Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples

Hello everyone! We are Michael & Suzy, and welcome to Meeples & Wine—your podcast of board game reviews for couples, always with a drink in hand!​What we’re drinking​We love exploring different bottles, so what wine are we tasting today?​We are sampling the Vin Glogg from the Glunz Family Winery, located in Paso Robles, CA.​According to their profile, their Glögg recipe is fairly traditional. They start with a base of high-quality California port and red wine. To this, they have blended oils of citrus fruits, nuts, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a couple of secret ingredients.​For pairings and serving, they recommend serving it gently heated. It’s great if you add a cinnamon stick, cloves, or a twist of lemon or orange rind. Later in the show, during our “Final Sip” segment, we discuss how the wine has changed since opening.​What we’re playing​We covered a lot of ground in this episode, mentioning a huge list of board games that we have played over the last year! We’ve got the links added to each title linking to where you can purchase it! (If you use our Amazon link, we do get a little scratch back)​Here is a rundown of the games discussed in this episode:​Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles​The Mix ​Arkham Horror: The Card Game ​Terror Below​Pixel Tactics​Kiri-ai: The Duel​ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo​Targi Board Game​Dice Throne: Season One ReRolled – Pyromancer v. Shadow Thief​Radlands​Hive​Genius Square​Azul Duel​Bunny Boom​Sea Salt & Paper​Smash Up​Casting Shadows​Summoner Wars​We also asked the big question: What’s your #1 Game for 2025?​If you like the show be sure to share it with a friend!​Contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.​Have something to say? Leave us a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 or use our Speakpipe link.​See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

Goblins, Dice, and 14 Hands Merlot: Episode 96 Recap Welcome back to Meeples & Wine! It’s Michael and Suzy here, bringing you another board game review for couples—always with a drink in hand. In this episode, we are diving into a portable RPG adventure and sipping on a wine that pairs perfectly with a backyard cookout. Let’s get into the notes! 🍷 What We’re Drinking: 14 Hands Merlot Today’s bottle comes from 14 Hands Winery, located in the Columbia Valley of Washington state. The Profile: This vintage offers rich flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, cherry, and mocha. The Pairings: If you’re hungry, this red goes great with BBQ ribs, grilled tri-tip, burgers, or even spaghetti with meatballs. 🎲 What We’re Playing: Miniature Adventures We are tackling Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles. Published by Lowtek Games LLC and designed by Jon Lowman, this is an exciting co-op card game inspired by old-school 16-bit RPGs. The Premise: The Kingdom of Delriah is having some serious goblin issues, and they need an adventuring party to help! You choose a Hero and a class, then work together to overcome four levels of challenges: Misty Forest Mountain Path Goblin Fortress Goblin Throne How it Plays: It plays 1–4 players and relies on dice rolling mechanisms. You slot your rolled dice into your character card to determine your Initiative (speed), Power, and Actions. You have to survive various Encounters, including Mobs (enemies) and Challenges (perils), to win. 🏆 The Scores Is it fun? Will it wreck your relationship? Here is our final verdict: Fun Score: We both loved it! Michael: 8/10 Suzy: 8/10 The Couch Score: (Will it wreck the relationship? 1 = Safe, 5 = Danger) Since it’s co-op, it’s pretty safe! Michael: 2/5 Suzy: 1/5 Time Sink: We rated this a 1 (No Problem)—you can learn it in one or two games without needing hours of tutorials. 🔦 Kickstarter Spotlight We love checking Kickstarter for the coolest new games. This week we shouted out Maiden of the Dark, a Game Boy game by TigerChainsaw. 📞 Connect with Us! If you liked the show, be sure to share it with a friend! Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 Socials: Find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

Shaking Things Up with ‘The Mix’ and a Mescalita Hey, and welcome back to Meeples & Wine! We’re Michael and Suzy, and this is your favorite spot for board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand. This week, we went fully thematic. We’re reviewing a cocktail-making board game, so naturally, we had to skip the wine and mix up a cocktail! 🍹 This Week’s “Wine”: The Mescalita We’re sipping on a Mescalita, and it’s a fantastic smoky, citrusy, and spicy combo. If you want to make one at home while you listen, here’s the recipe! What You’ll Need: For the Rim: Tajín Clásico Seasoning (or make your own with 2 parts kosher salt and 1 part chili powder). For the Drink: Lime wedges (for the rim and garnish) 1.5 oz mild mezcal (we recommend Del Maguey Vida) 2 oz fresh orange juice 1 oz fresh lime juice Optional Add-ins: 3 dashes of orange bitters (for an extra orange kick) 1 to 3 bar spoons of sweetener (like agave nectar, simple syrup, or orange liqueur) The notes for this drink suggest pairing it with smoked meats, cheese, chocolate, tropical fruits, or even spicy curries. 🎲 This Week’s “Meeples”: The Mix The game on our table this week is The Mix by Ruse Games. You play as a brand-new recruit at the famous Foxtrot Bar, and your goal is to become the top mixologist. You’ll be honing your skills, learning new recipes, and serving customers to earn the most Victory Points (VP). It’s a strategic, cocktail-themed game that blends engine building, resource management, and worker placement. Here are the quick stats: Statistic Details Players 1-4 (It has a solo mode against an automated “Fox” opponent!) Time 25+ minutes Age 14+ Designer/Artist Guime (Guillaume Boudreau) Publisher Ruse Games Key Mechanics Worker Placement, Engine Building, Resource Management, Set Collection How It Plays The game is all about efficiently using your “Mixologist” workers. On your turn, you take actions like: Taking a Clients Card (an order you need to fill) Grabbing ingredients from the supply Acquiring new Technique Cards to get better at mixing Getting more Shakers (which expand your capacity) Preparing Cocktails to complete your orders The “engine building” part really kicks in during the Setup phase at the end of your round. This is when you get bonuses from your Setup Track, your unique Mixologist Card, and your Technique cards. The game end is triggered once 15 total Clients have been completed. You tally up your VP from completed orders, set collection bonuses, and remaining money, and the highest score wins! A quick note: The rulebook we saw was still marked as a “Work in Progress,” so some final rules might change. 🚀 Where to Find It We look for the coolest games coming out on crowdfunding sites, and this one is heading to Gamefound! You can back it HERE! 📣 Last Call That’s all for this week! What do you think of the Mescalita recipe? Are you planning on backing The Mix? We want to hear from you! Email Us: meeplesandwine[at]gmail[dot]com Leave a Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 Find Us on Socials: We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you loved the show, the best thing you can do is share it with a friend. See you next time on Meeples and Wine!

Unraveling the Mythos with Meeples & Wine Hey board game lovers! Welcome back to Meeples & Wine, your podcast for couples’ board game reviews with a drink in hand. We’re your hosts, Michael & Suzy, and this episode we’re diving deep into a world of Lovecraftian mystery, monsters, and madness! 🍷 What We’re Sipping Today, we’re getting cozy with a glass of Witches Brew Mulled Wine from Leelanau Cellars in Northport, Michigan. The Vibe: It’s got those warming holiday spices—think cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Best Served: We enjoyed it warm/hot! Pairings: We didn’t have any specific pairings listed, so let us know what snack you’d pair with this spiced wine! 🎲 The Game of the Episode We jumped into the horrifying, yet captivating, world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game. Title: Arkham Horror: The Card Game The Gist: It’s a cooperative Living Card Game where you and your partner take on the roles of Investigators trying to solve a scenario’s mystery before the forces of the Mythos overwhelm you. You’ll be using Action Points to move, play cards, and test your skills (Willpower, Intellect, Combat, Agility) against a random Chaos Token drawn from the bag. Get those clues, progress the Act deck, and try to survive! BGG Rating & Weight: It holds an impressive 8.1/10 on BoardGameGeek and is definitely a thinker at a 3.56/5 complexity. Designers: Nate French and MJ Newman (who also worked on Marvel Champions: TCG and LOTR:TCG). Awards: This game is well-loved, having won the Dice Tower’s Best 2 Player and Best Co-Op Game in 2016, plus several BGG Golden Geek Awards! Learn More: You can find the game’s page on BGG right here: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205637/arkham-horror-the-card-game Expansions: There are TONS of expansions, including scenario boxes, investigator decks, playmats, and more, if you’re looking to expand your Arkham experience! Our Ratings Fun Score (1-10): We both gave it a super high 9! This is a great co-op experience. Will it Wreck the Relationship? (Couch Score 1-5): A low-stress 1 from both of us. It’s a great game to play with your partner! 🎙️ Last Call We always take a peek at the latest and greatest coming to crowdfunding, and this week we checked out Joyride: Full Throttle by Rebellion Unplugged. The Game: This is a high-octane racing game for 2–6 players where you choose your racing line, trade paint on corners, and smash opponents! This new edition includes an expanded team mode, portals, and new cars, items, and maps. Find it Here: You can check out the campaign on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/projects/rebellion-unplugged/joyride-full-throttle BGG Page: Read more about it on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/380728/joyride-survival-fastest 👋 Meet-Ups & Contact See Us In Person! We’ll be at Lodge Con on November 1st at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone, IL. The halls are open from 10 am – 5 pm, but gaming is open from 8 am till midnight. Stop by and say hi! Email Us: [email protected] Socials: Find us everywhere—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn—by searching Meeples & Wine! Voicemail: Leave us a message or ask a question at (707) 572-5282 or use our Speakpipe link. If you liked the show, please be sure to share it with a friend! See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

Meeples & Wine: Dodging Worms and Sipping Reds in Terror Below Hey there, Meeples & Wine fans! It’s Michael and Suzy, your go-to duo for board game reviews tailored for couples, always with a glass of something tasty in hand. Got a game or wine you think we should try? Shoot us an email at [email protected], connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or leave a message at (707) 572-5282 or via our Speakpipe. Let’s jump into this week’s episode! We’re kicking things off with a bold pour of Dearly Beloved I Thee Red 2023, a red blend from Lodi, California. This wine’s got serious autumn vibes with its Dia de Los Muertos-inspired bottle art. Crafted from a mix of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Tannat, and Tempranillo, it’s bursting with dark cherry, plum, and spicy vanilla oak aromas, plus flavors of blueberry, black currant, and toasted vanilla bean. It’s perfect for sipping solo or pairing with aged cheeses, roasted meats, or pasta with a hearty red sauce. We’ll check back later to see how it’s evolved since we popped the cork! Now, let’s talk about the star of the show: Terror Below from Renegade Game Studios. Designed by Mike Elliott (known for Marvel Dice Masters and Thunderstone Quest) with art by Eric Hibbeler (Sky Team), this game has a 6.7/10 rating on BoardGameGeek and a light 1.94/5 complexity, playable by 1-5 players. In Terror Below, you’re racing through the Nevada desert, collecting Worm Eggs, delivering them for bounties, and maybe even hunting giant W.O.R.M.s (Weapons of Remote Massacre) if you’re feeling brave. The catch? Moving fast attracts those vicious underground worms, so strategy is key! Here’s how it plays: your goal is to hit 20 Victory Points first by collecting and delivering Eggs, completing bounties, or slaying worms. Each turn, you play a Vehicle card to distract a worm, moving its Target token to keep it off your tail. Then, you spend Action Points to move your pawn, clear rubble, pick up Eggs, or deliver them to Locations for points. Special card abilities add some flair, and you refill your hand to three cards at the end. Between turns, worms might attack, dropping Eggs and Rubble—or worse, catching you in a fight. If you’re armed with Weapon or Item cards, you can hunt the worm for a VP or bounty; if not, your Leader might bite the dust and you’ll respawn with a new one. It’s a wild mix of action points, dice rolling, grid movement, and pick-up-and-deliver mechanics with variable player powers for extra spice. Oh, and there’s a Hidden Cache Expansion if you want more chaos! Before we sign off, we’re hyped about some upcoming games we found on crowdfunding. Check out Dice Throne Vanguard on Kickstarter and Trenchcoat Raccoons: A Chaotic, Fail-Forward Heist RPG by OneShot TPK on Gamefound. Next week, we’ll be diving into another game—stay tuned for details! If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and let us know what you want us to play or sip next at [email protected], on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or via (707) 572-5282 or Speakpipe. That’s all for now—keep sipping, gaming, and loving those game nights. See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-Bye!