Shelf Stable: A Board Game Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#96 Fun v Optimal Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Episode 100 is soon! Send us your favorite bits here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrtQ-to5QSWcLu8khKwNa6UhtpAs-DIelNtvMeKG6g5QhmhQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Sorry for the late episode. We figured it would be better to bring you something that was fun but late instead of optimal but mid. Get ready for Robocop to blow your cop off in "concept purgatory".

The insanity test https://youtu.be/47GoI680kU0?si=rlsArqc31cQZ60Zh

Hampster dance history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampster_Dance

Games we played:

7:21 - Mancala, Kala variant (5870BCE, Uncredited, Public Domain)

Interestingly, David McCord just did a history of Mancala and it's great https://youtu.be/i9zvDZTMSaA?si=NihOlAz_TDVuGnLT

12:29 - Underwater Cities (2018, Vladimír Suchý, Rio Grande)

20:47 - Concept (2013, Gaëtan Beaujannot & Alain Rivollet, Repos)

25:10 - ZÈRTZ (1999, Kris Burm, HUCH!)

100 games before you die:

29:09 - Scythe (2016, Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

33:58 - Fun v Optimal

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

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#95 Drafting the Ideal Gateway List Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

What do you mean Ark Nova is too difficult for grandma? That's neither a game problem nor a curation problem. Grandma just needs to level up, we're in the 2020s here. Oh great, now she's crying while she shuffles the giant deck all wrong. Half the cards are upside down. Just give it to me; this is hard to watch. Your grandma is the worst.

Psybrid Theory https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgcoT7-W0fP258nmxEy-2pkFJftUKjdRi

T.I.M.E. https://youtu.be/DsoCe7C4Kmk?si=cRYIIRo_Wy9jU2An

Games we played:

9:24 - Sekigahara The Unification of Japan (2011, Matt Calkins, GMT)

14:04 - Samurai The Card Game (2009, Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande)

19:00 - 1846 The Race for the Midwest (2005, Thomas Lehmann, GMT)

25:07 - T.I.M.E. Stories (2015, Peggy Chassenet & Manuel Rozoy, Space Cowboys)

100 games before you die:

31:25 - Android Netrunner (2012, Richard Garfield & Lukas Litzsinger, FFG)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

34:28 - Drafting the Ideal Gateway List

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#94 ft. Marceline Leiman, Games That Hurt May 26, 2026

Show notes

Back in my day, we had to craft our monsters in the Chao Gardens before putting them in our pockets. And the games came in the mail via Del Taco coupons. Ouch, my ol' back.

4:55 - Intro: Marceline Leiman

12:46 - We Have to Know!

Games we played:

39:34 - Go Stop (1889, Uncredited, Public Domain)

Topic:

47:07 - Games That Hurt

Achievement Relocked https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262043533/achievement-relocked/

The Art of Failure https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262529952/the-art-of-failure/

Where to find Marceline:

https://www.marcelineleiman.com

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/marcelineleiman.bsky.social

Marceline's games https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/135996/marceline-leiman

Songs:

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#93 Cooled Warmed Why May 19, 2026

Show notes

Move over Monopoly DEAL. It's all about that Catan life now. We're Catan-maxing now. Welcome to Catan Stable where we talk about Catans that have stood the test of tan.

Games we played:

4:52 - Nokosu Dice (2016, Yusuke Matsumoto, Engames)

12:51 - Skulk (2019, Prospero Hall, Mixlore)

16:15 - Root (2018, Cole Wehrle, Leder)

20:37 - Dinosaur Tea Party (2018, Rob Daviau & JR Honeycutt & Justin D. Jacobson, Restoration)

100 games before you die:

27:00 - Diplomacy (1959, Allan B. Calhamer, Avalon Hill)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

31:02 - Cooled Warmed Why

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#92 Board Game Accessories May 12, 2026

Show notes

Every game needs a Yugioh-style dueling contraption for your arm so you can game on the go. Gloomhaven would double as a workout. Just imagine how juicy those biceps would get after losing the first scenario for the 10th time on regular difficulty.

Games we played:

5:35 - Friesematenten (2010, Friedemann Friese, Amigo)

9:51 - Shikoku 1889 (2004, Yasutaka Ikeda, Grand Trunk)

16:21 - Brian Boru High King of Ireland (2021, Peer Sylvester, Osprey)

22:36 - DVONN (2001, Kris Burm, HUCH!)

100 games before you die:

26:28 - Terraforming Mars (2016, Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

30:10 - Board Game Accessories

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#91 ft. Tom Brewster, Shelfily Steud May 05, 2026

Show notes

It's a board game edition of Family Feud! Tom shaved his head and grew a caterpillar mustache just so the audio would sound aerodynamic. Listen as our poor host inevitably has to explain the rules multiple times as we blunder through.

Rusi Papazov's BGG Feud https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3665080/we-asked-100-boardgamers

joshzcold implementation https://github.com/joshzcold/Friendly-Feud

Topic:

3:26 - The Rules

6:51 - Question 1

17:04 - Question 2

27:42 - Question 3

39:07 - Question 4

49:31 - Question 5

58:30 - Question 6

1:06:13 - Fast Money

Where to find Tom:

https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/tombrewster.bsky.social

https://www.shutupandsitdown.com

Songs:

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#90 I'm Right You're Wrong Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome new listeners from BGG. If you're wondering whether this is truly an award nominated board gaming podcast, I assure you, we definitely only talk about board games and we are very serious about it.

(Psst, hey if you're reading this, that means you have the special Slophead power. It's like those magic eye puzzles but you can only read it if you've enjoyed Monopoly DEAL. Don't worry, that first message was just a trap I set for unsuspecting Geeksters. We definitely got your Bionicle needs covered. Bionicles: are they shrinky-dink? Are they dope? Are those Pohatu's fingers or are they guns? Is the entire franchise problematic? All this and more unveiled on this juicy mess of a 'sode.)

Games we played:

3:16 - Mamma Mia! (1998, Uwe Rosenberg, Abacusspiele)

9:05 - Gloomhaven (2017, Isaac Childres, Cephalofair)

Twitch stream every other Sunday at 10EST https://www.twitch.tv/cyberdack

17:29 - Stephenson's Rocket (1999, Reiner Knizia, Grail)

23:15 - 18Chesapeake (2018, Scott Petersen, All-Aboard)

NPI 18xx https://youtu.be/QErygzM4W_Y?si=UV275CDbtagZU6wZ

100 games before you die:

32:03 - Magic the Gathering (1993, Richard Garfield, Wizards of the Coast)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

37:20 - I'm Right You're Wrong

Pretend they are someone I love https://www.tumblr.com/chunkysoup22/763544129895579648

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#89 ft. Kellie Nalbandian, It's Just a Game Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Nothing personal Tom. I'm not here to make friends, and you're not here to help my numbers, apparently. Maybe you'll think twice next time about using all the rice as pieces for your Brass DEAL protoype.

10:14 - Intro: Kellie Nalbandian

12:02 - We Have to Know!

Games we played:

22:05 - 7 Wonders (2010, Antoine Bauza, Repos Production)

Topic:

35:35 - It's Just a Game

Where to find Kellie:

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/kellienalb.bsky.social

Insta https://www.instagram.com/kellienalbandian/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@gabandkel

The Social Game https://robhasawebsite.com/shows/reality-tv-rhapups/social-game/

Songs:

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#88 When the Game Makes You a Joke Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Gunk? Bee. Bee bee bee. Bee gunk? Rez the gunk. Only rez furries! Furries gunk. Mega gunk.

The annual Golden Geek nominations are open. If you love the cast, consider nominating us! Nominations close Sunday, April 19.

https://boardgamegeek.com/goldengeek

Games we played:

9:43 - Babylonia (2019, Reiner Knizia, Ludonova)

12:37 - Lisboa (2017, Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon)

20:47 - Fast Forward FORTRESS (2017, Friedemann Friese, 2F-Speile)

26:03 - Photograph (2016, Saashi, Matagot)

100 games before you die:

30:33 - Power Grid (2004, Friedemann Friese, Rio Grande)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

36:32 - When the Game Makes You a Joke

NL Secret Password https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pMSwiryRlUM

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#87 Games That Were Ruined for Us Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

If you're having second thoughts about that one comfort game your best friend always brings to game night, might I recommend a warm glass of milk? Tip... SPLASH. Oh my goodness no! What have you done? I meant a glass of milk to sip and calm your nerves! How could you just go and destroy best friend's deluxified copy of Splendor? It's signed by the designer and by five of the worlds greatest gem cutters. Literally a family heirloom passed on from three generations. What are we going to do? Do you have a blow dryer on you?

Games we played:

9:34 - Time Barons (2014, Jon Perry & Derek Yu, WizKids)

14:36 - Age of Rail South Africa of South African Railroads (2011, John Bohrer, Capstone)

26:35 - QE (2019, Gavin Birnbaum, BoardGameTables)

32:35 - The Lord of the Rings The Confrontation (2005, Reiner Knizia, Fantasy Flight)

100 games before you die:

37:25 - Grand Austria Hotel (2015, Virginio Gigli & Simone Luciani, Lookout)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

42:39 - Games That Were Ruined for Us

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus