The Board Boys Podcast

The boys time traveled to the 1920s in this week's episode, in T.I.M.E Stories by Space Cowboy Games. Joined by the fifth official Board Boy, 'our buddy Rob', the boys traveled through time and space to uncover the mysteries hidden in a 1920s insane asylum. The boys also discuss their recent trip to Gen Con, discussing highlights from the trip and games that got them most jazzed for the future. Ro...

The Board Boys made their alliances, defended the Wall and battled for control of the Iron Throne this week in Games of Thrones (Second Edition). The boys, and their guest Jason, took on the roles of Houses Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy aka 'Joy Boys' and Baratheon as they battled, backstabbed and bribed their way to victory. In addition in discussing GoT the boys also discuss Josh's recent trip to Sa...

Josh decided to go on "vacation" this week attending the annual comic book convention in San Diego, but that isn't going to stop the Board Boys from dropping a new bonus episode! Board Boys Cam and Frank finally got to play Campbell's current favorite game, Sidereal Confluence, with help from three of their dearest friends. Together the group dissected the good, the bad and the different in this t...

Have you ever gazed at the stars and thought "Man, outer space would be the coolest setting for an Opera ... wait, a SPACE Opera." TBBP definitely have and so has Fantasy Flight Games. This week the boys tackled the galactic, universe-sized board game that is Twilight Imperium 4th Ed. The game is huge, the game is long and the game definitely did not disappoint. Joined by their good friend, Terry...

Sometimes you play a game correctly and have a great time. Sometimes you play a game really, REALLY incorrectly and it ruins the experience. Luckily time travel exists and allows the Board Boys to correct the mistakes made during their Le Havre games. Joined by the unofficial fourth board boy, Ben W., the boys built their tableaus and grew their fishing city empires while struggling to keep their...

Have you ever wondered what happens when the Board Boys and their guest make a terrible, terrible mistake that ruins the play through of the game they planned to play for a new episode? Turns out they turn their frowns upside down with a few games of Karuba! In this week's bonus episode the boys talk about the highs, lows, turns and curves of this tile-laying family game. The boys also dust off on...

The boys are back and visiting alternate-history 1920s this week in Scythe by Stonemaier Games. Joined by Josh's brother-in-law, David, the boys assumed the role of one of five different Eastern European factions vying for control of 'The Factory' and the enticing technology it possesses. Will Olga and her pet tiger Changa win the day? Or will victory go to Anna and her lovable bear, Wojtek? Will...

We're putting two of the best abstract games head-to-head in this week's episode. Fighting out the red corner, Azul by Plan B Games and fighting out of the blue corner, Sagrada by Floodgate Games. We went from the windows to the walls in our newest episode and had a heck of a time breaking down two of the best abstract games from 2017. Our buddy Erik (aka Jeezy) joined us to talk pros, cons and in...

The Board Boys took the reigns of their own power companies this week in Power Grid by Rio Grande Games. Joined by, the smartest person they've ever met, Becca Park, the boys auctioned power plants, bought resources, built cities and powered the crap outta those cities. Which fuel is best between coal, oil, trash, nuclear and green energy? Find out in this week's episode! The boys also learn a bit...

The Board Boys are back with their first bonus episode of Season Two. In this episode the boys sit down to discuss Kolossal Games with the company's president, Travis Chance. Kolossal Games made a big name for themselves earlier this year with their monumentally successful Kickstarter title, Western Legends. Travis breaks down the company's history, gives us an inside scoop on some of their upcomi...

Season Two is here and is kicking off with a bang! To celebrate the launch of Season Two, TBBP held a day-long board game extravaganza, filled with games, pizza and awesome folks, and capped the night off with a live taping. Joined by Stephen B., President of Stronghold Games, the boys get an inside look at one of their favorite publishers and what is on the horizon for the team at Stronghold Game...

Our Season One finale is officially here, and we had a heck of a time playing Dead of Winter by Plaid Hat Games. Working together, with local podcaster Brian Campos, the boys ventured into an environment overrun with zombies to scavenge for food, supplies, weapons and additional followers. Did we survive to see another day? Did our colony fall to the zombie hordes? Was there a betrayer in our mids...

The Board Boys took a nice vacation this week heading across the pond in Ticket to Ride Europe. From the craggy hillsides of Edinburgh to the sunlit docks of Constantinople, the boys saw it all; laying track and pounding cold ones along the way with help from Des Moines area photographer, Dani Reed. During their travels the boys also recommend some of their favorite 'gateway' games and the toys th...

The Board Boys got their beignets, black magic (aka vampires and voodoo) and board games on this week in Orléans by Tasty Minstrel Games. Joined by fellow Arkham Games gamer, Jared "Probably Has a Cool Last Name" Bearss, the boys built their engines, recruited their knights and ignored their scholars in this beloved worker placement board game. In addition to Orléans the boys break out some new be...

Board Boy Campbell is off galavanting around Peru, but that isn't going to stop us from dropping an all new BONUS episode of The Board Boys Podcast. We decided it'd be a good (scratch that, great) idea to play Twilight the board game. No not Twilight Imperium, or Twilight Struggle ...Twilight ... like with Vampires and Werewolves and stuff. We revisited the all-time classic debate, #TeamJacob vers...

The Board Boys ventured into outer space in this week's latest episode, colonizing the red planet in Terraforming Mars by Stronghold Games. Joined by local content creator, board game reviewer, Arnold Palmer (the drink) lover and all-around great guy, David Wiley, the boys slowly made life habitable on Mars. In this week's newest episode the boys also tackle some new beefs, talk an awful lot about...

Board Boy Frank's birthday episode is here! In honor of Frank the boys play one of Frank's all-time favorite games, Puerto Rico! Joined by Frank's step-brother, Jimmy Hobbs, the boys get into the nostalgia of games, their mixed emotions on remastering board (and video) games and talk about how good, bad, great and frustrating the game Puerto Rico can be. The boys also take their first (and last) s...

The Board Boys lived, pillaged and died gloriously this week in Blood Rage by CMON games. Joined by Casey Knue, the boys embraced the coming of Ragnarok while recruiting powerful monsters, upgrading their armies and scoring all the victory points before the ultimate destruction of Earth. This week the boys also get 'beefy' identifying the 2018 'beefs' they're hoping to start (or continue) througho...

The Board Boys are coming in HOT with another bonus episode. In this weekend's episode we finally completed one of Board Boy Cam's bucket list desires, playing a board game live on the podcast. To do this we were joined by Casey Knue to play a few rounds of Werewords by Bézier Games. Play along and see if you can figure out the mystery word while also figuring out who the Seeker and the Werewolf m...

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first (and best) episode of The Board Boys Podcast released in 2018. In this week's episode the boys attended wizarding school, specifically potions class, to brew up some bewitching, bewildering and beautification spells in Alchemists by Czech Games Edition. Joined by local board game legend, Rob Pearson, the boys break down the history of Des Moines' growing board...

The Board Boys decided to get together over Christmas break to enjoy some delicious cookies, drink all the cocoa and steal most of the jewels, gems and artifacts from Lord Eradikus in Clank! In Space.  In this week's BONUS episode we take a quick look and discuss our thoughts about Clank! In Space by Renegade Studios.  We'll be back next Thursday with another full-length episode, but wanted to sha...

Members of a 19th-century community fear the strange creatures that inhabit the surrounding forest. PLOT TWIST we didn't watch The Village, but we did play Village in this week's episode. Joined by resident cool guy, Brad Turk, the boys took turns strategically killing generations (RIP Great Aunt Judith) to score as many victory points as possible. In addition to growing our village the boys also...

Welcome to Episode Five of the Board Boys Podcast! Things got a little spooky in this episode as the Board Boys fought cultists, mobs and a few bad cases of insanity in Mansions of Madness. Joined by Josh's lovely wife, Sammi, the group fought to their last breath frantically trying to escape Innsmouth alive. To help lighten the mood the boys discuss Sammi's experiences growing up with Disney boar...

Happy Franksgiving everyone! The board boys celebrated Thanksgiving this year by uncorking a bottle of Viticulture with their friend, and unofficial board boy, Ben. In this week's episode the boys talk about their favorite games to play with family while home for the holidays, Ben's podcast The Story to Tell and breakdown the board game Viticulture by Stonemaier Games. Hear the boys thoughts on ru...

The Board Boys blasted into outer space this episode to boldly explore wormholes, harvest minerals and wage war in Eclipse! Joined by local wrestling fan, mini-pig owner and comic book author, Dustin Murrell, the boys break down this outer space epic. The boys also learn about the joys of owning a Mini-Juliana pig (spoiler - they're adorable) and how Mega Chomp (your new favorite superhero) contin...