Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 234 we look back at some hidden gems from 2015-2019. We each name a game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention.We also discuss some our listeners board game highlights from 2024Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:40 Listeners Top Picks from 202406:28 Top 5 Overlooked Games (2015-2019)09:20 2015 - Chaosmos12:20 2015 - Cthulhu Realms16:17 2015 - Deep Space D620:07 2016 - Bloc By Bloc23:01 2016 - Imhotep27:03 2016 - Kingdomino30:39 2017 - A Handful of Stars33:44 2017 - Outlive35:35 2017 - Godfather: Corleone's Empire39:48 2018 - Space Corp: 2025-2300AD42:51 2018 - Disney Villainous49:16 2018 - Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig51:50 2019 - Dreamscape54:26 2019 - Chocolate Factory57:17 2019 - WavelengthIf 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 233 we give our hot take review on Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss board game restaurants, pubs, and cafes and then discuss some games that have been on our table including Kanban EV, Troyes, and Shasn Azadi. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Discussion: Board Game Pubs 08:33 Shackleton Base Description 11:33 Gameplay and Mechanisms 31:37 Production and Theme 38:53 Final Thoughts 44:24 Kanban EV 49:15 Troyes 54:46 Shasn: Azadi 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 232 we take a look back at 2024 and discuss some of the great (and no so great) games we played last year. Some of them were even published last year. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 3:20 Biggest Surprises in 2024 11:59 Biggest Disappointments in 2024 21:28 Best New to Us in 2024 36:23 Best Production Published in 2024 45:36 Lookback at Best Games of 2023 47:37 Best Games of 2024 1:05:25 Most Played Games of 2024 1:14:07 Board Game Revelations 1:20:18 2024 BGG Rankings Forecast 1:29:12 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 331 we give our hot take review on Rats of Wistar covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We share poll results on buying games with the intent to sell them at a higher price and then discuss some games that have been on our table including Frozen Frontiers, Rebel Princess, and Dune: Imperium. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll: Have you ever bought a game with the intention of flipping it, either for selling or trading it? 13:05 Rats of Wistar Description 15:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms 31:30 Production and Theme 38:50 Final Thoughts 42:54 Frozen Frontier 45:25 Rebel Princess 50:32 Dune: Imperium 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 230 we return to the mailbag and answer a bunch of our listener's board game related questions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 1:03 What draws you to boardgames and what do you get most of your hobby? Why do you play boardgames. 8:48 What are your thoughts on thumbing down people on Board Game Arena? 17:13 What games or mechanisms have tiers that you can find in games at light, mid-weight, and heavy weights? 27:41 Do you ever consider board games as works of art? 41:37 What games do you often refuse to play because it's too much work to pack up when you're done playing? 47:48 Best crowdfunding success stories? 55:44 Where do you hear about new games and how do you choose what you're going to review? 1:03:21 How many hours a week do you commit to the podcast? 1:11:54 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 229 we look back at the games we played once for the first time in 2024. Great games and we want to play them more. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 1:58 Luthier 4:06 Lancaster 5:05 Clockwork Wars 6:18 Marrakesh 8:49 Dune: Imperium Uprising 6 Player 11:12 Hallertau 12:59 Dune 16:58 Biohack 19:06 Walnut Grove 21:32 Unconscious Mind 25:07 Ceres 27:33 Black Forest 28:19 Thunder Road: Vendetta 31:53 March of the Ants 33:51 Endeavor: Deep Sea 38:05 Runners Up (Xenon Profiteer, Mosaic, Mille Fiori, Tokaido Duo) 41:37 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 228 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 Introduction 00:52 Last Year's Top 5 we wanted to play in 2024 (and how we did) 00:56 Millennium Blades 05:41 Orleans 08:22 Turing Machines 09:38 Trickerion: Legends of Illusions 10:28 Splendor 12:30 Fractal 14:24 Creature Comforts 16:05 Kanban EV 18:09 Clockwork Wars 19:05 Oathsworn; Into the Deepwood 20:54 Cosmic Frog 22:09 Shogun 22:37 Apiary 24:33 Bonfire / Merlin / Marrakesh 26:12 John Company: 2nd Edition 00:56 Millennium Blades 27:17 Top 5 Games we want to play in 2025 27:55 Civolution 29:44 Joyride: Survival of the Fastest 34:16 Wroth 37:12 SETI: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence 38:57 Harmonies 43:45 Dune: War for Arrakis 49:42 Windmill Valley 51:11 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth 53:10 Endeavor: Deep Sea 56:09 Resafa 58:54 Andromeda's Edge / Rock Hard: 1977 1:00:57 World Order 1:05:11 Wondrous Creatures 1:06:57 Rats of Wistar 1:11:03 Power Vacuum 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 227 we give our hot take review on Fromage covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We share poll results on including expansions when you play your favorite games and then discuss some games that have been on our table including Let's Go! To Japan, Flip 7, Azul: Summer Pavilion, and Barrage: Duel. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll: If a board game you love has an expansion, how likely are you to include one when playing? 07:45 Fromage Description 09:33 Gameplay and Mechanisms 20:34 Production and Theme 26:54 Final Thoughts 30:25 Let's Go! To Japan and Flip 7 36:03 Azul: Summer Pavilion 41:40 Barrage: Duel 47:51 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 226 we conclude our adventures at BGGCon in Dallas. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:54 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory 10:37 Black Forest 25:48 Dune 44:40 Skyrise 52:25 Can't Stop 57:53 Unconscious Mind 1:09:50 Stamp Swap 1:14:07 Final Thoughts 1:24:20 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: ⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 225 we continue the journey through our experience at BGGCon in Dallas that we started on last week's episode. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:39 Let's Go To Japan 06:08 Lancaster 15:18 Dune Imperium Uprising 3v3 32:01 Enemy Anemone 34:17 BGHT Meetup (Flip 7 and That's Not a Hat) 42:53 Capital Lux II 45:35 Flip 7 48:00 Glory to Rome 54:56 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 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205 Join our Discord server at: https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd