The latest Tabletop Games Blog reviews in audio format are here for your pleasure. If you prefer, you can read the reviews on the blog or watch them as a video on the YouTube channel. You can also find episodes from the Tabletop Inquisition podcast here.
Imagine playing your very first indoor bowls game, but there is no jack. Everyone simply rolls a bowl towards an imaginary target. Somehow, your experienced opponent seems remarkably confident, while you try to copy what they do and hope for the best. At the end of the first end, someone reveals where the jack had been all along and awards the points accordingly. Then the second end goes in the same fashion, with a target that no one can see. Every end, you know how well you've done, but you never have any hope of getting better. Learning to bowl that way would feel practically impossible because every bowl would be complete guesswork. Surprisingly, some board games seem to want us to learn them in very much the same way.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/11/score-in-game-vs-end-game-scoring-topic-discussion/Useful Links99% Invisible podcast, episode 673: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/673-the-score/C. Thi Nguyen's book The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735252/the-score-by-c-thi-nguyen/Ahoy review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/03/18/ahoy-saturday-review/Flamme Rouge review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/07/13/flamme-rouge-saturday-review/Azul review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/09/19/azul-saturday-review/Duck & Cover review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/06/21/duck-cover-saturday-review/King of New York review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/04/25/king-of-new-york-saturday-review/Borealis: Arctic Expeditions review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/08/borealis-arctic-expeditions-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Flowers by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.comRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comWonders by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Royalty Free Music 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_USI Feel Alive by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Royalty Free Music 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_USFlourish by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.comRoyalty Free Music 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_USA Weekday In A Small Town by | e s c p | https://www.escp.spacehttps://escp-music.bandcamp.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Seth kane on Unsplash)
Snow muffled every footstep until the only sounds were distant birds and the steady crunch beneath our boots. The silence stretched in every direction: left to right, ahead and behind, as well as all the way up into the thermosphere. We were far away from anywhere. Yet, we knew we were safe. As the darkness settled all around us, we could finally see it: the Borealis: Arctic Expeditions by Dariusz Mindur from Lucky Duck Games with art by Rodrigo Camilo Alves De Almeida, Kevin Sidharta, Inês Toczyska and Ariadna Żytniewska.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/08/borealis-arctic-expeditions-saturday-review/Useful LinksBorealis: Arctic Expeditions: https://luckyduckgames.com/global/game/1015-borealis-arctic-expeditions-5905965252578Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/303777/borealis-arctic-expeditions-rulebookRules video: https://youtu.be/_g0XbOriCW8?si=PIS7_6h34B4lqnCXLucky Duck Games: https://luckyduckgames.com/global/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/448116/borealis-arctic-expeditionsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Time moves slower than it shouldProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13750-time-moves-slower-than-it-shouldMusic: The Backrooms Music Vol. 25Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13624-the-backrooms-music-vol-25SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Lucky Duck Games)
I never enjoyed history at school. I understood why it mattered as a subject, but learning names, dates and events off by rote simply didn't work for me, no matter how hard I tried. Events were never taught in their chronological or geopolitical context. Things just didn't make sense to me. So it seems ironic that historical board games are now one of my favourite genres. Of course, they've not made me any better at remembering names and dates, but they replaced my fear of history with a new curiosity that I hadn't felt before.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/04/back-in-time-the-draw-of-history-in-board-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksMolly House review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/05/24/molly-house-saturday-review/Undaunted: Normandy review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/23/undaunted-normandy-saturday-review/Stasi Raus, Es Ist Aus! review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/16/stasi-raus-es-ist-aus-saturday-review/Pax Pamir 2e review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/27/pax-pamir-second-edition-saturday-review/The Cost review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/12/the-cost-digital-eyes/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Podcast Music Vol. 20 [Chillstep Review Background]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13184-podcast-music-vol-20-chillstep-review-backgroundMusic: Podcast Music Vol. 18 [Minimal Tech Background]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13182-podcast-music-vol-18-minimal-tech-backgroundMusic: Podcast Music Vol. 19 [Chillstep Review Background]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13183-podcast-music-vol-19-chillstep-review-backgroundMusic: Podcast Music Vol. 5 [Nature Ambience]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13162-podcast-music-vol-5-nature-ambienceMusic: Imagefilm 045Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12219-imagefilm-045SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
A small hand reaches into the tin, fingers excitedly hovering over the treats inside. The choice should be simple: take a biscuit, any biscuit. But no: two biscuits are better than one, and three better than two. Yet, if the little hand takes too long to make up its mind, the little burglar will be discovered. Well, it's time to Risk It For A Biscuit by Jessica Metheringham from Dissent Games.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/01/risk-it-for-a-biscuit-saturday-review/Useful LinksRisk It For A Biscuit: https://dissentgames.com/2026/04/04/risk-it-for-a-biscuit/Dissent Games: https://dissentgames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/466154/risk-it-for-a-biscuitMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Ultimate Comedy Music Vol. 7Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13270-ultimate-comedy-music-vol-7SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Dissent Games)
At a time when many people feel democratic culture is under strain, it is worth looking at our own everyday behaviours that allow democracy to function. Elections, laws and political institutions are all important, but democracy also depends on how people treat one another every day. Listening to different opinions, accepting compromise, respecting agreed-upon rules and recognising opponents as people rather than enemies are all part of a healthy democracy. Maybe unsurprisingly, board games are a place to look for those values. I mean, the simple act of sitting down together to play a game, following the same rules and taking on a role, is an opportunity to act out democratic values.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/28/tabletop-democracy-what-board-games-can-teach-us-about-democracy-topic-discussion/Useful LinksEpisode 408 of Der Boardcast, a German board game podcast: https://boardcast.podigee.io/408-neue-episodeMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Cruising (Romeos Erbe)Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/3140-cruising-romeos-erbeMusic: Sunday Morning CoffeeProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13693-sunday-morning-coffeeMusic: Chill VLOG Beats 7Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12914-chill-vlog-beats-7Music: Podcast Music Vol. 26Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13782-podcast-music-vol-26SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Isai Ramos on Unsplash)
You put down a bowl of soft food, and moments later, you hear the jingle of her collar. Here she comes! First, she pauses at the conservatory door and watches you for a while. You eagerly point at the wonderfully fresh food, enticing her to come in and eat. She turns away to look out into her domain, our back garden. Eventually, she strolls over - in her own time. Of course, whether she's ready for her lunch, when she eats, or indeed, where she eats, is all her own choice. As her pet dad, you just Take Cat by Gareth Edwards from Gibsons with art by Juliana Eigner.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/25/take-cat-saturday-review/Useful LinksTake Cat: https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/collections/all/products/take-catGibsons: https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Happy Beats & Business Moves Vol. 19Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13827-happy-beats-business-moves-vol-19Music: Madeira: Another TukTuk Through FunchalProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13707-madeira-another-tuktuk-through-funchalSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Gibsons)
Colour is one of the first things I notice when opening a new board game. Bright player pieces, colourful resources and beautiful illustrations immediately grab my attention. Colours tell me where to look and how the game is organised. Yet, like around 1% of men, I have protanomaly, a mild form of red-green colour vision deficiency. I often see pink or purple flowers as blue, and when driving in fog, I see a car's rear red lights much later than other people. So I appreciate it when I can rely on something other than colour to tell me what I am looking at. In this article, I want to explore a century's worth of board game history and look at how colour-vision considerations have changed over time.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/21/kaleidoscopic-games-the-history-of-the-use-of-colours-in-board-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSplendor review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/07/25/splendor-saturday-review/Meeple Like Us: https://www.meeplelikeus.co.uk/Stonemaier Games' accessibility guide: https://stonemaiergames.com/about/accessibility/ColorADD: https://www.coloradd.net/en/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/ColorSym: https://colorsym.com/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: KGRW9GAFH4PVQSYAArtist: : Yunior ArronteMusic by: BensoundLicense code: PPH7TISVS7BNYB3ZArtist: : Yunior ArronteSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Fir0002 on Wikipedia)
The escape pod rattles violently as it tears through the atmosphere, before the noise suddenly fades away. A rough landing throws you against the restraints, leaving only silence until the hatch finally creaks open and fresh air rushes in with a long hiss. After you take off your helmet, you can smell unfamiliar scents. As you climb out of the pod, you can see a landscape unlike anything you have ever seen before. There are giant mountains that disappear into the clouds, strange plants that sway gently in the breeze, and countless mysteries that are waiting to be uncovered. You notice that you crashed high on a lonely hill, giving you a really good Vantage by Jamey Stegmaier from Stonemaier Games with art by Valentina Filic, Sören Meding and Emilien Rotival.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/18/vantage-saturday-review/Useful LinksVantage: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/vantage/Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ulyfze69rb24tsgip7mn7/AGooUTmI8qBNqc5nh36BJkY/Vantage/Vantage_Rulebook_r26_web.pdf?rlkey=0ejidzd7lktoa5hyrbkmy9xse&st=jtwsdpd8&dl=0Rules video: https://youtu.be/xa476iCNIDk?si=Ejg48iUpS3G9-q4kStonemaier Games: https://stonemaiergames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/420033/vantageMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Synthie IntroProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/3154-synthie-introMusic: Supernatural - BackroomsProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13776-supernatural-backroomsMusic: Low Energy Tension Vol. 6Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13766-low-energy-tension-vol-6SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Designing a board game that works well for exactly two players is a very different challenge from designing one that supports a range of player counts. Many games include a two-player mode, but board games such as Patchwork and Jaipur show that a dedicated head-to-head experience can be unique and not simply an adapted and reduced version of a game that is really aimed at larger player counts. In this article, I want to look at the design challenge these dedicated two-player-only games present.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/14/the-two-body-problem-design-challenges-of-two-player-only-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksPatchwork review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/11/21/patchwork-digital-eyes/Jaipur review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/29/jaipur-saturday-review/Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: https://www.routledge.com/Building-Blocks-of-Tabletop-Game-Design-An-Encyclopedia-of-Mechanisms/Engelstein-Shalev/p/book/9781032015811Rules of Play: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262240451/rules-of-play/Fundamentals of Game Design: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fundamentals-of-Game-Design-by-Ernest-Adams/9780321929679MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music by: BensoundLicense code: 9FDOOSFAVUSZQWDPArtist: : Lunar YearsMusic: "in between violence" provided by mobygratis.SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash)
The early morning mist hangs beneath a canopy of dark green waxy leaves, while distant calls echo through the jungle from animals who have lost their way. You're following their footprints until you eventually glimpse a tail disappearing into the undergrowth. Working together, you manage to rescue one animal after another, but the falling grains of sand remind you that time is against you. So off you go deeper into the Grab Bag: Jungle by Rob M Harper and Mike Harrison-Wood from Gibsons with art by Lauren Heywood-Law.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/11/grab-bag-jungle-saturday-review/Useful LinksGrab Bag: Jungle: https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/products/grab-bag-jungleGibsons: https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/443051/grab-bag-jungleMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Over the previous four articles in this series, I have explored the history of Spiel des Jahres, the purpose behind its awards, the way its jury works, and the wider activities funded through its income. Together, those articles painted a picture of an organisation that sees its annual awards as a means rather than an end. Promoting games as a cultural asset, encouraging people to play board games together and providing guidance to newcomers to the hobby have all remained at the core of its mission for almost fifty years. In this article, I want to look at the 2026 nominations and see whether the association's values can also be found in the games the jury has selected.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/07/spiel-des-jahres-the-2026-nominations-and-the-mission-behind-them-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSpiel des Jahres (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/All articles in this series: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/category/spiel-des-jahres/2026 nominations page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/preistraeger2026/Cozy Sticker Ville nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/cozy-sticker-ville/Dito! nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/dito/Morty Sorty Magic Shop nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/morty-sorty-magic-shop/Buh Party nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/buh-party/Die Insel der Mookies nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/die-insel-der-mookies/Verflixt verzaubert nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/verflixt-verzaubert/Boss Fighters QR nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/boss-fighters-qr/Moon Colony Bloodbath nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/moon-colony-bloodbath/Rebirth nomination page (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spiele/rebirth/Koschwitz zum Wochenende, interview with Harald Schrapers, 31 July 2023 (German): https://koschwitz-zum-wochenende.podigee.io/562-neue-episodeFive Games for Doomsday, interview with Martina Fuchs, 9 June 2025: https://5g4d.com/podcasts/spiel-des-jahres-special-jury-member-martina-fuchsThe Deep Blue – depth in board games article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/23/the-deep-blue-depth-in-board-games-topic-discussion/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Sunshower", "Shade", "Freedom", "Flying" and "Reverie" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres)
Mist drifts between towering trees where forgotten shrines stand undisturbed, their silent guardians waiting with quiet patience. Strange creatures emerge one by one, each offering hope while demanding sacrifice before another cautious step may be taken. Ancient legends promise a way to restore what has been lost, although every answer seems hidden behind another trial. The journey will be endless, as we discover the Eternal Decks by Hiroken from Tricktakers Games with art by Mujunsha.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/04/eternal-decks-saturday-review/Useful LinksEternal Decks: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tricktakers/eternal-decks/descriptionRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/289015/eternaldecks-english-rulebooksRules video: https://youtu.be/t7iCIpB_Rh8?si=U4hwstst9-6au9KwBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424981/eternal-decksTranquility: The Descent review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/10/18/tranquility-the-descent-saturday-review/Top Table Award 2025: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/01/03/top-table-award-2025-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Vessel Five by Blue Dot SessionsMusic: "Daring", "Reality" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Awards often attract attention because of the games they recognise. Far less attention is usually paid to how the organisations behind those awards operate. In the case of Spiel des Jahres, the financial side of the story is particularly interesting because it helps explain how the association funds its activities while maintaining the independence that it considers central to its mission. The famous Red Pawn appears on millions of game boxes, yet many players know little about the licensing system behind it or the way that income supports projects far beyond the annual awards ceremony. In this fourth article in the series, I look at the finances that reveal how the organisation has transformed the commercial success of its award into support for a much broader cultural mission.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/30/spiel-des-jahres-following-the-money-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSpiel des Jahres (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/Spiel des Jahres FAQ (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/faq/Spiel des Jahres FAQ for publishers (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/faq-verlage/Kulturspiel article about Spiel des Jahres' finances: https://kulturgutspiel.de/wirtschaft/millionengeschaeft-spiel-des-jahres-einnahmen-und-ausgaben-der-jury/Tag der Brettspiel-Kritik: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/tagderbrettspielkritik/Spiel des Jahres - beyond the Red Pawn article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/23/spiel-des-jahres-beyond-the-red-pawn-topic-discussion/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music by: bensound.comLicense code: FU5OWEBPRXDS7QHFArtist: : Lunar YearsMusic: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: VFAKZVO8GA96SKKJArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: DDSTVLGOJW8UFMIDArtist: : Benjamin TissotSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by omid armin on Unsplash)
A little rabbit peeked cautiously over the edge of a vegetable patch, before it hopped inside and helped itself to a crunchy carrot. Soon, another rabbit joined in, nibbling happily on a radish, while a third disappeared behind broad broccoli leaves, and a fourth emerged triumphantly with an aubergine. Soon enough, mushrooms vanished as well, leaving only tiny paw prints behind. In less than a minute, the whole patch was filled with Rascally Rabbits by Ta-Te Wu from Sunrise Tornado Game Studio with art by TuziNeko.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/27/rascally-rabbits-saturday-review/Useful LinksRascally Rabbits: https://www.sunrisetornado.com/rascally-rabbitsRules video: https://youtu.be/PlLZ8-VD9ok?si=ihbIHhOvg3bjd57WSunrise Tornado Game Studio: https://www.sunrisetornado.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/447276/rascally-rabbitsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Channel Intro 28Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12540-channel-intro-28Music: Nature 14 [nature documentary series]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13343-nature-14-nature-documentary-seriesMusic: Madeira: The Little Houses of SantanaProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13712-madeira-the-little-houses-of-santanaMusic: Nature 13 [nature documentary series]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13342-nature-13-nature-documentary-seriesSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
For many people, Spiel des Jahres is something they encounter only once a year. A list of nominees appears, winners are announced, and the familiar Red Pawn finds its way onto board game boxes that in turn appear on shop shelves. Yet, the award itself is only the most visible part of the organisation's work. Behind the annual announcements sits an association that funds projects, supports research, encourages new designers, and promotes the social value of play. In this third article in the series, I want to look at those activities that reveal a side of Spiel des Jahres that is often overlooked, particularly outside German-speaking countries, where the organisation is frequently seen only as a prestigious board game award.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/23/spiel-des-jahres-beyond-the-red-pawn-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSpiel des Jahres (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/Spiel des Jahres funding programme (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderung/University of Konstanz: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/Museen der Stadt Nürnberg (German): https://museen.nuernberg.de/startseiteSpielend für Toleranz (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spielend-fuer-toleranz/My Spielend für Toleranz statement: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/spielend-fur-toleranz/Deutsches Nachwuchs-Spieleautor*innen-Stipendium (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/stipendium/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Relaxing Lofi – TricosaProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13607-relaxing-lofi-tricosaMusic: Relaxing Lofi – IcosaProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13604-relaxing-lofi-icosaSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres)
The saloon doors suddenly burst open behind you as your boots skid across the dusty wooden boards of the sidewalk. A split-second later, gunfire cracks through the afternoon air, the bullet ricocheting off a pail of water, sending startled townsfolk diving for cover. Diving behind an old barrel offers you a moment of shelter, although the sound of heavy footsteps suggests your pursuer is closing in on you. Then, glass shatters somewhere near the jail, followed by the sharp whistle of a bullet passing far too close for comfort. A grin spreads across your face as you raise your revolver and prepare to return fire. Well, that's what you get when you arrive in Rattlesnake by Michael Hardacre from Osprey Games with art by Roland MacDonald.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/20/rattlesnake-saturday-review/Useful LinksRattlesnake: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/rattlesnake-9781472871763/Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/321691/rattlesnake-rulebookOsprey Games: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-games/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453281/rattlesnakeMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCMusic: Saloon dance [Western Series]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12904-saloon-dance-western-seriesMusic: Western Intro 2Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13631-western-intro-2SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Every year, the announcement of the Spiel des Jahres nominations leads to a lot of discussion across our hobby. Some people agree with the choices, others question why certain games were not included, and many try to predict the eventual winners. What most people don't realise when they discuss the nominations is that the jury does not gather for a single weekend to decide the best game of the year. No, jurors spend many months playing hundreds of new releases several times with different groups of people. It is a lot of work that often goes unnoticed, but that explains why the award continues to carry such influence nearly fifty years after it began. In the second article of the series, I look at this in more detail.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/16/spiel-des-jahres-how-the-jury-chooses-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSpiel des Jahres (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/Spiel des Jahres – the award that was never really about awards: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/09/spiel-des-jahres-the-award-that-was-never-really-about-awards-topic-discussion/Spiel des Jahres FAQ (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/faq/Spiel des Jahres FAQ for publishers (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/faq-verlage/Spiel des Jahres jury members (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/alle-jurymitglieder/Koschwitz zum Wochenende interview with Harald Schrapers. 31 July 2023: https://koschwitz-zum-wochenende.podigee.io/562-neue-episodeFive Games for Doomsday interview with Martina Fuchs. 9 June 2025: https://5g4d.com/podcasts/spiel-des-jahres-special-jury-member-martina-fuchsDer Boardcast episode 408 interview with Harald Schrapers and Sebastian Wenzel. 18 May 2026.: https://boardcast.podigee.io/408-neue-episodeMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Madeira Dolphin TourProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13711-madeira-dolphin-tourMusic: Deep House Underscore 005Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13702-deep-house-underscore-005Music: Sunday Morning CoffeeProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13693-sunday-morning-coffeeSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres)
Electric-blue leg warmers stretched over striped socks, sequins sparkling beneath a giant mirror ball, while clouds of hairspray drifted through the air. Synth-pop booms from oversized speakers as skaters practise one last spin, one last shuffle, one last gravity-defying move before the judges arrive. It's November 1983, and the biggest competition of the year is about to begin. Jam skaters from around the world have gathered beneath the glittering lights, hoping their best moves will earn them the championship crown. They want to become the next champion of the Roller Disco by Mike Petchey from Huff No More with art by Joss Petchey.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/13/roller-disco-saturday-review/Useful LinksCrowdfunding campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/huffnomore/roller-discoHuff No More: https://www.huffnomore.co.uk/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/448425/roller-discoScout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/Crisps! review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/23/crisps-saturday-review/Sakana Stack review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/09/14/sakana-stack-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Midnight PulseProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12021-midnight-pulseMusic: Neon CityProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12244-neon-cityMusic: Neon Jungle RhythmsProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/11995-neon-jungle-rhythmsSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
For many board gamers, Spiel des Jahres is simply the little red pawn on a game box. Spotting it on a shelf often suggests that a game is worth paying attention to. That's not only true in the German-speaking board game world, but also in many other countries, including the UK. Over the years, winners such as The Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Ticket to Ride have helped establish the award as one of the most influential honours in tabletop gaming. Yet, there is a lot more to this story. According to its own history and mission statements, the annual prize was never intended to be the end goal. Instead, it was created as a tool to encourage people to play games, to promote games as a cultural asset, and to help the wider public discover the value of gathering around a table. In the first in a series of articles, I want to look at this further.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/09/spiel-des-jahres-the-award-that-was-never-really-about-awards-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSpiel des Jahres (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/Spiel des Jahres purpose (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/sinn-und-zweck/Spiel des Jahres history (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/geschichte/Spiel des Jahres FAQ (German): https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/faq/Jürgen Herz: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/die-jury-alt-2/juergen-herz/Spielwarenmesse: https://www.spielwarenmesse.de/en/Harald Schrapers: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/harald-schrapers/Martina Fuchs: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/the-jury/martina-fuchs/Koschwitz zum Wochenende interview with Harald Schrapers. 31 July 2023: https://koschwitz-zum-wochenende.podigee.io/562-neue-episodeFive Games for Doomsday interview with Martina Fuchs. 9 June 2025: https://5g4d.com/podcasts/spiel-des-jahres-special-jury-member-martina-fuchsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Stylish Hip Hop", "Chill Hip Hop", "Ambient Lounge", "Weekdays" and "Way" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
A little after 9am on Thursday, I boarded my first train of a journey that has become increasingly familiar over the years. It was my sixth visit to the convention, having first attended in 2019 before COVID forced a break, but I returned in 2022. It was also my fourth time making the journey by train. The first leg carried me from the South Coast to London Victoria, followed by a tube trip to London Euston and a welcome lunch break before the faster train north. By around 4pm, I was walking through the NEC halls once again, ready for another weekend at UK Games Expo 2026.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/06/uk-games-expo-2026-saturday-review/Useful LinksUK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/Asmodee: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/Genie Games: https://geniegames.co/Peranakan: Tiles and Tactics review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/18/peranakan-tiles-and-tactics-saturday-review/Singapore Showdown review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/02/singapore-showdown-saturday-review/Play With Us Design: https://pwud.ga/en/Playte: https://www.playte.com/Saashi & Saashi: https://saashiandsaashi.com/enPunchboard: https://punchboard.co.uk/We're Not Wizards: https://www.werenotwizards.co.uk/Hachette Boardgames UK: https://www.hachetteboardgames.co.uk/Meeple Minded: https://www.youtube.com/@meeplemindedBastion Indie Market: https://market.bastiongames.co.uk/Treesap Games: https://www.playtheratrace.com/Dissent Games: https://dissentgames.com/Atikin Games: https://atikingames.com/Malus Hortus review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/04/05/malus-hortus-saturday-review/Bags for Dice: https://www.boardgamesolutions.co.uk/Korpi: https://korpiboardgame.com/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music I use: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: CENAO1UIHSRD5UHUArtist: : Yunior ArronteRoyalty Free Music: Bensound.comLicense code: PZYTHO8UFSGHQIXDArtist: : Yunior ArronteRoyalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: UYST0IDQ8HEBCCWIArtist: : Benjamin TissotRoyalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: 0HBDJ9AWSGELF4W3Artist: : Benjamin TissotSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Hi, it's Joe Slack here. Oliver was kind enough to allow me to write another guest blog. In this article, I thought it would be interesting to discuss board games for two and the gaming experience for two people (especially couples).Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/02/tabletop-games-for-2-players-especially-couples-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSky Team: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373106/sky-teamPandemic Legacy: Season 1: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161936/pandemic-legacy-season-1Alynthia: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/287657/alynthiaFlash Point: Fire Rescue: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/100901/flash-point-fire-rescueForbidden Island review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/05/02/forbidden-island-saturday-review/Jaipur review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/29/jaipur-saturday-review/Boop review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/12/06/boop-saturday-review/Patchwork review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/11/21/patchwork-digital-eyes/Quarto: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/681/quartoNowhere to Run: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324918/nowhere-to-runBlokus Duo: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16395/blokus-duoSantorini: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/194655/santoriniFjords: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322564/fjordsKaruba review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/08/karuba-saturday-review/Azul review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/09/19/azul-saturday-review/Century Spice Road: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/209685/century-spice-roadLords of Waterdeep: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/110327/lords-of-waterdeepDiamond Heist: https://jslack.lpages.co/diamond-heist_signup/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: QCCF6KI4F8RTPHKAArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic by: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: 9DZYXIEAUXTVYRFLArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic by: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: MJB73U2RBKPZ3YOTArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic by Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: 73BNQWPSJ9CGTJ11Artist: : Roman SenykMusic by Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: GVY1WAT765P4TNHEArtist: : Lunar YearsSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Big Potato on Unsplash)
Snow drifted from the pine branches as the last chairlift carried us slowly, but steadily, towards the summit. As we looked back, the mountain below was being draped in silver moonlight and covered in fresh powder snow. We couldn't see it, but we knew that, back in the village, steam curled from bowls of ramen waiting for our return. Yet, nobody was ready to leave the silence of the peaks just yet. We all wanted to hit the slopes one more time before calling it a night. At the same time, we already knew what we would do tomorrow. Tomorrow, we would return to the peak and lay the First Tracks by Blake Erickson and Megan Ryan from Sayonara Ski Co.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/30/first-tracks-saturday-review/Useful LinksFirst Tracks: https://www.firsttracksthegame.com/Rulebook: https://www.firsttracksthegame.com/how-to-playBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/468257/first-tracksMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCMusic: "Intention", "Time" and "Winning" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Designers don't like it when players criticise their board game, and the response often is that the game was intentionally designed that way. Players complain that a strategy feels unfair, a mechanism is frustrating, or a game simply isn't very clear. Designers reply that that just misses the point. Similar disagreements exist in films, novels, and art, yet board games seem to have them more often, and they are often more personal. Part of the reason may be that board games are not passive experiences. Players are not simply watching events unfold, but instead are interpreting rules and shaping the experience themselves every time the game hits the table.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/26/intentional-experience-designer-intent-and-player-experience-topic-discussion/Useful LinksDune review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/02/08/dune-saturday-review/BGG article The Design Process by Gerry Paquette: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/550/blogpost/2529/the-design-processWhat is Player Experience?: https://bg-px.com/what-is-player-experience/UX in board game design by Jason Kogan: https://uxdesign.cc/ux-in-board-game-design-97bfcdb1d581Perception vs Reality in Game Design by Joseph Z Chen: https://fantastic-factories.medium.com/perception-vs-reality-in-game-design-67181c0e6b0eMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Inspirational Flight", "Documentary Soundtrack" and "Success" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Daman IAm on Unsplash)
The pub was quiet after the lunchtime rush. It was a chilly autumn afternoon, so the hearty lunch just hit the spot. Now we were sitting there, playing a card game, with a pint each by our sides. While the meal had filled us up, we still fancied something savoury. We just needed a small snack that the two of us could share. Nothing fancy. Something simple would do. Of course, it had to be Crisps! by Shreesh Bhat from Little Dog Games with art by Sai Beppu.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/23/crisps-saturday-review/Useful LinksRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/303680/crisps-rules-v10Rules video: https://youtu.be/fgexeKvRp90?si=fbTT_aHPqiyqe973Little Dog Games: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/little-dog-gamesBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/415108/crispsScout review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/02/scout-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: CTDDW1RUCR7QX07MArtist: : AventureMusic: Eternal SummerProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12398-eternal-summerSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Many of us play board games because they offer us some certainty. There are rules, objectives, specific actions, and so on that define how a game is played. These things provide a clear, well-defined framework. We know what is possible, what is not allowed and what we are trying to achieve. At the same time, board games also contain uncertainty. It is uncertainty that creates tension, excitement and a range of other emotions. In many cases, this uncertainty is exactly why we look forward to playing them. Inspired by Bez from Stuff by Bez, in this article, I want to explore why uncertainty in board games matters.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/19/clearly-uncertain-the-role-of-uncertainty-in-board-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksStuff by Bez: https://stuffbybez.myshopify.com/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Winning" and "Cinematic Light" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Nik on Unsplash)
Yes, it's that time of year again when everyone starts to panic, because the biggest UK board game event is just around the corner. There is a scramble for train tickets, hotel rooms (mind you, you're probably too late, if you haven't booked one yet), on-site parking, visitor passes, water bottles, comfortable shoes and lots of other bits and pieces that you need to attend UK Games Expo 2026.Read the full preview here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/16/uk-games-expo-2026-preview/Useful LinksUK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/Bastion Indie Market: https://market.bastiongames.co.uk/Atikin Games reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/atikin-games/Unfringed reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/unfringed/Minerva Tabletop reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/minerva-tabletop-games/Huff No More reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/huff-no-more/Genie Games reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/genie-games/Playte reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/playte/Play with Us Design reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/play-with-us-design/Lucky Duck Games reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/lucky-duck-games/Osprey Games reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/osprey-games/Mighty Boards reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/mighty-boards/Wayfarer Games reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/publisher/wayfarer-games/Tranquility: The Descent review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/10/18/tranquility-the-descent-saturday-review/Pixies review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/10/pixies-saturday-review/Sea Salt and Paper review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Great Day" and "Willpower" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Throughout human history, stories have been a way for people to share the concerns and ideas of their time. I think we can all agree that books and films are often shaped by the social, political, and cultural contexts in which they were created, whether deliberately or not. Readers and viewers will usually be able to see reflections of real-world anxieties, hopes, and tensions within them. Board games, while also being a form of entertainment, alongside books and films, work differently. In this article, I want to look at whether they still reflect the times in which they were designed.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/12/expressive-entertainment-board-games-and-social-commentary-topic-discussion/Useful LinksPandemic review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/01/18/pandemic-saturday-review/Brass: Birmingham review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/01/brass-birmingham-deluxe-saturday-review/Stasi Raus, Es Ist Aus! review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/16/stasi-raus-es-ist-aus-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Become a Legend" and "Autumn" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comMusic: "Web of Conspiracy Loop" from Purple Planet MusicWebsite: https://www.purple-planet.com/SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash)
The low sun drapes itself across uneven fields, gilding half‑finished fences and soil still warm from the plough as hands move with quiet urgency, gathering wood, shaping clay, urging reluctant earth to yield before the season slips away. Your family waits with hunger and hope intertwined, their future resting on each small choice made in the dirt. Buried in this hard labour, there is a deep, steady satisfaction, a sense of watching something humble grow into something living, something that belongs to you alone, something shaped by care and intention, something you created as the Agricola by Uwe Rosenberg from Lookout Spiele with art by Klemens Franz.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/09/agricola-digital-eyes/Useful LinksAgricola: https://www.lookout-spiele.de/en/games/agricolare.htmlRulebook: https://www.lookout-spiele.de/upload/en_agricolare.html_Rules_Agricola-RE_EN.pdfRules video: https://youtu.be/LWuUuxbMDB0?si=OndyfkHfRDZFbhDKLookout Spiele: https://www.lookout-spiele.de/en/news.phpBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/200680/agricola-revised-editionMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: "River", "Tranquil", "Soulful" and "Uplifting Piano" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Lookout Spiele)
A recent episode of the Game Design Deep Dive, featuring the podcast host, Dan Bullock, in conversation with prolific board game designer of many historical and storytelling games, Cole Wehrle, got me thinking about something I had never really questioned before: who we actually are when we play board games. Player roles are often afterthoughts, taken for granted as part of the theme or setting. However, the more I thought about it, the more it became clear that they shape how we understand a game, how we make decisions, and even how they influence our emotions as we engage with what is happening on the table.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/05/player-roles-who-we-are-in-board-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksGame Design Deep Dive's episode with Cole Wehrle: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R1dWl5x2EGeyT0ULGeUtA?si=gqRanKobQVuGDBLM0XkJYQOath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/11/27/oath-chronicles-of-empire-and-exile-saturday-review/Here I Stand: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17392/here-i-standPax Pamir 2e review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/27/pax-pamir-second-edition-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Leisure [The 2025 Remixes] (feat. Saschas original handmade music)Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13195-leisure-the-2025-remixes-feat-saschas-original-handmade-musicMusic: Japan Lo-Fi Vol. 2Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12959-japan-lo-fi-vol-2Music: Chill VLOG Beats 5Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12901-chill-vlog-beats-5Music: Dream Of A Dream 6Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12794-dream-of-a-dream-6Music: Endless HorizonProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12399-endless-horizonSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Simon Haslett on Unsplash)
The humidity clings to your skin as neon reflections shimmer across rain-slick streets. The city is strangely alive with quiet ambition and louder dreams. Towering skylines loom above bustling districts, each corner a promise of profit, each landmark a prize waiting to be claimed. Deals are struck with uneasy confidence, plans unfold behind knowing smiles, and every move carries the weight of opportunity. In this restless urban theatre, only the sharpest minds will rise above the crowd. Welcome to Singapore Showdown by Eugene Lim from Genie Games with art by Marcus Quek.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/02/singapore-showdown-saturday-review/Useful LinksSingapore Showdown: https://geniegames.co/games/singapore-showdownRulebook: https://geniegames.co/games/singapore-showdown/how-to-playRules video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQvzkMVkfVj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Genie Games: https://geniegames.co/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453640/singapore-showdownMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: "Daring" and "Echoes of Triumph" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Legacy games have probably had their golden days. They were something new that hadn't been done before in our hobby. They promised a unique experience of a game that would change as you played it. Not only that, the change would be permanent, requiring you not to only remove components, but actually destroy them, or put stickers into the rulebook, onto the main game board or otherwise apply them to make an irreversible change to the game. However, as exciting as the idea was, it never sat comfortably with me. In this article, I want to talk about this in more detail.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/28/throwaway-legacy-legacy-games-as-a-symbol-of-our-throwaway-society-topic-discussion/Useful LinksRisk Legacy: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/105134/risk-legacyPandemic Legacy: Season 1: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161936/pandemic-legacy-season-1Dicebreaker article about the inspiration behind Risk Legacy: https://www.dicebreaker.com/series/risk-legacy/news/risk-legacy-inspired-by-clueThe Waste Makers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waste_MakersOath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/11/27/oath-chronicles-of-empire-and-exile-saturday-review/Sleeping Gods review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/03/27/sleeping-gods-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: "Quiet", "Reverie" and "Success" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash)
You've been woken from hypersleep. You're still a bit groggy, but it is clear something has happened. Something important. As the captain, you can't waste too much time. You have to get up to speed quickly. As your crewmate gives you a sitrep, it becomes clear that you have to act quickly. It's time to Escape Comics: The Alien Ship by Douglas Beech and Evan Duxbury from Jumping High Five Games with art by Maria Becvar.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/25/escape-comics-the-alien-ship-saturday-review/Useful LinksEscape Comics: The Alien Ship: https://www.escapecomics.org/Crowdfunding campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jumpinghighfive/escape-comics-the-alien-shipJumping High Five Games: https://jumpinghighfive.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/360129/escape-comics-the-alien-shipLegion of the Necromancer review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/21/legion-of-the-necromancer-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: www.purple-planet.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Gatekeeping has long been a concern within the board game hobby. For decades, our hobby was shaped by small communities, often dominated by white men of a certain age. They decided who was allowed to call themselves a board gamer and who couldn't. However, as the hobby grew, it also became more diverse. Nowadays, welcoming newcomers and making the hobby accessible to a wider audience has become a highly important goal, a goal which I strongly support and feel very passionate about. Unfortunately, some people have started to use the term gatekeeping in such a way as to become gatekeepers themselves. In this article, I want to look at this paradox more closely.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/21/gatekeeping-the-gatekeepers-discussing-standards-in-our-hobby-topic-discussion/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: www.purple-planet.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash)
A pair of mirrored birds lean towards one another, their colours bright, but soft. If you look closely, you can see that their bodies are forming a heart. Nearby, Kueh, delicate sweets, sit arranged with care. Judging by their colours and shapes, they promise wonderful flavours. Each one tells a story of ancient traditions and of the practised hands that shaped them. It is a quiet celebration of heritage and harmony, of the culture of Peranakan: Tiles and Tactics by Eugene Lim from Genie Games with art by Eugene Lim.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/18/peranakan-tiles-and-tactics-saturday-review/Useful LinksPeranakan: Tiles and Tactics: https://geniegames.co/games/peranakan-tiles-and-tactics|Rulebook: https://geniegames.co/games/peranakan-tiles-and-tactics/how-to-playRules video: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQoDFLzEWtY/Genie Games: https://geniegames.co/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453641/peranakan-tiles-and-tacticsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Floating in TimeProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12406-floating-in-timeSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Hello everyone! I'm Eugene, founder of Genie Games and creator of Rats to Riches, Peranakan: Tiles and Tactics, and Singapore Showdown.This is my first time ever writing a guest blog, and I'm incredibly honoured to be given this opportunity by Oliver to share my story with you.As the title states, I'm 29 years old as of writing this. Nine months ago, I quit my job as a Singaporean Navy Officer, to start my own company to design and publish board games full-time.How did I end up here?Well, the answer to that goes back 20 years ago.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/14/29-year-old-navy-captain-turned-board-game-designer-topic-discussion/Useful LinksGenie Games: https://geniegames.co/Rats to Riches: https://geniegames.co/games/rats-2-richesPeranakan: Tiles and Tactics: https://geniegames.co/games/peranakan-tiles-and-tacticsSingapore Showdown: https://geniegames.co/games/singapore-showdownUK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: METROID - Background Game Music 4Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12786-metroid-background-game-music-4Music: The Backrooms Music Vol. 15Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13388-the-backrooms-music-vol-15Music: METROID - Background Game Music 3Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12784-metroid-background-game-music-3Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: ZRL7LPTUR2MSNAV9Artist: : Benjamin TissotSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Genie Games)
Bargello designs are built from vertical stitches, laid in sequence so that colours rise and fall, creating flowing waves, shifting flames, or soft gradients that almost seem to move across the fabric. Used in ornate upholstery in 17th-century Italy and applied to chairs and other furniture, these patterns require precision and concentration. Even a single misplaced stitch will completely break the rhythm. As a highly-skilled embroiderer, it is up to you to make sure your needle is correctly Threaded: A Game of Needles and Points by Ellie Dix from Osprey Games with art by Maria Surducan.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/11/threaded-a-game-of-needles-and-points-saturday-review/Useful LinksThreaded: A Game of Needles and Points: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/threaded-9781472870803/Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/319431/threaded-rulebookOsprey Games: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-games/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453282/threaded-a-game-of-needles-and-pointsMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCMusic: Binaural Sleep Vol. 3Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13198-binaural-sleep-vol-3SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
The inner courtyard goes completely quiet as dusk falls. Lantern light flickers softly against white walls and dark timbers. Servants move soundlessly like a gentle breeze, tending to gravel paths and manicured trees. Deeper inside the fortress, careful whispers of politics and ambition drift through the great halls. Everything feels deliberate, and every offering is carefully chosen to seek favour in a world where position is everything. Beneath that calm surface lies quiet competition, subtle manoeuvring, and the constant need to prove one's own worth within The White Castle by Isra C.and Shei S. from Devir with art by Joan Guardiet.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/04/04/the-white-castle-digital-eyes/Useful LinksThe White Castle: https://devirgames.com/the-white-castleRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/265611/the-white-castle-official-rulebookRules video: https://youtu.be/9Qc5fhqbfGc?si=PiNjO7RDwIYBylTiDevir: https://devirgames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/371942/the-white-castleEternal Palace review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/09/03/eternal-palace-saturday-review/The Druids of Edora review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/15/the-druids-of-edora-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Japan Lo-Fi Vol. 3Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12960-japan-lo-fi-vol-3Music: 5. Fairytale (Delicate Wonder) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13555-5-fairytale-delicate-wonder-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Devir)
The salty air filled our lungs as gulls circled above the quayside. The harbour was alive with excited voices and the clinking of coins. Ships came and went, their hulls heavy with stories of distant islands and dangerous encounters. Somewhere beyond the horizon lay our opportunity to make our fortune through trade, charm, or even force. As we stood at the edge of the dock, we mapped our routes as we were Islebound: Emerald Edition by Ryan Laukat from Red Raven Games with art by Ryan Laukat.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/28/islebound-emerald-edition-saturday-review/Useful LinksIslebound: Emerald Edition: https://www.redravengames.com/islebound/Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2pvgj0958ryqxe70sznnv/ALRXPoIELLJWFrzn0hy2Ks4?rlkey=py9s0f6mwf5dpilr5el6f3rdd&st=e1e2pe8d&dl=0Rules video: https://youtu.be/oOv0IFjkMl4?si=rVj6GmEd7F0Rp2dmRed Raven Games: https://www.redravengames.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401175/islebound-emerald-editionCreature Caravan review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/01/18/creature-caravan-saturday-review/Roam review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/02/roam-saturday-review/Sleeping Gods review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/03/27/sleeping-gods-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects:bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBCZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: "River" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comMusic: "Voyage" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Red Raven Games)
A cold wind carried the smell of ash across the fields as the last light of day faded behind the hills. Villages that once echoed with laughter now stood silent, their streets empty. Travellers spoke of strange sights on gloomy roads, shapes moving in the mist, and friends who no longer recognised each other. Somewhere in the land of Aelrathia, a dark mind gathered strength, raising the fallen and bending the living to its purpose. If the rumours were true, an army of the dead would soon march across the land. There was only one thing left to do. We had to venture out and face the Legion of the Necromancer by James Gill from Hammerforge Chronicles with art by James Isaacs.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/21/legion-of-the-necromancer-saturday-review/Useful LinksLegion of the Necromancer: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hammerforge/legion-of-the-necromancer/descriptionBGG listing: https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/461948/legion-of-the-necromancerMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Resistance by 2WEIMusic: "Climbing" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.comSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
In the kingdom of Pilipalod, a wild, evil magic had erased the royal castle, leaving only the foundations visible. Queen Blodwen, King Llew, and Princess Dillie surveyed the empty hill where their home once was with some despair, but mostly patient resolve. Word of the disaster spread, and soon magical creatures gathered to offer their help, and the finest designers of the Magical Architect Alliance arrived, promising that a new home would rise again. Their first task was to rebuild the Flip Pick Towers by Rob Fisher and Adam Porter from Osprey Games with art by Beatrix Papp.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/14/flip-pick-towers-saturday-review/Useful LinksFlip Pick Towers: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/flip-pick-towers-9781472869883/Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/317970/flip-pick-towers-rulebookOsprey Games: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-games/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/453283/flip-pick-towersSomething-and-Write game reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/tag/roll-and-write-games/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Alone at homeProduced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/152-alone-at-homeMusic: 5. Fairytale (Delicate Wonder) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13555-5-fairytale-delicate-wonder-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionMusic: 10. Waltz (Light Sway) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13594-10-waltz-light-sway-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of Osprey Games)
The last time I played 1860: Railways on the Isle of Wight, I found myself in the lead from fairly early on. As the game progressed, that lead only kept growing. Each round, the gap widened until it was clear that nobody had a realistic way to catch up with me. The game carried on, turns were taken, but the excitement and tension had gone. The game had become a fight for second place. I call this soft elimination, and it is especially common in longer games, when you are technically still playing, but no longer really competing. In this article, I want to talk about this a bit more.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/10/killing-me-softly-a-look-at-player-elimination-topic-discussion/Useful Links1860: Railways on the Isle of Wight review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/06/28/1860-railways-on-the-isle-of-wight-digital-eyes/Love Letter review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/23/love-letter-saturday-review/King of New York review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/04/25/king-of-new-york-saturday-review/Nemesis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/06/18/nemesis-saturday-review/Splotter Spellen: https://www.splottershop.com/Wingspan review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/16/wingspan/The Quacks of Quedlinburg review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/06/06/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg-saturday-review/Survive: Escape from Atlantis review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/04/17/survive-escape-from-atlantis-digital-eyes/Betrayal at the House on the Hill review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/01/14/betrayal-at-house-on-the-hill-3rd-edition-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Main music: Vital Whales by Unicorn Heads (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash)
Surf was up. We had already checked out Mavericks, Praia do Norte and Mullaghmore Head. All that was left was to ride the big breakers at Pipeline. We couldn't wait to show off our best tricks and compete with each other to score the most admiration. It was time to swim out and get on the next Big Wave by Daniel Kenel from Little Dog Games with art by Justin Santora.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/07/big-wave-saturday-review/Useful LinksBig Wave: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/p/big-waveLittle Dog Games: https://www.newmillindustries.com/store/little-dog-gamesBGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/438623/big-waveTricky Landing review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/28/tricky-landing-saturday-review/Trick-taking reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/category/reviews/?tag=trick-taking-gamesMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: 2TLUFRA22W8GNJPAArtist: : Benjamin TissotMusic by Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: UQYL5OD3WLL6JR5JArtist: : Marcus P.SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
The following is an English translation of board game designer Peer Sylvester's German article "Chat GPT als Brettspielautor?", which was originally published 22 February 2026 on the Spielbar website, here: https://www.spielbar.com/wordpress/2026/02/22/26916/Ryan Dancey was, until last Wednesday, the Chief Operating Officer at Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). On LinkedIn, the self-help site for managers who want to tell each other how great they are and how little their subordinates/customers appreciate them, Dancey published a post (link to a photo of the post, because I do not link to LinkedIn) in which he explained that he is firmly convinced that AI (or rather the LLMs that are usually labelled as AIs) will, in just a few years, be as useful as any employee.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/03/03/chatgpt-as-a-board-game-designer-topic-discussion/Useful LinksPeer Sylvester's German article "Chat GPT als Brettspielautor?" on the Spielbar website: https://www.spielbar.com/wordpress/2026/02/22/26916/Ryan Dancey's post: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social/post/3mf3p2kv4a22lMake My Game Travel: https://makemygametravel.com/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: bensound.comLicense code: SABGE2PPI2ABAS06Artist: : Nick PetrovSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Cards were wildly flying through the air. People were taking turns aiming their cards at the target in the middle of the table. It all looked frightfully confusing, but everyone was happy. Choosing the best card was hard enough as it was, but flicking it correctly seemed impossible. For the cards, it was certainly a Tricky Landing by Mike Petchey from Huff No More with illustrations by Edie Petchey.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/28/tricky-landing-saturday-review/Useful LinksTricky Landing: https://travel-games.co.uk/shop/p/trickylandingHuff No More: https://www.huffnomore.co.uk/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/456152/tricky-landingNew Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/Trick-taking reviews: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/category/reviews/?tag=trick-taking-gamesMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: EX0VDDYHJTWLXV3TArtist: : Benjamin TissotSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Historical board games occupy an awkward space in our hobby. They are usually not designed to teach history in any formal sense, and they are also not entertaining in the sense of being fun. These games stop short of education, offering no syllabus, no claims of being a detailed treatise of their setting, and no obligation to explain themselves. The subject matter historical board games draw on, war, exploitation, inequality, famine, and systemic violence, doesn't suit the lightness or escapism people often expect when playing board games as a leisure activity. The result is a form of play that somehow feels serious but incomplete. In this article, I want to explore this in more detail.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/24/no-mans-land-historical-board-games-position-between-entertainment-and-education-topic-discussion/Useful LinksAmabel Holland's blog Hollandazed: Thoughts, Ideas, and Miscellany: https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellanyJeremiah McCall's Gaming the Past: https://gamingthepast.net/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music:Color In The Dark by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/hidden thoughts by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/a voice low by Øraeth | https://soundcloud.com/itsoraethMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Perilune by AERØHEAD | https://soundcloud.com/aeroheadMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_USSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Amos K on Unsplash)
The sea relentlessly froze around our convoy, tightly squeezing the ships' hulls, as if it was testing our resolve. The other ships were holding formation, their tall masts and limp sails dark against the brooding grey sky. We had been entrusted with mapping new shores and documenting new species, financed by men who expected their names to be remembered forever, with ours only featuring as footnotes. Yet, our minds only thought about fuel and food, and storms that could spoil both. We each commanded our own ship, yet we were bound together by the same horizon, as we made our way Through Ice and Snow by Fernando Eduardo Sánchez from 2Tomatoes Games with art by Pedro A. Alberto and Araceli Martín.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/21/through-ice-and-snow-saturday-review/Useful LinksThrough Ice and Snow: https://2tomatoesgames.com/gb/through-ice-and-snow-esenfrde-8437022321530.htmlRulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/267433/english-rules-low-resRules video: https://www.youtube.com/live/Xl8CEWPMviI?si=49OW_61_zYFmH1h0&t=722Tomatoes Games: https://2tomatoesgames.com/gb/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352263/through-ice-and-snowK2 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/09/25/k2-digital-eyes/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Stalker Heart of Chornobyl Atmosphere 13Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12758-stalker-heart-of-chornobyl-atmosphere-13Music: Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 007Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/7128-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-007SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo courtesy of 2Tomatoes Games)
Finding the time to play board games can be difficult. Working out which games to play in the time you've got together is often even harder. Mostly, that's down to what games players are in the mood for. Sometimes they want a very deep, thinky game that requires a lot of attention. At other times, a lighter game might be preferred. Setting can also play a role. Yet, what is often the ultimate decider is game length. Knowing when a game will end is helpful in that respect. So in this article, I want to talk about games with fixed rounds and compare them to games with endgame triggers, but no other hard limit.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/17/finding-the-finish-line-fixed-rounds-vs-end-game-triggers-topic-discussion/Useful LinksSagrada review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/06/sagrada-saturday-review/Euphoria review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/07/18/euphoria-build-a-better-dystopia-digital-eyes/Uncertain Death article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/09/uncertain-death-end-game-triggers-topic-discussion/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music I use: BensoundLicense code: EQSCFNFSWIGE3ZCFArtist: : Nick PetrovMusic by: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: SQSSCFJL3S1Q9EBSArtist: : Nick PetrovRoyalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: YIFXCX3UOU4IR8ECArtist: : Theatre Of DelaysSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash)
The air thins with each step, and talking becomes almost impossible without a rest. The mountain is relentless, and so are those intent on beating it. Reaching the peak requires patience and knowing which route to take and what to leave behind. No one climbs alone, and no one fails alone either. The summit awaits and promises unmatched Tranquility: The Ascent by James Emmerson from Lucky Duck Games with art by Tristam Rossin.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/14/tranquility-the-ascent-saturday-review/Useful LinksTranquility: The Ascent: https://luckyduckgames.com/global/game/795-tranquility-the-ascentRulebook: https://website.cdn77.luckyduckgames.com/downloads/August2024/d4e4f20a1fa3776f1b151ad781c843b4.pdfLucky Duck Games: https://luckyduckgames.com/global/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334717/tranquility-the-ascentTranquility: The Descent review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/10/18/tranquility-the-descent-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/)Music: Nature 4 [nature documentary series]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13308-nature-4-nature-documentary-seriesMusic: Epic Drone Shots 004Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12291-epic-drone-shots-004SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
Let me be clear from the start: there is no such thing as a "good game". I know, it sounds controversial. After all, at the end of every year and often many times during the year, lots of people publish lists of the best games and regale you with how "good" these games are. If you're seen as the board game expert in your family circle or friendship group, you will be asked what "good game" they should buy or play next. Yet, "good" by itself is pretty meaningless - but let me explain.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/10/anti-good-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-good-game-topic-discussion/Useful LinksPax Pamir Second Edition review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/08/27/pax-pamir-second-edition-saturday-review/Love Letter review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/01/23/love-letter-saturday-review/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: 4. Thriller (Subliminal Tension) [Cinematic Underscore Loops - The Core Collection]Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/13551-4-thriller-subliminal-tension-cinematic-underscore-loops-the-core-collectionMusic: Imagefilm 045Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12219-imagefilm-045Music: Epic Drone Shots 003Produced by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12228-epic-drone-shots-003SupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/(Photo by Call Me Fred on Unsplash)
Staring at the art in front of them, next to a number of words, the group was trying to figure out which noun fit the paintings best. Someone read out a single word and explained their theory. Suddenly, everyone wanted to share their own opinion, some confident, some cautious. I listened to what everyone had to say. Only I knew which word was the right answer. After all, I had chosen it, based on The Vibe by Jacob Jaskov from Uloomi.Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/07/the-vibe-saturday-review/Useful LinksThe Vibe: https://thevibegame.com/Uloomi: https://uloomi.com/BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426692/the-vibeMusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)The Provisions by Blue Dot SessionsSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/
I have long been fascinated by historical board games. I was never very good at history in school, but whenever I play a board game with a historical setting, I feel I learn something. Often, I feel compelled to find out more about the events that took place back then. No class in school ever evoked that curiosity in me. These days, I look at historical board games from an additional angle: the human element. While war games rarely identify individuals and often work on a larger scale, there is a new breed of historical games that bring players closer to the human experience. In this article, I want to explore these games further.Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/02/03/historical-humanity-the-human-element-in-modern-historical-board-games-topic-discussion/Useful LinksMolly House review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/05/24/molly-house-saturday-review/The Cost review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/12/the-cost-digital-eyes/References[1] Wehrlegig Games website, "About Us" page: https://wehrlegig.com/pages/about[2] Slate, "Best Board Games That Make You Think About History": https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/01/best-board-games-root-cole-wehrle-john-company-molly-house.html[3] Cardboard Empire, "John Company 2nd Edition: The human factor behind empire and colonialism"https://www.cardboardempire.blog/blog/john-company-2nd-edition-the-human-factor-behind-empire-and-colonialism/[4] SDHist, "Designer roundtable: Gaming the unpleasant": https://sdhist.com/designer-roundtable-gaming-the-unpleasant/MusicIntro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: FHIPLT6WUMTVKWNJArtist: : AventureRoyalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: SU8T8I7YSLC4LBK9Artist: : AventureMusic I use: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: 6SZZNOMDLB9BABLBArtist: : AventureSupportIf you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlogPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblogWebsite: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/support/Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Imagesimages@wellcome.ac.ukhttp://wellcomeimages.orgGeorgian gentlemen smoking, drinking and reading newspapers at their club. Coloured aquatint, c. 1784, after G. M. Woodward (?).1784 By: G. M. WoodwardPublished: - Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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