Podcast
Board Game Hot Takes
Hosted by Board Game Hot Takes · EN
We tell you how a board game experience felt - just minutes after we finish playing. Three unique points of view. No non-game nonsense.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
BGGCon Spring 2026 Recap
3d ago01:10:24Tap to summarizeIn Episode 303 Tim discusses all of the games played during his recent weekend at BGGCon in Dallas.We also discuss a poll related to making friends at board game conventions.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction 00:30 Poll Time: Have you ever made friends at a board game convention?09:28 BGGCon Spring12:42 Coming of Age24:15 Underwater Cities: Data Era28:23 The White Castle Duel34:58 SETI: Space Agencies39:02 Moon Colony Bloodbath40:37 Encyclopedia44:14 Lacrimosa44:49 Vantage46:46 Formaggio50:01 Everdell: Silverfrost57:01 The Gang1:01:59 Lightning TrainIf 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
Transcribe →Tabled! Loads of Recent Games Played
1w ago01:06:14Tap to summarizeIn Episode 302 we discuss a bunch of recent games that we've been playing. We also discuss a poll on how many games you get played in an average session.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:37 Poll Time: How many games do you get played in your regular game sessions?07:55 Emberleaf17:38 Off With Their Heads!25:35 Tag Team34:04 Postcards41:30 Euphoria: Essential Edition54:46 Soothsayers1:03:44 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
Transcribe →Lacerdafiable - Speakeasy vs. Kanban EV
2w ago01:11:20Tap to summarizeIn Episode 301 we feature two games by Vital Lacerda: Speakeasy and Kanban EV. We also discuss a poll on heavy games and include our final thoughts on heavy games in general and whether Vital Lacerda is a designer we want to revisit.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:53 Poll Time: How many board games do you own that are rated over 4.0 weight on Board Game Geek?12:43 Speakeasy Description14:10 Gameplay and Mechanisms31:55 Production and Theme37:33 Kanban EV Description39:13 Gameplay and Mechanisms51:56 Production and Theme55:40 Final Thoughts1:08:56 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
Transcribe →Episode 300 - The Best of BGHT
3w ago00:59:25Tap to summarizeIn Episode 300 we reflect on doing the show for so long and share tons of our favorite clips from the history of the show.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
Transcribe →BGHT SandyCon Recap Part 2 (9 Games Discussed)
May 401:33:00Tap to summarizeIn Episode 299 we discuss all of the games played during the second half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering in San Diego, California.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:45 Stroganov12:14 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire23:19 Boast or Nothing29:15 Grand Austria Hotel40:44 Mule: The Board Game53:03 Echoes of Time59:41 Nokosu Dice1:07:03 Burn the Fort1:14:35 River Rush1:30:43 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
Transcribe →BGHT SandyCon Recap Part 1 (7 Games Discussed)
Apr 2700:56:01Tap to summarizeIn Episode 298 we discuss all of the games played during the first half of our semi-annual in-person games gathering, this time in San Diego, California.If you enjoy the show, please vote for Board Game Hot Takes for best podcast in the annual Board Game Geek Golden Geek Awards here: BoardGameGeekTimestamps:00:00 Introduction04:53 Ayar: Children of the Sun14:40 Captain Flip17:57 Lords of Vegas28:15 Endeavor: Deep Sea33:13 March of the Ants: Evolved Edition40:25 Origin Story45:15 CivolutionIf 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
Transcribe →Top 5 Dopamine Loaded Board Games
Apr 2000:55:41Tap to summarizeIn Episode 297 we discuss how board games trigger dopamine and name our top 5 games loaded with dopamine hits. Timestamps:00:00 IntroductionTop 5 Dopamine Loaded Board Games05:57 Endeavor: Deep Sea9:02 No Thanks11:43 Champions of Midgard, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy, Arcs, Star Wars Rebellion 16:00 Nippon: Zaibatsu19:48 Sol: Last Days of a Star22:32 Kanban EV, Barrage, Tapestry26:18 Slay the Spire: The Board Game 28:15 Tycoon: India 198130:53 Can't Stop, Quacks, Wonderland's War35:35 Grand Austria Hotel37:38 Dune, Fractal, Glory to Rome, Blood Rage43:45 Rebirth45:25 Brass: Birmingham, Steam Power49:06 Motor City, Darwin's Journey, Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, CribbageIf 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
Transcribe →Our 2025 BGG Golden Geek Nominations
Apr 1301:03:37Tap to summarizeIn 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
Transcribe →Endeavor: Deep Sea
Apr 601:03:18Tap to summarizeIn 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
Transcribe →The Economics of Self-Publishing a Board Game
Mar 3001:01:55Tap to summarizeIn 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
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