Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 161 we discuss the top 5 incoming crowdfunded board games that each of us are excited to receive.  We take a look back at last year's list to see what's been delivered and how they hit for us as well.

We also discuss a poll on crowdfunding regrets.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:38 Poll: Do you have any incoming crowdfunded board games that you haven't received but regret backing?
10:31 Look back at 2022 Crowdfund episode
10:48 Ra
11:25 Red Dust Rebellion
11:59 Distilled
12:30 Wayfarers of the South Tigris
13:10 One Deck Galaxy
13:43 Voidfall
16:20 Star Realms: Rise of Empires
16:32 Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies
17:10 Arcs
17:43 Lords of Ragnarok
18:37 La Granja: Deluxe Master Set
20:00 Skyrise
21:03 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3
21:25 Dawn of Madness
23:43 Wolves
25:02 Wonderland's War: Shards of Madness
26:47 Envelopes of Cash
27:39 Biohack
30:30 Star Realms: Rise of Empire
32:07 Cthulhu: Death May Die - Fear of the Unknown
34:54 Galactic Renaissance
37:19 Teotihuacan: Deluxe Master Set
39:43 Arcs
41:01 Star Tycoon
44:37 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3
47:22 Witchcraft!
48:51 Ceres
53:35 The Fox Experiment
56:12 Gloomhaven: Buttons and Bugs
58:16 Frozen Frontier
1:00:46 Final Thoughts
1:09:19 Tycoon: India 1981
1:31:50 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 160 we provide our hot take review of Spirit Island covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also celebrate our 3 year anniversary of the podcast by sharing some of our listener's favorite episodes.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Lancaster and Lords of Ragnarok.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:23 3 year anniversary! Listener's favorite episodes
08:18 Expeditions Description
17:10 Gameplay and Mechanisms
34:27 Production and Theme
40:00 Final Thoughts
47:36 Lancaster
53:39 Lords of Ragnarok
56:31 Listener Shout-out

In Episode 159 we provide our hot take review of Expeditions covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about whether games set in the same universe as other games you like will get you excited.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, Pax Pamir: Second Edition, and Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: How do you feel about games set in the same universe as a previous game that you liked by that publisher or designer?
08:18 Expeditions Description
11:41 Gameplay and Mechanisms
32:51 Production and Theme
41:45 Final Thoughts
50:03 Amun-Re
50:29 Pax Pamir (2nd Edition)
52:38 Castles of Burgundy Deluxe Edition

In Episode 158 we provide our hot take review of Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about watching new releases around conventions.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Welcome to the Moon, Robot Quest Arena, and Patchwork Doodle.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll: Do you pay attention to board games that are announced or released at GenCon?
07:13 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory Description
10:39 Gameplay and Mechanisms
32:47 Production and Theme
38:39 Final Thoughts
43:41 Welcome To The Moon
52:08 Robot Quest Arena
57:21 Patchwork Doodle

In Episode 157 we each discuss our top 5 favorite board games including asymmetric player powers.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Discussion on Asymmetric Player Powers
09:49 Top 5 games with asymmetric player powers.
09:56 The Expanse Board Game
12:28 Champions of Midgard and Dune: Imperium
14:47 Circadians: Chaos Order
18:09 Ankh: Gods of Egypt
20:35 Dwellings of Eldervale and Revive
23:05 Robot Quest Arena
26:35 Dune
32:00 Frosthaven / Gloomhaven and Cthulhu: Death May Die
34:57 Barrage
37:54 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
40:52 Everdell and Lost Ruins of Arnak
43:41 Gaia Project
46:13 Spirit Island
49:29 Ark Nova and Planet Unknown
52:01 The Voyages of Marco Polo
55:11 Honorable (or other) Mentions: Wonderland's War, Scythe, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, Star Wars: Rebellion

In Episode 156 we provide our hot take review of The Voyages of Marco Polo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about large box editions of games.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Trellis and Marrakesh and some first looks at games that just arrived including Expeditions and Robot Quest Arena.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Poll: How do you feel about large box versions of your favorite games?
09:59 The Voyages of Marco Polo Description
11:09 Gameplay and Mechanisms
30:42 Production and Theme
38:58 Final Thoughts
47:02 Trellis
49:52 First Look: Expeditions and Robot Quest Arena
54:51 Marrakesh

In Episode 155 we provide our hot take review of Cyclades: Legendary Edition covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about storing board games horizontally or vertically.

Then we discuss some board games on our table Arkham Horror, Yokai Septet, The Voyages of Marco Polo, and Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Poll: Do you store your board games horizontal or vertical?
05:14 Cyclades: Legendary Edition Description
07:27 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:28 Production and Theme
28:16 Final Thoughts
37:40 Arkham Horror: The Board Game
44:25 Yokai Septet
48:35 The Voyages of Marco Polo vs. Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan

In Episode 154 we provide our hot take review of Wolves covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We also discuss a poll about thinking about designing board games.

Then we discuss some board games on our table including Patchwork Doodle, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Draftosaurus, and Cat in the Box.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Poll: Have you ever thought about designing a board game?
07:24 Wolves Description
09:55 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:35 Production and Theme
41:30 Final Thoughts
52:11 Patchwork Doodle and Ticket to Ride: San Francisco
57:22 Ankh: Gods of Egypt
59:48 Draftosaurus
1:03:46 Cat in the Box

In Episode 153 Tim and Adam's partners, Danielle and Sarah, join the show to discuss their top 5 games.

Please excuse the lower quality audio and some background noise due to the unique recording space we were in for this episode.

We also discuss a poll on Twitter and our Facebook group about the longest board game you've played.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Poll: What's the longest single play you've had in a board game?
06:17 Danielle and Sarah's Top 5 Games
06:45 Danielle #5 - Welcome To...
08:55 Sarah #5 - Dune: Imperium
11:45 Danielle #4 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg
15:30 Sarah #4 - Abducktion
20:54 Danielle #3 - Clank! Catacombs
24:52 Sarah #3 - Trekking the World
29:00 Danielle #2 - Sea Salt & Paper and Fantastic Factories
32:40 Sarah #2 - Smartphone, Inc.
36:15 Danielle #1 - The Castles of Burgundy
41:32 Sarah #1 - SCOUT
44:50 Honorable Mentions: Everdell, The Lost Ruins of Arnak, Cafe, Azul, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Wonderland's War, Planted, Radlands, Othello

In Episode 152 we finish the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Top Games of All Time
03:21 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy
05:26 Adam #10 Blood Rage
07:20 Chris #10 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
10:55 Tim #9 Agricola: Revised Edition
13:06 Adam #9 Barrage
15:50 Chris #9 Terraforming Mars
19:02 Tim #8 Ark Nova
21:14 Adam #8 Rising Sun
24:47 Chris #8 Ark Nova
27:45 Tim #7 Wonderland's War
31:23 Adam #7 Star Wars Rebellion
33:53 Chris #7 Teotihuacan: City of Gods
36:26 Tim #6 Terraforming Mars
38:43 Adam #6 Ankh: Gods of Egypt
41:57 Chris #6 Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy
44:02 Tim #5 Tapestry
47:36 Adam #5 Baseball Highlights 2045
50:09 Chris #5 Barrage
51:56 Tim #4 Dune: Imperium
53:09 Adam #4 Smartphone, Inc.
54:59 Chris #4 Blood Rage
56:05 Tim #3 Blood Rage
57:41 Adam #3 Wonderland's War
48:47 Chris #3 Tapestry
1:01:50 Tim #2 Gaia Project
1:04:25 Adam #2 Dune: Imperium
1:05:23 Chris #2 Gaia Project
1:06:23 Tim #1 Everdell
1:10:41 Adam #1 Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy
1:12:44 Chris #1 Wonderland's War