Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast

Latest Episodes:

77. Bringing Back the Classics with Play For Keeps Games Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Hidden Gems, join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Bill Arney as they dig into four classic re-releases from Play For Keeps Games — Reel Rivals (a re-implementation of El Caballero), Gheos, Mexica, and Bridges of Shangri La. Fair warning: these are all take-that games with a mean streak, so expect a few friendships to be tested along the way.

Check out the Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playforkeeps/bridges-of-shangri-la-gheos-reel-rivals

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Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/hiddengemspodcast
BGG Guild #: 3874
Discord: https://discord.gg/bakZ332pup
Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

76. Board Game Retreat 2026 May 15, 2026

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It's May and we're finally back to report on our 2026 Annual Board Game Retreat (from back in February)! We had a great time and played tons of games, so in this episode Chris, Jason, Bill and Cameron report on what they played - the good, the bad, and the crazy!

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75. Let's Play Puerto ... Banana? Feb 13, 2026

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On this episode of Hidden Gems, join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they dig into three games that were definitely not from the crew's board game weekend. What have they been up to during the recent "snowpocalypse"?
FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:25:56 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game
00:49:07 Seas of Strife
01:05:21 Puerto Banana

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74. Christmas Spectacular 2025: We're Back! Dec 25, 2025

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When, what to my wondering ears should appear, but another Christmas Spectacular with the Hidden Gems team is here!

Wow, it's been a bit hasn't it? Well sit down with your warm milk and nutmeg and rejoin your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they reunite for another Christmas episode. We'll catch you up on where we've been and our thoughts for the future of the show.

Merry Christmas!

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73. Extended Banter: Board Game Retreat 2025, Part 2 Feb 27, 2025

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The banter continues! There are plenty of games left to cover from the fabled board game retreat weekend. Join your hosts Chris Alley, Ken Cantrell and Jason Yanchuleff as they dive into more of the titles we got to on the trip.

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72. Extended Banter: Board Game Retreat 2025, Part 1 Jan 25, 2025

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New year, new show format! Every so often, we'll take a break from reviewing games to just talk about more stuff we've been into lately. In this inaugural "Extended Banter" episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney, and Cameron Lockey treat you with the usual personal updates and then spend some time reflecting on the games we got to play, both new and old, at our game group's annual Board Game Retreat earlier this month.

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71. Christmas Spectacular: Stocking Stuffers for 2024 Dec 24, 2024

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Twas the day before Christmas, and all round the world, the gamers awaited, the adults, boys, and girls. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but no brief, tiny games have yet been stuffed there. When what to my wondering ears should appear, came a new Christmas episode full of gems, joy, and cheer!
FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:30:52 Christmas Trivia
00:47:25 Tetrix (Mosaics)
01:07:42 R. Eco.
01:34:27 Roll Through the Ages
MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):
Trivia: "Everlasting Yule", Home for the Holidays; "Pizzicato Dance", Howard Harper-Barnes; "A Holly Jolly One", Arthur Benson
Tetrix: "Virtual" - AGST
R. Eco: “Absolutely Sure”, North Sphere
Roll Through the Ages: “New Civilization”, Wendel Scherer

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70. "A" is for Alchemist Dec 10, 2024

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"A" is for... alchemist? Another series begins! Will we ever finish it? Who knows! but this episode we start our alphabetically-themed episodes with the letter "A". Join your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney and Jason Yanchuleff as they dig for more gems.
FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:22:46 Abandon Ship
00:45:00 Alchemist
01:09:39 Age of Comics
MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):
Abandon Ship: “Little Sailor”, Leimoti
Alchemist: “With Every Note”, Etienne Roussel
Age of Comics: “On the Bike”, Golden Age Radio

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69. Halloween Spectacular: 2024 Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

It's time for another cheesy skit, more Halloween trivia from Chris and a bunch of horrifying takes on a bunch of dusty, spooky games. What could be scarier?! Join the full crew: Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, Bill Arney and Cameron Lockey as they bring you three ghoulish reviews of unusual, forgotten, and under-appreciated Halloween-themed games in this 2024 episode of Hidden Gems!
FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Sketch: Chapter I
00:05:52 Intro & Banter
00:26:05 Halloween Trivia Game Show
00:46:10 Sketch: Chapter II
00:52:30 Igor
01:27:43 Sketch: Chapter III
01:34:25 Wicked Witches Way
02:09:15 Sketch: Chapter IV
02:15:27 Run, Fight or Die
BGG GEEK LIST:
https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings
STORY CREDITS (Sketch):
"I Is For Ice": Iain Rob Wright (with permission)
MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS - courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com
I Is For Ice Score:
"Arbitrary Treatment" - Prozody
"Antagonist" - Spectacles Wallet and Watch
"An Obsession" - Dayon
"The Cost of Fear" - Jon Björk
"Mind Reading" - Edward Karl Hanson
"Dead Bodies" - Experia
"Rain G'azing" - Red Dictionary
"You Are Not Afraid" - Jon Björk
"Incandescence" - Silver Maple
"Impasse" - Silver Maple
"Closure of Things" - Cobby Costa
"Colossal Terror" - Jon Björk
"Strange Interference" - Cobby Costa
"Lost in Space" - Cobby Costa
"I Hear Voices" - Experia
"Mystery Potion" - Kikoru
Hidden Gems Intro Theme - "Spooky Gems", Travis Lockey, Royalty Free
Game Show Theme - "Trail of Crumbs", Martin Landstrom
Igor - "Uninvited Guests", Etienne Roussel
Wicked Witches Way - "The Friendly Ghost", Arthur Benson
Run, Fight or Die - "Zombie Raiders", Wave Saver

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68: Stefan Dorra - Part 3 Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Bill Arney jump back into the delightful world of Dorra, exploring three more games by this esteemed designer.
FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:31:32 Amazona
01:00:17 Pergamon
01:36:21 Salamanca
MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):
Amazona: “Jungle Awakening”, Rune Dale
Pergamon: “A King's Ransom”, Bonnie Grace
Salamanca: “Imber”, Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen

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