So we’ve done a lot of these drafts before, but I don’t think we’ve done one quite like this. This time we’re each trying to draft a set of five games that we think you might agree are incredibly overrated. What does that mean exactly? Well that’s up for debate too. What isn’t up for debate is that you could win $100 just by voting! Before we widen our delta, we talk about Undaunted 2200: Callisto, Nature, and Barcelona.
The only thing worse than coming away from a first game with a really bad impression, is when it takes a really long time to shake. Imagine all the amazing games you’re not playing because of one bad first game! Whether we saw the error of our ways or not, we’re reflecting on the times that games left a mark that took a long time to fade. Before we make our impression, we talk about Things in Rings, Yedo: Deluxe Master Set, and Harmonies
A solid end game trigger can be such an overlooked part of the design of a game. The conventional wisdom for most things is to start strong and finish strong, so we look at some of our favourite ways that games can end. Before we reach the end of the road, we talk about Robot Quest Arena, Mr. President: The American Presidency, 2001-2020, and Expeditions.
Bruna Cathala is the focus of this episode’s BGB DOG, the unfortunately acronymed series where we showcase a designer whom we love, and talk through the history of their career and designs. Before we pay tribute to the two player king, we talk about Smart Four Connected, Skytear Horde, and Endless Winter: Paleoamericans.
We all saw this coming. The inevitable digital future has come, and suddenly Mark is a book store owner who just discovered Kindles. It’d be sad if it weren’t so inevitable. We discuss the rise of digital gaming, and how it can, at least in some ways, replace parts of the hobby. Before we go down to Electric Avenue, we talk about Wormholes, Mogul, and Orichalcum.
It doesn’t happen as much as it does in other industries, but every so often the people at the top demand serialization. We’re talking about sequels in board games, when they work, when they (super) don’t, and what we’d like to see get the treatment. Before we get franchised, we talk about Next Station: London, Dawn of the Zeds (Third Edition), and Azul: Queen’s Garden.
It’d be great if we could only ever play our favourites. But sometimes, perhaps more often than not, we have to put up with playing games not because we want to, but because it’s the polite or kind thing to do depending on the company. This week, we’re talking about games that we don’t necessarily love, but for whatever reason we end up playing a lot of. Before we’re held against our will, we talk about Mr. Cabbagehead’s Garden, Sacred Rites, and Great Plains.