Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 286 we cover 5 board game expansions each that are (almost) mandatory.
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Board game expansions we won't play without
03:31 Look back at Top 5 Board Game Expansions from Episode 47
10:17 Roll Player - Monsters and Minions
15:02 Agricola - Belgium, France, Gamer's Deck, etc.
19:43 Radlands - Cult of Chrome
22:05 Thunder Road: Vendetta - Choppe Shoppe
24:36 Blood Rage - Kickstarter Exclusive Monsters
29:04 Stockpile - Continuing Corruption
31:04 The Castles of Burgundy - Trade Routes
34:51 Obsession - Upstairs, Downstairs
38:36 Chaosmos - The Temple
42:16 Downforce - Danger Circuit, Wild Ride
46:07 Tapestry - Plans and Ploys
50:20 Gaia Project - The Lost Fleet
53:13 Fantastic Factories - Manufactions
55:12 Dune: Imperium - Rise of Ix
59:33 March of the Ants: Evolved Editions - Predators and Prey
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In Episode 285 we give our hot take review on The Old King's Crown covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We talk about the BGG Hall of Fame inductee, For Sale, and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Reforest, Biblios, and Subjective.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:21 BGG Hall of Fame: For Sale
05:40 The Old King's Crown Description
08:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms
33:50 Production and Theme
38:52 Final Thoughts
46:20 Echoes of Time
48:22 Reforest
53:06 Dead Cells
54:25 Biblios
58:53 Subjective
1:04:25 Listener Shoutout
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
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Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 284 we give our hot take review on Echoes of Time covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We cover a poll on motivations to engage with the board game hobby and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Sanctuary and Fearsome Floors and a first look at some games that have recently arrived including Chaosmos: The Temple and Speakeasy.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Poll: What is your primary motivation for being a part of the board gaming hobby?
09:18 Echoes of Time Description
10:57 Gameplay and Mechanisms
27:08 Production and Theme
37:26 Final Thoughts
47:00 Sanctuary
56:06 Recent Arrivals: Chaosmos: The Temple and Speakeasy
59:51 Fearsome Floors
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
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Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 284 we take a look back at 2025 and discuss some of the great (and no so great) games we played last year. Most of them were even published last year.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
2:27 Biggest Surprises in 2025 (Dead Cells, Hot Streak, Slay the Spire: The Board Game)
16:45 Biggest Disappointments in 2025 (Wroth, Scoville 2nd Edition, SETI: Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence)
25:04 Best New to Us in 2025 (Lords of Vegas, Thurn and Taxis, Crokinole, Nokosu Dice)
30:23 Best Production Published in 2025 (Hot Streak, March of the Ants Evolved Edition, Stupor Mundi)
36:51 Lookback at Best Games of 2024 (Unconscious Mind, Fromage, Civolution)
40:35 Best Games of 2025 (March of the Ants Evolved Edition, Luthier, Moon Colony Bloodbath)
48:40 Board Game Resolutions
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
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Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 282 we discuss the current state of the hobby and if it's the best it's ever been. Are we in peak board gaming? Where do we go from here?
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠