We're thrilled to have Geof Gambill back on the show, who previously hosted The Long View, to discuss game design quantity vs. quality. Join us for a lengthy discussion about how games have evolved, where they can sometimes go wrong, and what successful decision spaces look like for us in 2024. ===== Check out Victory Points: First Article is up fr…

This week, we're looking at 12 games that fit the theme of the season. That is, counting down from 12! Enjoy twelve games with numbers in their titles, plus a rundown of some of the games we've been playing lately, and our recap of PAX Unplugged 2024. Question of the Week: Acquisition Disorders: War of the Ring: Two Decades Limited Edition, Board &…

It's that time of year again - we're headed to PAX. Chris drives down and Anthony rolls out of bed to head to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for three big ol' days of gaming. Find out what games we're most looking forward to playing this year. Join us on our new Blue Sky accounts: @bganonymous and @bgacademics Acquisition Disorders: Urbion (Sec…

Tis the season! To buy a bunch of games, and we're here to help you find the right ones for the gamers in your life. 2-4 selections from each of 10 categories with ideas and suggestions for this year's holiday gift giving season. Plus acquisition disorder discussions of Hands in the Sea and Defenders of the Realm: Legendary Edition (before it was c…

We're excited to welcome longtime friends and listeners Corey and Harrison from Adamantly Analog to the show this week to discuss their favorite games, and all the good stuff that's been coming out lately. Question of the Week: It's been a bit! What are some of your favorite games (new to you or new in general) from the last 3 months? Acquisition D…

We've shared our favorite games of all time. Now it's time to bring in the listeners' to tell us what they think. Drawn from over 250 submissions from listeners, we've collated more than 1,000 unique game entries and present the definitive top 100 list, courtesy of you! Congratulations to our contest winners as well. Each them will receive a game f…

We made it! This is our 500th episode and we go big with a live stream and a rundown of our top 10 games of all time. Find out which games we picked, what our new #1s are (including only the second ever #1 from Anthony), and make sure to enter our contest to help determine the Top 100 listeners' games. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 20-11. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 30-21. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 40-31. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 50-41. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 60-51. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 70-61. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we’re looking at games from 80-71 If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boar…

Over the next 10 weeks, we’re counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week we're looking at games from 90-81. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boa…

Over the next 10 weeks, we're counting down our top 100 games of all time, in anticipation of Episode 500 in November. Join us as we discuss ten games from our list each week, with deep dives into what made the list and why. This week, we're kicking things off with 100-91, plus a discussion of the list building process and how we feel about our sel…

As we prepare for the epic 10 week Top 100 countdown starting on September 3, we look at our current top 100 lists and pull 5 games each to enshrine in the inaugural class of the BGA Hall of Fame. Question of the Week: What game is in your personal hall of fame - an all-timer you'll never not appreciate? Acquisition Disorders: I, Napoleon, Chicago …

This week we're celebrating 11 years of BGA! As is our annual tradition, we're taking a deep dive into the last year of episodes (and gaming) to look at the acquisition disorders, reviews, and features we loved most, and how we feel about gaming in 2024. Question of the Week: What's your number one game experience of the last 12 months (game played…

This week we're looking at the games that are instant buys, plays, dodges or burns on our list. What mechanic, designer, theme, or other element automatically puts a game in a category before we even get it to the table (fairly or not)? Before diving in, we talk about the Dice Tower Award winners, as well as the numbers from this year's Gen Con. Ac…

This week we're looking at the factors that make a transition from digital to analog work well - from the design aesthetics to the mechanics that stick best. Question of the Week - What's a video game mechanic do you think makes (or would make) the best transition to tabletop? Acquisition Disorders - Comic Hunters, Speakeasy At the Table Reviews - …

This week, we're looking at the best games that feature the city of Paris, where the 2024 Olympic Games are taking place. Which Parisian games stand tall for this year's board game Olympics? We also do a deep dive into the recent announcements out of San Diego Comic-Con, plus a discussion of the recently announced Spiel des Jahres winners. Acquisit…

This week we're looking at the 20 games and expansions we're most excited to see and play through the end of 2024. There's a lot of good stuff on the horizon. Let's dig in! Acquisition Disorders - Everdell Duo, BOOM Patrol - Arcade-style Tank Battling Action! At the Table Reviews - Star Wars Shatterpoint, Dune: Imperium - Uprising, Munchkin: Cleric…

This week we're joined by Dave Eng, host of the Experience Points podcast, leader of the Games-Based Learning Alliance, and founder of Banditos Gaming. He joins us to chat about recent plays, his work in the gaming community, and his own favorite game. Find out more at www.davengdesign.com Acquisition Disorders - River Glassworks, DC Heroes United,…

All the components in one place! What could go wrong. Join us as we explore the monkey's paw situation that is the "big box." Why we wanted them, why we regret buying them, and just how big and dumb these things have become. Acquisition Disorders: Saltfjord, Defenders of the Wild At the Table Reviews: Digsaw, Arcs, Self Careless, Twilight Inscripti…

This week, Chris from Board Games for the Better joins Chris one more time to discuss another wave of award nominations from The Dice Tower, and the winners of the Origins Awards. ======= The Board Game Academics Conference for 2024 is taking place on July 4 at Dex Lite in Morristown, NJ. Join us live or in person by registering at https://boardgam…

Chris is joined this week once again by Chris from Board Games For the Better, to discuss Gen Con 2024 and the preview of new games being released or shown at the convention. They discuss the upcoming Board Game Academics conference plus the recent filing for a trademark of the word "meeple." ======= The Board Game Academics Conference for 2024 is …

Anthony's away this week, so Chris from Board Games for the Better joins the podcast to discuss the award nominations for Origins Game Fair and the Spiel des Jahres, both recently announced. Question of the Week: Anthony’s away, so what did YOU play this week? And how would YOU rate it? Acquisition Disorders: Sovereign: Fall of Wormwood, Ada's Drea…

Last week we talked about games that need more expansions. This week? Which ones have gone too far? We list off 10 games that have too many expansions and need to stop. Question of the Week: What is the most complex game you know how to play without looking at the rules? Acquisition Disorders: Nucleum: Court of Progress, Star Trek Captain Chair, Ki…

We revisit our original games that need an expansion list from 2018 to see which games eventually got expansions and which we're still waiting on, plus we add 10 more games to the list - so many games that need more content! Acquisition Disorders: Oath New Foundations, Star Trek: Star Realms At the Table Reviews: Cat in the Box Deluxe, Mini Rogue I…

This week we're looking at the best of the best from one of the best: Reiner Knizia. We whittle down our selection of the ten best of his more than 600 game designs from the last 30 years, plus some previews and reviews of what's coming out soon. Question of the Week: What is the most challenging aspect of the board gaming hobby? (e.g. finding play…

Summer is almost upon us and that means convention season! This week we're diving in a bit earlier to look at the games we're expecting to see at Origins Game Fair in June. We also talk about the Golden Geek Award winners at the top of the show, plus give our thoughts on X-Men '97 and the newly announced Lord of the Rings movie coming in 2 (!) year…

This week, we're looking at the best of the best from Splotter; the heavy, crunchy, kind of mean, and not always pretty (but frequently brilliant) euro games from Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga. Question of the Week: What game makes you saltier than any other game? Do you avoid playing it? Acquisition Disorders: Dune: War for Arrakis - Desert Wa…

This week, we take a deep dive into the recently announced BBG award nominations to discuss what we like for the awards and which games we want to track down and play before voting. Question of the Week - What's a game for which the retail edition is just as good as the crowdfunded version (or close enough)? Let's talk about games that didn't need …

This week, we're joined by special guest Chris Rodriguez from Board Games for the Better to discuss the hottest games on the April 2024 Board Game Geek hotness list. Acquisition Disorders: Vantage, Slay the Spire: The Board Game, 2025 Board Game Mosaic Calendar, Earth Abundance Expansion At the Table Reviews: Trailblazers, Expeditions: Around the W…

This week we look at data from several sources outlining some of the best selling games from 2023, and what we think of how well they sold. What games hit the most tables last year, which expansions did we all hoard? We take a deep dive to find out. Question of the Week: What's the most complex game you'd comfortable recommend for people new(ish) t…

This week we're revisiting the best of the best games of 2023 to discuss what games we will be nominating for the Golden Geek Awards (and why). Check out all of our picks for the last year's best games, plus previews of DC Heroes United and Bebop. * Acquisition Disorders: DC Heroes United, Bebop === Nominate us for a Golden Geek Award! The nominati…

This week we take you on an epic tabletop odyssey into the worlds of Star Wars and Star Trek board games and RPGs. Find out how to string together some of the best experiences from both IPs at your table. === Nominate us for a Golden Geek Award! The nominations are now open here: https://boardgamegeek.com/geekawards/boardgame We'd appreciate your s…

Part two of March Gamer Madness is now! Enjoy our rundown of the 32 best-remaining games from the top non-IP-based themes in board games. Find out which one comes out on top in this year's bracket showdown. This year, we're looking at the most popular non-IP-based themes, meaning the best games featuring: Cats Zombies Aliens Robots Samurai Knights …

It's time again for March Gamer Madness! Our annual bracket face off challenge pitting 64 board games against each other to find the very best of a very particular set of requirements. This year, we're looking at the most popular non-IP based themes, meaning the best games featuring: Cats Zombies Aliens Robots Samurai Knights Vikings Cowboys === If…

We're going digital this week with a look at some of the best all-digital deck builders, card flippers, and more. === If you're attending Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo, be sure to stop by and say hi, or attend one of our two panels over the weekend: Long Island Tabletop: Level Up Your Teach & Your Mental Health === CONTEST! Our annual March Game…

This week, we give ChatGPT a series of prompts and pitches board games based on those prompts. Chris guesses what input led to the description written by the AI. Can we guess the direction of the generative AI or will it outsmart us with clever designs? * Question of the Week: What's the best thing you've ever purchased for your board game collecti…

We're looking at games that spin off from and are often better than the board game they are based on (dice games, card games, and everything in between). What are some of your favorites that fit this? Acquisition Disorders: Puerto Rico Special Edition, Star Trek Ascendancy on Game Found, Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition Reprint, Cascadia Rollin…

This week, Anthony and Chris are looking at some of the many games to hit big box stores as exclusives or limited time releases (or streamlined versions of long time classics), in particular, Target and its long run of hobby games. Question of the Week: What's the best designer/publisher combo? Acquisition Disorders: King of Tokyo: Origins, Fled, F…

We're looking at the best of the best from Vladimir Suchy this week, running down our top 10 of his very diverse ludography. Question of the Week: What's a game you think should be in the upper pantheon of board games that everyone stopped talking about? Acquisition Disorders: Inferno Deluxe Edition, Dante: Inferno At the Table Reviews: Flamecraft,…

Anthony and Chris run through the catalog of Stonemaier Games and put them on a tier list using our review rating scale. Plus: Question of the Week: What do you do in support of tabletop gaming? Organize? Design? Publish? Media? Events? DM? Teach games? Acquisition Disorders: Speakeasy, Stefan Feld City Collection Nassau & Kathmandu, Kemet Blood an…

It's that time again; we take a deep dive into the best games currently listed on BoardGameGeek's hotness list, plus we have fresh new reviews and previews: Question of the Week: Let's talk expansions: what new elements added to a game have the best chance to wow you and enter rotation? (e.g. asymmetry, new cards, the dreaded 5th player) Acquisitio…

This week, we're looking at the top 100 thematic games as listed on BoardGameGeek.com. Which ones deserve to be ranked so high and which would we drop lower? Find out in a full rundown of the top 100 listing on BGG. Question of the Week: What's your favorite thematic game and why? Acquisition Disorder: Steam Power, EVE: War for New Eden, Conan by M…

Over the last 10+ years, we've reviewed a lot of games. Hundreds of experiences, many of which we really enjoyed. But every now and then, a game hits just wrong, and we can't help but give it our dreaded "burn" rating. This week, we're taking a look back at some of these duds, and discussing why they fell flat for us. For those eager to hear more n…

We run through our favorite games of 2023, with our top 10 games of the year and awards for: Best Digital Implementation Best Family Game Best Strategic Gameplay Overlooked Gem Best Kickstarter Best 2.0 Release Best Solo Game Best Expansion If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (…

The new year is here and we have a list of the 50 (give or take) most anticipated games of the upcoming year. It's our supersized, mega-acquisition disorder! If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com).…