Punchboard Cathedral

Breaking: good games are good. Celebrated classic Tae (Tae_Eat_Tea) joins us to discuss the beloved, time-honored, essential games we're only now discovering. Alba reunites with a childhood love. Kenan makes Tae Bin his darlings. Then we spend equal time salivating over sleek second editions and and defending some unlovely originals. After Tae abandons us, our loyal rabble guide us through the wil...

Sometimes your friends know what's best for you. Don't argue. Alba investigates the sepia-filtered nostalgic appeal of adult gaming. Kenan subjects a ravenous Alba to a round of Random Name Generator. Alba subjects you to attempted baseball metaphors. Then we report on our experiences with games we forced one another to play, and solicit further recommendations from the Rabble. Discussed: Grand Au...

We interrupt our regularly scheduled takes for a barrage of micro-takes in response to a recent Rolling Reggie video. We discuss the games that have surprised and delighted us in the first half of 2025, and tag our cherished chusma to do the same. I can still hear you saying you would never break the never break the chain. Bass solo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you think you know a game before you've played it. Sometimes all your assumptions were correct, and it works its way into your heart anyway. Tara (Tara's Bad Luck Club) joins us to talk about games that won us over despite being decidedly not our type. Kenan tells us about the trick-taker that helped him make sense of trick-taking. Alba quizzes us on our knowledge on non-existent bands....

Is there a board game theme we can all agree on? We're discussing games with largely inoffensive epicurean themes. Kenan takes us on a pleasant stroll through the rapidly changing landscape of board game subject matter while Alba cooks up a spicy quiz show. Kenan reports back on the many strange sights and inhabitants of Dice Tower West in Las Vegas. Then it's time to chomp on some appetizing food...

Where do games come from? Most are direct descendants of other games. We're joined by designer Heather Dixon (Apistocracy) to discuss the games that motivated us to do some design work of our own, from house rules to interface tweaks to brand new bouncing baby game designs. Kenan examines the origin story of a popular classic, and Alba helps us break the ice. Then we discuss the games that irked a...

Welcome to the afterparty. We're gaming 'till we drop. Which might be pretty soon tbh because it turns out we're not as young as we once were. Alba articulates why we're still up gaming when all sensible souls have retired for the evening. Kenan's in charge of the quiz show this week which proves to be as bad an idea as it was last time. We explore the etymology of "meta" and Kenan recaps recent t...

Sometimes a game knows us better than we know ourselves. Rolling Reggie joins us to discuss games that subverted our expectations. Kenan tries to recreate one of his game-changing gaming experiences for friends and strangers alike. Alba greets our guest with a superfly icebreaker. Kenan takes accountability for his tile-based crimes. Then we consider some games that managed to surprise us when we...

Can you have fun when you don't have a prayer? Kenan draws a line in the sand. Alba proselytizes for the rock gods. Kenan name-drops his Dice Tower West buddies. Then we discuss some games we enjoy even when we're losing. Well, one game we're fine losing and one we hate losing. Alba doesn't love constraints. Topics include Apistocracy, Dominion, Magic the Gathering, Go, Scythe, Tapestry, deckbuild...

Did you ever feel like a game was made just for you? Alba's gaming life has been a Tapestry of rich and royal hue. Kenan isn't allowed to run the icebreakers anymore. Our brainy guest Dr. Dana tells us about her puzzly Obsession, and we tell her about ports and pyramids. Needless to say, we all get stumped. Also discussed: juggling obligations in games and life, hype fatigue, why no one wants Char...

What's the use in feeling bad? Kenan attempts to explain the shelf of shame to non-gamers. Alba attempts to salvage the vibes by dangling some tantalizing theoretical IP adaptations. We correct the record, discuss our ongoing flame war with our northern rivals, and recap holiday gaming (we recorded this one a while ago), discussing Jamaica, Werewolf, Pyramido, Akropolis, verticality, and downtime...

We all look forward to game night, but the best game nights are the ones you look back on. Kenan tells us about a game he only played once but has been thinking about for nearly three decades. Alba breaks the ice with our guest Eli of Black Market Press (@blackmarketpress on IG), and then the trio discuss Nemesis, Alice's Garden, games-as-destinations, different types of enjoyment, and the challen...

Have you ever bought a game you didn't know much about, or were unlikely to actually play? What's that about? Kenan and Alba discuss Azul, Blood Rage (BLOOOOD RAAAAGE), On the Origin of Species, Unearth, Forgotten Waters, and a great many listener regrets. Plus: fake games, heartfelt apologies, a Spanish vocab lesson, and more. With intro and incidental music by Alba & the Mighty Lions and out...

Can a game persuade people to have fun, even if they're in a lousy mood, even if they're morally opposed to or constitutionally incapable of fun? We welcome your new favorite gamer Sam to the show to discuss Disney Lorcana, Dune Imperium, Just One, Carcassonne, Timeline, Stay Cool, Cascadia, 7 Wonders Architects, and the great many things we've already been wrong about in our show's short run. The...

There are the games we dream about, and the games we actually come home to. What's the difference? In this episode, we discuss top 10 lists, reviews and reviewers, Dune Imperium, Witchstone, Forest Shuffle, Grove, Beacon Patrol, small solo games, The Quest for El Dorado, Kingdom Builder, Splendor + Cities of Splendor, Cribbage, Forgotten Depths, trick-taking, Atiwa, the challenge of getting your f...

Sometimes you make up your mind about a game before you've even played it. What's that about? Discussed: GenX, hipsters, Brass v. Gloomhaven, corporate IP's, hateration, Disney Lorcana, Wingspan, Lost Ruins of Arnak v. Dune Imperium, minimalism v. maximalism, Unmatched, Tapestry's slow burn, Concordia, learning games on BGA, Trudvang Legends, Massive Darkness 2, buying games v. investing in system...

What is the allure of the new game? In this episode we discuss escapism, hype, pirate games, Eternal Palace, Roll Player, Kingdomino, Dragomino, Ice Cool, Flamecraft, Glow, Spirit Island, Everdell, and more. Then we discuss the games that disappointed you folks, as well as those that lived up to your expectations. Outro music: Alba and the Mighty Lions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...