Board Game Hot Takes

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...

In Episode 258 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 11-20. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Chris #20 Obsession 04:18 Adam #20 Stockpile 05:42 Tim #20 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth 06:53 Chris #19 - La Granja 08:44 Adam #19 - Battle for Rokugan 09:58 Tim #19 - Fromage 12:20 Chris #18 - A Feast for Odin 15:33 Adam #18 - Star Wars Rebe...

In Episode 257 Mark Johnson from the Boardgames To Go podcast joins us to discuss Tigris & Euphrates covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on which modern era our favorite games were from and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Tycoon: India 1981 and Castles of Tuscany. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45...

In Episode 256 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 21-30. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Chris #30 Outlive 05:09 Adam #30 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland 08:22 Tim #30 Cyclades: Legendary Edition 12:58 Chris #29 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers 16:17 Adam #29 - SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD 18:29 Tim #29 - Scythe 21:37 Chris #28 - Lost Ruins of A...

In Episode 255 we start the 2025 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 31-40. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Favorite Games of All Time - How we made our lists 07:25 Chris #40 Rats of Wistar 11:01 Adam #40 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization 13:16 Tim #40 The Castles of Tuscany 14:49 Chris #39 - Wingspan 16:44 Adam #39 - Rebirth 18:18 Tim #39 - Le Havre 19:51 Chris #38 - S...

In Episode 254 we discuss games that end a little too quickly. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:14 Race for the Galaxy 07:23 Newton 09:57 Pirates of Maracaibo 14:10 Mycelia 19:14 Fantasy Realms / Marvel Remix 22:11 Biohack 24:36 Smartphone, Inc. 27:46 Near and Far 37:17 Distilled 42:01 Robot Quest Arena 44:12 Woodcraft / Pulsar 2849 47:13 Thunder Road: Vendetta 53:26 Sol: Last Day of a Star 56:21...

In Episode 253 we give our hot take review on Inis covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on gamer types and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Modern Art, Cribbage, and Bomb Busters. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll Time: What type of board gamer do you consider yourself? 08:09 Inis Description 11:50...

In Episode 252 we discuss our favorite wooden figures (meeples) in board games. We also answer a listener's question on which games are great for asynchronous play on Board Game Arena. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Great (and not so great) async BGA games - Lost Ruins of Arnak, Ark Nova, Tapestry, Revive, Harmonies, Gaia Project, Through the Ages, Blood Rage, Rats of Wistar, Azul, La Gr...

In Episode 251 we give our hot take review on Dinogenics covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on favorite publishers and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Masters of Renaissance, Cyclades: Legendary Edition, Endeavor: Deep Sea, and Finspan. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:53 Poll Time: When you listen to...

In Episode 250 we discuss the top 5 board game publishers that are represented on our game shelves. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:52 Top 5 Publishers On Our Game Shelves 06:44 Dire Wolf (Clank! Legacy, Clank! In Space, Dune: Imperium - Uprising) 08:54 Wehrlegig Games (Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, John Company 2nd Edition) 10:47 CMON Games (Blood Rage, Cthulhu: Death May Die, Rising Sun) 12:57 AEG (C...

In Episode 249 we give our hot take review on Finspan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on favorite publishers and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Sol: Last Days of a Star, Galactic Cruise, and Pirates of Maracaibo. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll Time: Do you have favorite publishers? 09:53...