Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast

Send us Fan Mail It's time to celebrate! After rounding out the first full year of the show, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff take a look back at two previously reviewed games -- but with a twist! Then they take on one controversial new game. See if they can dig up some more gems in this special anniversary episode! FEATURED GAMES: 00:00:00 Intro & Banter 00:24:...

Send us Fan Mail The three O.G. musketeers are finally back together! This week, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff explore three games well suited for three players. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Seikatsu  (00:20:27) Haggis (00:42:27) Three Kingdoms Redux (01:03:08) MUSIC (courtesy of http://epidemicsound.com) Seikatsu Theme, “Japanese Garden", Sight...

Send us Fan Mail Strap on your headlamp and delve deeper into the mine this week as the guys, along with guest host Ben Anderson, attempt to unearth more gems from the world of cube rails games and explore the work of designer John Bohrer. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Iberian Railways  (00:22:19) Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (00:42:40) Samarkand: Routes to Riches (01:00:51) MUSIC (cour...

Send us Fan Mail It's the epic battle of wits we've all been waiting for! In this episode, the rivalry between your hosts Chris and Bill reaches its pinnacle as the two gamers face each other in the two player episode of the new year! FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Epigo  (00:17:53) Victory & Glory: Napoleon (00:35:50) MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com) Epig...

Send us Fan Mail Christmas time's a-coming! This time your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Bill Arney celebrate the Christmas holiday by digging into three Christmas, or at least Christmas-adjacent themed board games. FEATURED GAMES: 00:00:00 Intro & Banter 00:25:36 12 Days of Christmas 00:45::21 Gingerbread House 01:05:09 Santa's Workshop MUSIC (courtesy of http://epidemicsou...

Send us Fan Mail The Doctor we all love is back in the house! In this episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey continue their journey through the vast library of games designed by Dr. Reiner Knizia. Featured Games: Relationship Tightrope  (00:30:09) Rheinlander (00:48:50) Orongo (01:14:11) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-pod...

Send us Fan Mail Irk those hedgehogs, gear up the space thrusters, and ... pray? meditate? as you prepare to race forward on the search for gems. In this episode, your hosts Chris and Jason along with guest host Bill Arnie go on the hunt for the checkered flag in three lesser-known racing games. Featured Games: Igel Ärgern  (00:20:21) Powerships (00:40:20) Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas (00:59:54)...

Send us Fan Mail What other hobby allows you to taste some stew, build an ancient wonder and commit financial fraud all in the same evening ... or episode? Join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they delve into 3 lesser known titles by the prolific but endangered Tasty Minstrel Games. Featured Games: Burgoo (00:27:39) Architects of the Colosseum (00:48:26) Ponzi Scheme...

Send us Fan Mail Be prepared to be freaked this Friday, for this formation of fearful game reviews will freeze your blood and furrow your brow! It's Halloween, and your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey are excited to present a spooky take on gaming with three Halloween-themed board game reviews! Chapters: "The House of the Hidden (Gems)" (Sketch) (00:00:00) Ba...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff let the choo-choo trains pass by and take some time to explore two of renown board game designer Martin Wallace's lesser known titles. Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Featured Games: La Strada (00:33:38) Struggle of Emp...

Send us Fan Mail We've covered plenty of under-appreciated and forgotten games, now it's time to journey into the unusual. In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley and Jason Yanchuleff, along with guest host Bill Arnie explore three potential gems with unusual mechanics. Featured Games: Time 'n' Space (00:22:17) Sidibaba (00:41:17) Code of Nine (00:59:50) Follow u...

Send us Fan Mail Battle for kingdoms, sail the high seas and explore the world in this episode of Hidden Gems. This time your hosts Chris Alley and Jason Yanchuleff, along with guest host Dan Smith dive into three lesser known games designed by the renowned Wolfgang Kramer. Featured Games: Saga (00:20:45) El Capitan (00:40:07) Expedition: Famous Explorers (01:01:51) Follow us online: Email: hidden...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey put their big boy pants on to stack, dance (?) and fence their way through three abrasive abstract board games. Post Avatar Chat Spoilers : 00:11:35 Chris & Cameron chat about Avatar: The Last Air Bender for a bit starting at 00:05:16. Skip ahead if you don't want us to spoil the...

Send us Fan Mail To the moon this week as your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff explore three lesser know games from prolific designer Alan R. Moon. Also tune in for a few new exciting developments in the life of the podcast! Featured Games: Oasis (00:18:42) King's Breakfast (00:42:45) Andromeda (00:55:39) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey team up with the Dads on a Map podcast hosts, James Geist and Nick "Sanchez" Sanchez to talk games, review a Dads on a Map favorite hidden gem, and go toe to toe in a little friendly board game trivia contest, hosted by Dylan St. Clair! Check out Dads on a Map: Website: https://www.dadsonamap.c...

Send us Fan Mail The stakes are high in this episode of Hidden Gems, as your hosts Chris and Cameron battle it out head-to-head in three under-appreciated and forgotten two player games while Jason is out on vacation! Check out the music of podcast music composer, Travis Lockey at his Earendel music project: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC022BxaFoi641SGZcTmNJAg SoundCloud: https://soun...

Send us Fan Mail Put on your puffiest vest and jump in Doc Brown’s DeLorean with your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey as they go back in time to review three forgotten Spiel De Jahres winners! Featured Games: Heimlich & Co. (00:34:10) Hoity Toity (00:52:24) Niagra (01:17:08) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems.games Inst...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you're hungry for more hidden gems! Your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey join special guest host Talia Alley as they sink their teeth into three lesser-known games by designer Corné van Moorsel. Featured Games: BasketBoss (00:23:13) Gipsy King (00:43:31) Habitats (01:01:07) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https:/...

Send us Fan Mail It's time to pick up your tools and jump in the rail cart, because this time your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey are delving deep into three unusual mining themed games, as well as an update on our BGG mining efforts! Featured Games: Dwarves, Inc (00:17:33) Freya's Folly (00:36:43) Cavum (00:58:13) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodc...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to deal 'em out and fan your hand because this time your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey talk card games with special guest Mike Baglio. Tune in as they discuss two interesting trick-taking games, and one other unusual card game. Featured Games: Smiley Face (00:17:26) Bargain Hunter (00:33:00) Hungarian Tarokk (00:51:21) Follow us online: Ema...

Send us Fan Mail This time on Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris, Jason, Cameron, and special guest Bill Arney rebuild cities and race ships in an exciting exploration of three of game designer Stefan Dorra’s most under-appreciated board games. Featured Games: Hellas (00:25:40) Tonga Bonga (00:46:23) Medina (01:06:42) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems...

Send us Fan Mail It's time to go mano a mano ... brewing tea? -- this time it's all about the 2 player games! Join your hosts Chris Alley and Jason Yanchuleff as they battle it out 1v1 with 3 new potential hidden gems during Cameron's absence. Featured Games: Shanghaien (00:16:27) Matcha (00:34:06) Aton (00:54:34) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: ht...

Send us Fan Mail All aboard! Explore the Welsh countryside (including sheep!), take another dive into the world of string games and pioneer new rail lines across the U.S. in this new episode with your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey as they steam onward in the quest for gems with three unusual, forgotten, and under-appreciated train games. Featured Games: Ivor The Engine (0...

Send us Fan Mail Soar above the peaks of skyscrapers, sail gem-laden ships into harbor, and traverse the deserts of ancient Babylon in this first-ever publisher spotlight episode. This time, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey explore three unusual, forgotten, and under-appreciated games published by Ystari Games. Featured Games: Metropolys (00:22:09) Ys (00:00:43:23) Amyi...

Send us Fan Mail Feel like a German Vacation? In this installment of Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast, you might want to kick back with one as your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff discuss the background and accomplishments of prolific board game designer Reiner Knizia, followed by a look at three of his unusual and under-appreciated games. Featured Games: Wildlife Safari (...