Simple, Yet Intriguing

This week, Pangea is splitting and the crew fight for world dominance as they chat through Knizia's pre-historic dice rolling/tile laying classic: Genesis (2006).Chapters00:00 - Intro02:38 - What did we play this week?09:06 - Genesis discussion16:50 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie Shin Socials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week, Chris and Luke are praying to the gods of Easter Island as they chat through Knizia's blind auction / tile laying (maybe?) game: Orongo (recently re-released as Nyakuza).Chapters00:00 - Intro00:55 - What did we play this week?09:03 - Nyakuza discussion21:44 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie Shin Socials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

What do freelance fantasy space-whale photography and the establishment of profitable medieval realms have in common? That the boys talk about both of those themes in this episode!Chris and Luke bandy words about the classic tile-laying game Cosmolancer (originally released as Kingdoms), as well as the 2025 Spiel des Jahres awards (a very timely discussion), and the warm feeling of harming your friends* without facing any consequences.*in the gameTally ho! 🐳💫00:00 - Intro00:41 - Banter: on the 2025 Spiel des Jahres09:53 - Cosmolancer background info13:33 - Rules summary16:49 - Game discussion25:21 - Aha! moments29:40 - 'I could harm you and then have no retribution personally!'32:45 - OutroHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie Shin & Chris LemieuxSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

In this ✨premier episode✨, the lads continue laying tiles in order to collect gems and/or guide butterflies. Join Chris and Luke as they highlight the classic Knizia game Indigo (re-released & re-themed as Butterfly Garden)!Chapters:00:00 - Intro00:49 - Banter: On Rulebooks08:46 - Butterfly Garden explanation13:42 - Butterfly Garden discussion18:08 - Theme & Production21:49 - Aha! moments31:42 - Fun Fact!Hosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced By: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

We continue our adventures in Tile Laying with The Boys as Luke & Chris chat Mille Fiori - on glassblowing, card drafting, and pattern building in beautiful Venice.Featuring surprise banter topic - going to Deep Space!Chapters:00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Going to Deep Space (MLEM Banter) 04:48 - Mille Fiori explanation09:01 - Mille Fiori (boardgame) discussion19:16 - Theme discussion22:22 - Mille Fiori (real life art form) discussion26:25 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced By: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

The crew is back with a shiny new Knizia series: Tile Laying with the Boys! Luke & Chris welcome our very own Mechanic Mechanic Matt to chat about the first game in the series: Rebirth.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:02 - Get to know Mechanic Mechanic Matt!12:50 - How to play Rebirth19:09 - Rebirth Discussion36:56 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxGuest: Matt WinquistProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

It’s time for a challenge check-in! The crew returns to see how Sophie’s board game resolution is going, diving into the depths of deduction in Sleuth and the wordy wheeling and dealing of BuyWord—both from the prolific designer Sid Sackson.Hosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week, the crew present you an offer you can't refuse: Gang of Dice! Plus, they rank all the games of their Cubes So Nice They Named it Dice: Dice Guys Finish Last series.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:33 - What did we play this week? 08:28 - How to play Gang of Dice12:00 - Gang of Dice Discussion17:45 - Aha! moments27: 02 - Series rankingsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

Lace up your sneakers! This week, the crew are diving headfirst into Reiner Knizia's Decathlon — ten dicey events, one questionable champion...Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:27 - What did we play this week? 11:53 - How to play Reiner Knizia's Decathlon⁠14:56 - Reiner Knizia's Decathlon⁠ Discussion26:19 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week, Luke and Chris are joined by our very own Mechanic Mechanic Matt to chat Einfach Genial: Das Würfelspiel, the dice rolling entry part of Knizia's Ingenious Challenges!Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:37 - What did we play this week? 08:51 - How to play Einfach Genial: Das Würfelspiel⁠12:26 - Einfach Genial: Das Würfelspiel⁠ Discussion32:10 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week the crew dives into the simple, chaotic, and sneakily strategic Don't L.L.A.M.A Dice!00:00 - Introduction01:12 - Breakout Con08:57 - How to play Don’t L.L.A.M.A. Dice13:17 - Don’t L.L.A.M.A. Dice Discussion25:38 - Aha momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

The crew keeps rollin' through their push-your-luck dice series with Knizia's Excape!Episode Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:55 - What have we played this week?09:27 - Excape discussion 18:04 - Aha momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

Get your worms fried and hold onto your chickens! The crew kicks off their new series exploring the world of push-your-luck dice games in the Knizia-verse with Pickomino!Episode Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:40 - What have we played this week?05:39 - Pickomino discussion20:35 - Aha momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week the crew tests out their symbiotic connection to the fungi in our final chapter of the Elizabeth Hargrave series: Undergrove!Episode Chapters00:00 - Intro02:06 - What we played this week 15:00 - Undergrove Discussion43:24 - Series rankingsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week we don our lab coats to talk about Elizabeth Hargrave's The Fox Experiment, a game about raising curly-tailed canids who are predisposed to love you. Join us as we discuss this unique game, grounded - as per usual - in fascinating real-world science!Episode Chapters00:00 - Intro01:05 - What we played this week (The Gang)09:44 - Pirate non-sequitur09:59 - Fox Experiment DiscussionHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week, the crew gift each other flowers and feed some pixies as they play through Hargrave's Button Shy wallet games: Tussie Mussie and Picky Pixie!Episode Chapters00:00 - Intro01:40 - What Luke played this week & challenge update06:46 - Tussie Mussie discussion23:54 - Picky Pixie discussionHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

This week, the crew takes a round-trip to Mexico, embracing their inner butterflies as they continue their Elizabeth Hargrave side quest with her Wingspan follow-up: Mariposas!Episode Chapters00:00 - Intro01:50 - Check-in on 2025 game challenges09:15 - Mariposas discussion26:30 - Aha! momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

We're taking a break from our journey through Knizia's œuvre and are embarking on a side quest! The gang are joined by special guest Maggie Shanahan as they go birdwatching with Elizabeth Hargrave in Wingspan—the first episode of our new mini-series.Episode Chapters00:00 - Episode intro01:12 - Maggie Shanahan intro07:54 - Wingspan discussion19:28 - Aha momentsHosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris LemieuxProduced by: Sophie ShinGuest: Maggie ShanahanSocials: Matt WinquistArtwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

Chris, Luke and Sophie wrap up part one of the Card Games series with Knizia's Poison (aka Friday the 13th). Episode Chapters 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - What did we play this week? 06:48 - Poison discussion 31:42 - Card Games Pt. 1 series rankings Hosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris Lemieux Produced by: Sophie Shin Socials: Matt Winquist Artwork by: Samm Ruppersberger

Chris, Luke and Sophie are going on a safari adventure as they play one of Knizia's painfully simple (yet very intriguing) animal themed card game: Wildlife Safari! Episode Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - What did we play this week? 04:52 - Wildlife Safari discussion 23:00 - The Depths of BGG 27:50 - Fun Facts Hosted by: Luke O'Grady & Chris Lemieux Produced by: Sophie Shin Socials: Matt Winquist Artwork by: Samm Ruppersberger