Games from the Cellar

Join us this week, as the panel answers the call to discuss Sentinels of the Multiverse! Sentinels of the Multiverse, designed by Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, and Adam Rebottaro, was first published by Greater than Games in 2011. Sentinels was nominated for a Golden Geek Award in 2012 for Best Card Game. Episode Summary: Ever wanted to feel like a superhero while playing a card game?  ZAP! Joi...

Join us as we dive into a list of games that we hope to play on the show in the very near future. That's it, no real show notes this week, just a list of games and why we want to play them. Chapters: (0:01:00) Quarriors: Qualtimate Quedition (BGG) | Stephen (0:03:37) Table Battles (BGG) | ( Dinosaur Table Battles (GftC #19) ) | John (0:06:12) Game of Thrones (BGG) | Samuel (0:08:37) StarCraft (BGG...

Join us this week as the panel powers up a game of Power Grid! Power Grid, also known as Funkenschlag, was designed by Friedemann Friese and was first published in the US by Rio Grande Games in 2004. Power Grid was a Spiel des Jahres Recommended Game in 2005 and has won many other awards. Episode Summary In this episode, we're getting back to our roots with a game that's near and dear to our heart...

This week we revisit the panel favorite, Wings for the Baron, to explore the Standard Game mode of play. Wings for the Baron, designed by Dave Townsend, was first published by Victory Point Games in 2015. Episode Summary In this episode, the panel revisits Wings for the Baron! This time we focus on the Standard Game variant. Join us as we explore the differences between the Standard game and the C...

Join us this week in a monolithic battle for supremacy in the Avalon Hill Classic, Nexus Ops! Nexus Ops, designed by Charlie Catino & Steven Kimball, was first published by Avalon Hill in 2005. In 2006 it was nominated for a Golden Geek Award for Best Wargame. Episode Summary: The panel explores the world of Nexus Ops, a game that combines the excitement of territorial conquest with the strategy o...

Join us as we put on our thinking caps and take on the Reiner Knizia classic, Ingenious. Ingenious, designed by Reiner Knizia, was first published by KOSMOS and Fantasy Flight Games in 2004. Ingenious was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 2004 and won a Golden Geek Award for Best Family Game in 2006. Episode Summary Discover the magic of Ingenious, the ultimate family strategy game, as we expl...

Come roll the dice with us as we play Roll Through the Ages! Roll Through the Ages, designed by Matt Leacock, was first published by Eagle-Gryphon Games in 2008. It was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 2010. Episode Summary: Are you ready to roll into a timeless classic? In this episode, the panel examines Roll Through the Ages from Eagle-Gryphon Games and its Late Bronze Age expansion, highl...

Join us this week as we clash together in battle with Unmatched. Unmatched, designed by Rob Daviau and Justin D. Jacobson, was first published by Restoration Games and Mondo Games in 2019. There are several expansions, and tonight the panel played Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One, … Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Jurrasic Park - Dr. Sattler Vs. T-Rex. Episode Summary: In this episode, the p...

Join us this week, as we battle our way through Heroscape! Heroscape, designed by Stephen Baker, Rob Daviau & Craig Van Ness, was first published by Hasbro in 2004. Episode Summary: In this episode, the panel dives into the world of HeroScape, the ultimate toy/game that offers a unique and engaging experience for players of all ages and interests. We discuss the variety of factions, subgroups, and...

Join us this week as we explore one of the Classics, Merchant of Venus. Merchant of Venus, designed by Richard Hamblin, was first published by Avalon Hill in 1988. The Second Edition was a joint effort by Fantasy Flight Games and Stronghold Games and was published in 2012 Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive deep into the Fantasy Flight Edition of Merchant of Venus, the classic pick-up-and-de...

This week, the panel lays it all out on Spiel des Jahres nominee, Marrakech. Marrakech, designed by Dominique Ehrhard, was published by Fundex in 2007.   Episode Summary: In this fun and lighthearted episode, the panel explores the simple yet enjoyable area control game, Marrakesh. With its unique cloth carpets, strategic placement, and competitive nature, it's perfect for a quick and entertaining...

This week, the panel accelerates into a game of Heat: Pedal to the Metal, designed by Asger Harding Granerud and  Daniel Skjold Pedersen, and published by Days of Wonder in 2023. Episode Summary: Heat: Pedal to the Metal is the new racing game from Days of Wonder. In this episode, we briefly outline the rules and basic running gear for Heat: Pedal to the Metal. We go on to discuss the different st...

The panel plays and discusses Dinosaur Table Battles , designed by Amabel Holland and illustrated by Wil Alambre, which was first published by Hollandspiel in 2020.  Episode Summary: Dinosaur Table Battles is a unique head-to-head battling board game from Hollandspiel. Players draft dinosaurs, use dice to power up their units, and then attack their opponents in head-to-head dinosaur combat. Strate...

The panel drops in on El Grande, the 1996 Spiel des Jahres Winner. El Grande was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich and was first published by Rio Grande Games in the US in 1995.  Episode Summary: In this episode, we discussed the 1995 board game El Grande, which has been popular for almost 30 years. We discussed our experiences with the game, both online on Board Game Arena and in per...

This week, the panel tackles Blood Bowl Team Manager: the Card Game . Blood Bowl Team Manager , designed by Jay Little and Corey Konieczka, was first published by Fantasy Flight Games in 2011. In 2012, Blood Bowl Team Manager was nominated for two BoardGameGeek Golden Geek Awards, Best Card Game, and Best Thematic Board Game. Episode Summary: In this episode, we explore Blood Bowl Team Manager: th...

The panel rolls the dice on a game of Lords of Vegas. Lords of Vegas , designed by James Ernest & Mike Selinker, was first published by Mayfair Games in 2010. Episode Summary: In this episode, we discuss Lords of Vegas , a two to four-player, light-complexity game first published by Mayfair Games in 2010. The panel focuses on the concept of calculated risk and its integral role in Lords of Vegas ....

The panel settles in to play Imperial Settlers. Imperial Settlers, designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek, was first published by Portal Games in 2014. Join the conversion: Games from the Cellar Discord

The panel discusses the very unique card game, Illimat. Illimat, designed by Keith Baker and Jennifer Ellis, was first published by Twogether Studios and Wyrmwood Gaming in 2017.

The panel digs into one of the most awarded games that we've played so far, Splendor. Splendor, designed by Marc Andre, was first published by Space Cowboys in 2014. Later editions were co-published with Asmodee

The panel engages with the classic aero-table combat game, Wings of Glory. Designed by Andrea Angiolino and Pier Giorgio Paglia, it was first published as Wings of War in 2004 by Fantasy Flight Games & Nexus Games. Wings of War was rebooted as Wings of Glory in 2012 by Ares Games.

The panel discusses Kingsburg, an old reliable from 2007, designed by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco and published by Fantasy Flight Games.

The panel discusses Thunder Alley, a unique, card-driven NASCAR themed Racing Game. Thunder Alley was designed by Jeff and Carla Horger, and was first published by GMT Games in 2014.    

The panel discusses a group favorite, Wings for the Baron, the most underrated game of 2015. Wings for the Baron was designed by Dave Townsend, who originally designed and self-published in 2007. The version we played, Wings for the Baron (Second Edition), was developed and published by Victory Point Games in 2015.

The panel discusses Alien Frontiers, one of the first great games to come from Kickstarter. Alien Frontiers was designed by Troy Niemann, and was published by Clever Mojo Games in 2010. It was nominated for many Golden Geek awards in 2011.  

The panel pulls out Biblios, a classic light weight card from 2007. Biblios was designed by Steve Finn, and was originally published as Scripts and Scribes, through Dr. Finn's Games. It is currently published as Biblios by IELLO Episode Summary: In this episode, we discussed the two player card game Biblios. The panel discusses how the game is separated into two phases and how to manipulate the ma...