Board Game Hot Takes

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 Introduction02:55 5th Anniversary Quiz03:21 Round 1: Spiel de Jahres winners in the style of Poetry for Neanderthals11:44: Listener Choice - Episode 197 - Top 5 Games We Suck At12:18 Round 2: Podcast History Trivia23:20 Listener Choice - Episode 109 - Clans of Caledonia23:56 Round 3: Formative Games29:40 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 BGG38:50 Listener Choice - BGHT Con Episodes39:41 Round 5: Review Episodes in Style of Just One48:35 Round 6: Favorite Games Since 202057:55 Top 3 Episodes that Best Represent the BGHT Podcast58:22 Leanne #3 - Episode 216 - 5 Formative Games - The Games that Made Us Fall In Love With the Board Game Hobby58:52 Chris #3 - Episode 46 - Kemet: Blood and Sand1:03:18 Adam #3 - Episode 92 - Unanimous Takes1:04:55 Tim #3 - Episode 214 - Board Game Topicpalooza 1:06:13 Leanne #2 - Episode 259 - Confessions of a Casual Board Gamer1:08:12 Chris #2 - Episode 175 - Top 5 Games We Want To Play In 20241:12:05 Listener Choice - BGHT Con Episodes1:12:41 Adam #2 - Episode 145 - SedonaCon Coverage Part 21:14:42 Tim #2 - Episode 199 - Hot Topic - You're Just Not My Type1:16:41 Leanne #1 - Episode 100 Listener Top 20 Board Games1:22:26 Chris #1 - Episodes 194 and 195 - BigBear Con Coverage1:25:53 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 Stories1:31:17 Tim #1 - Episode 158: Hegemony: Lead Your Class to VictoryIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

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 Introduction00:22 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 Description11:01 Gameplay and Mechanisms23:53 Production and Theme31:08 Final Thoughts36:55 Modern Art44:57 Toy Battle48:44 Forest Shuffle1:00:11 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

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 Introduction04:26 Chris #10 Terraforming Mars07:20 Adam #10 Chaosmos10:42 Tim #10 Grand Austria Hotel13:44 Chris #9 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization18:45 Adam #9 - Wonderland's War20:43 Tim #9 - Pulsar 284921:53 Chris #8 - Distilled26:00 Adam #8 - Smartphone, Inc.28:34 Tim #8 - Everdell34:16 Chris #7 - Barrage38:02 Adam #7 - Dune: Imperium40:38 Tim #7 - Terraforming Mars41:05 Chris #6 - Gaia Project43:43 Adam #6 - Dune47:25 Tim #6 - Lost Ruins of Arnak48:18 Chris #5 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy49:59 Adam #5 - Baseball Highlights: 204553:20 Tim #5 - Dune: Imperium54:53 Chris #4 - Dune: Imperium56:04 Adam #4 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory58:53 Tim #4 - Castles of Burgundy1:00:03 Chris #3 - Darwin's Journey1:03:53 Tim #3 - Lorenzo il Magnifico1:07:12 Chris #2 - Tapestry1:10:14 Adam #2 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy1:11:59 Tim #2 - Gaia Project1:13:03 Chris #1 - Star Realms1:18:23 Adam #1 - Azul1:21:04 Tim #1 - Darwin's Journey1:23:56 - Runners UpIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

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.reggieTimestamps:00:00 Introduction04:45 Top 5 Board Games with Dice07:00 Spots10:28 Dice Miner13:47 Wroth17:26 Troyes22:14 Castles of Burgundy27:03 Sentient30:28 Rajas of the Ganges33:33 The White Castle37:16 Dice Throne42:30 Tiletum46:31 Lords of Vegas49:57 Arcs53:40 Crystal Palace57:27 Sagrada1:00:53 Dune: War for Arrakis1:05:40 Honorable Mentions: Gang of Dice, Civolution, Fantastic Factories, Bang: The Dice Game, Sky TeamIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

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 Introduction01:05 Definition of a Casual Board Gamer05:30 Thinking About Board Games10:21 Buying/Looking For New Games17:10 Learning New Games32:45 Board Game Complexity33:09 Board Game Conventions36:00 Board Game Annoyances47:03 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 258 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 11-20.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:10 Chris #20 Obsession04:18 Adam #20 Stockpile05:42 Tim #20 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth06:53 Chris #19 - La Granja08:44 Adam #19 - Battle for Rokugan09:58 Tim #19 - Fromage12:20 Chris #18 - A Feast for Odin15:33 Adam #18 - Star Wars Rebellion16:55 #18 - Clank! Catacombs19:51 Chris #17 - Kanban EV23:12 Adam #17 - Gaia Project24:28 Tim #17 - Endeavor: Deep Sea26:09 Chris #16 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar28:16 Adam #16 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt29:19 Tim #16 - Blood Rage33:26 Chris #15 - Pan Am36:12 Adam #15 - The Expanse Board Game37:25 Tim #15 - The Voyages of Marco Polo / Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan39:27 #14 - Blood Rage40:32 #14 - Fractal45:07 Tim #14 - Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King47:41 Chris and Tim #13 - Agricola1:19:07 Adam #13 - Frozen Frontier53:58 Chris #12 - 7 Wonders Duel55:39 Adam #12 - Pan Am57:15 Tim #12 - Tapestry1:00:08 Chris #11 - Azul1:02:20 Adam #11 - Sol: Last Days of a Star1:03:28 Tim #11 - Arc NovaIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 257 Mark Johnson from the Boardgames 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 Introduction00:45 Poll Time: What Timeframe was your #1 Favorite Board Game Published Within?03:39 Intro to Mark Johnson and Board Games To Go06:48 Tigris & Euphrates Description09:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms28:21 Production and Theme32:39 Final Thoughts28:28 Tycoon: India 198150:41 Castles of TuscanyIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 256 we continue the 2025 countdown of our 40 favorite Board Games of all time with choices 21-30.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:54 Chris #30 Outlive05:09 Adam #30 Brian Boru: High King of Ireland08:22 Tim #30 Cyclades: Legendary Edition12:58 Chris #29 - The Guild of Merchant Explorers16:17 Adam #29 - SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD18:29 Tim #29 - Scythe21:37 Chris #28 - Lost Ruins of Arnak26:14 Adam #28 - Scout28:29 #28 - Cthulhu: Death May Die33:31 Chris #27 - Cascadia37:27 Adam #27 - Shamans40:29 Tim #27 - Revive44:50 Chris #26 - Viticulture Essential Edition49:19 Adam #26 - Inis52:56 Tim #26 - Azul55:20 Chris #25 - Thunder Road: Vendetta58:21 Adam #25 - Biohack1:02:34 Tim #25 - Tichu1:05:29 Chris #24 - Pirates of Maracaibo1:10:38 Adam #24 -  Skull1:13:19 Tim #24 - Space Base1:17:01 Chris #23 - Wonderland's War1:19:07 Adam #23 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization1:21:16 Tim #23 - Rising Sun1:22:47 Chris #22 - Clank! In! Space!1:26:15 Adam #22 - Marrakesh1:31:41 Tim #22 - Woodcraft1:34:09 Chris #21 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods1:38:40 Adam #21 - Terraforming Mars1:40:43 Tim #21 - Sea Salt & PaperIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

The hosts kick off a countdown of their top board games, delving into choices ranked from 31 to 40. They share thoughts on games like 'Rats of Wistar' and 'Mosaic: A Story of Civilization,' highlighting gameplay mechanics and personal experiences. The conversation reflects on the joy of board gaming and the evolution of preferences over time. They contrast cooperative and competitive games, showcasing titles like 'Tycoon: India 1981' and 'Nemesis.' Listeners gain insights into the emotional impact and strategic elements that make these games memorable.

In Episode 254 we discuss games that end a little too quickly.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:14 Race for the Galaxy07:23 Newton09:57 Pirates of Maracaibo14:10 Mycelia19:14 Fantasy Realms / Marvel Remix22:11 Biohack24:36 Smartphone, Inc.27:46 Near and Far37:17 Distilled42:01 Robot Quest Arena44:12 Woodcraft / Pulsar 284947:13 Thunder Road: Vendetta53:26 Sol: Last Day of a Star56:21 Architects of the West Kingdom59:26 Gaia Project / Agricola1:03:37 Honorable Mentions: Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods, Keyflower1:05:52 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social