Shelf Stable: A Board Game Podcast

Tuck, meld, then splay. Repeat but return the card, then draw and score to the waiting area and do so additional times for every clientele. If this sounds like gobbledegook, you have yet to be indoctrinated into the cult of Chudyck. Join us on an adventure that is out of this world and tuck yourself into an alien landscape full of magic.   Games we played: 5:39 - Risk Express (2006, Reiner Knizia,...

Probably our wildest episode yet. Hope you like Park Place cause we're going to be stuck on it for about 35 minutes paying rent in the form of words.   Games we played: 4:02 - Clank Legacy (2019, Andy Clautice & Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf) 8:41 - Fantasy Realms (2017, Bruce Glassco, WizKids) 15:09 - Root (2018, Cole Wehrle, Leder) 21:10 - Smash Up (2018 og2012, Paul Peterson, AEG)   100 games before y...

Enough is enough. You've been the Donnie Thornberry of far too many game nights. It's time to wipe up that drool and extract those d20s from your nostrils. Today is the day you become a true gamer. (Forward this episode to 10 newbs or you will have bad luck all week.)   Games we played: 7:03 - ICECOOL (2016, Brian Gomez, Brain) 10:40 - Downforce (2017, Rob Daviau & Justin D. Jacobson & Wolfgang Kr...

Dust... dust everywhere as far as the eye can see. The only sign of life: a few candy-colored camels and some chain-smoking elderly throwing down in a Microsoft classic. Desperate for a drink of board games, you make your way down to the infamous bunker. The Pantry... that's what the elders called it after you threw them a few fish for pay. But what is it and how does one harness its power?   Game...

The Sphinx eyes you with a cunning smirk, "If you are so wise human, then answer me this: what has four rules in morning, twelve thousand rules in the afternoon, and three rules at night?" Without a moments hesitation you respond: "A board gamer! A board gamer starts on Catan, devolves into madness with Lacerta, and becomes grounded once more in Knizia!" The Sphinx affirms that you have the correc...

It seems today, that all you see, is Food Chaining Magnates and Kanban EV. But where are those good old fashioned Knizias, on which we used to rely? Happy holidays!   Games we played: 2:30 - Ethnos (2017, Paolo Mori, CMON) 10:16 - KingDomino (2016, Bruno Cathala, Blue Orange) 15:03 - Glory to Rome (2012 og2005, Carl Chudyk, Cambridge Games Factory) 23:27 - Food Chain Magnate (2015, Jeroen Doumen &...

New game idea, shake the hands of as many former presidents as possible while being completely nude. Standard handshake is 1 vp. Fist bump is 2vp. Partially nude does NOT receive any partial points. You might be thinking, "this is a bad idea," to which I would respond, "have you tried it?" And you would respond "yes, and it didn't end well," to which I would respond, "but have you tried it more th...

This episode is equipped with state of the art print technology. If you print this episode on your printer you can actually listen to it by rubbing the paper on your ears. Sounds you may hear: Kenny and Tom mispronouncing designer names like the ignorant Americans they are.   Games we played: 2:09 - Bus (1999, Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter) 8:43 - Le Havre (2008, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout...

Imagine just being absolute trash. Like get good. I was playing blindfolded and my little brother was holding the controller and there was glare on my screen and I wasn't sitting in my gaming chair and I was using a Wiimote that didn't even have the nunchuck instead of my state of the art Logitech mouse. Some folks just don't know how to take an L am I right?   Games we played: 2:39 - Through the...

We're tired... so tired. Tired of eating all these meeples. They all taste the same, sawdusty and hard. Give us something to crunch on with a little kick. Maybe put some gochujang sauce on there or a little truffle oil. In the meantime, we'll go back to swallowing a granola of Everdell berries and Azul tiles.   Games we played: 3:36 - Raccoon Tycoon (2018, Glenn Drover, Forbidden) 7:07 - Root (201...

This week, on Shelf Knizia, we talk to you about the latest Knizia's we played followed by a revisiting of the 100 Knizias to Knizia before you Knizia. Later on, Tom shares a Kniziafeed article about The Great Doctor followed by our main topic: why Knizia is so great. Oh yeah, and Tom talks about 9/11.   Games we played: 3:24 - Nusfjord (2017, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout) 7:57 - Monopoly Deal (2008, Ka...

I'm playing trash games and don't care if you judge me. What these? Yes, these are sweatpants. Those rules aren't real, and these sweatpants are all that fits me right now! On Wednesdays we play Skull Third Edition...   Games we played: 2:45 - Medici (1995, Reiner Knizia, Steamforged) 9:36 - Codenames (2015, Vlaada Chvatil, CGE) 13:17 - Omen: A Reign of War (2011, John Clowdus, Small Box) 16:12 -...

Sometimes I rub the cardboard tokens of my new games against the cement on my street to make them look like they've been played to death. They just end up looking like they got run over by a cheese grater, but hey, what matters is the satisfaction of saying I'm just better than anyone else that buys new games and plays them right out of the box. Turns out you can also just buy used games. Although...

Join us for a frightening boodcast about the most horrifying board game experiences. This week, Count Kenny and Tom Bonesworth imagine a world of only Cthulhu-themed games where box lids fart and humans assist Cylons in their efforts to sabotage.   Games we played: 3:07 - The Great Dalmuti (1995, Richard Garfield, Wizards of the Coast) 7:59 - Medici (1995, Reiner Knizia, Steamforged) 13:05 - Terra...

I hope you like hearing "polyo-nemo" a lot cause Tom says it like a hundred times this week. I hope Tom finds that poor fish cause his dad is worried sick.   Games we played: 1:38 - 51st State (2016 og2010, Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal) 7:01 - Hanamikoji (2013, Kota Nakayama, EmperorS4) 13:08 - Agricola (2016 og2007, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games) 17:43 - Scarabya (2018, Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maubla...

Don't let the title mislead you. Despite having played a ton of solo-focused games in preparation, Kenny and Tom elect to mostly argue about whether or not Pandemic is a good game. I'd tell you more about it, but I just realized you're just a figment of my imagination. Why must I hurt myself repeatedly? There is no audience... I am but a speck in a simulationist void...   Games we played: 1:59 - B...

And the award for best board game podcast of 2024 goes to... Lady Gaga? Umm... Lady Gaga come up and receive your award I guess. This week, two sleepy boys are reminded of what it's like to wake up early on the weekend to record a podcast.   Games we played: 1:07 - Ra (1999, Reiner Knizia, 25th Century) 4:53 - For Sale (1997, Stefan Dorra, Eagle-Gryphon) 7:43 - Pax Pamir 2nd Edition (2019 og2015,...

How does my box look? Fabulous! How about my cultural representation? Questionable! This week we dive into the more icky parts of the hobby and how some folks are making an effort to update that ickiness for a modern audience.   Games we played: 2:06 - Puerto Rico (2002, Andreas Seyfarth, Alea) 4:25 - It's a Wonderful World (2019,  Frederic Guerard, La Boite de Jeu and OriGames) 7:42 - Circus Floh...

Well I would have won if it wasn't for having pizza grease all over my hands while checking my phone and not listening to the rules for the game. It's really simple actually, allow me to walk you through all the ways in which I am a better gamer than you despite losing.   Games we played: 2:19 -Take 5! aka 6 Nimmt! (1994, Wolfgang Kramer, Amigo) 5:22 - Deep Sea Adventure (2014, Jun Sasaki, Oink) 7...

I give up. Tom is better at games, and he has a better podcasting voice, AND he's got sexier abs. What even is the point? This week we talk about those moments when it's just not worth it and you'd be better off hitting the gym than trying to collect enough lemonade to satiate the carnal desires of these fast food consumers.   Games we played: 1:34 - Food Chain Magnate (2015, Jeroen Doumen & Joris...

I give this episode a 7 out of 10, or was that a 5 out of 10? Can't remember. Regardless, this definitely ranks in the top 800 episodes of Shelf Stable ever created. In this episode: Tom forgets to hit record. Enjoy a well rehearsed edition of "people yell at boxes".   Games we played: 3:04 - Everdell (2018, James A. Wilson, Starling Games) 6:03 - Eclipse: New Dawn of the Galaxy (2011, Touko Tahko...

We got one HUNDRED games for you, hot off the griddle ready to eat. Pop them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes. If they each cost a dollar and you had a $100 dollar bill, you'd be able to purchase every one of these games and try them out. But they don't cost a dollar, so I guess good luck?   Games we played: 01:50 - Dominion (2016 og2008, Donald Vaccarino, Rio Grande) 06:24 - Yokohama (2016, Hisas...

A little birdie told me that in Canada, games come in bags. Here in USA, we're all about those boxes. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes. Join us as we think a bit outside of the... um.. realm of what we usually think of, and come up with some interesting insights about game display and packaging.   Games we played: 01:30 - Ca$h n' Guns (2014 og2005, Ludovic Maublanc, Repos) 06:39 - Century: Spice Road...

Blublublub, quick! HELP. Kenny is podcasting underwater and he needs your help to get back on land. Prep your ears for the devastating misclick that is selecting the Occulus Rift mic a full 5 feet away instead of the microphone on Kenny's head. WIP folks, we'll have it fixed for next week. Thanks for bearing with things as we learn to be just a little bit better, and thanks for listening.   Games...

You could argue that this is the first time we're doing this, but Tom and I have been blabbering to each other about games for nearly a decade… we just forgot to hit record. A lot of pushing luck in this one, a lot of piggies going Oink, and a lot of hot / incorrect takes. Thanks for listening and looking forward to the future!   01:46 Why is it called Shelf Stable   Games we played: 03:17 - Chica...