Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 158 we provide our hot take review of Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about watching new releases around conventions. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Welcome to the Moon, Robot Quest Arena, and Patchwork Doodle. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Poll: Do...

In Episode 157 we each discuss our top 5 favorite board games including asymmetric player powers. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:58 Discussion on Asymmetric Player Powers 09:49 Top 5 games with asymmetric player powers. 09:56 The Expanse Board Game 12:28 Champions of Midgard and Dune: Imperium 14:47 Circadians: Chaos Order 18:09 Ankh: Gods of Egypt 20:35 Dwellings of Eldervale and Revive 23:05...

In Episode 156 we provide our hot take review of The Voyages of Marco Polo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about large box editions of games. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Trellis and Marrakesh and some first looks at games that just arrived including Expeditions and Robot Quest Arena. Timestamps: 00:00...

In Episode 155 we provide our hot take review of Cyclades: Legendary Edition covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about storing board games horizontally or vertically. Then we discuss some board games on our table Arkham Horror, Yokai Septet, The Voyages of Marco Polo, and Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan. Timestamps: 00:00...

In Episode 154 we provide our hot take review of Wolves covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about thinking about designing board games. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Patchwork Doodle, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Draftosaurus, and Cat in the Box. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:32 P...

In Episode 153 Tim and Adam's partners, Danielle and Sarah, join the show to discuss their top 5 games. Please excuse the lower quality audio and some background noise due to the unique recording space we were in for this episode. We also discuss a poll on Twitter and our Facebook group about the longest board game you've played. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Poll: What's the lo...

In Episode 152 we finish the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Top Games of All Time 03:21 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy 05:26 Adam #10 Blood Rage 07:20 Chris #10 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar 10:55 Tim #9 Agricola: Revised Edition 13:06 Adam #9 Barrage 15:50 Chris #9 Terraforming Mars 19:02 Tim #8 Ark Nova 21:14 Adam #8 Ri...

In Episode 151 we continue the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20. We also discuss a poll on how important balance is in board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 Poll: How important is balance to you in a board game? 08:09 Top Games of All Time 08:22 Adam #20 Capital Lux 2: Generations 10:06 Chris #20 Viticulture Essential Edition 13:12 Tim #20 Beyond the S...

In Episode 150 we continue the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 21-30. We also discuss a poll on looking for game stores when travelling. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Poll: Do you seek out game stores or when you travel to no cities? 09:03 Top Games of All Time 09:15 Chris #30 Star Wars: The Deck Building Game 13:19 Tim #30 Frosthaven 16:20 Adam #30 Sol: Last Da...

In Episode 149 we start the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 31-40. We also discuss a poll on expressing your board game love in public. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Poll: How do you express your board game love in public? 09:18 Top Games of All Time 15:20 Tim #40 and honorable mentions - Tiletum, Woodcraft, Darwin's Journey, Arkham Horror: The Card Game 19:...

In Episode 148 we provide our hot take review of Darwin's Journey covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about receiving board games with missing or damaged components. Chris provides a Darwin's Journey themed cocktail and then we discuss some board games on our table including Abducktion and Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the...

In Episode 147 we provide our hot take reviews of Heat: Petal to the Medal and Downforce covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also compare the two and discuss which we liked more. We also discuss a poll about attending game nights without knowing anyone there. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Poll: Have you ever attended a board game night without k...

In Episode 146 we provide our hot take review of Revive covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about storing board game components. Then we discuss some board games on our table and future takes including Akropolis, Ra, Skull, Smartphone, Inc., and My Father's Work. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Poll: How do you most commonl...

In Episode 145 we wrap up our discussion of BGHT SedonaCon - our semi-annual gaming weekend. We cover 10 of the games we played that weekend and discussed the rest on part 1 last week. We also discuss a poll on getting a board game related tattoo. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Poll: Have you considered getting a board game related tattoo? 08:54 SedonaCon 10:04 Wonderland's War 14:31 Pan...

In Episode 144 we discuss our time at BGHT SedonaCon - our semi-annual gaming weekend. We cover 7 of the games we played that weekend and will discuss the rest on Part 2 next week. We also discuss a poll on replacing board games due to wear. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Poll: Have you ever replaced a game because the components were worn out? 07:11 SedonaCon 10:45 Clank! Catacombs 17:17 Sm...

In Episode 143 we each discuss our top 5 intellectual properties that we'd like to see turned into board games. We also discuss how we feel about the use of IP in board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Topic: How do you feel about IP based board games? 06:55 Top 5 IP we want in board games 08:10 The Expanse 12:35 The Stand 16:10 Perdido Street Station 19:11 Mass Effect 23:10 The Lea...

In Episode 142 we discuss our votes for the 2022 Golden Geek Awards and cast our votes live while recording. We also discuss a poll about which activity makes your favorite game night. Twitter Poll Results: Learn and play a new game - 60% Play a game I know well - 35.6% I hate your polls and you - 4.9% Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Poll: What's your favorite type of game night? 04:57 Bo...

In Episode 141 we provide our hot take review of Scythe covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about whether past experience with a designer may keep you away from a game by that designer. Twitter Poll Results: I don't pay attention - 21% Yes - 40% No - 29% Then we discuss some board games on our table and future takes including St...

In Episode 140 we provide our hot take review of Mosaic: A Story of Civilization covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about how board game awards impact your interest in games. Twitter Poll Results: Yes, puts them on my radar - 62.8% Yes, I need them now - 1.3% If already interested - 13% Nah - 22.9% Then we discuss some board games...

In Episode 139 we provide our hot take review of Earth covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about nature as a board game theme. Twitter Poll Results: Love it - 32% Like it if done right - 39% Variety is good - 21% Will avoid - 8% Then we discuss some board games on our table including Scout, Votes for Women, and Distilled. Timestamps...

In Episode 138 we each discuss 5 games that will be leaving our collection. We talk about why these games are leaving, why they weren't getting played, and in some cases, what's replaced them on the shelves. We also discuss a poll on Twitter about regret after culling games. Twitter Poll Results: Yes, Immediately- 4.5% Yes, A While Later - 38.1% No - 34.3% I've Never Culled A Game - 23...

In Episode 137 we provide our hot take review of Yokohama covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll on paying more than MSRP for a board game. Twitter Poll Results: Yes, Money is No Object - 11% Yes, I'd Pay a Bit More -61.3% Nope - 25.2% These Options Suck - 2.5% Then we discuss some board games on our table including A Taste for Win...

In Episode 136 we provide our hot take reviews of 3 different 2-player deck dueling cards including Air, Land, and Sea, Radlands, and Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game. We also discuss a poll on preferred length for 2 player games. Twitter Poll Results: <30 Minutes - 24.5% 30-90 Minutes - 58.3% >90 Minutes - 2.6% Depends on the Opponent - 14.6% Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Poll: Prefe...

In Episode 135 we provide our hot take review of Distilled covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll on board game terminology. Twitter Poll Results: Mechanics - 52.4% Mechanisms - 47.6% Then we discuss some board games on our table including Sea Salt & Paper, Teotihuacan: City of Gods, and Space Base. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 0...

In Episode 134 we each discuss our top 5 favorite board games that are ranked with a number higher than 1,000 on  Board Game Geek 'top games of all time' list and talk about why we like them, whether we think they should be higher, and what might be keeping them that far down the rankings. We also discuss a poll on Twitter about listening to music while playing board games. Twitter Poll Resul...