Explore every episode of the podcast PlayDNA
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 146. 5 Towers, Ascension: Deckbuilding Game, and Birdwatcher. | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:27:25 | |
| Episode 145. Sky Team, Kohaku, and Smug Owls | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:22:24 | |
| Episode 137. Queen By Midnight, Wandering Towers, Dragonwood and Deduckto | 27 Sep 2023 | 00:30:25 | |
| Wild Picks! (animal themed games) | 10 Mar 2021 | 00:30:50 | |
Love board games AND animals? So do we! These picks are for you. | |||
| Toy vs Game | 03 Mar 2021 | 00:41:37 | |
Which one is it? Can a toy have a beginning and end and not be a game? Can a game have rules and actually be a toy? And where on earth do we fit in puzzles? We slog our way through this question and try to determine what qualities make something feel like a "game" vs any other activity. | |||
| Games as Propaganda | 24 Feb 2021 | 00:25:19 | |
Games have been used throughout history as a means of communication, for both good and evil. From Hitler to Queen Elizabeth I, cards and games have proven a powerful tool in manipulating people's feelings and beliefs. | |||
| How Does it End? | 17 Feb 2021 | 00:47:56 | |
How important is the way a game ends? A good ending can cement a playing experience together, while a bad one can erase a game completely from your memory, or even worse, make it memorable for all the wrong reasons. This week Damon talks about how having a strong narrative arc and a satisfying ending is possible to achieve, even in games without complex stories or themes. We discuss our favorite victory point endings, fixed time endings, control endings, and aha endings, and which ones left us feeling unsatisfied. | |||
| Play With My Heart Picks (Love Themed Games) | 10 Feb 2021 | 00:42:02 | |
A Valentine's Day Curation- 9 love themed games you can play with your partner or friends this Valentine's Day, or anytime you are feeling the love! | |||
| All Aboard Games! | 03 Feb 2021 | 00:26:44 | |
This week Sarah tells us about the two most common flavors of train game, we talk about our favorite train games, and how the "genre" train and the "theme" train differ. | |||
| Games You Can Eat! | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:31:16 | |
Yes! Edible games are a thing and they are delicious. Cassandra discusses her experience with one of Jenn Sandercock's edible games The Order of the Oven Mitt, and how edible games can make us think differently about design and play. | |||
| The Church of Bridge | 20 Jan 2021 | 00:53:41 | |
Bridge is a classic game- but more than that it's a tradition, passed down for centuries. The game has blossomed into a culture, with rituals, conventions, and metagaming that go well beyond the game rules. This week Damon discusses Bridge and the vast difference between the game as written vs the game as practiced. We also discuss other trick taking games that have evolved from Whist and which one might be the best for your group. | |||
| Disability Picks! (The best board games for different types of disability) | 13 Jan 2021 | 00:30:24 | |
Starting off this season we wanted to talk about accessibility! Here are our ideas for how to make sure everyone can be included in your board gaming sessions. | |||
| Our Holiday Catchup | 06 Jan 2021 | 00:30:30 | |
New year, new season! Welcome to season 2 of PlayDNA- this week we catch up on all the games we received and played over the holidays. | |||
| Episode 136: Anno 1800, Psychobabble, and Chicken! | 13 Sep 2023 | 00:36:55 | |
| 2020 End of Year Review | 02 Dec 2020 | 00:33:08 | |
This is our last episode of 2020! We discuss the games we loved the most this year, plus the things we are looking forward to in 2021. | |||
| Thanksgiving! | 25 Nov 2020 | 00:29:31 | |
We are grateful for this podcast and for you guys! Today we talk about what makes us grateful about our board gaming hobby, how we got into it, and why others should, too! | |||
| Pink vs. Blue | 18 Nov 2020 | 00:43:16 | |
Like it or not, there's a gender divide in play of all kinds, including board games. Why does this divide exist and what can we do about it? Damon talks about inclusivity in design and in play, we talk about early experiences playing with 'gendered' toys, and we discuss what makes a game feel more "masculine" or "feminine." | |||
| Food Picks! (The Best Food Themed Games) | 11 Nov 2020 | 00:21:47 | |
Games good enough to eat! For all you foodies and home chefs out there, this week we talk about food themed games! From the fast-playing casual Sushi Go, to the elegant Elevenses, we have some great picks to satisfy your appetite. | |||
| Cheaters | 04 Nov 2020 | 00:45:22 | |
The accidental cheat is bound to happen when you're an avid boardgamer, but purposeful cheating is another matter entirely. Sarah discusses some of the psychology behind cheating and how you can address a cheater in your gaming group. https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/77316/psychology-cheating https://ifstudies.org/blog/cheating-at-play-cheating-in-life https://geekandsundry.com/science-explains-why-people-cheat-at-games/ | |||
| Halloween! | 28 Oct 2020 | 00:26:32 | |
It's here! Even if you're staying in, board games can make your Halloween fun, spooky, memorable. We discuss all our favorite spooky and monster themed games from Mysterium to Nemesis. Jaws https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/272738/jaws Blank Slate https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254188/blank-slate Cartographers https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/263918/cartographers Jungle Speed https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8098/jungle-speed Hues & Cues https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/302520/hues-and-cues My City https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295486/my-city Niagara https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13308/niagara Games we mentioned: Mysterium https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium Fearsome Floors https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7805/fearsome-floors Deception: Murder in Hong Kong https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156129/deception-murder-hong-kong Exit: Abandoned Cabin https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/203420/exit-game-abandoned-cabin Unlock: The House on the Hill https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230303/unlock-mystery-adventures-house-hill Broom Service https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172308/broom-service The Mind https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244992/mind Spyfall https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/166384/spyfall Witness https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/164265/witness Fury of Dracula https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181279/fury-dracula-thirdfourth-edition Mansions of Madness https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205059/mansions-madness-second-edition Dead of Winter https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150376/dead-winter-crossroads-game One Night Ultimate Werewolf https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147949/one-night-ultimate-werewolf Zombies!!! https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2471/zombies Nemesis https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167355/nemesis Shadows in the Forest https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1070/shadows-forest Serpent's Tongue https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123408/serpents-tongue Wicked Witches Way https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28025/wicked-witches-way | |||
| All's Fair in Games and War | 21 Oct 2020 | 00:30:39 | |
How many lives have Monopoly and Playing Cards saved? Turns out, the answer is in the thousands. This week Cassandra talks about the ways that games have been used as tools of war- as a means of educating wartorn populations, boosting morale, and as incognito war prison escape kits. The Taverns of Tiefenthal Cribbage Punderdome Micropul Nova Luna Anomia Games we Mentioned: Monopoly escape kits Map decks Most Wanted Playing Cards Ordnance Playing Cards Cold Case Playing Cards | |||
| Paper Picks! (games that can be played with only a pencil and paper) | 14 Oct 2020 | 00:25:56 | |
When you've played every game you own 100 times and you're strapped for cash, make your own games! We list games that can be easily made at home using only pencil and paper. | |||
| Games That Teach | 07 Oct 2020 | 00:49:07 | |
Games are extraordinary educational tools that allow players to learn new concepts and explore new cultures and histories visually, audibly, and kinesthetically. In our opinion there are some concepts that are better taught through games than any other medium. Damon goes over his favorite educational games, and how designers can take advantage of the opportunity to teach through their games. Dead Men Tell No Tales https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/141423/dead-men-tell-no-tales Trains https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/121408/trains Back to the Future: Back in Time https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/302388/back-future-back-time Cutthroat Caverns https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28259/cutthroat-caverns Games mentioned: Evolution https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155703/evolution Twilight Struggle https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle Freedom:The Underground Railroad https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119506/freedom-underground-railroad Terraforming Mars https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars Targi https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118048/targi Lisboa https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa A Few Acres of Snow https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/79828/few-acres-snow Stockpile https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161614/stockpile Commands and Colors: Napoleonics https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62222/commands-colors-napoleonics Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25021/sekigahara-unification-japan Wingspan https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan Moa https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/214123/moa The Grizzled https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171668/grizzled Timeline https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/128664/timeline Chrononauts https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/815/chrononauts Genius Games https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/27068/genius-games | |||
| Aging Gamefully | 30 Sep 2020 | 00:32:15 | |
Board games have an astoundingly positive effect on an aging brain. Sarah expresses her fear that people won't want to play games with her when she ages, and we discuss great games that can be played with seniors who have varying capabilities. | |||
| Episode 135. Alice Is Missing, Exit: The Disappearance Of Sherlock Holmes, Flamecraft | 30 Aug 2023 | 00:33:20 | |
| The Triumph and Tragedy of Marvin Glass | 23 Sep 2020 | 00:31:50 | |
Perhaps the most famous toy inventor of all time, Marvin Glass rocked the toy world with hits such as wind up chattering teeth and Rock'em Sock'em Robots. With the creation of Mousetrap and Operation he changed the board game industry forever. Despite his incredible success, Glass led a life filled with depression and paranoia. | |||
| Magical Mechanics | 16 Sep 2020 | 00:40:29 | |
Have you ever played a game that used simple technologies in such fresh and novel ways that they felt absolutely magical? Damon discusses some of the games that have successfully used magnets, mirrors, and light to achieve truly magical play experiences. | |||
| Plane picks! (Games you can play on a plane) | 09 Sep 2020 | 00:22:27 | |
Going on a trip? We've got you covered! Here are some great small games to throw into your carry on before boarding the plane including Jaipur, Cribbage, and A Fake Artist Goes to New York. | |||
| Pet Peeves | 02 Sep 2020 | 00:45:54 | |
When you're gaming all the time, you are bound to come across things you don't like. Sarah and special guest Glenn go over the design choices and mechanics that have annoyed and baffled them the most. | |||
| Gaming the System | 26 Aug 2020 | 00:43:43 | |
Perhaps you've heard the buzzword gamification, but what exactly is it? Games are highly motivating because they tap into our core drives as humans. Cassandra goes over these core drives and how they have been used to "gamify" learning, mental health, productivity, and even grocery shopping. | |||
| But is it Art? | 19 Aug 2020 | 00:42:08 | |
We can all agree- games are fun! But does the fact that they are enjoyable place them outside the realm of "Art?" Damon talks about what makes something art, and whether games can fit into this definition. | |||
| Party picks! (Games for 8 or more players) | 12 Aug 2020 | 00:39:04 | |
A new once a month series of curation and design challenges- this month, what games will make an 8+ person gaming party a hit. No teaming up spouses ever again! | |||
| Child's Play | 05 Aug 2020 | 00:44:48 | |
Children's board games are quite a mixed bag, encompassing everything from edu-games to games that involve stepping in rubber 'poop'. But there are a lot of gems in the children's space that both kid and adult players alike can enjoy. Sarah takes us through some of her favorite children's games and we discuss competing philosophies on what makes a children's game good. | |||
| Olympic Chess | 29 Jul 2020 | 00:45:38 | |
Is chess a sport? Many players think so, and there has be a push to get chess declared an official Olympic sport for over 20 years. Cassandra discusses the many ways the chess community has tried to prove their sport status, from forming an international governing body to administrating doping tests at tournaments. Oh, and she discusses the joys of Chess Boxing. | |||
| The Life and Death of CCG's | 22 Jul 2020 | 00:49:26 | |
Following the release of Magic The Gathering in 1993 there was an explosion of unique and branded collectible card games, many of questionable quality. Many have fallen into obscurity only to be found in the darkest corners of ebay and craigslist. Damon takes us through the best CCG's, both the well known and the forgotten, and gives tips on how to get into the world of CCG's without breaking the bank. | |||
| Episode 134: Redwood, Books through Time, and Peace Chess | 16 Aug 2023 | 00:39:51 | |
The games we played at Gen Con 2023! | |||
| Pigs in a Clover | 15 Jul 2020 | 00:39:53 | |
From ball mazes, to Blow Football, to Meeple Circus, dexterity games have blossomed and grown into a rich, diverse genre of tabletop experiences. Sarah takes us through some historical delights and modern favorites. | |||
| The Game of the Goose | 08 Jul 2020 | 00:30:05 | |
Considered by many to be the first "modern" board game, The Game of the Goose has grown and evolved with European culture for 400 year. Cassandra takes us through its strange rise to popularity and the proceeding explosion in branded and rethemed versions of the game. | |||
| Your Gamer Zodiac | 01 Jul 2020 | 00:44:31 | |
Not every game is for every gamer. And choosing the perfect game is often more complicated than just staying inside of a single genre or theme. So how should you go about choosing a game that everyone in your group will love? Damon discusses how to discover someone's gamer personality, and how you can use that knowledge during game selection. | |||
| Puzzle Me This | 24 Jun 2020 | 00:41:43 | |
| Induction, my dear Watson | 17 Jun 2020 | 00:40:22 | |
Inductive reasoning games are as rare as they are spectacularly fun. Cassandra discusses her favorite genre and the differences between induction and deduction. | |||
| Getting to "Let's Just Play" | 10 Jun 2020 | 00:57:09 | |
We've all experienced it- trying to teach a board game to a friend or parent utterly unfamiliar with the gaming world and getting nowhere. This week Damon discusses game literacy and how we can design and teach games differently to reduce the stress of learning and get closer to the coveted "let's just play." | |||
| Ancient Games | 03 Jun 2020 | 00:54:59 | |
Archaeologists have found hundreds of ancient board games dating back thousands of years, most of which, unsurprisingly, had no instruction manual included. The Digital Ludeme Research Project is using artificial intelligence to discover how these games were played. | |||
| Seeking the Divine | 27 May 2020 | 00:40:50 | |
Which came first, the playing card, or the tarot card? From Tarot decks in the 18th century to the Satanic Panic and backlash against Ouija in the 90's, board games and fortunetelling have evolved in parallel, and often intersected. | |||
| Feelies | 20 May 2020 | 01:07:03 | |
The tactile feeling of a game can make or break the experience. Damon talks about how a game can be elevated (or hindered) by the materials it is made up of, and the board games that offer the most unique and satisfying tactile experiences. | |||
| Scare Us! | 13 May 2020 | 00:56:23 | |
Horror board games- how are they defined, and how do they differ from horror movies, video games, and books? Sarah goes over some of the best horror games out there. | |||
| Episdoe 132. Final Girl, Abducktion, and Boss Monster | 02 Aug 2023 | 00:17:59 | |
| How Games Made Computers | 06 May 2020 | 00:35:54 | |
In the 16th century, a mysterious human-shaped automaton called The Turk toured Europe beating thousands of human players in Chess. Its eerily human intelligence inspired a technology revolution. | |||
| Simple Simulations | 29 Apr 2020 | 00:50:14 | |
Damon gives us a list of games with elegant, simple mechanics that simulate complex real-world situations. | |||
| Let's Teach You Tichu | 22 Apr 2020 | 00:29:43 | |
The card game Tichu was released in 1991, with a wacky origin story to go with it. But similar climbing games have existed for generations both in China and worldwide. | |||