The Discussion Phase

Why do we compete? Why do some games feel better when we when, or others better when we don't? What makes board games different for other forms of competition? Now some may the answer to these questions, as well as all other questions of life, the universe, and everything is simply 42. This week on the Discussion Phase, we try go a little deeper and understand the "why" behind winning in board gam...

We would like to invite you into a woodland realm where the creatures are anything but cute and cuddly. By far Root is the #1 ranked game on our top games of all time, and this week we do a board game breakdown where we discuss anything and everything about the world of Root; from the theme, to the strategy, and even a little controversy. Our hope is that our love for this unique game may inspire...

Now that the world has been opening back up, we here at the Discussion Phase have thankfully been able to do more traveling. However, the question still is, what games to bring with limited luggage and limited space to play when we travel. Which games pack the biggest punch for their small size? We review Air, Land, and Sea: Critters at War, as well as some other recent plays. We also catch up on...

Imagine, sitting down to play your favorite board game, only to soon realize that the game you've been playing has become real. This week on the Discussion Phase we find out what games we want have a Jumanji like experience with. We round up recent board gaming news as well as review recent plays of Bitoku and Brass: Birmingham. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us!...

There's no denying the behemoth that is the video game industry, leading all global markets in gaming; with board games making up a relatively small percentage of the market. On this week's episode, we look at both board games and video games, and compare them in different categories to see how each may be doing things better than the other, and where board games could show some improvement to app...

Sometimes is feels like every new game coming out has a legacy edition, but in comparison to the vast quantity of new games released every year, legacy games are still a niche category in the hobby. This week on the Discussion Phase we look at which board games we think could be the next big legacy game. We review some recent plays and share our initial thoughts on The Batman. Make sure to join us...

With so many board games to play and so little time to do so, sometimes all you can go on to determine if a game is for you is based on its' initial description. This week on the Discussion Phase we dive in and discuss what descriptions of games make us want to say "count me in" the most. We also review the game taking the world by storm, Ark Nova, as well as our thoughts on the Dice Tower Cruise...

We reach deep into the archives and bring back one of the lost episodes of The Discussion Phase. This week is all about games that are great to play with your significant other. We review recent plays and share our thoughts on our new favorite RPG, Legacy of Dragonholt. We also welcome you into our movie corner as we pair boardgames with the perfect movie for a night in. Make sure to join us on Di...

Join us as we take you away to a tropical paradise as we discuss our top anticipated games for the Dice Tower Cruise 2022. We review the hotness with Alexander Pfister's new game, Boonlake. We also welcome you into our movie corner as we pair boardgames with the perfect movie for a night in. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

Some might say it takes two to tango, but here at the Discussion Phase, we say it takes two to game. That's right, this week it's all about the 2 player games. We look at some of our favorite board games specifically made for 2 players. We also review some recent plays and share our thoughts on Star Wars: Rebellion. We also welcome you into our movie corner as we pair boardgames with the perfect m...

Sometimes to move forward you have to look back. This week on the Discussion Phase we review our gaming goals from the year 2021 and look towards some goals for the new year. We review a recent play of Outlive and the phenomenon taking over the world, Wordle. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

It's time to set your expectations as high as possible and throw any possibility for disappointment out the window, because this week we are drafting our most highly anticipated games for 2022. We discuss some recents plays, as well as break down our first impressions of Imperial Steam. We also note some of our most memorable gaming moments from 2021. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on...

It's finally here, the undisputed and definitive top 10 board games of all time! As for now, of course. This week we also break down our thoughts and recent plays of Mind MGMT, which may just be our new favorite hidden movement game. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

An inter-dimensional portal has cracked open, and the Great Old Ones have come through! This week the Discussion Phase has been invaded by all things Cthulhu with both Unfathomable and Cthulhu Wars. We review our recent plays of these massive games, and oh all the plastic miniatures that came along. We also keep the party going with the best games of all time by revealing our top 20-11 games of al...

Things are starting to heat up as we continue to make our way through our Top 50 Games of All Time! This week we reveal our number 30-21 games. We review recent plays of Marvel Champions and Caesar, as we begin our journey looking for some of the best 2 player games. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

We've finally made it back from PAX Unplugged 2021 and are excited to share all the experiences and new board games we've brought back. We also keep the train moving towards the best games of all time by revealing our top 40-31 games of all time. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

It's finally happening! We have our official top 50 board games of all time from the entire crew here at The Discussion Phase. We will be in for all kinds of surprises as we reveal the first ten, 50-41, games with you this week. We also review recent plays of Cloudage, Dune: Imperium Deluxe Edition, and Scythe with the modular expansion. Don't forget to join us on Discord and keep the discussion g...

This week we ask ourselves if we could only play 9 games for the next year, which games from the Top 100 on Board Game Geek would we choose? The only way to answer this question is obviously a draft. We share recent Thanksgiving board game plays and put two party game giants against each other with Codenames vs Decrypto.  https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

Today is the end of the world as we know it, and The Discussion Phase figures out which board games we would want to take with us into the apocalyptic end of days. We review recent plays of On Mars and Eclipse Second Dawn for the Galaxy, as well as upcoming kickstarter projects. Don't forget to join our Discord and join the discussion! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs

If you're not first you're last, and when it comes to board games sometimes nothing hurts worse than being last in turn order. This can be so true to the point that many games have competing for first player as an integral mechanic. Today we look at our favorite games that have the tension of being first, and do a great job of integrating it into the gameplay. We review some recent plays, includin...

Although sometimes hard to quantify, the weight or difficulty of a board game can make a game either forgettable, too much to handle, or just perfect. This week we are joined by our good friend and lover of all things Italian designer, David, as we discuss ideal weight of board games and how much weight should or does impact our enjoyment of games and how does that influence what games we purchase...

Even board games aren't immune from our desires for bigger, better, and more. Then question is, when do all the thrills and frills get in the way of enjoying the game, or is more always better? This week we get down to the basics and decide when is less actually more. We discuss recent plays, as well as our thoughts of Kanban EV and Grand Austria Hotel.

Sometimes when life gets most hectic, what helps most are good friends and some good games to share with them. On this week's episode we catch up on what all's being going on during our 2 week hiatus. We review some exciting new games and answer the question that has been troubling gamers for ions, "What is optimal player count?"

We've all been there; liking someone just a little bit more than they like us back and we get put in the friend zone. This week we list the games that we love but haven't shown us the same love back, and just keep us out of arms reach. We review some recent plays and declare a winner of the "Battle of the Big Box Store."

Inspired by the onset of Fall weather, things cooling down, and pumpkin spice now in the air, this week on the Discussion Phase we're talking about games we recommend playing when you want to slow things down and chill. We review some recent new plays, including Twilight Struggle, and continue our series, "Battle of the Big Box Stores."