Board Game Hot Takes

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...

In Episode 273 we discuss competition and specifically what we think is healthy competition. We also discuss a poll about cheating in tabletop games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Poll Time: Have you ever experienced intentional cheating when playing a tabletop game? 5:59 Competition: General Thoughts 9:19 What creates healthy competition? 18:48 How has our competitiveness evolved over time...

In Episode 272 we discuss the top 5 board game designers that are represented on our game shelves. 01:02 Corrections (Creature Comforts and Distilled: Cask Strength) 06:32 Poll: How does it make you feel when a reviewer messes up a rule? 12:25 Top 5 Board Game Designers on our Shelves 16:54 Cole Wehrle (Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, Arcs, John Company 2nd Edition) 19:26 Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, The...

In Episode 271 we give our hot take review on Cosmic Frog covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also talk about some games that have been on our tables including Creature Comforts, That Time You Killed Me, and March of the Ants. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Cosmic Frog Description 02:41 Gameplay and Mechanisms 26:24 Production and Theme 30:55 Fin...

In Episode 270 we take a look at three retro board games that got us into the hobby with mini reviews of each - D&D Computer Labyrinth Game, Solarquest, and Guillotine. We also discuss a poll topic on how important it is that board games are 'fun' and whether fun is a useful term when discussing or reviewing board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Poll Time: Is 'Fun'...

In Episode 269 we discuss all of the games (and many expansions) played during the second half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in Government Camp, Oregon. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Obsession: Characters Expansion 10:51 Terraforming Mars: Prelude 14:26 Pan Am 18:30 Barrage 21:23 Distilled: Cask Strength AND Africa and Middle East Expansion 28:36 Dune: Imperium - U...

In Episode 268 we give our hot take review on The Game Makers covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a listener question on best 2 player mid-weight Euro style games, and then we talk about some games that have been on our tables including Age of Comics, Pagan: Fate of Roanoke, and Arborea. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:43 Patreon Question: Be...

In Episode 267 we discuss all of the games played during the first half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in Government Camp, Oregon. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 06:02 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth 10:44 Hot Streak 16:21 Tycoon: India 1981 25:42 Cascadia 27:34 Scoville 2nd Edition 33:36 Darwin's Journey 40:02 Wroth 44:06 Wonderland's War 48:20 Vantag...

In Episode 266 we discuss mechanisms and board games that were inspired by the theme they represent. Dave Beck (designer of Distilled and Luthier) also joins us for the discussion and gives us a sneak peak at the upcoming Distilled expansion, Distilled: Cocktails. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Distilled: Cocktails 15:14 Theme Driven Mechanisms 17:25 Obsession 19:39 Woodcraft 21:35 Captain S...

In Episode 265 we review and discuss the Wyrmspan: Dragon Academy expansion. We also discuss what we look for in expansions and what usually makes great expansions for us. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Wyrmspan: Dragon Academy 20:13 Hot Topic: What We Look for in Board Game Expansions If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us...

In Episode 264 we give our hot take review on Stupor Mundi covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on 'Take That' in board games, Chris gives us his 5 year anniversary cocktail segment, and then we talk about some games that have been on our tables including District Noir, and The Lord of Rings: Fate of the Fellowship. Timestamps: 00:00 Intr...

In Episode 263 we celebrate 5 years of the Board Game Hot Takes Podcast! Friend of the Show, Leanne, hosts an exciting board game and podcast quiz show for our hosts. Then we all (as well as several listeners) look back at some of the best episodes and moments from the last 263 episodes. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:55 5th Anniversary Quiz 03:21 Round 1: Spiel de Jahres winners in the style o...

In Episode 262 we give our hot take review on Moon Colony Bloodbath covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on buying games without researching them and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Modern Art, Toy Battle, and Forest Shuffle. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Poll Time: Have you ever bought a game when...

In Episode 261 we wrap up the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 1-10. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:26 Chris #10 Terraforming Mars 07:20 Adam #10 Chaosmos 10:42 Tim #10 Grand Austria Hotel 13:44 Chris #9 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization 18:45 Adam #9 - Wonderland's War 20:43 Tim #9 - Pulsar 2849 21:53 Chris #8 - Distilled 26:00 Adam #8 - Smar...

In Episode 260 Rolling Reggie joins us to talk about some of our favorite board games that use dice and why we love the dice mechanisms in those games. You can find Reggie's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@rolling.reggie Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:45 Top 5 Board Games with Dice 07:00 Spots 10:28 Dice Miner 13:47 Wroth 17:26 Troyes 22:14 Castles of Burgundy 27:03 Sentient...

In Episode 259 our guest host, Danielle, answers our questions about her tastes, preferences, and feelings about the board gaming hobby as a casual board gamer. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Definition of a Casual Board Gamer 05:30 Thinking About Board Games 10:21 Buying/Looking For New Games 17:10 Learning New Games 32:45 Board Game Complexity 33:09 Board Game Conventions 36:00 Board Game...