Current Plays

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas step into the arena with Duel of Meloch , the newest release from Stonemaier Games! Imagine taking the DNA of Scythe and Expeditions , shrinking it down to an ambitious head-to-head duel, and setting two players loose in a race to accomplish competing objectives. If you know those games, Duel of Meloch feels wonderfully familiar while still bringing fresh gameplay into a two-player space. The design is clever, the gameplay is remarkably smooth, and the ability to mix and match components with its Stonemaier siblings adds a serious dose of value. But there’s one question we can’t escape: as a stand-alone game, does Duel of Meloch have what it takes to earn a permanent place on the shelf, or is its greatest strength being part of the bigger1920+ universe? Let the duel begin!

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas delve into Golem , a wonderfully intricate euro where ancient magic, precious marbles, and a whole lot of very important decisions come together. At the heart of the game is a fascinating action selection system that constantly asks you to weigh three competing considerations: which colour of marble you take, which action you perform, and how powerful that action will be. Getting one thing you want often means giving up something else, making every turn an exercise in finding the most satisfying compromise. And that's only the beginning. Golem weaves its interconnected systems together into a challenging strategic puzzle where choices in one area ripple through the rest of your game. It's demanding without being punishing, rewarding careful planning while still giving you plenty to chew on as your plans unfold. For Jordan and Thomas, Golem is exactly the sort of crunchy euro they love: clever mechanisms, interconnected systems, and just enough brain-bending decision making to make every marble count.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas dive beneath the waves with Endeavor: Deep Sea , an uplifting game of exploration, marine research, and conservation. And while there may be plenty of ocean to explore, there certainly isn't an endless supply of actions, so making the most of every opportunity is key! With limited action points, careful planning is essential, but Endeavor: Deep Sea rewards players who can also adapt when the underwater landscape changes. A new discovery, a shifting board state, or an unexpected opportunity can turn your carefully laid plans into something even better. One of the highlights is building your tableau of specialists, assembling a talented team whose unique abilities help shape the direction of your expedition. As your specialists grow in number and capability, so does your ability to pursue the discoveries and conservation efforts that matter most. Thoughtful planning, tactical adaptability, satisfying tableau building, and a wonderful sense of exploration make Endeavor: Deep Sea a game that gives Jordan and Thomas plenty to love. So grab your research gear, assemble your crew, and let's see what wonders are waiting beneath the waves!

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas check passengers in, prepare excursions, and try to build the most successful luxury vacation company in Galactic Cruise . Beneath its cheerful theme of interstellar tourism lies a richly deep euro game packed with interconnected systems, rewarding engine building, and meaningful decisions at every turn. The hosts discuss how Galactic Cruise manages to earn its hefty BGG weight rating without ever feeling quite as overwhelming as the numbers suggest. That's largely thanks to the game's excellent thematic integration. Nearly every action feels intuitive because it aligns so naturally with what you're trying to accomplish. Need more tourists? Better destinations? A bigger ship? The mechanisms and theme work hand in hand, making even complex decisions feel logical and purposeful. What really stood out was how quickly the game's many moving parts began to click. As the company grows and your plans become more ambitious, the game reveals a satisfying depth that rewards careful planning without constantly sending players back to the rulebook. It's a big game with big decisions, but one whose theme does a remarkable amount of heavy lifting. By the end, our hosts found themselves less concerned with managing mechanisms and more concerned with running the galaxy's premier cruise line.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas launch into the stars with Last Light by Roy Cannaday and Grey Fox Games, a lightning-fast 4X adventure where the fate of the galaxy can change in the blink of an eye. Expand your empire, explore the unknown, exploit precious resources, and prepare for the inevitable clash as rival civilizations race toward the last light in the universe. The hosts discuss how Last Light delivers the grand feel of a sprawling 4X game without demanding an entire day to play. Beneath its approachable rules lies a surprisingly meaty strategic experience, where tactical positioning, careful timing, and clever planning all play a vital role. Every decision feels meaningful, yet the game never loses its brisk pace. For anyone looking to capture the excitement of conquering a galaxy in a single evening, Last Light shines brightly. It's fast, strategic, wonderfully accessible, and proof that epic space empires don't always need epic play times.

This week on Current Plays , Thomas is away, so Jordan is joined by special guest Ryan from How I Roll on YouTube to wage a civil war in The Anarchy by Garphill Games. Set against the backdrop of 12th-century England's struggle for the throne, every decision carries weight as castles are fortified, influence spreads, and the kingdom hangs in the balance. Jordan and Ryan share their appreciation for Garphill's unmistakable design philosophy, diving into the game's rich strategic choices, contrasting approaches to victory, and the constant ebb and flow of resources that makes every turn feel rewarding. Whether you're investing in your long-term plans or seizing an unexpected opportunity, The Anarchy keeps players engaged with meaningful decisions from beginning to end. With clever mechanisms, satisfying resource management, and the signature Garphill depth that rewards thoughtful play, The Anarchy proves that even in the midst of a kingdom torn apart by civil war, great strategy can reign supreme. The crown may be contested, but this episode is one you'll want to claim.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas descend into the fractured world of Revenant , Mindclash Games’ highly anticipated follow-up to Voidfall . As you might expect from Mindclash, this is not a game that hands out easy decisions. Every action matters, every resource is precious, and every turn presents a new puzzle to solve. In other words, it’s right in the hosts’ wheelhouse. At its heart, Revenant is a heavy euro worker placement game, but one with a deliciously cruel twist: the action spaces themselves are unstable. They shift, disappear, and evolve throughout the game, forcing players to constantly reassess their plans and adapt to an ever-changing landscape. Long-term strategy is essential, but so is the ability to pivot when the galaxy refuses to cooperate. The hosts discuss how the game creates a fascinating balance between cooperation and competition. Players must work together to keep the fleet from collapsing, yet it's fine if your opponent's favoured ships get destroyed, right? That constant push and pull creates a rich strategic experience where every choice carries weight and every success feels earned. Dark, demanding, and brilliantly interactive, Revenant delivers the kind of intricate decision space that Mindclash fans crave, while introducing fresh ideas that make it feel distinct from anything else in their catalogue. Some games ask you to optimize. Revenant asks you to survive.

This week on Current Plays , Thomas is away, so Jordan is joined by special guest host Logan for a trip into the Marvel Universe with Marvel Dice Throne Missions . Together, they take on a series of standalone challenges that deliver all the fast-paced combat, dramatic dice rolls, and satisfying hero powers that make Dice Throne such a fan favourite. Unlike the campaign-driven structure of Dice Throne Adventures , Missions offers bite-sized co-operative and solo experiences that are easy to get to the table while still providing plenty of excitement. The hosts discuss how the Perk Sheet system cleverly ties games together, rewarding players with new unlocks and goals as they tackle different missions and earn Perk Points. Most of all, Jordan shares how much fun it has been playing Missions with Logan. Whether you're battling villains, chasing new perks, or just enjoying another excuse to roll some dice together, Marvel Dice Throne Missions proves that even Earth's Mightiest Heroes are better when shared with friends and family. Excelsior!

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas leave the sprawling epics behind for a cozy journey through Middle-earth with The Hobbit: There & Back Again by Reiner Knizia. Sometimes a lighter adventure is exactly what the table needs, and this charming little trek proved that simple doesn’t mean shallow. The hosts talk about how the clever dice drafting creates plenty of meaningful choices, with every roll offering opportunities, risks, and just enough strategy to keep things engaging from start to finish. But the real magic lies in the maps. With essentially eight different adventures packed into one box, each journey feels fresh, distinct, and full of its own personality. From quiet paths through the wilds to tense races for treasure, There & Back Again captures that classic Tolkien sense of adventure in a breezy, approachable package that still gives players plenty to think about. A warm hearth, a well-packed backpack, and just a little luck with the dice. What more could a hobbit ask for?

Your hosts Jordan and Thomas run through the various games they played at BreakOut Con 2026; with a little dose of the old banter thrown into this nostalgic long-form bonus episode!

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas take the captain’s chair and set a course for one of the biggest surprises in recent memory: Star Trek: Captain’s Chair . Jordan may be the resident Trekkie, but even Thomas, with only a passing familiarity with the franchise, found himself completely pulled in by this stellar design. And Jordan? He simply can’t stop playing it. One game turned into several in rapid succession, which might be the clearest recommendation of all. The hosts dive into how brilliantly the game captures the feel of Star Trek , from commanding iconic crews to solving the fascinating puzzle of how each captain’s deck wants to operate. Every faction and leader feels distinct, and the shared market creates a constant push and pull between long-term planning and adapting on the fly. The deck management systems are especially inspired, with mechanics like Logging and Beaming creating meaningful decisions about hand size, tempo, and efficiency that feel both mechanically elegant and wonderfully thematic. More than just a licensed game, Captain’s Chair feels like a true labour of love. It understands what makes Star Trek exciting, thoughtful, and adventurous, while also delivering an incredibly satisfying strategy experience. Shields up. Engage.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas journey across imperial China with Tianxia , a grand strategy game of diplomacy, influence, and shifting power. Provinces rise and fall, alliances form and fracture, and every action sends ripples across the empire as players work to guide the fate of the realm. The hosts spend much of the episode unpacking the game’s many interconnected systems, exploring how its political manoeuvring, military presence, and economic considerations weave together into a deeply layered experience. Tianxia presents a rich strategic landscape filled with meaningful choices and evolving priorities, all wrapped in a sweeping historical theme that gives the game an epic sense of scale. It’s a thoughtful and ambitious design that left Jordan and Thomas eager to continue exploring everything the empire has to offer.

Order up, folks! This week on Current Plays Jordan and Thomas are cookin’ up burgers, slingin’ pizza, and movin’ cola like hotcakes in Food Chain Magnate , the big daddy of strategic restaurant games! From hiring errand boys and management trainees to building a marketing machine that’d make the Mad Men blush, this game is all about thinkin’ ahead while stayin’ ready to change gears at the drop of a hat. The hosts gab about what makes Food Chain Magnate such a stone-cold classic. The long-term strategies are sharper than a chrome tailfin, but the game still keeps you on your toes with quick tactical pivots, surprise radio campaigns, and neighbourhood food wars that can turn a booming burger joint into a real floparoo. Every milestone matters, every hire counts, and every turn feels like a battle for suburban supremacy. And baby, this Deluxe Edition is the bee’s knees. The upgraded components and slick presentation make the whole experience feel deluxe in the truest sense of the word. So grab a milkshake, tune in to the jukebox, and don’t forget to market that lemonade!

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas set sail with A Feast for Odin , Uwe Rosenberg’s sprawling Viking epic and a true modern classic. From raiding and trading to crafting and exploring, the game offers a remarkable range of paths to prosperity with each one weaving into the next like the threads of a well-worn saga. The hosts talk about why the game has earned its legendary status, especially the endlessly satisfying polyomino puzzle that turns every haul of goods into a careful exercise in planning and efficiency. With so many ways to build your Viking legacy, no two journeys feel quite the same. It’s big, bold, and deeply rewarding; exactly the kind of feast that keeps players coming back to the table.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas finally venture into Feya’s Swamp , a long-anticipated journey into a shifting landscape of settlements, trade, and careful positioning. As the swamp slowly fills with villages and pathways, the board begins to tighten around the players, turning every placement into a meaningful decision. Tactical positioning, clever interaction, and the evolving map create a game full of thoughtful choices and satisfying moments of planning. The hosts talk about how much they enjoy the core mechanisms—especially the negotiation and trading that lie at the heart of the design. At two players, however, the certain design decisions change the dynamic a bit, making trade less enticing and leaving certain actions feeling a little unusual. Even so, Feya’s Swamp remains a strong design with a lot to offer, and one that clearly shines brightest when more players gather around the table to explore the swamp together.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas chart a course through history with Sid Meier’s Civilization: A New Dawn , bringing the legendary computer franchise to the tabletop. From humble beginnings to world-shaping influence, the game captures the sweeping arc of building a civilization: expanding territory, advancing technology, and pursuing victory on your own terms. They explore how the clever focus-row action system streamlines the grand strategy of the video game into something tabletop-playable, preserving the spirit of progress and adaptation while embracing the limits, and strengths, of the board game format. While no tabletop version can replicate every layer of its digital ancestor, A New Dawn delivers a thoughtful, engaging experience that keeps the march of history moving and makes the rise of your empire feel earned. It’s a confident translation of a beloved series; ambitious, accessible, and well worth another turn through the ages.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas step through the gates of The White Castle by Isra C. and Shei S., a sharp and elegant euro set in feudal Japan. Beneath its serene exterior lies a game of razor-focused decision making, where every die placement matters and every action feels consequential. The hosts talk about how the streamlined design delivers big strategic choices in a surprisingly quick play time, proving that depth doesn’t require a sprawling footprint. With its tightly interwoven systems, spot-on theme, and beautiful artwork that brings Himeji Castle to life, The White Castle is a compact masterclass in thoughtful euro design.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas head to the zoo with Ark Nova , the heavyweight strategy title currently ranked #2 on BoardGameGeek. Tasked with building the most successful modern zoo, the hosts dive into a design packed with clever decisions, long-term planning, and a steady stream of satisfying combos. They chat about the game’s standout action-selection system, where timing and card strength shape every turn and the unique scoring track that keeps progress dynamic from start to finish. With deep strategy, meaningful choices, and plenty of room for clever plays, Ark Nova delivers a rich, engaging experience that shows exactly why it continues to sit near the very top of the hobby.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas travel to ancient Jerusalem with Ezra and Nehemiah , a game of rebuilding, restoration, and carefully chosen actions. From the first turn, the engaging action-selection system takes centre stage, with three shared action areas that interlock in satisfying ways and reward thoughtful timing. Watching those spaces fill, shift, and interact gives the whole game a sense of momentum, much like a city slowly rising back to life. They talk about how much they enjoy the way the mechanisms support one another, creating a steady rhythm of planning, adapting, and finding just the right moment to act. As always with Garphill Games, the theme is deeply integrated and ultimately a strong foundation for a genuinely great game. It’s a measured, engaging experience where every decision helps shape the rebuilding effort and the journey is just as rewarding as the result.

This week on Current Plays , Jordan and Thomas kneel before the throne of The Old King’s Crown —and emerge utterly enchanted. What begins as a simple, elegant contest for power quickly reveals itself as a masterclass in subtle manipulation, clever timing, and razor-fine positioning. Every move feels like courtly intrigue: a quiet nudge here, a delicate shift there, and suddenly the entire kingdom tilts in your favour. The hosts gush over how effortlessly the game delivers depth without complexity, rewarding players who can read the board like a royal decree and twist it just enough to claim victory. The design is packed with smart choices and satisfying little moments that make it genuinely hard to believe this is Pablo Clark’s first published game. And then there’s the artwork, which is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s the kind of visual splendour that makes the table feel like a storybook kingdom come to life, where every card and component looks worthy of the crown itself. In short: The Old King’s Crown is a jewel-box of a game; deceptively simple, endlessly clever, and fit for royalty.