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Rolling Dice and Taking Names is a podcast where two seasoned tabletop gamers have discussions about board games, RPGs, and miniatures that are entertaining and informative to casual gamers and experienced hobbyists alike. The level of conversation would be similar to friends sitting around the kitchen table playing the latest game, discussing their likes and dislikes of a style of game, or just trying to make sense of the latest gaming news. In addition, special guests add their gaming knowledge to help the hosts sound more credible. Family friendly, informative and always striving to be entertaining.
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00:00:30 Intro00:04:45 Recent RDTN Poll00:14:00 LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game00:17:00 Quick Hits00:17:30 Sandcastles00:19:45 Gruntz00:22:11 Computer Junkyard00:27:45 Enemies of Gotham City00:32:15 Six Sided Seas00:36:15 Miniature Market00:39:00 Abroad00:53:30 Bunny Kingdom Town00:59:30 Game Toppers LLC01:01:00 All Mine01:10:00 Outro Some game nights feel like a whirlwind tour through every corner of the hobby, and this week’s lineup delivered exactly that. Sand Castles and Grunts are two wildly different flavors of competition—one a charming, tactical puzzle of building and defending fragile seaside creations, the other a scrappy, tongue‑in‑cheek skirmish game where your squad of blocky little soldiers bumbles bravely toward victory. Both games share that delightful “easy to teach, surprisingly clever” vibe that keep things fresh in the hobby at times. Then we have world of Computer Junkyard and the comic‑book chaos of Enemies of Gotham City. Computer Junkyard scratches that nostalgic itch, letting players sift through piles of retro tech to assemble the best contraptions—half strategy, half puzzler. Enemies of Gotham City flips the script into full superhero mayhem, where iconic villains clash, plot, and posture in a fast‑moving battle of wits and wickedness. Then there is a trio of games that each bring their own distinct charm. Six Sided Seas turns dice‑driven piracy into a pirate battle across unpredictable waters, while Abroad offers a gentle, globe‑trotting experience built around exploration and cultural discovery. Bunny Kingdom Town offers a bright, two player, family‑friendly strategy—one about expanding adorable rabbit realms, with enough take‑that spice to keep it from being a solitaire style game. All Mine is a gamer’s trick taking game where the play is fast, but the planning is what wants you coming back for more. This is one of those games that stays in the game bag to be pulled out to end the evening or get things started. And speaking of big swings, this is the perfect moment to remind listeners to sign up for notifications on Game Toppers’ upcoming Kickstarter. We rave about their mats for a reason—the quality is top‑tier, the artwork is stunning, and this next series looks like one people will be proud to show off on game night. We’ve already got our eyes on the Lord of the Rings designs, and that purple plain mat is calling our name. Honestly, who doesn’t need another game mat. Thanks for listening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:00:30 Intro00:01:15 Sleeved and Confused00:07:15 AI in TCG Deck Creation00:13:30 Backflow failed inspection00:16:30 Quick Hits00:17:30 Tag Team: Arthur’s Legacy00:20:45 Warp 9900:25:30 Tug of Roar00:31:50 Miniature Market00:33:30 Greylune00:44:15 Mythologies00:50:15 Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo01:07:00 Comic Books Resurgence01:15:00 Outro Man, listening back at the episode, didn’t realize just how much we covered. And what we cover —Tag Team: Arthur’s Legacy, Warp 99, Tug of Roar, Greylune, Mythologies, and Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo — is a very broad spectrum of board game mechanics. But what is interesting with these games, there are cross over mechanics that exist that making learning the next one simpler because we already understand what is expected. Tag Team: Arthur’s Legacy is a follow up to the initial Tag Team game. However, this time we have Arthurian heroes teaming up, chaining abilities, and pulling off last minute heroics to pull out a win. It’s the kind of game tension builds each round. Warp 99 is a fast‑paced card game where players race to shed their hands, aiming for massive point bursts driven by the tableau they build. The twist is in the scoring, every card you manage to keep in your tableau gets squared, turning even a modest spread of cards into a surprisingly explosive payoff. Then comes Tug of Roar, a clever lane battler that thrives on tension and brinkmanship. It’s quick, tight, and surprisingly dramatic for such a streamlined design. And the card drafting mechanic really adds to the strategy of this game. Greylune offers a fresh twist on the classic Spyrium formula. Games in this genre can sometimes slip into feeling like pure resource spreadsheets—convert this into that, chase efficiency, tally points. Greylune pushes back against that monotony by layering in a quest system that lets players build small narrative arcs as they play. Those stories aren’t just flavor; they can provide meaningful advantages that shape your path to victory, giving the game a welcome sense of accomplishment alongside its familiar economic core. Mythologies is a card drafting game that offers a twist on the style of drafting that is refreshing in a very crowded field of these types of games. We really appreciated this change and welcome the twist that this game provided. Finally, Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo delivers a crisp, tactical showdown rooted in samurai warfare. It’s all about positioning, timing, and reading your opponent. For an area control style game, is not about a big push but more about reading the board’s subtle signals. Victory can be quick for someone if the others are caught napping, so you always should be on your toes. However, this may also create an unsatisfying finish for some. Thanks for listening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:02:00 SWU Vegas00:15:00 SFGE00:20:00 1775: Rebellion00:25:00 Las Vegas00:27:30 Ashes Ascendency: Natural Magic Expansion00:29:30 New Twin Suns Decks00:32:00 Miniature Market00:33:00 Hunt for Blackbeard00:49:30 Gen Con Thoughts00:56:00 Outro We kicked things off at the Star Wars Unlimited Galactic Championship in Las Vegas, not as competitors in the main event but as fans soaking in the convention atmosphere and jumping into SWU games with some of the best players in the world during their breaks. The vibe at every table was incredible—full of camaraderie, excitement, and a shared love for a truly outstanding trading card game. No matter your skill level, players were patient, welcoming, and happy to walk you through plays in the side events. Now, the main event, that was all business. One more thing worth noting: the crowd spanned all ages, including families, which was great to see. Next year’s event is heading to Disneyland, so if you’re thinking about going, start planning now! While we were in Vegas, we also tried a new game from Fort Circle Games: Hunt for Blackbeard. It’s a two‑player hidden‑movement game that really picks up speed once you understand the action flow, and the tension spikes beautifully in the final two rounds. The rules take a bit to settle in, but by the second playthrough we had it down. And if Blackbeard’s history isn’t familiar to you, keep reading below. Blackbeard, born Edward Teach around 1680 in Bristol, England, became one of the most feared and legendary pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, terrorizing the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast between 1716 and 1718. Known for his dramatic appearance—most famously his long black beard and the smoldering fuses he tied into it to intimidate enemies—he commanded the formidable Queen Anne’s Revenge, a 40‑gun warship crewed by hundreds of men. Blackbeard’s exploits included blockading Charleston, capturing merchant vessels, and cultivating a fearsome reputation that often allowed him to win without violence. He also operated with a small fleet that included the Adventure, a sloop commanded by his lieutenant Israel Hands, as well as smaller vessels such as the Margaret and the Sea Captain. His pirating career was short-lived, ending in November 1718 when he was killed in a fierce battle at Ocracoke Island, NC by Lieutenant Robert Maynard’s forces, cementing his place as one of history’s most iconic pirates. Thanks for listening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are excited to kick off our designer series with one of our favorite designers, David Thompson. Undaunted is one of our all time favorite series along with War Chest. He has a catalog of great historical games and is adding a new one designed along beside Trevor Benjamin called Rebels Against Rebellion. In this episode we talk about the historical significances of this Civil War era game. But look at the design and development process. For more information, check out the Kickstarter and the publisher, Flying Pig Games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:06:45 Southeast Game Exchange00:14:45 Quick Hits00:16:00 Guerre Eclair00:19:00 Tap 400:25:00 Crits & Tricks00:32:00 Traveluencer00:36:00 Taste Buds00:41:30 Portal Games00:43:15 Dogfight: 191700:43:30 Container01:09:30 Miniature Market01:11:00 Moonrollers01:17:00 Outro Welcome back to the podcast blog, tabletop fans! Today, we’re diving into a lineup that spans high-flying dogfights, historical blitzkriegs, and economic struggles. If you love razor-thin margins and tactical positioning, you’ll want to look at Dogfight 1917 and Guerre Éclair. Dogfight 1917 drops you straight into the skies over the Western Front, where every maneuver card forces you to anticipate your rival’s path to line up that perfect shot. Meanwhile, Yasushi Nakaguro’s Guerre Éclair condenses the 1940 Fall of France into a tense, card-driven duel of deception and momentum. The German player pushes armored breakthroughs with hidden operational plans while the Allies scramble to hold fragile defenses, delivering deep strategic tension in a crisp 45 minutes. For players who prefer fighting over profit margins, Container delivers incredible table presence. Container remains the undisputed king of closed-economy board games, where players produce goods, set dockside prices, and operate shipping vessels. Because every price, purchase, and subsidy is entirely player-driven, a single miscalculated shipment can trigger a hilarious, full-blown economic recession at your table. On the lighter side when just need to roll dice, Moonrollers brings the sleek sci-fi universe of Moonrakers into a fast-paced push-your-luck dice chucker. Captains roll dice to fulfill crew contracts, juggling hazardous bonus points against the very real danger of busting and walking away with nothing. This game provides the necessary dice manipulation that we expect in our push-your-luck games. Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate the support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:04:00 SWU in Vegas00:06:00 New Game Store00:08:15 Which is better?00:11:15 The Vale of Eternity00:14:00 Pagan00:15:00 July 4th Gaming00:23:30 Portal Games00:24:30 Realm of Reckoning00:24:00 IV Studio – Tend00:45:30 Devious00:51:45 Miniature Market00:52:30 Summer Movie Thoughts Realm of Reckoning sharpens its identity as an area‑control showdown built on tight timing and escalating tension. The simultaneous card play is the engine that keeps everyone leaning forward—every reveal forces you to decide whether you’re shoring up your economy or muscling into position before a Reckoning reshapes the board. That push‑and‑pull between long‑term planning and immediate tactical pressure gives the game its pulse. Factions rise, collide, and retreat in a rhythm that feels both dramatic and cleanly mechanical, creating turns where a single decision can swing the entire map. You wrap a session already replaying key moments in your head, plotting what you’ll try on your next run through its volatile world. Devious looks disarmingly simple at first, but that’s part of the trick. As players draw, flip, and react, the hidden layers of bluffing and timing begin to reveal themselves. Set collection becomes a delicious gamble—you want just enough cards to score well, but every additional draw risks a bust, especially since the pile you’re pulling from was set by your opponents. That tension turns every flip into a moment of doubt and second‑guessing: is this really the best card available, or did someone bury something better to lure me into overreaching? The result is a fast, mischievous game where the table’s collective psychology matters just as much as the cards in your hand. Thanks for listening and be sure to join our Discord server to keep the conversation going Buy Me a Moon Pie Sponsors “RDTN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:04:00 Moving the Kids00:10:15 AI in Board Games00:16:30 Obsession00:20:15 Bomb Busters00:23:30 El Grande00:25:00 Neuroshima Hex00:28:30 Miniature Market00:30:00 Our Top 3 LOTR Games00:30:00 Lincoln00:53:30 Portal Games00:55:00 Guild Wars 301:03:30 Outro Even though our regular game night has been on pause for a few weeks, we still managed to squeeze in some great plays with family and friends. Marty kicked things off with Bomb Busters, a title getting a lot of well‑deserved praise. The way he described it reminded me a bit of Hanabi—that same feeling of relying on your teammates to guide you toward the right moves. There’s something deeply satisfying about working together toward a shared victory, especially when the puzzle finally clicks. He also finally got Obsession to the table, a game that’s been floating around one his radar for a while. I’ll admit it’s one I wasn’t familiar with, but that’s hardly surprising given how many games slip past me. Marty had some thoughtful pros and cons, but even with those caveats, it still sounds like something I’d love to try on a future game night, there’s a charm to that Victorian engine‑building vibe that’s hard to resist. And of course, El Grande continues to shine as a perfect introduction to area control, teaching new players the tension and timing that make the genre sing. Every cube, every power card—it all matters. Lincoln, on the other hand, offers a lean, card‑driven take on the American Civil War, capturing momentum, attrition, and asymmetry in a way that feels brisk yet thoughtful. If it weren’t for a few rulebook hiccups, this would’ve been one of those plays that makes you wonder why it took so long to get it to the table in the first place. Thanks for listening and until next time, keep rolling dice and taking names. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:15 Intro 00:06:30 Chaz is back! 00:09:45 Fun collaboration 00:12:00 How has gaming changed over the years 00:40:00 Miniature Market 00:41:00 New Review System 00:47:00 Chang’an 00:58:00 Zombie Princess 01:05:00 Portal Games 01:06:00 Comic Book Boom 01:17:30 Outro with Chaz In this episode, Marty is joined by Chaz Marler from Game Night Picks. They talk about all the different ways the table top industry has changed over the past 10 years from content creation, to games, to the community. Marty and Tony review some new games using their new format. Shorter, more concise and with a numerical rating. Let us know your thoughts on the new format over on our Discord Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:15 Intro00:06:30 Gencon 2026 Update00:10:30 Quartermaster General: WWII00:15:00 Moon Colony: Bloodbath00:20:15 Star Wars Unlimited Update00:21:45 Portal Games00:23:30 Rebuilding Chicago00:41:30 Castelnuovo 153900:55:30 Miniature Market00:56:30 Toy Battle01:01:30 Pragmata01:04:30 R-Type Dimensions III01:09:00 Sektori01:10:00 Outro For history fans who enjoy thoughtful, asymmetric challenges, Castelnuovo 1539 offers a compelling take on the “last stand” style of wargame. Blending classic conflict simulation with Euro‑style area control, this two‑player design places you with the Spanish defenders doing everything they can to slow an advancing Ottoman siege. The Spanish side isn’t trying to win outright so much as hold firm and make every step costly, creating a tense, measured experience where each decision carries real weight. With custom card decks and hidden wooden blocks shaping the flow of play, the game builds a steady, immersive pressure without ever feeling overwhelming. Shifting to a much lighter tone, Rebuilding Chicago and Toy Battle trade battlefield grit for creativity and quick, satisfying play. As the standalone follow‑up to Rebuilding Seattle, Rebuilding Chicago invites up to five players to reshape neighborhoods and guide a growing population after the Great Fire of 1871. It’s a warm, engaging tile‑laying puzzle with plenty of room for clever planning. And if you’re looking for something breezy to wrap up a game night, Paolo Mori’s Toy Battle delivers a delightful 15‑minute burst of abstract strategy. With charming toy‑themed troops and whimsical double‑sided maps like the Volcanic Jungle or City of Clouds, it pairs simple rules with just enough tactical bite to leave everyone smiling. We’re truly disappointed that we won’t be able to host the Strike tournament at Gen Con this year. It’s always a highlight for us, and we’ll miss the energy, laughter, and chaos that only Gladiators in an Arena, I mean, a bowl of dice can create. Thanks for listening and a special guest joins us for our next episode, assuming he is on his best behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:15 Intro00:05:45 Mother’s Day Games00:11:30 Skyjo, Skyjo, Skyjo00:12:30 Wits & Wagers Challenges00:16:30 Summer Movie Update00:20:15 Portal Games00:21:00 Diplomacy: The Golden Blade00:35:00 Fruit Island00:38:15 Brave & Bold00:51:30 Miniature Market00:52:35 Altay: Seafarers01:06:45 Luz01:12:15 Ewin Desk01:17:15 The Floor If your gaming group thrives on trick-taking but wants something that completely flips the genre on its head, Luz maybe it. This clever card game from IELLO forces you to play with a reverse hand—meaning everyone else at the table can see your cards, but you are left entirely in the dark about your own exact values. And even with a blind hind, you must predict exactly how many tricks you will win or take a safe bet to limit your points won. For those who believe true friendship is only forged in the fires of mutual betrayal, Renegade Game Studios’ Diplomacy: The Golden Blade delivers the ultimate test. This iteration strips away the classic board and map, transforming the legendary grand strategy experience into a fast-paced card game. What it gains in speed, it may not bring home the tension that you feel when playing the original. But be honest, if you love Diplomacy, but don’t have five hours, then this might be one to consider. Fruit Island is a casual strategy game by the legendary designer Reiner Knizia that balances accessible mechanics for all ages. Set on a quiet jungle island, players step into the fast-moving shoes of monkeys racing to harvest as much exotic fruit while avoiding a gorilla that wants what you have worked so hard for. If you are enjoying those games where you are going against some in a straight up slugfest, then DC: Brave & Bold by Resurrection Games may be something to check out. Instead of a dice pool with random likes like games before, this is a bag builder with chits and the only thing stopping you from pulling them out is your determination. This one is coming out later this year, but if going to Gen Con, be sure to schedule some time for a demo. Altay: Seafarers expands the horizon of civilization-building, taking the core deck-building and area-control mechanics of Ares Games’ Altay: Dawn of Civilization and casting them out into deep, uncharted waters. This expansion introduces a brand-new “Forgotten Sea” board, rules for shipbuilding, and naval combat that injects mobility to the map. It introduces the Waterfolk faction, a magical, ocean-dwelling faction that can manipulate actions and navigate the waves without needing ships at all. If you enjoyed Altay and find it on the table often, be sure to check out this expansion. Thanks for listening LuzDiplomacy: The Golden BladeFruit IslandBrave & BoldAltay: Seafarers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:05:00 Let’s Get to the Picks01:03:00 Draft Time01:13:00 Outro Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting movie seasons in years, with big‑name directors, long‑awaited sequels, and the triumphant return of theatrical event‑going. And to celebrate that return, we’ve brought in some familiar voices to help us break down the upcoming releases. For those new to the show, here’s how we do things. Every movie gets one of three calls. First, if it’s worth your hard‑earned dollars and absolutely demands the full theatrical experience, we’ll tell you to go SCREEN it. If it’s a solid watch but doesn’t need the booming speakers and giant screen, then it’s better to STREAM it at home. And finally, there are those unfortunate titles that miss the mark so badly they’re nothing more than a big, old pile of STEAM — and those should be avoided altogether. Either way, it’s clear the studios are making a serious push to get us back into theaters, and this summer’s lineup shows they’re not holding anything back. We’d love to hear from you. So, tell us which movies we missed and what should be on our radar. Jump into the conversation over in our Discord and let us know what you’re planning to SCREEN, STREAM, or is a pile of STEAMing stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:15 Intro00:05:15 Ascension: LOTR00:07:45 Straight to LOTR Stuff00:11:30 Intro to Harder Games00:17:15 Round Up Error00:20:30 New Contest00:21:30 Taste Buds00:37:30 Portal Games00:38:45 Frenzy Falls00:44:30 Rising Cultures01:04:00 Miniature Market01:05:15 Got Five00:11:15 E-Win Desk01:15:45 SWU Report Out Whether you’re in the mood for the high-stakes chaos of a spilling pool, the grand strategy of rising civilizations, or the quiet tension of a deduction puzzle, we got it covered in this lineup of games for this episode. First up is Frenzy Falls where players play cards face-down into “Pools,” trying to raise the water level. Once a pool hits a value of 10, it “spills over.” The player with the most influence in that pool at that exact moment snags the points. Rising Cultures is next on the table and this asymmetric “Civ-in-a-box” experience is designed specifically for two players. You pick from four civilizations either Rome, Egypt, Persia, or the Abbasid Caliphate. The thing we love in this game is the multi-use cards: every card in your hand can be used for resources, military power, building structures, or deploying leaders. You have to decide which path is worth sacrificing the others in order to gain victory over your opponent. Since each civilization has its own unique deck, the game feels completely different every time you swap roles. It’s a tight, 45-minute battle of wits. Finally, we got a game that shows the strengths and weaknesses of the RDTN crew. You have five tiles on a rack facing away from you. You can see everyone else’s tiles, but not your own. By asking questions like “Where would this tile fit in my sequence?” or “Do I have a tile with this many dots?”, you narrow down the possibilities. The tension is high because you can guess at any time, but if you’re wrong once, you’re out. It’s incredibly satisfying when the logic finally clicks and you can confidently shout, “Got Five!”, which I never got to experience Thanks for listening and don’t forget about the contest over in the Discord server. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:04:30 Skyjo – it isn’t hard00:10:30 Contest: Flip 7 with a Vengeance00:13:00 Tulikko00:23:00 Karma sucks00:26:45 Pandasaurus – Tulikko00:28:00 All In: Predictions00:33:45 Moytura00:40:15 Portal Games00:42:00 Arkham Horror: Investigator Decks00:53:45 Wispwood01:00:15 Miniature Market01:02:15 Torchlit01:09:30 SWU – Escalation League01:14:30 Concert Review01:17:00 Outro Some weeks, the tabletop world feels like it’s bursting with fresh ideas, and this lineup is a perfect snapshot of that creative energy. Wispwood and Tulikko both tap into mythic forests, but they do it with completely different rhythms. Wispwood leans into cozy tension of tile placement, but each has a different method of accomplishing the end goal. Tulikko’s quick tile‑placement puzzle hits that sweet spot of “teach in a minute, replay all night,” while Wispwood invites players to strategize and consider how to best accomplish the many goals set before them to claim victory over opponents. Then there’s Moytura, which swings the pendulum toward epic conflict and ancient legend. It’s a game that feels like so many we have played in area majority but offers something new with semi-coop play to battle the game itself to keep it from winning. Torchlit takes trick‑taking in a direction I’ve rarely seen—Bottle Imp is the closest comparison, and even that only gets you partway there. Every hand becomes a tightrope walk where winning a trick and intentionally losing one feel equally viable, equally dangerous, and equally tempting. The game constantly asks you to reassess your position: Is this the moment to take win or is surrendering the trick actually the smarter play. Rounding out the mix is All In: Predictions, a card game that leans into a poker vibe but adds its own clever twist. Instead of relying solely on the luck of the draw, each card comes with an action that lets you manipulate the flow of the round—mitigating randomness and giving you real agency over your hand. Yet the heart of poker still beats underneath: bluffing, reading the table, and deciding when to push your luck. What really sets the game apart is the shared‑pot mechanic. Even if you don’t have the strongest hand, you can still walk away with chips by correctly predicting who does. Suddenly every reveal becomes a mini‑mind game, and every player is invested in the outcome. It’s fast, social, and full of those “I knew it!” moments that make card games sing. The Arkham Horror LCG Investigator Decks are pre‑built, ready‑to‑play decks that spotlight a single investigator’s strengths, signature cards, and thematic playstyle. Each one offers a curated experience that shows off what makes that character tick, whether it’s clever clue‑gathering, brute‑force monster smashing, or bending the rules of reality. They’re perfect for new players who want to jump in quickly and for veterans who enjoy seeing how Fantasy Flight interprets each investigator’s identity in deck form. Thanks for listening and be sure to get over to the Discord channel for an opportunity to win Flip 7 with a Vengeance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:30 Intro00:05:30 TCG Storage Solutions00:09:30 SWU Progressive Tournament00:13:00 Red Pill or Blue Pill00:16:00 King’s Gambit – Restoration Games00:20:45 The Rant00:29:30 Arkham Horror LCG Demos00:32:00 Taste Buds00:34:45 Portal Games00:35:45 DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum00:43:30 Compania01:03:45 Miniature Market01:05:15 Flip 7 with a Vengeance01:09:00 Ewin Racing Desk01:12:00 Outro Compania, Flip 7 With a Vengeance, and DC Breakout each scratch a very different itch, but together they paint a fun snapshot of where modern tabletop design is heading. Compania leans into the current wave of streamlined games, that incorporate two types of mechanics, worker placement and area majority. It’s the kind of design where every turn feels consequential—don’t plan accordingly and be challenged to catch up to the other players. The game’s charm comes from how accessible it feels despite its core; turns are quick, the iconography is clean, and the tension ramps steadily as players jockey for position on a board that never quite seems to have enough to go around. Flip 7 With a Vengeance takes the opposite approach, embracing chaotic, push‑your‑luck energy with a theatrical flair. It builds on the original Flip 7 formula but adds a layer of “gotcha” cards and combo‑driven moments that make the table erupt. It’s fast, loud, and intentionally swingy—the kind of filler that shines when you want to reset the mood or get a group laughing. DC Breakout, meanwhile, provides quick, fun experience in a racing game where random dice roll meets strategic position that allows for some tense situations as players jockey for the finish line. Thanks for listening and hope you are able to get one of the games above to the table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:30 Intro00:03:30 Please Sub and Review00:04:30 Granddaddy Stories00:08:30 SWU Update – A Lawless Time00:17:00 TCG News00:21:00 Reality TV – Traitors00:24:30 Firefly Again?00:31:30 Miniature Market00:32:30 Corps of Discovery00:46:00 Portal Games00:47:00 Arkham Horror LCG Chapter 201:13:00 Outro Two cooperative games hit the table this episode, along with a few thoughts on the Star Wars TCG. It’s always refreshing to switch gears and dive into something fully co‑op, where the tension comes from the puzzle instead of the players. And no, your ears aren’t deceiving you—Marty actually convinced Vanessa to join him for a discussion about Arkham. Who knows… maybe this is the start of her becoming an investigator convert. Corps of Discovery invites players to retrace the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition, but with a sharper strategic edge than you might expect from a historical adventure. You’re managing a small but determined team as you push westward, balancing resource scarcity, shifting terrain, and the constant pressure of the unknown. The game thrives on its tension: every decision feels like a trade‑off between speed and sustainability, and the modular map keeps each journey fresh. It’s a thoughtful blend of exploration and logistics, capturing both the wonder and the hardship of charting unmapped territory. Arkham Horror: The Card Game, by contrast, plunges you into a very different kind of expedition—one into cosmic dread and psychological unraveling. Its living‑card‑game structure turns every campaign into a branching narrative where your deck evolves alongside your investigator’s triumphs, traumas, and terrible choices. Scenarios twist the rules, warp the environment, and force you to improvise under pressure, making each session feel like a bespoke horror story. Where Corps of Discovery celebrates discovery and perseverance, Arkham Horror LCG revels in uncertainty and creeping doom, offering a deeply immersive experience that rewards clever deckbuilding and narrative investment. Thanks for listening and please take a moment to sub or rank if you so desire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:30 Intro00:04:30 What is old is new again00:12:00 One Hour World War II00:20:45 America 250 NC00:26:00 Miniature Market00:27:30 Angel’s Share00:54:30 Portal Games00:56:00 Soothsayers01:05:00 Pokemon Remake Interest01:07:00 Final Fantasy VII01:11:30 Outro Every now and then, three games land on the table that have nothing in common thematically yet feel spiritually linked by the way they create tension and leave players talking long after the last turn. Angel’s Share, Soothsayers, and One Hour World War II each approach strategy from a different angle—one slow and atmospheric, one mystical and tactical, and one brisk and historical—but all three deliver that satisfying “let’s run it back” energy we love to highlight. Angel’s Share wraps its theme around you like koozie around a can your favorite beverage. It’s a game about aging spirits, but more importantly, it’s a game about timing—when to wait, when to bottle, and when to accept that the angels are going to take their cut whether you like it or not. The tension builds slowly as barrels mature and opportunities evaporate, and the emotional arc is surprisingly rich for such a streamlined design. Every choice feels like a negotiation with time itself, and the payoff—good or bad—lands with a satisfying thud. Soothsayers is a sharp, thematic card game where players become mystics interpreting omens to shape the future in their favor. At its heart, it’s a tableau‑building and card‑manipulation puzzle: each turn you’re choosing which actions to take, trying not to hand your opponents an advantage, and racing to assemble a tableau that makes everyone else wonder where things went sideways. The tension comes from reading both the shifting cards on the table and the intentions of the players around you—every decision feels like a moment of doubt, a quiet question of whether you made the right call or just sealed your fate among the stars. One Hour World War II does exactly what its title promises: it delivers a full, satisfying wargame experience in the time it takes to watch a TV episode. Despite its brevity, it captures the sweep of WWII with asymmetric powers, meaningful tactical choices, and a tempo that never drags. The design rewards bold plays and clever positioning, offering just enough historical flavor without bogging down in simulation. It’s an ideal entry point for players curious about wargames and a refreshing palate cleanser for veterans who want strategy without the marathon. Thanks for listening and appreciate all the support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:00:30 Intro00:03:30 GMT Camden Game Convention00:11:00 Timeline: Games and Leisure00:13:00 LOTR: Two Towers Trick Taking Game00:15:00 Portal Games00:16:30 Thebai00:41:30 3 Witches00:50:30 Miniature Market00:51:30 WunderWaffen01:11:30 Muppet Show Reimplement01:16:30 Outro We finally got Thebai, the newest release from Boards & Dice, to the table. After seeing it at Gen Con, the production immediately caught our eye, and the designers hinted at the kind of tough, timing‑sensitive decisions players would face. That promise absolutely shows up in play. Turns are wonderfully clean—place your die, resolve the action, then move your Archon for a bonus action—but the simplicity hides a surprising amount of depth. Positioning is everything. The strongest move in the moment can easily create problems down the line, and the board state shifts just enough each round to keep you second‑guessing your priorities. On top of that, the looming battles add a steady undercurrent of tension. You can’t ignore them, even when you’re tempted to chase a clever combo elsewhere. Thebai ultimately becomes a race for victory points, and the endgame accelerates fast. Points pour in quickly, so timing your big plays matters just as much as choosing the right ones. It’s a sharp, elegant design—easy to teach, but full of those delicious “oh no, that changes everything” moments that make Boards & Dice titles so satisfying. We love historical games that look beyond the familiar battles and instead explore the lesser‑told moments—especially those late‑war pivots where everything hangs by a thread. WunderWaffen fits that niche perfectly. The Allies are closing in on Germany, and the German player is scrambling for a last‑ditch path to victory through experimental research. It’s a tense, asymmetrical setup, but not a simple 3‑versus‑1 scenario; only one player can win, so everyone has to keep each other in check, even if that occasionally means helping Germany to prevent someone else from running away with the game. One of the standout mechanics is the turn structure. Each round, you choose two of your three action tokens to use and must hand the third to another player. That single decision point creates delicious pressure—what you keep, what you give away, and who you empower all shape the board in subtle ways. It’s a small rule with big strategic consequences. The game moves quickly, and for groups that enjoy negotiation, table talk becomes an extra layer of strategy. Deals, promises, and threats can shift the momentum just as much as the research tracks or battlefield positioning. WunderWaffen ends up being a fast, interactive contest of timing, leverage, and opportunism—exactly the kind of historical “what‑if” experience that keeps us coming back. Thanks for listening and be sure to join our Discord server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:01:00 Intro00:08:30 Cyberpunk Trading Card Game00:16:30 Taste Buds00:19:30 Portal Games00:21:30 Arkwright00:48:30 Miniature Market00:49:30 Arkham Horror: Film Fatale00:59:00 Plum Island: More of a Bad Thing01:07:30 Pondscape01:13:30 Outro Arkwright is an economic engine-builder that revels in its own weight. It drops players into the heart of the Industrial Revolution and asks them to run competing factories—managing workers, improving machinery, manipulating prices, and navigating the volatile tides of supply and demand. What makes it so gripping is the way every lever you pull affects the entire market. Lowering prices might boost sales but crush profits; upgrading machines cuts labor costs but risks unemployment penalties. It’s a game where efficiency is power, foresight is everything, and every decision feels like it echoes across an entire industrial landscape. We’re heading back to Plum Island to talk about the desperate scramble to evacuate civilians from an infected coastline—and how the new expansion tightens the experience into a sharper, faster, and even more chaotic rescue puzzle. But that’s not the only horror creeping into the episode. Marty and Vanessa dive into Film Fatale, the newest scenario for Arkham Horror: The Card Game, where silver‑screen nightmares spill into reality and investigators find themselves trapped in a reel of stylish, cinematic dread. To balance all that terror, we close things out by building something far more peaceful—an entire ecosystem in Pondscape. Frogs, insects, and shifting waterscapes weave together as we try to craft the most harmonious (and high‑scoring) pond possible. It’s a gentle puzzle with clever spatial decisions, offering a refreshing contrast to the tension earlier in the show and reminding us how beautifully varied the board‑gaming world can be. Thanks for listening and appreciate all the support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:00:40 Intro00:15:30 Portal Games00:17:00 Cthulhu: Dark Providence00:38:30 Campy Creatures00:44:15 The Gilded Realms01:13::00 Miniature Market01:14:00 Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends01:20:00 Outro A long time ago, we got to play the game A Study in Emerald, so we were very interested in the reimplementation. Cthulhu Dark Providence plunges players into a tense, investigative struggle against cosmic dread, blending noir‑style mystery with the creeping inevitability of Lovecraftian horror. The game uses the combination of tight resource decisions, escalating threats, and growing insanity that make every choice feel like a step deeper into the abyss. But is it better than what we remember, take a listen to find out. Campy Creatures and Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends offer a wildly different moods, each with its own charm. Campy Creatures is a fast, clever bluffing game where you command classic movie monsters to outwit rival mad scientists. Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends adds mythic flair to the beloved combo‑building formula, letting players craft powerful hands inspired by gods, heroes, and legendary artifacts. Together, these games form a vibrant spectrum—from spooky pulp fun to grand fantasy world‑building—each scratching a different strategic itch. The Gilded Realms blends city‑building with a clever, almost puzzle‑like tableau system that evolves every round. Cards you place steadily march downward through your tableau, and when they reach the bottom, they convert into precious resources—fuel for expanding your kingdom, unlocking card abilities, or mustering an army before the looming invasion arrives. That slow, predictable cadence creates a satisfying rhythm: every placement is an investment, every advancement a small payoff, and every turn a chance to set up something bigger. Interaction is light, with only the occasional skirmish to break the solitude, so most of the tension comes from managing your own tight economy. Resources never feel abundant, and the game constantly nudges you toward tough, meaningful decisions about what to prioritize and what to sacrifice. If you enjoy kingdom builders that reward planning, efficiency, and a touch of long‑term foresight, The Gilded Realms is absolutely worth exploring. Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
00:00:40 Intro00:05:50 Movie Talk00:08:15 Holiday Games00:12:30 Things in Rings00:15:30 Blood on the Rails00:16:45 Ichor00:19:00 PSA Time00:23:00 Miniature Market00:25:00 Night Soil00:41:00 Tulip Bubble00:57:30 Portal Games00:58:30 Mini Express01:11:00 Outro Every so often, a set of games lands on the table that feels like a curated journey through time and that is what we got in this episode. First up is Night Soil where we are basically poop pushers through the streets of London in the 15th century. This game cleverly challenges players with a worker placement style of game that can fill both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. Then comes Tulip Bubble, which flips the tone entirely. Gone is the damp, stinky sewers—now you’re in the bustling markets of 17th‑century Holland, chasing fortunes in the most famous economic bubble in history. The game thrives on timing, speculation, and reading your opponents as much as the market itself. Prices rise, collapse, and ricochet with emotional volatility, and every round feels like a miniature psychological standoff. It’s fast, sharp, and deliciously stressful in the best way. Rounding out the games are Mini Express and Ichor, two games that couldn’t be more different yet both deliver rich strategic tension. Mini Express is a lean, elegant rail game built on shared incentives: every track you lay and every share you take strengthens someone else as much as you. It’s a puzzle of timing, tempo, and subtle positioning. Ichor, on the other hand, plunges players into a Greek mythology world where asymmetric power challenges players in an Othello style game. Its resource‑driven push‑and‑pull creates a brooding atmosphere, rewarding ambition while constantly reminding you that brillant flashes of strategy can suddenly disappear before your next turn. Together, these four games form a wonderfully varied journey each offering its own flavor of tension and delight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Observed September 18, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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