Roasted Games

The boys are back to talk Imperial Settlers: Empire of the North, Radlands, Valeria games, and much more.

This week Bill and Kaz chat revisiting some classic faves, some new faves, and maybe even some Flava Flaves?

Bill and Kaz are back to finish their list of top 10 solo games.

Sometimes you just need some time alone. Some Me time. This week Bill and Kaz kick of their list of top solo games.

Rez Arcana resurrected, Vindication, a picturesque New England village, and roll and writes galore!

Bill and Kaz return to close out their list of top ten gameplays from 2021. Mysteries will be revealed!

Season 4 begins! Bill and Kaz jump back in the saddle to talk their most memorable plays of 2021.

This week Bill and Kaz regale you with tales of games played, games wished for, and game night anecdotes.

There is a battle a brewin' to determine the best worker placement/deck builder board game. This week Bill and Kaz compare the two main contenders, The Lost Ruins of Arnak and Dune Imperium. Is there space enough on the shelves for both or must rule triumphant above them all?

Bill and Kaz finish their countdown of the top 10 games of their collections as ranked by BGG. Top 1-5. Best of the best baby!

Bill and Kaz take a look at their own collections and see how BGG ranks their top ten games. Do the games deserve their spots?

This week Bill and Kaz talk Whistle Stop, Merchants Cove, and contemplate the future of the hobby with all the craziness these days.

This week Bill and Kaz have some guests on the pod. It's Corey and Donnie from Concept Medley games! The guys are here to discuss their design process, current games they're working on, and how to make sure the 'fun factor' doesn't get designed out of your game.

This week Bill and Kaz chat about Medieval Builders, Unmatched in detail, and a Conspiracy under the sea. Also, Bill may have a drafting mechanism addiction and Kaz tries to describe another game he has never played and knows very little about but he's sure he likes it.

This week Bill and Kaz chat about a recent playtest of a game Bill is working on. Plus! Pax games. What the heck are they? Are the worth playing? Also, the temptation of LOTR the card game for Kaz continues.

Back this week with another minisode! Bill and guest host Joey (Bill's son) are back on the mics to breakdown a recent gameplay of Cthulhu: Death May Die. So confusing! The name of the game that is. The episode is very understandable. Enjoy!

This week Bill and Kaz get chattin' Gonz. Gonz Schon Clever that is. One of the best roll and writes out there. ALSO! Drafting dinos, 1890s architecture, Puerto Rico, and a myserious play through which they maybe can't talk about.

This week on Roasted Games, a mini episode! Bill and guest host Joey (Bill's son) hop on the mics and breakdown a recent gameplay of Abonimation: The Heir of Frankenstein.

This week Bill and Kaz receive their first game specifically for review from a publisher. The guys are moving up! Then they chat about a Horrified sequel, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Cthulhu Death May Die, and Smartphone Inc ( a cell phone board game?!?!?!). Plus, what games to bring to a family gathering to get your non-gamer family hooked.

This week Bill and Kaz take a look at the game that's been demanding their focus for the last few weeks, Dwellings of Eldervale. Plus, is the game you've been playing a lot lately a good game or just easy to get to the table? Do games with extra modes earn their keep or are they just marketing fluff?

This week Bill and Kaz talk jumping into popular LCG series years after everyone else, compare recent game plays, and discuss Pan Am, Kolejka, and Dwellings of Eldervale. It's compare and contrast time baby!

It's been a long year and then some. Ah the dark times. But! Times are dark no longer because Bill and Kaz are finally back to talk games, game design, and what changes have occurred in their lives over the last year. Woo hoo! Excitement all around!

Bees in the apiary, apes in the bee.....thing.... Well, the pun computer failed. Oh, well. This week Bill and Kaz talk about a recent playthrough of a Concept Medley work in progress, Pocket Apiary. Honeybees, wildflowers, and competition! Plus, let's talk about Phil Walker-Harding's Silver and Gold. To the Apiary!

The guys recap a long over due game play and try to figure out what makes Kemet so great. Everything. Everything does.

Bill and Kaz are back to talk about some great games they've played. Have they witnessed perfection? Probably not, but pretty darn close!

You know what we all need right now? Something to look forward to: An epic adventure, an exciting challenge, a comforting journey. Luckily, the guys have some suggestions of games that do an extra special job of pulling you into their worlds and letting you take your mind off the things going on in ours.

Bill and Kaz reunite after a brief hiatus to discuss what they've been up to and compare notes on game design competitions, games played, and games they're excited to get to the table. Also, how are you getting in a game session these days? Let the guys know!

Going stir-crazy yet? Miss your game group? Us too. In this episode Bill and Kaz go over some options to get your gaming fix with friends while staying far away from them. So, take that shower you've been putting off for the last few days, boot up your digital devices, and get ready to play some games!

This episode is all about luck. Can the guys discover the magic skill/luck ratio that makes the perfect board game? Does it even exist? A mysterious luck based episode for your St. Patrick's Day listening pleasure.

Shambling, shuffling, and moaning. They are among us! No, not the elderly, the undead. The guys break down their choices for top 5 Zombie games.

If you've listened to even just one episode of this podcast, you've probably realized that Bill and Kaz are not perfect. Despite what they might say. Far from it! This lack of perfection has led to some interesting mix-ups. Let talk about them!

Everyone could use an upgrade sometimes, even our favorite games. The guys talk expansions this week and compare the ones that work to the ones that make you wonder why they ever bothered.

The guys discuss a recent a recent negative presence at game night and ask for your solutions. Plus! Some games sit in your collection unplayed, for months, maybe even years. Why do we keep them?! Bill and Kaz rank the games in their collections that they just can't bring themselves to let go and explain why they never will.

The guys get some professional input from an expert in instruction on how best to teach a game. Spoiler Alert! They've been doing it wrong. Yelling, 'Why Aren't You Getting This?!?!' is apparently NOT the best way to teach a board game.

Teaching a game can be tricky, what with all the rules and such. The guys break down their choices for most favorite games to teach newbies. Now if only they could teach themselves to love.

Aren't all the best games the ones where you get to move a lot of pieces around? Who knows. But they sure are fun to play. This week the guys, discuss their picks for unique worker placement games. Let's move some meeples!

Let's build our dream city. This week Bill and Kaz rank the top 5 best city building games. Oh the power of playing God. Yes, yes I will put this heavy factory in the suburbs! And there's nothing you can do about it! MUAHAHAHA!

Bill and Kaz start season two with a recap of the year that was and look forward to exciting plans for next year.

See you in Season Two!

It's that time of year again. A time to reconnect with family, friends, and that legacy game you've been meaning to finish for the last 6 months. That's right, the holidays have arrived. But what to play??? Bill and Kaz have some suggestions to make your celebrations perfect with just the right game for any group. Get the chairs and cram that last cookie in your mouth. It's game time!

The tables have turned. He that was once the judge becomes the judged. Jamaica hits the table to be deemed worthy or unworthy. This time Kaz is in the hot seat to prove the worth of this classic racing game and Bill is the skeptic to be convinced . Will he succeed? The tension is palpable. Thankfully, Jamaica is silly.

The time of reckoning is upon us. Scores will be settled and chits called in. Ragusa comes back to the table. Bill and Kaz replay Ragusa after a contentious attempt several weeks ago. Bill likes this game, Kaz does not. Will Bill be able to change Kaz's mind or will this game be forever banished from game-night? Exciting!

Bill and Kaz flip the script from last week's episode and talk about the mechanisms that just fall flat. Can these mechanisms regain to their former glory? Were they ever really that good? What is the meaning of life? Two of these questions will be answered. Well, one for sure. 42.

Surprise compliment! I think you're really great. Didn't that make your day? I hope so champ! The guys trade compliments and get into the mechanisms that make them perk up and take notice when a designer incorporates them into a game. Is player elimination and heavy take that on the list? No, no they are not. Also, your outfit is on-point today. Gotcha again!

Sometimes a game is just contentious. The guys break down a recent play of Ragusa, a game that Bill absolutely loved, and Kaz absolutely did not love. Can their relationship be repaired? Will they ever play games again? Only time will tell.

Chess finally has a worthy successor! Also, an epic tale shipping woes and Kickstarter heroes. Then the guys unveil discovered secrets of the Board Game Geek rating system and go through their choices of games that deserve to be higher on that list. Research!

Scaling! It's not just what's happening to your skin in the winter, it's also how well a game plays with different player counts. Go figure. Bill and Kaz discuss how some games do it really well, while others just seem to fall off a cliff at certain player counts. Then the guys breakdown their choice of games for 2-players. Head to head, baby!

Luck can be infuriating in board games, but sometimes a bit of luck can take a game from good to great. The guys break down some games that take the press your luck mechanism and make it shine. Plus, the final Spooky games recommendations! Happy Halloween ya goofs!

After breaking down some recent game experiences, Bill and Kaz regale us with an epic tale of battling aliens on a derelict space craft. Then the spooky list continues to help you with your October board game choices. Spook on!

This episode is jaaaaaaam-packed. Bill and Kaz build reefs, become master painters, and manage a farm of the chunkiest animals imaginable. Then the guys interview Len Kendall about his most recent board game, Western Tropic. It's a beautiful take on Poker that incorporates board game mechanisms to create a unique experience.Also, it's October! Time for some spooooky recommendations.

Bill and Kaz return to the mic with a discussion of how people find out about new games these days. How does a designer/publisher stand out and reach that audience? Then the guys go over the games that just don't shine as brightly as they used to. Some of them may surprise you and some may make you nod your head silently in agreement. Write to us and tell us which was which!