It’s time for another “What we love, what we hate”, and this time we’re looking at deck builders! Its been twelve years since Dominion blew things up, and since then you don’t have to look very far to see a game that uses the mechanic. We look at the highs and lows of deck building as a mechanic, and discuss some of our favourite games that use it. We also talk about Bruxelles 1897, Elysium, and Can’t Stop.
To make it through quarantine, we take another look at digital games in a time when it might just be our only option. We’ve got to get our board game fill somehow! We investigate how our relationship to the electronic side of the hobby has changed, and give our recommendations for the many options. Before we plug in, we talk about Remember Our Trip, Castell, and Caylus 1303.
There’s only so much space on our shelves, so games don’t always stick around forever, but that doesn’t always mean that we don’t like them. There are many reasons that a good game might get the boot, so let’s talk about them. We count down our top five favourite games we got rid of! Before we pay our respects, we talk about Through the Desert, Lords of Hellas, Troyes, and Watergate.
Some games put their best foot forward on the first play, eager to have most players feel good right out of the box. Other games are content to take their time. This episode we’re focusing on the latter, games that we’ve only come to appreciate as we’ve given them more time and more plays. Before we grow together, we talk about Ginkgopolis, Time Chase, and Food Chain Magnate.
Area control is the first subject of our new recurring feature, “What we love, what we hate”, where we deep dive into a single mechanic and describe … well, exactly that! We tend to enjoy games that have you fighting over territory, but what is it that specifically gets us excited about them? And what are the downsides? Before we assume direct control, we talk about The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, Stay Cool, and Mezo.
Let me set the scene: It’s a late night at a hotel in Nevada, we’re sprawled on the floor around a microphone, and we’re flexing our tired hands after three days spent playing so many board games. Coming at you from Dice Tower West, we report on what we’ve been up to, and all the games we played. Before we’re leaving Las Vegas, we talk about Don’t Get Got!, Kemet, Master of Respect, and Nova Luna.
We’ve learned a thing or two about game nights and conventions over the years. The hobby has changed, and we’ve had to change with it! This episode, we talk about what’s different with how we approach large meetings of board gamers in 2020, and offer what advice we can. Before we pack our game bags, we talk about Fast Sloths, Birdie Fight, Sorcerer City, Electropolis, and Isle of Cats.
Sometimes a game is hitting all the right notes, and you want to recommend it wholeheartedly … but there’s just one tiny blemish you can’t overlook. It’s not enough to make a great game bad, but, man, just imagine if it someone had fixed that. This week we’re looking at games that almost nail it. Before we smooth the last crease, we talk about Chaosmos, Subtext, On a Scale of One to T-Rex, and Empyreal: Spells & Steam.
We’re gluttons for punishment this week, because we’re talking about harshness in board games. These are the sort of games where big moves or bad mistakes can be hard to recover from. Harsh games aren’t for everyone, so when and why do we find them appealing? Before we grit our teeth, we talk about Wavelength, Genoa, Krass Kariert, and Oceans.
We’re reflecting on the past this episode, looking back at the things we said – never wise, by the way. The games of 2019 had a lot of promise, but how young and dumb they seem to our aged eyes. Where are they now? Join us as we cast our minds back to last decade, to reflect on the games we were excited for so many months ago.