Shows
Board Game HomiesOstiaIn episode 44, we review Ostia by uchibacoya, Crafty Games, and Skellig Games. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth - Allies, Panda Spin, Kutna Hora: The City of Silver, and Bananagrams.Ostia is a game for 1-4 players that takes place in 103 A.D. and is centered around the Ostia Portus in Rome. Each player’s board represents the Portus, and that is where they manage their fleet: picking up and placing their ships across each segment like a mancala board in order to...
2025-11-2445 min
Board Game HomiesEmberheartIn episode 43, we review Emberheart published by Mindclash Games and designed by Rob Fisher and Adam Porter. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: The Hobbit: There and Back Again, LUZ, Bomb Busters, and Speakeasy. Emberheart is a game for 2-4 players that takes place on an ancient and mystical island full of dragons. As the champions on the island, build up your resources and crew to gain glory by snagging dragons from the poachers or saving them from the mountain and then pair them with a color matching preserve or h...
2025-11-101h 02
Board Game HomiesGames on OrderIn episode 42, we discuss the games we have on order or have recently received and are very excited to play! First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Shackleton Base: A journey to the Moon, The White Castle Duel, Emberheart, and Castle Combo: Out of the Oubliette!Do your games magically appear like ours? From Dungeons and Kittens RPG to Speakeasy, we’ve got quite the list of games we’re looking forward to. Listen in to hear about each game or–for some of us around the table–the top hits. With rainy da...
2025-10-2747 min
Board Game HomiesHappy Camper: Jungo, Trio, & ComboIn episode 41, we discuss Jungo, Trio, and Combo – all three published by Happy Camper. First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Dungeons & Kittens, Ostia, Sweet Lands, and Skull King. On this episode, Becky, Reed, and Gillean prepared a special joy segment called: Ambush Angela!Jungo, Trio, and Combo are all brightly colored card games that play in 15-20 minutes or less. We love that Happy Camper is taking harder to find games and reimplementing them to reach a greater audience!Jungo (2-5 players) is a reimplementation of Ha...
2025-10-1353 min
Board Game HomiesMolly HouseIn episode 40, we review Molly House designed by Jo Kelly and Cole Wehrle and published by Wehrlegig Games. First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Twinkle Starship, Nokosu Dice, Haggis - Grok Edition, and Apiary.Molly House is a 2-5 player game all about creating joy in the queer community in early 18th century London; build your reputation and joy by cruising the streets (eyes), throwing festivities, and foiling threats. Though… all will be for naught if the Community’s joy isn’t raised alongside the players’ joy or if the Molly houses a...
2025-09-2950 min
Board Game HomiesWeather MachineIn episode 39, we review Weather Machine by Vital Lacerda and published by Eagle-Gryphon Games! First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Galactic Cruise, Kinfire Council, Lightning Train, and Brightcast.Weather Machine is a crunchy, crunchy game for 2-4 players (a Solo mode is included with the Upgrade Pack). The players are scientists working with Professor Lativ to refine his weather machine in order to take control of the planet’s weather. Unfortunately, the initial design of Professor Lativ’s weather machine caused a “butterfly effect” when used, which improved weather locally but worsened...
2025-09-151h 08
Board Game HomiesStarter CollectionsIn episode 38, we create starting collections with various budgets: $100, $250, $350, and $500! Angela’s brother’s experience of diving into a board game collection from scratch inspired this topic. We all approached our lists a bit differently: beginner friendly games, wide representation of mechanics, foundational games, and the games that bring our friends joy and inspire them to purchase for themselves.Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies Board games and happiness are free at the link in bio00:53 Capital Lux 2 Generations03:36 Yokai Septet08:35 Acquire11:35 Rumble Nation 14...
2025-09-0158 min
Board Game HomiesPolyominoes Part I: Patchwork & A Feast for OdinIn episode 37, we review Patchwork and A Feast for Odin in Polyominoes Part 1! First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Sea Salt & Paper: Extra Pepper, Ptolemy, the Board Game Community speaking out, and Brightcast.Patchwork and A Feast for Odin are both Uwe Rosenberg games, and they differ quite a bit in their complexity (1.60/5 and 3.86/5, respectively, on BGG.) Patchwork is a 2-player game in which players are attempting to complete a quilt - or get as much done as they can. A Feast for Odin plays 1-4 players, and it is a s...
2025-08-181h 02
Board Game Homies2023 Games RevisitedIn Episode 36, we discuss games published in 2023! We don’t feel like we’ve played enough 2023 games to create a collective top 10 list, however, we do talk about our collective top 3 games, games we still want to play, games that didn’t live up to the hype, and games we played but didn’t love. This week, we turned last pod’s bonus episode into a full episode as the original recording ran longer than a game of Great Western Trail New Zealand, and, with Reed being our #1 listener, we had to sheer our time. We ho...
2025-08-041h 07
Board Game HomiesTop 10 2024 GamesIn Episode 35, we’re finally tackling games published in 2024! We start with a cumulative top 10 (the points are made up, but we’re trusting Angela’s calculations) and roll into an analysis of our individual lists, games that surprised us, and games that didn’t live up to the hype. Our individual top 10 lists varied quite a bit, but we all saw a similar theme emerge. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies 00:38 How did we create this list and how many 2024 games have we played?1:24: Notable 2024...
2025-07-211h 07
Board Game HomiesGalactic CruiseIn episode 34, we review Galactic Cruise by Kinson Key Games! First, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Rumble Nation, Gin Rummy, Ahoy!, and Dominion. Galactic Cruise is a game for 1-4 players with an expected 90-150 minute playing time. Designing and manufacturing a cruise ship, advertising and catering to guests, and managing the company and our own reputations, we discuss bumping workers, refusing to help our friends, and the value of completing company goals in this worker placement game. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies
2025-07-071h 04
Board Game HomiesEndeavor: Deep SeaIn Episode 33, we review Endeavor: Deep Sea by Burnt Island Games and Grand Gamers Guild! To start off the episode, we talk about what’s bringing us joy: Crokinole, Trick & Snipers, the Tokyo Game Market, and Cyclades: Legendary Edition.In Endeavor: Deep Sea, players head individual research institutes with the goal of having the most beneficial effect on the world’s oceans. Over the course of six rounds, players will assemble a crew of specialists to explore the ocean, research dive sites, publish scientific Journals, and conduct conservation efforts. Many of these actions will adva...
2025-06-2348 min
Board Game HomiesShelf of ShameIn Episode 32, we discuss our collective Shelf of Shame! To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Love Letter: Batman, Spire’s End: Hildegard, Endeavor: Deep Sea, and lower Tariffs in the U.S. which means… Kickstarter notifications.With so many unplayed games on our shelves, we decided to submit our individual top 5 most-excited-to-play games to Angela to secretly rank them. Angela reveals our collective top 4 games, and we discuss the state of our shelves and how we got to this point. Exci...
2025-06-0947 min
Board Game HomiesRootIn Episode 31, we review Root by Leder Games! To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Moon Colony Bloodbath, The Search for Planet X, Neko Syndicate, Kabuki Tricks, and Joyride.Deep in the woodlands, an adorable and ruthless war is waging between Marquise de Cat and the creatures of the forest. As the Woodland Alliance spreads sympathy to unite all against the oppressive cats, the Eyrie Dynasties are rebuilding their forces and roosts to take back the forest. The vagabond? They’re out for themselves swaying between ai...
2025-05-2650 min
Board Game HomiesFurnace & US TariffsIn episode 30, we review Furnace by Hobby World and Arcane Wonders. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy and discuss tariffs in the US and how they are intersecting with the board game world, including how they are impacting our FLGS. As we discuss in the episode, the tariffs have been ever changing, and, though we recorded less than three days ago, it was just announced this morning that there is another 90 day pause in tariffs, and the overall tariffs on Chinese goods has been reduced from 145% to 30%. If you are...
2025-05-121h 02
Board Game HomiesAll things Clank! Part 2In Episode 29, we review the Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Bus (1999), The Guild of Merchant Explorers, Tales of Arthurian Knights, and Torchlit.Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated expands upon the deck-building of Clank!, incorporating legacy-style gameplay. Players will found their franchise of the legendary adventuring company, Acquisitions Incorporated, and shepherd their fledgling treasure-hunters to immortal glory over the course of multiple games by shaping events that transpire before them. The game board, deck, and world of Clank! changes as players make...
2025-04-2846 min
Board Game HomiesGames We Played OnceIn episode 28, we discuss games we played [mostly] once. We all try to play a new game multiple times to better form our opinions, but, sometimes, the judgement is strong and once is enough. For these games, the gameplay or theme wasn’t interesting, we felt like we saw everything there was to see, or the game did not fit the gaming group. However, it isn’t all one and done–some of the games we bring up are games we couldn’t stop thinking about after the first play. We also revisit a few of ou...
2025-04-1454 min
Board Game HomiesRebel Princess & FishingIn episode 27, we review Rebel Princess and Fishing. To start off the episode, we chat about our Board Game Homie Weekend on the coast and what brought us joy: Brass: Birmingham, Daybreak, Nerdz Day Sale, and Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated. Rebel Princess is a trick taking game that takes place over five rounds. Each player selects a Princess (each with their own special once-per-round ability) and attempts to avoid princes like the plague at the party. Just like Hearts, players must follow, and there is no trump suit. At the end of each round, c...
2025-03-3138 min
Board Game HomiesFinspanIn episode 26, we review Finspan by Stonemaier Games. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: The Guild of Merchant Explorers, Root, Arcs, and Baseball Highlights: 2045.You are a marine researcher seeking to observe aquatic life at different depths of the world’s seas and oceans over the course of four weeks, or in-game rounds. To do so, you’ll be exploring three different dive sites that specialize in different aspects of expanding your research: growing the collection of fish, discovering freshly laid eggs, and hatching eggs into...
2025-03-1750 min
Board Game HomiesMeet the HomiesIn episode 25, we celebrate our one year anniversary of the pod! We chat about how we all met, the games and mechanics we love, hobbies we enjoy outside of board games, and all of the joy in between. Thanks for engaging in board game conversations and BGA games with us over the past year!Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies
2025-03-0351 min
Board Game HomiesLisboaIn episode 24, we review Lisboa by Eagle-Gryphon Games. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Hansa Teutonica, Let’s Go! To Japan, Compile: Main 1, and…learning the rules.On November 1, 1755, Lisboa suffered an earthquake of an estimated magnitude of 8.5–9.0, followed by a tsunami and three days of fires that almost completely destroyed the city. Players take on the role of influential nobles who will help in the reconstruction and economic development of the city to receive graces from the King and the Marquis. You will work with t...
2025-02-1752 min
Board Game HomiesSETI: Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceIn episode 23, we review SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Czech Games Edition (CGE.) To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Cities, Creature Caravan, Viticulture Essential Edition, and Star Tycoon.
In SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, scientific institutions set their sights beyond planet Earth in the search for extraterrestrial life. Through landing on planets, scanning distant star systems for signals, and analyzing collected data, players will detect traces of life and eventually discover an alien species. Conduct further research into the alien species, effectively utilize your...
2025-02-0354 min
Board Game HomiesDune: Imperium & Dune: Imperium - UprisingIn episode 22, we review Dune: Imperium and Dune: Imperium - Uprising by DireWolfDigital and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Castle Combo, Cities, and nana: Christmas Edition.
Vying for dominance of Arrakis, the leaders of the Great Houses of the Landsraad manipulate resources and their political influence to control the spice to control the universe. Through worker placement and deck building, each leader sends Agents across Dune to gather water...
2025-01-2055 min
Board Game HomiesFlip 7 & Captain FlipIn episode 21, we discuss Flip 7 by The Op Games and Captain Flip by PlayPunk–but, first,–we chat about our New Year’s board game resolutions! Unsurprisingly, we all want to play more games.
Self proclaimed: “the greatest card game ever,” Flip 7 is a push your luck party game! Keep flipping cards for the chance of more points AND the risk of busting. First person to 200 points wins! This game is fun, fast, and fliptastic. Just like…
Captain Flip! Another push your luck game but with tiles instead of cards. Plus...
2025-01-0637 min
Board Game HomiesBest plays of 2024In Episode 20, we celebrate our year of gaming together by focusing on games that were new to us in 2024! We start with a cumulative top 5 (the points are made up, and we’re trusting Angela’s calculations) and roll into rapid(ish)-fire questions to share our individual opinions on our least and most favorite plays of the year, favorite expansions, most interesting mechanics, games we were wrong about, best two player game…and more!
Find us on Instagram @boardgamehomies and let us know about your year in gaming!
2024-12-231h 20
Board Game HomiesBarrageIn Episode 19, we review Barrage by Cranio Creations and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: SCOUT, Odin, Skull, and Windmill Valley.
It’s 1922, and the new World is embracing Tesla’s energy revolution. CEOs representing four national companies are racing to produce energy by building dams, hydro-electric powerhouses, and conduits. All this is to control the flow of water and to create enough energy to complete contracts. However, fulfilling contracts alone won’t guarantee success in this...
2024-12-0959 min
Board Game HomiesHome for the HolidaysAre you tired of playing Catan and only Catan with your family? Does your aunt always crush you at her favorite card game? Do you need some game ideas for playing with your niblings or bringing to the family holiday party? In Episode 18, we discuss games to play over the holidays with a focus on low(er) rules overhead, shorter play times, and games that don’t suck.
Find us on Instagram @boardgamehomies and look for our holiday guides!
2024-11-2550 min
Board Game HomiesNucleumIn Episode 17, we review Nucleum by Board&Dice and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: The White Castle: Matcha, New York Zoo, Gentle Rain, and Marvel Champions: The Card Game.
In Nucleum, it’s the economic and technological boom of 19th-century Saxony, and you are working hard to earn victory points through building and powering urban buildings, obtaining and completing contracts, and racing to milestones set by the king himself, Frederik Augustus. Be the most su...
2024-11-1152 min
Board Game HomiesAll Things Clank! Part 1In Episode 16, we review the Clank!s by Dire Wolf and Renegade Game Studio and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the games. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth, Regicide, and… Becky?
The Deck-Building Adventures Clank!, Clank! In! Space!, and Clank! Catacombs all have similar base mechanics and objectives; through deck building (duh), thieves quickly and QUIETLY descend to the depths seeking one artifact and looting for extra treasures along the way. However, the more Cl...
2024-10-2839 min
Board Game HomiesReviveIn Episode 15, we review Revive by Aporta Games and discuss our first, third, and eighth impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about our shared joy from attending the Pacific Northwest Game Swap: Oregon Edition where Angela, Becky, and Gillean sold games, Reed purchased games, and we all engaged in some lively board game conversations.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, each player leads a tribe that is working to rebuild the world in this deck building, tech tree, and map exploration game. Through hand and resource management, each tribe works t...
2024-10-1443 min
Board Game HomiesTo Cull or Not to CullIn Episode 14, we discuss Culling board games from our collections. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Nucleum, Clank!: Catacombs, Railroad Tiles, and Barrage.
Gillean and Becky have been building a board game collection since 2011 and have culled over 65 games; Angela and Reed are newer to curating their collections through thoughtful purchases and culling choices. With the motivation of selling games at the first (hopefully of many!!) Pacific Northwest Game Swap Oregon Edition, we discuss what motivates us to remove games from our collections, reasons we...
2024-09-301h 05
Board Game HomiesWyrmspanIn Episode 13, we review Wyrmspan by Stonemaier Games and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about what’s bringing us joy: Nucleum (x2), Revive (x2), and sharing the love of board games with others.
Set in the modern day, you are building a sanctuary for dragons by excavating caves in order to entice dragons in this tableau and engine building game. By exploring the caverns and playing cards, you gain resources, cards, eggs, and advancement on the Dragon Guild for additional benefits–make sure...
2024-09-1653 min
Board Game HomiesTop 5 Small Box GamesIn Episode 12, we discuss our top 5 favorite games of the summer. To start off the episode, we chat about what’s bringing us joy: Daybreak, Lisboa, Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure, Clank!: Catacombs, and Ark Nova (again?!)
Whether we’re at a brewery, grabbing lunch, or sipping lattes, these are our go-to small box games this summer:
5. Sea Salt & Paper by Bombyx
4. Deck of Cards
3. Azul Mini by Next Move Games
2. Love Letter by Alderac Entertainment Group
1. Nana by @ Mob+
Let us know which...
2024-09-0251 min
Board Game HomiesEverdellIn Episode 11, we review Everdell by Starling Games and discuss our first and second impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about what’s bringing us joy: Splendor Duel, Wyrmspan, Hegemony, Rebel Princess, and Carcassonne.
Over the river and through the woods to Everdell we go! Beneath the Ever Tree, we curate our cities by building constructions and inviting critters to inhabit those spaces. In this worker placement and tableau building game, you play through the seasons at your own pace as you gain points through playing cards into your ci...
2024-08-1952 min
Board Game HomiesKanban EVIn Episode 10, we review Kanban EV by Eagle-Gryphon Games and discuss our first and second impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about what’s bringing us joy: Euchre, trick taking games at the Portland Game Collective Convention, Root, and the hope that Becky will play more games with friends.
Working on an electric vehicle assembly line, we dedicate time to train towards certification, and we select car designs to upgrade and eventually test–all the while stocking the warehouse with necessary parts in order to then assemble cars for R&D...
2024-08-0554 min
Board Game HomiesLosingIn Episode 9, we discuss Losing in board gaming. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Railroad Ink, Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, The Castles of Burgundy, Kanban EV, and Captain Flip (plus a sticker surprise!)
Our hobby is competitive, and we all play to win, but, ultimately, we’re playing to spend time together and have a good time. How do we manage the feelings of losing while also being part of creating an enjoyable experience for everyone? We discuss how frustration, trash talking, and gloating play int...
2024-07-221h 04
Board Game HomiesBruxelles 1893: Belle epoqueIn Episode 8, we review Bruxelles 1893: Belle Époque and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island, Faraway, Ark Nova with Marine Worlds, Castles of Burgundy, and Carcassonne.
Building the first Art Nouveau buildings, we–Paul, Paul, Paul, and Victor–balance worker placement, managing finances, and art collecting in order to build our houses, win area majorities, and increase scoring multipliers for the end game. For playing as architects, this game is a m...
2024-07-0853 min
Board Game HomiesKutná Hora: The City of SilverIn Episode 7, we review Kutná Hora: The City of Silver and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Isle of Cats, The King Is Dead: Second Edition, Faraway, and Paladins of the West Kingdom.
Developing the City of Silver through purchasing plots of land, securing building permits, and expanding the mines, we discuss the variable economic market, constructing the grand Saint (Santa) Barbara’s Cathedral, and paying taxes in this hand management and tile placement game by...
2024-06-2443 min
Board Game HomiesArk NovaIn Episode 6, we review Ark Nova and discuss our first, second, and third impressions (and many more!) of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Expeditions: Gears of Corruption, Root, Haggis, and MLEM: Space Agency.
Gathering animals, forming partnerships, and garnering support from sponsors, we discuss building our reputation, zoo appeal, and conservation points through polyomino placement of enclosures, balancing the flow of actions, and hate drafting (aka snapping) against friends.
Our group has been obsessing over this game – it has been played solo, online, in...
2024-06-1047 min
Board Game HomiesFOMO and Crowdfunding and Upgrades OH MY!In Episode 5, we explore FOMO (fear of missing out), crowdfunding, and upgrades. To start off the episode, we chat about our shared joy from attending our local board game convention that hosted high score tournaments for Azul, Cascadia, and Wingspan, a two player tournament, and space to play games with strangers.
Board game tables, metal coins, and Ark Nova (oh my!)–we discuss how FOMO and coveting shows up for each of us in this hobby, and how it relates to crowdfunding. Find out which one of us is the self-proclaimed worst FOMO offender and learn our pre...
2024-05-2755 min
Board Game HomiesHarmonies and The White CastleIn Episode 4, we review Harmonies and The White Castle and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of these games. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Spire's End: Hildegard, Age of Innovation, Thunder Road: Vendetta, and Ark Nova.
Surrounded by beautiful artwork and components, we discuss drafting tiles and building habitat patterns to attract animals to our landscapes in Harmonies, a tile drafting and placement game by Libellud, and we discuss the exacting elegance of the 9 actions of The White Castle, a resource management and worker and dice p...
2024-05-1349 min
Board Game HomiesBrass BirminghamIn Episode 3, we review Brass Birmingham and discuss our first, second, and twenty-third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Brass Birmingham, King of Tokyo, Splendor Duel, and Dune Imperium: Uprising.
Through the canal and rail eras of the Industrial Revolution, we discuss market variability, loans, emergent strategies, and hand management in this very thinky–yet engaging–game. We’re obsessed, and one of us (who apparently still doesn’t know ALL the rules) is so pleased to be playing so much Brass Birmingham.
Share...
2024-04-2934 min
Board Game HomiesWonderland's WarIn Episode 2, we review Wonderland’s War and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Wyrmspan, Revive, Bruxelles 1893: Belle Époque, Sea Salt & Paper: Extra Salt, and Tokaido.
At the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, we discuss this bag building and area control game from Druid City Games. Fill your bag with Wonderlandians and a little or a LOT of madness and then bet against your friends as you all battle for control of Wonderland. This game makes for a tea-r...
2024-04-1529 min
Board Game HomiesApiaryIn Episode 1, we review Apiary and discuss our first, second, and third impressions of the game. To start off the episode, we chat about the games that are bringing us joy: Dune Imperium, White Castle, Kutna Hora, and Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game.
Out in the cosmos, we discuss the mechanics of bumping bees to build our hives in this worker placement game from Stonemaier Games. Three of the four of us are buzzing about this game, and one of us isn’t waggling their bee butt yet.
Share your thoughts about Apiary with us on instagram @boardgamehomies and find a ph...
2024-04-0123 min