Decision Space

Episode 273- dnup and Iterative Game Design In this episode we talk about iterative game design.  Why do designers go back to ideas they've already explored?  On that note, we also discuss the new hotness dnup and how designer Kai Kajino built it upon the foundation of his modern classic hit Scout. Timestamps 3:30- iterative design 32:20- Scout 46:00- dnup   Preplanners We have another decade draf...

Episode 272- The Old King's Crown Pete is joined by Jaffles ( https://www.youtube.com/@Jaffles-gaming ) to do a deep dive of the hottest game from last year: The Old King's Crown.  They also chat about what types of games inspire players to dig deep and get obsessed.   Timestamps 5:00- why we get obsessed with games 18:15- intro to Old King's Crown 24:00- personal reviews 27:30- exploring the deci...

Episode 271- Hand Management Pete and Brendan dissect one of the most ubiquitous mechanisms in tabletop games: hand management.  What kinds of puzzles can a hand of cards present to players and what makes it so timelessly satisfying?   Timestamps 3:00- defining hand management 18:00- why we love hand management 29:00- types of hand management 36:15- trick-taking and ladder climbing 42:45- hand man...

Episode 270- Interview with Phil Walker-Harding Paul sits down for a wonderfully insightful discussion with game designer Phil Walker-Harding.  Last week's tier list episode should have you primed to get into this man's head!  They discuss game inspiration and how to design in ways that can heal game related trauma.   Timestamps 1:45- how Phil got into design 10:35- design philosophy 25:30- balanc...

Episode 269- Phil Walker Harding Tier List Paul gets to rate every game in the prolific catalogue of his favorite designer: Phil Walker Harding.  He's joined by Brendan and the Dice Tower's Chris Yi for this monumental task.     Timestamps 8:30- Archaeology the New Expedition 12:00- Dungeon Raiders 15:15- Pack of Heroes 19:00- Sushi Go / Sushi Go Party 28:45- Sushi Roll 34:15- Cacao 41:00- Imhotep...

Episode 268- Geekway Convention Plays 2026 Jake and Pete recap the best weekend of the year: Geekway to the West!  They discuss their favorite new plays, old favorites, and also give first impressions of some hot new titles.     Timestamps 17:00- Feya's Swamp 21:50- Dark Pact 28:10- Market Fresh 34:40- I'm the Boss 38:45- Auf Teufel Komm Raus 43:00- Lowenherz 51:30- John Company Second Edition 59:...

Episode 267- Shared Infrastructure Games and Bus Time to deep dive the new hotness... from 1999.  In this episode we do a deep dive on Splotter's first major hit Bus and discuss other shared infrastructure games.  Why are we drawn to these crowded, brutal logistics puzzles?   Timestamps   3:00- shared infrastructure games 32:00- Bus deep dive   Other Games Mentioned Barrage, Brass Birmingham, Medi...

Episode 266- Storytelling with Cole Wehrle Big day here for Pete.  In this episode he chats one on one with Cole Wehrle from Buried Giant Studios.  They talk a lot about player agency, emergent storytelling, and what it's like the make and play long, heavy games.     Timestamps 1:00- how Cole thinks about making games 18:45- storytelling in games 40:00- long heavy games 49:30- agency and fairness...

Episode 265- Euro Games "Euro" has been used as a descriptor for decades and it is inarguable that its meaning has changed over time.  On this episode, the hosts try to hash out what the word means today and how that differs from the "old school" design philosophy.  Also, the episode ends with an unhinged exploration of what games in the BGG top 100 could conceivably be classified as Euros.   (als...

Episode 264- Top 10 Games of All Time (2026) Part 2 It's the fiiiiiiinal countdown! We gush over how much we love the games that made our top 5 favorite games!  Some things have changed this year!  There are brand new releases on this list!  However, did the new hotness dethrone our old favorites? Timestamps 3:30- Medina 8:15- Big Top 11:00- Indonesia 16:00- Broom Service 19:15- Isle of Skye 21:15...

Episode 263- Top 10 Games of All Time (2026) Part 1 It's time for the annual countdown of our favorite games!  In this episode we count down numbers 10-6.  What has fallen from the ranks since last year?  What are we hot on right now?  Listen and find out! Timestamps 8:55- Fives 12:15- Lunarchitects 16:00- Pax Renaissance 20:00- Chicago Express 23:30- Bus 26:30- Incan Gold 30:10- Modern Art 35:10-...

Episode 262- Depth, Complexity, and Luck Game designer Jon Perry returns to Decision Space to participate in a discussion about what makes games deep.  Are heavy games deeper than light games?  Can games with a high luck factor also reward skilled play?  Why is there a heavy game bias on BGG?     Check out some of Jon's games: Air Land and Sea, Hot Streak, Spots, and more! Brendan was inspired aft...

Episode 261- Arcs Blighted Reach Campaign Pete is joined by returning guest Jared Ingersoll and muppet board game critic Analog Arnie to deep dive the Blighted Reach campaign expansion for Arcs.  This is the sequel to episode 247 in case you missed our original Arcs deep dive!   Find Analog Arnie here: https://www.youtube.com/@analog_arnie   Timestamps 2:50- intro to Blighted Reach 15:45- act 1 42...

Episode 260- Duel for Cardia Jake and Brendan deep dive yet another dueling game!  This time it's 2025's Duel for Cardia.  After the review, they discuss gameplay modules and try to decide when they add value to a game and when they just add noise.   Timestamps 3:50- Cardia deep dive 50:00- modular content   Preplanners We are returning to Arcs!  Also more special guests!   Music and Sound Credits...

Episode 259- April Fool's Game Show Spectacular The only game show that takes place right here, in the space between the episodes of your favorite podcast.   Preplanners We deep dive Cardia next week!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&am...

Episode 258- Gamer's Ranch 2026 Report Pete and Jake played a ton of games together!  New hotness, old beige games, and a big dramatic session of Blood on the Clocktower!   Timestamps 9:45- The Old King's Crown 20:15- Blood on the Clocktower 34:15- Renature 41:30- Medina 48:40- Skyrise 52:15- Here Lies 1:00:30- Indonesia 1:08:15- Gudnak 1:10:15- Keyforge 1:12:15- Mindbug 1:15:45- Moon Colony Blood...

Episode 257- Game Difficulty and Sail What makes games difficult and why do we sometimes enjoy that?  When does it go too far?  Pete and Brendan explore the topic after discussing a very difficult game: the 2 player cooperative trick-taker Sail.   Timestamps 3:50- Sail deep dive 35:30- difficult games discussion   Other Games Mentioned Final Girl, Palaces of Carrera, Pandemic, The Mind, Take Time,...

Episode 256- Isle of Skye Jake and Paul deep dive the 2016 Kinnerspiel des Jahres Winner: Isle of Skye.  Yo, that was 10 years ago?  That's craaaazy!  They go deep on the joys of variable scoring, catch up mechanisms, and the cozy vibes of building your own little thing.   Timestamps 4:30- Isle of Skye deep dive   Other Games Mentioned Whispwood, Ohanami, Nimalia, Castles of Mad King Ludwig   Prep...

Episode 255- Art and Games with C. Thi Nguyen Professor C. Thi Nguyen returns to the pod!  We discuss process art, getting good, value capture, empathy, and his new book The Score.   Timestamps 2:00- about The Score 10:00- art is a game 18:30- how games affect us 25:00- depth and difficulty 32:30- getting good 45:00- empathy and intimacy 53:00- value capture 1:03:30- process art 1:18:00- closing t...

Episode 254- Concordia It's an old school episode in every way!  The original Decision Space duo (Brendan and Jake) do a deep dive on a new classic with an old school soul: Mac Gerdts' Concordia! Timestamps 4:20- intro to Concordia 21:00- Concordia deep dive 1:18:00- other Gerdts games   Preplanners Next week is the return of C Thi Nguyen to the podcast and after that we're deep diving Isle of Sky...

Episode 253- Historical Games and Pax Renaissance Pete is joined by Andy Nealen, an academic, game maker, and podcaster.  Together they explore what makes the historical war games so special but also so niche in the hobby.  Also, Pax Renaissance is in both of their top 10 games of all time, so they do a full deep dive on that game.  This is a long one, so buckle up! Andy is a co-host on the Secret...

Episode 252- Area Control (WWTA) In this "what we talk about" episode, Pete and Brendan try to sort through vocabulary and feelings related to area control and area majority games.  Brendan tries to pitch "area conflict" as a new term for the genre.  Do you buy that?  Listen and find out! Timestamps 3:45- introduction to the genre 15:00- defining mechanisms 29:45- area majority 47:06- area control...

Episode 251- The Shapes of Games In this episode, Pete and Brendan go back to the basics.  How should we characterize a decision space?  What shapes the arc of a game? Timestamps 5:00- types of decision spaces 36:00- game arcs 1:04:30- other terminology  Games Mentioned Keyflower, Decrypto, Viticulture, Wingspan, Vantage, Arcs, Dominion, the Resistance, Root, Codenames, Scout, Pax Pamir, Pax Renai...

Episode 250- Best of the Rest (re upload to fix a file error) All four hosts share their favorite games that have never been covered in the show's extensive 249 episode back catalogue of deep dives and lists! Timestamps 6:30- The King of Frontier 11:05- Star Wars Rivals 16:45- Gravwell 21:10- Bus 28:15- Clans of Caledonia 35:40- Old West Empresario 40:30- Star Wars Rebellion 49:30- Trails of Tucan...

Episode 249 - Family Games Paul and Pete are joined by Happy Camper Games founder Jason Schneider to dissect what makes for a great family game experience Timestamps 3:50- mission of Happy Camper  8:45- what is a family game? 20:10- Trio 33:30- game development 40:30- Jungo 52:15- gaming with the family   Preplanners Next up is our 250th extravaganza!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree...