The Thoughtful Gamer Podcast

The Thoughtful Gamer Podcast episodes:

• 12.24.2022

  Ep 104: PAX Unplugged 2022

  Apologies for the sound quality -- Lindsay got a new mic and it... did not work well, to say the least. Anyways, we all went to PAX Unplugged once again and it was the least stressful PAX yet. We found...

  
• 07.22.2022

  Ep 103: Q’s and A’s

  You've got questions and I've got answers! I cover everything from wargames to babies to cooking to economics. 2:43 - #1: Most impactful game of the last 30 years9:31 - #2: Best game to play while holding a baby11:27 - #3:...

  
• 07.19.2022

  Review - Catch the Moon

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/07/18/catch-the-moon-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 07.11.2022

  Review - Can’t Stop

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/07/11/cant-stop-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 07.05.2022

  Review From The Archives - Mysterium

  Because of the holiday, here's a fresh recording of an old review. Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2017/09/27/mysterium-review/   Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 06.27.2022

  Review - Spades and the Appeal of Trick-Takers

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/06/27/spades-and-the-appeal-of-trick-takers/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 06.22.2022

  Review - Anno 1800

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/06/21/anno-1800-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 06.17.2022

  Ep 102: A Conversation With Jackson Pope and Paul Willcox about FlickFleet

  I sit down with Jackson Pope and Paul Willcox from Eurydice games to talk about their gaming journey and the design and (handmade!) production of FlickFleet, which is about to launch on Gamefound with its fourth expansion. Links:  Website: www.eurydicegames.co.ukGamefound: https://gamefound.com/projects/eurydice-games-ltd/flickfleet-xeno-warsJack on twitter: twitter.com/jackson_popePaul on...

  
• 06.14.2022

  Review - Shobu

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/06/14/shobu-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 06.08.2022

  I Need Your Help For The Thoughtful Gamer to Continue

  See more details here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/06/08/i-need-your-help-for-the-thoughtful-gamer-to-continue/ Support The Thoughtful Gamer on Patreon

  
• 06.07.2022

  Review - Through the Ages

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/06/07/through-the-ages-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 06.03.2022

  Ep 101: Sports as Game Design

  Sports are games too, you know. In this episode, Marc, Matt, and Bubba sit down to talk about various sports rules and controversies and analyze them as game design. What are they optimizing for? Whose interests do they serve? What's...

  
• 05.31.2022

  Review - EXIT: The Forgotten Island and The House of Riddles

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/05/31/two-final-exit-games-forgotten-island-and-house-of-riddles/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 05.26.2022

  Review: Babylonia

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/05/25/babylonia-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 05.23.2022

  Review: Pan Am

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/05/17/pan-am-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 05.11.2022

  Review: Blackbrim 1878

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/05/10/review-blackbrim-1876/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 05.08.2022

  Ep 100: Pax East 2022

  We're back where it all started for episode 100: Pax East. Marc and Orion discuss a number of heavy euro games they played at the convention (including one surprise hit), and get excited about NISEI. 4:26 - Ark Nova13:22 - Space...

  
• 04.28.2022

  Review: That Time You KIlled Me

  Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/04/27/that-time-you-killed-me-review/ Like the podcast? Want to watch it being recorded, live? Consider supporting it on Patreon.

  
• 04.01.2022

  Bonus Episode: ”The Mind” Liveplay

  Here at The Thoughtful Gamer we're no strangers to innovation. We look risk and uncertainty in their faces and say "what, that's all you've got? I am unimpressed." Some may argue that audio is not the medium for board gaming,...

  
• 03.29.2022

  Review: Codenames Duet

  An audio version of my written Codenames Duet review. I heard from some people that they would appreciate my reviews in audio form, so this is going to become a regular thing. Originally posted here: https://thethoughtfulgamer.com/2022/03/28/codenames-duet-review/ Like the podcast? Want to...

  
• 03.25.2022

  Ep 99: Top 100 Games Of All Time 2022 Edition (Part 4)

  It's finally here, and bigger than ever! Marc, Lindsay, and Orion count down their respective top 25 games of all time for triple the list. Plus there are puns. So, so many puns. I've marked each of them in the...

  
• 03.18.2022

  Ep 98: Top 100 Games Of All Time 2022 Edition (Part 3)

  Marc, Orion, and Lindsay sit down to go over Marc's top games list, numbers 50-26. There are some big movers on this section of the list, even this high up, and a wide variety of games. Lindsay continues with the...

  
• 03.11.2022

  Ep 97: Top 100 Games Of All Time 2022 Edition (Part 2)

  The countdown continues, with Marc, Marc, Lindsay, and Orion! SPOILERS BELOW . . . . . . . . . . 0:42 - A peek behind the curtain2:10 - #75: London 2e3:32 - #74: Union Station5:21 - #73: Empyreal Spells and Steam8:03 - #72: Battle for Biternia9:49 - #71: Harvest11:40 -...

  
• 03.05.2022

  Ep 96: Top 100 Games Of All Time 2022 Edition (Part 1)

  We're back! Marc, Marc, (that's not a typo) Lindsay, and Orion discuss the first quarter of Marc's top 100 games of all time. This segment contains both the newest and the oldest games on the entire list. SPOILERS BELOW. . . . . . . . . . . 0:58 -...

  
• 02.04.2022

  Ep 95: Best Games of 2020 (and more!)

  Amber and Marc talk about the best games of 2020. The pandemic slowed down game playing so we've delayed this episode a year to allow for more gaming before we declare what is the "best". We also look at the...

  
• 01.02.2022

  Some Changes To The Podcast For 2022

  Just a quick announcement about some changes that'll be happening to the podcast and The Thoughtful Gamer generally going forward. In short, I'm going to stop trying to force a new episode every 2 weeks and instead record episodes when I...

  
• 12.28.2021

  Ep 94: PAX Unplugged 2021

  Conventions are sort of back! Marc, Amber, Lindsay, and Orion drove down to Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago to go to one of the best board game conventions around, and they played tons of games! Marc's on the verge...

  
• 11.21.2021

  Ep 93: Chillcast 4: Chill Again

  It's another chillcast, this time with Marc and Amber. It...well, it gets a bit silly. I'm sorry. 1:09 - Literally we talk about the weather3:52 - Oceans13:41 - Boardgames: The Board Game (The Card Game)18:24 - The City20:52 - Marc explains...

  
• 11.05.2021

  Ep 92: A Conversation with Austin Smokowicz about Robotech Reconstruction

  Austin's enthusiasm for Robotech Reconstruction is plain to see (hear?) in this podcast. As one half of the Dr. Wictz design team, he's gone deep into the lore of this classic anime to create a fascinating game exploring its political...

  
• 10.24.2021

  Ep 91: A Conversation With Jason Perez On Colonialism In Board Games

  Marc sits down with Jason Perez from Shelf Stories to talk about colonialism in board games. Along the way they also touch on social media, moral philosophy, and a couple of tangential rants, as is tradition.  0:30 - Jason's projects9:25 -...

  
• 10.11.2021

  Ep 90: Card and Dice Poll Discussion

  Marc sits down with Erik Twice, Ryan LaFlamme, and Andrew Holmes to ask each of them about their approaching to selecting their 10 greatest board games of all time.  3:21 - Erik Twice's approach to selecting his top 107:41 - Why...

  
• 10.03.2021

  Ep 89: Dice, Fights, and Dividends: Some First Impressions

  Marc and Ben talk about a few of the new games they've been playing. They're...all good? It feels weird to have an episode this positive, but there you go. 0:58 - Dice Command11:55 - Battle for Biternia31:37 - Boardgames: The Board...

  
• 09.03.2021

  Ep 88: Tile-Laying Games

  Amber and Marc discuss tile-laying games since they've been playing a number of them lately. What makes tile-laying so compelling? Why is it a feature in so many of our favorite games? 1:29 -- Carpe Diem3:46 -- Is Carpe Diem simpler...

  
• 08.21.2021

  Ep 87: A Conversation with James Naylor

  I sit down with James to talk about his excellent debut game, Magnate: The First City, as well as his next project, cleverly titled Boardgames: The Board Game (The Card Game), and his podcast called Producing Fun. Magnate is such...

  
• 08.08.2021

  Ep 86: Chillcast 3: Revenge of Chill

  Marc and Ben have been playing a lot of new games, and you're going to hear about it! Come chill with us. 0:59 -- My City5:13 -- Coldwater Crown11:06 -- For Science!19:51 -- Legends of Andor27:11 -- Downfall33:31 -- Exodus Fleet38:29...

  
• 07.24.2021

  Ep 85: A Conversation with Dan Thurot on Board Game Criticism

  Dan Thurot has been reviewing board games for a number of years now, and for my money he's the best in the business. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to talk about games criticism, and in the...

  
• 07.13.2021

  Ep 84: Golf, Disc Golf, and Course Design

  Marc and Bubba sit down to discuss two different forms of golf. They're still games, just on a larger scale. What makes them compelling as games, and what kinds of lessons can we learn about board games by looking at...

  
• 06.30.2021

  Ep 83: Pain

  Straight from the mind of Amber, this is an episode where she and Marc discuss games that are "painful". Marc prefers the word "tense". Regardless of what you call it, there's a reason Agricola is both known as "Misery Farm"...

  
• 06.01.2021

  Ep 82: Reiner Knizia

  Amber and Marc are here to talk about perhaps the most prolific board game designer of all time: Reiner Knizia. Going strong since the early 90's, Knizia is a master of making a game no more complex than needed. His...

  
• 05.15.2021

  Ep 81: A Conversation with Dan Kazmaier about Chai: Tea For 2

  Dan and I chat about game design, his experience as a top-tier chess player, and, of course, tea! Check out Steeped Games and the Chai Tea For 2 Kickstarter, live now. 0:00 -- Creation of both Chai games10:16 -- Dan's history with...

  
• 05.05.2021

  Ep 80: Solo

  I'm by myself talking about solo games. I got a bit experimental with this one. I hope you enjoy. 0:32 -- A note on silence3:43 -- Solo games6:10 -- Arraial7:35 -- My thoughts on the Fantasy Flight Arkham games15:37 -- Arkham...

  
• 04.10.2021

  Ep 79: A Conversation With Cole Wehrle

  I was delighted to sit down with one of our most interesting historical and conflict game designers, Cole Wehrle. The discussion starts with talking about the second edition of John Company (on Kickstarter right now) before wandering to the the...

  
• 03.24.2021

  Ep 78: 18xx Revisited

  Marc, Orion, and Ben have been playing all sorts of 18xx games over the past year, and they're here to compare and contrast the five they've played the most. How much variation is there within this sub-sub-genre of game? What...

  
• 02.21.2021

  Ep 77: A Conversation With Sean Chappell About Hivernation

  I sat with Sean Chappell from Ramstar Games to talk about their first release: Hivernation. We discuss the design process for this abstract game as well as the challenges of being a first-time designer and publisher. Hivernation will be on...

  
• 02.09.2021

  Ep 76: Conventions in the Time of COVID -- With Kimberly Revia

  I sit down with Kimberly, one of the co-organizers of the excellent Granite Game Summit, to talk about how to run a great board game convention. And, now that everything is necessarily virtual, how do you continue to keep that...

  
• 01.24.2021

  Ep 75: Adventure

  We're getting in touch with our feelings with this one. What can board games do to evoke a sense of adventure? Can board games do this, or is it a poor medium for the concept? How is adventure distinct from...

  
• 01.06.2021

  Ep 74: Top 100 Games of All Time 2020 Edition (part 3)

  This is it, the best of the best! Will Gloomhaven retain its top spot? What new entries have catapulted their way into the top 33? Marc and Orion discuss, with only occasional interruptions from the new (very talkative!) kitten. His...

  
• 12.19.2020

  Ep 73: Top 100 Games of All Time 2020 Edition (part 2)

  Marc and Orion are back with the second of three installments discussing Marc's top 100 games of all time! This episode brings the most contention and disagreement yet as Marc and Orion's tastes diverge and become more clear. Plus, we...

  
• 12.03.2020

  Ep 72: Top 100 Games of All Time 2020 Edition (Part 1)

  WE'RE BACK! After an unplanned hiatus during the chaos times we're back with a new iteration of the top 100 games of all time! 44 of the games are brand new to the list, so there's lots of movement and surprises....

  
• 04.19.2020

  Bonus! Ikoria MtG Set Analysis for Limited

  Matt and Marc are back at it with wild speculation about the new Magic set. Since we rambled on forever, making this a very difficult podcast to edit, the set has released already and we're already regretting some of the...