Ready Steady Play

Mike and Barry share their thoughts on UKGE 2026 and the line up of games.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon!

www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

With @bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:19 - UKGE Intro

00:13:01 - UKGE Barrys Thoughts

00:21:14 - UKGE Online Release Information

00:40:01 - UKGE Awards System

01:02:31 - UKGE Open Gaming Area

01:09:36 - UKGE Forest Shuffle Tournament

01:16:41 - Barrys Pick 1 Ace of Spades

01:18:58 - Barrys Pick 2 Tír na nÓg Blessings & Burdens

01:20:07 - Barrys Pick 3 Forest Shuffle Dartmoor Exmoor

01:23:56 - Barrys Pick 4 War of the Ring The Card Game Hope and Despair

01:27:25 - Mikes Pick 1 Drillers

01:30:00 - Barrys Pick 5 A Carnivore Did It

01:33:38 - Mikes Pick 2 Obscurians

01:35:14 - Barrys Pick 6 Spokes

01:37:05 - Mikes Pick 3 Ape Town

01:39:35 - Barrys Pick 7 Threaded

01:43:17 - Mikes Pick 4 For the Gods

01:45:33 - Barrys Pick 8 Catan On the Road

01:47:52 - Mikes Pick 5 DreamEscape

01:49:51 - Barrys Pick 9 Fame & Fable

01:50:49 - Barrys Pick 10 Smallfolk

01:52:50 - Mikes Pick 6 Night at the Zoo

01:54:23 - Barrys Pick 11 Lord of the Rings Circle of Conflict

01:58:33 - Barrys Pick 12 Shug

02:02:20 - Mikes Pick 7 Ruined Path

02:06:14 - Barrys Pick 13 Personal Demons

02:09:54 - Outro

Mike and Barry reconvene to discuss the best game from 2024!

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:11 - Most Disappointing: Kelp

00:07:59 - Most Disappointing: Wyrmspan

00:12:06 - Most Disappointing: Civolution

00:12:56 - Most Disappointing: Beyond the Horizon

00:13:19 - Most Disappointing: Power Grid Outpost

00:14:47 - Most Disappointing: Dominion Rising Sun

00:21:17 - Best Expansions: War of the Ring the Card Game Fire & Swords

00:28:07 - Best Expansions: Ancient Knowledge Heritage

00:29:23 - Best Expansions Eclipse Seekers and Outcasts

00:34:23 - Best Expansions: Grand Tour

00:37:48 - Best Expansions: Foundations of Rome Roads

00:42:21 - Best Expansions: Decorum Moving Out

00:46:30 - Honourable Mentions: Agent Avenue

00:49:44 - Honourable Mentions: A Nice Cuppa

00:52:05 - Honourable Mentions: Flip7

00:55:43 - Honourable Mentions: SETI

00:59:17 - Honourable Mentions: Quacks Duel

01:00:38 - Honourable Mentions: Wondrous Creatures

01:02:38 - Honourable Mentions: War Story Occupied France

01:04:16 - Honourable Mentions: Slay the Spire

01:08:39 - Honourable Mentions: Saltfjord

01:09:57 - Notable Exceptions

01:18:54 - Barrys Number 10: Temple Code

01:22:10 - Barrys Number 9: Architects of Amytis

01:27:10 - Mikes 2 player Pick: Compile Main 1

01:32:28 - Barrys Number 8: Kinfire Delve

01:36:46 - Mikes Pick: Star Trek Captains Chair

01:44:03 - Barrys Number 7: The Gang

01:49:06 - Mikes Pick: Railways of the Lost Atlas

01:58:00 - Barrys Pick 6: Rebirth

02:04:11 - Barrys Pick 5: Endeavour Deep Sea

02:10:40 - Mikes Pick: Shackleton Base

02:18:05 - Barrys Pick 4: Castle Combo

02:22:43 - Mikes Pick: Civolution

02:33:32 - Barrys Pick 3: Compile Main 1

02:37:16 - Barrys Pick 2: Leviathan Wilds

02:43:52 - Barrys Pick 1: Bomb Busters

02:53:46 - Mikes Top Pick: Arcs

Mike and Chris get together to talk about some games!This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Ready Steady Play: www.youtube.com/@ReadySteadyPlayBoardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarryContact us: [email protected]:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:02 - Corrections: CMON Has Less Stuff00:02:15 - News: Leviathan Wilds returns to Crowdfunding00:03:30 - News: Upcoming Crowdfunding Campaigns00:03:58 - News: Tigris and Euphrates Reprint00:08:41 - News: Gods & Mortals00:09:54 - News: Rurik Dawn of Kiev00:12:59 - Hey Reprint This: How Dare You?00:19:02 - Quickplays: Duel for Cardia00:19:25 - Quickplays: Kokeshi00:20:47 - Quickplays: Pinched!00:30:25 - Quickplays: Tax the Rich00:42:00 - Quickplays: The White Castle Duel00:48:53 - Quickplays: Bouba/Kiki00:54:31 - Quickplays: Light Speed Arena01:07:22 - Quickplays: Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth Allies01:26:44 - Played: Onstage01:37:36 - Played: Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock02:13:57 - Played: Pulitzer02:44:33 - Played: Garden Lake03:03:21 - Played: Thesauros

Mike is back from Essen with games! Excited to dive into a bunch of games, but these are the ones we've had time to play already.

End of Season 1! We're calling this the end of season one because we're taking a break for a months. Never fear we'll be back in January!

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:10 - Corrections: Uprising Curse of the Last Emperor

00:03:17 - News: CMON Sell CDMD to Asmodee

00:06:54 - News: Devir reprint Claustrophobia

00:16:34 - News: Earthborne Rangers Spire in Bloom

00:19:57 - News: Hegemony Shadows of Authority

00:23:57 - News: Terraforming Mars Legacy

00:29:09 - Essen 2025 Rundown

00:36:25 - News: Gods & Mortals

00:41:19 - Played: The Wondrous Museum

00:56:43 - Played: Light Speed Arena

01:06:59 - Played: Wispwood

01:24:43 - Played: Duel for Cardia

01:42:35 - Played: Tax the Rich

01:54:29 - Played: Altay The Seafarers

Mike's heading to the upside down to exorcise some eyeball rooms and we got another big serving of Essen picks.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:51 - News: Secret Societies

00:09:55 - News: Origin Story

00:13:17 - News: Druids of Edora

00:18:47 - News: Magical Athlete

00:25:20 - News: Obsession Story Solution

00:30:15 - News: Return to Dark Tower Expeditions

00:31:43 - News: Uprising Curse of the Last Emperor Big Box

00:37:28 - News: Cretaceous Rails Reprint & Expansion

00:39:36 - News: DECKO

00:43:22 - News: Berserk The Board Game

01:14:32 - Played: Arigato

01:17:33 - Played: Floristry

01:19:42 - Played: Neon Reign

01:21:55 - Played: Exhibition 20th Century

01:25:50 - Played: Massiveverse Fighting Card Game

01:28:43 - Played: BELOW The Asylum

02:04:33 - Barrys Essen Pick: A Carnivore Did It

02:06:40 - Barrys Essen Pick: Bouba Kiki

02:11:04 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Agent Avenue Division M

02:12:24 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Panda Spin Mandate of Heaven

02:18:21 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Onstage

02:19:47 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Bugle Bros Blackjack

02:20:20 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Evergreen Blossoms and Bamboo

02:22:18 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Pinched

02:29:11 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: The White Castle Duel

02:34:30 - Chris Essen Quick Pick: Wispwood

02:36:41 - Chris Essen Pick: Thesauros

02:45:59 - Barrys Essen Pick: 20000 Leagues Under The Sea

02:49:35 - Mikes Essen Pick: Malediction

02:55:52 - Chris Essen Pick: The Hobbit There & Back Again

03:01:47 - Barrys Essen Pick: Mimirs Challenge

03:05:42 - Mikes Essen Pick: Epochs Course of Cultures

03:13:05 - Chris Essen Pick: Pulitzer

03:20:56 - Barrys Essen Pick: Apex Carnivore

03:24:43 - Barrys Essen Pick: Legions

03:29:35 - Mikes Essen Pick: Poker a Voces

03:33:47 - End

We're probably going to have to nuke it from orbit before we head off to Germany.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:13 - News: Twilight Imperium Digital Implementation

00:10:45 - News: Spiral Galaxy Fulfils Merchant's Cove

00:15:01 - News: Steamforge Announce Terra Mystica Big Box

00:24:31 - News: Dogs of War Reprint Campaign

00:38:15 - News: Dogs of War (Quickplay)

00:45:51 - News: Wingspan Fan Promo Packs

00:49:57 - News: Don't Panic Games issue Hel and Anastyr Statement

00:52:50 - News: Mystic Lands

01:01:48 - Quickplays: Wingspan & App

01:14:43 - Quickplays: Temple Code

01:20:13 - Quickplays: Duel for Cardia

01:26:11 - Played: Nemesis Retaliation

01:59:40 - Quick Essen Mentions: Vale of Eternity Curse

02:00:52 - Essen Quick Mentions: Unmatched Adventures Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

02:02:00 - Essen Quick Mentions: Deckscape Dungeon

02:03:01 - Essen Quick Mentions: Bohemians

02:04:38 - Essen Quick Mentions: Galaxy Trucker Do What?!

02:07:26 - Essen Quick Mentions: Neuroshima Hex

02:09:54 - Essen Quick Mentions: Castle Combo Out of the Oubliette

02:10:43 - Essen Quick Mentions: Underwater Cities Data Era

02:11:45 - Essen Quick Mentions: Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth Allies

02:12:47 - Essen Quick Mentions: Forest Shuffle Darkmoor

02:16:55 - Essen Quick Mentions: Qwirkle Flex

02:18:10 - Essen Quick Mentions: Honsu and Hokaido

02:19:52 - Essen Quick Mentions: Recall

02:21:26 - Essen Quick Mentions: Civolution Acceptance Letter

02:23:27 - Essen Quick Mentions: Federation Piracy

02:23:58 - Essen Quick Mentions: Inferno Plutus & Phlegyas

02:25:13 - Essen Quick Mentions: Neue Ortskarten No6

02:26:52 - Essen Quick Mentions: Terra Mystica Fan Factions

02:33:48 - Barry's Essen Picks: Feya's Swamp

02:42:42 - Barry's Essen Picks: Carnival of Sins

02:51:51 - Barry's Essen Picks: Wondrous Museum

02:53:14 - Barry's Essen Picks: Rewild

02:58:00 - Essen's Hottest Game: Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock

03:09:44 - Mike's Essen Picks: Fortunes of Scoundrel Bay

03:15:42 - Mike's Essen Picks: The Presence

03:18:14 - Mike's Essen Picks: Junk Art Revolution

03:19:21 - Mike's Essen Picks: Children of the Colossi

Mike and Barry have been scaling giants. Mike's been killing and then running from killers. Barry's been shedding ruins and electrocuting Mothman.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Links mentioned in the episode:

https://www.cmon.com/cmon-acquires-hel-the-last-saga-and-anastyr-ips-from-mythic-games/

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/09/08/passion-in-board-game-profession-has-given-way-to-economic-reality-ludonaute-to-stop-publishing-new-games-in-wake-of-selling-off-colt-express-living-forest-ips/https://ludovox.fr/funforge-en-liquidation-judiciaire-le-dernier-mot-de-son-fondateur/

Container covered in Podcast #8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3c00jAE6EY&t=3694s

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:41 - News: Container Reprint

00:05:33 - News: Wondrous Creatures Expansion

00:09:42 - News: Smallfolk Live

00:14:18 - News: The Game Makers

00:24:42 - News: Galactic Cruise Expansion

00:27:14 - News: Blood Rage Valhalla Map Update

00:32:37 - News: Lone Wolf Legend of the Kai

00:41:03 - News: Ludonaute closing down

00:44:37 - News: Funforge is closed

00:58:21 - News: CMON sell Hel and Anastyr

01:01:11 - News: Ikusa/Samurai Swords/Shogun Reprint

01:03:52 - Quickplays: Ruins

01:09:34 - Quickplays: The Fellowship of the Ring the Trick-Taking Game

01:10:43 - Quickplays: Eclipse 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy

01:14:39 - Quickplays: Fairy Tale Inn

01:19:09 - Quickplays: Cuba The Splendid Little War

01:21:55 - Quickplays: Nemesis

01:29:55 - Quickplays: Unmatched Adventures Tales to Amaze

01:33:05 - Quickplays: Welcome to the Moon

01:36:42 - Played: Mystic Paths

01:53:12 - Played: Terrorscape 2

02:22:15 - Played: Leviathan Wilds

Barry tries to go on a nice adventure while Mike travels back in time to the roaring 1920s via another world.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Links mentioned in the episode:

https://www.cmon.com/project-status/#crowdfunding

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:27 - News: Vampire Survivors The Board Game

00:07:50 - News: Macaraccoon

00:11:13 - News: CMON is very broke

00:19:15 - News: Blood Rage Valhalla

00:33:16 - News: Nanami

00:46:27 - News: Chronicles of Crime Beyond Doubt

00:51:32 - Quickplay: Root

00:54:20 - Quickplay: Tyrants of The Underdark

00:58:14 - Played: The Gamemakers

01:20:09 - Played: Etherstone

01:43:53 - Played: Vantage

02:08:23 - Played: Scarface 1920

02:45:12 - Played: Earthborne Rangers

Mike's taking a hard lesson in train operations while Barry retrains as a prospector.

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Links mentioned in the episode:

Devir Announcement on Ace of Spaces - https://devirgames.com/announcement-about-the-game-ace-of-spades

CGE Announcement on Codenames Hogwarts (best I could find was a Facebook link; sorry!) - https://www.facebook.com/CzechGames/posts/pfbid028GwzgJVPQhrvuF1LcjspdCUHKg6efVZKxujVdW8DFEmKJvScKpWtaCeFpPRd6ruAl

Sections:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:04 - News: The Danes

00:07:16 - News: Brass Pittsburgh

00:25:27 - News: Ringyo

00:33:41 - News: Take

00:37:55 - News: The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game

00:40:36 - News: Twilight Imperium Thunder's Edge

00:46:16 - News: Qwirkle Flex

00:47:49 - News: Crowdfunding Burnout

00:54:50 - News: Blood Rage Valhalla

01:05:18 - News: Ark Nova 3Dition

01:11:06 - News: Ace of Spades Art Controversy

01:19:38 - News: CGE Controversy Update

01:36:12 - Quickplayed: Rajas of the Ganges

01:37:44 - Quickplayed: Spirit Island App

01:41:21 - Quickplayed: Distilled

01:43:56 - Quickplayed: Castle Combo

01:45:00 - Quickplayed: Moon Colony Bloodbath

01:45:04 - Quickplayed: BOOoop.

01:45:11 - Quickplayed: The Gang

01:45:23 - Quickplayed: Unstoppable

01:46:22 - QuickPlayed: Archaeology The New Expedition

01:47:23 - Quickplayed: One Deck Galaxy App

01:48:52 - Quickplayed: Fellowship of the Ring The Trick-Taking Game

01:51:26 - Quickplayed: Kemet

01:56:49 - Played: Tekken The Board Game

02:15:05 - Played: Railways of the Lost Atlas

02:38:16 - Played: Tiletum Prospect for Silver

Mike's taking a trip to another world while Barry decorates 60 gardens.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Zatu Response - https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/07/21/board-game-retailer-zatu-games-denies-exploiting-low-paid-apprentices-toxic-work-culture-claims-after-wave-of-online-criticism/

Asmodee UK AI How to Play Flip7 - https://web.archive.org/web/20250725183753/https://www.asmodee.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-play-flip-7

This is possible thanks to our wonderful supporters on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ReadySteadyPlay

Boardgames with Barry: www.youtube.com/@bgwbarry

Contact us: [email protected]

Sections:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:36 - News: GenCon mini-expansion for The Gang

00:02:15 - News: New Doom Board Games

00:12:30 - News: Codenames Hogwarts

00:23:01 - News: GameFound buys IndieGoGo

00:27:52 - News: Zatu Response on working conditions

00:28:58 - News: Talbetop Tycoon buys more

00:32:15 - News: Flip Voyage on Crowdfunding

00:33:51 - News: Time Troopers Funds

00:37:56 - News: Asmodee's AI How to Play

00:44:06 - News: New Chronicles of Crime

00:51:02 - Quickplay: Scarface 1920

00:54:33 - Played: Luthier

01:06:00 - Played: Wroth

01:20:49 - Played: Lost Ruins of Arnak Adventure Chest

01:30:52 - Played: Pergola

01:57:00 - Played: Vantage