Advertise on podcast: Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 297 we discuss how board games trigger dopamine and name our top 5 games loaded with dopamine hits. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Top 5 Dopamine Loaded Board Games 05:57 Endeavor: Deep Sea 9:02 No Thanks 11:43 Champions of Midgard, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy, Arcs, Star Wars Rebellion 16:00 Nippon: Zaibatsu 19:48 Sol: Last Days of a Star 22:32 Kanban EV, Barrage, Tapestry 26:18 Slay the Spire: The Board Game 28:15 Tycoon: India 1981 30:53 Can't Stop, Quacks, Wonderland's War 35:35 Grand Austria Hotel 37:38 Dune, Fractal, Glory to Rome, Blood Rage 43:45 Rebirth 45:25 Brass: Birmingham, Steam Power 49:06 Motor City, Darwin's Journey, Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, Cribbage If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 296 we talk through our real-time nominations for the 2025 boardgamegeek.com Golden Geek Awards. If you enjoy our show and would like to support us by nominating us for Best Board Game Podcast you can do that here: https://boardgamegeek.com/goldengeek Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:05 Above and Below: Haunted 04:57 Ada's Dream 06:53 Ape Town 08:35 Aquaria 09:32 Ayar: Children of the Sun 11:03 Clank! Catacombs - Underworld 12:44 Dark Heists 14:26 Dewan 15:55 Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines 17:28 Echoes of Time 18:56 Eternal Decks 19:46 Etherstone 20:12 Everdell Duo 20:40 Finspan 22:08 Fliptoons 23:23 Galactic Cruise 25:47 Gems of Iridescia 27:11 Great Western Trail: El Paso 28:07 Hot Streak 30:15 Hyperspace 31:17 Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship 32:54 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: the Trick Taking Game 33:40 Luthier 34:50 No Loose Ends 35:50 Iliad 36:53 Lost Ruins of Arnak: Twisted Paths 37:44 March of the Ants: Evolved Edition 39:36 Quorum 40:11 Scoville: 2nd Edition 41:32 SHASN: AZADI 42:36 Steam Power 43:52 Moon Colony Bloodbath 45:10 The Old King's Crown 46:33 Origin Story 47:23 Sea Salt & Paper: Extra Pepper 48:31 Speakeasy 50:28 Stupor Mundi 52:26 Toy Battle 53:02 Tycoon: India 1981 55:04 Vantage 57:30 Wroth 59:34 Best Board Game Podcast Category 59:58 Chris' News If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 295 we give our hot take review on Endeavor: Deep Sea covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We talk about the games we'll be playing at our bi-annual (or semi-annual) BGHT Con and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Captain Flip, Endless Space 2, and Earthborne Rangers. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 BGHT SandyCon Excitement Chat (M.U.L.E, Stroganov, Kanban E.V., Speakeasy, March of the Ants, Echoes of Time, Lords of Vegas, Civolution, Aquaria, Endeavor: Deep Sea, Beyond the Horizon) 7:50 Endeavor: Deep Sea Description 10:47 Gameplay and Mechanisms 31:27 Production and Theme 37:21 Final Thoughts 41:23 Captain Flip 45:22 Endless Space 2 53:46 Earthborne Rangers If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 294 we invite board game designer, Andy Schwarz, on to discuss his experience with self-publishing a game and he shares lessons learns, tips and tricks, and some real financial numbers. You can read Andy's blog post covering some of the discussed topics here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3215750/an-analysis-of-what-it-costs-to-self-publish-a-gam If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 293 we each cover 5 board games that integrate animals themes. We also discuss a poll on packing board games when travelling on a plane. 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Poll Time: How do you pack board games when travelling via airplane 11:40 15 Great Animal Themed Games If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 292 we give our hot take review on two board game expansions - Viticulture: Bordeaux and Revive: Call of the Abyss Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 0:35 Viticulture: Bordeaux 0:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms 19:36 Production and Theme 21:29 Final Thoughts 28:03 Revive: Call of the Abyss 28:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms 39:04 Production and Theme 40:33 Final Thoughts 45:29 News and Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 291 we look back at some hidden gems from 2020-2024. We each name at least one game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:49 Top 5 Overlooked Board Games (2020-2024) 05:00 2020 - Whistle Mountain (Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, The Castles of Tuscany, Star Wars Unlock, Mariposas) 10:22 2020 - Godspeed 11:23 2020 - New York Zoo 15:20 2021 - Viking See-Saw (Boon Lake, Mille Fiori, Messina 1347) 21:26 2021 - Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy 25:42 2021 - The Emerald Flame 27:33 2021 - That Time You Killed Me 33:18 2022 - Vagrantsong (Sea Salt & Paper, Woodcraft, Creature Comforts, Paperback Adventures) 39:49 2022 - Mosaic: A Story of Civilization 41:47 2022 - Age of Galaxy 42:37 2022 - Aeon Trespass Odyssey 44:29 2022 - Three Sisters 48:45 2023 - Imperial Miners (Pirates of Maracaibo, Rats of Wistar, Surfasaurus Max) 53:56 2023 - Fractal, Robot Quest Arena 56:35 2023 - Europa Universalis: The Price of Power 59:28 2023 - Sea Dragons 1:03:33 2024 - Lone Wolves (Let's Go To Japan, Fromage, Rebirth, Windmill Valley, Flip 7, Captain Flip, Invincible: The Hero Building Game, Stamp Swap, Spring Cleaning) 1:08:50 2024 - Frozen Frontier, Biohack 1:10:08 2024 - Reforest, Looot If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 290 we discuss board game strategy, how we approach it, and why we care about strategy when we're playing board games. We also discuss a poll about discussing strategy after a play. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll Time: Do you discuss the strategy of your play after finishing a game? 12:05 Board Game Strategy 12:38 How do you approach strategy on a first play of a board game? 17:15 What's your approach for getting better at board game strategy after your first play? 24:57 Is getting better at strategy important to you? 32:35 Are there any games you feel you're the best you'll ever be? 37:29 Are there any games you aren't good at and don't know how to get better? 46:08 If you aren't getting better at strategy in a game does that game become less fun for you? 52:54 Have you every looked for strategy tips online for a game? If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 289 we give our hot take review on Dewan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Speakeasy, Saltfjord, and Ape Town. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Dewan Description 02:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms 18:40 Production and Theme 23:55 Final Thoughts 28:25 Speakeasy 37:25 Saltfjord 45:06 GameCon at House on the Hill (Portland Metro Area) 47:53 Ape Town 57:53 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 288 we dive into the mailbag in search of our listener's best board game related questions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 2:14 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 of the U.S.A? 34:35 Most promising board game designers to look out for? 41:47 What does a typical productions schedule for an episode look like? 50:07 Do you feel like your preference for playing complex board games is affected by the mental load you have in life? 54:30 Do you manage to pull 4 Azul tiles out of the bag every single time? 55:40 Do we pay too little for board games? 1:00:18 Does your family life suffer as a result of your board game hobby? 1:07:58 How old are we? 1:10:25 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

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 Introduction 00:22 Poll Time: Separating Resources 8:27 Forest Shuffle Description 9:52 Gameplay and Mechanisms 22:14 Production and Theme 28:11 Reforest Description 29:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms 41:32 Production and Theme 46:24 Final Thoughts - Forest Shuffle and Reforest 58:56 Hot Streak, Fibbage, and Flip 7 1:01:10 Super Motherload 1:07:15 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 286 we cover 5 board game expansions each that are (almost) mandatory. 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Board game expansions we won't play without 03:31 Look back at Top 5 Board Game Expansions from Episode 47 10:17 Roll Player - Monsters and Minions 15:02 Agricola - Belgium, France, Gamer's Deck, etc. 19:43 Radlands - Cult of Chrome 22:05 Thunder Road: Vendetta - Choppe Shoppe 24:36 Blood Rage - Kickstarter Exclusive Monsters 29:04 Stockpile - Continuing Corruption 31:04 The Castles of Burgundy - Trade Routes 34:51 Obsession - Upstairs, Downstairs 38:36 Chaosmos - The Temple 42:16 Downforce - Danger Circuit, Wild Ride 46:07 Tapestry - Plans and Ploys 50:20 Gaia Project - The Lost Fleet 53:13 Fantastic Factories - Manufactions 55:12 Dune: Imperium - Rise of Ix 59:33 March of the Ants: Evolved Editions - Predators and Prey If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

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 Introduction 00:21 BGG Hall of Fame: For Sale 05:40 The Old King's Crown Description 08:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms 33:50 Production and Theme 38:52 Final Thoughts 46:20 Echoes of Time 48:22 Reforest 53:06 Dead Cells 54:25 Biblios 58:53 Subjective 1:04:25 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

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 Speakeasy. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Poll: What is your primary motivation for being a part of the board gaming hobby? 09:18 Echoes of Time Description 10:57 Gameplay and Mechanisms 27:08 Production and Theme 37:26 Final Thoughts 47:00 Sanctuary 56:06 Recent Arrivals: Chaosmos: The Temple and Speakeasy 59:51 Fearsome Floors If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

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 Introduction 2:27 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 Best New to Us in 2025 (Lords of Vegas, Thurn and Taxis, Crokinole, Nokosu Dice) 30:23 Best Production Published in 2025 (Hot Streak, March of the Ants Evolved Edition, Stupor Mundi) 36:51 Lookback at Best Games of 2024 (Unconscious Mind, Fromage, Civolution) 40:35 Best Games of 2025 (March of the Ants Evolved Edition, Luthier, Moon Colony Bloodbath) 48:40 Board Game Resolutions If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd