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Description
The Neo-Babylonian empire, especially under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C.), was a period of rebirth for southern Mesopotamia. Irrigation systems improved and expanded, increasing agricultural production. Urban life flourished with the creation of new cities, monuments and temples, and the consequent increase in trade.
In Babylonia, you try to make your clan prosper under the peace and imperial power of that era. You have to place your nobles, priests, and craftsmen tokens on the map to make your relations with the cities as profitable as possible. Properly placing these counters next to the court also allows you to gain the special power of some rulers. Finally, the good use of your peasants in the fertile areas gives more value to your crops. The player who gets the most points through all these actions wins.
—description from the publisher
Year Published
2019
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 14
This page: 14
Sentiment:
pos 13 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–14 of 14
Video nTWH3Ba1ipc
top_5_list at 6:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 63013 · mention_pk 156288
Click to watch at 6:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- surprising box fart on the list
- the box part was memorable
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is going to be not a shock to anyone because this game ends up on the number one and number two and number three spot on pretty much every list out there
- april fools
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tKVUZDt12bw
top_50_list at 1:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62972 · mention_pk 156150
Click to watch at 1:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Blue Lagoon
- Fjords
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- blue lagoon is a great game
- it's got so colorful so much fun
- there's this great moment in blue lagoon where you just realize that you've got a certain island secured
- it's a sandbox style pirate game
- i'm going to buy this for myself 100
- Ethnos is an awesome very simple area majority game
- Ticket to Ride Europe
- Nidavellir
- Dune Imperium
- Code Names is just so great that it's word games are just easy for no i shouldn't say they're easy for everyone to get into
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video T-kBBwCrMK4
top_10_list at 18:30
video_pk 62894 · mention_pk 155741
Click to watch at 18:30 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the meanest game in my top 10, no question
- there's just always something exciting to do on your turn
- it's an absolute hit
- it's the best social deduction experience I've ever had
- the shortest playing time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TYyovLlQy_c
No Pun Included analysis at 21:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 39322 · mention_pk 118513
Click to watch at 21:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging, fast-paced scoring with meaningful choice
- Dynamic twists and multiple scoring opportunities
- Thematic and ambitious presentation
Cons
- Rulebook can be ambiguous and sometimes unclear
- Two-player play can feel heavier or more complex
- Initial setup and learning curve can be steep
Thematic elements
- infrastructure networks, beards, nobles, and collective scoring
- Ancient Mesopotamia; city-building and trade dynamics
- commentary with humorous insights into gameplay
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Auction-like scoring rounds — End-of-round assessments drive strategic timing and bids
- Beard tokens and adjacencies — Beards and token placements influence city scoring; adjacency matters
- Pattern recognition — Players form city networks and sequences to maximize points
- Pattern recognition / network building — Players form city networks and sequences to maximize points
- tile placement — Place actions and tokens around a board to shape scoring opportunities
- tile/area placement — Place actions and tokens around a board to shape scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the art is out of this world which is just the right level of kit for Modern Art
- the best part of Modern Art is the theatrics
- I recommend it highly
- my city is a masterclass of emerging game design
- it's a roller coaster ride of plot twists
- every time you flip the card that tells you what piece you place you must then immediately place that piece
- Babylonia is a game that will demand all of your attention
- the board is ludicrous it is so over the top big that I could almost forget how poor it is for comprehension
- the rule book is hot garbage with many rules left ambiguous
- eternal mode that'll let you play your copy indefinitely but it is nowhere near as fun as the constant sense of discovery
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SttcVIQIuJs
Foster the Meeple general_discussion at 5:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12761 · mention_pk 37246
Click to watch at 5:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Reiner Knizia design
- very pretty
- well recommended
- loved by multiple communities
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- civilization building
- ancient babylon
- historical
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — placing tokens next to ziggurats for special powers
- Farming — use farmers and fertile areas for crop yields
- noble placement — place nobles on map to create relationships with cities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we have a problem
- it's a beast you need a table to play a table
- it's freaking fantastic it's super good
- i've said a million times how much i love res arcana
- the art is stunning
- ford is one of my favorite games
- this is just a super fun halloween time game
- shipping in canada at night it's so exciting everywhere is a bit of a nightmare right now to be honest
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 67M31UhLdJ4
Actual top_10_list at 1:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11455 · mention_pk 33682
Click to watch at 1:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging competition between clans
- Dynamic late-game scoring crescendo
- Strong thematic integration with path-building and city control
Cons
- Can feel like you're always one step behind
- Blocking and timing pressure may frustrate some players
Thematic elements
- Nobles, diplomacy, and land control around cities and ziggurats
- Ancient Mesopotamia; city-state politics and trade
- Strategic, competitive with direct interaction and blocking
Comparison games
- Samurai
- Through the Desert
- Blue Lagoon
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Place tokens to claim regions; build uninterrupted trails to cities; surrounding cities score
- area control / path-building — Place tokens to claim regions; build uninterrupted trails to cities; surrounding cities score
- Compound Scoring — Score for connections to a city via linked tokens and noble connections
- long-range connection scoring — Score for connections to a city via linked tokens and noble connections
- special powers via ziggurat cards — Gaining control of ziggurats can grant powerful ongoing effects
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Babylonia pulls you between the competition over cities and ziggurats
- Deep Blue is an incredible game
- Ishtar is a tile laying game in which you're growing gardens in the desert
- Pret-a-Porter is not a game for the light hearted or like-minded
- I am in love with how well Kings dilemma tells its story
- Letter Jam is a cooperative word building game from the makers of Code Names
- City Skyline is based on the popular video game and SimCity
- Valley of the Vikings is my top pick for a kids game at Essen this year
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BsfzqCEbxso
Adam Porter top_10_list at 2:27:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11383 · mention_pk 33470
Click to watch at 2:27:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Harks back to early 2000s style of Knizia games
- Very satisfying and strategic gameplay
- Simple rule set but allows deep competitive play
- Stylish, sophisticated production design
- Relatively easy to pick up but mastery is possible
- Serious, historical aesthetic (not cartoonish)
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Building civilizations in ancient Babylon
- Ancient world
- Historical/Strategic
Comparison games
- Early 2000s Knizia titles
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Controlling regions of the board
- Strategic placement — Careful positioning of pieces for competitive advantage
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the artwork is is odd it's a bit ugly and so but in a really sort of cute way i i like it it's got a lot of personality
- there's a lot of drama a lot of tension in there but it's also abstracted that it doesn't feel dark and mean and nasty
- babylonia harks back to that older era where board games were trying to look serious and historical
- it's a strange game in that it's got two different games essentially you know you start out playing one thing and then it switches to something else about halfway through but that switch is not clunky it feels very natural
- ultimately this is a push your luck game uh which is a type of game that i really really enjoy
- the game looks odd it looks like a game for children it's got this weird cartoony artwork but the gameplay is not really like that at all
- this is one i frequently come back to okay a couple of times a year i'll i'll be looking for what should i play there we go if wishes were fishes
- it's really good it's it's hard to explain why it's good but it's really good
- i've talked previously about the fact that i like dice games that don't rely on the yahtzee mechanism and this is one of those
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video JTjJ4r3UOG0
Ask the Chairman general_discussion at 5:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10324 · mention_pk 30456
Click to watch at 5:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Elegant engine-building
- Accessible entry point for Knizia fans
Cons
- Can be heavy for casual players
- Requires careful long-term planning
Thematic elements
- Root-building / network expansion
- Ancient Mesopotamia
- Abstract-to-thematic engine-building
Comparison games
- Through the Desert
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Root-building / network expansion — Players extend routes and connect regions through a developing network to maximize points.
- tile/area control elements — Players influence board regions to secure scoring opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I generally don't like table hog games; I prefer it to be a bit more concise and reigned in.
- I do enjoy teaching games and I feel a much more comfortable teaching games than learning games from other people.
- Luck vs Randomness—Luck is about controlling decisions; Randomness is when you have no control over what happens.
- Publishers underestimate negative reviews; sometimes a negative review can be positive for a publisher because it shows a different demographic that would enjoy the game.
- Babylonia is one of my highest rated games.
- Through the Desert is different enough from Babylonia; Babylonia allows you to place tokens anywhere, Through the Desert has a different scoring mechanism.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6_4A2PQc-nM
Chairman of the Board top_50_list at 20:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9184 · mention_pk 27094
Click to watch at 20:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- streamlined yet deep
- scarcity-driven decisions and elegant balance
- timeless, evergreen game design
Cons
- rules subtlety complex for newcomers
- board setup can feel dense
Thematic elements
- tile networks and temple-adjacent scoring
- ancient Mesopotamia with networked tokens
- abstract but thematic
Comparison games
- Through the Desert
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- path-dependent strategy with scarcity — board state changes create new opportunities and constraints
- tile placement — place tokens to surround icons and connect networks
- token/tile placement to form networks — place tokens to surround icons and connect networks
- ziggurat-like temple/scoring mechanisms — claim temples and leverage token patterns for scoring bonuses
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a really interesting game
- one of the best examples of that mechanism being used correctly
- infinite replayability
- timeless, evergreen status
- flows wonderfully and rewards careful planning
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XF17e6woWKI
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 3:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8755 · mention_pk 25826
Click to watch at 3:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- streamlined root-building style with tight pacing
- beautiful production and sharp decisions
Cons
- space constraints can slow or stall some strategies
- rhino ksia mechanics may be unfamiliar to newcomers
Thematic elements
- Rhino Ksia style root-building and city control
- city surrounding and domination with stacked temple zones
- systematic scoring across connected routes and temples
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- city surround and majority scoring — placing discs to surround cities to gain control and points
- space management and tempo — limited space creates contention and choice pressure
- tile-based scoring with symbols — collecting symbol-tied tiles yields points via routes connecting cities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- board gaming Perfection such a an intricate and nuanced design
- the best negotiation game out there
- fast so engaging
- I can't find a fault with this game it is just so much fun
- one of the original area control style games
- the time track system I've ever seen
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EIiUSBj15xE
Jungles Games general_discussion at 27:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5382 · mention_pk 16008
Click to watch at 27:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Appeals at higher player counts
- Interesting at scale
Cons
- Not as old as some peers; may feel niche
Thematic elements
- Cardplay, area influence, control
- Ancient Mesopotamian city-building
- Strategic / euro-ish
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card-driven engine — Cards drive actions and scoring with varying hubs
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a euro style game that plays up to six
- it's fully simultaneous
- Concordia Venus ... brings in team play and that lets you play two on two which is a four player game and it also lets you play two versus two which is a six player game
- not a euro game really it's more of a deduction style game where it's one versus many
- I started to work on that video and I'm hoping to make it happen
- Miniatures don't do anything for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video CclpzcO5V2o
Chairman of the Board general_discussion at 50:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3348 · mention_pk 9907
Click to watch at 50:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- elegant integration of actions into an engine
- beautiful production and thoughtful design
Cons
- can be dense for beginners
Thematic elements
- economic tile and token management
- Ancient Mesopotamia, Babylonian trade networks
- classic euro with crisp engine-building ideas
Comparison games
- Rococo
- Concordia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_selection — Choose actions that trigger chain reactions for scoring.
- engine_development — Build a scoring engine through actions and triggers.
- token_management — Draft and allocate tokens to tiles and routes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I would say I prefer Praga Caput Regni.
- Praga Caput Regni is my number one game of 2020.
- I absolutely love everything about the hobby to be honest.
- I love the social aspect of the hobby.
- I'm a semi-omnigamer in some ways yes in some ways no.
- Quacks of Quedlinburg lived up to the hype for me.
- Concordia is one of my favorite games; timeless and elegant.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qB9tJMAr3FI
Adam in Wales top_10_list sentiment: positive
video_pk 2226 · mention_pk 6492
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Return to classic Knizia style
- Simple rules with deep strategy
- Excellent strategic decisions
- Well balanced
- Classic design feel
Cons
- Very serious-looking game might intimidate
- Complex rulebook with fringe rules
- Unintuitive scoring sometimes
- Simultaneous scoring feels odd
- May have limited market reach
Thematic elements
- ancient_civilization
- trade_routes
- city_building
- mesopotamia
Comparison games
- Through the Desert
- Samurai
- Tigris and Euphrates
- Blue Lagoon
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm moving away from those big strategic games more and more and tending towards that lighter stuff
- It's been a big strange wonderful year for me
- I can't honestly say that this list is any sort of authority
- I'm looking for innovation and that's harder and harder to find year after year
- These are the 10 picks but I've really really enjoyed ten real gaming highlights for me
- I don't have the time anymore to invest in playing these big heavy games
- Happy salmon went over fantastically because everyone could play together
- Innovation is harder and harder to find year after year
- There's nothing innovative in this gameplay but it is slick it plays so well
- The watercolors in the artwork make it feel so stylish and mature as a game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video aaQ0mgg3YB0
Corporate Cardboard general_discussion at 1:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 666 · mention_pk 1951
Click to watch at 1:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- board is visually striking
- simple core rules with deep strategic choices
- versatile play with multiple paths to win
Cons
- can be similar to other tile-laying color families
- some players may dislike the thematic abstraction
Thematic elements
- city-building with territorial control
- Ancient Mesopotamia city-states
- abstract strategy with tile-laying and city surrounded scoring
Comparison games
- Blue Lagoon
- Through the Desert
- Tigers & Euphrates
- Pax Premier Second Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Surrounding/area scoring — surround cities and temples to claim points and powers
- tile placement — place five tiles from a rack onto a board to build connections
- Variable powers via ziggurats — claim powers that can alter scoring and turns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's so simple to play where you are literally you've got a spread of five tiles at your disposal
- the board looks absolutely fantastic and you are trying to do lots of different things
- this is the living game where the next setup is based on how you played the prior game
- the engine-building in Deus is really tight and rewarding
- the app integration in Chronicles of Crime adds ongoing content and keeps the game fresh
- Deep Sea Adventure is charming and tense with the oxygen mechanic
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–14 of 14