Explore every episode of the podcast The Fifth Meeple Board Game Podcast

Two games, one universe, and a whole lot of mechs! This week we’re putting Scythe against Expeditions in a battle that pits a beloved strategy classic against its spiritual successor. Which one gives us the better experience at the table? There’s only one way to find out!  Join us for this week's Battle of the Funnest Showdown!

Episode 117: Mech vs Mech: Scythe vs Expeditions

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 What's on your table?

11:42 Scythe

34:28 Scythe: Collector's Corner

35:33 Scythe: Final Thoughts

40:35 Expeditions

01:01:09 Expeditions: Collector's Corner

01:02:33 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

In this mini episode, we’re heading behind the counter for a taste of Soda Jerk! We give you a quick rundown on how the game plays, what we enjoyed, and whether it deserves a spot at your next game night.  Enjoy!

Episode 116 (Mini): Soda Jerk

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Soda Jerk

02:08 Soda Jerk: The Good

09:31 Soda Jerk: The Bad

13:39 Soda Jerk: Collector's Corner

14:20 Soda Jerk: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

This week we're proving that great board games don't need a giant box as Tenby and Forest Shuffle go head-to-head. From building up a seaside town in Tenby to creating powerful combinations of trees, animals, and wildlife in Forest Shuffle, both games give you plenty to think about without taking over your table. Which small-box game packs the biggest punch?  Let's find out in this week's Battle of the Funnest Showdown!

Episode 115: Small Box, Big Punch: Forest Shuffle vs Tenby

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:09 What's on your table?

09:11 Forest Shuffle

25:16 Forest Shuffle: Collector's Corner

26:38 Forest Shuffle: Final Thoughts

28:39 Tenby

42:39 Tenby: Collector's Corner

43:34 Tenby: Final Thoughts

46:49 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

In this mini review, we’re taking a shot at Crokinole! We’ll talk about the gameplay, the skill, the flicking, and why this classic dexterity game continues to hit the mark!

Episode 114 (Mini): Crokinole

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:56 Crokinole

02:25 Crokinole: The Good

07:13 Crokinole: The Bad

11:42 Crokinole: Collector's Corner

13:06 Crokinole: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

In our latest battle episode, Sanctuary takes on Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition in a showdown of cards, tiles, engines, strategy, and tough decisions!

Both games bring their own streamlined take on the engine-building experience, but which one delivers the better gameplay? Which has the more satisfying decisions? And most importantly… which game comes out on top?

The pedigree of these two games come from board game royalty but only one can win this battle today! Join us as we break them down, compare what they do best, and settle the score in our latest board game battle!

Episode 113: Streamlined: Sanctuary vs Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:14 What's on your table?

14:14 Sanctuary

35:25 Sanctuary: Collector's Corner

36:27 Sanctuary: Final Thoughts

38:20 Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition

52:29 Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition: Collector's Corner

54:45 Terraforming Mars: Final Thoughts

56:43 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

It's that time again for a special trivia episode!  It's Pete's World and we all just live in it!  So play along as we do thing's Pete's way and try to get the highest score possible!  Enjoy!

Special Episode 112 (Trivia): Pete's World

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Pete's Trivia World

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

You know that summer fling—you have a great time together, you can’t get enough of each other, and you’re not thinking too far into the future. Today, we’re bringing that same energy to the table with the board games we’re loving right now!  It's our annual summer fling episode so sit back and enjoy as we each talk about 3 games we are in love with at least for the summer of 2026.

Special Episode 111: Summer Flings 2026

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:35 Summer Flings 2026

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

The battle continues! Episode 110 features an Expansion Face-Off between SETI: Space Agencies and Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. We'll break down what each expansion brings to the table, who they're best for, and ultimately crown the winner. If you're wondering which expansion is worth adding to your shelf, this episode is for you.  

Also check out Episode 69 where these two titans originally battled each other in one epic clash.

Episode 110: Expansion Face-Off: SETI: Space Agencies vs Shackleton Base: Below.Within.Above

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:20 What's on your table?

13:21 SETI: Space Agencies 

23:48 SETI: Space Agencies: Collector's Corner

24:52 SETI: Space Agencies: Final Thoughts

27:32 Shackleton Base: Below.Within.Above

42:17 Shackleton Base: Below.Within.Above: Collector's Corner

43:18 Shackleton Base: Below.Within.Above: Final Thoughts

46:15 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

There's been a lot of buzz around FlipToons lately, so we wanted to see what all the excitement is about. Is it a deck-builder worth tracking down, or is the artwork doing most of the heavy lifting?  Come find out the answers in today's mini!

Episode 109 (Mini): FlipToons 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 FlipToons

02:20 FlipToons: The Good

07:54 FlipToons: The Bad

11:16 FlipToons: The Collector's Corner

11:55 FlipToons: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

The Rating the Rankings series rolls on! Today we're breaking down BGG's #11–20, discussing what makes each game worthy of its spot, which ones deserve to climb higher, and whether any have overstayed their welcome. Then we'll put our opinions to the test with another snake draft, competing for your votes to see who drafts the strongest lineup. It's another episode full of rankings, debates, and board game fun!  (Check out Episode 97 for the first in this series "Rating the Rankings)

Special Episode 108 (Rating the Rankings): BGG 11-20

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:54 BGG Top 11-20

40:54 The Draft

Whose draft did you like best? Let us know by emailing us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll give you a shout out in our next episode!  As always get those games to the table!

In today's mini we answer the question: Can Catan really fit in your pocket? This week we're taking a quick look at Catan: On the Road, the 15-minute card game that distills the classic resource gathering, trading, and settlement building experience into a fast, travel-friendly package. Does it capture the magic of the original, or should it stay packed away?  

Episode 107 (Mini): Catan: On the Road

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Catan: On the Road

02:33 Catan: On the Road: The Good

07:27 Catan: On the Road: The Bad

13:39 Catan: On the Road: The Collector's Corner

14:32 Catan: On the Road: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Join us for part 2 of our Origins 2026 coverage!  We explore 16 new to us games and give our opinions on all of them.  So come enjoy as we close out Origins 2026!

Special Episode 106: Origins Recap Part 2 (16 Games Discussed)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Origins 2026 Part 2 (16 games discussed!)

Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Join us for this special episode as we recap Origins 2026!  We explore 17 new to us games and give our opinions on all of them.  So buckle up as we bring you Origins 2026 from Columbus, OH. 

Special Episode 105: Origins Recap Part 1 (17 Games Discussed)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introductions

00:34 Origins 2026 Part 1 (17 games discussed!)

Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Welcome back to The Fifth Meeple! Today's showdown is a race unlike any other. One contender brings post-apocalyptic carnage, while the other delivers fantasy-fueled kart racing. Will Thunder Road Vendetta run its rival off the road, or will Dungeon Kart use a few magical shortcuts to claim the crown? Let's hit the track and find out!

Episode 104: Raucous Racing: Thunder Road Vendetta vs Dungeon Kart

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 What's on our table?

14:40 Thunder Road Vendetta

30:52 Thunder Road Vendetta: The Collector's Corner

31:57 Thunder Road Vendetta: Final Thoughts

35:12 Dungeon Kart

52:57 Dungeon Kart: The Collector's Corner

54:42 Dungeon Kart: Final Thoughts

56:15 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Every kingdom needs a ruler, but only one can wield Excalibur. Today we're sharing our quick thoughts on this medieval-themed board game and whether it's a quest worth embarking on as we tell you what we loved, what we didn't, and whether it's worth your time.

Episode 103 (Mini): Excalibur

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:54 Excalibur

02:28 Excalibur: The Good

07:14 Excalibur: The Bad

11:03 Excalibur: The Collector's Corner

13:41 Excalibur: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 102: Classic Drafts: Azul vs Sagrada

In today's episode the Goofy Noob Returns as we battle and review two modern classic board games. Both are masterpieces of color and design. One asks players to craft breathtaking mosaics for a Portuguese palace. The other challenges them to create stunning stained-glass windows worthy of a cathedral. Both have captivated millions of players around the world. But when the dust settles, which puzzle reigns supreme? Join us as we dive deep into the beauty, strategy, and tension of Azul versus Sagrada!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction (Return of the Goofy Noob)

01:10 Topic of the Day!

14:22 Azul

26:17 Azul: The Collector's Corner

27:06 Azul: Final Thoughts

29:58 Sagrada

44:27 Sagrada: The Collector's Corner

46:17 Sagrada: Final Thoughts

49:50 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

If you are going to be at Origins 2026 and want to catch us reach out this week and we can maybe play a game or two with you!

Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 101 (Mini): Ito

In this bite-sized review, we break down Ito, a cooperative party game that turns simple numbers into creative conversations. Easy to teach, quick to play, and packed with laughs, we'll tell you who this game is best for and whether it deserves a spot at your next game night.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Ito

02:20 Ito: The Good

08:19 Ito: The Bad

13:32 Ito: The Collector's Corner

14:18 Ito: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 100: Music to Our Ears: Luthier vs Lacrimosa

Welcome to our 100th episode spectacular! We couldn’t think of a better theme than Music to Our Ears! Today’s contenders are two of the hobby’s most melodic heavy hitters: Lacrimosa and Luthier. Tune your instruments and shuffle your decks — it's time to see which performance earns the standing ovation!  Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:18 Topic of the Day!

10:54 Luthier

32:27 Luthier: Collector's Corner

36:14 Luthier: Final Thoughts

39:03 Lacrimosa

58:35 Lacrimosa: Collector's Corner

01:00:01 Lacrimosa: Final Thoughts

01:01:52 Battle of the Funnest Showdown!

Thanks for listening to our 100th episode!  We never thought we would make it this far and want to say to all of our listeners thanks for listening!  We couldn't have done it without you all!  

Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 99 (Mini): Avant Carde

Today we’re diving into Avant Carde — the stylish card battler where every play feels like a duel between an art exhibit and a tactical mind game. We’ll talk about what makes it stand out, why people are buzzing about it, and whether this avant-garde experiment deserves a spot on your table.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:51 Avant Carde

02:17 Avant Carde: The Good

07:37 Avant Carde: The Bad

11:33 Avant Carde: Collector's Corner

12:03 Avant Carde: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 98: Living the Theme: Obsession vs Rock Hard 1977

Some board games have a theme pasted on top. Others pull you completely into their world. That’s what this week is all about. Today, we’re diving into two games that don’t just give you actions to take… they give you a life to live. In Rock Hard: 1977, you’re chasing fame, sleep deprivation, and your next big gig in the gritty world of late-70s rock. In Obsession, you’re managing servants, social status, and scandal in high society England. By the end of the episode, we’ll decide which game does the better job of making players forget they’re sitting at a table… and start believing they’re living another life!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Topic of the Day!

06:32 Obsession

27:09 Obsession: Collector's Corner

29:55 Obsession: Final Thoughts

32:04 Rock Hard 1977

44:19 Rock Hard 1977: Collector's Corner

44:57 Rock Hard 1977: Final Thoughts

47:35 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 97 (Rating the Rankings): BGG 1-10

Ten games. Thousands of ratings. Endless arguments. Today, we enter the sacred list: BoardGameGeek’s top 10. Some of these are masterpieces… some might be a little overrated. Either way, we’re ranking, critiquing, and maybe stirring the pot just a bit.  Afterwards we do our first ever draft where each host picks what games they would take out of the top 10 in a snake draft as we compete to earn your votes on who drafted the best!  Thanks as always for the listens and spreading the word!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:27 BGG Top 10

37:52 The Draft

Whose draft did you like best? Let us know by emailing us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll give you a shout out in our next episode!  As always get those games to the table!

Episode 96: Stars, Sweets, and Heavy Euros: Galactic Cruise vs Sweet Lands

Welcome back! This week, we’ve got a showdown that pits cosmic elegance against confectionery chaos. Galactic Cruise promises five-star experiences in zero gravity, while Sweet Lands delivers a bright, candy-filled world of playful competition. We’re throwing them into the ring to see which one actually satisfies. Space luxury or sugar rush—what’s it going to be? Listen in as these 2025 Heavy Euros battle for victory!

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Topic of the Day!

06:07 Galactic Cruise

24:45 Galactic Cruise: Collector's Corner

26:09 Galact Cruise: Final Thoughts

27:46 Sweet Lands

46:04 Sweet Lands: Collector's Corner

47:48 Sweet Lands: Final Thoughts

50:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 95 (Trivia): Starting Player Rules

Before the first move is made, before alliances are broken, before someone flips the table—there’s one critical question: who goes first? And apparently, board game designers have decided the answer should involve astrology, recent meals, or your proximity to a houseplant. Today’s trivia episode is all about starting player rules—the good, the bad, and the ‘why does this exist?’ Let’s find out who really deserves to go first.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Chris's 10 Trivia Questions (Starting Player Rules) Play along with us!

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

Episode 94: Allies or Adversaries: Kinfire Council vs Archipelago

In today's episode are friends working together… or secretly plotting against each other? This episode dives into Kinfire Council and Archipelago, two games that handle teamwork very differently. Expect laughs, tough choices, and a debate over which one creates the best game night chaos.  Only one can come out victorious as we battle them off in our Battle of the Funnest Showdown!  Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Topic of the Day!

10:30 Kinfire Council

32:04 Kinfire Council: Collector's Corner

33:40 Archipelago 

47:21 Archipelago: Collector's Corner

48:15 Archipelago: Final Thoughts

52:00 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 93 (Mini): First in Flight

Today we’re taking to the skies with First in Flight, a game all about pushing the limits of early aviation. It’s fast, it’s clever, and it might just surprise you with how tense those first few seconds off the ground can feel. Let’s see if this one soars… or stalls on the runway.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 First in Flight

02:36 First in Flight: The Good

06:50 First in Flight: The Bad

12:16 First in Flight: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 92: Forever and Ever-dell: Everdell vs Everdell Silverfrost

In today's episode we’re heading deep into the forest—but don’t forget your coat, because things are about to get cold. That’s right, we’re putting Everdell head-to-head with its frosty counterpart, Everdell: Silverfrost.

This one’s more than just vibes—it’s a true test of design. We’re comparing the cozy, streamlined engine-building of the original against the expanded systems and icy twists Silverfrost brings to the table. Does the classic still deliver the tightest, most satisfying experience, or has the new contender evolved the formula into something even better?

Only one game earns the win—let’s find out into today's battle of the funnest showdown!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Topic of the Day!

10:20 Everdell Silverfrost

21:54 Everdell Silverfrost: Collector's Corner

23:47 Everdell Silverfrost: Final Thoughts

25:53 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 91: Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament (Part 2)

We crown a champ! It's part 2 of our epic Meeple Madness Tournament with the Final 8 teams battling it out to see who shall come out on top!  Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament - Final 8 Games

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 90: Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament (Part 1)

It’s March… which means chaos. Not on the court—but on the table. Inspired by March Madness, we’re seeding this past year's winners of our Battle of the Funnest Matches into one brutal bracket.  Upsets will happen, favorites will fall, and legacies are on the line. This is Meeple Madness 2026!  Want to fill out a bracket before you listen?  Print one out here: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Fifth-Meeple-Board-Game-Podcast-61558676691506/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:51 Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 89: One and Done

In this episode we're talking about games we're glad we played once ... but never want to play again. Plus, we're honored to be joined by Tim, one of the hosts of Board Game Hot Takes!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Guest Host: Tim from Board Game Hot Takes

02:11 Interview with Tim

12:47 One and Done Board Games

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 88 (Mini): Take Time

Today we’re taking a quick look at Take Time, a cooperative puzzle game from Libellud. In this one to four player experience, you’ll be placing cards around a clock face while trying to solve a series of increasingly tricky logic challenges.  See what our crew thinks about this unique co-op!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Take Time

02:34 Take Time: The Good

08:03 Take Time: The Bad

11:51 Take Time: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 87: Pfister Face-Off:  Great Western Trail vs Maracaibo

Two heavy euros enter: Great Western Trail and Maracaibo. We compare route optimization and deck refinement against exploration and campaign progression. Only one can claim the Pfister crown.

It’s cowboys versus captains in a cardboard clash for bragging rights. We argue over cows, ships, buildings, and bonus tiles like our reputations depend on it. By the end, someone walks the plank—or rides off into the Kansas City sunset.

Timestamp:

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Topic of the Day!

06:46 Great Western Trail

19:49 Great Western Trail: Collector's Corner

21:05 Great Western Trail: Final Thoughts

22:49 Maracaibo

38:08 Maracaibo: Collector's Corner

39:40 Maracaibo: Final Thoughts

41:43 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 86 (Mini): Foolish Fool

Today we’re spotlighting Foolish Fool, a fast-paced card game packed with quick turns and playful tension. Everyone’s trying to dodge becoming the round’s fool, which leads to light strategy, cheeky moves, and just enough chaos to keep the table buzzing. Listen in to see what we think about this small box game!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:54 Foolish Fool

02:07 Foolish Fool: The Good

07:43 Foolish Fool: The Bad

10:08 Foolish Fool: Final Scores

13:40 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 85: Battle of the Beards: Carnegie vs Darwin's Journey

Welcome to Episode 85! Today we’re throwing down two heavyweight Euro titans — Carnegie vs Darwin’s Journey. Industrial empire building meets evolutionary exploration. Steel rails or sailing ships? Ruthless efficiency or carefully crafted engine growth?

Both games bring deep strategy, tough decisions, and long-term planning to the table — but which one delivers the tighter design, stronger progression, and more satisfying path to victory? Let’s break it down and find out which beard reigns supreme!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Topic of the Day!

04:48 Carnegie

22:26 Carnegie: Collector's Corner

23:02 Carnegie: Final Thoughts

26:08 Darwin's Journey

43:13 Darwin's Journey: Collector's Corner

44:12 Darwin's Journey: Final Thoughts

45:18 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 84 (Mini): For Sale

In this mini review, we take a look at For Sale, the fast-paced auction card game that’s become a staple of the hobby. We break down its two-phase gameplay, why it works so well as a filler, and whether its simple design still holds up today. Quick, clever, and full of tense decisions — find out what we think about this classic game.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:56 For Sale

02:16 For Sale: The Good

09:11 For Sale: The Bad

11:52 For Sale: Final Scores

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 83: Dice, Engines, and Domination: Space Base vs Valeria: Card Kingdoms

Both games promise satisfying engine-building and dice-driven decisions—but which does it better? We break down Space Base vs. Valeria: Card Kingdoms and see which system really earns its victory points in this battle of the funnest showdown.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Topic of the Day!

07:18 Space Base

17:11 Space Base: Collector's Corner

17:54 Space Base: Final Thoughts

19:55 Valeria: Card Kingdoms

29:58 Valeria: Card Kingdoms: Collector's Corner

30:28 Valeria: Card Kingdoms: Final Thoughts

34:14 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

45:55 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 82 (Trivia): Board Game Mechanisms

How well do you really know game mechanics? In this trivia-style episode, we dive into worker placement, design complexity, and the language gamers use—inviting listeners to play along as we break down what makes these systems tick.  Thanks for listening! Enjoy

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Chris's 15 Trivia Questions (Mechanisms) Play along with us!

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

Special Episode 81: Never Again: Worst Plays of 2025

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Worst 3 Plays of 2025

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 80: Don't Bet on It: Hot Streak vs Magical Athlete

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Topic of the Day!

04:24 Magical Athlete

13:35 Magical Athlete: Collector's Corner

14:40 Magical Athlete: Final Thoughts

16:22 Hot Streak

27:24 Hot Streak: Collector's Corner

27:51 Hot Streak: Final Thoughts

30:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

41:29 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 79: Cream of the Crop Top Plays of 2025

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Top 3 Games We Played in 2025

37:32 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 78 (Mini): Toy Battle

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Toy Battle

02:43 Toy Battle: The Good

08:42 Toy Battle: The Bad

15:07 Toy Battle: Final Scores

21:45 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 77: What's the Buzz? Honey Buzz vs Apiary

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Topic of the Day!

08:22 A Listener Review!

09:10 Honey Buzz

22:41 Honey Buzz: Collector's Corner

24:52 Honey Buzz: Final Thoughts

27:22 Apiary

41:37 Apiary: Collector's Corner

42:11 Apiary: Final Thoughts

44:24 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

58:51 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 76 (Trivia): Board Game Trivia Challenge

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:59 Board Game Trivia Challenge (play along with us!)

01:24 Pete's 10 Trivia Questions

31:45 Our Final Scores

33:11 Bloopers

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

Episode 75: The Enemy Within: Shadows over Camelot vs Nemesis

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Topic of Discussion

04:49 Shadows over Camelot

18:17 Shadows over Camelot: Collector's Corner

18:53 Shadows over Camelot: Final Thoughts

21:34 Nemesis

39:22 Nemesis: Collector's Corner

39:51 Nemesis: Final Thoughts

42:35 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

55:40 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 74 (Mini): Trinket Trove

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:59 Trinket Trove

02:33 Trinket Trove: The Good

10:12 Trinket Trove: The Bad

13:37 Trinket Trove: Final Scores

17:35 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 73: You're the Best, Part 3: Top 15 Board Games of All Time (5-1)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:45 Topic of the Day!

07:12 David's #5

09:13 Pete's #5

12:43 Chris's #5

15:15 Daniella's #5

17:56 David's #4

20:58 Pete's #4

24:16 Chris's #4

26:32 Daniella's #4

29:08 David's #3

33:13 Pete's #3

36:00 Chris's #3

38:57 Daniella's #3

41:20 David's #2

44:15 Pete's #2

47:40 Chris's #2

50:07 Daniella's #2

53:20 David's #1

57:06 Pete's #1

01:01:00 Chris's #1

01:05:34 Daniella's #1

01:09:47 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 72: You're the Best, Part 2: Top 15 Board Games of All Time (10-6)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Topic of the Day!

06:08 Chris's #10

09:36 David's #10

12:04 Pete's #10

15:14 Daniella's #10

18:03 Chris's #9

20:21 David's #9

23:48 Pete's #9

26:05 Daniella's #9

27:33 Chris's #8

30:09 David's #8

32:08 Pete's #8

34:36 Daniella's #8

37:23 Chris's #7

40:02 David's #7

41:09 Daniella's #7

42:54 Pete's #7

46:28 Chris's #6

49:55 David's #6

51:30 Daniella's #6

53:31 Pete's #6

56:48 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 71: You're the Best, Part 1: Top 15 Board Games of All Time (15-11)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:51 Topic of the Day!

05:14 Pete's #15

09:00 David's #15

12:16 Chris's #15

15:36 Daniella's #15

19:26 Pete's #14

21:58 David's #14

25:17 Chris's #14

27:07 Daniella's #14

29:11 Pete's #13

30:53 David's #13

32:31 Chris's #13

35:28 Daniella's #13

37:52 Pete's #12

39:43 David's #12

41:38 Chris's #12

43:51 Daniella's #12

46:07 Pete's #11

47:19 Daniella's #11

48:25 David's #11

49:49 Chris's #11

52:08 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 70 (Mini): Friday the 13th

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Friday the 13th

02:39 Friday the 13th: The Good

06:02 Friday the 13th: The Bad

10:22 Friday the 13th: Final Score

15:02 Bloopers

*Friday the 13th is also known as Poison by Reiner Knizia

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Episode 69: Who Does Space Better?: SETI vs. Shackleton Base

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:11 What's new on our tables!

13:12 Leave us a review!

13:26 SETI

29:49 SETI: Collector's Corner

30:32 SETI: Final Thoughts

32:21 Shackleton Base

49:35 Shackleton Base: Collector's Corner

50:40 Shackleton Base: Final Thoughts

53:39 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

01:09:43 Bloopers

Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!

Special Episode 68 (Trivia): Board Game Trivia #3--Listener Trivia!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Board Game Trivia Challenge (play along with us!)

01:35 Seth's 15 Trivia Questions

34:26 Our Final Scores

35:33 Bloopers

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!