Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 133 we feature a couple of really exciting expansions including Tapestry - Fantasies & Futures and Dune: Imperium - Immortality covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the expansions as well as our rankings of our favorite expansions for these games. We also discuss Brass: Birmingham taking the BGG #1 game of all time spot from Gloomhaven after 5 years....

In Episode 132 we provide our hot take review of A Feast for Odin covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll on if you special order games through your local game store if they don't have them in stock. Twitter Poll Results: Special Order - 21.6% Order Online - 67.6% I never shop local store - 10.8% Then we discuss some board games on our...

In Episode 131 we provide our hot take review of Dungeon Petz covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll on if you feel bad or upset when hearing a reviewer saying something negative about games you love. Twitter Poll Results: Yes, they're wrong - 6.7% Depends how it's stated - 40.3% Nah, it's their opinion - 53% Then we discuss some board...

In Episode 130 we provide our hot take review of Endless Winter: Paleoamericans covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss one time use games (legacy, escape room, etc.) Twitter Poll Results: Love Them - 21.3% I Don't Mind - 35.4% I Prefer Not To - 31.1% Absolutely No - 12.1% Then we discuss some board games on our table including Woodcraft, Fina...

In Episode 129 we take a look at games 101-200 on the Board Game Geek 'top games of all time' list and discuss the games on that list that we haven't played. We list the top 5 games we each want to play from that list and the top 5 games that we don't want to play from that list and discuss why some of them are interesting to us and others aren't. We also discuss a poll on where people met their g...

In Episode 128 we look back at the games we played in 2022 and talk about our biggest hits, and biggest misses in 2022.  This includes games that were published in 2022 but also games that were new to us in 2022.  We also talk about our Board Game Revelations - the things that changed gaming for us over the last year. We also discuss a poll on whether there is a price point where you will always b...

In Episode 127 we provide our hot take review of Chaos in the Old World covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss the best board game randomization components. Twitter Poll Results: Dice - 34.1% Cards - 40.9% Bag Pull - 24.5% Spinner - .5% Then we discuss some board games on our table including My City, A War of Whispers, and the Tapestry Natura...

In Episode 126 we provide our hot take review of Sol: Last Days of a Star covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about how many times on average you get a board game played within a year after you purchase it. Twitter Poll Results: 0-1  18.1% 2-5  64.1% 6-15  15.2% 16+  2.5% Then we discuss some board games on our t...

In Episode 125 we discuss our top 5 board games that we only played once in 2022.  These are some games we haven't mentioned much on the show but that we wish we were playing more. We also discuss a poll about board game related challenges. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Poll: Do you have any board game related challenges for 2023? 05:51 Top 5 Board Games we only played once in 2022 10:...

In Episode 124 we discuss the top 5 games we want to play in 2023.  We also review last years' lists and look back on the games we got played. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Last Year 2:06 #5 Chris Last Year - Azul 3:35 #5 Jen Last Year - Welcome To... 4:13 #5 Tim Last Year - Tyrants of the Underdark / The Quest for El Dorado 4:45 #5 Adam Last Year - Cryo 5:00 #4 Chris Last Year - Rising Sun...

In Episode 123 we provide our hot take review of Lacrimosa covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about preferences on leaving space for expansions in board game boxes, Chris give us a Lacrimosa themed cocktail, and then we all discuss One Deck Galaxy. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Poll: Do you prefer to leave space inside boxes...

In Episode 122 we provide our hot take review of Tyrants of the Underdark covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about spending time with board games outside of playing them, Chris give us a Tyrants of the Underdark themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Tiletum, Chocolate Factory,  My Lil Everdell,...

In Episode 121 we provide our hot take review of Terracotta Army covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about having game nights ruined by other players, Chris give us a Terracotta Army themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Clank! Catacombs, Draftosaurus, and Wingspan: Asia. Timestamps: 00:00 Introducti...

In Episode 120 we discuss our top 5 board games with integrated themes.  We each pick our top 5 games where the theme really shines through in the mechanisms but we also call out where it misses. We also discuss a poll on creating and strengthening relationships through board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Poll: Have you ever discovered or developed a very strong relationship thr...

In Episode 119 we provide our hot take review of Teotihuacan: City of Gods covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about having game nights ruined by other players, Chris give us a Teotihuacan themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Victorian Masterminds, Cthulhu: Death May Die, and Paperback Adventures. T...

In Episode 118 we provide our hot take review of Carnegie covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about where you learn about board games, Chris give us a Carnegie themed cocktail, and then we discuss some games on our table including Envelopes of Cash and Slay the Spire: The Board Game. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Poll: Where...

In Episode 117 we provide our hot take review of Cthulhu: Death May Die covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game and then discuss some of the new mechanisms that are being added for the standalone expansion Fear of the Unknown. We also discuss a poll about competitive vs. cooperative games, and then we discuss some games on our table including Everdell: Mistwoo...

In Episode 116 we discuss our top 5 favorite board game designers.  We talk about our favorite designers, the games that we've loved by them as well as some we haven't, and the games that we want to try next by them. We also discuss a poll on giving up while learning games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:27 Poll: Have you ever given up while learning a game? 12:29 Top 5 favorite board game...

In Episode 115 we provide our hot take review of Agricola covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about re-acquiring games, and then we discuss some games on our table including Gang of Dice, Fantastic Factories, and Bitoku and give our future take on Frozen Frontier. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:24 Poll: Have you ever re-acquired...

In Episode 114 we provide our hot take review of Lorenzo il Magnifico covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about scorepads vs. score trackers, and then we discuss some games on our table including Fantastic Factories, Cafe, and Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization... and Chris goes on a rant about subtitles on board games. T...

In Episode 113 we revisit Eric Lang's troops-on-a-map trilogy with our Double Take reviews of Blood Rage, Rising Sun, and Ankh: Gods of Egypt and then we rank the trilogy. We also discuss a poll about intro version of popular heavy games, and then we discuss some games on our table including John Company, Beyond the Sun, and Caverna: The Cave Farmers. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Poll: Do...

In Episode 112 we discuss the top 5 incoming crowdfunded board games that each of us are excited to receive.  We take a look back at last year's list to see what's been delivered and how they hit for us as well. We also discuss a poll on Kickstarter vs. Gamefound. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 News 01:51 Poll: Kickstarter vs. Gamefound 08:27 Look back at 2020 Crowdfund episode 09:04 Da...

In Episode 111 we discuss all 18 games that we played at BGHT LongCon over 5 days.  We also discuss a poll on win percentages in your group and discuss why Tim can't seem to win a game at BGHT conventions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 News 01:35 Poll: How much do you win compared to the people you play against 18:44 Dune: Imperium (w/ Rise of Ix) 22:39 Radlands 26:25 Champions of Midg...

In Episode 110 we provide our hot take review of The Fox Experiment covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about buying expansions, and then we discuss some games on our table including Arkham Horror: The Card Game (and the experience of buying expansions for it), Boonlake, and Barrage, a future take on They Live: Assault on Cable 54 a...

In Episode 109 we provide our hot take review of Clans of Caledonia covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about games that surprised you in a good way, and then we discuss some games on our table including Blood Rage,  Arkham Horror LCG, and Cafe and discuss some future takes including The Fox Experiment, Astra, and Star Realms:...