In Episode 275 we return to the mailbag and answer a bunch of our listener's board game related questions.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
1:31 What are some of your go-to games for groups that have varying levels of gamers?
9:55 What are the parts of this hobby that annoy you the most?
13:16 What do you think are the biggest omissions from BGHT feature reviews?
17:36 What is your most played board game (in person)?
21:27 How do you decide between the urge to play something you know you like versus the obligation to play something new?
27:07 Are there groups of family or friends you don't bring out games for or to?
30:40 What are your forever games?
36:09 Which games make you feel clever?
46:12 Can you detail your current game groups?
55:53 Do you have any house rules you use?
58:55 Words of advice for a weekend gaming event inspired by BGHT cons?
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In Episode 274 we give our hot take review on Galactic Cruise covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We cover a poll on board game productions and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Demoniac, Rebirth, Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein, and Thurn and Taxis.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Poll: Which production element is more likely to get you excited about a board game?
06:36 Galactic Cruise Description
09:52 Gameplay and Mechanisms
36:14 Production and Theme
41:43 Final Thoughts
48:15 Demoniac
52:53 Rebirth
1:00:20 Thurn and Taxis
1:05:33 Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein
1:14:02 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 273 we discuss competition and specifically what we think is healthy competition.
We also discuss a poll about cheating in tabletop games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Poll Time: Have you ever experienced intentional cheating when playing a tabletop game?
5:59 Competition: General Thoughts
9:19 What creates healthy competition?
18:48 How has our competitiveness evolved over time?
29:41 How do different games illicit a different competitiveness in you?
49:02 How does your preferred competition level influence your preferred game choices?
54:05 Final Thoughts
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In Episode 272 we discuss the top 5 board game designers that are represented on our game shelves.
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In Episode 271 we give our hot take review on Cosmic Frog covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We also talk about some games that have been on our tables including Creature Comforts, That Time You Killed Me, and March of the Ants.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Cosmic Frog Description
02:41 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:24 Production and Theme
30:55 Final Thoughts
36:06 Creature Comforts
49:05 That Time You Killed Me
54:41 March of the Ants
1:06:22 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 270 we take a look at three retro board games that got us into the hobby with mini reviews of each - D&D Computer Labyrinth Game, Solarquest, and Guillotine.
We also discuss a poll topic on how important it is that board games are 'fun' and whether fun is a useful term when discussing or reviewing board games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Poll Time: Is 'Fun' important to you when playing board games AND is fun a useful term to use when discussing board games.
11:58 Retro Board Games
15:42 Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game
30:50 Solarquest
47:19 Guillotine
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In Episode 269 we discuss all of the games (and many expansions) played during the second half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in Government Camp, Oregon.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Obsession: Characters Expansion
10:51 Terraforming Mars: Prelude
14:26 Pan Am
18:30 Barrage
21:23 Distilled: Cask Strength AND Africa and Middle East Expansion
28:36 Dune: Imperium - Uprising
32:42 Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
36:55 Blood Rage: Gods of Asgard
43:50 Rant! - Blood Rage: Valhalla
52:53 CampCon Final Thoughts
56:29 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 268 we give our hot take review on The Game Makers covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a listener question on best 2 player mid-weight Euro style games, and then we talk about some games that have been on our tables including Age of Comics, Pagan: Fate of Roanoke, and Arborea.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:43 Patreon Question: Best mid-weight Euro game at 2 players?
10:38 The Game Makers Description
12:49 Gameplay and Mechanisms
28:05 Production and Theme
26:25 Final Thoughts
45:00 Age of Comics: The Golden Years
53:14 Arborea
54:48 Pagan: Fate of Roanoke
1:02:33 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 267 we discuss all of the games played during the first half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in Government Camp, Oregon.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
06:02 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth
10:44 Hot Streak
16:21 Tycoon: India 1981
25:42 Cascadia
27:34 Scoville 2nd Edition
33:36 Darwin's Journey
40:02 Wroth
44:06 Wonderland's War
48:20 Vantage
1:03:37 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 266 we discuss mechanisms and board games that were inspired by the theme they represent.
Dave Beck (designer of Distilled and Luthier) also joins us for the discussion and gives us a sneak peak at the upcoming Distilled expansion, Distilled: Cocktails.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Distilled: Cocktails
15:14 Theme Driven Mechanisms
17:25 Obsession
19:39 Woodcraft
21:35 Captain Sonar
28:25 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory
36:14 Wingspan, The Fox Experiment
37:33 Viticulture, Scoville
40:23 Western Legends
45:08 Baseball Highlights 2045, Barrage
49:35 Nemesis, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles
51:33 Android: Netrunner
54:43 Flamme Rouge, Heat: Pedal to the Metal
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In Episode 265 we review and discuss the Wyrmspan: Dragon Academy expansion.
We also discuss what we look for in expansions and what usually makes great expansions for us.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Wyrmspan: Dragon Academy
20:13 Hot Topic: What We Look for in Board Game Expansions
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In Episode 264 we give our hot take review on Stupor Mundi covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on 'Take That' in board games, Chris gives us his 5 year anniversary cocktail segment, and then we talk about some games that have been on our tables including District Noir, and The Lord of Rings: Fate of the Fellowship.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Poll Time: How do you feel about 'Take That' in multiplayer board games?
09:15:Board Game Giveaway Winner Announced
10:30 Stupor Mundi Description
11:01 Gameplay and Mechanisms
36:02 Production and Theme
45:36 Final Thoughts
50:08 5 Year Anniversary Cocktail
54:48 Azul and District Noir
1:01:27 The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
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In Episode 263 we celebrate 5 years of the Board Game Hot Takes Podcast!
Friend of the Show, Leanne, hosts an exciting board game and podcast quiz show for our hosts.
Then we all (as well as several listeners) look back at some of the best episodes and moments from the last 263 episodes.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:55 5th Anniversary Quiz
03:21 Round 1: Spiel de Jahres winners in the style of Poetry for Neanderthals
11:44: Listener Choice - Episode 197 - Top 5 Games We Suck At
12:18 Round 2: Podcast History Trivia
23:20 Listener Choice - Episode 109 - Clans of Caledonia
23:56 Round 3: Formative Games
29:40 Listener Choice - Episode 90 - Great Western Trail and Episode 99 - Top Board Games of All Time 2022 Edition (1-10)
30:55 Round 4: Favorite Games Based on Bad Reviews on BGG
38:50 Listener Choice - BGHT Con Episodes
39:41 Round 5: Review Episodes in Style of Just One
48:35 Round 6: Favorite Games Since 2020
57:55 Top 3 Episodes that Best Represent the BGHT Podcast
58:22 Leanne #3 - Episode 216 - 5 Formative Games - The Games that Made Us Fall In Love With the Board Game Hobby
58:52 Chris #3 - Episode 46 - Kemet: Blood and Sand
1:03:18 Adam #3 - Episode 92 - Unanimous Takes
1:04:55 Tim #3 - Episode 214 - Board Game Topicpalooza
1:06:13 Leanne #2 - Episode 259 - Confessions of a Casual Board Gamer
1:08:12 Chris #2 - Episode 175 - Top 5 Games We Want To Play In 2024
1:12:05 Listener Choice - BGHT Con Episodes
1:12:41 Adam #2 - Episode 145 - SedonaCon Coverage Part 2
1:14:42 Tim #2 - Episode 199 - Hot Topic - You're Just Not My Type
1:16:41 Leanne #1 - Episode 100 Listener Top 20 Board Games
1:22:26 Chris #1 - Episodes 194 and 195 - BigBear Con Coverage
1:25:53 Adam #1 - Episode 190 - Top 5 Desert Island Games (Runners Up - Episode 108 - Top 10 Board Games that Should be Made Into Movies and Episode 185 - Wrong Hot Takes)
1:29:21 Chris Honorable Mentions - Episode 53 - Aquatica and 1 Year Anniversary and Episode 71 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar and Episodes 165, 167, 169, 171 - Board Games as Stories
1:31:17 Tim #1 - Episode 158: Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
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In Episode 262 we give our hot take review on Moon Colony Bloodbath covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on buying games without researching them and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Modern Art, Toy Battle, and Forest Shuffle.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Poll Time: Have you ever bought a game when you were in a store without knowing anything about it before seeing it on the shelf?
08:37 Moon Colony Bloodbath Description
11:01 Gameplay and Mechanisms
23:53 Production and Theme
31:08 Final Thoughts
36:55 Modern Art
44:57 Toy Battle
48:44 Forest Shuffle
1:00:11 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 261 we wrap up the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 1-10.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:26 Chris #10 Terraforming Mars
07:20 Adam #10 Chaosmos
10:42 Tim #10 Grand Austria Hotel
13:44 Chris #9 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
18:45 Adam #9 - Wonderland's War
20:43 Tim #9 - Pulsar 2849
21:53 Chris #8 - Distilled
26:00 Adam #8 - Smartphone, Inc.
28:34 Tim #8 - Everdell
34:16 Chris #7 - Barrage
38:02 Adam #7 - Dune: Imperium
40:38 Tim #7 - Terraforming Mars
41:05 Chris #6 - Gaia Project
43:43 Adam #6 - Dune
47:25 Tim #6 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
48:18 Chris #5 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
49:59 Adam #5 - Baseball Highlights: 2045
53:20 Tim #5 - Dune: Imperium
54:53 Chris #4 - Dune: Imperium
56:04 Adam #4 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory
58:53 Tim #4 - Castles of Burgundy
1:00:03 Chris #3 - Darwin's Journey
1:03:53 Tim #3 - Lorenzo il Magnifico
1:07:12 Chris #2 - Tapestry
1:10:14 Adam #2 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
1:11:59 Tim #2 - Gaia Project
1:13:03 Chris #1 - Star Realms
1:18:23 Adam #1 - Azul
1:21:04 Tim #1 - Darwin's Journey
1:23:56 - Runners Up
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In Episode 260 Rolling Reggie joins us to talk about some of our favorite board games that use dice and why we love the dice mechanisms in those games.
You can find Reggie's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@rolling.reggie
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:45 Top 5 Board Games with Dice
07:00 Spots
10:28 Dice Miner
13:47 Wroth
17:26 Troyes
22:14 Castles of Burgundy
27:03 Sentient
30:28 Rajas of the Ganges
33:33 The White Castle
37:16 Dice Throne
42:30 Tiletum
46:31 Lords of Vegas
49:57 Arcs
53:40 Crystal Palace
57:27 Sagrada
1:00:53 Dune: War for Arrakis
1:05:40 Honorable Mentions: Gang of Dice, Civolution, Fantastic Factories, Bang: The Dice Game, Sky Team
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In Episode 259 our guest host, Danielle, answers our questions about her tastes, preferences, and feelings about the board gaming hobby as a casual board gamer.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Definition of a Casual Board Gamer
05:30 Thinking About Board Games
10:21 Buying/Looking For New Games
17:10 Learning New Games
32:45 Board Game Complexity
33:09 Board Game Conventions
36:00 Board Game Annoyances
47:03 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 258 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 11-20.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Chris #20 Obsession
04:18 Adam #20 Stockpile
05:42 Tim #20 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth
06:53 Chris #19 - La Granja
08:44 Adam #19 - Battle for Rokugan
09:58 Tim #19 - Fromage
12:20 Chris #18 - A Feast for Odin
15:33 Adam #18 - Star Wars Rebellion
16:55 #18 - Clank! Catacombs
19:51 Chris #17 - Kanban EV
23:12 Adam #17 - Gaia Project
24:28 Tim #17 - Endeavor: Deep Sea
26:09 Chris #16 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
28:16 Adam #16 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt
29:19 Tim #16 - Blood Rage
33:26 Chris #15 - Pan Am
36:12 Adam #15 - The Expanse Board Game
37:25 Tim #15 - The Voyages of Marco Polo / Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan
39:27 #14 - Blood Rage
40:32 #14 - Fractal
45:07 Tim #14 - Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
47:41 Chris and Tim #13 - Agricola
1:19:07 Adam #13 - Frozen Frontier
53:58 Chris #12 - 7 Wonders Duel
55:39 Adam #12 - Pan Am
57:15 Tim #12 - Tapestry
1:00:08 Chris #11 - Azul
1:02:20 Adam #11 - Sol: Last Days of a Star
1:03:28 Tim #11 - Arc Nova
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In Episode 257 Mark Johnson from the Board Games To Go podcast joins us to discuss Tigris & Euphrates covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on which modern era our favorite games were from and then talk about some games that have been on our tables including Tycoon: India 1981 and Castles of Tuscany.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Poll Time: What Timeframe was your #1 Favorite Board Game Published Within?
03:39 Intro to Mark Johnson and Board Games To Go
06:48 Tigris & Euphrates Description
09:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms
28:21 Production and Theme
32:39 Final Thoughts
28:28 Tycoon: India 1981
50:41 Castles of Tuscany
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In Episode 256 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 21-30.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:54 Chris #30 Outlive
05:09 Adam #30 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland
08:22 Tim #30 Cyclades: Legendary Edition
12:58 Chris #29 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers
16:17 Adam #29 - SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD
18:29 Tim #29 - Scythe
21:37 Chris #28 - Lost Ruins of Arnak
26:14 Adam #28 - Scout
28:29 #28 - Cthulhu: Death May Die
33:31 Chris #27 - Cascadia
37:27 Adam #27 - Shamans
40:29 Tim #27 - Revive
44:50 Chris #26 - Viticulture Essential Edition
49:19 Adam #26 - Inis
52:56 Tim #26 - Azul
55:20 Chris #25 - Thunder Road: Vendetta
58:21 Adam #25 - Biohack
1:02:34 Tim #25 - Tichu
1:05:29 Chris #24 - Pirates of Maracaibo
1:10:38 Adam #24 - Skull
1:13:19 Tim #24 - Space Base
1:17:01 Chris #23 - Wonderland's War
1:19:07 Adam #23 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
1:21:16 Tim #23 - Rising Sun
1:22:47 Chris #22 - Clank! In! Space!
1:26:15 Adam #22 - Marrakesh
1:31:41 Tim #22 - Woodcraft
1:34:09 Chris #21 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods
1:38:40 Adam #21 - Terraforming Mars
1:40:43 Tim #21 - Sea Salt & Paper
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