PlayDNA

This is our last episode of 2020! We discuss the games we loved the most this year, plus the things we are looking forward to in 2021.

Have a great holiday season, friends! We will be back in January!

Games we played:
UNO | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Red7 | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Games we mentioned:
Azul: Summer Pavilion | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
The Taverns of Tiefenthal | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Tang Garden | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Oceans | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Sonora | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Ctrl | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Hues and Cues | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Dwellings of Eldervale | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Back to the Future: Back in Time | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Dune | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Dodo | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Veiled Fate | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Blood on the Clocktower | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Windward | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects: Deluxe Edition | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Dig Dog Dig | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
Cóatl | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

We are grateful for this podcast and for you guys! Today we talk about what makes us grateful about our board gaming hobby, how we got into it, and why others should, too!

Games we played:

Paranormal Detectives | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Compounded | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Cartographers | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Big Money | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Las Vegas | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Silver & Gold | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Railways of the World | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Catan | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Like it or not, there's a gender divide in play of all kinds, including board games. Why does this divide exist and what can we do about it? Damon talks about inclusivity in design and in play, we talk about early experiences playing with 'gendered' toys, and we discuss what makes a game feel more "masculine" or "feminine."


Games we Played:

Ubongo
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16986/ubongo

Twinkle
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/318559/twinkle

Wasteland Express
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/195560/wasteland-express-delivery-service

Ace of Aces
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/798/ace-aces-handy-rotary-series

Sonora
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/296626/sonora

Acquire
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5/acquire

Mystic Market
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/287322/mystic-market


Games we Mentioned:

Electronic Dream Phone
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6578/electronic-dream-phone

Mall Madness
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15162/mall-madness

Mystery Date
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7314/mystery-date

Pretty Pretty Princess
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6549/pretty-pretty-princess

What Shall I Be?
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7303/what-shall-i-be-exciting-game-career-girls

Azul
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230802/azul

Patchwork
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/163412/patchwork

Ms Monopoly
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/289363/ms-monopoly

Games good enough to eat! For all you foodies and home chefs out there, this week we talk about food themed games! From the fast-playing casual Sushi Go, to the elegant Elevenses, we have some great picks to satisfy your appetite.

Games we mention:

Piece O' Cake 
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37371/piece-o-cake

A La Carte
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/217/la-carte

Sushi Go
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/133473/sushi-go

Wasabi
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33154/wasabi

Maki Stack
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240094/maki-stack

Go Nuts For Donuts
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184346/go-nuts-donuts

Mamma Mia!
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/49/mamma-mia

Slamwich
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3804/slamwich

Elevenses
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/144388/elevenses

The accidental cheat is bound to happen when you're an avid boardgamer, but purposeful cheating is another matter entirely. Sarah discusses some of the psychology behind cheating and how you can address a cheater in your gaming group.

Games we Played:

Tichu
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/215/tichu

Just One
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one


Games Mentioned:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254617/monopoly-cheaters-edition


Articles:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/77316/psychology-cheating

https://ifstudies.org/blog/cheating-at-play-cheating-in-life

https://geekandsundry.com/science-explains-why-people-cheat-at-games/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nelsongranados/2018/04/30/report-cheating-is-becoming-a-big-problem-in-online-gaming/#55aec2be7663

It's here! Even if you're staying in, board games can make your Halloween fun, spooky, memorable. We discuss all our favorite spooky and monster themed games from Mysterium to Nemesis.

Games we played:

Jaws

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/272738/jaws

Blank Slate

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254188/blank-slate

Cartographers

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/263918/cartographers

Jungle Speed

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8098/jungle-speed

Hues & Cues

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/302520/hues-and-cues

My City

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295486/my-city

Niagara

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13308/niagara

Games we mentioned:

Mysterium

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium

Fearsome Floors

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7805/fearsome-floors

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156129/deception-murder-hong-kong

Exit: Abandoned Cabin

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/203420/exit-game-abandoned-cabin

Unlock: The House on the Hill

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230303/unlock-mystery-adventures-house-hill

Broom Service

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172308/broom-service

The Mind

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244992/mind

Spyfall

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/166384/spyfall

Witness

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/164265/witness

Fury of Dracula

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181279/fury-dracula-thirdfourth-edition

Mansions of Madness

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205059/mansions-madness-second-edition

Dead of Winter

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150376/dead-winter-crossroads-game

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147949/one-night-ultimate-werewolf

Zombies!!!

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2471/zombies

Nemesis

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167355/nemesis

Shadows in the Forest

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1070/shadows-forest

Serpent's Tongue

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123408/serpents-tongue

Wicked Witches Way

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28025/wicked-witches-way


Visit us at playdnapodcast.com for more episodes or to send us a message!

How many lives have Monopoly and Playing Cards saved? Turns out, the answer is in the thousands. This week Cassandra talks about the ways that games have been used as tools of war- as a means of educating wartorn populations, boosting morale, and as incognito war prison escape kits.

Games we played:

The Taverns of Tiefenthal
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/269207/taverns-tiefenthal

Cribbage
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2398/cribbage

Punderdome
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202771/punderdome-card-game-pun-lovers

Micropul
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10660/micropul

Nova Luna
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284435/nova-luna

Anomia
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/67877/anomia

Games we Mentioned:

Monopoly escape kits
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/how-monopoly-games-helped-allied-pows-escape-during-world-war-ii/266996/

Map decks
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/wwii-decks-of-cards-hidden-maps.html

Most Wanted Playing Cards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most-wanted_Iraqi_playing_cards

Ordnance Playing Cards
https://www.wopc.co.uk/blog/ordnance-recognition-playing-cards-cards-designed-to-help-people-at-risk-from-unexploded-bombs

Cold Case Playing Cards
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/OSI/Cold-Case-Playing-Cards/Cold-Case-Playing-Cards.aspx

Visit us at playdnapodcast.com for more episodes or to send us a message!

When you've played every game you own 100 times and you're strapped for cash, make your own games! We list games that can be easily made at home using only pencil and paper.

Games we mentioned:

Skull
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/92415/skull

Just One
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one

A Fake Artist Goes to New York
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135779/fake-artist-goes-new-york

Eat Poop You Cat
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/30618/eat-poop-you-cat

Blank Slate
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254188/blank-slate

Avalon
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/128882/resistance-avalon

Time's Up: Title Recall
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36553/times-title-recall

Freeze Dried Games
https://kevan.org/fdgp/


Visit us at playdnapodcast.com for more episodes or to send us a message!

Games are extraordinary educational tools that allow players to learn new concepts and explore new cultures and histories visually, audibly, and kinesthetically.  In our opinion there are some concepts that are better taught through games than any other medium. Damon goes over his favorite educational games, and how designers can take advantage of the opportunity to teach through their games.

PODCAST NOTES
Games we played this week:

Dead Men Tell No Tales

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/141423/dead-men-tell-no-tales

Trains

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/121408/trains

Back to the Future: Back in Time

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/302388/back-future-back-time

Cutthroat Caverns

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28259/cutthroat-caverns

Games mentioned:

Evolution

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155703/evolution

Twilight Struggle

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle

Freedom:The Underground Railroad

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119506/freedom-underground-railroad

Terraforming Mars

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars

Targi

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118048/targi

Lisboa

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa

A Few Acres of Snow

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/79828/few-acres-snow

Stockpile

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161614/stockpile

Commands and Colors: Napoleonics

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62222/commands-colors-napoleonics

Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25021/sekigahara-unification-japan

Wingspan

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan

Moa

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/214123/moa

The Grizzled

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171668/grizzled

Timeline

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/128664/timeline

Chrononauts

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/815/chrononauts

Genius Games

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/27068/genius-games

Board games have an astoundingly positive effect on an aging brain. Sarah expresses her fear that people won't want to play games with her when she ages, and we discuss great games that can be played with seniors who have varying capabilities.