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Description
In Black Forest, you start out with a small domain in need of new buildings and livestock. You’ll travel from village to village, to enlist the aid of the best specialists. Exploiting the abilities of these specialists lets you collect resources, lay out new landscape tiles (e.g. ponds and fields), and build a variety of buildings, which come in four types. Choose the right buildings, place landscapes, fire up your glass production, and expand your domain.
Uwe Rosenberg’s resource wheels, made famous in Glass Road (2013), return in Black Forest. Two resource wheels on your tableau help you keep track of your resources and production. Black Forest continues the story - as the name suggests — in the Black Forest. Among others, the main difference between the two games is the use of worker placement in Black Forest instead of simultaneous action selection.
A wide selection of buildings and their different effects offer many different paths to victory.
—description from publisher
Year Published
2024
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 23
This page: 23
Sentiment:
pos 17 ·
mix 3 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 2
Showing 1–23 of 23
Video NPT9wBZ0WfE
Board Gaming Doctor top_10_list at 10:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 40219 · mention_pk 121641
Click to watch at 10:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong replayability and strategic depth
- Accessible entry point into Rosenberg's designs
Cons
- Variability not as high as some sandbox games
- Less dramatic interaction than some heavier euros
Thematic elements
- Resource management and building with evolving strategies
- Rosenberg's village-building experience with a forested backdrop
- Array
Comparison games
- Fields of ARL
- A Feast for Odin
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Building set collection — Assemble sets to score and optimize strategies.
- set collection — Assemble sets to score and optimize strategies.
- worker placement — Collect resources and construct buildings.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is all an effort to rerank my collection
- here are the honorable mentions there are 29 games unique games that start with the letter b
- Brass Birmingham is the number one game of all time as according to Board Game Geek
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hNEAyACOq64
Board Gaming Doctor top_10_list at 21:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 39437 · mention_pk 119047
Click to watch at 21:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- familiar Rosenberg feel with fresh wheel-based action
- tight, efficient play for a Rosenberg package
- strong thematic ties to Glass Road lineage
Cons
- some randomness in job-like buildings
- static buildings could feel less dynamic over time
Thematic elements
- forest resource management with building blocks
- Rosenberg-style forest economy with wheels and tableau-building
- mechanical, resource-driven progression
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Cascadia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- grid/worker-like actions — choose actions in a structured flow to optimize engine
- tableau building — construct a set of buildings/cards to score and enable chains
- wheel/gear resource wheel — rotating resource wheels drive production and actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Newford is my favorite game from 2024.
- I genuinely like this game more than Black Forest.
- Castle Combo is a really quick and short Tableau building game.
- 21 actions to seemingly do the impossible.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video YgLpB-FtXEM
Doly TBL top_10_list at 11:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36877 · mention_pk 110754
Click to watch at 11:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fenestrated approach to Glass Road with familiar Rosenberg touch
- potentially deeper than Glass Road due to new map and wheels
Cons
- uncertain if the pacing remains quick or grows into heavier play time
Thematic elements
- forest clearing and resource wheels
- reinterpretation of Glass Road
- map-centric worker/area-control shift from card-driven to map-based action selection
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- personal player land boards — individual boards for building and resource management
- Player Board | Main Board — individual boards for building and resource management
- Resource management — advanced production and resource manipulation via rotating wheels
- resource wheels — advanced production and resource manipulation via rotating wheels
- worker movement / placement — map-driven actions replacing Glass Road’s simultaneous selection
- worker placement — map-driven actions replacing Glass Road’s simultaneous selection
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's an Allstar cast of designers led by Antoine Boza of Seven Wonders and ghost stories Fame
- absolutely my most anticipated game of the year
- Slay the Spire the board game is incredible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video txWhLjRkyzg
Board Gaming Doctor analysis at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35731 · mention_pk 106861
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong replayability from two-sided buildings and randomized setup
- Rich interaction and competition for valuable buildings
- Familiar Glass Road mechanics with fresh twists
- Dynamic resource wheel and adaptation through job tokens
- Estate expansion via the Hut track adds vertical growth and branching strategies
Cons
- Wheel balance concerns and potential dial stagnation in edge cases
- Longer playtime (1-2 hours) relative to some similar titles, which could affect pacing for some groups
- Learning curve due to the confluence of multiple interacting systems and new mechanics
Thematic elements
- resource management, tableau-building, and competitive building acquisition in a forest setting
- Medieval/early modern forest village development with modular buildings and expansion via huts and estates
- Eurogame design emphasis on strategic planning, variability, and direct competition for assets
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Fields of ARA
- Ora et Labora
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- End-game trigger — The game ends when a player has one or more provision goods tokens crossing a designated point on the cooking dial, which sits near the latter portion of the wheel and helps pace the final turns.
- Hut track / estate expansion — Advancing on the Hut track unlocks a second board adjacent to your tableau, the Small Estate; this expansion increases space for more Stables and additional tableau-building opportunities, enabling multi-directional growth similar to processo in Ora et Labora.
- Interaction and competition — While not driven by action cards like Glass Road, the game preserves meaningful interaction through shared resources and a competitive market for valuable buildings; players must balance expansion against denial of high-value tiles.
- Livestock / Stables — Livestock can be kept on Stables on your board and interact with certain buildings; this introduces another resource track and planning layer that intersects with building choices.
- Merchant / tradesperson switching — The travelling Merchant can swap positions with a trades person by spending an upgraded good, allowing everyone to gain one of that basic good and reshaping local incentives mid-game.
- Provisions and upgraded goods — Provisions are used to access actions and to drive upgrades on the cooking wheel; this system forms the backbone of production and conversion, with provisions serving as the primary currency for higher-level goods.
- Resource management — An automated wheel generates basic goods and upgrades; turning the dial creates upgraded goods and the provisions on the upgraded goods side are grouped together; jobs tokens appear when the dial is moved to space two, providing additional resource conversion opportunities.
- Resource wheel / dial — An automated wheel generates basic goods and upgrades; turning the dial creates upgraded goods and the provisions on the upgraded goods side are grouped together; jobs tokens appear when the dial is moved to space two, providing additional resource conversion opportunities.
- tableau building — Construct buildings on your personal tableau; buildings are two-sided and offer different costs and functions; at setup a subset of large buildings are flipped to their B sides to create variability, and there is no mid-game refresh of these buildings, preserving tension for early choices.
- tile-based tableau building — Construct buildings on your personal tableau; buildings are two-sided and offer different costs and functions; at setup a subset of large buildings are flipped to their B sides to create variability, and there is no mid-game refresh of these buildings, preserving tension for early choices.
- Trading — The travelling Merchant can swap positions with a trades person by spending an upgraded good, allowing everyone to gain one of that basic good and reshaping local incentives mid-game.
- Variable Set-up: Board — There are 12 small state tiles and a pool of backup buildings; large two-slot buildings have a single sign but are complemented by randomized B-side options, creating variability and preventing predictable setups.
- Variable setup with randomization — There are 12 small state tiles and a pool of backup buildings; large two-slot buildings have a single sign but are complemented by randomized B-side options, creating variability and preventing predictable setups.
- worker placement — Move your pawn to open locations in your current village or to other villages by paying provisions; if the destination is occupied you must give the occupant a basic good; actions come from nearby tradespeople tiles and can be shifted mid-game by the Traveling Merchant.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I really like what this game has to offer
- the randomness of where you can move your worker was corrected based off of the image on the back of the box
- the rules for building out your own Tableau are very similar to Glass Road
- it gives us the foundation that Glass Road set and the mechanisms the resource wheel the Tableau building the buildings
- I'm really looking forward to playing this game once it comes out later this year
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cZXey6M-tnI
Board Gaming Doctor playthrough at 0:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 34672 · mention_pk 103309
Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong synergy between animal economy and production buildings
- Long-term planning rewards (tenement, Smoke House, Hardware Store)
- Solid endgame scoring potential from animals and built infrastructure
Cons
- Resource tightness around meat and food to unlock certain buildings
- Some action spaces can be blocked or require provisions to access, adding friction
- Partial video coverage; some rounds were not filmed due to recording constraints
Thematic elements
- Resource management, animal husbandry, and building strategies within a forest economy.
- A forested medieval village setting with ponds and production buildings.
- observational planning with strategic commentary
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Animal husbandry and food chain — Meat is produced via ponds/animals and used to enable buildings (e.g., tenement) and feeding troughs; animals provide points.
- Building Construction — Construction of buildings (tenement, Smoke House, Hardware Store, etc.) requiring resources and providing points and special abilities.
- Endgame scoring via buildings and animals — Score is accumulated from buildings constructed, resources produced, and animal yields.
- Pond-based meat production — Ponds generate meat; meat enables certain buildings and animal-related strategies, driving animal-focused play
- Provisions and access control — Provisions can be spent for actions or to access blocked spaces; some actions reduce resource strain when used wisely.
- Resource management — Resources like brick, wood, sand, glass are produced or converted, enabling building construction and meat production.
- resource management and production — Resources like brick, wood, sand, glass are produced or converted, enabling building construction and meat production.
- worker placement — Five workers are placed each round to village action spaces; some spaces require spending provisions or are blocked by other pawns.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we're going to play Black Forest solo now
- you'll notice that I have seated the board accordingly to the requirements
- this is the fifth month that this has been out
- placing five workers out onto the board
- I like this opportunity to get uh some more wood I know wood is pretty scarce in this game
- the Smokehouse and hardware store out on the board I got 52 points
- time is running low I'm not going to play this again as there are too many games to play during this Rosen bathon
- I think these buildings were very good to do so
- we start with three brick we need some glass so we just need to get some sand in order to build that first building
- we have some options to build Stables as well now
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cCxIpwDh34k
Board Gaming Doctor game_review at 0:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 34202 · mention_pk 101818
Click to watch at 0:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Tight resource management and engine-building
- Dynamic tile placement and travel merchant interaction
- Strong thematic linkage to Glass Road
- Beautiful art and components (dual-layer wheels)
Cons
- Early game resource tightness can slow start
- Job randomness can be swingy and impact balance
- Two-player interaction relies on a dummy player which some dislike
- Component printing issues with dual-layer wheels in some printings
Thematic elements
- industrialization of a traditional region with resource wheels and estate-building
- Black Forest region, industrial expansion and village development
- continuation of Glass Road's setting, with expansion into infrastructure and community building
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Aura et Labora
- Orani Burger Canal
- Fields of ARA
- Hollertau
- Agricola
- Caverna
- A Feast for Odin
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action tiles / worker movement — randomized action tiles placed on a central board; players move into villages to take adjacent actions; entering a village with others costs resources; traveling Merchant adds tile-switching dynamics
- endgame trigger — ends when a purple provision is moved or an end icon is revealed; all players get one final turn
- estate / tableau management — players develop an estate by placing buildings and landscape tiles; progress on a track allows extensions that boost scoring and access to forests
- jobs on main board — unlocked as wheels rotate; players may travel to add jobs, gaining resources and one-time effects
- Player Board | Main Board — unlocked as wheels rotate; players may travel to add jobs, gaining resources and one-time effects
- Resource management — resources tracked on wheels; automatic conversion to upgraded goods when basics are present
- resource wheels — resources tracked on wheels; automatic conversion to upgraded goods when basics are present
- tableau building — players develop an estate by placing buildings and landscape tiles; progress on a track allows extensions that boost scoring and access to forests
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I give it a nine out of 10 on Board Game Geek
- this is definitely my most anticipated game of this year
- it's a continuation of the story that Glass Road tells
- Glass Road is more preferred in my opinion than Black Forest
- I think going after animals is very strong
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FIoOyNMCero
Board Gaming Doctor general_discussion at 0:26 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 28759 · mention_pk 84423
Click to watch at 0:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Visually appealing cover and components
- Strong pedigree from Rosenberg and Tito Lawrence
- Familiar core mechanics with potential for deep strategic play
- Potential for replayability through board/module layout
Cons
- Buildings appear static rather than randomized, potentially reducing variability
- Uncertainty about how dynamic the setup will be compared to Glass Road
Thematic elements
- Resource management and village-building within a forested landscape
- A woodland European frontier setting inspired by the Black Forest, focusing on forest resources and settlement development.
- Historical-agrarian flavor with strategic resource orchestration
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- building placement/construction — Players construct and place buildings on tiles, with ongoing and scoring effects
- dual-wheel resource tracking — Resources are tracked using two interacting wheels to manage different resource types
- Modular board — The central board is composed of modules that can be arranged differently each game
- Resource management — Resources are tracked using two interacting wheels to manage different resource types
- worker placement — Players place workers on action spots to perform actions on the shared/ modular board
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game was being developed a while ago solely by Uwe Rosenberg but was soon taken over by Tito
- this is a direct comparison and sequel to Glass Road
- I was hoping for the same variability that Glass Road has
- the market is dynamic and Ever Changing and you always get a different set of buildings that you're trying to play with
- these spots are modular
- I think these buildings that we're going to get in this game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AaFI-rLHrQg
Board Gameco analysis at 6:05
video_pk 13260 · mention_pk 38867
Click to watch at 6:05 · 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)
- What enters my collection is a whole another story.
- I'm absolutely hooked on it. I love Primal.
- If I add something to my collection, ideally I want to see it there a year from now, at least a year from now.
- It is such a good implementation of the Glass Road system.
- It's not forever, but it feels like a forever game for me.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Sbg0P95nARk
Broken Meeple review at 23:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12747 · mention_pk 37186
Click to watch at 23:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Removes card system from Glass Road
- Multiple action space options
- Beautiful artwork
- Good miniaturization opportunities
- Well-organized building display
- Resource management depth
- Distinct from Glass Road
- Many viable strategies
- Tactical opportunities
Cons
- Can cause analysis paralysis
- Very many options to consider
- Heavy decision-making required
- Not for AP-prone players
Thematic elements
- Forest settlement
- Resource management
- Building construction
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Carcassonne
- Fields of Arle
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Review and rant about board games - usually more the latter
- It's basically Seven Wonders Dual with a minor reskin on it
- Euro style area control is probably in my bottom five mechanics
- This game is not forgiving
- I'm kind of done with this whole genre
- I'd be the skeletons and he'd be the goblins
- This will cause your brain to ache
- The Expo is kind of more like a taster of what's to come
- Remember as always it's only a game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video K8JGVDaPwcQ
Board Game Co general_discussion at 3:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10194 · mention_pk 30025
Click to watch at 3:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible yet flavorful engine with macro decisions
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)
- "Fantastic game. Not going anywhere."
- "Oracle of Deli? I do like Oracle of Deli. It is one that I probably should get rid of."
- "Viticulture still safe. Rouge never going anywhere. Love this game."
- "Convert the cave farmers. I probably should get rid of it. It's so good though. It's really, really good."
- "Feast for Odin"
- "Glass Road versus Black Forest where I said I'm going to keep both."
- "I think I'm going to keep Black Forest for the gameplay that that gives. This is a new choice. I'm making these choices up on the fly."
- "Dominion is amazing. I absolutely adore Dominion. I think it's one of the best deck builders out there."
- "Lord of the Rings, Fellowship. This is totally safe. I love the experience that this gives me."
- "Sentinels of the Multiverse. That's another one where I like it a lot. I don't play it as much as I'd like to. It's a really satisfying game."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BtfCzbHla6U
Board Game Co top_100_list at 29:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9581 · mention_pk 28335
Click to watch at 29:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong successor to Glass Road with a tighter, more focused engine
- high replayability
Cons
- some comparisons to Glass Road may affect perception
Thematic elements
- evolving tableau optimization in a compact engine
- forested, abstract strategy backdrop
- elegant, compact, architecture-forward
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Kverna
- Feast for Odin
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- abstract tableau optimization — build a scoring tableau with careful placement to maximize points
- duels/dueloid interactions — inter-player competition for shared resources and optimizations
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's 80 through 71. We're counting down the list.
- This is a delightful game that is accessible, easy to teach, and incredibly replayable.
- Onward is the new version of Sky Tier. It's a MOA-style game with a volcano eruption climax.
- Canvas is a delightful game. It’s accessible, a great gateway, and the art is stunning.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2a942jEFRuQ
GL analog general_discussion at 37:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9335 · mention_pk 27519
Click to watch at 37:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- builds on Glass Road concept with added player interaction
- merchant mechanic adds dynamic timing
Cons
- quite heavy and potentially punishing for new players
Thematic elements
- village-building / resource management
- Black Forest villages and forests
- cozy, rustic
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- rondell-style resource management — circular track of resources that influence actions
- tile placement / upgrading — place and upgrade to optimize resource flows
- villager/merchant interaction — visiting villagers and merchants influence tile exchanges
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's like a summer camp where I get to play lots of games
- this is one of the coolest things about this game
- the turns are so Snappy; you're always ready to go
- it's a bigger game where you are building out and visiting villages in the Black Forest
- two things that I love in games: dice placement and engine building
- the art is fascinating; some people really did not like the art and some people really did
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video w1qNlcYmcnU
Before You Play game_review at 39:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8929 · mention_pk 26362
Click to watch at 39:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
very positive
Pros
- Simple turn structure
- Interesting resource management
- Variety of building options
- Relatively short playtime
Cons
- Initial complexity
- Overwhelming number of icons
- Limited player interaction
Thematic elements
- Resource management and settlement building
- Rural European landscape
- Euro-style economic development
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players move around a board selecting actions from different village tiles
- resource wheel management — Players manage resources on two interconnected wheels
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Two-player players are eating really well right now.
- We play a ton of Uwe Rosenberg games.
- We were happy to play four solid games back to back.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cDTdockAM68
R runs through playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 8577 · mention_pk 25272
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Innovative production wheel that drives a dynamic engine
- High variability through random buildings and town layouts
- Satisfying planning and combo potential
- Tension and interaction in multi-town engine-building
Cons
- Two-player mode can introduce take-that interactions via the dummy/neutral player
- Setup complexity and large table space
- Endgame can feel lengthy or grindy
Thematic elements
- medieval industry and resource management in a frontier forest
- 13th century Germany, forested region with glass huts
- engine-building with variable buildings and estate expansion
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- commissions/ traveling salesman / commodities — spend commodities to move traveling salesman to other towns and trigger special combos
- estate expansion — advancing on a track grants new estates, increasing capacity and points
- Pick-up and deliver — spend commodities to move traveling salesman to other towns and trigger special combos
- production wheel — two rotating production wheels that generate resources and trigger buildable goods; rotation changes depending on resource allocation
- tiles/buildings with variable effects — random subset of big buildings each game; left/middle/right columns dictate resource costs and end-game scoring
- Track advancement — advancing on a track grants new estates, increasing capacity and points
- worker placement — place a single worker to take two actions in a town, with rest of game moving between towns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Black Forest is the spiritual sequel to Glass Road.
- I absolutely adore this... I absolutely adore that this is a game about trying to combo multiple things next to each other.
- The traveling salesman system is brilliant; it lets you move resources and shift board state.
- Death By A Thousand Cuts — take-that moves in two-player mode feel spiteful and unnecessary.
- Glass Road has always been so amazing to me.
- Two-player balance changes with a third neutral pawn can feel like a hobbled three-player game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gWu9gVOHlWA
Paul Groen top_10_list at 17:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8287 · mention_pk 24302
Click to watch at 17:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight Euro design by Rosenberg
- smooth gameplay and strong production
- clear theme tied to building and development
Cons
- information overload from many building options at setup
Thematic elements
- building and resource management in a forest economy
- forest clearing and management
- Euro-style theme with thematic flavor
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Castle Combo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- board development — building placement and incremental progress on a shared board
- worker placement — action selection and worker placement on a grid of buildings
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- If you enjoy the Ingenious game, I would definitely have a look at Ingenious 3D.
- Tower Up is the game that I would play with non-gamers.
- This is SETI, and it's cool from a mechanical perspective.
- The narrative is exceptional. The writing style is superb.
- Civolution has micro turns... your turn is generally fairly short and doesn't contain any chaining of actions.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xbZk-pI9oRo
Broken Meeple top_10_list at 40:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7834 · mention_pk 23135
Click to watch at 40:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Silky smooth gameplay with rules depth
- Perfect balance of complexity versus depth versus setup time
- Quick setup despite deep mechanics
- Excellent resource management system with dials
- 36 building tiles with A/B sides for 72 building choices
- Smooth rules that don't require constant rule book checks
- Great turn anxiety with interesting decisions
- Minimal teach time for mechanics
- Very replayable
- Can play multiple games back-to-back quickly
Cons
- Analysis paralysis can be significant
- Slow with slow players
- Requires right group or limited to three players
Thematic elements
- Building and developing village infrastructure
- Medieval forest village
- Pastoral economic sandbox
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Carcassonne
- Feast for Odin
- Fields of Arle
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Building Construction — Build different buildings with A and B sides for variety
- Resource management with dials — Two dials track resources (sand creates glass, sand creates wood loss)
- solo mode — Includes solo mode with AI player
- Trade people abilities — Resolve abilities of trade people adjacent to your worker
- Worker placement with location movement — Move worker around map to take actions at different locations
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- 2024 was not my favorite year ever not just in board gaming but kind of just in life in general
- it's nice that there's actually a game that says no how about we stop War for a change
- you want to stick Miyazaki from studio Ghibli and shove it into a board game it's just like that
- silky smooth silky smooth like the river itself
- I suspect this list is going to be very different to a few of yours
- this is the ultimate balance like you need a balance of complexity versus depth
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KuLkjIXXIxY
Board Gameco top_10_list at 7:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6826 · mention_pk 20231
Click to watch at 7:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong potential to grow with time
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)
- I gave it a 4.5 out of five. I think I would bump it to a five out of five.
- Massive Darkness 2 is still here. I just think it's an excellent game system.
- Cascadia Alpine Lakes was the second time I gave a five out of five to a Cascadia game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OTvYD-Ot_nM
Rolling Dice and Taking Names general_discussion at 1:15:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5638 · mention_pk 16725
Click to watch at 1:15:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clever wheel mechanic that links resources to actions
- Strong interplay between buildings, resources, and timing
- Good replayability with multiple side B buildings
Cons
- Rule density can slow beginners
- Some players may feel overwhelmed by the number of buildings
Thematic elements
- settlement growth, trade, and tableau-driven engine building
- medieval forest development and resource management
- engine-building euro with thematic forest and resource flow
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Caverna
- Fields of Ypres? (reference to Rosenberg-style heavy euros)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Provisions and movement — Workers require provisions to move, tying movement to resource management.
- Resource management — A central wheel tracks basic resources; spending shifts the wheel counterclockwise.
- resource wheel — A central wheel tracks basic resources; spending shifts the wheel counterclockwise.
- Tableau/engine building — Buildings provide ongoing or one-time effects and resources.
- worker placement — Pawns are placed to perform actions at villages and tradesmen.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Rolling Dice and taking names
- the wheel is basically your clock
- I love stock market games
- this is Emerald Skulls fast playing dice rolling game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video K5LtI615OEc
RNR Show top_12_list at 57:14 sentiment: negative
video_pk 5370 · mention_pk 15967
Click to watch at 57:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- high design quality for a Rosenberg title
- potentially deep with right players
Cons
- two-player scaling undermined by design choices
- felt like a departure from Birds/Reality balance
Thematic elements
- blocking and resource competition
- two-player forest conflict
- heavy interaction with tight constraints
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- two-player antagonism — block opponent moves and resources to disrupt plan
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Crew does it better
- This is an abstract game in its heart
- I rage quit
- Goblins Hate Christmas sponsorship
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video W2x3y1atNIM
Going Analog Podcast analysis at 49:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4930 · mention_pk 14678
Click to watch at 49:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging resource engine
- strong Rosenberg design language
Cons
- heavy for some players
Thematic elements
- glassmaking history
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource management — Gather and allocate resources to forge glass and fulfill goals.
- worker movement — Players move workers between villages to access actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- There will be only one topic. Only one.
- We wanted to do our traditional deep dive into this year the 2025 American Tabletop Award winners, nominees, and recommended games.
- To prevent conflicts of interest, we ask people who have any connection to a game … to not submit any game that they have a conflict of interest with during that nomination process.
- The fundamental nature of taxonomic organization, right? There is no one rule that will satisfy every single person for where a game belongs in terms of like is it a good game for people that are getting into gaming?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SFr4R2yikbU
Before You Play top_15_list at 26:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4846 · mention_pk 14356
Click to watch at 26:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Returning the resource wheel idea to a new variant
- Tight scoring similar to Glass Road
Cons
- Not a direct reimplementation; potential for confusion with related games
Thematic elements
- Resource wheel recreation; building and development
- German forest/agriculture theme
- classic Rosenberg style
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Oran Bank Canal
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- resource wheel — resource generation through wheel mechanics
- worker placement — place workers to build and collect resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- two-player only trick-taking game
- the Trump is constantly changing
- chapter one is drafting cards that's chapter one
- 60 to 120 minute playtime
- not a deduction game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WS4Tf50Ei0k
Board Gaming Ramblings game_review at 0:07 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 4485 · mention_pk 13177
Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Unique resource wheel mechanic
- Balanced, non-swingy resource economy
- Good thematic integration and board variety
Cons
- Provisions constraints can feel forced and limiting
- Interactions can feel limited or less tense than other titles
- Random job availability can disrupt planning
Thematic elements
- Resource management, exchange, building to unlock new capabilities
- Medieval Black Forest region with resource exchange and town-building
- Procedural progression with resource-driven growth
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Caverna: The Cave Farmers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- automatic resource wheel — A rotating wheel system consumes one of each resource when spaces are exhausted, generating a mixed bag of resources.
- board movement and action economy — Players move around a board to perform actions; moving into another player's space requires a payment of a basic resource.
- provisions-based movement limitation — Movement and actions require provisions; players must manage provisioning to reach desired locations.
- resource conversion and building synergy — Resources are converted through buildings, enabling other actions and production chains.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the best thing about this game and kind of the best thing about gloss road as well was the resource Wheels and this is a very interesting puzzle
- the resource wheels are really cool I like the concept and it's a really tricky puzzle
- I think personally I like the cards in gloss Ro better because as you said like it's more of that mind game thing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NKXxTzf0hTA
Unknown top_list at 36:04 sentiment: negative
video_pk 2318 · mention_pk 6745
Click to watch at 36:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- Brilliant worker placement system
- Maintains classic resource wheels
- Better for most players than Glass Road
- Action combo building
Cons
- Two-player mode has aggressive take-that mechanics
- Neutral player movement blocking is frustrating
- Overly mean-spirited for some
Thematic elements
- resource management
- worker placement
Comparison games
- Glass Road
- Uwe Rosenberg designs
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- life is too short to worry about games that don't work very well
- all of these games are really really cool in various ways
- Rich and deep and complex
- phenomenal
- no surprise that Designer artist Ryan Locket
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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