Essen SPIEL 2025 is almost here — the biggest board gaming event on the planet — and guess what? We’re not there.

Join Jason, James, and Ant as they embrace their cardboard FOMO in “Essen in Exile” From the latest Essen buzz and big game releases, to sarcastic survival tips and a heated Dicey Discussion on whether the Essen hype actually helps or hurts the hobby, this episode delivers all the chaos of SPIEL… minus the airfare, crowds, and pretzels.

So grab a cuppa, queue up from your sofa, and get ready for your annual dose of board game banter, British sarcasm, and the occasional existential crisis over shelf space.

In this weeks Podcast, we're discussing some top games that have been sat gathering dust on our shelf. We explore our board game backlog and wonder when we will get these games to the tabletop for a game night. Are these games destined for eternity of the Shelf of shame?

This week on the Meeple Minded Podcast, Jason and Ant are flying solo (well… duo) while James is off sick and doing his best impression of a discarded Pandemic card. But fear not — we’ve got a stacked show for you:00:00 Intro

02:29 Meeple Menu

03:43 The Setup Phase – We break down the latest in board game news, including: Ark Nova’s deluxe expansion and its wallet-destroying price tag. CMON’s projected \$6–8 million losses for the first half of 2025 — what does it mean for the industry?

12:25 Meeple Moments – We chat about what we’ve been playing lately (spoiler: James played “Sleeping Gods: Tissue Box Edition”).

19:38 Cardboard Critique – Our first impressions of Star Wars: Battle for Hoth, the brand-new Days of Wonder release. Is it the epic battle we wanted, or just another trip into the snowy abyss?

49:44 Giveaway Draw – We announce the winner of our competition to snag a brand new copy of *Popcorn* by IELLO!---👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments: are you excited about Battle for Hoth or do you think it’s another cash-in on the Star Wars license?💬 Join the conversation:Instagram | Facebook | @MeepleMinded🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you get your board game podcast fix.#BoardGames #Podcast #StarWars #StarWarsBoardGames #ArkNova #CMON #BoardGameNews #MeepleMinded

On this weeks podcast the boys are back as a trio and wanted to discuss 5 games that made their mechanics work really well. some might say made the game what it is today!

please note this episode does suffer with some audio related cut outs but we have done all we can to try to hide these as much as possible.

Following a spat of technical issues, the boys are finally back after an unexpected break away, and they are back to discuss if we as gamers expect too much in the way of innovation in game releases?They will also be talking about what has been going on, some games they have been playing recently AND due to his absence a mild ribbing of "the THIRD voice" Antony!

🎙️ Meeple Minded Podcast - Episode 214
🧩 Topic: Are Day-One Expansions Good or Bad for Board Games?

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the hottest debates in the board gaming community — should expansions be released at the same time as the base game?

Is it a smart move that gives players more options? Or is it a greedy cash grab that splits content unfairly?

Join us as we explore:
✅ The pros and cons of day-one expansions
💸 How this trend affects consumer trust and game design
🎯 Examples of games that got it right... and others that didn’t
👥 Our personal takes + community opinions

📣 What do YOU think?
Leave a comment and let us know:
➡️ Are you pro-expansion at launch or totally against it?

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms
💬 Subscribe for more board game chats every week!

📍 Follow Meeple Minded:
🔗 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Threads

#BoardGames #MeepleMinded #BoardGamePodcast #DayOneExpansion #TabletopGaming #BoardGameCommunity #BoardGameDebate

🎲 Top 5 Two-Player Board Games | Jason & Ant's Personal Picks 🎲
In this episode of The Meeple Minded Podcast, Jason and Ant dive into their Top 5 Two-Player Board Games — perfect for couples, friends, or rivals looking to outwit each other in tight, tactical showdowns!

But before the countdown begins, the guys kick off the show with their usual segment: "Games We've Played Recently", where they share thoughts on the latest titles hitting their tables.

Expect passionate opinions, personal favourites, and maybe a few surprises along the way. Whether you're new to two-player games or a seasoned duo, you're sure to discover something to add to your Wishlist.

🃏 Got your own favourite 2-player game? Drop it in the comments or let us know on social media — we love hearing from fellow meeples!

📌 Subscribe for more weekly board game content, reviews, and discussions from The Meeple Minded crew!

#BoardGames #Top5Games #TwoPlayerGames #BoardGamePodcast #MeepleMinded

🎲 Meeple Minded Podcast | UKGE 2025 Breakdown & Game Chat 🎤Welcome to another episode of the Meeple Minded Podcast — your go-to show for all things board games, tabletop gaming, and community-driven content! In this special UKGE 2025 (UK Games Expo) recap episode, we reflect on our full weekend at the UK’s biggest tabletop gaming convention.🗓️ We break down each day of UKGE 2025 — from Thursday to Sunday — sharing our favourite moments, biggest surprises, disappointments, and standout games. Whether you’re curious about the best board games of UKGE 2025, upcoming releases, or con highlights, this episode covers it all!But first, we kick off with our usual "What We've Been Playing" segment, where we chat about the newest additions to our gaming table, hidden gems, and our current board game obsessions.📺 Watch now on YouTube🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms🔑 Timestamps:📌 Keywords:UKGE 2025, UK Games Expo, board game podcast, tabletop gaming, board games 2025, new board games, board game reviews, con recap, board game vlog, UKGE haul, game demos, board game YouTube, Meeple Minded, best games of UKGE👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more weekly board game content!#UKGE2025 #BoardGames #MeepleMinded #UKGamesExpo #TabletopGaming #BoardGamePodcast

🎙️ PREPARING FOR UKGE with Chris Priscott | Fetching Feathers & Indie Game Publisher 🎲In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Priscott, the indie board game designer behind Zuuli, Moving Wild, Molehill Meadows, and his brand-new release Fetching Feathers! 🐦✨We dive into how Chris is preparing for UK Games Expo (UKGE) 2025, the UK's biggest tabletop gaming event, and get behind-the-scenes insight into what it takes to launch, demo, and sell indie board games at a major convention.💥 Whether you're a board game designer, publisher, content creator, or tabletop fan, this episode is packed with practical advice, funny stories, and marketing tips straight from one of the most creative minds in the indie tabletop scene.🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The low down on Chris's NEW game Fetching FeathersKey steps in preparing for UKGE as a board game publisherBooth setup tips, demo strategies, and lessons learnedAdvice for first-time exhibitors at UKGE or similar consWhat makes a board game demo table irresistible to players🕹️ Try Fetching Feathers: https://unfringed.co/fetchingfeathers/📦 Visit Chris’s site: https://www.instagram.com/unfringedthings🎟️ Going to UKGE? Find Chris at Stand 3-313📌 Support the show by liking, subscribing, and hitting that notification bell so you never miss a new episode full of board game industry insight.📧 For business inquiries or to be a guest: [email protected]🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.#BoardGames #UKGE2025 #FetchingFeathers #ChrisPriscott #IndieBoardGames #TabletopGames #UKGamesExpo #BoardGamePublisher00:00 introduction01:35 Fetching Feathers06:20 The Publisher Journey26:10 Prepping For Conventions

🎲 Meeple Minded Podcast – Episode211: Meeple MAY-nia Begins! | UKGE 2025 Hype + Games We've Been Playing 🎲Welcome to another exciting episode of the Meeple Minded Podcast!We’re kicking off our month-long celebration — Meeple MAY-nia — as we build up to the biggest event in the UK tabletop calendar: UK Games Expo 2025 (UKGE)!In this episode:🟢 We introduce Meeple MAY-nia 🎲 Chat about the board games we've been playing recently🔍 Dive into everything we know so far about UKGE 2025 – including key dates, venue info, early highlights!Whether you’re watching on YouTube or tuning in on your favourite podcast app, this episode sets the tone for a month packed with content, coverage, and community fun as we count down to UKGE.🧠 Stay Meeple Minded – Subscribe, follow, and share to join us on the road to UKGE 2025!📲 Listen & Subscribe:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google | Amazon | and more – just search Meeple Minded Podcast📺 YouTube#MeepleMinded #UKGE2025 #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #BoardGamePodcast #UKGamesExpo00:00 Intro ramble & catch up01:42 Welcome to Meeple MAY - nia : the countdown to UKGE 202503:50 Games we have been playing20:38 UKGE 202557:48 Outro