Board Game Hot Takes

Favorite Board Games of All Time 2026 Edition (41-50)

In Episode 308 we start the 2026 countdown of our top 50 Board Games of all time with choices 41-50.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:50 Anachrony06:31 Spirit Island09:44 Let's Go To Japan13:56 Harmonies16:12 Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game17:32 Maracaibo20:31 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization22:02 Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico The Card Game24:19 Biohack27:05 Azul28:51 Pax Pamir 2nd Edition30:50 Cascadia33:45 Woodcraft36:10 Speakeasy37:53 Emberleaf42:39 The White Castles Duel44:55 Revive47:30 The Guild of Merchant Explorers50:48 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game53:51 Xenon Profiteer55:08 Nemesis1:00:16 Voidfall1:02:41 Star Wars: Rebellion1:03:59 Robot Quest Arena1:06:41 Slay the Spire: The Board Game1:11:39 High Society1:12:49 Smartphone, Inc.1:15:51 Tzolk'in The Mayan Calendar1:17:54 Age of Galaxy1:19:57 Cthulhu: Death May DieIf 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

2026 Mid-year Board Game Roundup

In Episode 307 we reflect on the year of 2026 in board gaming at this mid point to talk about some of our favorite (and most disappointing) board games and experiences so far.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction1:30 Which game do you want to take on a 2nd date after your first play in 2026? (Speakeasy, Off With Their Heads, Ada's Dream)4:33 Which games hit the table more than any other this year? (Azul, Darwin's Journey, Obsession, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Tapestry, Formaggio, Captain Flip, Sea Salt & Paper, The White Castle Duel, Boast or Nothing, Dune: War for Arrakis, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, Unicorn Fever)07:47 What game's production and art has impressed you the most over the last 6 months? (Echoes of Time, Speakeasy, Dune: War for Arrakis)13:28 What was your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment? (Steam Power, Reforest, The Old King's Crown, Earthborne Rangers, Aquaria, Tag Team, Amalfi: Renaissance)22:36 What has been your most reliable introductory board game? (Flip 7, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Azul, Subjective, Lords of Vegas, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire )28:50 Which 10+ years old title did you first discovery this year? (Thurn and Taxis, Parade, Medici: The Card Game, Biblios)33:50 What's currently at the top of your wishlist? (Dawn of Madness, Everdell: Emerland, Entropy)38:22 What's a creator, podcast, or channel that made your year better? (Punchboard Cathedral, Winner's Bias, Board Game Hangover)45:00 What's your favorite episode you've created this year?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: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

Amalfi: Renaissance

In Episode 306 we give our hot take review on Amalfi: Renaissance covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We discuss a poll on kingmaking and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Unicorn Fever and Parade and Chris covers his first impressions after unboxing Dawn of Madness.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:22 Poll Time: Kingmaking Decision07:56 Amalfi: Renaissance Description09:47 Gameplay and Mechanisms20:27 Production and Theme25:41 Final Thoughts32:37 Unicorn Fever39:10 Dawn of Madness Unboxing Thoughts43:32 ParadeIf 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

A Barrage of Board Game Topics - Mailbag #8

In Episode 305 we answer a bunch of mailbag questions asked by our Patreon supporters.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction2:28 For what game do you prefer the digital implementation? What game do you refuse to play digitally?11:48 At what point do you decide to buy a game?20:52 How often do you get nostalgia for games you haven't played in many years?26:32 Are there any goals for the pod over the next 5 years?33:34 Has having the podcast taught us anything we didn't know about ourselves?36:41 What legacy game would we want to play next?42:25 What are some tips for teaching a complex game without a 30 minutes rules explanation?48:35 If there's a game that your fellow hosts need a head start on what would it be?51:54 What is one board game you'd like to see made into a movie or show?56:53 If you can invite one guest onto the podcast, who would it be and what would you ask them?1:01:10 What's your favorite game mechanic written in the form of a haiku or limerick?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: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

Emberleaf

In Episode 304 we give our hot take review on Emberleaf covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We discuss a poll on anthropomorphic animals in board games and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Dune: War for Arrakis and Blueprints and Chris discusses his excitement about finally receiving (after 8 years) his crowdfunded Dawn of Madness.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:22 Poll Time: Anthromorphic Animals?09:11 Emberleaf Description11:30 Gameplay and Mechanisms31:27 Production and Theme39:44 Final Thoughts47:48 Dawn of Madness50:56 Dune: War for Arrakis1:04:27 Blueprints1:11:25 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