Episodes
Published 03/20/24
We made it all the way to Dice Tower West in Las Vegas (and some of us made it out), and we're ready to talk about all of the amazing games we played over there, between outings for pinball and sushi. If you were there, thanks for hanging out with us! Stick around for talk about Faraway, MLEM: Space Agency, ito, Cascadero, and more! 01:08 - Faraway 12:20 - Medici 19:33 - MLEM: Space Agency 26:48 - ito 35:24 - Cascadero 44:09 - Mino Dice 49:54 - Unboxed 54:36 - Beowulf 55:55 - Of...
Published 03/20/24
We're back with the terrible acronym and the branding nightmare that is BGBDOG - I don't even know what it stands for to be honest, but this week we're turning the spotlight on an incredible force in the industry, Vlaada Chvátil, touring his incredible games all the way through to the true modern classic that is Codenames. Before we check in on our favourite Czech, we talk about Wyrmspan, 3 Ring Circus, and La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War. 02:01 - Wyrmspan 12:29 - 3 Ring Circus 23:29 - La...
Published 02/29/24
We're in the thick of 2024 now, but there's still plenty more to come - and with that vast undiscovered country (as my father called it) ahead of us, we have loads of games to look forward to. But not all hype is made equally, so here are the ones we're most excited about. Before we mark our calendars, we talk about Savage Bowl: Trick Taking Game, Rear Window, and Cuba. 01:44 - Savage Bowl: Trick Taking Game  10:19 - Rear Window 17:42 - Cuba 27:48 - Most Anticipated Games of 2024 28:42 -...
Published 02/15/24
Three hundredth episode! But no time to celebrate, we're deep in the new year now, which means it's back to your regularly scheduled podcast, and it's time to reflect on the year past, and contemplate what lays ahead for us in a post-300 world. That's right, we're paying for the crimes of last year's resolutions. Before we look a little back, but mostly forward, we talk about Orichalcum, Mino Dice, and Last Light. 01:46 - Orichalcum 12:42 - Mino Dice 20:08 - Last Light 34:34 - Revisiting...
Published 02/01/24
We made it! We've arrived at last at the final ten(-ish) games, in fact, our TOP TEN (or so?) favourite games of all time. Thanks for joining us again on this yearly pilgrimage, as always it's the journey that's the important thing - but that's not to say that there isn't some exciting moving and shaking to happen at the destination. That said, it's time to pass out on the couch. 01:34 - Neilan #10 - The Resistance 05:00 - Mark #11 - Caylus 1303 05:51 - Mark #10 - Arboretum 07:39 - Kellen...
Published 01/18/24
We're almost bursting at the seams, but there's room for a little more. It's the penultimate episode of our five part series, the Top 50 games of all-time! We're moving on to our 20th to 11th favourite games, which means it's time for some big risers and dramatic falls. Make yourself a coffee (sugar's over there in the corner), it's not time to sleep just yet. 03:45 - Kellen #20 - Cosmic Encounter 06:25 - Neilan #20 - Ra 08:09 - Mark #20 - Stationfall 11:25 - Kellen #19 - Lords of Vegas ...
Published 01/11/24
It's a new year which is an awkward time to be right in the middle of something, but we're doing a thing here. It's part three of our Top 50 games of all-time! This week it's our 30th to 21st favourite games, and this is where things start to get spicy. This is like five chilis next to the menu item hotness we're talking. Grab a bib and join us for another course! 03:45 - Mark #30 - Cuba Libre 04:08 - Kellen #30 - Coloretto 05:58 - Neilan #30 - Watson & Holmes 07:28 - Mark #29 -...
Published 01/04/24
It's the second leg of the grand tour that is the top fifty. This week, we're doing our 40th to 31st favourite games ... of all time! It's almost like Christmas just keeps going! Grab a glass of sherry and join us by the fire, we're not about to stop any time soon. 01:21 - Neilan #40 - Bus 03:52 - Mark #40 - Panic on Wall Street! 05:38 - Kellen #40 - Pax Porfiriana 08:56 - Neilan #39 - In the Year of the Dragon 10:33 - Mark #39 - Ark Nova 12:04 - Kellen #39 - Seas of Strife 14:55 -...
Published 12/28/23
It's tiiiiiiime! It's the top fifty! That's right, the much anticipated, much celebrated, much imitated (we definitely did it first) event of the season is here. We're counting down each of our favourite fifty games of all time! Or at least, for right now! It's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and we'd love if you pulled up a chair and joined us for it. 06:36 - Kellen #50 - Santiago 07:59 - Neilan #50 - Jaipur 09:30 - Mark #50 - Findorff 11:22 - Kellen #49 - Genoa 12:37 - Neilan #49 - The...
Published 12/21/23
PAX Unplugged was a blast, and we played so much stuff that we're dying to tell you about - many of them with our beloved listeners. We braved the cold and the rain of Philadelphia, on the other side of the country, to bring you this episode jam-packed with games - so there's no room for any dilly dallying. Hits include Forest Shuffle, Arcs, Findorff ... and loads more! 02:14 - 5 Towers 06:57 - Nigoichi 11:01 - Cabanga! 15:00 - Age of Steam 17:33 - Falling 20:36 - Infiltraitors 24:38 -...
Published 12/07/23
In what could be our most grandiose episode yet, we attempt to tame the wild history of all of board games. We traverse the timeline, unpacking what we consider to be the great epochs of the hobby, in an attempt to explain how modern game design evolved into its present form. Before we unpack the deep lore, we talk about General Orders: World War II, Oak, and Big Boss. Timecodes: 02:36 - General Orders: World War II 11:47 - Oak 20:24 - Big Boss 31:20 - The great epochs of board games ...
Published 11/23/23
Uh oh, is that thunder? That must mean it's time for a lightning round - we're scooping up all the lovely questions and suggestions that just aren't big enough for the main event, and stuffing them in the blender. This week, it's public spaces, warning labels, gaming tips, and PAX Unplugged. Before we put fingers on buzzers, we talk about Gift of Tulips, Five Three Five, and Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods. Timecodes: 01:36 - Gift of Tulips 10:20 - Five Three Five 16:52 - Anunnaki: Dawn of the...
Published 11/09/23
Drafts are back, baby. And not just any old draft, no, but to celebrate the return of the greatest game, we're drafting none other than the best of the only true and living doctor, Reiner Knizia. Who ends up with the best list? Vote for your favourite, you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we doc it up, we talk about Empire's End, My Favourite Things, and Four Horsemen. Timecodes: 02:33 - Empire's End 12:15 - My Favourite Things 21:15 - Four Horsemen 27:48 - Drafting Reiner Knizia...
Published 10/26/23
Are board games stuck? Not to be dramatic or anything, but it does seem like we keep circling the same ideas over and over again, right? We speculate on where we think the hobby is headed, and whether or not it needs a shake up. Before we plateau, we talk about Orchard, Hadrian's Wall, Terracotta Army, and Santiago. Timecodes: 03:09 - Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game 06:49 - Hadrian's Wall 13:45 - Terracotta Army 24:34 - Santiago 35:45 - Board game stagnation 38:17 - Return to Dark...
Published 10/12/23
It's almost time for Essen SPIEL 2023, the great German Mecca of our people - and while we're not going ourselves, that's not going to stop us yearning. We're hear to tell you about all the amazing games available at the show this year that you ought to be excited about. Before we gaze longingly across the Atlantic, we talk about Asara, Skytear Horde, and Dwellings of Eldervale. Timecodes: 02:31 - Asara 10:15 - Skytear Horde 14:04 - Dwellings of Eldervale 28:11 - Essen SPIEL 2023...
Published 09/28/23
A little prune, a little embellish, a nip, a tuck, and a flourish, and we can get this thing just how we like it. We're looking at all the little things that we'd like to see more of, all the things we'd like to see less of in the world of board games. Before we giveth and taketh away, we talk about First in Flight, Tramways, and Wandering Towers. Timecodes: 02:39 - First in Flight 11:57 - Tramways 23:32 - Wandering Towers 31:50 - What we want more and less of in games 33:13 - More...
Published 09/14/23
Timing is everything, which is why it's so important that this episode came out when it did. Had we made it too early, it would have felt dated, and any later, you wouldn't have been ready for it. Before it's about time, we talk about Planet etuC, Undaunted: Stalingrad, Undaunted: Battle of Britain, and Tycoon: India 1981. Timecodes: 01:47 - Planet etuC 07:43 - Undaunted: Stalingrad 10:35 - Undaunted: Battle of Britain 14:01 - Tycoon: India 1981 30:36 - Can mechanics be dated? 39:42 -...
Published 08/31/23
I leave for one episode and these idiots are talking about eating board games. Hard hitting questions for hard hitting board game journalists, Kellen & Mark are on the scene reporting in. Before we claw our way back from this, we talk about Power & Weakness, Haggis, and Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game. Timecodes: 02:40 - Power & Weakness 16:28 - Haggis 24:28 - Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game 36:31 - What gets you excited about two player games? 46:04 - Azul 46:30 - What...
Published 08/17/23
A solid end game trigger can be such an overlooked part of the design of a game. The conventional wisdom for most things is to start strong and finish strong, so we look at some of our favourite ways that games can end. Before we reach the end of the road, we talk about Robot Quest Arena, Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020, and Expeditions. Timecodes: 02:07 - Robot Quest Arena 08:52 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 30:11 - Expeditions 47:33 - Inis 48:09...
Published 08/03/23
It's convention season, and the big one is almost upon us, as board gamers across America prepare to descend on Indiana. Gen Con! We won't be there this year, but that won't stop us anticipating what we could be playing at the show. Before we want what we can't have, we talk about Fancy Feathers, Beast, Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020, and Mercator. Timecodes: 02:43 - Fancy Feathers 08:31 - Beast 16:55 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 22:43 -...
Published 07/20/23
Not all are as blessed as we are by the gift of truly original thought, and so many turn to others for inspiration. Whether it's Newton standing on the shoulders of giants, or stealing from our rich neighbour Xerox, many great ideas are born from what has come before. Before we make the inspired choice, we talk about Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game, Innovation Ultimate, and Dawn of Ulos. Timecodes: 01:59 - Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card...
Published 07/06/23
After much consternation at his exclusion from our Mount Rushmore of games, we've decided to honour legendary designer Sid Sackson elsewhere - a BGB Designer Spotlight! I think these used to be called BGB DOGs but even Mark forgot about that bit of branding. Oh well. Before we make amends, we talk about Magicalligraphy, Hamlet: The Village Building Game, and Tournament at Camelot. Timecodes: 01:33 - Schedule update 03:11 - Magicalligraphy 09:30 - Hamlet: The Village Building Game 19:48 -...
Published 06/22/23
We've reached the end of our fantasy draft series, the last in this increasingly dire list of games from which we pluck five gems each, and then get you to vote on your favourites. There's a (potential) $50 gift card in it for you! Before the last dance, we talk about Seas of Havoc, Whale to Look, and Dorfromantik: The Board Game. Timecodes: 03:12 - Seas of Havoc 10:42 - Whale to Look 19:50 - Dorfromantik: The Board Game 29:10 - Drafting BGG's #901-1000 32:17 - Caylus 1303 33:43 -...
Published 06/15/23
We're veering into the dark roads of board game classification, but this time with a goal in mind - how to best highlight games that feature strong interaction. Shouldn't BoardGameGeek have a scale for that somewhere? And while we're at it, BGG ... Before we put our thoughts in the suggestion box, we talk about Guatemala Café, and Ride the Rails. Timecodes: 01:56 - Guatemala Café 12:43 - Ride the Rails 23:09 - Quantifying interactivity 25:43 - A Feast for Odin 32:13 - Yucatan 34:31 -...
Published 06/08/23