Shelf Stable: A Board Game Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#76 Characteristics of Games Pt. 3 Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

We continue our observation of tall serious character and short crazy character in the third part of our study. Short character most definitely thinks everyone should embrace the rolling teach while tall character implores short character to have some empathy. The female spider then consume's the male's head to sustain her body during the birthing of the many thousands of offspring.

Games we played:

7:49 - Botswana aka Wildlife Safari (1994, Reiner Knizia, 25th Century)

Kenny's question about eating board game pieces https://podcastaddict.com/but-why-vikings/episode/214541461

13:16 - Cross Clues (2020, Gregory Grard, Blue Orange)

17:19 - The Bottle Imp (1995, Günter Cornett, Matagot)

22:03 - Hearts (1850, Uncredited, Public Domain)

100 games before you die:

26:16 - Wabash Cannonball aka Chicago Express (2007, John Bohrer, Winsome)

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

Topic:

30:09 - Characteristics of Games Pt. 3 (chapters 3-5)

Characteristics of Games (2012, George Skaff Elias & Richard Garfield & K. Robert Gutschera, MIT Press)

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542692/characteristics-of-games

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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#75 Crunchy Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Not like that! We got another one. What is it with kids these days chowing down on Azul pieces? When we said crunch, we meant the brain ya dingus! Use your noggin and crunch what we're spitting, metaphorically. And please, don't make us have to call another ambulance. Castle Pandemic has enough patients as it is.

Games we played:

2:51 - The Estates (2018, Klaus Zoch, Capstone)

7:40 - Cat in the Box (2020, Muneyuki Yokouchi, Bezier Games og Ayatsurare Ningyoukan)

11:55 - Bargain Hunter (1998, Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games)

16:13 - Castle Panic (2009, Justin De Witt, Fireside Games)

100 games before you die:

19:46 - Innovation (2010, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi)

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

Topic:

24:44 - Crunchy

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

#74 Resolution Wars the Pantry Strikes Back Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

December 31, 2026. Tom has the build of that one doge meme. Regular body. Swollen, muscular arms. Kenny qualifies every board game comment by stating the number of plays and that he needs to play it more. Neither has purchased a game in two years. They don't even play board games anymore. They just talk about gooning to Twilight Imperium videos.

Games we played:

4:15 - Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition (2017, Dane Beltrami & Corey Konieczka & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight)

12:06 - Toddles-Bobbles (2010, Alena Lebedeva, Simple Rules)

14:42 - Fine Sand (2018, Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele)

17:11 - LLAMA (2019, Reiner Knizia, AMIGO)

100 games before you die:

20:32 - Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated (2019, Andy Clautice & Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf)

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

Topic:

24:32 - Resolutions

Tom's 2026 resolution bingo https://imgur.com/a/3EE56xE

48:38 - The Pantry

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/350266/shelf-stable-the-pantry

The Pantry is always accesible from the Shelf Stable website in the "About" section. The "About" also includes a searchable list of all the "games we played" segments with episode numbers, an FAQ covering our editorial policy, and a glossary of our most scuffed bits. https://shelfstablecast.com/about

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

#73 Year in Review v25 Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

It feels good to move these old bones. Let us rejoice by consuming and expelling media in the only way we know how: listicles. Listicles everywhere. Spilling the final blood of a year that we are ready to kick into the past like a horse that does not wish to be ridden.

Year In Review v25

7:22 - Top games we played

18:35 - Bottom games we played

22:08 - Unexpected and got rid of

32:25 - Lookback at 2020

49:33 - Outside the scope

55:13 - Predictions 2025

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

#72: ft. Eize Basa, 12* Games for the Holidays Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

*Give or take the games we mentioned before the main topic.

As Tom begins to close in on Kenny's position, a wild Eize Basa of Twitter (RIP) and now Bluesky fame (https://bsky.app/profile/eizebasa.baby) appears and distracts Tom with a fantastic list of games that every family is sure to enjoy during their holiday gatherings. No need for family arguments when you've got board games to play!

Games we played:

8:06 - Win, Lose, or Banana (2009, Chris Cieslik, Asmadi)

11:34 - Twilight Struggle (2005, Ananda Gupta, Jason Matthews, GMT)

19:15 - Azul (aka, "The Christmas Game") (2017, Michael Kiesling, Next Move)

23:45 - Texas Hold 'Em (1950-something, Felton "Corky" McCorquodale, Public Domain)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

34:41 - ZERTZ (and YINSH) (1999, Kris Brum, Huch)

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

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

42:26 - 8 or 9 Games to play during the holidays

Bibliography:

Follow Eize Basa on BlueSky! - https://bsky.app/profile/eizebasa.baby

"How Does Dobble (Spot it!) Work?" by Stand Up Maths - https://youtu.be/VTDKqW_GLkw?si=CGlVrMalHC7eIGAK

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

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

#71 ft. Taylor Allen, The BGG Top 100 Reviewed Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

This week, Taylor Allen of Shelf Stable canon fame helps Tom Bowers continue the quest to find Kenny after his mysterious disappearance. Will they manage to get away from complaining about Quacks and Final Girl long enough to find any solid clues? Or will they instead alienate their audience with discussions about Magic the Gathering and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? The only way to know is to tune in...

Games we played:

8:19 - Hansa Teutonica (2009, Andreas Steding, Z-Man Games)

13:13 - Aboretum (2015, Dan Cassar, Renegade Game Studios)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

20:28 - Letters from Whitechapel (2011, Gabriele Mari, Gianluca Santopietro, Fantasy Flight Games)

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

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

27:06 - The BoardGameGeek Top 100 Reviewed

Bibliography:

"Money Please" (Parks and Rec) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGvWbsTDPHU

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Jack the Ripper comes out of a horse (Trigger warning: gore, animal cruelty) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRcKpewpZQ

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

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

#70 ft. Tom Brewster, Making a Living as a Board Game Critic Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

This week, Tom Brewster of Shut Up and Sit Down helps Tom Bowers take over the show in Kenny's unprecedented and unexpected absence. Will Tom and Tom manage to solve the mystery of Kenny's disappearance? Or will they simply yap about board games for nearly two hours and uncover the forbidden secrets of how to break into every Zoomer's dream career: becoming a YouTube celebrity? There's only one way to find out...

Games we played:

6:35 - Mexica (2002, Wolfgang Kramer & Michael Kiesling, Iello)

10:40 - Memoir '44 (2004, Richard Borg, Days of Wonder)

18:13 - Terra Mystica (2012, Jens Drogemuller & Helge Ostertag, Feuerland Spiele)

28:08 - BANG! (2002, Emiliano Sciarra, DV Games)

34:08 - (Bonus) Western Legends (2018, Hervé Lemaître, Kolossal Games)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

37:08 - Cosmic Encounter (1977, Bill Eberle & Jack Kittredge & Bill Norton & Peter Olotka & Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight Games, et al.)

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

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

47:56 - Making a Living as a Board Game Critic

Bibliography:

Roadman "Big" Shaq "The Ting Goes (Man's not hot)" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jlviX88iw

Matt Lees in the Genius Annotations of "Lamborghini" by KSI: https://genius.com/5046168

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

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

#69 Nice Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Bringing back all the classics in this one. Hope you're not a new listener because there will be a lot of unexplained mysteries. You know what? It still might be funny even without context. That's how good we are. I don't know... maybe I'm getting full of myself. Oh no. Am I getting full of myself? Please, somebody humble me quick! I'm not worthy...

Games we played:

4:22 - Belle of the Ball (2014, Daniel Solis, Dice Hate Me)

8:37 - Chinatown (1999, Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man)

14:49 - LLAMA (2019, Reiner Knizia, AMIGO)

19:13 - Nations (2013, Rustan Håkansson & Nina Håkansson & Einar Rosén & Robert Rosén, Lautapelit)

100 games before you die:

27:56 - Istanbul (2014, Rüdiger Dorn, Pegasus Spiele)

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

Topic:

31:26 - Nice

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

#68 Characteristics of Games Pt. 2 Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

It's the year 2035. A retired Jim Carrey and Christopher Walken emerge from their stasis e-pods for one more film. A film to put all others to shame. Characteristics of Games: a Garfield Movie. The story of a little boy who was most definitely a villager even though nobody believed him.

Games we played:

2:50 - The King is Dead (2020 og2015, Peer Sylvester, Osprey)

7:35 - MTG Jumpstart (2020 og 1993, Doug Beyer et al, WotC)

14:21 - Cleopatra and the Society of Architects (2006, Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Days of Wonder)

21:30 - Twice as Clever! (2019, Wolfgang Warsch, Stronghold)

100 games before you die:

26:57 - Acquire (1963, Sid Sackson, Avalon Hill)

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

Topic:

32:47 - Characteristics of Games Pt. 2

Characteristics of Games (2012, George Skaff Elias & Richard Garfield & K. Robert Gutschera, MIT Press)

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542692/characteristics-of-games