Uh oh, is that thunder? That must mean it's time for a lightning round - we're scooping up all the lovely questions and suggestions that just aren't big enough for the main event, and stuffing them in the blender. This week, it's public spaces, warning labels, gaming tips, and PAX Unplugged. Before we put fingers on buzzers, we talk about Gift of Tulips , Five Three Five , and Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods . Timecodes: 01:36 - Gift of Tulips 10:20 - Five Three Five 16:52 - Anunnaki: Dawn of the God...
Nov 09, 2023•57 min
Drafts are back, baby. And not just any old draft, no, but to celebrate the return of the greatest game, we're drafting none other than the best of the only true and living doctor, Reiner Knizia. Who ends up with the best list? Vote for your favourite, you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we doc it up, we talk about Empire's End , My Favourite Things , and Four Horsemen . Timecodes: 02:33 - Empire's End 12:15 - My Favourite Things 21:15 - Four Horsemen 27:48 - Drafting Reiner Knizia games 33...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Are board games stuck? Not to be dramatic or anything, but it does seem like we keep circling the same ideas over and over again, right? We speculate on where we think the hobby is headed, and whether or not it needs a shake up. Before we plateau, we talk about Orchard , Hadrian's Wall , Terracotta Army , and Santiago . Timecodes: 03:09 - Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game 06:49 - Hadrian's Wall 13:45 - Terracotta Army 24:34 - Santiago 35:45 - Board game stagnation 38:17 - Return to Dark Tower 41:...
Oct 12, 2023•52 min
It's almost time for Essen SPIEL 2023, the great German Mecca of our people - and while we're not going ourselves, that's not going to stop us yearning . We're hear to tell you about all the amazing games available at the show this year that you ought to be excited about. Before we gaze longingly across the Atlantic, we talk about Asara , Skytear Horde , and Dwellings of Eldervale . Timecodes: 02:31 - Asara 10:15 - Skytear Horde 14:04 - Dwellings of Eldervale 28:11 - Essen SPIEL 2023 Preview 30:...
Sep 28, 2023•56 min
A little prune, a little embellish, a nip, a tuck, and a flourish, and we can get this thing just how we like it. We're looking at all the little things that we'd like to see more of, all the things we'd like to see less of in the world of board games. Before we giveth and taketh away, we talk about First in Flight , Tramways , and Wandering Towers . Timecodes: 02:39 - First in Flight 11:57 - Tramways 23:32 - Wandering Towers 31:50 - What we want more and less of in games 33:13 - More middleweig...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Timing is everything, which is why it's so important that this episode came out when it did. Had we made it too early, it would have felt dated, and any later, you wouldn't have been ready for it. Before it's about time, we talk about Planet etuC , Undaunted: Stalingrad , Undaunted: Battle of Britain , and Tycoon: India 1981 . Timecodes: 01:47 - Planet etuC 07:43 - Undaunted: Stalingrad 10:35 - Undaunted: Battle of Britain 14:01 - Tycoon: India 1981 30:36 - Can mechanics be dated? 39:42 - Ankh: ...
Aug 31, 2023•49 min
I leave for one episode and these idiots are talking about eating board games. Hard hitting questions for hard hitting board game journalists, Kellen & Mark are on the scene reporting in. Before we claw our way back from this, we talk about Power & Weakness , Haggis , and Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game . Timecodes: 02:40 - Power & Weakness 16:28 - Haggis 24:28 - Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game 36:31 - What gets you excited about two player games? 46:04 - Azul 46:30 - What is the m...
Aug 17, 2023•53 min
A solid end game trigger can be such an overlooked part of the design of a game. The conventional wisdom for most things is to start strong and finish strong, so we look at some of our favourite ways that games can end. Before we reach the end of the road, we talk about Robot Quest Arena , Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 , and Expeditions . Timecodes: 02:07 - Robot Quest Arena 08:52 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 30:11 - Expeditions 47:33 - Inis 48:09 - Azu...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 7 min
It's convention season, and the big one is almost upon us, as board gamers across America prepare to descend on Indiana. Gen Con! We won't be there this year, but that won't stop us anticipating what we could be playing at the show. Before we want what we can't have, we talk about Fancy Feathers , Beast , Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 , and Mercator . Timecodes: 02:43 - Fancy Feathers 08:31 - Beast 16:55 - Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020 22:43 - Merkator 29:...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Not all are as blessed as we are by the gift of truly original thought, and so many turn to others for inspiration. Whether it's Newton standing on the shoulders of giants, or stealing from our rich neighbour Xerox, many great ideas are born from what has come before. Before we make the inspired choice, we talk about Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game, Innovation Ultimate , and Dawn of Ulos . Timecodes: 01:59 - Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Gam...
Jul 06, 2023•56 min
After much consternation at his exclusion from our Mount Rushmore of games, we've decided to honour legendary designer Sid Sackson elsewhere - a BGB Designer Spotlight! I think these used to be called BGB DOGs but even Mark forgot about that bit of branding. Oh well. Before we make amends, we talk about Magicalligraphy , Hamlet: The Village Building Game , and Tournament at Camelot . Timecodes: 01:33 - Schedule update 03:11 - Magicalligraphy 09:30 - Hamlet: The Village Building Game 19:48 - Tour...
Jun 22, 2023•52 min
We've reached the end of our fantasy draft series, the last in this increasingly dire list of games from which we pluck five gems each, and then get you to vote on your favourites. There's a (potential) $50 gift card in it for you! Before the last dance, we talk about Seas of Havoc , Whale to Look , and Dorfromantik: The Board Game . Timecodes: 03:12 - Seas of Havoc 10:42 - Whale to Look 19:50 - Dorfromantik: The Board Game 29:10 - Drafting BGG's #901-1000 32:17 - Caylus 1303 33:43 - Ready Set B...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 5 min
We're veering into the dark roads of board game classification, but this time with a goal in mind - how to best highlight games that feature strong interaction. Shouldn't BoardGameGeek have a scale for that somewhere? And while we're at it, BGG ... Before we put our thoughts in the suggestion box, we talk about Guatemala Café , and Ride the Rails . Timecodes: 01:56 - Guatemala Café 12:43 - Ride the Rails 23:09 - Quantifying interactivity 25:43 - A Feast for Odin 32:13 - Yucatan 34:31 - What else...
Jun 08, 2023•45 min
Are we living in a golden age of board games? It's a simple question, but there's a lot to unpack - what even qualifies as a golden age, have we already had one, and if we are living in one, when does it end? Before we go for gold, we talk about That's Not a Hat , Pulsar 2849 , and Barrage. Timecodes: 01:39 - That's Not a Hat 02:19 - Cockroach Poker 10:52 - Pulsar 2849 19:58 - Barrage 33:30 - Are we in a golden age? 48:32 - Scythe 57:31 - Ark Nova The BGG thread Kellen referenced: https://boardg...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 1 min
We're lucky to have covered wide swathes of the board game world, but there was a time when some of those things were aspirational. Like achievements to cross off on the great board game check list ... or like that Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson movie. You know they invented that phrase? Wild. Before we make our list, we talk about Municipium , and Yucatan . Timecodes: 02:27 - Municipium 12:47 - Yucatan 29:38 - Board game checklist/bucket list 31:17 - Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition 35:15 -...
May 25, 2023•56 min
It's just two of us, so we turn our attention to the burning questions that you've been asking us, in a feature we're calling Topic Talk Back. This is not to be confused with the format we've used before, mailbags are old news now, and we'd appreciate it if you'd stop bringing it up. Before we do anything but rustle in the cloth sack, we talk about By Stealth and Sea , and Undaunted: Stalingrad . Timecodes: 02:38 - By Stealth and Sea 12:11 - Undaunted: Stalingrad 25:41 - Topic Talk Back 26:37 - ...
May 18, 2023•51 min
It's the penultimate draft of the BGG Top 1000 series, and all of these games are garbage ... but it's up to us to sift through that garbage, and each find a collection of five games that's worthy of you. Vote for your favourite, and you could win a $50 gift voucher! Before we find diamonds in the rough, we also talk about Paperback Adventures , and Woodcraft . Timecodes: 02:31 - Paperback Adventures 13:29 - Woodcraft 23:51 - Drafting BGG's #801-900 26:27 - Babylonia 28:37 - Blue Lagoon 30:57 - ...
May 11, 2023•55 min
Any creative work is built on a lot of conventions - things that we take as granted, the unspoken rules that must be followed. We get a lot of really great games by following design conventions, but some times, in order to innovate we have to break them. Before we try to find the balance between convention and innovation, we talk about Darwin's Journey , Aleph Null , and Rome in a Day . Timecodes: 02:00 - Darwin's Journey 13:44 - Aleph Null 21:07 - Rome in a Day 30:09 - Innovation vs. Convention...
May 04, 2023•51 min
We can all agree the Golden Geeks peaked last year, but I suppose we can continue the facade if we must. Nominees are out for BoardGameGeek's annual awards, and as the presiding champions of taste, we're declaring our favourites. Before we prognosticate, we talk about Big City , Spots , and Horseless Carriage . Timecodes: 02:10 - Big City 09:33 - Spots 16:02 - Horseless Carriage 28:53 - Golden Geek 2022 Predictions 29:29 - Best 2-Player Game 30:33 - Wingspan Asia 31:20 - Beer & Bread 32:01 -...
Apr 27, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Board games are a social medium, which is a big part of their appeal for us. It's not just about being heads down solving a puzzle, they facilitate conversation. Some games are better at this than others, so we put BGBBOB on the case to find our favourites! Before we natter away, we talk about Big Top , Autobahn , and Pollen. Timecodes: 03:04 - Big Top 12:21 - Autobahn 23:25 - Pollen 34:51 - Dealt! / Krass Kariert 37:02 - Boast or Nothing 39:37 - Codenames 40:30 - Twice as Clever! 42:47 - Concep...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Good storytelling isn't easy, and board games seem to struggle with it especially - which makes the ones that do pull it off, all the more memorable. We delve into the ways that games can engage us and create lasting experiences through stories. Before we spin a yarn, we talk about Star Wars: The Clone Wars , and Artisans of Splendent Vale. Timecodes: 01:36 - Star Wars: The Clone Wars 18:13 - Artisans of Splendent Vale 29:51 - Storytelling in games 30:40 - Gloomhaven 34:44 - The King's Dilemma 3...
Apr 13, 2023•52 min
I mean, I don't know. Before we do whatever, we talk about Circle the Wagons , El Gaucho , Roller Coaster Rush , and Applejack. Timecodes: 01:48 - Circle the Wagons 07:49 - El Gaucho 14:58 - Roller Coaster Rush 19:05 - Applejack 25:34 - What do I do with old campaign games? 25:48 - Frosthaven 25:48 - Gloomhaven 27:47 - What board game product would improve my gaming? 30:50 - What are good miniature games for people who don't like miniature games? 31:53 - For What Remains 33:12 - Are there modern...
Apr 06, 2023•45 min
Board games are great! Mostly. But as great as they are, we've probably all had a moment where, through no fault of the game itself, things got uncomfortable. Whether it's because of an awkward play, or just particulars of the group dynamic, we look back at some of our most uncomfortable moments. Before we enter the discomfort zone, we talk about Dog Tag Trick , Deal with the Devil , and Yokai Septet . Timecodes: 01:46 - Dog Tag Trick 10:01 - Deal with the Devil 19:44 - Yokai Septet 27:53 - When...
Mar 30, 2023•49 min
BGBBOB's back, and he's rollin' ( rollin' ) rollin' on a river of amazing games, all of which feature some incredible dice play. As is our sacred duty, we won't rest until we've arranged them in some sort of numerical order, a ranked list, if you will. Before we rattle the bones, we talk about The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game , The South: Terminus , Beyond Baker Street , and The Defence of Procyon III . Timecodes: 04:59 - The Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game 12:05 - The South: Term...
Mar 23, 2023•1 hr 11 min
We (well some of us) made it back from Vegas, and what happened there didn't stay there - we're reporting in from Dice Tower West 2023, a fun week of friends, casinos, and all you can eat sushi. To everyone we met, thank you for saying hey! We also played a lot of hot games, including Heat: Pedal to the Metal , and Stationfall. Timecodes: 02:52 - Return to Dark Tower 08:47 - Magic Mountain 10:46 - Tower of Babel 11:58 - In the Year of the Dragon 15:06 - No Mercy 15:22 - Trick Raiders 16:20 - Pup...
Mar 16, 2023•56 min
I always love this one. It's the time of the year where we look at what your favourite games are, and discover whether there are any exciting movers and shakers in what you've been playing! It's the BGB Listener Top 20! Before we check in with all of you, we talk about Tower of Babel , Great Western Trail: Argentina , and Jump Drive . Timecodes: 02:01 - Tower of Babel ...or why the eighth wonder was never built 11:16 - Great Western Trail: Argentina 18:26 - Jump Drive 29:21 - Listener Top 20 33:...
Mar 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Bruna Cathala is the focus of this episode's BGB DOG, the unfortunately acronymed series where we showcase a designer whom we love, and talk through the history of their career and designs. Before we pay tribute to the two player king, we talk about Smart Four Connected , Skytear Horde , and Endless Winter: Paleoamericans . Timecodes: 02:56 - Smart Four Connected 06:30 - Skytear Horde 12:51 - Endless Winter: Paleoamericans 21:42 - Designer Spotlight: Bruno Cathala 23:26 - Fief 30:17 - Mr. Jack 3...
Mar 02, 2023•43 min
The draft is back, and while the lists are getting really thin at this point, that's not going to stop us doing our damndest to pick out a killer selection of five games each. Whose is the best? That's up to you - and if you vote, you stand a chance to win a gift voucher for $50! Before we put our fate in your hands, we talk about Shake That City , Clank!: Catacombs , and Galactic Renaissance . Timecodes: 04:29 - Shake That City 12:39 - Clank!: Catacombs 19:27 - Galactic Renaissance 35:50 - Draf...
Feb 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min
We've done deep dives into games before, but really when you get down to it, games are just the medium. The substrate. What it's always been about is people. We hope to pick at the minds of some of the hobby's best with this format - and until then, we have Kellen. Before we unpack the man, the myth, the legend, we talk about Cuba Libre , Gang of Dice , and Time of Empires . Timecodes: 03:44 - Cuba Libre 13:00 - Gang of Dice 19:28 - Time of Empires 32:49 - Q1: Where are we playing? 39:25 - Q2: W...
Feb 16, 2023•58 min
If there's one thing I can say for sure about 2023, it's that it will certainly be a period of time. We're casting our eyes forward to the year ahead, and getting excited about some of the board games that (we hope) will actually be coming. Before we look ahead, always ahead, we talk about Make the Difference , German Railways , and Tiletum . Timecodes: 02:39 - Make the Difference 07:38 - German Railways 13:00 - Tiletum 24:40 - Most Anticipated Games of 2023 27:22 - Mission Control: Critical Orb...
Feb 09, 2023•55 min
