Operation Game Night

We break down Ruins by John D. Clair—how card crafting, day/night flips, and a live upgrade market twist a classic shedding game into a tempo puzzle with real stakes. We share what worked, what dragged, and why the match-to-skip rule has us debating house tweaks. • first impressions from World Series of Board Gaming pickup • core shedding structure and exact-size matching • mid-hand upgrades using...

Sid Sackson's 1963 classic board game Acquire completely surprised us as our favorite game from the World Series of Board Gaming, offering deep economic strategy that outshines Monopoly through elegant stock market manipulation and hotel chain development. • Simple yet strategic tile placement game about building and merging hotel chains • Developed in 1963 but still feels modern and engaging...

The Operation Game Night crew reunites in person for the first time at the World Series of Board Gaming in Las Vegas, diving into an epic weekend of non-stop gaming and competition. From late-night Tapestry sessions to birthday celebrations with magic shows, the hosts share their experiences playing 14 different games while making connections with fellow gamers and industry figures. • Friday night...

We want to hear from our listeners! Send us a text with recommendations, weigh in on discussions, or just say hi! Support the show As always, come interact with us online, let us know if you have any feedback, and leave us a review/comment anywhere you get your favorite podcasts! https://www.instagram.com/operation_game_night_podcast/ Show your support for the OGN Crew by contributing to the OGN W...

The Operation Game Night crew finally reunites to dive into the latest Star Wars tabletop offering that's taking the deck-building world by storm. Fantasy Flight Games has delivered a knockout with Star Wars: The Deck Building Game - Clone Wars Edition, a standalone expansion that might just outshine the original. What makes this game special? It perfectly captures the essence of the conflict...

A deceptively simple game of ancient Egyptian construction becomes a masterclass in tactical timing and player interaction. Travis introduces Clay to Imhotep, the 2016 Phil Walker-Harding design that's earned a permanent place in board game collections worldwide. What makes this unassuming box with chunky wooden blocks so engaging? The gameplay revolves around a brilliant central mechanism: l...

Operation Game Night discusses Devir Games' controversial release Ace of Spades, examining both its problematic representation issues and its innovative poker-based combat mechanics. Travis and Clayton analyze why the game's depictions of characters are unacceptable while acknowledging the potential of its core gameplay systems. • Devir Games has halted sales of Ace of Spades due to offe...

Let's go Over the Fence! Discussions range from wrestling history and work relationships to fishing adventures with children and critical movie reviews. • Clayton gives a heartfelt shoutout to his former high school wrestling teammate turned coworker. • Jared shares his day trip to Pennsylvania with his daughter Gemma, who caught her first fish and celebrated with a "Hulkamania" sty...

Clay, and Jared compete in a board game draft challenge to create the ultimate farming game, each with only $30 to spend across 10 rounds of selections ranging from mechanics to designers to components. Let us know in the comments which game you would rather play! We want to hear from our listeners! Send us a text with recommendations, weigh in on discussions, or just say hi! Support the show As a...

Gaming nostalgia takes center stage as we rediscover PS5 Madden after 15 years away, marvel at Spider-Man's detailed New York City playground, and share heartwarming stories of family D&D adventures that captivated both kids and adults alike. • Getting gifted a PS5 and rediscovering Madden NFL after nearly two decades • Spider-Man PS5 games recommendation - incredible graphics and fun eve...

The one-year anniversary episode of Operation Game Night serves up a delightful mix of reflection, gaming enthusiasm, and genuine appreciation as Travis, Clay, and Jared look back on their podcasting journey. The trio dives into the games that almost made their coveted top 10 lists but fell just short—revealing as much about their gaming habits as their preferences. Clay opens with a candid reflec...

We reveal our top 5 board games of all time as part of our one-year anniversary celebration. This countdown showcases the games that captivate us through their unique mechanics, replayability, and pure fun factor. • Root secures a spot for its asymmetrical woodland warfare and the sneaky Vagabond faction • Western Legends offers a sandbox frontier experience with poker-based combat • Incan Gold de...

Our first anniversary episode celebrates a major milestone as we revisit and revise our top ten favorite board games, starting with positions 10 through 6. • Only 20% of podcasts make it to the one-year mark, and we're excited to have reached this milestone • Each host explains their methodology for selecting their updated top ten games • We introduce each game with a creative "operation...

Aliens have landed, and they're hunting the most intelligent species on Earth—cows! Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of Silos, where Bitewing Games has transformed Reiner Knizia's overlooked Municipium into a delightfully quirky strategic experience. Clay and Travis pull back the curtain on this alien invasion adventure, exploring how players navigate human society in disguise whil...

The dynamic duo of Operation Game Night is back as Travis welcomes Clayton for a catch-up session that ventures far beyond their typical board gaming territory. What starts as a humorous defense of Clayton's "Scrooge-like" bedtime routine—a carefully orchestrated wind-down process designed to combat insomnia—quickly evolves into an entertaining discussion about sleep habits, with bo...

Party Panda Pirates tries to bring Mario Party to the tabletop with mixed success, featuring 24 mini-games and adorable panda characters in a pirate-themed package. • Game includes four phases: dropping pandas to select islands, predicting winners/losers, playing mini-games, and moving on a treasure map • Mini-games are the highlight - quick, accessible challenges like Buccaneer Bingo, dice stacki...

We reunite with co-host Jared Erickson as he settles into life after his PCS move to the DC area, discussing the challenges of unpacking and establishing a new home while exploring local attractions. • Living in "Box City" during the transition period of a military move • Navigating DC traffic and becoming a regular metro rider • Finding community through local events like Montgomery Bis...

We excitedly explore Gen Con 2025's most anticipated tabletop releases despite not attending the convention in Indianapolis this year. Our distance from the board gaming event of the year doesn't diminish our enthusiasm for the impressive lineup of new titles making their debut on the convention floor. • Lightning Train by Direwolf combines train game mechanics with bag building for a un...

The Operation Game Night podcast welcomes Mike from @BearwynPlaysGames to discuss Stonemaier Games' ambitious new release Vantage, a solo/co-op adventure game eight years in the making. • Vantage's premise: You crash-land on a mysterious planet separated from your crew and must complete missions with your companion • Players manage health, morale, and time resources while exploring throu...

Dive into the enduring brilliance of El Grande, the 1995 area control masterpiece that revolutionized board gaming and continues to captivate players nearly three decades later. Despite its unassuming appearance, this Spiel des Jahres winner delivers some of the purest strategic gameplay you'll ever experience. What makes El Grande special isn't flashy components or complex rules—it&apos...

Travis, Clayton, and Jared explore Hoplomachus: Victorum, a solo gladiatorial combat game from Chip Theory Games with exceptional production quality and an immersive campaign system. • Players choose from multiple champions with unique abilities and stats • Gameplay follows an 8-week campaign structure culminating in boss battles against mythological Scions • Five different encounter types: skirmi...

The hosts of Operation Game Night welcome Vic from Games Y Más podcast to discuss their non-gaming interests, adventures, and misadventures in a special "Over the Fence" episode. • Vic shares his love for Universal Studios and why their Platinum Pass offers better value than Disney with no blackout dates, free parking, and special perks • Everyone agrees the new Jurassic World Rebirth fi...

We explore how production quality can elevate board games from good to unforgettable, joined by special guest Vic from Games Y Más Podcast. • Game organizers that make setup and storage a delight, from Betrayal Legacy's intuitive system to Dead Reckoning's thematic compartments • The unanimous defense of big boxes when they serve a purpose and enhance the experience • Metal coins and pre...

Board gaming meets mascot racing mayhem in Hot Streak, the latest sensation from CMYK Games that's turning heads and sparking laughter at game tables everywhere. Designer John Perry has crafted what might just be the perfect betting game—one that combines the tactile joy of moving beautiful miniatures with the strategic satisfaction of wagering on uncertain outcomes. Picture this: four vividl...

The OGN crew catches up on a Friday night, sharing stories about family visits, temporary housing situations, movie disappointments, and finding unexpected wisdom in history books. • Clay recounts his weekend at Grandma Fleagle's, featuring boating, tubing, and famous whoopie pies • The hosts debate which "Bad Boy" cologne flavor suits each of them best  • Travis discusses his tempo...