Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 298 we discuss all of the games played during the first half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in San Diego, California. If you enjoy the show, please vote for Board Game Hot Takes for best podcast in the annual Board Game Geek Golden Geek Awards here: BoardGameGeek Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:53 Ayar: Children of the Sun 14:40 Captain Flip 17:57 Lords of Veg...

In Episode 297 we discuss how board games trigger dopamine and name our top 5 games loaded with dopamine hits. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Top 5 Dopamine Loaded Board Games 05:57 Endeavor: Deep Sea 9:02 No Thanks 11:43 Champions of Midgard, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy, Arcs, Star Wars Rebellion 16:00 Nippon: Zaibatsu 19:48 Sol: Last Days of a Star 22:32 Kanb...

In Episode 296 we talk through our real-time nominations for the 2025 boardgamegeek.com Golden Geek Awards. If you enjoy our show and would like to support us by nominating us for Best Board Game Podcast you can do that here: https://boardgamegeek.com/goldengeek Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:05 Above and Below: Haunted 04:57 Ada's Dream 06:53 Ape Town 08:35 Aquaria 09:32 Ayar: Children of the...

In Episode 295 we give our hot take review on Endeavor: Deep Sea covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We talk about the games we'll be playing at our bi-annual (or semi-annual) BGHT Con and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Captain Flip, Endless Space 2, and Earthborne Rangers. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 BGHT Sand...

In Episode 294 we invite board game designer, Andy Schwarz, on to discuss his experience with self-publishing a game and he shares lessons learns, tips and tricks, and some real financial numbers. You can read Andy's blog post covering some of the discussed topics here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3215750/an-analysis-of-what-it-costs-to-self-publish-a-gam If you enjoy the show, please con...

In Episode 293 we each cover 5 board games that integrate animals themes. We also discuss a poll on packing board games when travelling on a plane. 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Poll Time: How do you pack board games when travelling via airplane 11:40 15 Great Animal Themed Games If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: http...

In Episode 292 we give our hot take review on two board game expansions - Viticulture: Bordeaux and Revive: Call of the Abyss Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 0:35 Viticulture: Bordeaux 0:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms 19:36 Production and Theme 21:29 Final Thoughts 28:03 Revive: Call of the Abyss 28:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms 39:04 Production and Theme 40:33 Final Thoughts 45:29 News and Listener Shout...

In Episode 291 we look back at some hidden gems from 2020-2024. We each name at least one game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:49 Top 5 Overlooked Board Games (2020-2024) 05:00 2020 - Whistle Mountain (Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, The Castles of Tuscany, Star Wars Unloc...

In Episode 290 we discuss board game strategy, how we approach it, and why we care about strategy when we're playing board games. We also discuss a poll about discussing strategy after a play. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll Time: Do you discuss the strategy of your play after finishing a game? 12:05 Board Game Strategy 12:38 How do you approach strategy on a first play of a board ga...

In Episode 289 we give our hot take review on Dewan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Speakeasy, Saltfjord, and Ape Town. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Dewan Description 02:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms 18:40 Production and Theme 23:55 Final Thoughts 28:25 Speakeasy 37:25 Saltfjord 45...

In Episode 288 we dive into the mailbag in search of our listener's best board game related questions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 2:14 Theme that doesn't exist that you'd like to see in a game? 12:28 What are your once a year games? 20:02 What is the best deal you've ever scored on the secondary market and what is your most regrettable board game purchase? 29:53 Thoughts on ord...

In Episode 287 we give our hot take review on Forest Shuffle and Reforest and cover the gameplay and production of both and then discuss which we preferred. We also discuss a poll on separating resource components when setting up a game and then discuss some recent plays of Fibbage and Super Motherload. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Poll Time: Separating Resources 8:27 Forest Shuffle Descri...

In Episode 286 we cover 5 board game expansions each that are (almost) mandatory. 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Board game expansions we won't play without 03:31 Look back at Top 5 Board Game Expansions from Episode 47 10:17 Roll Player - Monsters and Minions 15:02 Agricola - Belgium, France, Gamer's Deck, etc. 19:43 Radlands - Cult of Chrome 22:05 Thunder Road: Vendetta - Choppe Shoppe 24:36 B...

In Episode 285 we give our hot take review on The Old King's Crown covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We talk about the BGG Hall of Fame inductee, For Sale, and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Reforest, Biblios, and Subjective. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 BGG Hall of Fame: For Sale 05:40 The Old King's Crow...

In Episode 284 we give our hot take review on Echoes of Time covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We cover a poll on motivations to engage with the board game hobby and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Sanctuary and Fearsome Floors and a first look at some games that have recently arrived including Chaosmos: The Temple and Spe...

In Episode 284 we take a look back at 2025 and discuss some of the great (and no so great) games we played last year. Most of them were even published last year. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 2:27 Biggest Surprises in 2025 (Dead Cells, Hot Streak, Slay the Spire: The Board Game) 16:45 Biggest Disappointments in 2025 (Wroth, Scoville 2nd Edition, SETI: Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence) 25...

In Episode 282 we discuss the current state of the hobby and if it's the best it's ever been. Are we in peak board gaming? Where do we go from here? If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/grou...

In Episode 281 we look back at the games we played once for the first time in 2025. Great games and we want to play them more. We briefly look at last year's list and see how we did. 00:00 Introduction 04:24 Last Year's List 04:34 Luthier 05:04 Marrakesh 05:21 Dune 06:12 Unconscious Mind 07:25 Thunder Road: Vendetta 08:27 Lancaster 09:44 Dune: Imperium Uprising (6 Player) 09:53 Biohack 10:...

In Episode 280 we look back at last year's list of games we wanted to get played and then we discuss the games that are top of mind we hope to get to try over the next year. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:12 Last Year's Top 5 we wanted to play in 2025 (and how we did) 02:21 Civolution 05:40 Joyrides: Survival of the Fastest 06:08 Wroth 06:32 SETI: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligen...

In Episode 279 we give our hot take review on Ada's Dream covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We cover a poll on Multi-player Solitaire board games and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Lords of Vegas, Ticket to Ride, and Nokosu Dice. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll: How do you feel about 'Multi-player Solita...

In Episode 278 we discuss the top 5 games that each of us thinks will be a big hit for families of all types (family gatherings, gaming with kids, etc.) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:12 Top 5 Family Board Games 07:50 Flip 7 10:55 Skull 14:39 Cheeky Monkey /Can't Stop / Viking See-Saw 20:39 Sushi Go 23:13 No Thanks 27:28 Camel Up / Hot Streak 31:22 King of Tokyo 34:44 Balderdash 38:31 Ticke...

In Episode 277 we discuss why and how we rate board games on BGG and run through each of the rating levels, how they're described on BGG, and provide samples of our ratings at each level. We also discuss a poll about rating board games on BGG. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:29 Poll Time: Do you rate games on BoardGameGeek? 7:42 BGG Ratings Topic Introduction 9:40 1 - Awful Defies Game Descripti...

In Episode 276 we give our hot take review on Joy Ride: Survival of the Fastest covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We cover a poll on board game convention attendance and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Stroganov and Origin Story and a future take on Otter Chaos. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:28 Poll: How many board gam...

In Episode 275 we return to the mailbag and answer a bunch of our listener's board game related questions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 1:31 What are some of your go-to games for groups that have varying levels of gamers? 9:55 What are the parts of this hobby that annoy you the most? 13:16 What do you think are the biggest omissions from BGHT feature reviews? 17:36 What is your most played b...

In Episode 274 we give our hot take review on Galactic Cruise covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We cover a poll on board game productions and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Demoniac, Rebirth, Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein, and Thurn and Taxis. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll: Which production element is...