Decision Space

By Jacob Frydman, Brendan Hansen, Pete Wissinger, Paul Salomon

Decision Space is a board game podcast about the decisions in games.... more

4.8

132132 ratings

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FAQs about Decision Space:

How many episodes does Decision Space have?

The podcast currently has 287 episodes available.

Decision Space episodes:

August 26, 2026 Design Disagreements, Dream Games, and Other Listener Questions
Episode 280- Listener Questions
We open the mail bag to answer a bunch of questions from the Decision Space community!

Time Stamps
2:15- who would win?
4:50- what is a YOU game?
9:00- design choice you disagree with
18:00- design choice you love
23:20- games for roommates
27:30- games you wish existed
34:30- bad games we like
40:00- who you want to play a game with
44:30- spoiler strategies
50:00- emotional responses to games
53:00- how our tastes have changed
56:30- where do you see the pod in 5 years?
1:00:30- game night pick
1:02:45- deep dive redo
1:05:30- time for games
1:09:00- state of the hobby
1:13:15- superlatives
1:14:15- has the podcast changed you as a gamer?
1:16:45- host disagreements
1:18:00- dueling game advice

Preplanners
We have a deep dive of Paolo Mori's Libertalia coming up!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 22min
August 19, 2026 Sandbox Objectives and Frosted Blooms
Episode 279- Sandbox Objectives and Frosted Blooms
This week Brendan tries to convince his co-hosts that "sandbox objectives" and "point salad" are not not the same thing. Jake isn't convinced. Also the gang deep dives the new polyomino game Frosted Blooms, designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc.

Time Stamps
3:20- sandbox objective systems
30:00- Frosted Blooms deep dive

Preplanners
Next week is listener questions! Send them to us via email or join our Discord!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 13min
August 12, 2026 The Questions Games Ask (What We Talk About)
Episode 278- Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?
That types of questions do games ask us as players? When should I score? Who can I trust? Why did they do that? How should I sequence this? This week we dig into what the central questions are in different games and think about how this can help us as players and designers.

Time Stamps4:30- Who?
18:00- What?
26:00- When?
34:00- Where?
42:00- Why?
54:00- How?

Games Mentioned
Magic the Gathering, The Resistance, Root, Castles of Burgundy, A Feast for Odin, Tag Team, Bus, Dominion, Medina, Ra, El Grande, Star Wars Rebellion, The Crew, Root, Zoo Vadis, Tikal, Bus
Preplanners
Email us or join our discord to submit questions for a future episode! Also we'll be doing a deep dive on Frosted Blooms soon!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 18min
August 05, 2026 Deckbuilding 301: How Slay the Spire Expands Tabletop Design
Episode 277- Deckbuilding 301 and Slay the Spire
Trick-taking wiz Taylor Reiner joins Pete, Jake, and Brendan to take the next step on our deckbuilding exploration. This time we're going digital! How do games like Balatro and Slay the Spire build on physical games and where do they diverge? Also how are we seeing the reverse influence on tabletop games?

Check out Taylor's amazing Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClaudeAndTaylor
Time Stamps
4:00- introduce Taylor Reiner
9:30- digital card games
21:30- deckbuilding roguelikes
46:45- Slay the Spire
1:26:15- Balatro
1:32:00- digital games inspiring tabletop design

Preplanners
I actually don't know what the next episode will be about!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 48min
July 29, 2026 An Infamous Traffic, Virgin Queen, John Company Megagame and More: Report from a Historical Game Convention
Episode 276- SD HistCon North 2026
Pete is joined by Cardner Babakitis of Odd Candy Games and Buried Giant Studios. They discuss the historical games they played at the inaugural SD HistCon North.

Check out Cardner's games here: https://www.oddcandygames.com/
Time Stamps
15:00- Hellraisers in Kanawha County
19:30- An Infamous Traffic 2nd Edition
27:30- Baltic Empires
33:00- Penitent
42:00- Nicaea
49:00- John Company megagame
1:01:50- Oath with New Foundations
1:08:05- Muddy Buddies
1:09:15- Virgin Queen
1:23:00- Big Shot

Preplanners
The next episode is Deckbuilding 301 which focuses on the relationship of Slay the Spire to tabletop games!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 36min
July 22, 2026 Inside the Deck: Digging Deep on Suits, Numbers, and Design
Episode 275- Inside the Deck
This week Jake, Paul, and Brendan explore the different deck structures of card games. Things get mathy in this design focused discussion about how combinations of suits and numbers create different decision spaces in games.
Time Stamps
2:00- Air Land and Sea
13:00- The Fox in the Forest
21:45- Jekyll vs Hyde
27:45- Dracula vs Van Helsing
34:30- Coloretto
42:00- Pet Quartet
45:00- Flip 7
50:00- The Mind
55:00- No Thanks
1:01:30- Arboretum
1:09:30- Lost Cities
1:14:00- Schotten Totten
1:16:15- Scout and dnup

Preplanners
Up next is a recap from a historical game convention.

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 28min
July 15, 2026 Showdown of the Best Board Games From the Golden Age of 2010-2014
Episode 274- 2010-2014 Showdown
All four hosts are together to play a game as a way to choose a consensus list of the best board games from the early 2010's. The format here is from April Mitchell's This/That Showdown: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/463458/thisthat-showdown
Games Mentioned
BattleCon, Keyflower, The Resistance Avalon, The Castles of Burgundy, The Great Zimbabwe, Trajan, Charms, Haggis, Hanabi, Glen More, Hanamikoji, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Patchwork, Linko, Troyes, Libertalia

Preplanners
Up next is a discussion of deck design and a recap from a historical game convention.

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 10min
July 08, 2026 dnup, Scout, and Iterative Game Design
Episode 273- dnup and Iterative Game Design
In this episode we talk about iterative game design. Why do designers go back to ideas they've already explored? On that note, we also discuss the new hotness dnup and how designer Kai Kajino built it upon the foundation of his modern classic hit Scout.
Timestamps
3:30- iterative design
32:20- Scout
46:00- dnup

Preplanners
We have another decade draft coming up soon!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 12min
July 01, 2026 The Old Kings Crown Rewards Player Expression and Obsession
Episode 272- The Old King's Crown
Pete is joined by Jaffles ( https://www.youtube.com/@Jaffles-gaming ) to do a deep dive of the hottest game from last year: The Old King's Crown. They also chat about what types of games inspire players to dig deep and get obsessed.

Timestamps
5:00- why we get obsessed with games
18:15- intro to Old King's Crown
24:00- personal reviews
27:30- exploring the decision space
47:15- spring decisions
56:45- player count considerations
1:10:15- summer and autumn decisions
1:20:00- faction asymmetry
1:39:00- final thoughts

Preplanners
We have another decade draft coming up soon!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 49min
June 24, 2026 Playing the Cards You're Dealt: Hand Management (What We Talk About)
Episode 271- Hand Management
Pete and Brendan dissect one of the most ubiquitous mechanisms in tabletop games: hand management. What kinds of puzzles can a hand of cards present to players and what makes it so timelessly satisfying?

Timestamps
3:00- defining hand management
18:00- why we love hand management
29:00- types of hand management
36:15- trick-taking and ladder climbing
42:45- hand management as a core mechanism
57:30- hand management as a support mechanism

Games Mentioned
love letter, dominion, enchanted plumes, concordia, el grande, scout, haggis, fox in the forest, inis, race for the galaxy, arboretum, seer's catalog, hanabi, lost cities, battle line, hanamikoji, fantasy realms, 6nmmt, 7 wonders, twilight struggle, frosted blooms, gloomhaven, modern art, arcs, magic the gathering, keyforge, mind bug

Preplanners
Look out for the long awaited deep dive of Old King's Crown!

Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
...more
1h 16min

FAQs about Decision Space:

How many episodes does Decision Space have?

The podcast currently has 287 episodes available.

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