Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 222 we give our hot take review on Let's Go To Japan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Looot, Frozen Frontiers, and The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Let's Go To Japan Description 02:58 Gameplay and Mechanisms 19:10 Production and Theme 29:11 Final Thoughts 33:41 Looot 39:41 Frozen Frontiers 49:11 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 221 we take a look at several games that have voting mechanisms or a theme based around voting. We also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Stamp Swap, Flamecraft, and Frozen Frontier. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:07 Top 3 Games with Voting 05:12 Werewords 10:19 Godspeed 15:06 Balderdash 18:27 Votes for Women 22:11 Blood on the Clocktower 27:11 The King's Dilemma 30:17 Lancaster 34:57 Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition 40:27 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory 44:42 Stamp Swap 56:35 Flamecraft 1:05:26 Frozen Frontier 1:11:33 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 220 we take a look at games that offer outsized gameplay decisions for their relatively small set of rules. We also share our plans for BGG Con and where listeners can find us. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 BGG Con 02:50 Games with Small Ruleset and Big Decision Space 07:24 Welcome To... 10:45 Capital Lux 2 13:32 Tapestry 17:35 Carcassonne 20:35 Skyrise 23:40 Turing Machine 26:42 Tiny Towns 30:06 Mycelia 33:55 7 Wonders Duel 38:05 Istanbul 40:44 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland 45:09 Architects of the West Kingdom 48:24 Cascadia 50:37 Smartphone, Inc. 53:09 Calico 1:00:17 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 219 we give our hot take review on Harvest covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on where your board game collection is in your house. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Unconscious Mind, Star Realms: Rise of Empire, and Apiary: Expanding the Hive. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Poll: Is your board game collection displayed publicly in your house? 07:38 Harvest Description 09:07 Gameplay and Mechanisms 24:04 Production and Theme 30:01 Final Thoughts 35:06 Unconscious Mind 43:59 Star Realms: Rise of Empire 51:46 Apiary: Expanding the Hive If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 218 we discuss the top incoming crowdfunded board games that each of us are excited to receive.  We also take a look back at last year's list to see what's been delivered and how they hit for us as well. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:19 Look back at 2023 Crowdfund episode 02:25 Wolves 03:54 Wonderland's War: Shards of Madness 05:53 Biohack 06:54 Star Realms: Rise of Empire 07:58 Cthulhu Death May Die: Fear of the Unknown 11:13 Galactic Renaissance 13:23 Teotihuacan: City of Gods Deluxe Master Set 16:04 Arcs 17:39 Star Tycoon 19:02 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3 22:40 Witchcraft! 23:41 Ceres 26:15 The Fox Experiment 27:21 Gloomhaven: Buttons and Bugs 28:57 Frozen Frontier 30:52 Top Upcoming Crowdfunded Games 33:55 Hyperspace 37:17 Red Dust Rebellion 40:25 March of the Ants Evolved Edition 43:25 Obsession: The Characters Expansion 45:21 Mycelia 48:33 Thunder Road Vendetta - Maximum Chrome 51:33 Unconscious Minds 54:17 Dawn of Madness 59:36 Cyclades: Legendary Edition 1:02:13 Dune: War for Arrakis 1:05:11 Final Thoughts - State of Crowdfunding 1:31:50 BlueSky If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 217 we give our hot take review on March of the ants covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Boop and Tapestry Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:19 March of the Ants Description 05:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms 27:43 Production and Theme 33:25 Final Thoughts 37:21 boop. 41:27 Tapestry If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 216 we get nostalgic about the board games that sucked us into the hobby. We also discuss a poll about whether you still play the first game that got you into board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Poll: Do you still regularly play the board game that introduced you to the board game hobby? (7 Wonders, Ticket to Ride, Wingspan, Euphoria) 12:47 Guillotine (Magic: The Gathering) 17:46 SolarQuest (Tri-ominos, Mr. Big Mouth, Monopoly) 21:14 D&D: Computer Labyrinth Game, The Dark Tower 27:07 Dominion 30:32 Conquest of the Empire (Miles Borne) 33:50 Axis & Allies (Risk) 36:50 King of Tokyo 40:18 Tripoley (Kingmaker) 44:03 Catan 47:43 Lost Cities 50:32 Scrabble (Race for the Galaxy, Memoir '44, Boggle) 55:21 Scythe (Cthulhu: Death May Die, Blood Rage) 59:12 Five Tribes (Agricola) 1:02:39 Terraforming Mars 1:06:35 A Feast for Odin 1:09:43 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 215 we give our hot take review on River of Gold covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on feelings about the huge amount of games being published. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Tikal, KMG, and Gems of Iridescia. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll: Does the huge number of board games available make you happy or stress you out? 05:30 River of Gold Description 06:00 Gameplay and Mechanisms 20:17 Production and Theme 26:39 Final Thoughts 32:57 Tikal 37:25 KMG 41:54 Gems of Iridescia If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 214 we dive deep on a whole bunch of our listener's board game queries. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Is there a point in a game where you should call it quits? 7:25 What are games you might enjoy more if the publisher added, removed, or changed one thing? 16:08 What games are you jealous of players experiencing for the first time? 30:58 Do good gamers make good game designers and vice versa? 36:32 Do you think you'll outgrow the hobby or slow down your current interests? 50:16 How much time do you spend playing games each week and are you playing them with friends or family? 55:58 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 213 we discuss our top 5 filler board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:09 Top 5 Filler Games 06:54 Ticket to Ride: San Francisco 10:23 Pass the Pigs 16:22 Kingdomino 20:14 Imhotep 23:23 The Mind 28:43 Fantasy Realms 34:24 Can't Stop / Mountain Goats 38:40 Azul 42:47 Coloretto 45:25 7 Wonders Duel 52:20 Sea Salt & Paper 57:34 Onitama 59:49 Star Realms 1:07:04 Fantastic Factories 1:12:52 Strike 1:16:08 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 212 we give our hot take review on Tikal covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on whose games you're playing. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Fractal: Beyond the Void, and 7 Wonders Duel. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll: Whose boardgames are you most often playing? 09:37 Tikal Description 10:36 Gameplay and Mechanisms 26:48 Production and Theme 29:55 Final Thoughts 38:00 Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig 49:05 Fractal: Beyond the Void 52:53 7 Wonders Duel 56:24 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 211 we've gone back to the mailbag and answered our listener's questions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 What mechanisms do each of you gravitate towards? 6:16 What are your feelings on board games becoming video games and vice versa? 15:48 What makes a good rulebook to you? 25:41 What games would you take on a trip that are appropriate to play outside? 30:33 What tactics have you used to get a non-gamer into board game night? 39:27 Describer your ideal 3 course board game meal. 48:17 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 210 we give our hot take review on Daybreak covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on quarterbacks in co-op games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Cat in the Box, and 7 Wonders Duel, and give a future take on Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll: Who's the quarterback when playing co-op games in our game group? 08:24 Daybreak Description 10:22 Gameplay and Mechanisms 20:57 Production and Theme 33:35 Final Thoughts 39:35 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles 49:45 Cat in the Box 55:27 7 Wonders Duel and Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth 1:01:21 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 209 we discuss the Board Game Geeks Top 20 games. We also discuss a poll on whether you've been influenced to buy a game because it was high up on that ratings list. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Poll: Do you think a board game being in the Board Game Geek Top 20 ever influenced your decision to buy it? 07:35 Feature Discussion - Board Game Geek Top 20 Games. 58:24 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 208 we discuss some of our biggest annoyances that some publishers do in regards to the production, components, or presentation of their board games. We look at games that have these problems but also games that we think solved those issues. We also discuss a poll on whether a past production issue would turn us off from future games by that publisher. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Poll: Has a production or component issue ever made you hesitate in buying another game from that publisher? 11:50 Top 3 Board Game Production Pet Peeves 13:50 Boring or non-thematic first player tokens (Discussed: Nucleum, Boonlake, Pan Am. Wingspan/Wyrmspan, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Dune: Imperium, Dinosaur Island) 20:03 Bad rulebooks (Discussed: Kemet: Blood and Sand, Bitoku, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Trellis, One Deck Galaxy, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Inis, Tainted Grail, This War of Mine) 28:34 Game boxes are too small (Discussed: Great Wall, Lords of Hellas, Blood Rage, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Return to Dark Tower, Lords of Ragnarok) 36:57 Paper thin player boards (Discussed: Terraforming Mars, Underwater Cities, Pan Am, Apiary, Tapestry) 42:44 Lack of diverse representation in art (Discussed: Hansa Teutonica, Grand Austria Hotel, Skyrise, Royal Visit, My Father's Work, Abducktion) 49:15 Repetitive Card Artwork (Discussed: Capital Lux 2: Generations, Nidavellier, Revive, Tapestry, Star Realms, Shamans) 55:48 Molded inserts that make setup or teardown harder (Discussed: Great Western Trail: 2nd Edition, Lords of Waterdeep, Apiary, Expeditions, Dwellings of Eldervale, Cat in the Box, Wonderland's War, Brass: Birmingham) 1:02:24 Production obstructs function (Discussed: Voidfall, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Trekking the World, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn, Trouble, Tacocat 1:09:26 Excessive Card Tucking (Discussed: One Deck Galaxy, Terraforming Mars, Revive, Expeditions, La Granja, Lacrimosa, Space Base, Aquatica) 1:17:30 Runner Ups (Discussed: Voidfall, Magic: The Gathering, Scythe, Carcassone, Baseball Highlights 2045, Star Realms) 1:21:56 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 207 we give our hot take review on Luthier covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on publisher/designer behavior influencing your interest in buying games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion, Poetry for Neanderthals, and Sail. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Poll: Do the personalities (good or bad), political stances, or past business practices (good or bad) of a publisher or designer influence your willingness to buy a game? 11:50 Luthier Description 14:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms 32:19 Production and Theme 39:10 Final Thoughts 47:15 Poetry for Neanderthals 51:14 Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion 1:00:58 Sail 1:06:40 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 206 we're joined by Arwen from the Cardboard Time Podcast to discuss the reasons that we decide to buy games. We discuss a poll on how much thought you put into a game before purchasing it. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:45 Poll: How much thought do you put into your choice to purchase a board game? 09:24 Why do we buy games? 10:13 Interactive puzzle 14:16 Easy teach with strong decision space 18:12 I've played it, I LOVE it, and I have a group to play it with 22:14 Captivating system 27:34 Mechanically or thematically unique 31:15 The best version of a mechanism 34:27 Unique or novel 37:58 Accessibility 46:09 Intriguing and deeply discounted 50:22 Speed Round Questions 1:05:54 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 205 we revisit our hot takes on Arcs covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on traveling with games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Captain Flip, Architects of the West Kingdom, and A Gest of Robin Hood. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Poll: When you travel on vacation, how many games do you bring with you? 08:24 Arcs Description 10:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms 33:01 Production and Theme 42:50 Final Thoughts 49:58 Captain Flip 53:29 Architects of the West Kingdom 56:25 A Gest of Robin Hood If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 204 we conclude the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Chris #10 Apiary 07:13 Adam #10 Battle for Rokugan 11:30 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy 13:25 Chris and Tim #9 Agricola 18:08 Adam #9 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt 21:37 Chris #8 - Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy 23:54 Tim #8 - Pulsar 2849 26:20 Adam #8 - Sol: Last Days of a Star 29:31 Chris #7 - A Feast for Odin 33:48 Adam #7 - Shamans 37:32 Tim #7 - Tapestry 40:04 Chris #6 - Voidfall 44:09 Adam #6 - The Expanse Board Game 39:32Tim #6 - Cyclades 52:24 Chris #5 - Tapestry 55:51 Adam #5 - Gaia Project 59:20 Tim #5 - Lorenzo Il Magnifico 1:02:10 Chris #4 (Adam #3) - Dune: Imperium Uprising / Dune: Imperium 1:04:56 Adam #4 -  Arcs / Brian Boru 1:11:40 Tim #4 - Nucleum 1:15:09 Chris #4 - Gaia Project 1:18:51 Tim #3 - Everdell 1:21:03 Chris #2 - Distilled 1:24:55 Adam #2 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy 1:26:42 Tim #2 - Dune: Imperium 1:28:06 Chris #1 - Pan Am 1:31:33 Adam #1 - Fractal: Beyond the Void 1:35:35 Tim #1 - Gaia Project / Age of Innovation

In Episode 203 we continue the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:34 Chris #20 La Granja 03:58 Adam #20 Voidfall 06:32 Tim #20 Sea Salt & Paper 08:08 Chris #19 Darwin's Journey 11:28 Adam #19 - Pax Pamir 2nd Edition / Arcs 15:09 Tim #19 - Tichu 16:01 Chris #18 - Blood Rage 18:28 Adam #18 - Baseball Highlights 2045 22:22 Tim #18 - The Voyages of Marco Polo / Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan 23:44 Chris #17 - Thunder Road: Vendetta 26:29 Adam #17 - Barrage 29:35 Tim #17 - Clank! Catacombs 30:52 Chris #16 - Obsession 33:46 Adam #16 - Marrakesh 37:11 Tim #16 - Lost Ruins of Arnak 37:56 Chris #15 - Azul 39:47 Adam #15 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory 43:37 Tim #15 - Ark Nova 45:07 Chris #14 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods 48:22 Adam #14 -  Wonderland's War 49:42 Tim #14 - Thunder Road: Vendetta 51:45 Chris #13 - Marrakesh 53:04 Adam #13 - Cat in the Box 55:34 Tim #13 - Le Havre 56:18 Chris #12 - Barrage 57:35 Adam #12 - Pan Am 59:55 Tim #12 - Blood Rage 1:01:15 Chris #11 - Maracaibo 1:04:37 Adam #11 - Smartphone, Inc. 1:07:05 Tim #11 - Terraforming Mars