Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions with a personal touch
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Matters - when components become mechanisms (Topic Discussion) | 03 Nov 2026 | 00:10:58 | |
Board games are physical things. We place wooden components, move them around cardboard boards, and arrange cards, often without giving much thought to what decisions were made to include specifically these components in these specific quantities. Yet materials play a much greater role than simply providing something to hold. In Viking See-Saw, different weights make balancing a ship an intriguing challenge. In Kluster and Klask, magnets create interactions that are central to play. The physical properties of components can become part of a game's mechanisms. In this article, I explore the challenges of turning component choices into a finished product. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/11/03/material-matters-when-components-become-mechanisms-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Peace", "Dusk", "Evolution" and "World Peace" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash) | |||
| 6 Nimmt! (Digital Eyes) | 31 Oct 2026 | 00:07:53 | |
There's something weirdly satisfying about watching a plan fall apart. You carefully chose a card, after considering what has already been played. You convinced yourself that everything will be fine, until everyone reveals their cards and the numbers fall into place. Suddenly you're collecting a whole bunch of negative points. It's simple, but a lot of fun. All you have to remember is that 6 Nimmt! by Wolfgang Kramer from Amigo, with art by Franz Vohwinkel. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/31/6-nimmt-digital-eyes/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: "Inspiring Life" and "Happiness" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Image courtesy of Amigo) | |||
| Small World - the business behind the board game boom (Topic Discussion) | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:13:04 | |
Board games have grown into a rather substantial global business, with established publishers selling games around the world and new releases reaching audiences far beyond your friendly local game store. Yet, behind the scenes, you find an industry that is made up of small companies, independent designers, and project-specific contractors. The industry has grown, but its businesses and careers have not necessarily become more secure. In this article, I want to look at this in more detail. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/27/small-world-the-business-behind-the-board-game-boom-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Horizons (Loop) by Corporate Music Zone | https://corporate-music-zone.bandcamp.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Tasha Kostyuk on Unsplash) | |||
| Wayfarers of the South Tigris (Digital Eyes) | 24 Oct 2026 | 00:12:04 | |
Beyond the bustling streets of Baghdad lie ancient landscapes, winding waterways, and a night sky filled with shining stars. A cartographer prepares for the journey, gathering supplies and equipment before setting out to explore the world beyond the city walls. Each discovery adds to a growing body of knowledge, but the journey requires careful planning. Resources must be managed, observations recorded, and findings brought back to the House of Wisdom. The challenge lies not simply in discovering new things, but in deciding which discoveries deserve attention and how best to put them to use. These cartographers were known as the Wayfarers of the South Tigris by S J Macdonald and Shem Phillips from Garphill Games with art by Mihajlo Dimitrievski. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/24/wayfarers-of-the-south-tigris-digital-eyes/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Cinematic Desert 4 Music: Iran Vol. 1 Music: Iran Vol. 2 Music: Cinematic Desert 3 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Garphill Games) | |||
| Teaching Matters - designing games for the first play (Topic Discussion) | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:11:55 | |
A board game designer can spend years refining a game. They know the game inside out and understand every rule intimately. Yet, when you open a game for the first time, you don't have access to their knowledge. Players have to learn how a game works all by themselves. A game design can be sound, yet it's still difficult to learn and teach. A clear rulebook certainly helps, but often it all begins with the design itself. Following on from my article about dealing with complexity as a board game designer, this article looks at how a good design can help with a game's teach. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/20/teaching-matters-designing-games-for-the-first-play-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Sunday Morning Coffee Music: Relaxing Lofi - Ena Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash) | |||
| Fourth Wing: Rise of the Wingleader (Saturday Review) | 17 Oct 2026 | 00:08:33 | |
At Basgiath War College, ambition is as dangerous as the skies. You face trials where strength alone will not secure your place among the dragon riders. Allies matter, but so does knowing when to press an advantage and when to hold back. Every challenge tests your nerve, every decision risks your standing, and every rival is a potential threat. You must seize opportunities, outmanoeuvre your opponents, and prove you have what it takes to lead. The stakes could hardly be higher, for you are no ordinary cadet. You are part of the Fourth Wing: Rise of the Wingleader by Dexter Stevens from Goliath Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/17/fourth-wing-rise-of-the-wingleader-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by Bensound Music by: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com Music: Rise Of Legends Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Costly Complexity - the limits of complexity in board games (Topic Discussion) | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:10:40 | |
There comes a time when you look at the rules for a new board game, when it suddenly stops feeling exciting and starts feeling intimidating. The rules are too long and convoluted, the main game board is cluttered, and every mechanism seems to have another exception. Complexity itself can be very appealing when it creates meaningful choices and rewards repeated play. However, complexity is also a kind of burden for the people playing the game. More complexity means more time to learn a game, more effort to remember everything, and more focus when playing it. In this article, I use episode 364 of Ludology as my starting point for examining where complexity adds interest to a game and where it simply makes it unnecessarily hard to play. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/13/costly-complexity-the-limits-of-complexity-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Technology", "Corporate Motivation" and "Documentary" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash) | |||
| Wingspan Pocket (Saturday Review) | 10 Oct 2026 | 00:07:47 | |
The early morning air is filled with birdsong. Colourful feathers catch the first rays of sunlight, while movement in the undergrowth reveals birds searching for food, possibly for the early worm. As a patient observer, you see a world of remarkable diversity, where every bird adds something unique to the landscape. Your trusty guide helps you identify every bird you see and every song you hear. It's like having a Wingspan Pocket by Elizabeth Hargrave from Stonemaier Games, with art by Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo and Natalia Rojas. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/10/wingspan-pocket-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: "Soulful", "Sun Rays" and "Garden" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Pristine Neoprene - the pros and cons of neoprene (Topic Discussion) | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:12:09 | |
A board game can feel very different depending on what surface it is played on. Cards slide differently across different surfaces, dice make different noises, and even picking up a small wooden token can become either effortless or frustratingly fiddly. A kitchen or dining room table has been doing the job perfectly well for generations, but a soft, printed mat can make the same game feel rather more special. Neoprene has become increasingly common, bringing cushioning, durability and a little sense of luxury to the table. Yet a gaming mat's life begins long before it reaches your table, and it may not end until a long time after we stop using it. So in this article, I want to look at neoprene's environmental cost across its full lifecycle. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/06/pristine-neoprene-the-pros-and-cons-of-neoprene-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Horizons (Loop) by Corporate Music Zone | https://corporate-music-zone.bandcamp.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Susan Flynn on Unsplash) | |||
| Reforest (Saturday Review) | 03 Oct 2026 | 00:09:43 | |
The mountain was bare in places, green in others, but it was slowly filling with life. Small plants pushed through the soil, adventurously spreading across the lower slopes before taller growth began reaching upwards. Every new plant was different. While some thrived in sun, others lived in dappled shade. Rebuilding the mountain fauna was never going to be easy, but it was time to Reforest by Sébastien Bernier-Wong from Firestarter Games with art by Janine van Fram. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/10/03/reforest-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Music: bensound.com Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music: bensound.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Reality Realisation - how board games represent reality (Topic Discussion) | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:16:16 | |
Board games that represent real historical events face a problem that fiction can largely avoid. The designer can't start with a blank page. Players are going to expect that the game somehow mirrors what actually happened in the past. Yet, a board game can't faithfully reproduce an entire historical period. The designer has to select and simplify, turning the subject into rules and mechanisms. A historical board game can't ever be completely accurate. The question really is how designers decide which parts of reality belong in the game, which can be abstracted, and which should be left out. In this article, I look at this question from the perspectives of five designers, each with a different answer to the problem. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/29/reality-realisation-how-board-games-represent-reality-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "I Want To Go Out" from the soundtrack to SILO: Season 1 by Atli Örvarsson, copyright by Apple Video Programming LLC Music: "Fate", "Fragile Hope" and "Our World" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash) | |||
| Russian Railroads (Digital Eyes) | 26 Sep 2026 | 00:11:18 | |
The rails started in Moscow, carrying workers and materials towards St Petersburg on one line and to Kiev on the other. A third railway was the most ambitious project, pushing across the vastness of Siberia, with its countless obstacles before the track would eventually reach Vladivostok. Building these tracks was a monumental undertaking, demanding workers, materials, money and, above all, patience. Progress was slow at first, but then it gathered momentum. We were building the Russian Railroads by Helmut Ohley and Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler from Hans im Glück with art by Martin Hoffmann and Claus Stephan. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/26/russian-railroads-digital-eyes/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Music: Bahnstreik Music: Cinematic Trailer 003 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Political Correction - why we forgive problematic games (Topic Discussion) | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:07:56 | |
As we all know, there are a good number of board games that haven't aged well, if I may put it like that. In the past, games happily made colonialism their central setting and gameplay, gave women little or no place in their worlds, or treated cultures through the eyes of the oppressor. Yet, these games remain in people's collections and come back to the table. In this article, rather than asking whether we should still play these problematic games, I explore why we don't just choose different games from the large swathe of new releases. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/22/political-correction-why-we-forgive-problematic-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Chill Vibes by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ Urban Rainfall Rhythms by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by T on Unsplash) | |||
| Go Big (Saturday Review) | 19 Sep 2026 | 00:10:44 | |
Three 7s have just landed on the table, worth a potential 21 points - if they survive, that is. Their owner already looks like the victory is in the bag. Yet, they're a bit too sure of themselves. Of course, somebody plays three 6s and wipes their 7s off the table and their smile off their face. Yet, the 6s are also short-lived and replaced by a triple 5. So it continues until someone lands a safe triple 1. Suddenly, everyone's supposedly enormous scores have vanished. Yet, three 1s are only 3 points. That wasn't enough. It was time to Go Big by Antony Proietti from Sinister Fish Games with art by Archie Edwards. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/19/go-big-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Rise by Corporate Music Zone | https://corporate-music-zone.bandcamp.com Presentation by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Downtime Chat - allowing for social interaction in board games (Topic Discussion) | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:08:58 | |
Waiting for your turn is very common in board games. One person has all the fun while everyone else just watches. Too much waiting is often described as a flaw in game design, particularly when players have nothing useful to do and gradually lose interest in what's happening. Modern board games tend to avoid downtime, yet waiting isn't necessarily wasted time. Sometimes it gives us something to think about, sometimes it leaves us with nothing to do, and sometimes it gives us something that a game cannot provide on its own: a chance to talk. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/15/downtime-chat-allowing-for-social-interaction-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Lazy Aftermoon by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Forest by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash) | |||
| Bus & Stop (Saturday Review) | 12 Sep 2026 | 00:09:15 | |
The morning rush is already gathering. Passengers wait patiently at the stop, each with somewhere to be, while your little bus rolls into position. You have room for ten, perhaps eleven if you are feeling optimistic, although optimism has consequences when every seat matters. A group of passengers heads for the tennis courts, another bunch has somewhere else to go, and the temptation to wait for one more traveller is almost irresistible. Sometimes patience pays handsomely. Sometimes the bus simply gets fuller. Yet, for you as the driver, it's always the same: Bus & Stop by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi with art by Takako Takarai. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/12/bus-stop-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by: Bensound Music by: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Saash & Saashi) | |||
| Artistic Board Games - how board games are more than visually pleasing (Topic Discussion) | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:12:36 | |
Art is often something we look at, listen to or watch, while board games are discussed in terms of entertainment, strategy and social interaction. Yet, board games are created through imagination, skill and deliberate choices. Board game designers can shape emotions, represent ideas and create systems that shape how players experience a perspective. Of course, the artwork in a board game is art in the traditional sense, but that is not what I want to explore in this article. Instead, I want to look at how board games themselves, their mechanisms and systems, function as a form of artistic expression in their own right. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/08/artistic-board-games-how-board-games-are-more-than-visually-pleasing-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Easy by Ron Gelinas Chill Beats | https://open.spotify.com/artist/03JYfsI9Ke7JFuxHD239m2 Downtown Glow by Ghostrifter Official feat. Devyzed | https://soundcloud.com/ghostrifter-official Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash) | |||
| Obsession (Digital Eyes) | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:09:17 | |
The morning begins with the sound of servants moving furniture. The dining room needs preparing, invitations need sending, and someone has decided that the garden requires attention before our guests arrive. Money is finally coming into the estate again, although there never seems to be quite enough of it. Reputation is returning too, slowly, helped along by carefully chosen gatherings and the right people at the right tables. Somewhere between arranging another lavish afternoon and wondering whether we can afford the room needed to host it, I realise that running a country estate is an Obsession by Dan Hallagan from Kayenta Games with art by Dan Hallagan. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/05/obsession-digital-eyes/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Downton Abbey - The Suite - From “Downton Abbey” Soundtrack - The Chamber Orchestra Of London Music: Mini Fairytales Theme Music: Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 14 (very light) Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Striving for Achievements - the difference between achievement play and striving play (Topic Discussion) | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:11:51 | |
When I play a board game with my friends, I know that they have the same intention: to win. Yet, they actually all want quite different things. One friend is happiest when they find a strategy that works and keeps working. Another wants to take a game apart until they understand the most efficient route to victory. I want to win too, but as a reviewer, I am usually more interested in understanding what a game is trying to do, how its mechanisms produce an experience and how the people around the table respond. Listening to episode 673 of the 99% Invisible podcast, I found that C. Thi Nguyen, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Utah and author of the book "The Score", has really well described these differing expectations of wanting to win a board game. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/09/01/striving-for-achievements-the-difference-between-achievement-play-and-striving-play-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Komorebi by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Birds of a Feather by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Eunice De Guzman on Unsplash) | |||
| Let's Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game (Saturday Review) | 29 Aug 2026 | 00:09:32 | |
Bus headquarters was busy. We were still trying to figure out the best route to pick up passengers and deliver them to their destinations. The job was made harder because our competitors were vying for the same customers. We were the only two bus operators to serve this town, and we both wanted to be the best. We were also both making up the route as we went along. All I could do was tell my team: Let's Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi with art by Takako Takarai. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/29/lets-make-a-bus-route-the-dice-game-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Music: Silent Movie 39 Music: Silent Movie 30 Music: Silent Movie 49 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Magic Tricks - what makes trick-taking games great (Topic Discussion) | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:12:08 | |
Trick-taking games have been around for centuries, and they continue to inspire new designs. Everyone has their own idea of what makes for a great trick-taking game, but mine was shaped by growing up in Germany playing Skat and, especially, Doppelkopf. Those games use mechanisms that still appear in modern games, yet designers keep finding new ways to create new twists on them. So in this article, I want to look at the trick-taking mechanisms I find most interesting, why they work, and how modern trick-takers have changed them while keeping the characteristics that make the genre so long-lasting. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/25/magic-tricks-what-makes-trick-taking-games-great-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Late-Night Decaf by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Downtown Walk by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Julius Drost on Unsplash) | |||
| Korpi (Saturday Review) | 22 Aug 2026 | 00:10:45 | |
The forest seems to close behind you with every step. Pine needles soften your footsteps, branches catch at your clothes, and the trail you followed an hour ago has somehow disappeared. You have been searching for the lake all morning, following fragments of an old story about something that lives beyond the trees. The deeper you go, the quieter the forest becomes. Then the trees thin, revealing dark water between their trunks. Something moves beneath the surface. You stop at the water's edge as a shape slowly rises from the lake, ancient and impossible. You finally discover what you came looking for: Korpi by Antti Kukkonen from Hiirosoft. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/22/korpi-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Signal To Noise by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley Solar Winds (Cosmic Horror Atmosphere) by Aila Scott | https://ailascott.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Korpi) | |||
| The New Old - classic games vs the cult of the new (Topic Discussion) | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:11:26 | |
Like a lot of people, the board game hotness excites me because it potentially offers new mechanisms or clever twists on something familiar. Sometimes a new game draws me in because it has my favourite setting. When I finally hold the new game in my hands, the excitement continues when I read the rulebook, set up the game and pull levers or push buttons to see what happens. Yet, as amazing as new games often feel, the ones I return to most often are games that have become familiar friends. Somehow, knowing them so well has not made them any less interesting, but it has changed what I enjoy about them. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/18/the-new-old-classic-games-vs-the-cult-of-the-new-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Games We Used to Play by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Day Ahead by Joe Crotty | https://soundcloud.com/joecrotty Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash) | |||
| Meow Tiles (Saturday Review) | 15 Aug 2026 | 00:08:52 | |
The first pair of hands reached the table before the pattern card had settled. Nine cardboard cats were flipped, swapped and turned over in a frantic blur, followed by an excited slap that brought everything to a sudden halt. One tiny mistake was all it took for groans to turn into laughter before everyone eagerly reset their tiles for another attempt. Every new challenge promised to be straightforward, yet somehow each one encouraged just one more round of rearranging the Meow Tiles by Jean-Claude Pellin from Oink Games with art by Rie Takahashi. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/15/meow-tiles-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Trend by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com Joyful by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Score! - in-game vs end-game scoring (Topic Discussion) | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:12:55 | |
Imagine playing your very first indoor bowls game, but there is no jack. Everyone simply rolls a bowl towards an imaginary target. Somehow, your experienced opponent seems remarkably confident, while you try to copy what they do and hope for the best. At the end of the first end, someone reveals where the jack had been all along and awards the points accordingly. Then the second end goes in the same fashion, with a target that no one can see. Every end, you know how well you've done, but you never have any hope of getting better. Learning to bowl that way would feel practically impossible because every bowl would be complete guesswork. Surprisingly, some board games seem to want us to learn them in very much the same way. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/11/score-in-game-vs-end-game-scoring-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Flowers by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Wonders by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ I Feel Alive by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ Flourish by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com A Weekday In A Small Town by | e s c p | https://www.escp.space Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Seth kane on Unsplash) | |||
| Borealis: Arctic Expeditions (Saturday Review) | 08 Aug 2026 | 00:08:56 | |
Snow muffled every footstep until the only sounds were distant birds and the steady crunch beneath our boots. The silence stretched in every direction: left to right, ahead and behind, as well as all the way up into the thermosphere. We were far away from anywhere. Yet, we knew we were safe. As the darkness settled all around us, we could finally see it: the Borealis: Arctic Expeditions by Dariusz Mindur from Lucky Duck Games with art by Rodrigo Camilo Alves De Almeida, Kevin Sidharta, Inês Toczyska and Ariadna Żytniewska. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/08/borealis-arctic-expeditions-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: Time moves slower than it should Music: The Backrooms Music Vol. 25 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Lucky Duck Games) | |||
| Back in Time - the draw of history in board games (Topic Discussion) | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:09:37 | |
I never enjoyed history at school. I understood why it mattered as a subject, but learning names, dates and events off by rote simply didn't work for me, no matter how hard I tried. Events were never taught in their chronological or geopolitical context. Things just didn't make sense to me. So it seems ironic that historical board games are now one of my favourite genres. Of course, they've not made me any better at remembering names and dates, but they replaced my fear of history with a new curiosity that I hadn't felt before. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/04/back-in-time-the-draw-of-history-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Podcast Music Vol. 20 [Chillstep Review Background] Music: Podcast Music Vol. 18 [Minimal Tech Background] Music: Podcast Music Vol. 19 [Chillstep Review Background] Music: Podcast Music Vol. 5 [Nature Ambience] Music: Imagefilm 045 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Risk It For A Biscuit (Saturday Review) | 01 Aug 2026 | 00:05:26 | |
A small hand reaches into the tin, fingers excitedly hovering over the treats inside. The choice should be simple: take a biscuit, any biscuit. But no: two biscuits are better than one, and three better than two. Yet, if the little hand takes too long to make up its mind, the little burglar will be discovered. Well, it's time to Risk It For A Biscuit by Jessica Metheringham from Dissent Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/08/01/risk-it-for-a-biscuit-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: Ultimate Comedy Music Vol. 7 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Dissent Games) | |||
| Tabletop Democracy - what board games can teach us about democracy (Topic Discussion) | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:11:46 | |
At a time when many people feel democratic culture is under strain, it is worth looking at our own everyday behaviours that allow democracy to function. Elections, laws and political institutions are all important, but democracy also depends on how people treat one another every day. Listening to different opinions, accepting compromise, respecting agreed-upon rules and recognising opponents as people rather than enemies are all part of a healthy democracy. Maybe unsurprisingly, board games are a place to look for those values. I mean, the simple act of sitting down together to play a game, following the same rules and taking on a role, is an opportunity to act out democratic values. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/28/tabletop-democracy-what-board-games-can-teach-us-about-democracy-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Cruising (Romeos Erbe) Music: Sunday Morning Coffee Music: Chill VLOG Beats 7 Music: Podcast Music Vol. 26 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Isai Ramos on Unsplash) | |||
| Take Cat (Saturday Review) | 25 Jul 2026 | 00:07:27 | |
You put down a bowl of soft food, and moments later, you hear the jingle of her collar. Here she comes! First, she pauses at the conservatory door and watches you for a while. You eagerly point at the wonderfully fresh food, enticing her to come in and eat. She turns away to look out into her domain, our back garden. Eventually, she strolls over - in her own time. Of course, whether she's ready for her lunch, when she eats, or indeed, where she eats, is all her own choice. As her pet dad, you just Take Cat by Gareth Edwards from Gibsons with art by Juliana Eigner. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/25/take-cat-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: Happy Beats & Business Moves Vol. 19 Music: Madeira: Another TukTuk Through Funchal Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Gibsons) | |||
| Kaleidoscopic Games - the history of colours in board games (Topic Discussion) | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:12:15 | |
Colour is one of the first things I notice when opening a new board game. Bright player pieces, colourful resources and beautiful illustrations immediately grab my attention. Colours tell me where to look and how the game is organised. Yet, like around 1% of men, I have protanomaly, a mild form of red-green colour vision deficiency. I often see pink or purple flowers as blue, and when driving in fog, I see a car's rear red lights much later than other people. So I appreciate it when I can rely on something other than colour to tell me what I am looking at. In this article, I want to explore a century's worth of board game history and look at how colour-vision considerations have changed over time. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/21/kaleidoscopic-games-the-history-of-the-use-of-colours-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music by: Bensound Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Fir0002 on Wikipedia) | |||
| Vantage (Saturday Review) | 18 Jul 2026 | 00:09:55 | |
The escape pod rattles violently as it tears through the atmosphere, before the noise suddenly fades away. A rough landing throws you against the restraints, leaving only silence until the hatch finally creaks open and fresh air rushes in with a long hiss. After you take off your helmet, you can smell unfamiliar scents. As you climb out of the pod, you can see a landscape unlike anything you have ever seen before. There are giant mountains that disappear into the clouds, strange plants that sway gently in the breeze, and countless mysteries that are waiting to be uncovered. You notice that you crashed high on a lonely hill, giving you a really good Vantage by Jamey Stegmaier from Stonemaier Games with art by Valentina Filic, Sören Meding and Emilien Rotival. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/18/vantage-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Music: Synthie Intro Music: Supernatural - Backrooms Music: Low Energy Tension Vol. 6 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| The Two Body Problem - design challenges of two-player only games (Topic Discussion) | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:09:36 | |
Designing a board game that works well for exactly two players is a very different challenge from designing one that supports a range of player counts. Many games include a two-player mode, but board games such as Patchwork and Jaipur show that a dedicated head-to-head experience can be unique and not simply an adapted and reduced version of a game that is really aimed at larger player counts. In this article, I want to look at the design challenge these dedicated two-player-only games present. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/14/the-two-body-problem-design-challenges-of-two-player-only-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by: Bensound Music: "in between violence" provided by mobygratis. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash) | |||
| Grab Bag: Jungle (Saturday Review) | 11 Jul 2026 | 00:07:07 | |
The early morning mist hangs beneath a canopy of dark green waxy leaves, while distant calls echo through the jungle from animals who have lost their way. You're following their footprints until you eventually glimpse a tail disappearing into the undergrowth. Working together, you manage to rescue one animal after another, but the falling grains of sand remind you that time is against you. So off you go deeper into the Grab Bag: Jungle by Rob M Harper and Mike Harrison-Wood from Gibsons with art by Lauren Heywood-Law. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/11/grab-bag-jungle-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - the 2026 nominations and the mission behind them (Topic Discussion) | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:10:54 | |
Over the previous four articles in this series, I have explored the history of Spiel des Jahres, the purpose behind its awards, the way its jury works, and the wider activities funded through its income. Together, those articles painted a picture of an organisation that sees its annual awards as a means rather than an end. Promoting games as a cultural asset, encouraging people to play board games together and providing guidance to newcomers to the hobby have all remained at the core of its mission for almost fifty years. In this article, I want to look at the 2026 nominations and see whether the association's values can also be found in the games the jury has selected. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/07/spiel-des-jahres-the-2026-nominations-and-the-mission-behind-them-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Sunshower", "Shade", "Freedom", "Flying" and "Reverie" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres) | |||
| Eternal Decks (Saturday Review) | 04 Jul 2026 | 00:09:35 | |
Mist drifts between towering trees where forgotten shrines stand undisturbed, their silent guardians waiting with quiet patience. Strange creatures emerge one by one, each offering hope while demanding sacrifice before another cautious step may be taken. Ancient legends promise a way to restore what has been lost, although every answer seems hidden behind another trial. The journey will be endless, as we discover the Eternal Decks by Hiroken from Tricktakers Games with art by Mujunsha. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/07/04/eternal-decks-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Vessel Five by Blue Dot Sessions Music: "Daring", "Reality" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - following the money (Topic Discussion) | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:10:49 | |
Awards often attract attention because of the games they recognise. Far less attention is usually paid to how the organisations behind those awards operate. In the case of Spiel des Jahres, the financial side of the story is particularly interesting because it helps explain how the association funds its activities while maintaining the independence that it considers central to its mission. The famous Red Pawn appears on millions of game boxes, yet many players know little about the licensing system behind it or the way that income supports projects far beyond the annual awards ceremony. In this fourth article in the series, I look at the finances that reveal how the organisation has transformed the commercial success of its award into support for a much broader cultural mission. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/30/spiel-des-jahres-following-the-money-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by: bensound.com Music: https://www.bensound.com Music: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by omid armin on Unsplash) | |||
| Rascally Rabbits (Saturday Review) | 27 Jun 2026 | 00:07:00 | |
A little rabbit peeked cautiously over the edge of a vegetable patch, before it hopped inside and helped itself to a crunchy carrot. Soon, another rabbit joined in, nibbling happily on a radish, while a third disappeared behind broad broccoli leaves, and a fourth emerged triumphantly with an aubergine. Soon enough, mushrooms vanished as well, leaving only tiny paw prints behind. In less than a minute, the whole patch was filled with Rascally Rabbits by Ta-Te Wu from Sunrise Tornado Game Studio with art by TuziNeko. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/27/rascally-rabbits-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Channel Intro 28 Music: Nature 14 [nature documentary series] Music: Madeira: The Little Houses of Santana Music: Nature 13 [nature documentary series] Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - beyond the Red Pawn (Topic Discussion) | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:08:12 | |
For many people, Spiel des Jahres is something they encounter only once a year. A list of nominees appears, winners are announced, and the familiar Red Pawn finds its way onto board game boxes that in turn appear on shop shelves. Yet, the award itself is only the most visible part of the organisation's work. Behind the annual announcements sits an association that funds projects, supports research, encourages new designers, and promotes the social value of play. In this third article in the series, I want to look at those activities that reveal a side of Spiel des Jahres that is often overlooked, particularly outside German-speaking countries, where the organisation is frequently seen only as a prestigious board game award. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/23/spiel-des-jahres-beyond-the-red-pawn-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Relaxing Lofi – Tricosa Music: Relaxing Lofi – Icosa Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres) | |||
| Rattlesnake (Saturday Review) | 20 Jun 2026 | 00:08:04 | |
The saloon doors suddenly burst open behind you as your boots skid across the dusty wooden boards of the sidewalk. A split-second later, gunfire cracks through the afternoon air, the bullet ricocheting off a pail of water, sending startled townsfolk diving for cover. Diving behind an old barrel offers you a moment of shelter, although the sound of heavy footsteps suggests your pursuer is closing in on you. Then, glass shatters somewhere near the jail, followed by the sharp whistle of a bullet passing far too close for comfort. A grin spreads across your face as you raise your revolver and prepare to return fire. Well, that's what you get when you arrive in Rattlesnake by Michael Hardacre from Osprey Games with art by Roland MacDonald. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/20/rattlesnake-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: ZapSplat (https://www.zapsplat.com/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Music: Saloon dance [Western Series] Music: Western Intro 2 Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - how the jury chooses games (Topic Discussion) | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:09:57 | |
Every year, the announcement of the Spiel des Jahres nominations leads to a lot of discussion across our hobby. Some people agree with the choices, others question why certain games were not included, and many try to predict the eventual winners. What most people don't realise when they discuss the nominations is that the jury does not gather for a single weekend to decide the best game of the year. No, jurors spend many months playing hundreds of new releases several times with different groups of people. It is a lot of work that often goes unnoticed, but that explains why the award continues to carry such influence nearly fifty years after it began. In the second article of the series, I look at this in more detail. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/16/spiel-des-jahres-how-the-jury-chooses-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Madeira Dolphin Tour Music: Deep House Underscore 005 Music: Sunday Morning Coffee Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres) | |||
| Roller Disco (Saturday Review) | 13 Jun 2026 | 00:07:52 | |
Electric-blue leg warmers stretched over striped socks, sequins sparkling beneath a giant mirror ball, while clouds of hairspray drifted through the air. Synth-pop booms from oversized speakers as skaters practise one last spin, one last shuffle, one last gravity-defying move before the judges arrive. It's November 1983, and the biggest competition of the year is about to begin. Jam skaters from around the world have gathered beneath the glittering lights, hoping their best moves will earn them the championship crown. They want to become the next champion of the Roller Disco by Mike Petchey from Huff No More with art by Joss Petchey. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/13/roller-disco-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Midnight Pulse Music: Neon City Music: Neon Jungle Rhythms Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - the award that was never really about awards (Topic Discussion) | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:10:49 | |
For many board gamers, Spiel des Jahres is simply the little red pawn on a game box. Spotting it on a shelf often suggests that a game is worth paying attention to. That's not only true in the German-speaking board game world, but also in many other countries, including the UK. Over the years, winners such as The Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Ticket to Ride have helped establish the award as one of the most influential honours in tabletop gaming. Yet, there is a lot more to this story. According to its own history and mission statements, the annual prize was never intended to be the end goal. Instead, it was created as a tool to encourage people to play games, to promote games as a cultural asset, and to help the wider public discover the value of gathering around a table. In the first in a series of articles, I want to look at this further. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/09/spiel-des-jahres-the-award-that-was-never-really-about-awards-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Stylish Hip Hop", "Chill Hip Hop", "Ambient Lounge", "Weekdays" and "Way" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| UK Games Expo 2026 (Saturday Review) | 06 Jun 2026 | 00:11:44 | |
A little after 9am on Thursday, I boarded my first train of a journey that has become increasingly familiar over the years. It was my sixth visit to the convention, having first attended in 2019 before COVID forced a break, but I returned in 2022. It was also my fourth time making the journey by train. The first leg carried me from the South Coast to London Victoria, followed by a tube trip to London Euston and a welcome lunch break before the faster train north. By around 4pm, I was walking through the NEC halls once again, ready for another weekend at UK Games Expo 2026. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/06/uk-games-expo-2026-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music I use: https://www.bensound.com Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Tabletop Games for 2 Players (Especially Couples) (Topic Discussion) | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:10:58 | |
Hi, it’s Joe Slack here. Oliver was kind enough to allow me to write another guest blog. In this article, I thought it would be interesting to discuss board games for two and the gaming experience for two people (especially couples). Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/02/tabletop-games-for-2-players-especially-couples-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music by: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos Music by: https://www.bensound.com Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Big Potato on Unsplash) | |||
| First Tracks (Saturday Review) | 30 May 2026 | 00:08:20 | |
Snow drifted from the pine branches as the last chairlift carried us slowly, but steadily, towards the summit. As we looked back, the mountain below was being draped in silver moonlight and covered in fresh powder snow. We couldn't see it, but we knew that, back in the village, steam curled from bowls of ramen waiting for our return. Yet, nobody was ready to leave the silence of the peaks just yet. We all wanted to hit the slopes one more time before calling it a night. At the same time, we already knew what we would do tomorrow. Tomorrow, we would return to the peak and lay the First Tracks by Blake Erickson and Megan Ryan from Sayonara Ski Co. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/30/first-tracks-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2026 BBC Music: "Intention", "Time" and "Winning" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Intentional Experience - designer intent and player experience (Topic Discussion) | 26 May 2026 | 00:10:36 | |
Designers don't like it when players criticise their board game, and the response often is that the game was intentionally designed that way. Players complain that a strategy feels unfair, a mechanism is frustrating, or a game simply isn't very clear. Designers reply that that just misses the point. Similar disagreements exist in films, novels, and art, yet board games seem to have them more often, and they are often more personal. Part of the reason may be that board games are not passive experiences. Players are not simply watching events unfold, but instead are interpreting rules and shaping the experience themselves every time the game hits the table. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/26/intentional-experience-designer-intent-and-player-experience-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Inspirational Flight", "Documentary Soundtrack" and "Success" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Daman IAm on Unsplash) | |||
| Crisps! (Saturday Review) | 23 May 2026 | 00:09:15 | |
The pub was quiet after the lunchtime rush. It was a chilly autumn afternoon, so the hearty lunch just hit the spot. Now we were sitting there, playing a card game, with a pint each by our sides. While the meal had filled us up, we still fancied something savoury. We just needed a small snack that the two of us could share. Nothing fancy. Something simple would do. Of course, it had to be Crisps! by Shreesh Bhat from Little Dog Games with art by Sai Beppu. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/23/crisps-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos Music: Eternal Summer Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Clearly Uncertain - the role of uncertainty in board games (Topic Discussion) | 19 May 2026 | 00:08:19 | |
Many of us play board games because they offer us some certainty. There are rules, objectives, specific actions, and so on that define how a game is played. These things provide a clear, well-defined framework. We know what is possible, what is not allowed and what we are trying to achieve. At the same time, board games also contain uncertainty. It is uncertainty that creates tension, excitement and a range of other emotions. In many cases, this uncertainty is exactly why we look forward to playing them. Inspired by Bez from Stuff by Bez, in this article, I want to explore why uncertainty in board games matters. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/19/clearly-uncertain-the-role-of-uncertainty-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Winning" and "Cinematic Light" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog (Photo by Nik on Unsplash) | |||
| UK Games Expo 2026 (Preview) | 16 May 2026 | 00:09:45 | |
Yes, it's that time of year again when everyone starts to panic, because the biggest UK board game event is just around the corner. There is a scramble for train tickets, hotel rooms (mind you, you're probably too late, if you haven't booked one yet), on-site parking, visitor passes, water bottles, comfortable shoes and lots of other bits and pieces that you need to attend UK Games Expo 2026. Read the full preview here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/16/uk-games-expo-2026-preview/ Useful Links
Music Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: "Great Day" and "Willpower" by AShamaluevMusic. Support If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||