Show overview
Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions with a personal touch has been publishing since 2018, and across the 8 years since has built a catalogue of 687 episodes. That works out to roughly 90 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run under ten minutes — most land between 6 min and 9 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-GB-language Leisure show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 30 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2020, with 116 episodes published. Published by Tabletop Games Blog.
From the publisher
Tabletop Games Blog podcast explores board games, card games, dexterity games, and modern hobby games, delivering in-depth reviews, thought pieces, and audio articles for all types of players. Since 2018 it has covered strategy games, family favourites, party games, and indie gems, focusing on gameplay, design, table presence, and player experience. Originally on a strict weekly schedule, from 2025 episodes now release when ready, prioritising quality. Tune in for engaging board game reviews, tabletop gaming discussions, tips, and commentary on the ever-growing world of modern board games.
Latest Episodes
View all 687 episodesExpressive Entertainment - board games and social commentary (Topic Discussion)
Agricola (Digital Eyes)
Player Roles - who we are in board games (Topic Discussion)
Singapore Showdown (Saturday Review)
Throwaway Legacy - legacy games as a symbol of our throwaway society (Topic Discussion)
Escape Comics: The Alien Ship (Saturday Review)
Gatekeeping the Gatekeepers - discussing standards in our hobby (Topic Discussion)
Peranakan: Tiles and Tactics (Saturday Review)
29-Year-Old Navy Captain Turned Board Game Designer (Topic Discussion)
Threaded: A Game of Needles and Points (Saturday Review)
Bargello designs are built from vertical stitches, laid in sequence so that colours rise and fall, creating flowing waves, shifting flames, or soft gradients that almost seem to move across the fabric. Used in ornate upholstery in 17th-century Italy and applied to chairs and other furniture, these patterns require precision and concentration. Even a single misplaced stitch will completely break the rhythm. As a highly-skilled embroiderer, it is up to you to make sure your needle is correctly Threaded: A Game of Needles and Points by Ellie Dix from Osprey Games with art by Maria Surducan.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/11/threaded-a-game-of-needles-and-points-saturday-review/Useful LinksThreaded: A Game of Needles and Points: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/threaded-9781472870803/Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/319431/threaded-rulebookOsprey Games: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-games/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453282/threaded-a-game-of-needles-and-pointsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCMusic: Binaural Sleep Vol. 3Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13198-binaural-sleep-vol-3SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
The White Castle (Digital Eyes)
The inner courtyard goes completely quiet as dusk falls. Lantern light flickers softly against white walls and dark timbers. Servants move soundlessly like a gentle breeze, tending to gravel paths and manicured trees. Deeper inside the fortress, careful whispers of politics and ambition drift through the great halls. Everything feels deliberate, and every offering is carefully chosen to seek favour in a world where position is everything. Beneath that calm surface lies quiet competition, subtle manoeuvring, and the constant need to prove one's own worth within The White Castle by Isra C.and Shei S. from Devir with art by Joan Guardiet.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/04/the-white-castle-digital-eyes/Useful LinksThe White Castle: https://devirgames.com/the-white-castleRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/265611/the-white-castle-official-rulebookRules video: https://youtu.be/9Qc5fhqbfGc?si=PiNjO7RDwIYBylTiDevir: https://devirgames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/371942/the-white-castleEternal Palace review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/09/03/eternal-palace-saturday-review/The Druids of Edora review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/15/the-druids-of-edora-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Japan Lo-Fi Vol. 3Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12960-japan-lo-fi-vol-3Music: 5. Fairytale (Delicate Wonder) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13555-5-fairytale-delicate-wonder-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Devir)
Islebound: Emerald Edition (Saturday Review)
The salty air filled our lungs as gulls circled above the quayside. The harbour was alive with excited voices and the clinking of coins. Ships came and went, their hulls heavy with stories of distant islands and dangerous encounters. Somewhere beyond the horizon lay our opportunity to make our fortune through trade, charm, or even force. As we stood at the edge of the dock, we mapped our routes as we were Islebound: Emerald Edition by Ryan Laukat from Red Raven Games with art by Ryan Laukat.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/28/islebound-emerald-edition-saturday-review/Useful LinksIslebound: Emerald Edition: https://www.redravengames.com/islebound/Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2pvgj0958ryqxe70sznnv/ALRXPoIELLJWFrzn0hy2Ks4?rlkey=py9s0f6mwf5dpilr5el6f3rdd&st=e1e2pe8d&dl=0Rules video: https://youtu.be/oOv0IFjkMl4?si=rVj6GmEd7F0Rp2dmRed Raven Games: https://www.redravengames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401175/islebound-emerald-editionCreature Caravan review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/01/18/creature-caravan-saturday-review/Roam review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/02/roam-saturday-review/Sleeping Gods review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/03/27/sleeping-gods-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects:bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: "River" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comMusic: "Voyage" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Red Raven Games)
Legion of the Necromancer (Saturday Review)
A cold wind carried the smell of ash across the fields as the last light of day faded behind the hills. Villages that once echoed with laughter now stood silent, their streets empty. Travellers spoke of strange sights on gloomy roads, shapes moving in the mist, and friends who no longer recognised each other. Somewhere in the land of Aelrathia, a dark mind gathered strength, raising the fallen and bending the living to its purpose. If the rumours were true, an army of the dead would soon march across the land. There was only one thing left to do. We had to venture out and face the Legion of the Necromancer by James Gill from Hammerforge Chronicles with art by James Isaacs.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/21/legion-of-the-necromancer-saturday-review/Useful LinksLegion of the Necromancer: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hammerforge/legion-of-the-necromancer/descriptionBGG listing: https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/461948/legion-of-the-necromancerMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Resistance by 2WEIMusic: "Climbing" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Flip Pick Towers (Saturday Review)
In the kingdom of Pilipalod, a wild, evil magic had erased the royal castle, leaving only the foundations visible. Queen Blodwen, King Llew, and Princess Dillie surveyed the empty hill where their home once was with some despair, but mostly patient resolve. Word of the disaster spread, and soon magical creatures gathered to offer their help, and the finest designers of the Magical Architect Alliance arrived, promising that a new home would rise again. Their first task was to rebuild the Flip Pick Towers by Rob Fisher and Adam Porter from Osprey Games with art by Beatrix Papp.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/14/flip-pick-towers-saturday-review/Useful LinksFlip Pick Towers: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/flip-pick-towers-9781472869883/Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/317970/flip-pick-towers-rulebookOsprey Games: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-games/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453283/flip-pick-towersSomething-and-Write game reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/tag/roll-and-write-games/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Alone at homeProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/152-alone-at-homeMusic: 5. Fairytale (Delicate Wonder) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13555-5-fairytale-delicate-wonder-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionMusic: 10. Waltz (Light Sway) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13594-10-waltz-light-sway-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Osprey Games)
Killing Me Softly - a look at player elimination (Topic Discussion)
The last time I played 1860: Railways on the Isle of Wight, I found myself in the lead from fairly early on. As the game progressed, that lead only kept growing. Each round, the gap widened until it was clear that nobody had a realistic way to catch up with me. The game carried on, turns were taken, but the excitement and tension had gone. The game had become a fight for second place. I call this soft elimination, and it is especially common in longer games, when you are technically still playing, but no longer really competing. In this article, I want to talk about this a bit more.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/10/killing-me-softly-a-look-at-player-elimination-topic-discussion/Useful Links1860: Railways on the Isle of Wight review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/06/28/1860-railways-on-the-isle-of-wight-digital-eyes/Love Letter review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/23/love-letter-saturday-review/King of New York review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/04/25/king-of-new-york-saturday-review/Nemesis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/06/18/nemesis-saturday-review/Splotter Spellen: https://www.splottershop.com/Wingspan review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/16/wingspan/The Quacks of Quedlinburg review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/06/06/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg-saturday-review/Survive: Escape from Atlantis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/04/17/survive-escape-from-atlantis-digital-eyes/Betrayal at the House on the Hill review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/01/14/betrayal-at-house-on-the-hill-3rd-edition-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Main music: Vital Whales by Unicorn Heads (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash)
Big Wave (Saturday Review)
Surf was up. We had already checked out Mavericks, Praia do Norte and Mullaghmore Head. All that was left was to ride the big breakers at Pipeline. We couldn't wait to show off our best tricks and compete with each other to score the most admiration. It was time to swim out and get on the next Big Wave by Daniel Kenel from Little Dog Games with art by Justin Santora.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/07/big-wave-saturday-review/Useful LinksBig Wave: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/p/big-waveLittle Dog Games: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/little-dog-gamesBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/438623/big-waveTricky Landing review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/28/tricky-landing-saturday-review/Trick-taking reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/category/reviews/?tag=trick-taking-gamesMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: 2TLUFRA22W8GNJPAArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic by Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: UQYL5OD3WLL6JR5JArtist: : Marcus P.SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
ChatGPT as a board game designer? (Topic Discussion)
The following is an English translation of board game designer Peer Sylvester's German article "Chat GPT als Brettspielautor?", which was originally published 22 February 2026 on the Spielbar website, here: https://www.spielbar.com/wordpress/2026/02/22/26916/Ryan Dancey was, until last Wednesday, the Chief Operating Officer at Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). On LinkedIn, the self-help site for managers who want to tell each other how great they are and how little their subordinates/customers appreciate them, Dancey published a post (link to a photo of the post, because I do not link to LinkedIn) in which he explained that he is firmly convinced that AI (or rather the LLMs that are usually labelled as AIs) will, in just a few years, be as useful as any employee.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/03/chatgpt-as-a-board-game-designer-topic-discussion/Useful LinksPeer Sylvester's German article "Chat GPT als Brettspielautor?" on the Spielbar website: https://www.spielbar.com/wordpress/2026/02/22/26916/Ryan Dancey's post: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social/post/3mf3p2kv4a22lMake My Game Travel: https://makemygametravel.com/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: bensound.comLicense code: SABGE2PPI2ABAS06Artist: : Nick PetrovSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Tricky Landing (Saturday Review)
Cards were wildly flying through the air. People were taking turns aiming their cards at the target in the middle of the table. It all looked frightfully confusing, but everyone was happy. Choosing the best card was hard enough as it was, but flicking it correctly seemed impossible. For the cards, it was certainly a Tricky Landing by Mike Petchey from Huff No More with illustrations by Edie Petchey.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/28/tricky-landing-saturday-review/Useful LinksTricky Landing: https://travel-games.co.uk/shop/p/trickylandingHuff No More: https://www.huffnomore.co.uk/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/456152/tricky-landingNew Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/Trick-taking reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/category/reviews/?tag=trick-taking-gamesMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: EX0VDDYHJTWLXV3TArtist: : Benjamin TissotSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
No Man's Land - historical board games' position between entertainment and education (Topic Discussion)
Historical board games occupy an awkward space in our hobby. They are usually not designed to teach history in any formal sense, and they are also not entertaining in the sense of being fun. These games stop short of education, offering no syllabus, no claims of being a detailed treatise of their setting, and no obligation to explain themselves. The subject matter historical board games draw on, war, exploitation, inequality, famine, and systemic violence, doesn't suit the lightness or escapism people often expect when playing board games as a leisure activity. The result is a form of play that somehow feels serious but incomplete. In this article, I want to explore this in more detail.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/24/no-mans-land-historical-board-games-position-between-entertainment-and-education-topic-discussion/Useful LinksAmabel Holland's blog Hollandazed: Thoughts, Ideas, and Miscellany: https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellanyJeremiah McCall's Gaming the Past: https://gamingthepast.net/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music:Color In The Dark by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/hidden thoughts by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/a voice low by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Perilune by AERØHEAD | https://soundcloud.com/aeroheadMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_USSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Amos K on Unsplash)
Through Ice and Snow (Saturday Review)
The sea relentlessly froze around our convoy, tightly squeezing the ships' hulls, as if it was testing our resolve. The other ships were holding formation, their tall masts and limp sails dark against the brooding grey sky. We had been entrusted with mapping new shores and documenting new species, financed by men who expected their names to be remembered forever, with ours only featuring as footnotes. Yet, our minds only thought about fuel and food, and storms that could spoil both. We each commanded our own ship, yet we were bound together by the same horizon, as we made our way Through Ice and Snow by Fernando Eduardo Sánchez from 2Tomatoes Games with art by Pedro A. Alberto and Araceli Martín.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/21/through-ice-and-snow-saturday-review/Useful LinksThrough Ice and Snow: https://2tomatoesgames.com/gb/through-ice-and-snow-esenfrde-8437022321530.htmlRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/267433/english-rules-low-resRules video: https://www.youtube.com/live/Xl8CEWPMviI?si=49OW_61_zYFmH1h0&t=722Tomatoes Games: https://2tomatoesgames.com/gb/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352263/through-ice-and-snowK2 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/09/25/k2-digital-eyes/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Stalker Heart of Chornobyl Atmosphere 13Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12758-stalker-heart-of-chornobyl-atmosphere-13Music: Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 007Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/7128-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-007SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of 2Tomatoes Games)