Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 281 we look back at the games we played once for the first time in 2025. Great games and we want to play them more.

We briefly look at last year's list and see how we did.

00:00 Introduction

04:24 Last Year's List

04:34 Luthier

05:04 Marrakesh

05:21 Dune

06:12 Unconscious Mind

07:25 Thunder Road: Vendetta

08:27 Lancaster

09:44 Dune: Imperium Uprising (6 Player)

09:53 Biohack

10:01 Ceres

10:39 March of the Ants

11:36 Clockwork Wars

12:38 Hallertau

12:55 Walnut Grove

15:01 Black Forest

15:42 Endeavor: Deep Sea

16: 32 Top 5 Games We Only Played Once in 2025

16:44 Moon Colony Bloodbath

20:14 Modern Art

23:45 Crokinole

27:56 Chaosmos

30:51 Frozen Frontier

32:30 Rebirth

34:34 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

36:27 Stroganov

39:35 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

41:17 Crystal Palace

43:57 Ada's Dream

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In Episode 280 we look back at last year's list of games we wanted to get played and then we discuss the games that are top of mind we hope to get to try over the next year.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:12 Last Year's Top 5 we wanted to play in 2025 (and how we did)

02:21 Civolution

05:40 Joyrides: Survival of the Fastest

06:08 Wroth

06:32 SETI: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence

09:58 Dune: War for Arrakis

10:48 Windmill Valley

12:21 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

13:46 Endeavor: Deep Sea

15:18 Resafa

16:05 Andromeda's Edge / Rock Hard: 1977

17:26 World Order

18:47 Wondrous Creatures

19:44 Rats of Wistar

21:35 Power Vaccuum

22:40 Top 5 Games we want to play in 2026

22:40 Coming of Age

25:04 Primacy: A Coyote and Crow Card Game

29:31 Eternal Decks

34:12 Echoes of Time

38:55 Lords of Baseball

41:33 Everdell: Silverfrost

43:54 Burn the Fort

48:57 Rise and Fall

52:08 Ants

54:15 Rebuilding Seattle

1:00:33 Unicorn Fever

1:03:20 Sanctuary

1:09:03 Speakeasy

1:12:42 Ayar: Children of the Sun

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In Episode 279 we give our hot take review on Ada's Dream covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We cover a poll on Multi-player Solitaire board games and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Lords of Vegas, Ticket to Ride, and Nokosu Dice.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Poll: How do you feel about 'Multi-player Solitaire' Games?

15:19 Ada's Dream Description

18:06 Gameplay and Mechanisms

38:58 Production and Theme

48:51 Final Thoughts

1:00:42 Lords of Vegas

1:06:13 Ticket to Ride

1:08:11 Nokosu Dice

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In Episode 278 we discuss the top 5 games that each of us thinks will be a big hit for families of all types (family gatherings, gaming with kids, etc.)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:12 Top 5 Family Board Games

07:50 Flip 7

10:55 Skull

14:39 Cheeky Monkey /Can't Stop / Viking See-Saw

20:39 Sushi Go

23:13 No Thanks

27:28 Camel Up / Hot Streak

31:22 King of Tokyo

34:44 Balderdash

38:31 Ticket to Ride

42:45 Unlock / Exit (Escape Room in a Box Games)

49:31 Dino Battle: Logical Game

52:38 Robot Quest Arena / My Little Scythe

57:31 Quacks

1:00:51 Survive the Island

1:06:02 Return to Dark Tower / Slay the Spire

1:10:55 Honorable Mentions: Crokinole, Tripole, Love Letter, Kingdomino, Bot Factory

1:14:40 Listener Shoutout

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In Episode 277 we discuss why and how we rate board games on BGG and run through each of the rating levels, how they're described on BGG, and provide samples of our ratings at each level.

We also discuss a poll about rating board games on BGG.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:29 Poll Time: Do you rate games on BoardGameGeek?

7:42 BGG Ratings Topic Introduction

9:40 1 - Awful Defies Game Description

15:34 2 - Very Bad, Won't Play Ever Again

19:30 3 - Bad, Likely Won't Play This Again

23:24 4 - Not So Good, But Could Play Again

27:51 5 - Mediocre, Take It Or Leave It

32:34 6 - OK, Will Play If In The Mood

38:05 7 - Good, Usually Willing To Play

42:47 8 - Very Good, Enjoy Playing And Would Suggest It

47:59 9 - Excellent, Very Much Enjoy Playing

53:27 10 - Outstanding, Will Always Enjoy Playing

57:32 Final Thoughts

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In Episode 276 we give our hot take review on Joy Ride: Survival of the Fastest covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We cover a poll on board game convention attendance and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Stroganov and Origin Story and a future take on Otter Chaos.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:28 Poll: How many board game conventions did you attend in the last twelve months?

11:10 Joyride: Survival of the Fastest Description

13:43 Gameplay and Mechanisms

26:08 Production and Theme

34:46 Final Thoughts

44:45 Stroganov

51:09 Origin Story

1:09:24 Future Take: Why I Otter, An Otter Won, Otter Chaos

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In Episode 275 we return to the mailbag and answer a bunch of our listener's board game related questions.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

1:31 What are some of your go-to games for groups that have varying levels of gamers?

9:55 What are the parts of this hobby that annoy you the most?

13:16 What do you think are the biggest omissions from BGHT feature reviews?

17:36 What is your most played board game (in person)?

21:27 How do you decide between the urge to play something you know you like versus the obligation to play something new?

27:07 Are there groups of family or friends you don't bring out games for or to?

30:40 What are your forever games?

36:09 Which games make you feel clever?

46:12 Can you detail your current game groups?

55:53 Do you have any house rules you use?

58:55 Words of advice for a weekend gaming event inspired by BGHT cons?

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In Episode 274 we give our hot take review on Galactic Cruise covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We cover a poll on board game productions and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Demoniac, Rebirth, Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein, and Thurn and Taxis.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Poll: Which production element is more likely to get you excited about a board game?

06:36 Galactic Cruise Description

09:52 Gameplay and Mechanisms

36:14 Production and Theme

41:43 Final Thoughts

48:15 Demoniac

52:53 Rebirth

1:00:20 Thurn and Taxis

1:05:33 Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein

1:14:02 Listener Shoutout

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In Episode 273 we discuss competition and specifically what we think is healthy competition.

We also discuss a poll about cheating in tabletop games.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Poll Time: Have you ever experienced intentional cheating when playing a tabletop game?

5:59 Competition: General Thoughts

9:19 What creates healthy competition?

18:48 How has our competitiveness evolved over time?

29:41 How do different games illicit a different competitiveness in you?

49:02 How does your preferred competition level influence your preferred game choices?

54:05 Final Thoughts

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In Episode 272 we discuss the top 5 board game designers that are represented on our game shelves.

01:02 Corrections (Creature Comforts and Distilled: Cask Strength)

06:32 Poll: How does it make you feel when a reviewer messes up a rule?

12:25 Top 5 Board Game Designers on our Shelves

16:54 Cole Wehrle (Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, Arcs, John Company 2nd Edition)

19:26 Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, The Fox Experiment)

20:58 Adam Kwapinski (Lords of Hellas, Lords of Ragnarok, Nemesis)

22:44 Bruno Cathala (Sea Salt & Paper, Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth, Cyclades: Legendary Edition)

23:53 Prospero Hall (Pan Am, Top Gun: The Board Game, Horrified)

25:44 Eric Lang (Blood Rage, Cthulhu: Death May Die, Rising Sun)

29:12 Tim Eisner (March of the Ants, Wonderland's War)

32:23 Paul Dennen (Clank! In! Space!, Clank! Legacy, Dune: Imperium - Uprising)

35:19 Vladimir Suchy (Underwater Cities, Pulsar 2849, Woodcraft)

38:11 John Perry (Hot Streak, Air Land & Sea, Spots)

40:57 Simone Luciani (Annunaki: Dawn of the Gods, Barrage, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Rats of Wistar)

43:24 Jamey Stegmaier (Tapestry, Viticulture, Scythe, Vantage, Origin Story)

44:47 Stefan Feld (Castles of Burgundy, Marrakesh, Notre Dame, Civolution)

48:23 Reiner Knizia (Modern Art: The Card Game, Royal Visit, High Society, The Quest for El Dorado, Rebirth)

51:42 Jamey Stegmaier (Tapestry, Viticulture, Expeditions, Red Rising)

53:35 Rob Daviou (Cthulhu: Death May Die, Pandemic Legacy, Return to Dark Tower, Thunder Road: Vendetta)

56:34 Simone Luciani (Darwin's Journey, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Nucleum, Tzok'in: The Mayan Calendar, Etherstone)

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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