The Board Boys Podcast

In this episode, we go retro with a double feature from Restoration Games. Join us as we cooperatively catch those thieves in Stop Thief! and then go head to head (to head) in some racing and betting action in Downforce. Also, come find out how much Campbell likes Carmen Sandiego and Rockapella. Did Rob really play Monopoly? Why would he do that?! Also, Rob's wife Amy joins to try to describe that...

We play Feast for Odin from ZMan Games in this episode - Come check out a bad poetry reading by Campbell from an old norse poet, Ben brings the taste with some Oreo's from Oreo day, Josh is still trying to move instead of play Boardgames, and Rob revisits some games played at Gamicon in Cedar Rapids.  

This week we travel back to another Rob pick that closely mirrors his first pick of the podcast as a host - Tzolkin.  Both share a designer, a mechanism, and similar themes.  Also check out what we have been playing lately and has Josh moved yet? 

What do you get when you mix an incredible designer with two incredibly popular games? You get a Board Boys blowout episode all about Wolfgang Warsch and his hit games The Quacks of Quedlinburg and The Taverns of Tiefenthal. If only there was something that could make this blowout episode even better ... oh wait, we're also joined this episode by our homie Keeghan to talk all about what to expect...

Board Boys Cam and Josh recently headed to Nebraska City, NE for ATBCon2020. The con was a blast and provided a unique opportunity for the boys to preview the upcoming KS game, For Glory. The two-player deck builder pits rival gladiator schools against each other - providing unique decisions as players build up their schools; their reputation; and their gladiators before ultimately sending them to...

This week the boys revisit the first game they ever played for the podcast BUT this time they're in outer space in Gaia Project! A lot of folks refer to this game as Terra Mystica 2.0. Is that fair or is there more to it than that? Also, this episode: kazoos ... so many kazoos; Campbell pulls a Campbell; Rob shares a story of recent heroism and Josh's dogs require assistance. We hope you like boar...

We're kicking off the new year in style with our first ever twofer episode! This week we played two of our favorite two-player games, Patchwork and Seven Wonders Duel. Both games are currently on the BGG Top 100 but which game reigns supreme when put to the test? Welcome to 2020. We hope you like board games.

Board Boys Rob and Josh traveled south to Dallas, TX for BGGCon 2019! In this recap episode, they break down the games they played, the pros (and cons) of the new venue and Rob's son, Beau, joins to talk a bit about his favorite games dad brought back! We hope you like board games!

Your favorite Viking boys are back. This week they're raiding villages and pillaging strongholds in Raiders of the North Sea from Renegade Game Studios and Garphill Games. The boys built their raiding parties, presented their offerings and battled for glory in this Viking-inspired worker placement game. Also this episode: It's the return of "Beef or Plug", Rob battles the local teens, Campbell tak...

Come gather round now children and listen to a tale of camaraderie, revelry, and perhaps a little bad weather travel to a wonderous gathering called Gamicon.  Gamicon is a convention located in Cedar Rapids, IA that happens every year in the February time frame.  This is an episode that we recorded earlier in the year and wanted to release it closer to the next show so perhaps folks can't plan on...

This week your favorite boys traveled overseas to visit the bustling port city of Yokohama - who knew 1868 Japan could be so much fun? In Yokohama, each player is a merchant broadening their sales channels, investing in technology and completing contracts. Only one player comes out on top and (spoiler) ... it wasn't Campbell! Also this episode: Rob and Josh road-tripped to BGG Con and didn't kill...

The boys fought for their lives (in space) this week in Nemesis from Awaken Realms. This semi-cooperative horror, survival, exploration game could easily be described as "Alien the board game" but there is so much more to it than that. Relationships were tested, friends became enemies, enemies became friends, and Rob threw a Molotov at Campbell. Also this episode: Josh is back and talks a bit abou...

Well we did it ... another season of TBBP is in the books. We close out this chapter on Season Four with a play of Architects of the West Kingdom from Renegade Game Studios/Garphill Games. There is a lot to love in this quick thinker stinker, and no short supply of workers, but is there enough to love? Also this episode: Ben talks about the worst kind of holes, Campbell and Josh hype up some upcom...

Things get spooky this week as the boys worked together to defeat ancient Lovecraftian beasts in Eldritch Horror. Travel Scrabble Ben was stuck in time and space this week so the boys asked The Dealt Hand to join their adventure as they battled cultists and solved mysteries around the world. Also this episode: Joe shares all the details on Iowa's hottest board game popup, Josh gets critical of Med...

Within the charming valley of Everdell, a civilization of forest critters is thriving and expanding. Also, frog ambassadors from the land of Pearlbrook are hella dope. This week we ventured outside the BGG Top 100 for a stroll through the forest in Everdell. Tableaus were built, resources were collected and critters were acquired in this worker placement/resource management/set collection (kinda)...

What do you get when you mix animal mating, a feeding mechanism, pale ones and a million Agricola references? Obviously you get Caverna: The Cave Farmers by Uwe Rosenburg. This week your favorite boys (minus Ben), and guest Cody Lenhart, break down Uwe's highest rated game on the BGG Top 100 list. Also this episode: Rob shares his secret algorithm for hidden movement games; Josh learns review wars...

Welp, it finally happened. It only took four seasons, but we're finally doing a feature episode on a game NOT currently on the BGG Top 100. We generally take this qualifier seriously, but Black Angel from Pearl Games had our full attention at Gen Con. It may currently be 4,269, but it's number one in our hearts. Also this episode: the boys answer the ultimate gaming question - which original Monop...

Still recovering from Gen Con 2019? Don't worry we are too. This year Rob, Campbell and Josh made the annual trek to Indianapolis, Indiana for the best four days in gaming. Hanging alongside 70k attendees, the boys bought, played and learned about so many great games hitting the market later this year. In this BONUS episode, the boys recap their day by day experiences at the con LIVE from their ro...

Josh was on vacation this week at San Diego Comic Con and specifically requested we play a game he'd hate. So, this week we ventured overseas to visit the Grand Austria Hotel. Rob, Campbell and Ben pushed the game to its limits in one of the closest finishes we've ever recorded! Also this episode: Rob breaks down some of the titles he is most looking forward to at Gen Con 2019, Campbell questions...

(Cue scrolling text) It's a tale as old as time - the big bad Empire is vying for control of the galaxy and it's up to the Rebel Alliance to stop them. This week your favorite boys put their force to the test in Star Wars: Rebellion. Lightsaber battles, a Yoda encounter, Ewok adventures and a Kessel Run (or two) ensued in our play of 'Star Wars in a box.' Also this episode: Ben shares insight on h...

Welp, it finally happened ... The Board Boys finally played Campbell's favorite game, The Castles of Burgundy. There is a lot to love in this classic point salad, thinker stinker, but is it enough to offset the massive lack of theme? Luckily the boys were joined by Rob's best half, his wife Amy, to help breakdown one of Stefan Feld's most popular titles. Also this game, Campbell fills us in on his...

This week your favorite boys grabbed their hair nets and aprons to run a booming fast food empire in Food Chain Magnate. Splotter games has always been known for their intricate mechanisms ... did this game live up to that reputation? Did Ben's price gouging strategy work? Was Campbell's variety of burgers and pizza enough to draw the crowds? Also this episode: we all played some really, really do...