Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions with a personal touch
689 episodes — Page 3 of 14
2024 - A Year in Review (and a look ahead…) (Saturday Review)
As another year draws to a close, it's time to look back, take stock and also glimpse ahead. So let me share how 2024 was for me and give you an idea of what 2025 has in store. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/12/28/2024-a-year-in-review-and-a-look-ahead-saturday-review/ Useful Links 10x10 Challenge: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/166160/2014-challenge-play-10-games-10-times-each Knarr review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/20/knarr-saturday-review/ Tapestry review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/09/tapestry-saturday-review/ Prey Another Day review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/17/prey-another-day-saturday-review/ Medici review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/04/13/medici-saturday-review/ Sea Salt & Paper review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/ Terraforming Mars review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/07/31/terraforming-mars-digital-eyes/ Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Mid Sussex Meeples: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midsussexmeeples/events Make My Game Travel: https://makemygametravel.com/ Spielworxx: https://www.spielworxx.de/ Bright Eye Games: https://www.brighteyegames.com/ Berlin Con 2024 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/27/berlin-brettspiel-con-2024-saturday-review/ UK Games Expo 2024 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/15/uk-games-expo-2024-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Background by 2TECH-AUDIO | https://2tech-audio.bandcamp.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash)
Dungeon Champs (Saturday Review)
In the dark and damp tunnels, creatures lurked. Brave heroes dared to venture deep into the labyrinth, hoping to defeat fiends and undead creatures, while avoiding spells. It was a battle to the death and whoever came out victorious would enter the annals of the Dungeon Champs by Matt Garbutt from Outland Entertainment. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/12/21/dungeon-champs-saturday-review/ Useful Links Outland Entertainment: https://outlandentertainment.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Mystery Of Dandela by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/2979-mystery-of-dandelaLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Haggis (Saturday Review)
Take some sheep's heart, liver and lungs, mince them together with some chopped onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt, mix in some stock and cook it all together in the animal's stomach for about an hour. Add some neeps and tatties and enjoy your Haggis by Sean Ross from Portland Game Collective. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/12/14/haggis-saturday-review/ Useful Links Haggis: https://portlandgamecollective.bigcartel.com/product/haggis Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/278213/haggis-rulebook-pgc-english-edition Portland Game Collective: https://portlandgamecollective.bigcartel.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37628/haggis Scout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/ Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Sakana Stack review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/14/sakana-stack-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
The Six of VIII (Saturday Review)
Passions flamed and power waned. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. First Catherine of Aragon, who had the most time to establish loyal supporters and powerful allies, then Anne Boleyn, queen for less than a year. They were followed by Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr. These were The Six of VIII by Carol LaGrow from New Mill Industries. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/12/07/the-six-of-viii-saturday-review/ Useful Links The Six of VIII: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/p/the-six-of-viii Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/279695/the-six-of-viii-rulebook New Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/394691/the-six-of-viii Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: XD5BLJITFDUDV7O6 Music: bensound.comLicense code: EGDLGSJATHYJHECC If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Immersive Thematics - board games that draw you in (Topic Discussion)
I love a good game with an atmospheric setting. I want to feel the cold as my meeples climb up the mountain, hear the bees as I place my apple tree hexes in my cider orchard, smell the smoke and the grease when my trains operate or see the next station that my underground train enters. A game that whisks you away and fully immerses you in another world for an hour or two or three is truly awesome. In this article, I want to look at a few that do it for me. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/12/03/immersive-thematics-board-games-that-draw-you-in-topic-discussion/ Useful Links K2 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/09/25/k2-digital-eyes/ Next Station: London review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/17/next-station-london-saturday-review/ Flamme Rouge review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/13/flamme-rouge-saturday-review/ Castle Panic review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/06/castle-panic-saturday-review/ Undaunted: Normandy review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/23/undaunted-normandy-saturday-review/ Votes for Women review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/02/10/votes-for-women-digital-eyes/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Dreamsphere 2 by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/197-dreamsphere-2License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Mysticana: A Foundation Deck (Saturday Review)
The elements are alive in our realm. The water element can douse the deadly flames of the fire element that would otherwise leave behind deeply scorched earth, while the earth element itself has the power to consume the waters of a dozen seas. The three elements are in constant battle, balancing each other out at times in infinite variations of their eternal cycles. Yet none of the three elements can ever reign supreme in the realm of Mysticana: A Foundation Deck by Dustin Dobson and Jamie Thul from Button Shy. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/30/mysticana-a-foundation-deck-saturday-review/ Useful Links Mysticana: A Foundation Deck: https://buttonshygames.com/products/mysticana-uk-only Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/284772/official-rules-button-shy Button Shy: https://buttonshygames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/408842/mysticana-a-foundation-deck Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: Effervescent tablet dropped in water by Toko_malourcour -- https://freesound.org/s/763274/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 breaking waves.wav by reinsamba -- https://freesound.org/s/19033/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 R27-25-Large Fire Burning.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/483318/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Immersion by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/187-immersionLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Box Clever - board games where the box is integral (Topic Discussion)
I am a hater of air and a lover of compact design. What I mean by that is that I don't like games where most of the box is empty, with components just floating around. I prefer it when the product design is clever and either has a good insert or otherwise makes everything compact. If a game goes the extra step and makes the box itself an integral component, then I'm super impressed. So in this article, I want to look at some examples that I think do it really well. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/26/box-clever-board-games-where-the-box-is-integral-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Mint Tin Mini Apocalypse review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/23/mint-tin-mini-apocalypse/ Str!ke review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/12/17/strike-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Tropical Night by Roa Music | https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Doomlings: Upgrade Pack (Saturday Review)
Space: an endless void with countless stars, some of which capable of harbouring a planet that can support life. Yadda, yadda, yadda. You already know the spiel. So, without further ado let me introduce the Doomlings: Upgrade Pack by Justus and Andrew Meyer from Doomlings. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/23/doomlings-upgrade-pack-saturday-review/ Useful Links Doomlings: Upgrade Pack: https://doomlings.com/products/doomlings-deluxe-upgrade-pack Doomlings: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/376385/doomlings-upgrade-pack BGG listing: https://doomlings.com/ Doomlings review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/01/doomlings-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Jazzberry by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Thematic Mismatch - how board game themes can help or hinder (Topic Discussion)
I have always felt that the theme or setting of a game can really help with learning it. In a game about the Spice Routes, for example, it will be instinctively clear why there are mechanisms to exchange resources of different types with each other or for money. After all, that's what the spice trade was mainly about. However, a game's theme or setting isn't necessarily useful. Sometimes it can be a hindrance. In this article, I want to look at this a bit more closely. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/19/thematic-mismatch-how-board-game-themes-can-help-or-hinder-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Clans of Caledonia review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/02/clans-of-caledonia/ Terra Mystica review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/06/01/terra-mystica/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: QVNIZ5DQOGN5HCMX Music by: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: QXQZI3ILJMZNGIXX If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Marten Newhall on Unsplash)
Stamp Swap (Saturday Review)
Rejoice, my friends! It’s time for our annual convention, where collectors from around the world gather to trade their tiny postal treasures. We must prepare our most beautiful and best-arranged collection and show it to the expert crowd. If we do well, we may walk away with the top prize at this year’s Stamp Swap by Paul Salomon from Stonemaier Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/16/stamp-swap-saturday-review/ Useful Links Stamp Swap: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/stamp-swap/ Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ulyfze69rb24tsgip7mn7/h/Stamp%20Swap/SS_Rulebook_r13.pdf?rlkey=ha4lz6kvkwmjaglah0lwtzjto&dl=0 Stonemaier Games: https://stonemaiergames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426796/stamp-swap Wingspan review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/16/wingspan/ Pattern Matching Pleasure article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/08/pattern-matching-pleasure-from-carcassonne-to-looot-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Star Trek: Away Missions - Commander Scotty: Federation Expansion (Saturday Review)
Aye, let me tell ye, it's nae just another day in the engine room! There we were, mindin' our own business, when a ripple in time itself plucks me and three of me trusted crewmates right out of our own century! Next thing ye know, we're smack dab in the aftermath of the Battle of Wolf 359. We've got to deal w' snarlin' Klingon warriors, Romulan spies and these strange machine-creatures. If that wasn't enough, we’ve got some right-determined Federation teams makin' things difficult. We were right in the middle of one of those Star Trek: Away Missions - Commander Scotty: Federation Expansion by Andrew Haught, Mike Haught and Phil Yates from Gale Force Nine. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/09/star-trek-away-missions-commander-scotty-federation-expansion-saturday-review/ Useful Links Star Trek: Away Missions - Commander Scotty: Federation Expansion: https://www.gf9games.com/awaymissions/817/commander-scotty-expansion/ Rulebook: https://www.gf9games.com/awaymissions/wp-content/uploads/StarTrekAwayMissions_Rulebook_WEB.pdf Gale Force Nine: https://www.gf9.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/412923/star-trek-away-missions-commander-scotty-federatio Star Trek: Away Missions review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/05/11/star-trek-away-missions-saturday-review/ Star Trek: Away Missions – Captain Kirk: Federation Expansion review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/31/star-trek-away-missions-captain-kirk-federation-expansion-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music and sound effects are the copyright and/or trademark of Paramount Global. Music: BensoundLicense code: PBEUT2INMFQTXVLA If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Give and Take - games with interesting player interaction (Topic Discussion)
I know that some people hate player interaction. They prefer a multi-player solitaire experience, where they are in full control of their destiny. If they win, it's down to how well they played. However, I quite like player interaction, both negative and positive. Being able to form temporary alliances that are eventually broken or having a way of stopping another player from getting too far ahead can be fun for me. So in this article, I want to look at player interaction in a bit more detail. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/05/give-and-take-games-with-interesting-player-interaction-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Brass: Birmingham review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/01/brass-birmingham-deluxe-saturday-review/ Loot review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/19/looot-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Leave by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/52-leaveLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Arcs (Saturday Review)
The spacefaring cultures were moving their forces through the gates and across the systems, changing the control in the clusters in the Reach. The balance of the court was also no longer guaranteed. Agents were making their influence known and securing their positions. It didn't take long for the first battles to start, damaging cities and spaceports and leading to captives and trophies. Maneuvering was getting almost impossible and the only way to move fleets was in Arcs by Cole Wehrle from Leder Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/11/02/arcs-saturday-review/ Useful Links Arcs: https://ledergames.com/products/arcs Rulebook: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0106/0162/7706/files/Arcs_Base_Rulebook.pdf?v=1713374179 Leder Games: https://ledergames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/359871/arcs Root review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/02/12/root-a-game-of-woodland-might-and-right-saturday-review/ Oath review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/11/27/oath-chronicles-of-empire-and-exile-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: M5MHW6VMTFT1QKBS Sports News 2 by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/352-sports-news-2License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Climbing High - from Scout to Odin (Topic Discussion)
I am a big fan of card games. Having grown up in Germany, a deck of cards was usually not far away. Playing trick-taking games was part of my youth, whether with the family or friends. I love card games in general and my love was rekindled when I was introduced to the modern hobby with games such as Citadels or Love Letter. I also found many new trick-taking games, but a genre that was new to me was so-called ladder-climbing games. In this article, I want to look at these fascinating games in more detail. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/29/climbing-high-from-scout-to-odin-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Citadels: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/products/zmgzc01-citadels-revised-edition Love Letter review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/23/love-letter-saturday-review/ Scout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/ Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Sakana Stack review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/14/sakana-stack-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Leisure by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/207-leisureLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Rolling Realms Redux (Saturday Review)
The seemingly endless lands lay in front of us. Ahead of us, we could see a small village where cute little dragons were tending stores. To our left, people were playing cards, closely watched by a row of playing cards and a rather angry-looking queen. Above us floated different spaceships, some delivering their wares to the small village, while others were expanding the land with new sections. What we saw were the amazing Rolling Realms Redux by Jamey Stegmaier and Karel Titeca from Stonemaier Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/26/rolling-realms-redux-saturday-review/ Useful Links Rolling Realms Redux: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/rolling-realms/redux/ Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ulyfze69rb24tsgip7mn7/ANZFm5AL5gRHM9ux2htczr4/Rolling%20Realms/Rolling%20Realms%20Redux/RRRedux_Rulebook_r5.pdf?rlkey=0ejidzd7lktoa5hyrbkmy9xse&dl=0 Stonemaier Games: https://stonemaiergames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/393892/rolling-realms-redux Aquamarine review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/16/aquamarine-saturday-review/ Next Station: London review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/17/next-station-london-saturday-review/ Flamecraft review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/02/24/flamecraft-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The Big Adventure by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/431-the-big-adventureLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Massively Multiplayer - from Quacks of Quedlinburg to Dragon vs Kingdom (Topic Discussion)
One of the things that most competitive and many cooperative games have in common is some sort of turn order. You go first, then comes Bob and then it's my turn. Turn order might change throughout the game, but there is always someone whose turn it is. The more players there are, the more of an issue it can be, because the longer you have to wait for the round to come back to you. Yet, there is an interesting set of games where everyone plays at the same time, which I want to look at in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/22/massively-multiplayer-from-quacks-of-quedlinburg-to-dragon-vs-kingdom-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Quacks of Quedlinburg review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/06/06/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg-saturday-review/ Dragon vs Kingdom review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/12/dragon-vs-kingdom-saturday-review/ 7 Wonders: https://www.rprod.com/index.php/en/games/7-wonders 7 Wonders Duel: https://www.rprod.com/index.php/en/games/7-wonders-duel Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/15/between-two-castles-of-mad-king-ludwig-saturday-review/ Flamme Rouge review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/13/flamme-rouge-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Polar Christmas by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/5497-polar-christmasLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Looot (Saturday Review)
Our longships were ready to sail. The crew had just completed stowing all provisions and supplies for the long voyage ahead. We needed resources and building materials to develop our fjord and complete our port, altar and Jarl palace. But we were not alone. Vikings from other fjords had the same ambition to store up the most riches and be crowned Jarl of the Vikings! It was a race, but we were ready! We were ready to Looot by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/19/looot-saturday-review/ Useful Links Looot: https://en.gigamic.com/accueil-fr/1136-looot.html Rulebook: https://en.gigamic.com/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=488 Gigamic: https://en.gigamic.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/410991/looot Knarr review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/20/knarr-saturday-review/ Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Applejack review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/30/applejack-saturday-review/ Akropolis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/09/akropolis-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: SAJRFKWQSP8U6FLP Liberty Quest by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/293-liberty-questLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Choo Choo My Friend - from Shikoku 1889 to 1880: China (Topic Discussion)
If you know me, you'll know that I love economic simulation games. I love trading stocks and shares. It feels great when I buy into someone else's company and ride their success to profit. It feels even better when my own company does well and I can take all the gains for myself, because nobody else believed it would do so well. Add to that my love for playing with toy trains and you can see why I'm in love with 18xx games. So allow me, if you will, to take you on a journey of trains, tracks, stations and shares. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/15/choo-choo-my-friend-from-shikoku-1889-to-1880-china-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Buy, Buy, Buy – my love affair with economic simulation board games: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/02/06/buy-buy-buy-my-love-affair-with-economic-simulation-board-games-topic-discussion/ Dune review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/08/dune-saturday-review/ Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/11/27/oath-chronicles-of-empire-and-exile-saturday-review/ Pax Pamir Second Edition review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/27/pax-pamir-second-edition-saturday-review/ 18xx games: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/tag/18xx-games/ Shikoku 1889 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/06/shikoku-1889-saturday-review/ 18xx.games: https://18xx.games/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Tivinize by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/62-tivinizeLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Dragon vs Kingdom (Saturday Review)
The new town was going to be glorious. Here in this wasteland that had seen many battles, it was important to create defenses, while also ensuring there were enough shops and houses for the people. It was going to take some time and our initial focus was on building towers that would allow us to see invaders far into the distance. The towers would also allow us to protect ourselves, because in these lands it was a matter of Dragon vs Kingdom by Chris Backe from No Box Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/12/dragon-vs-kingdom-saturday-review/ Useful Links Dragon vs Kingdom: https://noboxgames.com/dragon-vs-kingdom/ Rulebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IeIskCsCEV8d1zhYLzObssgYPSLbcu45v9Ju3jNDvE8/edit?usp=sharing Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noboxgames/dragon-vs-kingdom?ref=tabletopgamesblog No Box Games: https://noboxgames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/428147/dragon-vs-kingdom Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by BensoundLicense code: QIEWSJU7I6HZL1FL Epic Intro 2017 by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/558-epic-intro-2017License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of No Box Games)
Pattern Matching Pleasure - from Carcassonne to Looot (Topic Discussion)
There are certain categories of games that I absolutely love. You will have heard about my recent escapades in the world of 18xx games and the excitement these types of games create for me. They offer me a good dose of brain training, while also being thematically enjoyable. Yet, there is another genre of games that I love: tile-laying games. So, in this article, I want to talk about these games a bit more and explain what I like about them so much. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/08/pattern-matching-pleasure-from-carcassonne-to-looot-topic-discussion/ Useful Links 18xx games: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/tag/18xx-games/ Carcassonne: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/collections/carcassonne Applejack review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/30/applejack-saturday-review/ Akropolis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/09/akropolis-saturday-review/ Looot: https://en.gigamic.com/accueil-fr/1136-looot.html Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: ELSMVZV4TXWOJZEJ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Ultramassive (Saturday Review)
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Black holes are enormous and entirely ungovernable. They form when massive stars collapse on themselves at the end of their life. They grow by absorbing mass from their surroundings and if they absorb other stars or merge with other black holes, they become supermassive, millions of solar masses in size. Yet, some black holes are even more gigantic and powerful. They are Ultramassive by Alex Greenberg and Jacob Phillips from Studio Unknown. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/05/ultramassive-saturday-review/ Useful Links Ultramassive: https://www.studiounknowngames.com/ultramassiveboardgame Rulebook: https://www.studiounknowngames.com/_files/ugd/3543fc_e4111f93dcbd4034a12b939d314a9e9c.pdf Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studio-unknown/ultramassive Studio Unknown: https://www.studiounknowngames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/407965/ultramassive Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: bensound.comLicense code: 0J0DK5719NKUBIV9 Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: YNZBKH8IPGZTSQV4 If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Vrahode: Age of Prophecy (Saturday Review)
The Age of Inception is all but over. People are starting to forget the stories that were passed down. Tabuhl's Tail, a sign of things to come, will soon return. While our memories fade, that most ancient of omens is ready to lighten the night sky once again. It is time for a few of us, whose memories are more vivid, to get ready for a new age, when Tabuhl's Tail returns and reigns supreme in Vrahode: Age of Prophecy by Jeffrey Irving from Weathervane Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/28/vrahode-age-of-prophecy-saturday-review/ Useful Links Vrahode: Age of Prophecy: https://www.vrahode.com/ Rulebook: https://www.vrahode.com/_files/ugd/d7f5fc_bff3f9371008454da014e604872f569c.pdf Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/weathervanegames/vrahode-age-of-prophecy Weathervane Games: https://www.weathervanegames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/412436/vrahode-age-of-prophecy Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Cinematic Trailer" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Music: "Area 18" by Sascha EndeWebsite: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/10436-area-18 If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Mischief (Saturday Review)
In Tir na-Nog, ethereal Queen Titania and Lord Oberon have finally decided to not only end their age-old rivalry, but also to get married. For the big day, they have invited delegations from all the vassal faeries to come together and celebrate the grand occasion. As a faerie noble yourself, you also received one of these invitations, but which role your folk will play in this new combined kingdom is unclear. It is up to you and your delegation to be true faeries and form as many alliances as you will cause Mischief by Dan Cassar from Dream Cult Game Studio. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/21/mischief-saturday-review/ Useful Links Mischief: https://www.dancassar.com/ Rulebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QoraSbsDTMGiL_EMi3rCOGjG0PtJE9dSFav13RThnZU/edit?usp=sharing Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dancassar/184207081?ref=bc1enj Dream Cult Game Studio: https://www.dancassar.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396648/mischief Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Woods Of Imagination by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Sakana Stack (Saturday Review)
You have risen early to prepare your stall at Tsukiji Market. It won't be long until the doors open and the aisles become a sea of people wanting to sample the wares. It's going to be tough. The quality and variety of fish and shellfish on your stand are outstanding and should speak for themselves, but you can't be sure until you have sold your whole Sakana Stack by Mike Petchey from Huff No More. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/14/sakana-stack-saturday-review/ Useful Links Sakana Stack: https://www.huffnomore.co.uk/sakanastack Huff No More: https://www.huffnomore.co.uk/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/413838/sakana-stack Scout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/ Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Music: Undercover Mission If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Objective Bias - why reviews are always subjective (Topic Discussion)
If you have spent a number of years reviewing board games, you will have seen how people keep bringing up the topic of how reviewers should not be biased and remain as objective as possible. Of course, reviewers, like all people, are always going to have biases and a review will never be objective. As this topic was recently discussed yet again, I wanted to share my thoughts on bias and subjectivity in my writing. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/10/objective-bias-why-reviews-are-always-subjective-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Easy by | e s c p | https://www.escp.spacehttps://escp-music.bandcamp.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash)
Loot Dispute (Saturday Review)
The band of brave adventurers had finally arrived back in our town. They had returned jubilantly after clearing the local dungeons of the many monsters that had lurked in the deep caverns and tunnels. We celebrated with them because we no longer faced the threat of attacks. Not only that, now that the dungeons were clear of all dangers, we were able to scour them for treasure. The only problem was how to divide the riches we would find. It was clear, there was going to be a lot of Loot Dispute by Jeffrey D. Allers from Gold Seal Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/07/loot-dispute-saturday-review/ Useful Links Loot Dispute: https://www.goldsealgames.com/product/loot-dispute Gold Seal Games: https://www.goldsealgames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/362889/loot-dispute Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Cinematic Experience by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Star Trek: Away Missions - Captain Kirk: Federation Expansion (Saturday Review)
Captain's Log - Stardate... well, nobody is really sure. After having been drawn into some sort of temporal disturbance, the Enterprise is now floating helplessly in space without thrust and only minimal power. Our viewscreens show the presence of another vessel. It isn't completely clear, but it looks like we have been transported into the aftermath of a massive battle. To find out what we are dealing with, Spock, McCoy, Chekov and myself, the captain, have decided to beam across and investigate. I know this is going to be our first of many Star Trek: Away Missions - Captain Kirk: Federation Expansion by Andrew Haught, Mike Haught and Phil Yates from Gale Force Nine. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/31/star-trek-away-missions-captain-kirk-federation-expansion-saturday-review/ Useful Links Star Trek: Away Missions - Captain Kirk: Federation Expansion: https://www.gf9games.com/awaymissions/785/captain-kirk-expansion/ Rulebook: https://www.gf9games.com/awaymissions/wp-content/uploads/StarTrekAwayMissions_Rulebook_WEB.pdf Gale Force Nine: https://www.gf9.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/412920/star-trek-away-missions-captain-kirk-federation-ex Star Trek: Away Missions review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/05/11/star-trek-away-missions-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music and sound effects are the copyright and/or trademark of Paramount Global. If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Joint Excitement - discovering games together (Topic Discussion)
I love my game group. We've been playing board games for many. many years now. Over the years we learned many new ones and slowly established favourites, which would eventually get replaced by new favourites. It's very special to have a consistent group of people to play games with. One of the really special things I found is how we discover games together and I want to write about it in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/27/joint-excitement-discovering-games-together-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: JoDon by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash)
Charms (Saturday Review)
Whether it is coins, keys, clover or rabbit feet, there are many items that, according to ancient superstitions, bring you luck and maybe even protect you from evil. You merely need to wear them around your neck or on a bracelet and their magic becomes active. Collectively, these items are known as Charms by Taiki Shinzawa from New Mill Industries. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/24/charms-saturday-review/ Useful Links Charms: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/p/charms Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/281400/charms-english-rules New Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172844/charms Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Music: Nu Fornacis by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
In Between Games - quick games while you wait (Topic Discussion)
I think many of us like games that take an hour or two to play, maybe even longer. I guess that's at least true when you've got a game group you play regularly with. I love longer games, but I also love those quick games that take less than half an hour to learn and play. They're ideal to play before, after or even in between other games. They're also perfect for game groups, because you can play them while you wait for others to arrive, after some people have left or in between other games, while some of you freshen themselves up. So in this article, I want to look at these "in-between" games. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/20/in-between-games-quick-games-while-you-wait-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Bombyx: https://studiobombyx.com/en/ Sea Salt & Paper review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/ Knarr review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/20/knarr-saturday-review/ Pixies review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/10/pixies-saturday-review/ Prey Another Day review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/17/prey-another-day-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: La Naranja Borriana by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Prey Another Day (Saturday Review)
The forest is dark and eerie. A cold wind whistles through the branches and makes them creak and groan. The rustling of the leaves goes some way to hiding the noise of your prowling through the undergrowth. You have your prey in sight, but suddenly, at the same time as you break cover, other hunters reveal themselves. There is a moment of confusion which our shared victim uses to their advantage to escape to safety. It looks like we are all going hungry today and we all have to accept that we will have to Prey Another Day by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from Pegasus Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/17/prey-another-day-saturday-review/ Useful Links Prey Another Day: https://pegasus.de/en/16425/prey-another-day-english-edition-edition-spielwiese Rulebook: https://pegasus.de/media/pdf/10/07/ed/4250231737596_en_web.pdf Pegasus Spiele: https://pegasus.de/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/234260/prey-another-day Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Music: Cherry Heath by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Pixies (Saturday Review)
As we were walking through the forest on a mild, damp spring morning, with the mist still rising and the trees and other plants slowly waking up as the sun was peeking over the horizon, we saw, to our great surprise, little creatures emerging from flowers and the hollows of the trees. Some wore cupule hats, while others had slung oak leaf ponchos over their bodies. We even spotted some with little string instruments made from walnut halves. They were magical to behold as they walked along the forest floor and formed little groupings, three side-by-side and three deep. These were clearly Pixies by Johannes Goupy from Bombyx. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/10/pixies-saturday-review/ Useful Links Pixies: https://studiobombyx.com/en/jeu/pixies/ Rulebook: https://studiobombyx.com/assets/PIXIES_rulebook_EN.pdf Bombyx: https://studiobombyx.com/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/411875/pixies Sea, Salt & Paper review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/ ColorADD: https://www.coloradd.net/en/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Music: Saving the Floe by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Not for the Win - games aren't necessarily about winning (Topic Discussion)
If you're a competitive person, you want to win. If you're a really competitive person, winning is your absolute goal. Competitive games will probably be your favourite, but even when you play cooperative games, you probably still try to do everything in your power to beat the game and take the win for the team. However, I don't think playing games is necessarily about winning. There are many other benefits of enjoying a board game together that I want to talk about in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/06/not-for-the-win-games-arent-necessarily-about-winning-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Voyager by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Hidden Agendas (Saturday Review)
We all had our different plans. Getting the right bills through the Senate was never easy. There would always be compromises and endless debates. We all wanted to further our own goals. The odd promise of a bribe, digging up dirt on the other parties' representatives and some last-minute voting changes all helped to get what your party wanted. At the end of the day, we all had our own Hidden Agendas by Josh Rossman from Big Boom Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/03/hidden-agendas-saturday-review/ Useful Links Hidden Agendas: https://bigboomgamesllc.com/collections/all Big Boom Games: https://bigboomgamesllc.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/419554/hidden-agendas Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC First Results by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Cultural Games - board games as cultural assets (Topic Discussion)
The term Kulturgut is very hard to translate into English. In fact, I don't think there is a similar concept in the UK. "Cultural asset" doesn't really do it justice, because the term describes things that have a cultural value and need to be preserved. Literature is a type of Kulturgut for example. As a British person, you can easily see how the works of Shakespeare have a cultural value and require to be preserved. Yet, when it comes to our hobby, people don't necessarily think of modern board games as Kulturgut. In this article, I want to look at this a little closer. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/30/cultural-games-board-games-as-cultural-assets-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Spiel des Jahres: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/ Brass: Birmingham review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/01/brass-birmingham-deluxe-saturday-review/ e-Mission: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/games/e-mission-daybreak/ Sagaland: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiel-des-jahres-1982-sagaland/ Um Reifenbreite: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiel-des-jahres-1992-um-reifenbreite-von-rob-bontenbal/ Dungeons & Dragons: https://dnd.wizards.com/start-playing-dnd Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: The Coil Winds by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Daniele D'Andreti on Unsplash)
Berlin Brettspiel Con 2024 (Saturday Review)
Over the weekend during a hot July in Germany at a different, but much cooler location compared to last year, around 16,000 people attended the "big summer board game festival for gamers, geeks and the whole family", as the event describes itself. Located in my home city, the convention I am talking about is, of course, Berlin Brettspiel Con 2024. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/27/berlin-brettspiel-con-2024-saturday-review/ Useful Links Berlin Brettspiel Con: https://berlin-con.de/en/homepage_en/ Estrel Convention Center: https://www.estrel.com/en/congress Spielworxx: https://www.spielworxx.de/ Make My Game Travel: https://makemygametravel.com/ EPOS: A Gentes Game: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/spielworxx/epos-a-gentes-game Ostia Spiele: https://www.ostia-spiele.de/ Tee oder Kaffee: https://www.ostia-spiele.de/games_teeoderkaffee.htm Schnitzeljagd: https://pegasusshop.de/en/product-line/games/family-games/16426/schnitzeljagd-edition-spielwiese Edition Spielwiese: https://spielwiese-berlin.de/edition/ Pixies: https://studiobombyx.com/en/jeu/pixies/ Bombyx: https://studiobombyx.com/en/ Snap Ship Tactics: https://www.snapshipstactics.com/ Pandoria: https://www.irongames.de/wordpress/index.php/the-games/pandoria-2024-2/ Iron Games: https://www.irongames.de/wordpress/ Karma Games: https://karma-games.com/ Industria: https://karma-games.com/clans-of-caledonia/industria-expansion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Tripoli by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Knarr (Digital Eyes)
Vikings were known for plundering, but what many people forget is that they also did a lot of trade. In fact, the Viking Era saw an increase in trade in the English Channel, the North Sea and the Baltic. There was one vessel that was specifically made for the exchange of large quantities of goods. It was a cargo ship with a shorter hull than the commonly known longships, which were mainly warships, and that had only a partial deck or sometimes none at all. It was specially adapted to the high seas to transport goods safely from shore to shore. To the Vikings, it was known as the Knarr by Thomas Dupont from Bombyx. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/20/knarr-saturday-review/ Useful Links Knarr: https://studiobombyx.com/en/jeu/knarr/ Rulebook: https://studiobombyx.com/assets/KNARR_rulebook_EN-1.pdf Bombyx: https://studiobombyx.com/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/379629/knarr Odin review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/03/30/odin-saturday-review/ Viking See-Saw review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/16/viking-see-saw-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC I Walk With Ghosts by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Bombyx)
Flamme Rouge (Saturday Review)
We had started in Florence when everyone was still fresh and raring to go. An endless sea of bicycles with teams sticking closely together had lined up at the starting line. The support teams had only done their last checks minutes before and everything was shiny and gleaming. Now, several thousand kilometres later, everyone started to show signs of slowing down. Yet, at the horizon a welcome sign became visible. We knew it wasn't going to be much further. There it was, the red flag, the Flamme Rouge by Asger Harding Granerud from Lautapelit.fi. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/13/flamme-rouge-saturday-review/ Useful Links Flamme Rouge: https://en.lautapelit.fi/product/22825/flamme-rouge-eng Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/132037/rulebook Lautapelit.fi: https://en.lautapelit.fi/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199478/flamme-rouge K2 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/09/25/k2-digital-eyes/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Overdrive (By PraxI) by Diamond Ace | https://soundcloud.com/diamond-ace-musicMusic 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_US If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Early Finish - why we don't always have to finish games (Topic Discussion)
There is an unwritten social contract that, when you choose to play a board game, you agree to play it to its conclusion. Everyone around the table expects to finish the game. Everyone wants to have an equal chance of winning. People want to be able to come back from behind and snatch their victory right on their last turn. I think that expectation is perpetuated by how games are designed. So in this article, I want to explore this a bit further. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/09/early-finish-why-we-dont-always-have-to-finish-games-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Etude 3 Chessanta by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Lisa Bresler on Unsplash)
Shikoku 1889 (Saturday Review)
The period of sakoku has only recently ended, and now with the Meiji Restoration in full swing, the country is investing heavily in new technologies. Locomotives have become the leading symbol of the nation's modernization. Across all four islands, new railway operations are created and entrepreneurs attempt to profit from the money being injected into the economy. Our small island is no different. It's the same here on Shikoku 1889 by Yasutaka Ikeda from Grand Trunk Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/06/shikoku-1889-saturday-review/ Useful Links Shikoku 1889: https://www.grandtrunkgames.com/ Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/267620/shikoku-1889-rulebook-compressed Grand Trunk Games: https://www.grandtrunkgames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23540/shikoku-1889 Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: JoDon by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Round and Refined - when games are perfectly designed (Topic Discussion)
Games come in all shapes and sizes. Designers create them in different ways and with different intentions. Some games are an interesting mix of mechanisms, others are a passion project that tries to evoke certain emotions when people play them. Games can have simple rules with deep emergent gameplay or they can be rules-heavy. While some games take minutes to play, others can take hours to complete. However games are designed, there are some that feel round and refined, while others seem awkward or overly difficult. So in this article, I want to investigate what it is that makes a game perfectly designed. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/02/round-and-refined-when-games-are-perfectly-designed-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Plum Blossom by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Tahlia Doyle on Unsplash)
Mayan Curse (Saturday Review)
We made it! We finally decoded a very important ancient Mayan manuscript and found the temple described in the old document deep in the jungles of El Salvador. As we were standing at the entrance, we saw in front of us a very long paved road, leading to a circular pyramid. Each paving slab had a different symbol on it and we knew from the manuscript that we had to align them to make our way safely across. As keen as we were to get to the end, we also knew we had to get back out alive. After all, the secret underground pathway we had discovered was protected by an ancient Mayan Curse by Sylvain Plante and Joe Slack from Crazy Like a Box. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/29/mayan-curse-saturday-review/ Useful Links Mayan Curse: https://www.crazylikeabox.com/mayan-curse/ Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ytdnwryr15t9bm5fou9rt/MayanCurse_RULES_OCT-25_PROOF-3.pdf?rlkey=mwr9vcn6wuv0nr451scnfblnm&dl=0 Crazy Like a Box: https://www.crazylikeabox.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396704/mayan-curse Fireball Island: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233020/fireball-island-the-curse-of-vul-kar Deep Sea Adventure review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/04/11/deep-sea-adventure-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) "Adventures in Adventureland"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Rule Breakers - when breaking the game rules is more fun (Topic Discussion)
Good games will have had a lot of time put into them to ensure they create the experience that the designer wanted. The rules will have been created with intent and purpose. Rules are the skeleton around which the muscles, sinews, skin and the whole living body of the game grows. Games are meant to be played by their rules, or at least that's what we're being told. In this article, I want to look at why rule-breaking can be a better option. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/25/rule-breakers-when-breaking-the-game-rules-is-more-fun-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: BensoundLicense code: UEUT8CH4Q4I7FUKR If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo Ian Barsby on Unsplash)
Undermined! Pairadice City (Saturday Review)
Howdy partner. Welcome to the Wild West, where there is gold to be found in them there hills. Only the most daring souls will find the riches. Mining is dangerous work. So helping your fellow human is the right thing to do, but getting repaid for your kindness is not guaranteed. I'll start you off with a pick-axe, some safety gear and a few sticks of dynamite. It's on the house, because I'm sure you'll soon be back to stock up. Now, off you go. Make your fortune in this wonderful place we call Undermined! Pairadice City by Chris Fisher and Nick Barker from Devilfly Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/22/undermined-pairadice-city-saturday-review/ Useful Links Undermined! Pairadice City: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/878983701/undermined-pairadice-city Devilfly Games: https://www.facebook.com/devilflygames/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/379802/undermined-pairadice-city Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC Music by: bensound.comLicense code: OTGKK4PHBSRPGFOI If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
UK Games Expo 2024 (Saturday Review)
It is always a pleasure to arrive by train at Birmingham International train station, which not only gives you access to West Midland's main airport, but also to the amazing NEC. It is in this huge exhibition complex that the UK's largest hobby games convention takes place every year. The event welcomes tens of thousands of visitors over three days who explore the three main halls of the NEC as well as a number of rooms in the nearby Hilton Metropole Hotel. You will have guessed it. It is, of course, UK Games Expo 2024. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/15/uk-games-expo-2024-saturday-review/ Useful Links UK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ UK Games Expo 2018 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2018/06/08/uk-games-expo-2018/ Essen 2019 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/10/12/essen-spiel-2019-most-wanted-saturday-review/ SUDC UK: https://sudc.org.uk/ Williams Montessori School Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/p/John-William-Montessori-school-100064321020329/ Bear's Army: https://www.kidney.org.uk/blog/bears-story Play Test UK: http://www.playtest.co.uk/ Express CIC: https://www.expresscic.org.uk/ The Giant Brain: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Gavin Jones: https://keep-up-with-the-jones-family.com/meet-family/ Punchboard: https://punchboard.co.uk/ Library Labyrinth: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/02/26/library-labyrinth-saturday-review/ Atikin Games: https://atikingames.com/ Bright Eye Games: https://www.brighteyegames.com/ Make My Game Travel translation services: https://makemygametravel.com/ Hachette UK: https://www.hachetteboardgames.co.uk/ Dina Said So: https://www.dinasaidsostudio.com/ Push D6: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/400372/push-d6 Lirius Games: https://liriusgames.com/en-uk Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/22/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-saturday-review/ Huff No More: https://www.instagram.com/huffnomore Scout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/ Roland MacDonald: https://rolandsrevenge.com/ BoardGameWire: https://boardgamewire.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Corporate Motivation" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Abandon All Artichokes (Saturday Review)
Artichokes come in two main forms: globe and Jerusalem. Both are lovely vegetables with many health benefits. As culinary ingredients, some love their wonderful flavour, while others hate them for the same reason. However, we want to talk about globe artichokes specifically here. So while you might love these wonderful green plants, as relatives of thistles it is no surprise why one might be desperate to Abandon All Artichokes by Emma Larkins from Gamewright. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/08/abandon-all-artichokes-saturday-review/ Useful Links Abandon All Artichokes: https://gamewright.com/product/Abandon-All-Artichokes Rulebook: https://gamewright.com/pdfs/Rules/AAArules_v2.pdf Gamewright: https://gamewright.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/302260/abandon-all-artichokes Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: HIGPLVNSPBZKZOVK If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Doomlings (Saturday Review)
Space: an endless void with countless stars, some of which capable of harbouring a planet that can support life. On one of these Goldilocks planets far away from our own, life has indeed emerged. Yet, nothing is ever allowed to last. One day, the inevitable end will come. So in the meantime, life on this planet is competing for supremacy. They do not know it yet, but they are the Doomlings by Justus Meyer and Andrew Meyer from Doomlings LLC. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/06/01/doomlings-saturday-review/ Useful Links Doomlings: https://doomlings.com/ Rulebook: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0554/6190/4593/files/Doomlings_Rulebook.pdf?v=1709671623 Doomlings LLC: https://doomlings.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324413/doomlings Fluxx: https://www.looneylabs.com/games/fluxx Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Arrakis by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/568-arrakisLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Doomlings LLC)
UK Games Expo 2024 - looking ahead (Topic Discussion)
Another year has gone by in a flash and it's time again for me to start another convention season. Well, I say "season", but that's exaggerating it. I'm actually only attending two board game shows this year. I just can't afford to fly everywhere and spend time away from home. So I chose two events that I really enjoyed last year and that won't cost me the world. The first of these is, of course, UK Games Expo 2024. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/05/28/uk-games-expo-2024-looking-ahead-topic-discussion/ Useful Links UK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ Asmodee: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/ Splendor review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/07/25/splendor-saturday-review/ Jaipur review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/29/jaipur-saturday-review/ Hachette: https://www.hachette.co.uk/ Akropolis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/09/akropolis-saturday-review/ Kosmos: https://www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/ Devir: https://devirgames.com/ Czech Games Edition: https://czechgames.com/ Hegemonic Project Games: https://hegemonicproject.com/ Lirius Games: https://liriusgames.com/en-uk Berlin Brettspiel Con review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/22/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: ACUS489FQQZVP6UD If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends (Saturday Review)
Build your reputation, they said. Complete voyages, defeat foes and gather treasures, they said. Visit the outpost to sell cargo and make repairs, they said. Having two sloops under my command was supposed to make this easy, but the truth was far from it. A pirate's life for me, my barnacle. It was a huge challenge from the start. It was almost impossible to safely navigate this Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends by Mat Hart, James M. Hewitt, Steve Margetson, Sherwin Matthews and Sophie Williams from Steamforged Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/05/25/sea-of-thieves-voyage-of-legends-saturday-review/ Useful Links Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends: https://steamforged.com/en-gb/products/sea-of-thieves-the-board-game Rulebook: https://steamforged.com/cdn/shop/files/SOT-Rulebook-compressed-pp.pdf?v=1950745597445457082 Steamforged Games: https://steamforged.com/en-gb BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/382016/sea-of-thieves-voyage-of-legends Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2024 BBC The Big Adventure by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/431-the-big-adventureLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Paper App Dungeon (Saturday Review)
Welcome, adventurer. You are about to embark on a very unique dungeon crawl. Sharpen your pencil and be brave. You are about to face an almost endless cave system stuffed to the brim with coins, treasure chests, spiders' webs, enemies and even the odd portal. So off you go, brave fellow, and descend the stairs into the amazing Paper App Dungeon by Tom Brinton from Lucky Duck Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/05/18/paper-app-dungeon-saturday-review/ Useful Links Paper App Dungeon: https://luckyduckgames.com/en/games/749-paper-app-dungeon Rulebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XvvW4e0-MeePAfPu0Y-FeUHe9V_ufwMNX3GaI0uVBPE/edit Lucky Duck Games: https://luckyduckgames.com/en BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/329613/paper-app-dungeon Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Darkness" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Music: "Destination" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/