Shelf Stable: A Board Game Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#36 live from Treefort, Mass Market Replacements Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Great venue, fun crowd, good topic, Tom burps into the microphone- wait... Tom burps into the microphone? Gather round and listen in agony as we recommend Monopoly Deal to some innocents. Hold on, I think I had another game as a backup for this topic. Actually wait, I had two games as backups for this topic. Never mind, just move on to the next slide please.

Topic: Mass Market Replacements

Songs:

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

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

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#35 ft. Dan Thurot of Space-Biff, Tariffs Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Came for the Minecraft villager sex scene, left moved by Dan's message on why our hobby is worth fighting for. Cringe. At the end of the day, aren't we all just adult babies in the making?

8:16 - Intro: Dan Thurot of Space-Biff!

Beyond Solitaire episode LARPing the Renaissance with Ada Palmer https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/1091807/episodes/16834850-episode-189-ada-palmer-on-larping-the-renaissance

Games we played:

21:48 - Nyakuza / Orongo (2014, Reiner Knizia, CMON)

29:14 - Pan Am (2020, Prospero Hall and Peter Lee, Funko Games)

3MBG board game hall of fame about people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMtH7370xQ

41:12 - Pax Pamir 2nd (2019, Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig)

Pax Pamirs and Framing https://spacebiff.com/2020/06/29/talking-games-9/

Topic:

59:56 - Tariffs

Call your reps, make your voice heard https://5calls.org

Democratic Socialists of America https://www.dsausa.org

Space-Biff! https://spacebiff.com

Songs:

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

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

*This week only* If you are a pervert who likes this, consider nominating us for the Golden Geek awards https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3489648/19th-annual-golden-geek-awards-nominations-open

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#34 Unstable Shelf Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Nothing to see here. Just a perfectly regular episode of Unstable Shelf where Tom and Kenny review some of the latest board game releases. This week, they discuss Kickstarters and why they are the best. Again, nothing to see here. Move along folks... Move along...

Games we played:

9:34 - Rebirth (2024, Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards)

15:23 - Hubworld Aidalon (2026, Cory DeVore & Michael Boggs, Earthborne)

25:47 - The Gang (2024, John Cooper & Kory Heath, Kosmos)

31:27 - Fishing (2024, Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele)

Topic:

37:20 - The Hype is Real

Tom Vasel's Video Essay on Crowdfunding - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Songs:

TOR by Bone Your Mom

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

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

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#33 Games That Should Get A Reprint Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Imagine you were Flat Stanley and a scientist experimented on you by branding and perforating your body with Quacks pieces. Now imagine that it's seven years in the future. You've recovered from the horrific event known only as "the incident". You now have a spouse and two beautiful children. A representative from CMYK shows up at your door with a megenta-colored suit and matching sunglasses. They politely request that you get into the car. Inside is the very scientist that ruined your life. They say they have a great new direction. Things will be different this time. The doors lock. Your children cry as the car drives away... GEDAGADIGADEGIDAGO

Games we played:

6:34 - Quacks (2018, Wolfgang Warsch, Schmidt Spiele)

13:38 - Cthulhu Death May Die (2019, Rob Daviau & Eric M Lang, CMON)

20:15 - Equinox / Colossal Arena (2021 og1997, Reiner Knizia, Plan B)

26:45 - Everdell (2018, James A. Wilson, Starling Games)

100 games before you die:

32:33 - Welcome To (2018, Benoit Turpin, Blue Cocker)

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

Topic:

39:49 - Games That Should Get A Reprint

A good thread on potentail reprints : https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/1gagmjn/the_2024_list_of_games_that_need_to_be_reprinted/

Join us:

THIS FRIDAY Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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#32 The Benefits of a Gamer Lifestyle Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

What if I told you there was a lifestyle that could make your heart healthier, your brain smarter, your looks smokin', and the world a better place? I mean, there probably is something like that (punch reading? sex charity?) That's about as far as we got with the hypothetical. We're talking board games as usual. But hey, those can be good for you too! This episode features considerably more positivity and coincidentally more games we played together. It wasn't intentional, but we'll take it.

Games we played:

10:02 - Samurai (1998, Reiner Knizia, Fantasy Flight)

17:53 - Deus (2014, Sebastien Dujardin, Pearl)

26:46 - Las Vegas Royale (2019 og2012, Rüdiger Dorn, Alea)

30:36 - Power Grid The Card Game (2016, Friedemann Friese, Rio Grande)

100 games before you die:

34:40 - Ticket to Ride (2004, Alan R. Moon, Days of Wonder)

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

Topic:

37:04 - The Benefits of a Gamer Lifestyle

Amabel Holland Mechanisms as Metaphors video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG4zLcKsCiA

Cardboard Ghosts by Amabel Holland https://www.routledge.com/Cardboard-Ghosts-Using-Physical-Games-to-Model-and-Critique-Systems/Holland/p/book/9781032813448

Reality is Broken by Jane McGonigal https://janemcgonigal.com/2020/01/13/hello-world/

Relationship Between Puzzles and Cognitive Function in Adults 50+ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/gps.5085

Michael Walker Revolutionizes Physical Therapy https://www.sowronggames.com/322-michael-walker-revolutionizes-physical-therapy

The Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ARI-game-changer.pdf

Join us:

Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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#31 Are Cozy Games A Thing?!?! Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Grab a couple of your favorite kids/pets and strap them to you by a warm fire. It's time to get cozy. Or is it? Is cozy a thing? Was it a thing and now it's just blasé? Perhaps even cozé? Kenny pulls a Tom on this one and absolutely rags on cozy games for a good century. Also: the appearance of everyone's favorite Disney animal companion, Aladdin's jolly blue genie.

Games we played:

3:23 - Catlantis (2019, Prospero Hall, Ravensburger)

11:49 - Autumn Harvest / Tea Dragon Society (2020/2018, Steve Ellis II and Tyler Tinsley, Renegade)

23:08 - Cosmic Frog (2020, Jenna Felli, Devious Weasel)

31:00 - Five Tribes (2014, Bruno Cathala, Days of Wonder)

100 games before you die:

37:20 - Splendor (2014, Marc Andre, Space Cowboys)

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

Topic:

43:00 - Are Cozy Games A Thing?!?!

Join us:

Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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

#30 live from SaltCON, Con-Maxing Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

In case it's not clear from the recording, Tom destroyed his voice.

Games we played:

3:57 - Res Arcana (2019, Thomas Lemann, Sand Castle)

7:15 - Die Macher (1986, Karl-Heinz Schmiel, Spielworxx)

13:45 - Cat Blues (2024 og1998, Reiner Knizia, Bitewing)

18:58 - Letter Tycoon (2015, Brad Brooks, Breaking Games)

100 games before you die:

23:01 - Magic Maze (2017, Kasper Lapp, Sit Down)

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

Topic:

28:41 - Con-Maxing

43:57 - Q and A

Join us:

Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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

#29 How to Pick What to Play Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

If we ever get into professional wrestling, let's call ourselves The Reverse Draft and The Steam Roller. Have we already forgotten Jimmy Carter?!?! Try not to blink as we absolutely derail into rulebooks and forget to talk about the actual game we played.

Games we played:

4:18 - Village (2011, Inka & Markus Brand, Stronghold)

10:49 - The Castles of Burgundy (2011, Stefan Feld, Alea)

17:17 - Hansa Teutonica (2009, Andreas Steding, Argentum Verlag)

21:35 - Dream Home (2016, Klemens Kalicki, Rebel)

100 games before you die:

30:05 - Azul (2017, Michael Kiesling, Next Move)

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

Topic:

33:52 - How to Pick What to Play

Join us:

SaltCON Spring, Feb 27 - Mar 2 https://saltcon.com/spring

Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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

#28 How People Shape Games Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

If Ed Sheeran were ever to listen to an episode, this is the one. He'd learn all about loving the shape of games (although only a few dexterity games push and pull via magnets). Unrelated, if somebody could get me a bottle of Ed Sheeran's flesh-colored promotional Heinz bottle I would absolutely adore that. No, I won't let the ketchup inside of it rot in the shrine. I'll make sure to consume it all, clean out the bottle, and only then place it in the shrine. Duh.

Games we played:

6:03 - Bear Valley (2016, Carl Chudyk, Stronghold)

11:31 - Knit Wit (2016, Matt Leacock, Z-Man)

16:02 - Underwater Cities (2018, Vladimir Suchy, Delicious & Rio Grande)

20:52 - 51st State (2016, Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal)

100 games before you die:

29:20 - Hearts (1850, Uncredited, Public Domain)

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

Topic:

34:03 - How People Shape Games

Join us:

SaltCON Spring, Feb 27 - Mar 2 https://saltcon.com/spring

Podfort, Mar 28 https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-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

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

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

#27 ft. Jacob Kinney of Phoenix Fire Games, Game Store Secrets Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

The code word is "Sexy Spiderman in Magic." If you say it three times quickly, any game store employee is legally required to give you a copy of Finspan below retail AND a giant Galactus figure at a discount of $900.

1:09 - Intro Jacob Kinney of Phoenix Fire Games

https://www.phoenixfiregames.com

Games we played:

4:43 - Mottainai (2015, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi)

12:42 - Sidereal Confluence (2017, TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids)

Accessibility kits https://64-ounce-games.myshopify.com/

20:33 - Nidavellir (2020, Serge Laget, GRRRE)

100 games before you die:

27:02 - Santorini (2016, Gord!, Roxley)

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

Topic:

34:31 - Game Store Secrets