320 we discuss the board game collecting as a part of the hobby. Do we consider ourselves collectors? What makes an interesting collection? Why do board games make good (or bad) collections?

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

Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 319 we give our hot take review on Gunsen COLON The Battle for Toshi Ranbo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on whether its okay to concede in a 2-player game and then discuss some games on our table including Ants, World Order, and Origin Story: Heroes and Villains.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Poll Time: Is it acceptable to concede in a 2-player game?

12:38 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo Description

14:29 Gameplay and Mechanisms

40:10 Production and Theme

44:56 Final Thoughts

52:25 Ants

1:03:37 World Order

1:11:52 Origin Story: Heroes and Villains

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

Our Spirit Games, Grail Games, Most Gifted Games, and More - Mailbag #9 Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 318 we answer a bunch of mailbag questions asked by our Patreon supporters.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:39 What's your Spirit Game?

04:39 Have you ever sold or traded a game away but later decided you wanted it back in your collection?

10:07 What games are just dumb fun?

15:03 Are there any games you'd like to see get a digital implementation?

19:39 What are your most gifted games?

24:57 What game was reimplemented wrong and the original was much better?

30:39 What is the first favorite happy moment in board gaming that comes to mind?

36:10 Will we ever attend another public board game convention?

39:53 How have you grown as a person through playing board games?

44:48 If you could only play 2 games the rest of your life which ones would you select and why?

49:00 What are your Grail Games to play and/or own?

57:21 What mics and DAWs do we own and other questions about creating the podcast?

1:02:48 Which games are worse to play on Board Game Arena than in person?

1:07:21 How did the hosts of the show meet?

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

Wondrous Creatures Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 317 we give our hot take review on Wondrous Creatures covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on discovery vs. mastery and also discuss some games that have ALMOST been on our table including World Order and Distilled: Cocktails.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Poll Time: Which do you enjoy most about enjoying board games - Discovery or Mastery?

10:20 Wondrous Creatures Description

12:28 Gameplay and Mechanisms

30:07 Production and Theme

37:12 Final Thoughts

44:39 World Order

51:32 Distilled: Cocktails

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 Party Games Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 316 we play and discuss many of our favorite party games and you can play along with us.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:37 Balderdash

11:04 Wavelength

18:05 Green Team Wins

22:59 Skull

27:18 Poetry for Neanderthals

31:12 Scattergories

35:57 Flip 7

39:57 Hot Streak

43:59 Heads Up!

48:58 Mad Gab

53:48 Scattergories: Categories

56:17 Subjective

1:01:33 Wits and Wagers

1:04:31 Challengers!

1:10:41 Codenames

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 3 Resource Economies in Board Games Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 315 we discuss our top 3 resource economies in board games.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Beat The Expert Contest Winners

04:43 Top 3 Resource Economies in Board Games (Brass: Birmingham, Clans of Caledonia)

13:12 Tinner's Trail

19:33 Power Grid

24:02 Modern Art

28:05 Keyflower

34:51 Creature Comforts

40:58 Smartphone, Inc.

44:58 M.U.L.E. The Board Game

51:19 Arborea

56:33 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

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

Entropy Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 314 we give our hot take review on Entropy covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on how other people's experience at the game table impacts you and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Pokemon Modern Art, Wavelength, and Duel of Meloch.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Poll Time: Does another player's bad experience impact your enjoyment of a board game

09:00 Beat the Experts Contest Update

11:50 Entropy Description

13:45 Gameplay and Mechanisms

31:54 Production and Theme

41:06 Final Thoughts

51:36 Pokemon Modern Art

53:26 Wavelength

58:32 Duel of Meloch

1:10:17 Listener Shoutout