Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 325 we discuss a handful of recent games that we've been playing.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Gaming Weekend Preferences

08:19 Mille Fiori

20:18 Druids of Edora

33:14 Deep Regrets

43:35 Cthulhu: Death May Die - R'lyeh Rising

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In Episode 324 we give our hot take review on Drillers covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on Board Game Packaging and then discuss some games on our table including Sky 5, Forbidden Stars, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Poll Time: How important is the board game box?

12:14 Drillers Description

13:57 Gameplay and Mechanisms

27:41 Production and Theme

38:10 Final Thoughts

44:02 Sky 5

51:15 Forbidden Stars

1:06:55 The Hobbit: There and Back Again

1:13:05 Listener Shoutout

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In Episode 323 we're joined by board game designer Connie Vogelmann to discuss our top 3 board games we wish we'd designed.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:56 Connie tells us about Tideward and Weaver Birds

12:16 Top 3 board games we wish we'd designed

15:26 Baseball Highlights 2045

19:04 The Gang

23:05 Dominion

26:27 Glass Road / Black Forest

33:03 Smartphone, Inc.

36:34 It's a Wonderful World

40:14 Blue Lagoon

44:47 Nemesis

49:56 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

52:58 Fromage

58:54 Super Motherload

1:04:08 Nexus Ops

1:12:29 Will the BGHT Hosts ever design a board game?

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In Episode 322 we discuss epic (big, long) board games. How do you define an epic game? Are they worth the time investment? What games do you consider epic games? How often do you want to be playing them?

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In Episode 321 we give our hot take review on Bus covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on Duel Games and then discuss some games on our table including Ostia, Gunsen, and Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Poll Time: How do you feel about Duel games?

12:12 Bus Description

14:15 Gameplay and Mechanisms

29:01 Production and Theme

33:39 Final Thoughts

38:20 Ostia

51:26 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo

55:57 Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon

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In Episode 320 we discuss the board game collecting as a part of the hobby. Do we consider ourselves collectors? What makes an interesting collection? Why do board games make good (or bad) collections?

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In Episode 319 we give our hot take review on Gunsen COLON The Battle for Toshi Ranbo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on whether its okay to concede in a 2-player game and then discuss some games on our table including Ants, World Order, and Origin Story: Heroes and Villains.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Poll Time: Is it acceptable to concede in a 2-player game?

12:38 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo Description

14:29 Gameplay and Mechanisms

40:10 Production and Theme

44:56 Final Thoughts

52:25 Ants

1:03:37 World Order

1:11:52 Origin Story: Heroes and Villains

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In Episode 318 we answer a bunch of mailbag questions asked by our Patreon supporters.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:39 What's your Spirit Game?

04:39 Have you ever sold or traded a game away but later decided you wanted it back in your collection?

10:07 What games are just dumb fun?

15:03 Are there any games you'd like to see get a digital implementation?

19:39 What are your most gifted games?

24:57 What game was reimplemented wrong and the original was much better?

30:39 What is the first favorite happy moment in board gaming that comes to mind?

36:10 Will we ever attend another public board game convention?

39:53 How have you grown as a person through playing board games?

44:48 If you could only play 2 games the rest of your life which ones would you select and why?

49:00 What are your Grail Games to play and/or own?

57:21 What mics and DAWs do we own and other questions about creating the podcast?

1:02:48 Which games are worse to play on Board Game Arena than in person?

1:07:21 How did the hosts of the show meet?

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In Episode 317 we give our hot take review on Wondrous Creatures covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on discovery vs. mastery and also discuss some games that have ALMOST been on our table including World Order and Distilled: Cocktails.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Poll Time: Which do you enjoy most about enjoying board games - Discovery or Mastery?

10:20 Wondrous Creatures Description

12:28 Gameplay and Mechanisms

30:07 Production and Theme

37:12 Final Thoughts

44:39 World Order

51:32 Distilled: Cocktails

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In Episode 316 we play and discuss many of our favorite party games and you can play along with us.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:37 Balderdash

11:04 Wavelength

18:05 Green Team Wins

22:59 Skull

27:18 Poetry for Neanderthals

31:12 Scattergories

35:57 Flip 7

39:57 Hot Streak

43:59 Heads Up!

48:58 Mad Gab

53:48 Scattergories: Categories

56:17 Subjective

1:01:33 Wits and Wagers

1:04:31 Challengers!

1:10:41 Codenames

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In Episode 315 we discuss our top 3 resource economies in board games.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Beat The Expert Contest Winners

04:43 Top 3 Resource Economies in Board Games (Brass: Birmingham, Clans of Caledonia)

13:12 Tinner's Trail

19:33 Power Grid

24:02 Modern Art

28:05 Keyflower

34:51 Creature Comforts

40:58 Smartphone, Inc.

44:58 M.U.L.E. The Board Game

51:19 Arborea

56:33 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

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In Episode 314 we give our hot take review on Entropy covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on how other people's experience at the game table impacts you and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Pokemon Modern Art, Wavelength, and Duel of Meloch.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Poll Time: Does another player's bad experience impact your enjoyment of a board game

09:00 Beat the Experts Contest Update

11:50 Entropy Description

13:45 Gameplay and Mechanisms

31:54 Production and Theme

41:06 Final Thoughts

51:36 Pokemon Modern Art

53:26 Wavelength

58:32 Duel of Meloch

1:10:17 Listener Shoutout

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In Episode 313 we discuss a bunch of recent games that we've been playing. We also catch listeners up on the BGHT Beat The Expert Contest.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

08:52 Dawn of Madness

24:18 Trio / nana

29:23 Wingspan Pocket

48:17 Sanibel

46:30 Mister Diamond

51:07 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo

1:01:22 Stationfall

1:10:37 Dominant Species

1:14:46 Railroad Tiles

If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes

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In Episode 312 we conclude the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Tournament of Champions Contest Update

03:25 Ark Nova

06:17 Azul

08:14 Pan Am

12:33 The Castles of Burgundy

16:27 Ankh: Gods of Egypt

19:23 Star Realms

23:41 Grand Austria Hotel

27:06 March of the Ants: Evolved Edition

29:16 Terraforming Mars

32:11 Nucleum

36:37 Pan Am

37:31 Blood Rage

39:54 Civolution

42:50 Smartphone, Inc.

45:33 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

48:12 Everdell

50:37 Wonderland's War

52:28 Gaia Project

55:29 Agricola

57:13 Sol: Last Days of a Star

1:02:44 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

1:05:28 Clank! Catacombs

1:08:20 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory

1:10:31 Distilled

1:15:18 Gaia Project

1:17:31 Dune: Imperium

1:20:25 Darwin's Journey

1:25:56 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

1:30:19 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

1:33:54 Tapestry

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In Episode 311 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Contest Announcement

05:10 Underwater Cities

08:33 Tycoon India 1981

11:03 Luthier

16:00 Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

19:50 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

22:31 Speakeasy

26:18 Blood Rage

29:05 The Expanse Board Game

32:45 Echoes of Time

35:55 Cthulhu: Death May Die

41:06 Blood Rage

42:02 Endeavor: Deep Sea

44:32 Darwin's Journey

47:12 Lords of Vegas

49:16 Teotihuacan: City of Gods

53:16 Lost Ruins of Arnak

56:53 Dune: War for Arrakis

58:40 La Granja

1:02:33 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

1:05:26 Stockpile

1:08:21 Obsession

1:12:31 Wonderland's War

1:14:18 Baseball Highlights: 2045

1:16:47 Agricola

1:19:52 Terraforming Mars

1:21:24 Gaia Project

1:23:41 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar

1:27:05 Tichu

1:29:54 Dune: Imperium - Uprising

1:31:21 Lost Ruins of Arnak

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In Episode 310 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 21-30.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:43 Le Havre

04:10 Shamans

07:02 Wonderland's War

09:22 Emberleaf

11:54 Tag Team

14:56 Azul

18:22 Marco Polo II: In The Service of the Khan

21:19 Emberleaf

23:44 Heat: Pedal to the Metal

27:28 Sea Salt & Paper

30:05 Frozen Frontier

33:36 Thurn & Taxis

37:00 Tapestry

40:22 Barrage

43:00 Reforest

45:50 Pirates of Maracaibo

48:10 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland

50:47 Civolution

53:16 Moon Colony Bloodbath

55:36 Battle for Rokugan

58:07 Ark Nova

1:01:55 Scythe

1:05:41 Dune

1:08:20 Scythe

1:09:32 Endeavor: Deep Sea

1:11:58 Terraforming Mars

1:14:27 7 Wonders Duel

1:17:27 Revive

1:19:47 Fractal

1:22:41 Barrage

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In Episode 309 we continue the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 31-40.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Reforest

03:42 Ada's Dream

05:53 Rats of Wistar

08:57 March of the Ants - Evolved Edition

11:33 Brass: Birmingham

14:26 Yokohama

17:36 Thunder Road: Vendetta

22:30 Reforest

23:28 Crokinole

25:52 Rebirth

27:37 Echoes of Time

29:07 A Feast for Odin

33:27 Rising Sun

35:00 Biohack

36:43 Revive

39:10 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

42:50 Soothsayers

46:02 Godspeed

49:16 Stupor Mundi

53:40 Robot Quest Arena

54:29 Splendor: Duel

58:22 Clans of Caledonia

1:02:18 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization

1:03:45 Thunder Road: Vendetta

1:06:06 Boast or Nothing

1:08:11 Survive the Island

1:11:27 Outlive

1:15:44 Keyflower

1:18:54 SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD

1:22:33 Clank! In! Space!

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In Episode 308 we start the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 41-50.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:50 Anachrony

06:31 Spirit Island

09:44 Let's Go To Japan

13:56 Harmonies

16:12 Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

17:32 Maracaibo

20:31 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization

22:02 Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico The Card Game

24:19 Biohack

27:05 Azul

28:51 Pax Pamir 2nd Edition

30:50 Cascadia

33:45 Woodcraft

36:10 Speakeasy

37:53 Emberleaf

42:39 The White Castles Duel

44:55 Revive

47:30 The Guild of Merchant Explorers

50:48 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game

53:51 Xenon Profiteer

55:08 Nemesis

1:00:16 Voidfall

1:02:41 Star Wars: Rebellion

1:03:59 Robot Quest Arena

1:06:41 Slay the Spire: The Board Game

1:11:39 High Society

1:12:49 Smartphone, Inc.

1:15:51 Tzolk'in The Mayan Calendar

1:17:54 Age of Galaxy

1:19:57 Cthulhu: Death May Die

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In Episode 307 we reflect on the year of 2026 in board gaming at this mid point to talk about some of our favorite (and most disappointing) board games and experiences so far.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

1:30 Which game do you want to take on a 2nd date after your first play in 2026? (Speakeasy, Off With Their Heads, Ada's Dream)

4:33 Which games hit the table more than any other this year? (Azul, Darwin's Journey, Obsession, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Tapestry, Formaggio, Captain Flip, Sea Salt & Paper, The White Castle Duel, Boast or Nothing, Dune: War for Arrakis, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, Unicorn Fever)

07:47 What game's production and art has impressed you the most over the last 6 months? (Echoes of Time, Speakeasy, Dune: War for Arrakis)

13:28 What was your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment? (Steam Power, Reforest, The Old King's Crown, Earthborne Rangers, Aquaria, Tag Team, Amalfi: Renaissance)

22:36 What has been your most reliable introductory board game? (Flip 7, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Azul, Subjective, Lords of Vegas, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire )

28:50 Which 10+ years old title did you first discovery this year? (Thurn and Taxis, Parade, Medici: The Card Game, Biblios)

33:50 What's currently at the top of your wishlist? (Dawn of Madness, Everdell: Emerland, Entropy)

38:22 What's a creator, podcast, or channel that made your year better? (Punchboard Cathedral, Winner's Bias, Board Game Hangover)

45:00 What's your favorite episode you've created this year?

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In Episode 306 we give our hot take review on Amalfi: Renaissance covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.

We discuss a poll on kingmaking and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Unicorn Fever and Parade and Chris covers his first impressions after unboxing Dawn of Madness.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Poll Time: Kingmaking Decision

07:56 Amalfi: Renaissance Description

09:47 Gameplay and Mechanisms

20:27 Production and Theme

25:41 Final Thoughts

32:37 Unicorn Fever

39:10 Dawn of Madness Unboxing Thoughts

43:32 Parade

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