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So Very Wrong About Games

Pickaxe·Hosted by Mike Walker and Mark Bigney·413 episodes

LeisureHobbiesCo-hostedBoard Game Reviews60-75 min/epWeeklyAnalytical & FunDesign Critique

A podcast about all manner of hobby games by Mike Walker and Mark Bigney. Bad games don't go easy on you, so we don't go easy on them. Thorough analysis via reviews, news, and discussion of topics in gaming. We take context seriously, we value your time, and we're not into hype. Just because games are fun doesn't mean we can't take them seriously, and just because we take them seriously doesn't mean we can't have fun.

Why listen

Mike Walker and Mark Bigney deliver honest, thorough analysis of board games without the marketing hype, treating games as worthy of serious critique. Each episode blends game reviews, industry news, and deep-dive discussions about design trends and gaming culture, creating a thoughtful space for players who want substance. You'll get two passionate experts genuinely grappling with what makes games work, delivered with humor and irreverence.

Episodes

1 hr 3 min
Jun 2, 2026Episode 413
Feya's Swamp

SVWAG CON II Electric Boogaloo https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 www.sowronggames.com www.twitch.tv/soverywrongaboutgames www.youtube.com/c/SoVeryWrongAboutGames https://twitter.com/sowronggames www.facebook.com/sowronggames www.patreon.com/svwag/ 00:00 INTRO 01:39 Salton Sea (David Bernal Devir 2024) 09:25 Stellar Ventures (Pontus Nilsson TableTapas Games 2026) 14:54 Paku Paku (Antoine Bauza Ravensburger AG 2017) 17:12 Small World (Philippe Keyaerts Days of Wonder 2009) 21:22 Speakeasy (Vital Lacerda Eagle-Gryphon Games 2025) 25:45 SCOUT (Kei Kajino Oink Games 2019) 27:00 Dark Pact (Thomas Lehmann Trick or Treat Studios 2026) 30:44 Lifeboat (Jeff Siadek Gorilla Games 2002) 37:04 NEWS 42:25 Main Review Feya's Swamp (Helge Ostertag, Anselm Ostertag Fractal Juegos 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

52 min
May 26, 2026Episode 412
Baghdad: The City of Peace

https://www.youtube.com/@BoardGamingRamblings SVWAG CON II Electric Boogaloo https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 www.sowronggames.com www.twitch.tv/soverywrongaboutgames www.youtube.com/c/SoVeryWrongAboutGames https://twitter.com/sowronggames www.facebook.com/sowronggames www.patreon.com/svwag/ 00:00 INTRO 00:50 Secret Societies (S J Macdonald Garphill Games 2026) 03:29 Traintopia (Przemek Wojtkowiak Board&Dice 2020) 05:50 Lands of Evershade (Ernest Kiedrowicz, Krzysztof Piskorski Awaken Realms 2026) 09:03 Tribes of the Wind (Joachim Thôme La Boîte de Jeu 2022) 11:15 Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino Rio Grande Games 2025) 13:51 Nicht die Bohne! (Horst-Rainer Rösner AMIGO 1999) 15:48 Trismegistus (Federico Pierlorenzi, Daniele Tascini Board&Dice 2026) 19:29 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone Sorry We Are French 2024) 22:37 NEWS 30:19 Main Review Baghdad: The City of Peace (Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone Alley Cat Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 3 min
May 19, 2026Episode 411
Quest for the Roleplay Experience

https://www.youtube.com/@everydayboardgames https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 www.sowronggames.com www.twitch.tv/soverywrongaboutgames www.youtube.com/c/SoVeryWrongAboutGames https://twitter.com/sowronggames www.facebook.com/sowronggames www.patreon.com/svwag/ 00:00 INTRO 01:12 Formidable Farm (Friedemann Friese 2F-Spiele 2025) 04:43 Trickster Gods (Dennis Bigelow Farallon Games 2026) 07:02 Kanban: Driver's Edition (Vital Lacerda Stronghold Games 2014) 10:48 Shuffle and Swing (Robert Hovakimyan Bitewing Games 2024) 15:21 Escape: Roll & Write (Sebastian Schwarz Queen Games 2021) 18:58 Joan of Arc: Orléans Draw & Write (Ryan Hendrickson, Reiner Stockhausen dlp games 2022) 21:09 Cat and the Tower (Masakazu Takizawa Arclight Games 2024) 22:23 First Rat (Gabriele Ausiello, Virginio Gigli Pegasus Spiele 2022) 23:44 NEWS 39:58 Main Topic: The Quest for the Roleplay Experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

53 min
May 12, 2026Episode 410
Compania

One Stop Co-op Shop www.youtube.com/c/OneStopCoopShop SVWAG CON II Electric Boogaloo https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 www.sowronggames.com www.twitch.tv/soverywrongaboutgames www.youtube.com/c/SoVeryWrongAboutGames https://twitter.com/sowronggames www.facebook.com/sowronggames www.patreon.com/svwag/ 00:00 INTRO 01:30 Nippon: Zaibatsu (Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro, Paulo Soledade CrowD Games 2026) 04:52 Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock (Abraham Sanchez Hermida, Paloma J. Pascual Perro Loko Games 2025) 08:42 The Big Squeeze (AC Atienza Wiggles 3D 2025) 13:33 51st State: Master Set (Ignacy Trzewiczek Portal Games 2016) 14:05 FlipToons (Jordy Adan, Renato Simões Thunderworks Games 2025) 17:02 Flip Pick Towers (Rob Fisher, Adam Porter Osprey Games 2026) 19:46 Flamecraft Duals (Manny Vega Cardboard Alchemy 2025) 23:12 Hadara (Benjamin Schwer Hans im Glück 2019) 24:24 Wyrmspan (Connie Vogelmann Stonemaier Games 2024) 26:20 Spooktacular (D. Brad Talton, Jr.Level 99 Games 2025) 27:42 NEWS 32:45 Main Review Compania (Yog Akase, Level 99 Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 3 min
May 5, 2026Episode 409
Moon Colony Bloodbath

Get your SVWAG CON tickets HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 This weeks guest Tim Dolloff from Board Game Hottakes https://boardgamehottakes.com/ 00:00 INTRO 00:47 Euphoria Essential Edition (Morten Monrad Pedersen, Jamey Stegmaier, David J. Studley Stonemaier Games 2026) 05:56 The Waste of Parts (Evan Duda Sky Kingdom Games 2026) 10:57 Aquaria (Tomáš Holek Delicious Games 2025) 16:19 No Loose Ends (Taiki Shinzawa GameHead 2025) 18:33 Reforest (Sébastien Bernier-Wong Board Game Circus 2024) 24:05 Marshmallow Test (Reiner Knizia Gamewright 2020) 25:50 Nature (Dominic Crapuchettes NorthStar Game Studio 2025) 30:45 Flip 7: With A Vengeance (Eric Olsen, Alyssa Swatek The Op Games 2026) 33:58 Medici: The Dice Game (Reiner Knizia Grail Games 2020) 37:52 Subjective (Andrew Wolf Spin Master Ltd. 2023) 40:40 NEWS 46:05 Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino Rio Grande Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr
Apr 28, 2026Episode 408
That's my JAM

This weeks guest: Jake Frydman https://www.decisionspacepodcast.com/ Blueberry jam not jelly........ don't be gross 00:00 INTRO 01:33 Cysmic (Jason Blake Star Reach Games 2026) 04:43 Bomb Busters (Hisashi Hayashi Pegasus Spiele 2024) 07:03 Crits & Tricks (Pete Wissinger Inside Up Games 2026) 10:47 Baghdad: The City of Peace (Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone Alley Cat Games 2025) 15:25 Taj Mahal (Reiner Knizia Ravensburger AG 2000) 18:30 The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock Z-Man Games 2025) 23:05 Santiago (Claudia Hely, Roman Pelek AMIGO 2003) 26:45 The Glorious Guilds of Buttonville (Christian Kudahl, Erik Andersson Sundén Ravensburger AG 2025) 29:54 NEWS 40:34 Topic: That's my jam. Get your SVWAG CON tickets HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 7 min
Apr 21, 2026Episode 407
The Looming Shadow of the Golden Age of Board Games

This weeks guest: 5 Games 4 Doomsday Ben Maddox https://5g4d.com/ 00:00 INTRO 02:06 Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino, Rio Grande Games 2025) 06:01 Ghost Blitz Junior (Jacques Zeimet Zoch Verlag 2018) 06:56 Paku Paku (Antoine Bauza Ravensburger 2017) 11:07 Imperial Elegy: The Road to the Great War 1850-1920 (Michael Lorino VUCA Simulations 2025) 17:12 Cysmic (Jason Blake Star Reach Games 2026) 20:15 Stationfall (Matt Eklund Ion Game Design 2023) 24:37 Nippon: Zaibatsu (Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro, Paulo Soledade CrowD Games 2026) 28:11 Cosmic Encounter (Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, Kevin Wilson Fantasy Flight Games 2008) 31:24 Demon Worker (Shogo Kuroda cosaic 2016) 33:35 NEWS 42:12 TOPIC The Looming Shadow of the Golden Age of Gaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 5 min
Apr 14, 2026Episode 406
Fishing

This weeks Guest Charlie Theel https://playerelimination.com/ Something smells tricky 00:00 INTRO 01:01 Dark Pact (Thomas Lehmann Trick or Treat Studios 2026) 05:21 Excalibur (Manny Trembley Roxley 2026) 08:48 Don't Mess with Cthulhu (Yusuke Sato New Board Game Party 2014) 10:59 Galaxy Trucker (Vlaada Chvátil Czech Games Edition 2007) 15:25 Railroad Tiles (Hjalmar Hach, Lorenzo Silva Horrible Guild 2025) 17:25 World of Wrestling (Brent Spivey Bombshell Games 2025) 23:02 How to Save a World (Yuval Grinspun Burnt Island Games 2025) 25:28 Black Orchestra (Philip duBarry Game Salute 2016) 34:54 The Hobbit: There and Back Again (Reiner Knizia Office Dog 2025) 36:48 NEWS 49:19 Main Review Fishing (Friedemann Friese 2F-Spiele 2024) SVWAG CON https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 3 min
Mar 31, 2026Episode 405
Night Soil

What's that smell? https://spacebiff.com/ This weeks guest Dan Thurot from Space-Biff 00:00 Intro 00:45 WENDYBUXXX (Jo Kelly Miasma Corp Games 2026) 02:58 Compania (Yog Akase, Level 99 Games 2025) 05:45 Inkwell (Jasper Beatrix, Lewis Graye, Joey Palluconi DVC Games 2026) 07:35 Eternal Decks (Hiroken Tricktakers Games 2025) 11:20 Dark Pact (Thomas Lehmann Trick or Treat Studios 2026) 14:15 Fearless (Friedemann Friese 2F-Spiele 2025) 16:24 Cthulhu: Dark Providence (Travis R. Chance, Martin Wallace CMON Global Limited 2025) 21:28 Railroad Tiles (Hjalmar Hach, Lorenzo Silva Horrible Guild 2025) 26:16 Cozy Stickerville (DesignerCorey Konieczka Unexpected Games 2026) 29:35 Lands of Galzyr (Seppo Kuukasjärvi, Sami Laakso Snowdale Design 2022) 35:15 News 45:07 Main Review:Night Soil Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58 min
Mar 24, 2026Episode 404
WROTH

Telling ME Calimala is good the nerve 00:00 Intro 00:58 Calimala (Fabio Lopiano Alley Cat Games2017) 04:59 Railroad Tiles (Hjalmar Hach, Lorenzo Silva Horrible Guild 2025) 08:15 Regicide Legacy (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, Andy Richdale Badgers from Mars 2025) 12:04 Movie Tricks (Vegard Eliassen Stillerud, Eilif Svensson, Åsmund Svensson Chilifox Games 2025) 15:35 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Tomáš Holek Czech Games Edition 2024) 18:34 Robo Rally Dice (Kane Klenko Renegade Game Studios 2026) 21:27 Gùgōng (Andreas Steding Game Brewer 2018) 25:20 Night Soil (Jon Moffat Grail Games 2025) 29:08 News 36:51 WROTH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr
Mar 17, 2026Episode 403
It could have been a contender.

00:00 Intro 01:25 Star Trek: Captain's Chair – To Boldly Go (Nigel Buckle, Dávid Turczi, Adam Turczi WizKids 2026) 02:53 Feya's Swamp (Helge Ostertag, Anselm Ostertag Fractal Juegos 2025) 07:07 Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition (Andreas Seyfarth Awaken Realms 2025) 09:50 Compania (Yog Akase Asobition 2025) 12:00 Voidfall: Resurgence (Nigel Buckle, Marcel Dragomir, Dávid Turczi Mindclash Games 2026) 15:16 Recall (Helge Meissner, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Kjetil Svendsen, Anna Wermlund Alion – by Dr Ø 2025) 20:08 News 27:08 Main Topic Can the success of a game be determined by how good the rule book is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

50 min
Mar 10, 2026Episode 402
Burned

Going to have to post a guard to the studio.... Can't keep letting riff raff stroll in. (unless its the rapper) 00:00 Intro 04:03 Innovation Deluxe (Carl Chudyk Asmadi Games 2017) 07:28 Tír na nÓg (Isaac Shalev, Jason Slingerland Grand Gamers Guild 2024) 09:59 Azul (Michael Kiesling Plan B Games 2017) 15:27 Coalitions (Andrew Rourke PHALANX 2026) 24:44 The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing KOSMOS 2021) 28:29 OffShoots (Self-Published 2024) 32:00 NEWS 36:05 Burned (Jon Moffat Stone Circle Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

55 min
Mar 3, 2026Episode 401
Crowdfunding Bubble

This weeks guest Chris from Liege of Games https://www.youtube.com/c/Li%C3%A8geofGames 00:00 Intro 00:48 Torchlit (David Spalinski Allplay 2024) 03:51 The Hobbit: There and Back Again (Reiner Knizia Office Dog 2025) 06:31 Soar (Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, Austin Harrison IV Studio 2026) 12:08 Riftforce (Carlo Bortolini 1 More Time Games 2021) 13:57 Penguin Party (Reiner Knizia AMIGO 2008) NOT a dexterty game.... 16:28 Winnie the Pooh: Serious Detective (Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Meleshin, Yury Yamshchikov CrowD Games2025) 17:58 Pokémon GOITA (The Pokémon Company 2025) 21:32 Knarr: Skali (Thomas Dupont Bombyx 2026) 24:47 News 35:18 Crowdfunding Bubble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 16 min
Feb 24, 2026Episode 400
Galactic Cruise

This weeks special guest Efka from No Pun Included https://www.youtube.com/c/NoPunIncluded/videos 00:00 Intro Games we played last week 01:11 Cena (A.I. Lab 2025) 04:40 Wine Cellar (Andrew Stiles 25th Century Games 2025) 05:29 Movie Tricks (Vegard Eliassen Stillerud, Eilif Svensson, Åsmund Svensson Chilifox Games 2025) 08:09 Sweet Takes (Hisashi Hayashi Hasbro 2023) 10:40 Inis: Nemed (Christian Martinez Matagot 2026) 16:31 Star Trek: Ascendancy – Borg Assimilation (Aaron Dill, John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart Gale Force Nine 2017) 19:50 Speakeasy (Vital Lacerda Eagle-Gryphon Games 2025) 26:46 Black Forest (Tido Lorenz, Uwe Rosenberg Feuerland Spiele 2024) 32:49 The Presence (Sam Gullman Purple Lantern Games 2025) 38:46 Duplik (William Jacobson, Amanda Kohout Braincog, Inc.2005) News 41:28 Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, Koltin Thompson Kinson Key Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 4 min
Feb 17, 2026Episode 399
Sweet Lands

This week's guest Don from The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast 00:00 INTRO Games We Played Last Week 01:52 Soothsayers (Jeff Grisenthwaite, Play to Z 2026) 05:45 Orléans (Reiner Stockhausen, DLP games 2014) 08:56 Xenology (Dan Manfredini, Play to Z 2025) 13:16 XenoShyft: Onslaught (Keren Philosophales, Michael Shinall, Cool Mini Or Not 2015) 16:30 Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition (Andreas Seyfarth, Awaken Realms 2025) 23:17 Flip Pick Towers (Rob Fisher, Adam Porter Osprey Games 2026) 26:53 Tapestry (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games 2019) 31:29 Gods & Mortals (William Borg Barthet, Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa 2026) News and why it doesent matter. 35:53 NEWS Gods and Mortals -crowdfunding starts end of March Dark Pact (2026) Viva La Dirt League Presents: NPC Rivals! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vldl/viva-la-dirt-league-presents-npc-rivals Main Review 39:58 Sweet Lands Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

43 min
Feb 16, 2026Episode 398
Not Lunar Rush

This week I welcome the Hungry Gamer 00:00 INTRO Games We Played Last Week 01:08 Conquest Princess: Fashion Is Power (Seppy Yoon, Peter Yang Fight in a Box 2024) 03:44 War Chest (Trevor Benjamin, David Thompson AEG 2018) 06:08 Lands of Galzyr (Seppo Kuukasjärvi, Sami Laakso Snowdale Design 2022) 09:27 OffShoots (Dan Linden, Self-Published 2024) 12:20 Flamecraft Duals (Manny Vega Cardboard Alchemy 2025) 15:17 Yokohama (Hisashi Hayashi OKAZU Brand 2016) 20:02 Wroth (Manny Trembley Chip Theory Games2025) 24:56 Corps of Discovery Duo (Jay Cormier, Sen-Foong Lim Off the Page Games 2026) News and Why it Doesn't Mater  29:09 Welcome Watch It Played https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHXGWflPj4c Boards and Brews https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtzQI-j2M1tK7bdBVphKWJ8DGC0AtkdVh Hungry Gamer https://www.youtube.com/@HungryGamerReviews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 15 min
Feb 3, 2026Episode 397
Rating the T games from Board & Dice

Today's episode is brought to you by the letter T  T stands for  tracks, tedium, Tiny mini games and sometimes Torturous  00:00 Intro AYURIS 01:08 Captain Flip (Remo Conzadori, Paolo Mori, PlayPunk 2024) Games We Played Last Week 04:06 Fields of Arle (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele 2014) 08:16 Lunar Rush (Steven "Skippy" Brown, Dead Alive Games 2023) 10:08 Clans of Caledonia: Industria (Juma Al-JouJou, Karma Games 2025) 14:35 Star Trek: Star Realms Core Set (Darwin Kastle, UVS Games 2024) 18:58 The White Castle Duel (Isra C., Shei S., Devir 2025) 24:17 Natera: New Beginning (Eric Fugere, Hugo Tremblay-Ledoux, Horizon Games 2025) NEWS and why it doesent matter 28:08 Mythwind: Herbalist & Shepherd Expansions 29:07 New stuff for Codenames 30:01 Knarr: Skali 30:13 Gold Country and Totally Human 30:45 Sagrada New Edition 32:48 Main Topic ranking T games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

53 min
Jan 27, 2026Episode 396
Valheim: The Board Game

A viking fighting for Olav the Holy at Stiklestad gets an arrow in the eye. The man pulls the arrow out, his eyeball still on out it, and says: "Det jaggu nærme nasen! (That was damn close the my nose)" Another viking fighting for Olav at Stiklestad gets an arrow through his heart. He manages to pull the arrow out and study it. With his dying breath he says: "Eg har fettslintrat kring hjartet. Kongen har fødd meg vel. (I have fat arround my heart. The king has fed me well)". 00:00 Intro Games We Played Last Week 00:48 The Druids of Edora (Stefan Feld, alea 2025) 02:55 Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, Druid City Games 2024) 08:20 Siege of the Citadel (Richard Borg, Jay Little, Kevin Wilson, Modiphius Entertainment 2019) 12:52 Flamecraft Duals (Manny Vega, Cardboard Alchemy 2025) 14:24 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French 2024) 17:06 Radlands (Daniel Piechnick, Roxley 2021) 18:22 Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games 2024) 23:56 Wroth (Manny Trembley, Chip Theory Games 2025) News 31:07 Disney Villainous:Hocus Pocus 31:52 BGA News 33:33 Colt Express: The Complete Collection Main Review 34:35 Valheim: The Board Game (2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58 min
Jan 20, 2026Episode 395
Nokosu Dice

On today's episode we have Sam from Board Game Dual Podcast https://boardgameduel.podbean.com/ 00:00 INTRO Games we played this week. 01:09 Yokohama Duel (Hisashi Hayashi, OKAZU Brand 2018) 05:19 Airlines Europe (Alan R. Moon, Rio Grande Games 2011) 07:45 I Made You a Mixtape (Mike DiLisio, Dan Hughes, Massive Asterisk 2025) 11:12 Mutant Chronicles: Siege of the Citadel (Richard Borg, Pressman Toy Corp. 1993) 14:49 Marvel Champions: The Card Game (Michael Boggs, Nate French, Caleb Grace Fantasy Flight Games 2019) 18:46 Agent Avenue (Christian Kudahl, Laura Kudahl, Nerdlab Games 2024) 22:35 Unrest (Brendan Hansen, Pandasaurus Games 2023) 27:27 Marabunta (Reiner Knizia, Space Cowboys 2023) 30:28 Tag Team (Gricha German, Corentin Lebrat, Scorpion Masqué 2025) 33:56 Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games 2025) 38:07 News (And why it doesn't matter) 41:41 Main Review Nokosu Dice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 8 min
Jan 14, 2026Episode 394
Zenith

https://boardgamebarrage.com/ Well here it is Walker's all alone now..... Today I am joined by Mark from Board Game Barrage 00:00 Intro 01:08 Games we played last week. 01:12 Bomb Busters (Hisashi Hayashi,Cocktail Games,2024) 05:00 Let's Go Japan (Josh Wood,AEG,2024) 08:28 Taj Mahal (Reiner Knizia,Ravensburger,2000) 11:55 Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura,Anthony Perone, Wonderful World Board Games,2024) 15:33 Subjective(Andrew Wolf,Spin Master Ltd.,2023) 18:42 Tabannusi: Builders of Ur (David Spada, Daniele Tascini,Board&Dice,2021) 21:01 Duplik (William Jacobson, Amanda Kohou,Braincog, Inc.,2005) 23:44 Clinic: Deluxe Edition(Alban Viard,AVStudioGames,2019) 28:58 Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner,Druid City Games,2024) 31:28 Reflections 1 39:21 News and why it does not matter 45:18 Refelctions 2 49:19 Main Review Zenith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

49 min
Jan 6, 2026Episode 393
Plastic Love

This guy just won't leave... Mark and I in our last, last episode together for a bit. Not to worry I will be rambling ever forward. In this shorter episode we talk about just the games we played last week, some news and scene. 01.29 -AYURIS: Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 05:05 -Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders (Tim Eisner and Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2024) 07:15 -Innovation Ultimate (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2025) 12:47 -The Druids of Edora (Stefan Feld, alea, 2025) 16:00 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025) 20:28 -Bohemians (Jasper de Lange, Portal Games, 2025) 26:49 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021) 28:20 -Federation: Piracy (Dimitri Perrier & Matthier Verdier, Explor8, 2025) 35:46 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024) 37:16 -Formaggio (Ben Rosset, Road to Infamy Games, 2025) 41:15 -News (and why it doesn't matter): 41.18 -Stonemaier release schedule 43:12 -Dark Pact by Thomas Lehman and Trick or Treat Studios 44:57 -New version of Rudiger Dorn's Las Vegas from Ravensburger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 32 min
Dec 30, 2025Episode 392
2025 Year in Review

In some ways, the origin story of the podcast can be traced back to Sentinels of the Multiverse. Upon arriving in Kingston, Mark was at a games event at someone's home, and he saw that someone had brought a then-complete set (this was a few expansions ago) of Sentinels. He knew that this person, namely Walker, was a person worth knowing. It therefore seemed fitting that on one of Mark's last days in Kingston that he, Walker, Huey, Dewey, and Louis play Sentinels. Games Played Last Week: 02:38 -Zenith (Grégory Grard & Mathieu Roussel, PlayPunk, 2025) 08:18 -Race for the Galaxy (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2007) 11:20 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 12:19 -Word Traveler (Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance, Office Dog, 2024) 16:05 -Sentinels of the Multiverse (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011) 19:30 -The Druids of Edora (Stefan Feld, alea, 2025) 24:50 -The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock, Z-Man Games, 2025) 27:58 -Toy Battle (Paolo Mori & Alessandro Zucchini, Repos Production, 2025) 31:43 -MicroMacro: Kids - Crazy City Park (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2025) 32:50 -Concept Kids: Animals (Gaëtan Beaujannot & Alain Rivollet, Repos Production, 2018) 33:51 -Tumblin' Dice (Carey Grayson, Randy Nash, and Rick Soued, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2004) 2025 in Review 35:45 Top 10 57:42 Game of the Year 1:00:18 Special Categories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 8 min
Dec 23, 2025Episode 391
Gazebo

"One day I was sitting in a gazebo, and there was a plaque on the gazebo and it said, 'This gazebo was built by the town in 1863.' That is in the middle of the Civil War. And the whole town built a gazebo. What was that town meeting like? 'All right, everyone, first order of business, we have all the telegrams from Gettysburg with the war dead. Let’s see here. Okay, everyone’s husband and brother and… everyone died. Okay. Josiah, you had something?' 'Yes, I do. How’d you like to be indoors and out of doors all at once? Ever walk into the park with your betrothed and it starts to rain, but you still want to hold hands? Well, may I introduce you to, and my condolences again to everyone, the gazebo!'" -John Mulaney, "Kid Gorgeous at Studio City" Games Played Last Week: 01:29 -Coyote (Spartaco Albertarelli, New Games Order, 2015) 04:07 -Tapple Mini (NPD Toys, The Op Games, 2025) 07:17 -Die fiesen 7 (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne, 2015) 09:41 -Manila (Franz-Benno Delonge, Zoch Verlag, 2005) 14:17 -G.I. JOE Deck-Building Game (T.C. Petty III, Renegade Game Studios, 2021) 16:56 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 20:29 -Trickadee (Rob Newton, Coin Flip Games, 2025) 24:26 -Spicy (Győri Zoltán Gábor, HeidelBÄR Games, 2020) 28:13 -Good Puppers, Too! (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2025) 33:40 -Cross Bronx Expressway (Non-Breaking Space, GMT Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:47 Dire Wolf and Tabletop Playground 48:01 New games from Badgers from Mars! Regicide Inferno, Regicide Crown Duels, and Viking Rush 49:07 Show news: guest hosts in early 2026 50:27 Feature Game: Gazebo (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 10 min
Dec 16, 2025
Racing Games

"I thought the Rococo was the name of the ship in Aliens." "No, that's Sulaco. Rococo is the statute targeting organized crime." "No, that's RICO. Rococo is the hot beverage made with chocolate." "No, that's cocoa. Rococo is what you put on walls to give them texture." "No, that's stucco. Rococo is a kind of shortened note in music." "No, that's staccato..." 1:10 AYURIS: Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 4:38 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 5:54 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021) 8:54 -Men-Nefer (Germán P. Millán, Ludonova, 2024) 12:49 -Philharmonix (Faris Suhaimi, Archona Games, 2025) 20:20 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025) 26:51 -Kinfire Council (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2025) 36:08 -La Pâtisserie Rococo (Stefan Malz & Louis Malz, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 43:32 Leviathan Wilds: Shattered Peak expansion in 2026 43:56 Take no longer to be published by Leder Games 44:37 Queen of Spies by Liz Davidson and David Thompson 45:29 Topic: Racing Games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 7 min
Dec 9, 2025Episode 389
Covenant

You gotta read the fine print, always. Anyone dealing with a supernatural entity--whether a djinn or deity, gremlin or god--has to be conscious of the exceptions. It's simple enough--if the wizard handing you a fantastical creature tells you not to feed it, you just don't feed it. Similarly, if someone promises not to kill you *in a certain way*, MacBeth can tell you that's more of a threat than a guarantee. Games Played Last Week: 01:18 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022) 05:55 -Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation (TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids, 2022) 12:46 -Origin Story (Jamey Stegmaier & Pete Wissinger, Stonemaier Games, 2025) 15:12 -Bargain Hunter (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998) 17:11 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023) 18:39 -Inkling (John Keyworth, Osprey Games, 2011) 20:47 -In the Shadows: Resistance in France 1943-1944 (Daniel Bullock & Joe Schmidt, GMT Games, 2025) 26:13 -Riftbound (Uncredited, Riot Games, 2025) 32:46 -Regicide Legacy (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2025) 34:33 -Lancaster: Big Box (Matthias Cramer & Wolfgang Panning, Queen Games, 2015) News (and why it doesn't matter): 39:44 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game by Cryptozoic 42:30 Reiner Knizia's Rheinlander reprint by 25th Century Games 44:33 Feature Game: Covenant (Germán P. Millán, Devir, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 5 min
Dec 2, 2025Episode 388
Omnibus Questions Epsilon Bet

Yes, it’s Tapple! The toy sensation that’s sweeping the nation! Only $14.95 at participating stores! Get one today! Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to Tapple. Caution: Tapple may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds. Tapple contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at. If Tapple begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head. Ingredients of Tapple include an unknown glowing green substance which fell to Earth, presumably from outer space. Do not taunt Tapple. -Saturday Night Live 0216 AYURIS: Leviathan Wilds (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 04:01 -Tapple Mini (NPD Toys, The Op Games, 2025) 07:53 -Faiyum (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2020) 13:30 -Ayar: Children of the Sun (Mandela Fernandez-Grandon & Fabio Lopiano, Osprey Games, 2025) 16:10 -Wriggle Roulette (Bruno Faidutti & Jun Sasaki, Oink Games, 2025) 19:52 -Pick 'n Packers (Kaoru Arishima, Oink Games, 2025) 23:07 -Galactic Renaissance: 5th Player (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024) 27:49 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021) 29:27 -No Loose Ends (Taiki Shinzawa, GameHead, 2025) 30:11 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 33:45 Earth Reborn return news: West Coast expansion with Play to Z 36:19 Topic: Omnibus Questions Epsilon Bet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 6 min
Nov 25, 2025Episode 387
The Hobbit: There and Back Again

Before Dr. Reiner Knizia invented areas, everyone and everything was simultaneously co-located and yet distant all at the same time. It was primordial chaos. Movement was effectively impossible, as Xeno demonstrated; then Knizia did don his Bow-Tie of Delineation of Time and Space and constrained and liberated us all at once with his invention of areas. Games Played Last Week: 00:53 -Dungeons & Dragons: Builders of Baldur's Gate (Matthew Dunstan, WizKids, 2025) 11:40 -Keyflower (Sebastien Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2012) 15:36 -I'm Out (Masato Uesugi, CMYK, 2025) 20:01 -No Thanks! (Thorsten Gimmler, CMYK, 2025) 25:18 -My Very First Games: Let's Be Veterinarians (Kristin Mückel, HABA, 2024) 27:30 -The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2019) 31:55 -Peloponnes (Bernd Eisenstein, Irongames, 2009) News (and why it doesn't matter): 37:48 Renegade reprint of Lords of Waterdeep (with expansion) 39:29 Renegade G.I. Joe Heroscape 43:06 Render unto us your questions! Ask us anything for Omnibus Questions 43:26 Feature Game: The Hobbit: There and Back Again (Reiner Knizia, Office Dog, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 18 min
Nov 18, 2025Episode 386
Omnibus Questions Epsilon Aleph

While Mark is perhaps disappointed at the typical tragic dearth of questions related to Macross and Terry Bogard, and Walker secretly yearns to be granted naming rights to a listener's offspring (protip: don't let him), SVWAG answers all* of your questions! *by which we mean some. 01:21 AYURIS: Cascadero (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 03:09 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018) 09:41 -Captain's Gambit: Kings of Infinite Space (AC Atienza, Alvin Lee, and Mitchell Loewen, Cloudfall Interactive Studios, 2020) 14:27 -Iliad (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) 19:37 -Floral (James Newman, Edition Spielwiese, 2024) 21:59 -Yomi 2: Road to Morningstar (David Sirlin, Sirlin Games, 2025) 28:58 -Tribune (Karl-Heinz Schmiel, Spielworxx, 2021) 31:46 -Windmill Valley: Blooming Sails (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2025) 35:39 -Ada's Dream (Toni López, Ally Cat Games, 2025) 40:02 -D.E.I.: Divide et Impera (Tommaso Battista, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2022) 42:45 -Molly House (Jo Kelly & Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 50:59 How much The Gang is too much The Gang? 7-10 player expansion 52:27 The Judge in Circuit by Francis Tresham 53:48 Topic: Omnibus Questions Epsilon Aleph Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 29 min
Nov 11, 2025Episode 385
Wonderland's War

In our effort to answer all of your Omnibus Questions, sadly we cannot enlist the assistance of notable Canadian Keanu Reeves. In an interview with Stephen Colbert--as a joke after Keanu said something profound--he was asked, "What do you think happens when we die, Keanu Reeves?" After a pause, and the audience's laughter, Keanu said, "I know that that the ones who love us will miss us." I SAY DAYUM, KEANU Games Played Last Week: 01:07 -Dogs of War Second Edition (Paolo Mori, Play to Z, 2026) 11:30 -Ostia (Totsuca Chuo, uchibacoya, 2022) 21:14 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 23:12 -Valheim: The Board Game (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2025) 30:18 -Lunar Skyline (Charlie McCarron, Dead Alive Games, 2025) 38:57 -Thebai (Dávid Turczi, Bioard cards will not match, changed font 1:00:08 Will Riftbound be generally available? 1:00:57 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag 1:01:51 Feature Game: Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, and Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 34 min
Nov 4, 2025Episode 384
Listener Hot Takes

We deliver this episode despite the officially mandated period of public mourning due to Toronto's setbacks in basesball. In Canada, public mourning is characterized by donning black jean jackets and swapping our Tragically Hip for the more down-tempo Blue Rodeo, to say nothing of abstaining from boardgaming. Please don't turn us in for violating federal law. We might get banned from Tim Horton's. 01:44 AYURIS: An Age Contrived (Chris Matthew, Bellows Intent, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 04:56 -X-ODUS: Rise of the Corruption (Second Edition) (Francisco Velasco E., Szilágyi L. Gábor, Yann Hilaire, Romain Lesiuk, & Bernardo Rippe, Bored Game Ink, 2026) 14:29 -Voidfall (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2023) 20:42 -Raising Robots: Friends (Brett Sobol & Seth Van Orden, Nauvoo Games, 2025) 24:03 -1490 Doom (Barrett Stanley, Buer Games, 2025) 30:23 -Natera: New Beginning (Eric Fugere & Hugo Tremblay-Ledoux, Horizon Games, 2025) 34:35 -Deck EXPRESS: Southern Railway (J Simmons, Pigeonhole Games, 2022) 38:07 -No Thanks! (Thorsten Gimmler, CMYK, 2025) 44:08 -I'm Out (Masato Uesugi, CMYK, 2025) 47:42 -Floral (James Newman, Edition Spielwiese, 2024) 52:56 -INK (Kasper Lapp, Final Score Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 57:13 Render unto us your questions! Ask us anything for Omnibus Questions 58:08 Blue Orange Games' Got Five! 58:44 Topic: Listener Hot Takes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 28 min
Oct 28, 2025Episode 383
Luthier

"'Frederick Chopin was a Polish composer in the Romantic style who wrote primarily for the piano.' I guess this is sort of interesting, as most facts are. But history has shown us that *facts are not what most humans believe.* They are not that which motivates most men and women to love to or to crime. Now COMPARE this statement: 'Frederick Chopin was a Polish composer in the Romantic style who was obsessed with ladybugs, often letting dozens of them gallop over his neck, arms, and long, tapering fingers while playing the piano.' Obviously the lie is so much more compelling. It also explains how Chopin finally got rid of his aphid problem." -John Hodgman, "The Areas of My Expertise" Games Played Last Week: 01:28 -Phoenix New Horizon (Jorge J. Barroso, Devir, 2024) 11:35 -Sweet Lands (Totsuca Chuo, uchibacoya, 2025) 23:42 -Voidfall (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2023) 29:35 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023) 32:58 -Yokai Septet (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Ninja Star Games, 2018) 36:56 -Origin Story (Jamey Stegmaier & Pete Wissinger, Stonemaier Games, 2025) 45:03 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024) 48:26 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 54:26 Burned available on Gamecrafter's Crowdsale 54:49 Legacy of Mars' audacious release plan: 4 plays in base game 56:17 Did you observe Arkhipov Day on Oct. 27th? Celebrate Vasili Arkhipov and his having saved the human race! 56:56 Feature Game: Luthier (Dave Beck & Abe Burson, Paverson Games, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 17 min
Oct 21, 2025Episode 382
Rulebooks

As ever, we do not acknowledge one of the most pernicious false dichotomies in the rulebook space; whether rules should be strictly permissive (you can only do what the rules say you can) or strictly restrictive (you can do anything unless the rules say otherwise). I have never seen a rulebook forbid me from choking an opponent, nor have I see a rulebook give me permission to breathe. I will thus reject both models as being rather too simplistic. 01:28 AYURIS: Galactic Renaissance (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 05:09 -The Guest (Arkaitz Caride, Devir, 2025) 10:48 -Cosmic Encounter (Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, and Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight, 2008) 16:04 -Firefighters on Duty (Konstantinos Kokkinis No Thanks joining CMYK's Magenta line along with I'm Out 47:46 Voidfall expansion: Resurgence 48:27 Sidereal Confluence expansion: Proliferation 49:11 Winnie the Pooh: Serious Detective 49:39 Arkhipov Day: Oct. 27th. Celebrate Vasili Arkhipov and his having saved the human race! 50:29 Topic: Rulebooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 14 min
Oct 14, 2025Episode 381
Samurai

"Wiarton Willie is the name given to a Canadian groundhog who lives in the community of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival. His role is to predict whether there will be an early spring. Although the original Wiarton Willie died in 1999, the Wiarton Groundhog Day celebrations continue each year with a successor of the original Willie (except in 1999 and 2021 where, due to the previous Willies' deaths, no groundhog was used), and each successor is also referred to as Wiarton Willie. Groundhog Day, featuring Wiarton Willie, is a popular annual festival in Wiarton and is similar to events in other locations in North America. A midwinter celebration involving an animal with predictive powers was an element of Celtic culture. The link between weather prediction and the day is said to have been inspired by an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear/ There'll be two winters in the year."" -Wikipedia Games Played Last Week: 01:40 -Etherstone (Virginio Gigli & Simone Luciani, ThunderGryph Games, 2025) 12:38 -Dogs of War Second Edition (Paolo Mori, Play to Z, 2026) 26:39 -Vantage (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2025) 34:06 -Monikers (Alex Hague & Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2015) 41:06 -My Very First Games: Let's Be Veterinarians (Kristin Mückel, HABA, 2024) 42:55 -Riff Raff (Christoph Cantzler, Zoch Verlag, 2012) News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:30 Kristian Amundsen Østby and Kjetil Svendsen take tricks with Tax the Rich 47:10 Elder Scrolls expansion, Heroes of Tamriel, on Gamefound 48:00 Berserk on Gamefound 50:54 Battlecrest: Overlord on Kickstarter 51:36 Feature Game: Samurai (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Glück, 1998) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 22 min
Oct 7, 2025Episode 380
Tile-Laying Games

Rest assured that every topic we address here at SVWAG will be utterly comprehensive and final, unless and until we decide to address it again. Thus, when we discuss tile-laying games, we perforce will cover all of them, each and and every one, and failure to specifically mention any title means it does not exist and must be scrubbed from all records as a revisionist lie. 01:41 AYURIS: Kutná Hora: The City of Silver (Ondřej Bystroň, Petr Čáslava, and Pavel Jarosch, Czech Games Edition, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 04:55 -Caper: Europe (Unai Rubio, Keymaster Games, 2022) 07:55 -Framework (Uwe Rosenberg, Edition Spielwiese, 2022) 12:38 -INK (Kasper Lapp, Final Score Games, 2025) 16:59 -Bombastic (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025) 18:56 -No Loose Ends (Taiki Shinzawa, GameHead, 2025) 26:48 -Marabunta (Reiner Knizia, Space Cowboys, 2023) 30:03 -Saltfjord (Kristian Amundsen Østby & Eilif Svensson, Aporta Games, 2024) 32:01 -Titans Tactics (G. Kelly Toyama, Imbalanced Games, 2013) 35:39 -Guildlands (Ken Boyter & Kedric Winks, Outset Media, 2025) 43:36 -Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition (Ian Cooper, Play to Z, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:27 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag 48:09 Fat Bear Week concludes: Chunk is victorious 49:39 Don't Starve: The Board Game 50:38 Arkhipov Day! In recognition of Vasily Arkhipov saving the entire world on October 27, 1962, we celebrate Arkhipov Day on October 27th. 51:43 Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor Big Box and True Solo Mode on Kickstarter 52:45 Decipher the Voynich Manuscript in The Voynich Puzzle 55:25 Topic: Tile-Laying Games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 5 min
Sep 30, 2025Episode 379
Ayar: Children of the Sun

"A quipu usually consists of cotton or camelid fiber cords, and contains categorized information based on dimensions like color, order and number. The Inca, in particular, used knots tied in a decimal positional system to store numbers and other values in quipu cords. Depending on its use and the amount of information it stored, a given quipu may have anywhere from a few to several thousand cords. [...] Inca administration used quipus extensively for a variety of uses: monitoring tax obligations, collecting census records, keeping calendrical information, military organization, and potentially for recording simple and stereotyped historical "annales"." -Wikipedia SVWAG's Pickaxe stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t8XLnJha-E Games Played Last Week: 00:55 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025) 05:03 -It's a Wonderful World (Frédéric Guérard, La Boîte de Jeu, 2019) 09:03 -The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game (Bryan Bormueller, Office Dog, 2025) 12:03 -Corporate America (Teale Fristoe, Nothing Sacred Games, 2013) 15:23 -Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders (Tim Eisner and Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2024) 18:03 -Captain's Gambit: Kings of Infinite Space (AC Atienza, Alvin Lee, and Mitchell Loewen, Cloudfall Interactive Studios, 2020) 23:51 -Lacuna (Mark Gerrits, CMYK, 2023) 27:12 -Stellar Conflict (James Ernest & Tom Jolly, Artipia Games, 2015) 29:48 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025) 31:53 -Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester (Changhyun Baek, Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, Stefano Luperto, and Antonio Tinto, DiceTree Games, 2023) News (and why it doesn't matter): 35:43 Reprint of At the Gates of Loyang 36:09 Fat Bear week comes to its climax! https://explore.org/fat-bear-week 37:19 The Hobbit: There and Back Again roll-and-write by Reiner Knizia 37:42 Dogs of War reprint: controversy over hats 38:38 Wandering Galaxy: A Crossroads Game 39:50 Cross-Bronx Expressway by Non-Breaking Space and GMT Games 41:26 Cranio expansion pack on crowdfunding Oct. 1st: Barrage, Rats of Wistar, Golem 42:09 Feature Game: Ayar: Children of the Sun (Mandela Fernandez-Grandon & Fabio Lopiano, Osprey Games, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 15 min
Sep 23, 2025Episode 378
Why Is This Game So Long?

We are staunchly body positive here at SVWAG, but we do prefer our bears fat. "Let me have about me bears that are fat," said Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, or he would have, had he known about the glory that is Fat Bear Week. I guess Caesar wouldn't have been totally down with the democratic aspect of the whole voting thing, but whatever! Exercise your franchise and vote for the moist chonkers bears. https://explore.org/fat-bear-week 01:38 AYURIS: Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester (Changhyun Baek, Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, Stefano Luperto, and Antonio Tinto, DiceTree Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:29 -Magical Athlete (Richard Garfield & Takashi Ishida, CMYK, 2025) 10:29 -Revive: Call of the Abyss (Helge Meissner, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Eilif Svensson, and Anna Wermlund, Aporta Games, 2023) 13:19 -River Rats (Mathijs Jansen & Robin Stokkel, Four Suits Studio, 2025) 20:16 -Yokai Septet (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Ninja Star Games, 2018) 24:56 -Amun-Re: The Card Game (Reiner Knizia, Super Meeple, 2017) 31:25 -Regicide Legacy (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2025) 34:58 -Light Speed: Arena (Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani, Tablescope, 2025) 37:51 -Everdell Silverfrost (James A. Wilson & Clarissa A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2025) 42:16 -ORBIT (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:05 Dogs of War on Gamefound 48:51 A Billion Suns 2E open beta with Mike Hutchinson's Planet Smasher Games 50:23 Twilight Imperium 4th ed. digital edition on Steam 51:42 GAMA Game Store Day: November 1st 53:22 Special edition of Terra Mystica by Steamforged Games 54:10 Topic: Why Is This Game So Long? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 11 min
Sep 16, 2025Episode 377
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth

We tempt fate and refer to a number of third rails in the hobby community. For one, we acknowledge a loss in Regicide Legacy, which reliably summons the chattering mobs. Further, we mention both Star Trek and Star Wars, so undoubtedly we get a detail "wrong" that will "justify" a detailed response. Look, we're experts here. We completed the Kobayashi Maru in under 12 parsecs. We're regular callers to Car Talk with Martok. Don't test us. Games Played Last Week: 01:06 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025) 05:30 -Spectres of Brocken (Aaron Lim, Web published, 2022) 15:58 -Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017) 18:49 -SILOS (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) 26:09 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025) 28:16 -The Gang: Jokers and More (Uncredited, KOSMOS, 2024) 32:37 -Marshmallow Test (Reiner Knizia, Gamewright, 2020) 35:12 -High Tide (Marceline Leiman, Underdog Games, 2024) 37:14 -Bombastic (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025) 40:01 -Regicide Legacy (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 45:52 Federation: Piracy expansion 47:03 Flow movie gets its Flow board game 47:49 Part of the Pickaxe Network! Join us Thursday, September 25th at 17:00-18:30 BST for Pickaxe week on the Yogscast Twitch feed. 48:45 Feature Game: Star Wars: Battle of Hoth (Richard Borg & Adrien Martinot, Days of Wonder, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 17 min
Sep 9, 2025Episode 376
Nostalgia

"Well, that was your mother And that was your father Before you was born dude When life was great You are the burden of my generation I sure do love you But let’s get that straight" -Paul Simon, "That Was Your Mother" 01:34 AYURIS: Nucleum (Simone Luciani & Dávid Turczi, Board&Dice, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 04:04 -SILOS (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) 09:34 -Ayar: Children of the Sun (Mandela Fernandez-Grandon & Fabio Lopiano, Osprey Games, 2025) 17:46 -Ichor (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) 24:24 -Kingdom Rush: Elemental Uprising (Alara Cameron, Helana Hope, and Sen-Foong Lim, Lucky Duck Games, 2023) 27:02 -Carolingi (Christoph Cantzler & Sebastian Freudenberg, Sea Cove Games, 2024) 39:17 -Giants Moving Tiny Furniture (Ian Clayman & Ken Gruhl, Exploding Kittens, 2025) 42:59 -TowerBrix (Simon Thomas, KOSMOS, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 45:36 Shackleton Base Expansion: Below. Above. Within. 47:07 Burned on Gamecrafter October 14! https://www.thegamecrafter.com/crowdsale/burned 48:02 Container reprint, a little more minimalist this time 49:03 Topic: Nostalgia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 5 min
Sep 2, 2025Episode 375
Light Speed: Arena

On this day of Labour, we offer our solidarity to you. We also offer our labour, because we don't take many days off. No union for us in the opinion mines! I'd complain to my manager, but since that's me, I guess I'd be inclined to ignore it. Classic conflict on interest. The gibbons only complicate the org chart in unhelpful ways. Games Played Last Week: 01:01 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025) 04:13 -High Tide (Marceline Leiman, Underdog Games, 2024) 09:23 -Hyperborea (Andrea Chiarvesio & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion, 2014) 12:55 -Tianxia (Antonio Petrelli & Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2025) 20:37 -Federation (Dimitri Perrier and Matthieu Verdier, Explor8, 2022) 27:49 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, Allplay, 2024) 29:43 -So Clover! (François Romain, Repos Production, 2021) 34:24 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 39:42 Kasper Lapp's INK 40:37 Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag 41:22 Adam and Brady Sadler's The Malice of Light Adventures from Twintale Studios 42:51 Suna Valo by Andreas Odendahl 43:14 Part of the Pickaxe Network! Join us Thursday, September 25th at 17:00-18:30 BST for Pickaxe week on the Yogscast feed. 43:40 Feature Game: Light Speed: Arena (Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani, Tablescope, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 8 min
Aug 26, 2025Episode 374
Trick-Taking Games Redux

I've always chafed at the conventional wisdom that young goats are good at trick-taking games. Or, at least, ones where you are not incentivized to go null. Do they hold their cards in their cloven hooves? Do their dead eyes come to life when contemplating the vagaries of trump suits? It must be true, though, because I have it on good authority from a cartoon rabbit that tricks are for kids. 01:23 AYURIS: Envelopes of Cash (Andy Schwarz, Envelopes of Cash LLC, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:57 -Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012) 08:48 -Vaultbreakers (Valentino Mori, Vaultbreakers Games, 2024) 13:07 -Sidereal Confluence (TauCeti Deichmann, Wizkids, 2017) 17:46 -Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor (Cornelius Cremin, Pawel Mazur, & Dirk Sommer, Nemesis.Games, 2021) 20:01 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025) 21:47 -Signal (Jasper Beatrix, DVC Games, 2025) 26:36 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023) 32:40 -Quantum (Eric Zimmerman, Funforge, 2013) -Fromage (Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset, Road to Infamy Games, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 38:52 Part of the Pickaxe Network! Join us Thursday, September 25th at 17:00-18:30 BST for Pickaxe week on the Yogscast feed. 39:49 Hanami by Keymaster, reprint of Reiner Knizia's Samurai, on Kickstarter 40:51 Topic: Trick-Taking Games Redux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 7 min
Aug 19, 2025Episode 373
The Lord of the Rings: The Fate of the Fellowship

Losing a component is rough. Knowing that one of your games is incomplete is like having a permanent absence in your soul. It's one thing to eschew that one added expansion--that's a triumph of restraint. But that missing block in Viking See-Saw will taunt you forever, a blight on your consciousness that can never be healed. Maybe I'm exaggerating. Games Played Last Week: 00:52 -Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor (Cornelius Cremin, Pawel Mazur, & Dirk Sommer, Nemesis.Games, 2021) 04:37 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022) 09:44 -Unstoppable (John D. Clair, Renegade Game Studios, 2025) 3D printed tokens: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1851400332/ 14:27 -Signal (Jasper Beatrix, DVC Games, 2025) 20:35 -Viking See-Saw (Reiner Knizia, itten, 2021) 23:19 -Dune: Imperium--Uprising (Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf, 2023) 28:32 -MicroMacro: Kids--Crazy City Park (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2025) 29:35 -Champions of Midgard (Ole Steiness, Grey Fox Games, 2015) News (and why it doesn't matter): 31:57 Part of the Pickaxe Network! Join us Thursday, September 25th at 17:00-18:30 BST for Pickaxe week on the Yogscast feed. 32:57 Ryan Laukat's Song of Silveranth 33:42 Feature Game: The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock, Z-Man Games, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 18 min
Aug 12, 2025Episode 372
Starting Over Your Collection

Inigo: I am waiting for you, Vizzini. You told me to go back to the beginning. So I have. This is where I am, and this is where I’ll stay. I will not be moved. Brute: But the Prince gave orders — Inigo: — So did Vizzini — when a job went wrong, you went back to the beginning. And this is where we got the job. So it’s the beginning, and I’m staying till Vizzini comes. -The Princess Bride (who knew Inigo was a Black Sabbath fan?) 02:39 AYURIS: Federation (Dimitri Perrier and Matthieu Verdier, Explor8, 2022) Games Played Last Week: 05:32 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 10:08 -The King Is Dead: Second Edition (Peer Sylvester, Osprey Games, 2020) 13:28 -TEAM3 PINK (Alex Cutler & Matt Fantastic, Brain Games, 2019) 18:02 -Rebel Princess (Daniel Byrne, José Gerardo Guerrero, Kevin Peláez, and Tirso Virgós, Zombi Paella, 2023) 23:00 -Fives (Taiki Shinzawa, CMYK, 2025) 26:53 -Bargain Hunter (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998) 31:14 -The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock, Z-Man Games, 2025) 32:48 -Line of Fire: Burnt Moon (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2025) 39:22 -Cosmic Frog (Jenna Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020) 45:05 -Planepita (Eisuke Fuijinawa & Kazunori Hori, SzpiLAB, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 47:15 Part of the Pickaxe Network! Join us Thursday, September 25th at 17:00-18:30 BST for Pickaxe week on the Yogscast feed. [EDIT: Mark says the wrong date on the show. The correct date is September 25th.] 48:35 Expansions! For Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Twilight Imperium 4th, Thunder Road: Vendetta, and another edition of Shogun because why not? 51:08 Update on CGE's Harry Potter-themed Codenames: CGE pledges 100% of profits to appropriate charities 52:14 Devir pledges to replace racist imagery in Ace of Spades 53:09 Topic: Starting Over Your Collection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 11 min
Aug 5, 2025
Vantage

"We don’t ask that you stop loving your fantasy world. We askyou stop paying money for the privilege to dream of it. Ifyou want to read the [Harry Potter] books or watch the movies, considerbuying second-hand or renting them from a library. Smallchanges can make sure you never put your hard-earnedmoney into JKR’s hands."-Blacklist CGE zineGames Played Last Week:01:01 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 1998)05:49 -Tiletum: Prospect for Silver (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2025)10:10 -Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024)18:03 -Through Ice and Snow (Fernando Eduardo Sánchez, 2Tomatoes Games, 2024)22:41 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025)27:39 -The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock, Z-Man Games, 2025)News (and why it doesn't matter):41:05 New Doom board game(s) by Modiphius41:46 High Tide by Marceline Leiman42:20 SVWAG's statement on boycotting Czech Games Edition and in support of trans and non-binary gamersBlacklist CGE zine: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10BUxxRO08jS9ZFnfnt0dnMPEZi5lrwke44:15 Feature Game: Vantage (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2025)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 8 min
Jul 29, 2025
SVWAG Con Report

A chief misgiving Mark has about the con is that he is a terrible playtester. He was able to play two unpublished games, and while the designers were gracious he is seldom able to offer anything of much substance. "This game," he might say, "has cards. And other things." Past that, for some reason, when confronted with a prototype his faculties often fail him.01:48 AYURIS: Arborea (Dani Garcia, Alley Cat Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:05:00 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)14:38 -Westphalia (Amabel Holland, Hollandspiele, 2019)23:33 -Project: ELITE (Konstantinos Kokkinis, Marco Portugal, & Sotirios Tsantilas, CMON, 2020)27:19 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)33:25 -Rise & Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)38:15 -Space Cadets: Dice Duel (Geoff Engelstein and Sydney Engelstein, Stronghold, 2013)43:06 -Outlive (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter):N/A45:22 Topic: SVWAG Con ReportChef Ashlee: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068315809451Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 19 min
Jul 22, 2025Episode 369
Take That

The purest juxtaposition that reveals the absurdity of "take that" effects can be found in many of your heavier games and some consims with cards. You gather the resources, marshal your forces, laboriously haul those troops hither and yon, and then sometimes have to manage some activation tokens or whatnot to finally get it on. And then your opponent plays the "nuh uh" card. Fun!01:19 AYURIS: Daybreak (Matt Leacock & Matteo Menapace, CMYK, 2023)Games Played Last Week:04:35 -Star Wars Unlimited (Jim Cartwright, Tyler Parrott, Daniel Schaefer, & Jeremy Zwirn, Fantasy Flight Games, 2024)09:33 -Steam Power (Martin Wallace, Wallace Designs, 2024)16:20 -Spot It! Bluey (Denis Blanchot, Jacques Cottereau, Guillaume Gille-Naves, & Igor Polouchine, Blue Orange, 2025)19:15 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)21:47 -TowerBrix (Simon Thomas, KOSMOS, 2024)25:46 -Walk the Plank: Deluxe Edition (Shane Steely & Jared Tinney, Mayday Games, 2017)28:36 -Bomb Busters (Hisashi Hayashi, Pegasus Spiel, 2024)32:47 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)38:24 -Kinfire Delve: Scorn's Stockade (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)41:55 -Transgalactica (Daniele Tascini, Devir, 2025)49:15 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)News (and why it doesn't matter):55:14 Looking forward to SVWAGCon!55:43 Topic: Take ThatAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 20 min
Jul 14, 2025Episode 368
Shackleton Base

"Dear friend, if you wanna feel betterDon't let the devil make you toss this letterIf you've been crossed up by hoodoo voodooA wizard or the lizardYou got family trouble, man trouble, woman troubleNo light through the tunnelIf you're lookin' for a true friend, or a true loverOr if you've been livin' undercoverWell, I'm comin' to your town to break it all downAnd help you with all of thisI'm lookin' to help you find bliss one dayOr one way, can't miss"-Jack White, "Archbishop Harold Holmes", presumably extolling the virtues of the Millipede Death CultGames Played Last Week:01:14 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024)06:28 -Dune: Imperium--Uprising (Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf, 2023)12:48 -Innovation Ultimate (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2025)18:25 -Leviathan Wilds: Deepvale (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2025)22:03 -Line of Fire: Burnt Moon (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2025) 27:23 -Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017)29:23 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024)32:23 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)33:08 -Junk Art (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Pretzel Games, 2016)33:51 -The Breach (Michele Morosini, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2024)41:27 -A Gentle Rain (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):44:34 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd45:24 REPRINTS! PitchCar and expansions, Ra: The Dice Game, Rheinlander, Junk Art49:35 Carnegie expansion in development49:52 Feature Game: Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 24 min
Jul 7, 2025Episode 367
Set Up and Tear Down

It is remarkable to reflect on how much hobbies can demand of us, and certainly board gaming is no different. Setting aside the administrative, economic, and social burdens; we then have to spend so much time teaching, setting up, and tearing down. Alas! 23-step processes for general set up prior to the 12-step individual player board set up. It was not always thus, but here we are.01:42 AYURIS: Voidfall (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:07:15 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)13:37 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024)17:48 -Barony: Heroes (Marc André, Grail Games, 2025)21:04 -Netrunner: System Gateway (Zoe Cohen, McGregor Crowley, June Valencia Cuervo, Max Chippington Derrick, Gregory Tongue, and Jade Wesley, Null Signal Games, 2021)34:37 -Planepita (Eisuke Fuijinawa & Kazunori Hori, SzpiLAB, 2022)40:50 -ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo (Scott Rogers, Ravensburger, 2021)44:47 -Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):50:05 Germán P. Millán's Covenant50:35 Blood Rage: Valhalla expandalone to be on crowdfunding53:52 Little Soldiers: green army men miniatures game54:38 SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) SOLD OUT55:34 Topic: Setup and TeardownAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 13 min
Jul 1, 2025Episode 366
7 Empires

Apparently the American custom of the "push present" can trace its roots to the Anglo-Indian tradition of the "baby bauble", although in the latter case jewellery is the more standard gift (instead of, say, boardgames). Can we acknowledge that baby bauble is a much less crude term? Let's try to be classy here, people. There is already enough about childbirth that is fraught.Games Played Last Week:2:07 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)6:31 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)12:53 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)23:19 -Space Gits (Mike Hutchinson, Planet Smasher Games, 2025)28:03 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023)30:00 -Dro Polter (Paul Schulz, Oink Games, 2023)33:14 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)40:56 -TONKS (Apocrypha_Now, Web-published, 2023)News (and why it doesn't matter):43:41 Flurry of Friedemann Friese: Formidable Farm, Fearless, Five Families44:45 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd45:14 Feature Game: 7 Empires (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 13 min
Jun 24, 2025Episode 365
Small Box, Big Game

Walker's approach to parenting eschews what he sees as the coddling endemic in other families. He believes in competition above all else, where newbs must be pwned and even babies must git gud. "L2P" is his family motto. Some appalled anthropologists tried making a documentary about the Walker household, but they were forced to tone it down and release it as Squid Game.01:21 AYURIS: Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 1998)Games Played Last Week:02:56 -Pocket Paladin (Joe Klipfel, Mythfield Games, 2025)09:44 -7 Empires (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2024)21:10 -A Gentle Rain (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)24:37 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)25:31 -NMBR 9 (Peter Wichmann, ABACUSSPIELE, 2017)27:44 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023)31:23 -Everdell (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)35:12 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)40:47 -Animal Upon Animal (Klaus Miltenberger, HABA, 2005)News (and why it doesn't matter):45:16 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd47:38 Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag48:12 Law 96 threatens hobby game stores: https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/hobby-shops-say-it-will-be-game-over-for-their-businesses-due-to-quebecs-language-law/49:49 Topic: Small Box, Big GameAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr 14 min
Jun 17, 2025Episode 364
Pulling Levers

"Because of the long-standing mutual enmity between Meany and Brown, Meany was named among the suspects in The Case Of Encyclopedia Brown’s Mangled Corpse. Meany denied the allegations.'It’s true that Detective Brown and I didn’t see eye to eye, but I would never do something so downright dirty rotten as murder him,' Meany said. 'Besides, it’s a matter of public record that, at the time the crime was committed, I was at the North Pole watching the penguins.'"-"Idaville Detective 'Encyclopedia' Brown Found Dead In Library Dumpster", The Onion01:42 AYURIS: Zoo Vadis (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:4:12 -Sky Team (Luc Rémond, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2023)7:20 -Ofrenda (Orlando Sá & André Santos, Osprey Games, 2025)12:51 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)20:05 -Twins (Reiner Knizia, Oink Games, 1996)23:59 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)28:23 -Stationfall (Matt Eklund, Ion Game Design, 2023)37:46 -Great Western Trail: New Zealand (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2023)40:45 -Schotten Totten 2 (Reiner Knizia, IELLO, 2020)45:18 -Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Off the Page Games, 2025)News (and why it doesn't matter):49:13 Balance updates to Fromage50:17 Tianxia by Daniele Tascini & Antonio Petrelli, another "T" game by Board&Dice50:39 Burned by Stone Circle Games will have a crowd sale on The Game Crafter soon51:19 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd51:45 Topic: Pulling LeversAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Background-friendly
Best for: commutes, housework, evening listening, casual gaming sessions
Tone: analytical, humorous, thoughtful, irreverent

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