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Game Info
Year
2010
Collection
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Anomia plays off the fact that our minds are positively brimming with all sorts of random information: things to eat, pop songs, websites, etc... Sure, under normal circumstances, it's easy to give an example of a frozen food or a dog breed, but you'll find that your brain works a little differently under pressure!
To play, draw and reveal a card from the center pile. Does the symbol on your card match one on another player's card? If so, you must quickly face-off with the other player by giving an example of the person, place, or thing on their card before they can do the same for yours. If you blurt out a correct answer first, you win their card and the drawing continues.
Sounds simple, right? Wrong! Wild cards allow non-matching symbols to match, increasing the number of things to which you must pay attention. Cascading face-offs can occur when you hand over a lost card, thereby revealing a new top card on your play pile.
Featured Videos
Review
Utopia in about 3 minutes
Rules Teach
Anomia (the classic party game) - How To Play
Playthrough
Spotlight Game Night LIVE - Utopia
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 16
This page: 16
Sentiment:
pos 11 ·
mix 3 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–16 of 16
Video WDs8n_sz88I
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:00
video_pk 68208 · mention_pk 164566
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video snddMr6KhPw
Review at 0:12 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 65776 · mention_pk 159548
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Quick and fast-paced
- A fair bit of trickery and cleverness
- Has just enough going for it to make it stand out from other area control games
- Monuments and wonders give it a grander feel
- Much more of a race than other area control games
- Strongest catch-up mechanics seen
- Thematic twist of a sinister sacrifice factory behind the utopian facade
- Simple yet clever area control gameplay
Cons
- Color palette, iconography, and visuals are a bit of a mess, making it harder to scan information
- Far bigger and over-producing than it really needed to be
Thematic elements
- Summoning great minds and thinkers from human history to work together to create a great utopian state, but in reality, it's a sinister sacrifice factory consuming visitors to build monuments and debate culture.
- Utopia
Comparison games
- our grande
- Tammany Hall
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players take card actions sequentially. Cards can be used to move tokens, spawn tokens, consume tokens for points, boost monuments, or change monument order.
- Area Control — Players try to control as much of the kingdom of Utopia as possible. Once an area is locked down, control cannot be lost.
- card drafting — Players draw cards, with the leader discarding two and others discarding one, depending on their position.
- set collection — Groups of cards and groups of tokens are key to victory.
- Victory point tracking — Victory points are gained by building wonders, sacrificing people, and having popular monuments. The game ends when a player passes 50 points. Player turn order is determined by victory points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Utopia is nothing more than a sinister sacrifice factory with the idol powers-that-be steel people from history work them into the ground to construct monuments and debate about which culture is so hot right now like they are fashion items
- The best thing about the game is playing a game about a utopia as old as something more sinister with sacrifices and the elites fickle fashions being the drivers behind the game
- However the color palette iconography and visuals of this game are a bit of a mess and makes it far harder to scan information than it really should be
- It's a simple yet clever area control game presented like it's something far grander than it really is
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video puQ5j4eIdlU
meeple university Preview at 0:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64357 · mention_pk 157807
Click to watch at 0:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Combines worker placement with engine-building and order fulfillment
- Time travel adds strategic resource gain and timeline manipulation
- Recruiting experts provides extra workers and unique abilities
- Drones and limbo create dynamic interaction and tactical blocking
- Solo and two-player cooperative modes add flexibility
- Clear win condition through completing three missions
Cons
- Resources are not easy to acquire and costs rise as you recruit more crew
- Resource and rule details are not fully shown in the preview video (rules/artwork not included)
Thematic elements
- Reordering history to create a utopia; players choose outcomes (e.g., dinosaurs vs. planet earth) to influence the timeline.
- The setting is introduced as the 24th century aboard a starship, with time travel to different timelines to shape history.
- Explanatory, mission-driven framing with time-travel consequences and timeline manipulation.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action space replacement — After all players use their workers, the action space’s card is replaced for the next round.
- Assassination — You can assassinate an opponent, sending them to limbo and allowing you to place a drone to carry the action on that space.
- Drones and limbo — Drones can carry actions; if an action space is occupied, a drone can carry it; workers can be moved to a limbo state.
- engine building — Actions combine to build up your capabilities over the game, contributing to resource generation and future options.
- First player token — The attacker can gain the first player token as part of certain actions.
- missions — Complete missions by meeting location, resource, and technology requirements to progress toward the win condition.
- Recruiting experts — You can recruit special experts (e.g., Areta Franklin, Alexander the Great) granting extra workers and abilities; recruitment costs scale with crew level.
- Resource management — Players can time travel to gain one of the five resources and can exploit timelines for advantage.
- Resource recovery — Resources are paid to get workers back from limbo; players must manage scarce resources to recover workers.
- Technology cards — You can gain a technology card if it is on top of the deck rather than recruiting crew.
- Time travel — Players can time travel to gain one of the five resources and can exploit timelines for advantage.
- worker placement — On your turn you assign one of your workers to an available space on the main board, perform the action, then it goes to the next player.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the game plays one to four players with mechanics such as worker placement engine building and order fulfillment
- on your turn you assign one of your workers to one of the available spaces on the main board
- time travel to gain one of the five resources
- you gain an extra worker and their abilities
- assassinate your opponent
- the game ends when one player completes three missions
- solo and two-players cooperative mode
- Here's your chance to save the dinosaurs or save planet earth
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 1HLeQDCT7K8
Allies or Enemies Review at 0:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61048 · mention_pk 153466
Click to watch at 0:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful and charming artwork with cute forest spirit characters
- easy to learn, making it suitable as a gateway or family game
- gentle competition that encourages social interaction without heavy pressure
- colorful components and a tidy setup/cleanup process that suits casual play
Cons
- Rune tiles feel dull compared to the rest of the components
- some icons and symbols on runes can take a moment to decode for new players
Thematic elements
- offering gifts to spirits to gain favor and advance toward keeper status
- Forest spirits and a magical grove culminating in the Keeper of the great tree
- color-coded cards with individual personalities; occasional micro-stories when you line up a color
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card-driven actions and card replacement — cards provide actions and once spaces are fully used, filled cards are replaced and new options appear; unfilled cards are replaced with opposite-colored cards
- set collection / scoring via tokens and tiles — tokens come in six colors; collecting them and placing scoring tiles on the great tree drives end-game scoring and majority bonuses
- worker placement — players place markers on spaces on the board or on cards to gain favor tokens or to trigger scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a gateway game so don't expect big choices or tough systems
- very much the kind of thing that will work well with your newer or non-gamer friends
- this is the sort of game you play while having a chitchat and maybe drinking a beverage
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video PZF9UpeOAWE
Board Game Garden Discussion at 15:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 31301 · mention_pk 92219
Click to watch at 15:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great party game for groups
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Speed matching — fast-paced party card game focusing on quick recollection
- speed word-association — fast-paced party card game focusing on quick recollection
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's happening it is no longer going to be in my collection
- Katan it is happening
- I am going to call Katan
- I need to pair down this collection
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AZt_hMIBhMI
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 14:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13751 · mention_pk 40188
Click to watch at 14:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Hilarious, fast-paced, and highly social
- Strong inspiration for larger party games
Cons
- Can be stressful if you struggle under time pressure
- Theme and symbols may feel simple to some players
Thematic elements
- Category-matching with rapid verbal responses
- Fast-paced party game around word categories
- Chaotic, humorous, and high-energy
Comparison games
- Jungle Speed
- Snorta
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Category authoring and symbol matching — Players flip cards with categories; when symbols match, players must name something that fits both categories.
- Chain reactions and pile reveals — Completing matches reveals new cards that may trigger further matches.
- Rapid-fire recall under pressure — Speed and instant decision-making with social banter.
- Simultaneous reveal — Completing matches reveals new cards that may trigger further matches.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's got gorgeous artwork to it
- I think there's multiple editions perhaps they've got different artwork
- it's in the same range as that really good trick taking game
- This is the very definition of a filler game right you're not going to play this for long two minutes per game you'll probably play it four or five times
- it's loud really frantic really active
- anomia is a hilarious game right where you've got a central deck of cards you turn over
- it's absolutely hilarious
- this is a Twist on rock paper scissors
- it's the Mind is this turned into a card game so you've got a hand of cards with different numbers on them and the numbers all go in a sequence
- it's Cooperative you're trying to succeed at getting rid of all your cards
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WEkzOg0vm3w
Actualol Top List at 5:16 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 13308 · mention_pk 39014
Click to watch at 5:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- High energy and social interaction
- Very quick to learn
Cons
- Can be punishing when someone shouts an answer first
- Repetition can dull the experience over time
Thematic elements
- word associations, rapid category matching
- Casual social settings, fast-paced word game
- energetic party game
Comparison games
- Wavelength
- Color Brain
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Pattern recognition — Players shout a word that fits a category on the opposing card before the other side does.
- real-time play — There are no strict turns; players respond as fast as possible.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the tent is for reminding you that games are for everyone
- this is the new long-form contest; we won't edit it
- the wow moment
- it's the perfect place people are adding things to their amazon wishlist like during the festival
- you can answer any rules question to this one with the name of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 60jeFv1n2cU
Might I Suggest A Game Top List at 7:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13292 · mention_pk 38965
Click to watch at 7:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High energy and laughter
- Great for fast rounds
Cons
- Can devolve into shouting; not for every group
Thematic elements
- Category matching under pressure
- Fast-paced word association game
- Yelling, rapid answers, and quick thinking
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Category matching under time pressure — Players flip cards and must match a symbol and category with a fast answer.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- top party games to play once we kick kova to the curb
- these games all play really well with a high player count
- these games should be easily accompanied with a beveragino
- after this pandemic is over you know i'll be ready to celebrate with a drink in hand
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8At8Xdnduvk
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Analysis at 1:09
video_pk 12788 · mention_pk 128140
Click to watch at 1:09 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Strandunter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the defining feature of picoco was not the gameplay as i'd imagined but the presentation
- a strong physical presence can really lift a product
- the spark of an idea can come from anywhere so why not a contraption, a cardboard device, a gimmick, a widget
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tDkzrD7C2ns
Board Game Spotlight Playthrough at 3:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12645 · mention_pk 116496
Click to watch at 3:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong, striking card/art aesthetics
- Leader abilities add variety and replay potential
- Vibrant time-travel mechanics with butterfly effects feel thematic and dynamic
- Tense two-player race with meaningful blocking and interaction
Cons
- Can be complex; a steep learning curve for newcomers
- Symbol language and text on cards can require repeated reference
- Some fiddly setup and cyclical deck management may slow first plays
Thematic elements
- Butterfly effects, space-time manipulation, and world-building via crew-led actions
- Time-traveling voyage across eras to shape a utopian future
- Emergent, scenario-driven play with individual leader abilities
Comparison games
- None explicit in this video
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Butterfly effects / tech building — Players pursue butterfly-effect missions and construct tech pieces that unlock effects and shift options.
- Deck cycling and visibility — Location decks are cycled: when a location is empty, top cards are cycled to bottom to maintain flow.
- End-game victory condition — The game ends when a player completes three butterfly-effect missions; that player wins the race.
- engine building — Players pursue butterfly-effect missions and construct tech pieces that unlock effects and shift options.
- Leader drafting / card abilities — At setup, players draft leaders with unique text-based abilities that modify recruitment or actions at locations.
- Limbo / blocking and drone reactions — Blocking spots can be countered with limbo mechanics and drones occupying contested locations.
- Resource management — Tokens like science, knowledge, culture, political, and military drive recruitment and tech purchases.
- Time travel / time zones — Movement to time zone locations influences future/past outcomes and enables butterfly-effect pathways.
- worker placement — Players place crew on various locations to gain resources, recruit, or trigger actions; drones and limbo add blocking dynamics.
- Wormholes / timeline interaction — Opening wormholes expands available worker spots and reshapes the spatial-temporal map.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the art in this is really good i really enjoy the art
- it's a race first to three missions wins the game
- the first person to complete three of those butterfly effect missions will win the game
- we are going to travel the universe we are going to time travel i guess
- this is a game where we are going to it's like worker placement right
- the butterfly effect missions from mission control if you have an empty slot
- you may move to a time zone location already occupied by any crew member
- first player moves by assassination right yep
- we're going to create butterfly effects to open wormholes
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IXquZRq4Snw
Rolls in the Family Top List at 23:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11201 · mention_pk 32947
Click to watch at 23:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fast, energetic, great social interaction
- Good for large groups
Cons
- Might be too frantic for some players
- Some categories can be harder than others
Thematic elements
- Category-based rapid-fire associations
- Cooperative-like social pressure with competitive tension
- Fast-paced, memory-light word play
Comparison games
- Code Names
- Monikers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Intermittent prompting — A bell or prompt appears; players race to name a matching category.
- Pattern matching & speed — Players must quickly name items from two categories when symbols appear.
- Speed matching — Players must quickly name items from two categories when symbols appear.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Party games are one of the biggest, most important parts of a versatile collection.
- Telestrations has created some of the funniest moments you can have at a table.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UIU74i2IfK4
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Discussion at 12:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10636 · mention_pk 31380
Click to watch at 12:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fantastic game
- Hilarious
- Really really funny
- Really really good
- Inspired Big Bazaar
Cons
- Ugly aesthetics
- Minimal design on cards
- Just text and symbols
Thematic elements
- Speed reaction game
- Abstract word game
- Abstract
Comparison games
- Jungle Speed
- Snorter
- Ghost Splits
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- speed reaction — Racing to call out answers
- symbol matching — Matching symbols triggers race
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It wasn't just the hundred sort of best designed games this was the hundred games that I feel that I'm particularly sort of connected to
- The games that have a place in my heart really games that I've got a lot of nostalgia for
- It felt a bit like doing a roll and write game but without all of the sort of convenience
- I wish I still had castles of burgundy and notre dame
- The main thing that got in the way for me was all the iconography
- I do use board games as an escape from screens and technology
- I really like the production of cockroach poker
- I found it was a game where I could see the ending coming and then someone would just go and there we go we've got another 20 minutes now
- It feels like something other than a board game
- The decisions you make in the game are very very slight
- Right up my alley
- I do really like push your luck
- That's my favorite game
- Abyss is my second favorite game
- I love pekka pig
- I just think it's ugly
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video PgoIECFvcbw
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Discussion at 7:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9595 · mention_pk 28369
Click to watch at 7:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Hilarious gameplay
- Great for energetic groups
- Works with 3 players
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Word association party game
- Abstract
- Frantic party
Comparison games
- Big Bizarre
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- racing — First to call out wins
- real-time — Simultaneous thinking
- word association — Calling out category answers
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- a series of videos where I take a bunch of different possible scenarios some of them provided by you the viewers and I shuffle them up into a deck of cards I reveal a scenario and roll a dice to see how many players I've got
- I got in lots of trouble last time for using the word dice as a singular so we'll be sticking with die as long as I remember today
- everything economic uh that I really really love seems to cap out at five players
- I can't imagine how long it would take so I think that would probably ruin ruin game
- frankly I played that with uh two players once and we gave up after about seven hours
- there's some good ones but most games before 1995 would ruin game night if you tried to play them today
- you're not allowed to speak to each other and you're playing against the time so it's very frantic
- the only way you're able to communicate is by tapping this wooden token to say look I need you to do something
- I think Mysterium would fall apart if they didn't speak the language and that's odd isn't it because it does isn't a game that has any text in it
- I think a terrible idea there's not that much interaction and the game gets longer with each player that you add
- I don't understand the people who put down a big you know they stick down Scythe in front of kids or boast about the fact their four-year-old can play sides
- there's no reason to be playing um Snakes and Ladders or or Candyland I would say not that Candyland is a big thing in the UK
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mVsrj_lOYIo
Actualol Top List at 16:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9168 · mention_pk 27032
Click to watch at 16:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- very accessible; quick rounds
- excellent for group play and social interaction
Cons
- can become chaotic if players talk over each other
- relies on fast verbal recall; not ideal for all groups
Thematic elements
- verbal fluency under time pressure
- card table with fast-paced symbol prompts
- casual, conversational
Comparison games
- Jungle Speed
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- symbol-category matching — Match or respond to category prompts under time pressure.
- verbal rapid-fire — Players shout words that match the symbol on the opponent's card as fast as possible.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's meant to be you make a mistake and you drink, the game gets easier to make as you get more drunk
- the social lubricant—the game is happening and people can drop in and out
- this is the perfect opportunity to drink
- it's almost a definition of the tent—it's fun and chaotic in a good way
- Anomia is a lot like Jungle Speed in spirit
- the rules can be learned quickly, which is ideal for a festival tent
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0NRjVAXDw6A
Board to Death TV - Board Game Reviews Interview at 0:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7559 · mention_pk 86547
Click to watch at 0:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Pocket-sized, portable design
- Fast, chaotic rounds suitable for 5-8 players
- Accessible rules with clear resolution hierarchy
- Unique card artwork and Kickstarter upgrade
- Includes a portable bag for travel
Cons
- Limited thematic depth
- Outcome can be influenced by card draw luck
- Requires multiple players to shine; potential downtime with fewer players
Thematic elements
- Conflict resolution through a rock-paper-scissors-inspired hierarchy with scoring via sacred stones
- Pocket-sized, card-clash game demo during GenCon coverage
- Abstract competitive with a focus on hand management and strategic drafting
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Players select five cards from a pool of nine to form their round strategy
- Compound Scoring — Winners gain an advantage totem; accumulation of sacred stones determines the round winner
- portable, starter edition packaging — Starter Edition includes a tuck box, artwork, and a portable bag for travel
- Rock-Paper-Scissors — Attack beats Taunt, Taunt beats Block, Block beats Attack
- rock-paper-scissors-style hierarchy — Attack beats Taunt, Taunt beats Block, Block beats Attack
- set-based round strategy — Players plan five-card strategies to influence multiple clashes across the round
- Simultaneous reveal — All players reveal their chosen card at the same time and resolve clashes
- simultaneous reveal and clash resolution — All players reveal their chosen card at the same time and resolve clashes
- totem-based scoring — Winners gain an advantage totem; accumulation of sacred stones determines the round winner
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- yeah Anoka is a cards clashing pocket-sized game basically
- three beats to two beats one
- it's a great game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UGg2JIIU8Qg
Board Game Spotlight Rules Teach at 0:07 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 4131 · mention_pk 81163
Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Deep engine with multiple strategic layers
- Dramatic theme and butterfly effect motif
- Two-phase game structure provides pacing variety
Cons
- Rule complexity and numerous card abilities can be overwhelming
- Asymmetric action benefits and limbo mechanic may slow games
Thematic elements
- Butterfly effect and utopian society through time travel
- Historical and futuristic timelines spanning across different moments in history
- Structured, modular mission-based progression with time-zone decks
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting / snake draft — Draft crew members in order, with last player getting second pick.
- Modular board — Complete missions that impact the main board; three completed missions end the game.
- Modular butterfly effect missions — Complete missions that impact the main board; three completed missions end the game.
- Resource management — Knowledge discs are infinite; players spend discs to recruit crew, build checks, etc.
- Resource management with knowledge discs — Knowledge discs are infinite; players spend discs to recruit crew, build checks, etc.
- Set collection / forming combinations on mothership — Tokens placed on ships correspond to abilities and future actions.
- Time travel / wormhole mechanic — Alternate time zones; wormholes allow action repeats and shifts.
- worker placement — Players place chrono-ships and crew on board locations to collect knowledge tokens and perform actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- knowledge discs are infinite in this game
- the butterfly effect missions are so important to the game
- this is utopia thank you so much for joining me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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