Shelf Stable: A Board Game Podcast

It feels good to move these old bones. Let us rejoice by consuming and expelling media in the only way we know how: listicles. Listicles everywhere. Spilling the final blood of a year that we are ready to kick into the past like a horse that does not wish to be ridden.

Year In Review v25

7:22 - Top games we played

18:35 - Bottom games we played

22:08 - Unexpected and got rid of

32:25 - Lookback at 2020

49:33 - Outside the scope

55:13 - Predictions 2025

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*Give or take the games we mentioned before the main topic.

As Tom begins to close in on Kenny's position, a wild Eize Basa of Twitter (RIP) and now Bluesky fame (https://bsky.app/profile/eizebasa.baby) appears and distracts Tom with a fantastic list of games that every family is sure to enjoy during their holiday gatherings. No need for family arguments when you've got board games to play!

Games we played:

8:06 - Win, Lose, or Banana (2009, Chris Cieslik, Asmadi)

11:34 - Twilight Struggle (2005, Ananda Gupta, Jason Matthews, GMT)

19:15 - Azul (aka, "The Christmas Game") (2017, Michael Kiesling, Next Move)

23:45 - Texas Hold 'Em (1950-something, Felton "Corky" McCorquodale, Public Domain)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

34:41 - ZERTZ (and YINSH) (1999, Kris Brum, Huch)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

42:26 - 8 or 9 Games to play during the holidays

Bibliography:

Follow Eize Basa on BlueSky! - https://bsky.app/profile/eizebasa.baby

Follow us on BlueSky! - https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

"How Does Dobble (Spot it!) Work?" by Stand Up Maths - https://youtu.be/VTDKqW_GLkw?si=CGlVrMalHC7eIGAK

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Taylor Allen of Shelf Stable canon fame helps Tom Bowers continue the quest to find Kenny after his mysterious disappearance. Will they manage to get away from complaining about Quacks and Final Girl long enough to find any solid clues? Or will they instead alienate their audience with discussions about Magic the Gathering and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? The only way to know is to tune in...

Games we played:

8:19 - Hansa Teutonica (2009, Andreas Steding, Z-Man Games)

13:13 - Aboretum (2015, Dan Cassar, Renegade Game Studios)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

20:28 - Letters from Whitechapel (2011, Gabriele Mari, Gianluca Santopietro, Fantasy Flight Games)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

27:06 - The BoardGameGeek Top 100 Reviewed

Bibliography:

Follow us on BlueSky! - https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

"Money Please" (Parks and Rec) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGvWbsTDPHU

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Jack the Ripper comes out of a horse (Trigger warning: gore, animal cruelty) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRcKpewpZQ

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Tom Brewster of Shut Up and Sit Down helps Tom Bowers take over the show in Kenny's unprecedented and unexpected absence. Will Tom and Tom manage to solve the mystery of Kenny's disappearance? Or will they simply yap about board games for nearly two hours and uncover the forbidden secrets of how to break into every Zoomer's dream career: becoming a YouTube celebrity? There's only one way to find out...

Games we played:

6:35 - Mexica (2002, Wolfgang Kramer & Michael Kiesling, Iello)

10:40 - Memoir '44 (2004, Richard Borg, Days of Wonder)

18:13 - Terra Mystica (2012, Jens Drogemuller & Helge Ostertag, Feuerland Spiele)

28:08 - BANG! (2002, Emiliano Sciarra, DV Games)

34:08 - (Bonus) Western Legends (2018, Hervé Lemaître, Kolossal Games)

100 Games To Play Before You Die:

37:08 - Cosmic Encounter (1977, Bill Eberle & Jack Kittredge & Bill Norton & Peter Olotka & Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight Games, et al.)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic (the real Meat and Potatoes):

47:56 - Making a Living as a Board Game Critic

Bibliography:

Follow us on BlueSky! - https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Roadman "Big" Shaq "The Ting Goes (Man's not hot)" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jlviX88iw

Matt Lees in the Genius Annotations of "Lamborghini" by KSI: https://genius.com/5046168

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bringing back all the classics in this one. Hope you're not a new listener because there will be a lot of unexplained mysteries. You know what? It still might be funny even without context. That's how good we are. I don't know... maybe I'm getting full of myself. Oh no. Am I getting full of myself? Please, somebody humble me quick! I'm not worthy...

Games we played:

4:22 - Belle of the Ball (2014, Daniel Solis, Dice Hate Me)

8:37 - Chinatown (1999, Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man)

14:49 - LLAMA (2019, Reiner Knizia, AMIGO)

19:13 - Nations (2013, Rustan Håkansson & Nina Håkansson & Einar Rosén & Robert Rosén, Lautapelit)

100 games before you die:

27:56 - Istanbul (2014, Rüdiger Dorn, Pegasus Spiele)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

31:26 - Nice

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the year 2035. A retired Jim Carrey and Christopher Walken emerge from their stasis e-pods for one more film. A film to put all others to shame. Characteristics of Games: a Garfield Movie. The story of a little boy who was most definitely a villager even though nobody believed him.

Games we played:

2:50 - The King is Dead (2020 og2015, Peer Sylvester, Osprey)

7:35 - MTG Jumpstart (2020 og 1993, Doug Beyer et al, WotC)

14:21 - Cleopatra and the Society of Architects (2006, Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Days of Wonder)

21:30 - Twice as Clever! (2019, Wolfgang Warsch, Stronghold)

100 games before you die:

26:57 - Acquire (1963, Sid Sackson, Avalon Hill)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

32:47 - Characteristics of Games Pt. 2

Characteristics of Games (2012, George Skaff Elias & Richard Garfield & K. Robert Gutschera, MIT Press)

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542692/characteristics-of-games

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why so serious? Bou-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ki-ki ki-ki hee-hee hee-hee. This beatbox really makes you feel like Joker and that's why it's powerful.

Bibliography:

If Joker could beat box https://youtu.be/qrAXRSBv-co?si=TuSR14tPoEhoP1b-

Makes you feel like Spider-Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1SpVYmcTGM

It's about family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAoa-Ss6zS0

Games we played:

4:01 - Rheinländer (1999, Reiner Knizia, Face2Face)

8:56 - Downforce (2017, Rob Daviau & Justin D. Jacobson & Wolfgang Kramer, Restoration)

15:21 - Innovation (2010, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi)

18:36 - Mandala (2019, Trevor Benjamin & Brett J. Gilbert, Lookout)

100 games before you die:

21:57 - Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game (2012, Jay Little, Fantasy Flight)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

28:16 - A Game Unto Itself

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Somehow, Monopoly DEAL returned... I don't know how it keeps worming its way in. The game is like a mind virus. Not too surprising given that Monopoly DEAL is the epitome of a trick-taker.

2:49 - Intro: Daniel Newman

8:34 - We Have to Know!

How pharmaceuticals get their names https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2025/07/decoder-ring-explores-the-mysteries-of-the-universe-and-your-medicine-cabinet

Games we played:

18:24 - Magical Athlete (2025 og2003, Takashi Ishida & Richard Garfield, CMYK)

Topic:

22:51 - Everything is Trick-Taking

Cho-Han https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/419710/cho-han-trick-taking-game

MTG Japanese promo https://magicuntapped.com/index.php/articles/one-and-done-the-story-of-the-only-shichifukujin-dragon-in-existence

The Fluffy Rite https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/187714/exultate-deo-the-fluffy-rite

Where to find Daniel:

Newmill Industries https://www.newmillindustries.com

Indie Games Night Market at PAXU, Sat Nov 22 https://www.newmillindustries.com/ignm

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/dnlnwmn.bsky.social

Songs:

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the year 2035. All games have been through a meta-battle royale, and the only game remaining is Pokemon GO. Run into incoming traffic to make sure you stay in the circle. Remember kids, if you die in the game, you die in real life.

Games we played:

2:29 - The Great Dalmuti (1995, Richard Garfield, AMIGO)

6:02 - Pentago (2005, Tomas Flodén, MindTwister USA)

16:37 - Legendary A Marvel Deck Building Game (2012, Devin Low, Upper Deck)

20:10 - For Sale (1997, Stefan Dorra, Eagle-Gryphon)

100 games before you die:

24:26 - Wingspan (2019, Elizabeth Hargrave, Stonemaier)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

26:00 - Characteristics of Games Pt. 1

Characteristics of Games (2012, George Skaff Elias & Richard Garfield & K. Robert Gutschera, MIT Press)

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542692/characteristics-of-games

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brace yourself. It's not like we typically make much sense anyway, but this one is around 60% words that are not present in any language. If you've been curious about trying out City of Six Moons, might I recommend listening to the second half of this episode as a sort of audiobook primer?

The worst volume slider uxdesign.cc/the-worst-volume-control-ui-in-the-world-60713dc86950?gi=c7b969c245cd

Arkhipov Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Arkhipov

Games we played:

4:50 - Billabong (1992, Eric Solomon, SimplyFun)

9:37 - Spynet (2017, Richard Garfield, Z-Man)

14:02 - 18MS: The Railroads Come to Mississippi (2020, Mark Derrick, All-Aboard)

18:07 - Seas of Strife (2015, Mark Major, AMIGO)

100 games before you die:

21:36 - Lords of Waterdeep (2012, Peter Lee and Rodney Thompson, WotC)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

26:00 - Kiki or Bouba

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices