Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 296 we talk through our real-time nominations for the 2025 boardgamegeek.com Golden Geek Awards. If you enjoy our show and would like to support us by nominating us for Best Board Game Podcast you can do that here: https://boardgamegeek.com/goldengeekTimestamps:00:00 Introduction04:05 Above and Below: Haunted04:57 Ada's Dream06:53 Ape Town08:35 Aquaria09:32 Ayar: Children of the Sun11:03 Clank! Catacombs - Underworld12:44 Dark Heists14:26 Dewan15:55 Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines17:28 Echoes of Time18:56 Eternal Decks19:46 Etherstone20:12 Everdell Duo20:40 Finspan22:08 Fliptoons23:23 Galactic Cruise25:47 Gems of Iridescia27:11 Great Western Trail: El Paso28:07 Hot Streak30:15 Hyperspace31:17 Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship32:54 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: the Trick Taking Game33:40 Luthier34:50 No Loose Ends35:50 Iliad36:53 Lost Ruins of Arnak: Twisted Paths37:44 March of the Ants: Evolved Edition39:36 Quorum40:11 Scoville: 2nd Edition41:32 SHASN: AZADI42:36 Steam Power43:52 Moon Colony Bloodbath45:10 The Old King's Crown46:33 Origin Story47:23 Sea Salt & Paper: Extra Pepper48:31 Speakeasy50:28 Stupor Mundi52:26 Toy Battle53:02 Tycoon: India 198155:04 Vantage57:30 Wroth59:34 Best Board Game Podcast Category59:58 Chris' NewsIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 295 we give our hot take review on Endeavor: Deep Sea covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We talk about the games we'll be playing at our bi-annual (or semi-annual) BGHT Con and also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Captain Flip, Endless Space 2, and Earthborne Rangers.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:22 BGHT SandyCon Excitement Chat (M.U.L.E, Stroganov, Kanban E.V., Speakeasy, March of the Ants, Echoes of Time, Lords of Vegas, Civolution, Aquaria, Endeavor: Deep Sea, Beyond the Horizon)7:50 Endeavor: Deep Sea Description10:47 Gameplay and Mechanisms31:27 Production and Theme37:21 Final Thoughts41:23 Captain Flip45:22 Endless Space 253:46 Earthborne RangersIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 294 we invite board game designer, Andy Schwarz, on to discuss his experience with self-publishing a game and he shares lessons learns, tips and tricks, and some real financial numbers.You can read Andy's blog post covering some of the discussed topics here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3215750/an-analysis-of-what-it-costs-to-self-publish-a-gamIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 293 we each cover 5 board games that integrate animals themes.We also discuss a poll on packing board games when travelling on a plane.00:00 Introduction03:50 Poll Time: How do you pack board games when travelling via airplane11:40 15 Great Animal Themed GamesIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 292 we give our hot take review on two board game expansions - Viticulture: Bordeaux and Revive: Call of the AbyssTimestamps:00:00 Introduction0:35 Viticulture: Bordeaux0:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms19:36 Production and Theme21:29 Final Thoughts28:03 Revive: Call of the Abyss28:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms39:04 Production and Theme40:33 Final Thoughts45:29 News and Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠