Board Game Bros

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BOARD GAME BROS We are Jeffrey Craig and Matthew Craig - brothers in real life and board game designers in real life. This is our board game hobbyist/design podcast where we talk about our favorite games. We start every episode talking about how the game is played, and then we examine how game desig…

Board Game Bros


    • Jun 7, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 141 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Board Game Bros

    141: Return to Dark Tower

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 57:09


    The Board Game Bros are back from their hiatus, and what better game to discuss upon their return than Return to Dark Tower! Listen for Jeffrey and Matthew's strategy tips, then stick around for a discussion on what an app can bring to a tabletop gaming experience.

    140: That's Pretty Clever!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 61:11


    This episode the board game bros discuss Wolfgang Warsch's roll-and-write-er That's Pretty Clever! Listen for tips on investing early, fox tips, and stick around for a discussion on player expression in a game with no flavor.

    139: Overboss

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 56:37


    This week the Board Game Bros cover the evil-realm-building tile placement game Overboss. Listen for Jeff and Matt's thoughts on the pixel art style, strategies for going big, and a continuation on the discussion on board game spin-offs.

    138: Pictures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 52:08


    This episode the Board Game Bros review Spiel Des Jahres winner Pictures! Listen for tips on using each of the game's 5 sets of objects, then stick around after the break for a discussion on the game's laid-back vibe and how to add your own objects.

    137: Quarriors

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 51:47


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the dice-bag-building classic Quarriors. Learn how to out-pace your opponents in a race for glory, then listen for Jeff and Matt's thoughts on why a couple lacking design elements make this game feel like autopilot.

    136: Clank!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2021 62:35


    This week the Board Game Bros Cover Clank!: A Deck-building Adventure. Listen for Jeff and Matt's 3 strategies for winning and which they think is best, then stick around and listen as Matt reckons with deck-building design principles.

    135: Fright

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 56:41


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the party game withe the most scares-per-minute, Fright. Listen for their thoughts on how to be a good ghost, if and when you should scare yourself, and a design discussion on the necessity of fancy components. Thanks to SolidRoots games for sending us the game for this review!

    134: Fluxx & Chrononauts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 66:55


    This week its another double feature! Matt and Jeff discuss Looney Labs' very own Fluxx and Chrononauts. Listen for the Board Game Bros' thoughts on a classic, a discussion on feels-bad mechanics, and the importance of a good theme.

    133: Century Spice Road & Eastern Wonders

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 70:15


    This week the Board Game Bros are serving up a double feature with a discussion on Century: Spice Road and Century: Eastern Wonders. Learn about the similarities and differences between parts one and two of the Century trilogy, then stick around for a discussion on designing sequels that combine with their prequels.

    132: The Palace of Mad King Ludwig

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 66:07


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the tile-placement board game The Palace of Mad King Ludwig. Listen for tips on how to score points and race the rising tide of the moat, then stick around for a discussion on rules comprehension.

    131: Everdell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 61:43


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the woodland worker-placement game Everdell. Learn strategies for maximizing actions and points, then stick around to hear Jeff and Matt's thoughts on how this game combines mechanical inspiration to great effect.

    130: Welcome To...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 56:24


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the Roll and Write (or Draw and Write) game Welcome To. Listen for tips on placing your houses, meeting objectives, and stick around for a design discussion about tension and payoff.

    129: Wavelength

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 51:33


    This episode, the Board Game Bros discuss the beautifully-designed party game Wavelength. Listen for tips on being a good psychic, then stick around for a discussion on the component design, and reasons why this is Jeff and Matt's new favorite party game.

    128: Pendulum

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 65:13


    This week the Board Game Bros review Pendulum from Stonemaier Games. Listen for Matt and Jeff's strategy tips for managing your time and workers, then stick around til the end for a discussion on the game's theming and component design.

    127: Planet

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 49:02


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the competitive dodecahedron-assembling game Planet. Listen for a discussion on how to spot the synnergies between animals, and how to build 1 birdhouse for 2 birds (or was it with one plank?) Stick around til the end where we discuss the component design and how the game gets in its own way with its satisfying gameplay.

    126: Spirit Island Expansions (Branch And Claw + Jagged Earth)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 73:01


    This week the Board Game Bros revisit the stone-cold-classic co-op game Spirit Island and its 2 phenomenal expansions. Listen for strategy tips with the new spirits, then stick around for a discussion on why Matt and Jeff Spirit Island's expansions, though complicated, nail it for their target audience.

    125: Teamfight Tactics Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 90:24


    This week the Board Game Bros revisit Teamfight Tactics. Listen for Jeff and Matt's strategies for the current set, then stick around for a discussion on past sets and TFT's design philosophy.

    124: Roll for the Galaxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 75:52


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the dice-rolling game of space domination Roll for the Galaxy. Listen for tips on win conditions and making the most of your dice, then stick around for Matt and Jeff's thoughts on the game's theme and design.

    123: Architects of the West Kingdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 69:50


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the meta-worker-placement-game Architects of the West Kingdom. Listen for opening strategies, and Matt and Jeff's thoughts on how this game successfully subverts the worker placement genre.

    122: Cartographers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 58:30


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the "roll" and write map-charting game Cartographers (A Roll Player Tale). Listen for Jeff and Matt's tips on placing your territories, and learn why this quick and simple game is so dang satisfying.

    121: Our Favorite Mechanics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 67:58


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss their 7 favorite mechanics from specific board games. Listen for how each of these unique mechanics stands apart and defines the game that it's from.

    120: Competitive Board Gaming

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 47:52


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss what it takes for a game to have a competitive scene, then go into some professional tips and tricks for their favorite competitive board games.

    119: The Castles of Burgundy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 63:05


    This week the board game bros discuss the 2011 eurogame classic The Castles of Burgundy. Listen for how to develop tempo and points with clever dice usage, and if/why Jeff and Matt think this game deserves its high rating.

    118: Player Counts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 48:46


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss how player counts impact games, and what games can do to support large or small counts.

    117: Evolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 66:39


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the competitive survival adaptation game Evolution. Learn what traits will bring you success as carnivore and herbivore and how the players create the complexity in this otherwise minimal game.

    116: Among Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2020 60:28


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the hidden traitor game sensation of 2020 Among Us. Listen for their top Crew mate and Impostor tricks.

    115: Board Game Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2020 56:24


    This week the board game bros. Discuss their thoughts on the various trends in board games that have come, gone, and in some cases still have potential.

    114: Sanctum

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2020 64:59


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the rpg board game Sanctum. Listen for how this game successfully adapts elements of games like Diablo into an addictively replayable board game.

    113: 2 Player Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 50:20


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss what makes a good 2 player game and list a couple favorites.

    112: Photosynthesis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2020 57:35


    This week for their 100th mainline episode, the Board Game Bros discuss the semi-abstract area control game Photosynthesis. Learn the best places to grow your trees, how to collect lots of light, and how this game twists the abstract game formula via indirect conflict.

    111: Viticulture

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 61:14


    This week the board game bros discuss Stonemaier Game's first release Viticulture. Learn how to best utilize your workers and plan ahead in this game about wine crafting.

    110: Rolling Realms

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 52:30


    This week the board game bros discuss the roll-and-write print-and-play game Rolling Realms. Listen for how Stonemaier games interpreted each game from their catalog in unique dicey ways and how this game is well suited for our new quarantined lifestyles.

    109: Fortune Street

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 70:14


    This week the Board Game Bros review the underrated Wii video game board game Fortune Street. Learn the tips and tricks to game the stock market in this game that, despite drawing many comparisons to monopoly, is actually incredibly fun. 

    108: The Dusty Shelf: Uno (Patreon Preview)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 20:19


    This week the Board Game Bros are giving you a sneak preview into their patreon-exclusive series: The Dusty Shelf! The first game Matthew dusts off is Uno! Matthew dives into the small decisions that can help lead to ditching that final card, then explores Uno's legacy and its more dated decisions.

    107: Love Letter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 43:08


    This week the board game bros discuss the Luck and Deduction game Love Letter. Listen for ways to deduce your opponents' cards, play to your outs, and why this game makes for an excellent deduction gateway game. 

    106: Betrayal Legacy pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 68:36


    This week the Board Game Bros have wrapped up their Betrayal Legacy Campaign and are here to discuss it. Learn about how this uses the legacy game format to tell a story with twists and turns and listen for Matt and Jeff's favorite sessions.

    105: Terra Mystica

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 70:40


     that doesn't take place on Mars, Terra Mystica. Listen for how to weave strategically through this complex game and how to not fall for newbie traps. 

    104: Citadels

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2020 49:19


    This week discuss the drafting-est game around Citadels. Learn a couple levels of draft strategy and why this game is great even for folks that don't like drafting so much.

    103: Res Arcana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2020 65:47


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the efficient engine-building game Res Arcana. Listen for Jeff and Matt's favorite magical artifact engine pieces and why the victory condition of this game changes the way you think about your engine.

    102: Rob Daviau & Return to Dark Tower

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2020 64:03


    This week the Board Game Bros are beyond excited to interview legendary game designer and Chief Restoration Officer at Restoration Games Rob Daviau on the podcast about his career, game design philosophies, and the upcoming Restoration Games kickstarter project Return to Dark Tower. Visit restorationgames.com/return-to-dark-tower/ for more information and to sign up to be notified when the kickstarter goes live on January 14. 

    101: Let's Make a Game (Patreon preview)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2019 44:36


    This week the Board Game Bros have a big announcement: they are starting a Patreon! Tune in to hear the first episode of Matt's new series "Let's Make a Game" with a special guest appearance from Jeff!

    100: Top 5 Games of the 2010s

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2019 60:49


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss each of their top 5 games of the 2010s for their 100th recorded episode. Listen for which games Jeff and Matt include in their lists and why, and stick around til the end for an important podcast update.

    99: Magic Maze

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019 42:48


    In this bonus episode for the week the Board Game Bros cover the no-talking co-op game of mall mischief Magic Maze. Learn about what needs to be paid attention to and how this game uses an hourglass in an interesting way.

    98: King of Tokyo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2019 39:09


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the king-of-the-hill kaiju game King of Tokyo. Listen how points are the real king and how it stands as a strong gateway game despite a disconnect between flavor and mechanics.

    97: Elder Sign

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2019 55:20


    This week the Board Game Bros cover the Lovecraftian co-op press-your-luck game Elder Sign. Learn how to stop an ancient one from decimating our world and how this game's mechanics tie into it's eldritch theme.

    96: Nevermore

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 46:07


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the hand drafting game of raven transformation Nevermore. Learn about how the unique drafting mechanism changes affects draft strategy and how Nevermore makes getting knocked out fun.

    95: Mr. Jack

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2019 59:24


    This week the Board Game Bros cover the 2-player game of deception and deduction Mr. Jack. Learn about this gateway game's strategic depth and how it handles being a symmetrical game with asymmetric goals.

    94: Tapestry

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2019 68:53


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss the new civilization board game released by Stonemaier games: Tapestry! Learn about nifty opening strategies, the fine line that new game experiences can walk, and the importance of Narative Equity.

    93: Five Tribes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2019 47:08


    This week the Board Game Bros discuss 5D Mancala aka Five Tribes. Learn the tips and tricks to making it in the sultanate and how the design of the game shines a light on the existence of those tips and tricks. 

    92: 7 Wonders Duel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019 66:44


    This week the Board Game Bros the 2-player civ-builder 7 Wonders Duel. Listen for why science and military are important strategies and how this game adapted the original to create a better atmosphere for a 2-player experience.

    91: Hero Realms

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2019 59:45


    This week the Board Game Bros. cover aren't covering Star Realms (which keeps coming up) but instead cover the fantasy re-themed deck builder Hero Realms. Listen for the differences between the 2 games, where this game succeeds, and where it falls short.

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