Board Game Barrage

Hello, again, Germany! Well, we don't actually ever  go to Essen, but boy do we wish we could. There are always so many games that debut at Essen SPIEL that we wish we could play or buy ... and this year is no exception! We're counting down the games we would most anticipate getting our hands on if it weren't so goshdarn far . Before we cross the Atlantic, we also talk about Irish Gauge , Heroes o...

No, not  that game. We're talking about the life cycles of games, how we acquire them, how we end up moving on from them. Where do we generally get our games from, and how do we typically get rid of them? Things get a little bit existential before the end. Before we, blinking, step into the sun, we also talk about  Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne ,  18Lilliput , and Tonari . 01:38 - Eternal: Chr...

Look, there's only so much time in the day, so we don't get to play every game we ought to. But some of those missed games hurt more than others, in fact, some of them are downright shameful. This week we're counting down the top five games we're ashamed that we haven't played. Before we atone, we also talk about Kobayakawa , Taj Mahal , and Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition) . 02:07 - Nine Tiles...

Kellen's back, which some might say is too many hosts - apt, because we're an episode of extremes today. We're talking about games that are too simple, too complicated, too short, or too long, that might otherwise have been among our favourites. Before we venture outside the Goldilocks zone, we talk about Q.E. , Cartographers , and City of the Big Shoulders . 02:58 - Q.E. 11:52 - Cartographers 19:...

Kellen graces us with his absence, which means it's time for Mark and Neilan to start talking numbers. Specifically, player numbers. We're talking about optimal player counts for games, whether games ever mean what they recommend on the box, and how well they scale. Before we count to ten, we talk about Vindication , Royal Palace , Throw Throw Burrito , and Pipeline . 05:40 – Vindication 12:05 – R...

We're running components through our fingers this week, because we're ranking our favourite games that require dexterity. Whether it's flicking, stacking, or balancing, dexterity games tend to offer a respite from brain burning crunchiness, and a chance to exercise actual  muscles. Before our hands tremble, we talk about The Wizard Always Wins , Genoa , and Paku Paku . 01:29 - The Wizard Always Wi...

We just flew in from Indianapolis, and boy are our arms tired! From carrying all these games. But, more than the games, it's the people you meet that make the memories, so we're recovering from a very long weekend at Gen Con by telling some of our favourite little stories from the floor. Before we revisit our weekend, we talk about Tuki , God of War: The Card Game , and Wits & Wagers Vegas . 01:03...

Our trilogy of Gen Con podcasts concludes with one final foray between the sheets! Join us on the floor of room [redacted] for the last time, with our thoughts from day three. We talk about Sanctum , Potemkin Empire , MegaCity: Oceania , and Aegean Sea .

Day two is over, but we're just getting started, because it's all about those Gen Con nights . We're up way too late, yet again, to give you the scoops from the floor. We talk about Finger Guns at High Noon , In Front of the Elevators , Realm of Sand , City of the Big Shoulders , and Medium .

Gen Con! It's time yet again for freezer pants, gourmet coffee and going between the sheets . Join us for our quick day one impressions from the floor, and I mean that quite literally. We talk about Gravity Superstar , Wakanda Forever , Mechanica , Mister Face , Nine Tiles Panic , Visitor in Blackwood Grove , and Letter Jam .

Gimmicks are elements of a game that are the fundamental selling point, the core attention grabbing mechanic or experience that the game is built around. This episode, we're breaking down gimmicks in board games, figuring out if they're good or bad for the hobby, and talking about some of the most notable. Before we cave to flashy marketing, we also talk about Are You A Robot? , Jaws , and FUSE ....

This week we're talking about hidden trackable information. That is, information about the game state that could be remembered or recorded, but the game design (usually) assumes that players haven't. Is it okay to memorize or divulge this information? Before we take notes, we also talk about  Papà Paolo , Oceanos , and Pax Pamir (Second Edition) . 02:10 - Papà Paolo 07:25 - Oceanos 13:32 - Pax Pam...

Gen Con 2019 is mere weeks away, and I bet you don't even know what games are going to be there. Fear not, we've got you covered! We're counting down our most anticipated games of the show, having meticulously studied BGG's preview list, and looked at all the pretty pictures. Before we plan our trip, we talk about Cryptid , Two Rooms and a Boom , and Planet . 03:25 - Cryptid 09:05 - Tobago 10:04 -...

So, you're coming in last. You could sigh, lean back, mutter to yourself about all the things you should've done better ... or you could get back in there, soldier! Back on your feet! This week on the show, we discuss what's worth fighting for in a board game, when you're clearly not going to win. Before we lose with dignity, we talk about Murder on the Cosmic Express , TAMSK , and Diplomacy . 02:...

Special guest Paula Deming joins us this week to tell board game stories! We think back to especially funny times we had playing a board game, that were only made possible by the game itself. Before we spin yarns, we talk about Evolution: Climate , Terrible Monster , Sweet Nose ,   and Dice Throne: Season One . 00:15 - Paula Deming, the Orchid Tank! 07:35 - Claustrophobia 1643 09:10 - Evolution: C...

You don't need no education, but you're getting one anyway. This week we're going to be explaining the meaning of some common but unclear board game words, for we are nothing if not your humble servants. Before we define our terms, we talk about The Shipwreck Arcana , Kingdom Death: Monster , and Vinhos Deluxe Edition . 01:29 - The Shipwreck Arcana 09:05 - Kingdom Death: Monster 19:28 - Vinhos Del...

Time is a precious resource, so let's not waste any; we're talking about game length. How long should a game be? Is it worse if a game is too long or too short? We wrestle with the fourth dimension in our search for answers. Before we watch the clock, we talk about Dice Forge , Gulo Gulo , and Millennium Blades . 01:28 - Dice Forge 06:53 - Gulo Gulo 10:53 - Millennium Blades 19:41 - Game Length 23...

There's nothing sweeter than the softening of a heart, that precious feeling when all of the things you thought you'd dislike, suddenly become endearing. We're counting down our favourite games that we thought we were going to hate, but ended up loving. Before we go full tsundere, we talk about Indian Summer , Richard the Lionheart , and X nimmt! 01:55 - Indian Summer 09:26 - Richard the Lionheart...

Somewhere in Germany every year, a specialist team assembles to decide on the best board games ... that released in Germany that year ... that no one has ever heard of. Look, the Spiel des Jahres is a bit weird, and no one ever agrees about the winners, but we're going to talk about the nominees anyway, okay? Before ze Germans get here, we also talk about Glorantha: The Gods War , and Corinth . We...

Everyone likes to get the most out of their hard-earned cash, but what is a board game worth? Maybe it doesn't matter what's inside the box, maybe the real value is the friends we made along the way? Haha, just kidding, it's totally all about the miniature total. Before we count components, we also talk about Aerion , Overbooked ,  Dinosaur Island , and Lancaster . 03:15 - Aerion 05:40 - Overbooke...

Letters! You love writing them, and we love reading them! This week, we look at portable and licensed games, why reviewers love social games, and give advice for your first board game convention. Before we break out the letter opener, we also talk about Fool! , Aerion , and Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar . 01:03 - Fool! 05:38 - Aerion 13:06 - Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar 22:24 - Li...

We're well into May, so it's about time we did some spring cleaning. We talk about the games that have recently left our collection, and why it was their time to go. It's not always an easy thing, but I'm sure they're being loved by someone else on a farm upstate. Before we out with the old, we talk about Space Base: The Emergence of Shy Pluto ,  Hyperborea , and Clockwork Wars . 02:28 - Space Bas...

Dominant strategies can ruin a game; if there's one clear best way to win, why not use it every time? We discuss these optimal strategies, whether they're always problematic, and how to deal with them at your game table. Before we break the game, we talk about A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians , Lost Cities: Rivals , and  Second Chance . 03:16 - PUSH 04:53 - A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians 12:30 -...

Slow down. Why're you always in such a rush? Kick off your shoes, join us on the couch and enjoy a nice, tall, refreshing ... board game. We're counting down our five favourite relaxing games, the ones we're drawn to at the end of a long game night. Before we slip into something more comfortable, we also talk about Heaven & Ale , Men At Work , and Yellow & Yangtze . 01:59 - Heaven & Ale 08:30 - Me...

We're being serious. Are board games a base line level of fun that we ought to take for granted? We're all together, we're all playing a game, that's better than doing nothing, right? It couldn't possibly be that simple with us. Before we arithmetise entertainment, we also talk about Tiny Towns , Zendo , and Escape Plan . 01:41 - Tiny Towns 07:23 - Zendo 13:24 - Escape Plan 29:52 - Are games fun n...