Decision Space

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...

Episode 248 - Ra Jake and Paul deep dive Reiner Knizia's 1999 classic auction game Ra.  They dig into the elegant systems and the unique push your luck element.  Also, Paul explores the various Ra spin off titles! Timestamps 4:45- Ra overview 12:30- the decision space 40:00- the tiles 1:00:00- expansions and spinoffs   Preplanners Next up is a discussion on what makes a good small box game!   Musi...

Episode 247 - Arcs Pete is joined by Kniziologist and Blighted Reach afficionado Jared Ingersoll to do a deep dive on the hottest game of 2024: Cole Wehrle's Arcs! Timestamps 3:40- Arcs introduction 9:30- rules overview 16:30- personal reviews 23:00- trick-taking system 30:30- actions and resources 36:30- ambitions 46:00- combat 55:30- influencing the court 1:01:30- leaders and lore 1:08:00- playe...

Episode 246 - The 2025 Decidies The hosts continue their now TWO year tradition of awarding our bronze, silver, and gold medal decisions of the year.  Congrats to all the winners!   Timestamps 11:15- honorable mentions 24:45- Agent Avenue 29:15- Vantage 33:05- Bomb Busters 38:00- Waddle 41:05- Toy Battle 45:15- Old King's Crown 50:50- Formaggio 54:55- Vantage 57:55- Tag Team 1:05:40- Hot Streak 1:...

Episode 245 - Year in Review We look back at the past year, which was full of changes for the show.  We also rank all the games we deep dived LIVE together and chart a course for 2026.   Timestamps 4:10- reflections on the past year 21:15- favorite episodes from 2025 27:30- ranking the games we covered in 2025 55:50- what we learned this year 1:00:30- looking ahead to 2026   Preplanners We're taki...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 244 - Our Favorite Video Games Are we allowed to talk about video games instead of board games?  Jake, Brendan, and Pete break down some of their favorite games and examine their de...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 243 - Donkey Space: Agent Avenue and Hanamikoji Pete and Brendan go head to head with a pair of "I cut, you choose" games.  You know that scene in Princess Bride where the guy is ta...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 242 - Evaluating Auction Games Ok n00bs, it's time to get good.  All four hosts are present to participate in a deep conversation about why we play games and whether getting good at...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 241 - Evaluating Auction Games Going once, going twice... Pete, Paul, and Brendan chat about their favorite auction games and how different twists on the concept create unique, inte...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 240 - Deckbuilding 201 Part 2 of our deckbuilding series continues with hybrid designs!  Pete and Jake discuss board games that utilize deckbuilding as a mechanism, with a special f...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 239 - Spatial Puzzles and Tile Laying Tropes Brendan and Paul dig deep into the mechanisms behind tile-laying games.  What are the different decisions players make with tiles and wh...

Decision Space is the podcast about decisions in board games. Join our active and welcoming Discord community, Join the crew today! (Decision Space Patreon), or Leave us a review wherever you find this podcast! Episode 238 - Fighting Games and Tag Team Jake, Brendan, and special guest Luke Williams of the Laughing Table Friends are here to talk about the fighting game video game genre and review a...