It’s the grand finale of the event of events that is the BGB Top 50 Games of All-time! These are our ten absolute favourite games, and, fittingly, it’s a bumper episode with more than one surprise. Joining us in the peanut gallery this week, it’s none other than the manic imp of Shut Up & Sit Down himself, the absolute mad genius that is Tom Brewster. Buckle in, it’s going to get weird.
Looking back on the past made us all reflective. For instance, remember 166 episodes ago when we promised to play all those games on our shelves of shame? I thought you might. We’re revisiting our crimes of yesteryear, and checking in on how guilty we are. Before we audit our past selves, we talk about Warp’s Edge, Carolus Magnus, and Unfathomable.
After last week’s love-fest made us all uncomfortable, we had to get back to what do best, spirited in-fighting. To that end, we’ve devised three debates around the same core: is that often criticized mechanic a design problem, or a player problem? Before we pit designers against players, we talk about Red Rising, Via Magica, and Alma Mater.
We’re moving into the terrible teens of the Board Game Barrage Top 50 Games of All Time. I learned all I know about American teenagers from TV, so I assume this is where all the sex and drugs come in. Let’s get to it then, forty (roughly) more games that we simply adore. As the list goes on, they only get better and better. That is, after all, the premise.
While all games have some restrictions, some games are more willing than others to let you go off the rails. For instance, some leave the economy entirely in the hands of the players, free to tank it if they please. We look at how games do (or don’t) use player constraints to deliver unique experiences. Before we rein ourselves in, we talk about Tournay, Bullet♥︎, Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons, and Container.
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.
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.
A new year, a new decade, a new podcast, and a new batch of games that we love talking about. It’s the fourth in our five part series of our 50 favourite board games of all-time, and appropriately, we’re kicking off 2020 by breaking into the top twenty. Synergy.
Uh oh, you’re not enjoying the game you’re playing. Now what? Is it okay to excuse yourself? Maybe it’s better that you just call it rather than continue to have a bad time. This week we’re talking about scenarios where some or all of the players of a game might decide it’s better to bounce than to wallow in misery. Before we make an early exit, we talk about SEAL Team Flix, Paranormal Detectives, and I’m the Boss.
So, you’re coming in last. You could sigh, lean back, mutter to yourself about all the things you should’ve done better … or you could get back in there, soldier! Back on your feet! This week on the show, we discuss what’s worth fighting for in a board game, when you’re clearly not going to win. Before we lose with dignity, we talk about Murder on the Cosmic Express, TAMSK, and Diplomacy.