Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 288 we dive into the mailbag in search of our listener's best board game related questions.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction2:14 Theme that doesn't exist that you'd like to see in a game?12:28 What are your once a year games?20:02 What is the best deal you've ever scored on the secondary market and what is your most regrettable board game purchase?29:53 Thoughts on ordering a game outside...

In Episode 287 we give our hot take review on Forest Shuffle and Reforest and cover the gameplay and production of both and then discuss which we preferred.We also discuss a poll on separating resource components when setting up a game and then discuss some recent plays of Fibbage and Super Motherload.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:22 Poll Time: Separating Resources8:27 Forest Shuffle...

In Episode 286 we cover 5 board game expansions each that are (almost) mandatory.00:00 Introduction01:45 Board game expansions we won't play without03:31 Look back at Top 5 Board Game Expansions from Episode 4710:17 Roll Player - Monsters and Minions15:02 Agricola - Belgium, France, Gamer's Deck, etc.19:43 Radlands - Cult of Chrome22:05 Thunder Road: Vendetta - Choppe Shoppe24:36 Blood Rage -...

In Episode 285 we give our hot take review on The Old King's Crown covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We talk about the BGG Hall of Fame inductee, For Sale, and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Reforest, Biblios, and Subjective.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:21 BGG Hall of Fame: For Sale05:40 The Old King's Crown...

In Episode 284 we give our hot take review on Echoes of Time covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We cover a poll on motivations to engage with the board game hobby and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Sanctuary and Fearsome Floors and a first look at some games that have recently arrived including Chaosmos: The Temple and...

In Episode 284 we take a look back at 2025 and discuss some of the great (and no so great) games we played last year. Most of them were even published last year.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction2:27 Biggest Surprises in 2025 (Dead Cells, Hot Streak, Slay the Spire: The Board Game)16:45 Biggest Disappointments in 2025 (Wroth, Scoville 2nd Edition, SETI: Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence)25:04...

In Episode 282 we discuss the current state of the hobby and if it's the best it's ever been. Are we in peak board gaming? Where do we go from here? If 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:...

In Episode 281 we look back at the games we played once for the first time in 2025. Great games and we want to play them more. We briefly look at last year's list and see how we did.00:00 Introduction04:24 Last Year's List04:34 Luthier05:04 Marrakesh05:21 Dune06:12 Unconscious Mind07:25 Thunder Road: Vendetta08:27 Lancaster09:44 Dune: Imperium Uprising (6 Player)09:53 Biohack10:01 Ceres10:39...

In Episode 280 we look back at last year's list of games we wanted to get played and then we discuss the games that are top of mind we hope to get to try over the next year.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:12 Last Year's Top 5 we wanted to play in 2025 (and how we did)02:21 Civolution 05:40 Joyrides: Survival of the Fastest06:08 Wroth06:32 SETI: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence09:58 Dune:...

In Episode 279 we give our hot take review on Ada's Dream covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We cover a poll on Multi-player Solitaire board games and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Lords of Vegas, Ticket to Ride, and Nokosu Dice.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:25 Poll: How do you feel about 'Multi-player Solitaire'...