Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 282 we discuss the current state of the hobby and if it's the best it's ever been. Are we in peak board gaming? Where do we go from here? If 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 281 we look back at the games we played once for the first time in 2025. Great games and we want to play them more. We briefly look at last year's list and see how we did.00:00 Introduction04:24 Last Year's List04:34 Luthier05:04 Marrakesh05:21 Dune06:12 Unconscious Mind07:25 Thunder Road: Vendetta08:27 Lancaster09:44 Dune: Imperium Uprising (6 Player)09:53 Biohack10:01 Ceres10:39 March of the Ants11:36 Clockwork Wars12:38 Hallertau12:55 Walnut Grove15:01 Black Forest15:42 Endeavor: Deep Sea16: 32 Top 5 Games We Only Played Once in 202516:44 Moon Colony Bloodbath20:14 Modern Art23:45 Crokinole27:56 Chaosmos30:51 Frozen Frontier32:30 Rebirth34:34 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire36:27 Stroganov39:35 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence41:17 Crystal Palace43:57 Ada's DreamIf 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 280 we look back at last year's list of games we wanted to get played and then we discuss the games that are top of mind we hope to get to try over the next year.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:12 Last Year's Top 5 we wanted to play in 2025 (and how we did)02:21 Civolution 05:40 Joyrides: Survival of the Fastest06:08 Wroth06:32 SETI: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence09:58 Dune: War for Arrakis10:48 Windmill Valley12:21 Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth13:46 Endeavor: Deep Sea15:18 Resafa16:05 Andromeda's Edge / Rock Hard: 197717:26 World Order18:47 Wondrous Creatures19:44 Rats of Wistar21:35 Power Vaccuum22:40 Top 5 Games we want to play in 202622:40 Coming of Age25:04 Primacy: A Coyote and Crow Card Game29:31 Eternal Decks34:12 Echoes of Time38:55 Lords of Baseball41:33 Everdell: Silverfrost43:54 Burn the Fort48:57 Rise and Fall52:08 Ants54:15 Rebuilding Seattle1:00:33 Unicorn Fever1:03:20 Sanctuary1:09:03 Speakeasy1:12:42 Ayar: Children of the SunIf 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 279 we give our hot take review on Ada's Dream covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We cover a poll on Multi-player Solitaire board games and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Lords of Vegas, Ticket to Ride, and Nokosu Dice.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:25 Poll: How do you feel about 'Multi-player Solitaire' Games?15:19 Ada's Dream Description18:06 Gameplay and Mechanisms38:58 Production and Theme48:51 Final Thoughts1:00:42 Lords of Vegas1:06:13 Ticket to Ride1:08:11 Nokosu DiceIf 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 278 we discuss the top 5 games that each of us thinks will be a big hit for families of all types (family gatherings, gaming with kids, etc.)Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:12 Top 5 Family Board Games07:50 Flip 710:55 Skull14:39 Cheeky Monkey /Can't Stop / Viking See-Saw20:39 Sushi Go23:13 No Thanks27:28 Camel Up / Hot Streak31:22 King of Tokyo34:44 Balderdash38:31 Ticket to Ride42:45 Unlock / Exit (Escape Room in a Box Games)49:31 Dino Battle: Logical Game52:38 Robot Quest Arena / My Little Scythe57:31 Quacks1:00:51 Survive the Island1:06:02 Return to Dark Tower / Slay the Spire1:10:55 Honorable Mentions: Crokinole, Tripole, Love Letter, Kingdomino, Bot Factory1:14:40 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