Send us a text The Spiel series continues with a new installment of nominees from 2013! Dig in with you hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they take a look at another crop of prestigiously nominated, yet strangely overlooked games -- listen in to hear our thoughts on the Spiel judges' decisions! FEATURED GAMES: 00:00 Intro & Banter 00:20:31 Trigger! 00:34:30 Mixtour 00:54:48 Yay! 01:13:20 Divinare 01:33:22 Final Ranking of Nominated Games MUSIC (courtesy of https://epi...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 49 min
Send us a text What's happening on Hidden Gems? A review for a game in the top 200, almost 100?! With Cameron and Bill out, have Chris and Jason finally lost their minds and reverted to reviewing the hotness? Find out on this latest episode when the guys check out one title far down the rankings and another not quite so much -- are there gems to be found? FEATURED GAMES: 00:00 Intro & Banter 20:28 The Ravens of Thri Sahashri 51:40 Tigris & Euphrates MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsou...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Send us a text It's time for another SPOOKY edition of Hidden Gems! Get ready to enjoy more audio theatre, a Halloween-themed trivia game show, and more spooky stories. Your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey also bring you three fresh reviews of unusual, forgotten, and under-appreciated Halloween-themed games in this 2022 episode of Hidden Gems! FEATURED GAMES: 00:00:00 Sketch - "Dr. Allée's Monster" 00:06:12 Intro & Banter 00:23:26 Halloween Trivia Game Show 00:32:50 M...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 45 min
Send us a text Hold your breath and stick your tongue out just right, because in this episode, taking your turn is gonna require some concentration. This time, your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney, and Cameron Lockey literally try their hands at three under-appreciated dexterity games. FEATURED GAMES: 00:00 Intro & Banter 18:04 Riff Raff 40:06 Arch Rival 55:16 Hibachi BGG GEEK LIST: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings FOLLOW US: Email: hiddengemsboardgame...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Send us a text We're back with another trio of games from the renowned Reiner Knizia on this 40th episode of Hidden Gems with your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff and Bill Arney. Is the third time the charm for discovering even more gems from the prolific doctor? Or will we stumble across some duds? Tune in to find out! Featured Games: Rondo (00:18:20) Beowulf: The Legend (00:39:22) Indigo (01:12:37) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ra...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 34 min
Send us a text This week we explore two new possible hidden gems handpicked by YouTuber and board game content creator, Jon Gets Games! Join Jon, along with your regular hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they look at a route-building Euro from Queen Games and a zany auction game from Japan! Check out Jon's work here: https://www.youtube.com/user/jongetsgames Featured Games: Pioneers (00:21:40) Square On Sale (00:53:58) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geek...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 34 min
Send us a text Travel the globe with your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff and Bill Arney through the colorful streets of Buenos Aires, a French medieval stronghold and the highlands of Guatemala in this latest episode shining our familiar designer spotlight on husband and wife designer duo Inka and Markus Brand. Featured Games: La Boca (00:20:27) Saint Malo (00:37:39) Guatemala Café (01:06:47) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings F...
Sep 02, 2022•1 hr 37 min
Send us a text You've heard his name in the credits and interacted with him on the BGG guild, hear from the man himself! HG Guild manager and BGG user Gidorah joins your regular hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they dive into three titles by esteemed designer Leo Colovini. Featured Games: Fae (00:18:43) The Bridges of Shangri-La (00:43:30) Magna Grecia (01:08:07) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Follow us o...
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 36 min
Send us a text What do SpongeBob SquarePants, Humpty Dumpty and Animal Farm all have in common? Why anthropomorphism of course! This week your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Bill Arney take a look at three games that employ this technique for theming. Tune in to find out if it takes these three potential hidden gems to another level! Featured Games: Beasty Bar (00:21:46) Counterfeiters (00:39:56) Mafiozoo (00:59:08) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidde...
Jul 22, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Send us a text In the spirit of continuing the time travel theme we explored last time, this week your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey return to the history books and examine three games that were nominated for the Spiel Des Jahres in 2014, but did not win. Did the Spiel judges make the right choice? Did these games wrongly fall into obscurity? Tune in and find out! Featured Games: Battle Sheep (00:17:57) Potato Man (00:39:07) Sanssouci (01:00:23) Hidden Gems Geek List: h...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 34 min
Send us a text Roads! Where we're going, we don't need roads! Crank up the DeLorean and do some time-traveling with your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff and Bill Arney as they explore three potential past hidden gem games with a time-traveling theme! Featured Games: Legacy: Gears of Time (00:23:32) Chrononauts (00:44:15) Khronos (01:01:29) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmai...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Send us a text Tom Vasel of The Dice Tower has had an immense impact in the world of board game reviews. He also has a reputation for occasionally ripping a game to shreds and, sometimes literally, tossing a game into the trash. In this episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey take a look at some of Tom's most infamous game reviews to see if they agree with Tom, or if some of these could actually be Hidden Gems. Featured Games: Hawaii (00:21:14) King Chocolate (00:45...
May 20, 2022•1 hr 36 min
Send us a text Come on down! Is there more than meets the eye to our next three candidate gems? Or are they better off in the bargain bin? This week, your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arnie and Jason Yanchuleff take a look at some titles that by all appearances look like mass market games, but are they really? Featured Games: Blockers! (00:20:39) The Game of 49 (00:40:46) Montage (01:00:55) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Follow us onl...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Send us a text This episode, we are joined by honored guest host Mitch Resk of Neat & Nerdy. We'll be rolling dice to seek out juicy termites, then trying our best to not be suspicious in a game of monks, murder, and manipulation. See if these two titles by renowned designer Stefan Feld deserve to be called hidden gems! Also, check out Mitch's awesome game reviews on Instagram: @neat_and_nerdy! Featured Games: It Happens.. (00:29:59) The Name of the Rose (00:59:09) Hidden Gems Geek List: htt...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 39 min
Send us a text Take it easy, relax to the soothing sounds of muzak and paint some happy little trees on this episode of Hidden Gems. This time, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Bill Arnie dive into some lesser known titles from esteemed publisher Eagle Gryphon Games. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Take It Easy! (00:22:42) Cubist (00:39:38) Pastiche (00:58:30) MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com): Take It Easy! Theme, “Tristesse de Martin", TAGE, Royalty Free ...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Send us a text There's no time for analysis paralysis this week on Hidden Gems! In fact, an extra cup of coffee might serve better than this episode's featured cocktail when playing the games we look at in this episode. This time your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey explore three time-sensitive real-time games. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Falling (00:18:13) Gold Und Rum (00:42:34) Nine Tiles Panic (01:03:01) MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 23 min
Send us a text Come explore a novel and exciting new theme never before seen in the board game hobby -- transporting stuff on ships! Which is saltier, the water and wind in your face sailing the saline seas of this trio of shipping games, or the thoughts of your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Bill Arnie? Join us and find out on this sailing-themed episode of Hidden Gems! FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Traders of Osaka (00:18:31) Before the Wind (00:38:17) Upon a Salty Oc...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Send us a text It's time to celebrate! After rounding out the first full year of the show, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff take a look back at two previously reviewed games -- but with a twist! Then they take on one controversial new game. See if they can dig up some more gems in this special anniversary episode! FEATURED GAMES: 00:00:00 Intro & Banter 00:24:44 Nefertiti Expansion 00:43:49 Die Dolmengötter - Block Cycling Variant 01:08:10 Phoenicia MUSIC (courtesy...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 43 min
Send us a text The three O.G. musketeers are finally back together! This week, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff explore three games well suited for three players. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Seikatsu (00:20:27) Haggis (00:42:27) Three Kingdoms Redux (01:03:08) MUSIC (courtesy of http://epidemicsound.com) Seikatsu Theme, “Japanese Garden", Sight of Wonders, Royalty Free License Haggis Theme, “An Phis Fhiliuch”, Public Domain, Performed/Recorded by Cam...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 38 min
Send us a text Strap on your headlamp and delve deeper into the mine this week as the guys, along with guest host Ben Anderson, attempt to unearth more gems from the world of cube rails games and explore the work of designer John Bohrer. FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Iberian Railways (00:22:19) Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (00:42:40) Samarkand: Routes to Riches (01:00:51) MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com): Iberian Railways Theme, “Fire Dance", Andrés Cantú, Royalty Free Li...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Send us a text It's the epic battle of wits we've all been waiting for! In this episode, the rivalry between your hosts Chris and Bill reaches its pinnacle as the two gamers face each other in the two player episode of the new year! FEATURED GAMES: Intro & Banter (00:00:00) Epigo (00:17:53) Victory & Glory: Napoleon (00:35:50) MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com) Epigo Theme, “Min Wahi El Lami", Ali Sabah, Royalty Free License Victory & Glory: Napoleon Theme, “Ready For War”...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Send us a text Christmas time's a-coming! This time your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Bill Arney celebrate the Christmas holiday by digging into three Christmas, or at least Christmas-adjacent themed board games. FEATURED GAMES: 00:00:00 Intro & Banter 00:25:36 12 Days of Christmas 00:45::21 Gingerbread House 01:05:09 Santa's Workshop MUSIC (courtesy of http://epidemicsound.com): Intro Theme, "Christmas Boogie," Travis Lockey, Royalty Free License 12 Days of Christmas Theme, “3 and...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 31 min
Send us a text The Doctor we all love is back in the house! In this episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey continue their journey through the vast library of games designed by Dr. Reiner Knizia. Featured Games: Relationship Tightrope (00:30:09) Rheinlander (00:48:50) Orongo (01:14:11) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 43 min
Send us a text Irk those hedgehogs, gear up the space thrusters, and ... pray? meditate? as you prepare to race forward on the search for gems. In this episode, your hosts Chris and Jason along with guest host Bill Arnie go on the hunt for the checkered flag in three lesser-known racing games. Featured Games: Igel Ärgern (00:20:21) Powerships (00:40:20) Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas (00:59:54) New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR8wU2vjV2RJ7C6iRuq2WcA Hidden Gems Geek List: ht...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Send us a text What other hobby allows you to taste some stew, build an ancient wonder and commit financial fraud all in the same evening ... or episode? Join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they delve into 3 lesser known titles by the prolific but endangered Tasty Minstrel Games. Featured Games: Burgoo (00:27:39) Architects of the Colosseum (00:48:26) Ponzi Scheme (01:06:59) Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 40 min
Send us a text Be prepared to be freaked this Friday, for this formation of fearful game reviews will freeze your blood and furrow your brow! It's Halloween, and your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey are excited to present a spooky take on gaming with three Halloween-themed board game reviews! Chapters: "The House of the Hidden (Gems)" (Sketch) (00:00:00) Banter (00:03:41) Fearsome Floors (00:34:33) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (00:55:52) Halloween (01:19:11) Hidden Gems Geek...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 47 min
Send us a text In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff let the choo-choo trains pass by and take some time to explore two of renown board game designer Martin Wallace's lesser known titles. Hidden Gems Geek List: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/289922/hidden-gems-podcast-game-ratings Featured Games: La Strada (00:33:38) Struggle of Empires (00:52:13) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems.games...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 31 min
Send us a text We've covered plenty of under-appreciated and forgotten games, now it's time to journey into the unusual. In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley and Jason Yanchuleff, along with guest host Bill Arnie explore three potential gems with unusual mechanics. Featured Games: Time 'n' Space (00:22:17) Sidibaba (00:41:17) Code of Nine (00:59:50) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems.games Instagram: @hiddengems.games Facebook:...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Send us a text Battle for kingdoms, sail the high seas and explore the world in this episode of Hidden Gems. This time your hosts Chris Alley and Jason Yanchuleff, along with guest host Dan Smith dive into three lesser known games designed by the renowned Wolfgang Kramer. Featured Games: Saga (00:20:45) El Capitan (00:40:07) Expedition: Famous Explorers (01:01:51) Follow us online: Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com Web: https://hiddengems.games Instagram: @hiddengems.games Facebook: @h...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Send us a text In this episode of Hidden Gems, your hosts Chris Alley, Jason Yanchuleff, and Cameron Lockey put their big boy pants on to stack, dance (?) and fence their way through three abrasive abstract board games. Post Avatar Chat Spoilers : 00:11:35 Chris & Cameron chat about Avatar: The Last Air Bender for a bit starting at 00:05:16. Skip ahead if you don't want us to spoil the show for you! Featured Games: Rumis (00:23:39) Die Dolmengötter (00:40:21) Terra Nova (01:00:25) Follow us ...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 29 min
