Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 52 we provide our hot take review of Windward covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss our favorite premium board game components and discuss poll results around this topic. Chris provides a Windward themed cocktail recipe then we discuss some games we've been playing this week including The Bears and The Bees, Qwirkle, and Shards of Infinity and some games we're excited about including Nunami, Earthborne Rangers, and Earth Rising: 20 Years to Transform our World. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Poll: Premium Board Game Components 10:14 Windward Description 12:39 Gameplay and Mechanisms 40:44 Production and Theme 47:50 Standout Moments 43:33 Final Thoughts 1:04:00 Cocktail Of The Week: Grog 1:07:30 The Bears and the Bees 1:09:11 Nunami 1:11:34 Earthborne Rangers 1:13:55 Earth Rising: 20 Years to Transform our World 1:16:28 Quirkle 1:17:05 Shards of Infinity

In Episode 51 we provide our hot take review of Smartphone, Inc. covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss overused themes in board games and discuss poll results around this topic. Then we discuss some games we've been playing this week including Imperium: The Contention, Catan: Cities and Knights, and The Isle of Cats. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Poll: Overused Themes in Board Games 05:30 Smartphone, Inc. Description 07:16 Gameplay and Mechanisms 21:55 Production and Theme 29:15 Favorite Moments 34:38 Final Thoughts 40:26 Imperium: The Contention 44:08 Catan: Cities and Knights 47:42 The Isle of Cats

In episode 50 we have a discussion on game tables, which features are important to us, and our personal experience with our own tables. We also have a conversation about our dream game night - who would be there, what we'd play, where it would be, and all of the other things that would make the perfect game night for us. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:50 Game Tables Conversation 43:16 The Perfect Game Night 44:55 Adam's Perfect Game Night 52:45 Chris' Perfect Game Night 1:06:25 Tim's Perfect Game Night 1:22:13 Goodbye to a Friend

In Episode 49 Chris and Tim discuss the 12 games that were played over a long weekend together.  Adam hangs out to chat with us about them. The audio isn't great on this episode due to some technical issues but stick with us because we think you'll enjoy the conversation. 00:00 Introduction 03:04 Calico 13:02 Tapestry 16:06 Red Rising 22:09 Marvel: United 32:17 Sorry! 33:43 Zombie Kids Evolution 34:51 Terraforming Mars 39:49 Pendulum 54:33 Outlive 1:06:00 Fossilis 1:14:48 Viticulture 1:18:18 Disney Villainous

In Episode 48 we provide our hot take review of Obsession covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss our favorite ways to consume board game reviews and other media and discuss poll results around this topic. Chris provides a recipe for an Obsession themed cocktail and finally we discuss some games we've been playing including Smartphone, Inc. and Viticulture: Tuscany. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Poll: Favorite Ways to hear Board Game Reviews 05:30 Obsession Description 09:07 Gameplay and Mechanisms 30:06 Production 38:20 Favorite Moments 43:22 Final Thoughts 51:45 Cocktail of the Week: Sherry Cobbler 55:45 Smartphone, Inc. 1:01:54 Viticulture: Tuscany

In Episode 47 we discuss our picks for the top 5 board games expansions! Tim, Chris, and Adam list off our picks for the best expansions of all time.  We discuss how we feel about expansions, why publishers might release expansions, and why these are our picks for the best expansions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:49 Poll: Favorite Type of Game 10:13 Expansions 18:30 #5 Chris - Villainous - All Expansions 22:41 #5 Adam - Race for the Galaxy - The Gathering Storm, Rebel vs Imperium, The Brink of War 24:25 #5 Tim - Underwater Cities - New Discoveries 29:37 #4 Chris - Terraforming Mars - Hellas and Elysium 31:38 #4 Adam - Terraforming Mars - Prelude 32:33 #4 Tim - Near and Far - Amber Mines 35:30 #3 Chris - Cthulhu: Death May Die - Season 2 40:02 #3 Adam - The Expanse Board Game - Doors and Corners 44:20 #3 Tim - Orleans - Trade and Intrigue 50:25 #2 Chris - Star Realms - All Expansions 56:25 #2 Adam - Xia - Embers of a Forsaken Star 59:06 #2 Tim - Scythe - Modular Board 1:03:57 #1 Chris - Scythe - The Rise of Fenris 1:08:45 #1 Adam - Star Wars: Rebellion - Rise of the Empire 1:10:48 #1 Tim - Jamaica - The Crew 1:14:25 Honorable Mentions

In Episode 46 we provide our hot take review of Kemet: Blood and Sand covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss our favorite places to play board games and discuss poll results around this topic. Chris provides a recipe for a Kemet: Blood and Sand themed cocktail and finally we discuss some games we've been playing including Terraforming Mars: Colonies and some games we're excited about including Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy, Now or Never, and Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Poll: Favorite Places to Play Board Games 06:22 Kemet: Blood and Sand Description 09:39 Gameplay and Mechanisms 39:51 Production 44:56 Favorite Moments 51:50 Final Thoughts 59:09 Cocktail of the Week: Blood and Sand 1:06:10 Terraforming Mars: Colonies 1:08:10 Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy 1:09:10 Now or Never 1:13:35 Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders

In Episode 45 we provide our hot take review of Power Grid covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss board game collection sizes and some of the thoughts our listeners have about their board game collections. We also discuss some games we've been playing including 7 Wonders: Duel, Isle of Skye, Coloretto, The Mind, and Blokus Duo and some games we're excited about including Smartphone, Inc Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Poll: Board Game Collection Sizes 13:22 Power Grid Description 15:56 Gameplay and Mechanisms 43:15 Production 48:51 Favorite Moments 52:08 Final Thoughts 54:58 Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 57:42 The Mind 1:00:36 Smartphone, Inc. 1:02:30 7 Wonders: Duel 1:04:56 Coloretto 1:06:57 Blokus: Duo

In Episode 44 we provide our hot take review of Carpe Diem covering the mechanisms, the production, exciting moments in play, and our overall feelings of the game.  We also discuss why dry euro games may not fit for us all and compare Carpe Diem to Stefan Feld's most popular game with some similar mechanisms: Castles of Burgundy. We also discuss some games we've been playing including Hearts, Manila, MicroMacro: Crime City, and Hadrian's Wall and some games we're excited about including Robot Quest Arena. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Carpe Diem Description 03:43 Gameplay and Mechanisms 24:29 Production 27:22 Favorite Moments 31:44 Final Thoughts 35:50 Robot Quest Arena 37:22 Hearts 40:28 MicroMacro: Crime City 44:48 Hadrian's Wall 47:06 Manila

In Episode 43 we discuss our picks for the top 10 board games OF ALL TIME! Tim, Chris, and Adam list off our picks for the best games of all time.  We discuss how we made those picks and if there were any surprises to us on our lists. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 How we made our picks 07:25 - #10 13:49 - #9 20:16 - #8 25:46 - #7 34:47 - #6 41:10 - #5 47:59 - #4 54:30 - #3 1:00:10 - #2 1:06:19 - #1 1:15:20 - Surprises on our lists