How many players can play Castle Combo?

Castle Combo supports 2 to 5 players.

How long does a game of Castle Combo take?

A typical game of Castle Combo takes approximately 30 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of Castle Combo?

MindForge has curated 108 video reviews of Castle Combo from top board game content creators.

What type of game is Castle Combo?

Castle Combo features mechanics including Card Drafting, Compound Scoring, End Game Bonuses, Resource Management, Set Collection.

Castle Combo - Board Game

Video NvfKV3DYha4 UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:18:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 87260 · mention_pk 227627

Click to watch at 2:18:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

It's quick
very Nifty

Cons

quite a lot of luck in this game too

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Far Away

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — Draft people from the lower and upper City to create a valuable house.
Set Collection — it's set collecting one of those games that's just you know it's got alignment you know rows and columns.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's really good it's stupid simple.
you have to play with an AI player with two players and the AI players like it's like yeah this guy not it doesn't feel like a great AI it's not a good Ai.
I enjoyed the game though I want to play it again without the a player because I agree I think with the real people it'd be good but I I enjoyed it I thought it was good
It's it's wild I gotta go I go bathroom can you hold on a second
Yolanda is my assistant she know she does a good job
You're addicted to porn
It is so good it's like it's like eight or nine issues bouncing around different things but super good

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video RJNGwpoVu2c BoardGameBollocks Top List at 2:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 87192 · mention_pk 227402

Click to watch at 2:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

75 unique cards with unique special abilities
High number of possible combos
Light and easy to play
Over in about 15 minutes

Cons

Dependent on the luck of the draw
Some powerful cards might feel overpowered
A bit of a kick in the balls if key cards appear on opponents' turns

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players choose cards to add to their tableau, paying money for them.
Resource Management — Money is used to pay for cards.
Set Collection — Scoring can be based on shields on cards in the tableau.
Tableau Building — Players build a 3x3 grid of cards in their tableau, with card placement affecting immediate actions and end-game scoring.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

these are four small box games that we think are really good there are no dog [ __ ] games in this video
overall valbar is a fantastic little game sort of citadels in miniature if you know what I mean
if you could disregard that if you go into this thinking this is just some really light easy toplay card game that's going to be over in about 15 minutes yeah that's what she said then castle combo is going to be a delight for you
the main thing that we like about this game is the mindbending nature the fact that You' got a plan in Reverse in that sort of weird sort of way
the only thing that we didn't really like about chronologic is that it is a one and done game
all of these small box games are cheap as chips and they offer a wealth of different strategies and they're all just like playing fun yeah you can't go wrong with any of them
so get off your [ __ ] fat ass and pick one up today

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video QrOLL4IgpdU Get into games Discussion at 15:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 87087 · mention_pk 227056

Click to watch at 15:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

challenging decisions
varied scoring through messages

Cons

potential for analysis paralysis

Thematic elements

card drafting and resource management
fantasy / medieval castle
puzzle-like

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

9-card grid drafting — players draft cards to compose actions and bonuses; nine actions to optimize
Card Drafting — draft cards across a 3x3 grid to gain discounts and bonuses
grid drafting / messaging — draft cards across a 3x3 grid to gain discounts and bonuses
messenger/discount mechanics — cards can reduce or alter the cost of future purchases

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is for the podcast listeners
the art project has that negotiation around the cards
Six Nimmt is always a classic
the artwork is truly amazing
Time Troopers is a solo card game deck builder essentially

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ZswLhWrj_dk Chairman of the Board Other at 5:56 sentiment: other

video_pk 86954 · mention_pk 226596

Click to watch at 5:56 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

excited

Pros

getting a lot of buzz
Essen release

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — family weight drafting
Tableau Building — Tableau building Style game as you are building a 3X3 grid of these character cards

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hey everybody it's that time of the month again where I talk about all of the new board games that I've added to my collection
I did miss the boat on the original foundations of Rome um not like I would have bought it anyway because it just looked a bit too cumbersome um too expensive and just too large but I love the idea of the game
I am yet to play this one um because you do need the higher player counts really I'm probably going to wait until I have at least four people with this one even then I probably want to play it with five or six players to get the to get the most from it
I think it could go one of two ways it's either going to be a really big hit or it's going to crash and burn but I'm excited to find out regardless
I've pretty much explained the whole game there lots of games like this out there but um I will review it and to compare it against some of the you know the classics
I'm quite excited to share my thoughts on castle combo and my review of this one should be up very very soon as part of a review Series
for one reason or another which I can't even imagine now I did choose to sell this one because I played it quite a few times on the bounce thought that I'd seen everything
so really happy to have that one back in the collection
I think there's some interesting ones you know big small again old and new I'm really looking forward to trying I'm the boss
hopefully you've enjoyed the video um and are excited to see my thoughts on some of these games

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video eOQxF3RaMGY Chairman of the Board Analysis at 7:33:16 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86914 · mention_pk 226507

Click to watch at 7:33:16 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Joy to play
Blend of long-term points building and short-term decision making
Deserves its praise

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — Simple little Drafting and Tableau building Style game.
Tableau Building — Simple little Drafting and Tableau building Style game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I don't have too many games here to talk about and but there are some very good ones.
Forenz was right at the top of that list.
It's Andrea setting's probably second most renowned game obviously H hukah being the first.
A real traditional Euro Style game and again if you like those dry Dusty Euros with great mechanisms a Fen is kind of like the the textbook example of a game like that.
This one is a game that has quite sadly flown under the radar for so many people this year.
I think this is a really strong Contender to be my game of the year.
The game Zips along at a fast pace.
This one has always been in my top you know 30 games of all time.
After all this time and after so many plays get when you play more games and you go back to play the great ones they really do kind of um you know show you why they are those great games.
So silky smooth and you know me and my opponent were talking about you know despite us both loving stefen Feld games uh this one might be one of the strongest examples of even if you haven't played it for quite some time you can just pull it off the shelf and know exactly where the how the game works just Dive Right In.
Still this one feels so different to many other tall laying games out there.
A really solid almost family plus weight T placement game that you can play in around 30 to 40 minutes which is always uh you know those kind of games tend to see the light of day quite a lot because they are so easy to table.
Because it is so much fun a great dexterity game.
Not loads in terms of quantity but the quality has been excellent with these traditional old school Euros by the great designers you know like Michael keyling you know wolf gan ker Stefan Feld Andrea steing with Forenz and even new Delights such as castle combo.

References (from this video)

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Video I17m_lx5KuY Our Family Plays Games Top List at 24:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86822 · mention_pk 226110

Click to watch at 24:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fun game
Quirky artwork
Strategic decisions

Cons

Can run out of money if not careful

Thematic elements

City building with quirky artwork

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Grid Building — You build a 3x3 grid.
Resource Management — You have to manage money to buy cards.
Set Collection — You collect cards based on different criteria.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

we're close to 900 games
candy is dandy
it's a simple game, it's easy to teach
I beat her twice y'all twice she has not recovered yet
great minds think alike
it is so much fun it is totally addictive
we want to take the games outside of the community and the hobbyist to people who have not seen these games are played these games

References (from this video)

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Video RX8uAMITPH8 Foster the Meeple Discussion at 29:12 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86786 · mention_pk 225861

Click to watch at 29:12 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Castle building theme
Card drafting

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building a castle
Castle

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — A card drafting game where you build your castle.
Set Collection — Aiming for the best combination of cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's basically a pretty simplistic dice chucker
it is so unique it is very interesting
dune's hot so hot is so hot right now
it is a very straightforward and um I think a great game to introduced to people that have not played hidden movement games
it was really fun and very like if you're a fan of the classic movie Groundhog Day this would be a great one
it is a very very enjoyable game
it is insanely hectic um but very very fun and very very cute
I love it it's adorable everybody should try it
distilled is amazing
it's a heavy game

References (from this video)

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Video Zq8Lw_tpCfI UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 50:44 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86798 · mention_pk 225974

Click to watch at 50:44 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive, noted for its simplicity and ease of play.

Pros

Easy to learn and play.
Good for drafting and tableau building.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Tableau building

Comparison games

Far Away

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — Players engage in a drafting mechanism.
Tableau Building — Players build a 'tableau of like 3 by3 grid'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

nice I played the expansion of after the Empire with a guy who it's his favorite game ever so that was that was a lot of fun
The implementation of the 'revealing thing' for the keys is frustrating and annoying.
The way to feed the key in is face up, but it should be face down.
everybody's just a jackass I mean you're basically just giving away all the food that we set aside for you
BGCon competes with the vendors because it's a good convention in my opinion
The older I get the more my calendar fills with funerals
You know that guy was making crystal meth by the way this is sort of like on the politics Spectrum
he survived the shooter was sentenced to 36 years in prison the man appeared seemingly out of nowhere and stood in front of our van and pulled out a gun aiming it right at us I yelled duck as The Gunshot rang out the guy shot he didn't even like oh that's c a lunatic
it's a buying crowd nobody plays games it's just a buying crowd

References (from this video)

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Video kIwufKkhx9A UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 58:38 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86753 · mention_pk 225626

Click to watch at 58:38 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Very fun
Very good
Good Tableau scorer

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building a medieval castle

Comparison games

Far Away

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — Players draft cards from two sections: the village and the kingdom.
Set Collection — Players collect characters with different scoring abilities.
Tableau Building — Players build a 3x3 grid.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Positively Fifth Street and it's fantastic because it talks both about the murder but it also talks about like just how he played poker and and made the final table
I never I never played Santa's Workshop I heard it was really really good though
I enjoyed honey Buzz
I thought merch of the dark Road was good
The thing that sucks is that the hard cover for it like it's it's it's the I I mean I get they're going with as far as like the the cover but it's like the my least favorite cover of the options that they have available
Unless the bonus is you handing me $1,000 right now in my hand cash I don't want it
Pepsi as we all know sucks it's and it's and it's horrible
Lincoln almost got arrested he was like you're lucky you have an out of state driver's license otherwise you'd be in front of a judge right now
Elf Creek games is uh yeah they're defun huh y they're not answering any any emails that's that's not a good sign
I always wonder it's like they launched a campaign in June and and I don't know I mean it it did okay but it's like it's one of those things where it's like you you you just hope that they didn't like they didn't know that they were like they were in trouble at that time
We partnered with tabletop at the time the tabletop had their you know person there was was Bo and uh bo was like he was not really at the time you know he was just standing there and me and we we brought all the games we brought table you know chairs tables and everything so
I started rewatching all of uh Sopranos again such a great show
I figure if you just get your kids cynical right away beginning then they're uh set them up for Success

References (from this video)

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Video wrsejAlQt2Y Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:02:10 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86725 · mention_pk 225496

Click to watch at 1:02:10 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Simple to teach and play
Engaging due to hate drafting and looking at other players' strategies
Good for families
Variety in scoring conditions
Quick playtime

Cons

Money can be a tight resource
Can feel too simple for some gamers

Thematic elements

Building a tableau/grid

Comparison games

Yro

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draft cards from a marketplace, with card availability influenced by a messenger's position.
hate drafting — Players can intentionally draft cards to prevent opponents from acquiring them.
Resource Management — Players manage gold to purchase cards and keys to manipulate the card market or move the messenger.
Set Collection — Victory points are awarded based on combinations of card types, symbols, or placement within the grid.
Tableau Building — Players build a 3x3 grid of cards, with card placement often triggering victory points or other effects.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

If you can't correctly use a gas can, maybe you don't need to be on this earth.
This is where I'm losing the translation.
It's not as complicated as what we made it out to be.
There's no strategy here. It's just have fun with these cards and and hope that you can um outplay your fellow players with uh making the right combos as you're building them.
While the merry bells keep ringing, I thought there was something called a merry bell.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video PODFVZ-f0ZU UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 23:05 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86638 · mention_pk 224856

Click to watch at 23:05 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really good if you need like a little quick 20in card game
Good-looking game
Quick to play

Cons

Doesn't have like any immense amount of flavor but the flavor is in the power of the cards

Thematic elements

Medieval characters

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

3x3 grid — It is a 3x3 grid game.
Card Drafting — It is a card drafting game.
Tableau Building — Players build a tableau.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

We're living in Star Trek
The world that they're in is like unregulated basically
It's just an odd thing that I can't understand why it's so popular
Money is it's nothing it's just it's just pictures on paper that we that we trade instead of beating the shit out of each other for food
The flavor is in the power of the cards
They didn't put the fun in the superhero game
Sounds like an amazing investment
Tipping culture has gone out of just out of control
The drones of New Jersey
The one thing that did piss me off was when Prime started to put commercials in
It's like we are already paying for a service and oh you're just going to shck ad want to make us pay more now you bastard
It's like he's like um when you make an assumption you make an asset of you
Don't you think there Matthew
We are living in Star Trek
Foundations of Rome it's a it's basically a pandemic system but it's a a little more meat on it
Defenders of the realm and there was like a little tagline behind it as well uh Legends Edition legend
the price apparently shocked everybody
the base game it's a one to six player game but there's four Heroes oh really only comes with four of the characters
I like the new artwork style too again a lot of people were not liking the artwork
the new one had a completely different system I was lookforward to it
the day turn where every player can play as many cards as they want was but the more cards you play in the night phase more actions the the the AI does against you
everyone had their own like individual deck so it's kind of like a mini deck building I think in there
well well what are you GNA do wine wine wine
we thought somebody was giv us a fake dollar silver certificate
apparently the whole thing was before we went out the gold standard you used to be able to go into a bank and give that they'd have to give you right
yeah so I I I felt B you but I mean what are you gonna do
if I got a pick between the two I'll go to BGG
and for that I will give you you know like he's like I'll give you like a million dollars
parting is such sweet sorrow

References (from this video)

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Video T7GvplCbPYo Chairman of the Board Top List at 4:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86547 · mention_pk 224220

Click to watch at 4:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Lovely little Tableau Builder
Build up a 3x3 grid
Score points

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Tableau Builder — A lovely little Tableau Builder as you're building up a 3X3 grid of these character cards trying to score as many points as possible.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Chairman's Choice Awards for me this is the best of board gaming of 2024
these games aren't necessarily released in 2024 these are all games that I played for the first time in 2024
this was the strongest year ever for two-player only games that I played for the first time
it's been a fantastic year so much competition
it's been a fantastic year for board gaming for me personally played so many of my favorite games um and covered so many great ones
hopefully you've enjoyed the video uh if you have please be sure to hit like And subscribe to the channel and check out my other content too

References (from this video)

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Video 1aWl9Sxtfec Man vs Meeple Top List at 17:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86594 · mention_pk 224570

Click to watch at 17:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

highly positive

Pros

quick to play
simple rules
multiple strategies possible
satisfying card interactions
available on BGA

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players select cards from two available rows.
Set Collection — Players aim to collect sets of cards or achieve scoring conditions based on their tableau.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal tableau of cards over the course of the game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's probably the hardest video we do all year because we have to look back at the entire year and think just about 10 games only 10 games that we really enjoyed this year
this is seti
this game is it's just so satisfying
the coolest part for me is once you have enough traces of life you get to discover one of the two alien species that were set aside at the beginning of the game and when you reveal the alien species you get to go to this whole other like component set and there's cards there's tokens there's a whole bunch of things that are going to be added into the game and a rule sheet
it's so much going on at once
I love a sense of exploration or like I I love the reveal
my number game for the year was set it was so I was so close to putting it number one
the card play for me along with everything what you said it's like it's like a heavier game where you're doing efficiencies everything I love
my number one game of the year Star Wars unlimited
This game took me completely by storm
I am all in on it I am buying boxes Galore
this is the only ccgm play

References (from this video)

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Video nRlLTIhKX4Y Get into games Discussion at 15:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86457 · mention_pk 223698

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

analytical puzzle, good table presence

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Grid drafting — 9 cards laid out in 3x3, draft from two rows

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a big tower a big Bluetooth tower that you have to put batteries and it spins and it spews skulls and it makes noise
the artwork is truly amazing
Time Troopers is a solo um card game deck builder essentially a deck builder
World Wonders is a fantastic polyomino tile laying game

References (from this video)

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Video vuhe_iyrWkw UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 50:23 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86395 · mention_pk 223300

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Amazing
Really good combo game

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Tableau Building — A 3x3 tableau builder.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Forest Bower has a wonderful story it's not a story he has a wonderful story not much about how how he he struck at rich
I bought it at 11 bucks I woke up there at $72 and I thought I'd be cute I thought I'd be super cute and I was like yeah I'll hold on to this until the inauguration because surely it'll go up till then
that son of a biscuit had to have his wife launch her own shitcoin the next day day which plummeted the value of his coin which is fantastic
I made like 1,200 bucks or over two days which uh and like I was telling Scott like the only reason I only made 1,200 was because I didn't have more money to throw at it that very moment
Karcassonne Power Grid was 2004 Kis was 2000 uh Ticket to Ride is 2004 Kis was 2005 Twilight Struggle 2005
Dominion it's a good game because it's it's it's foundational right it's like how many games did did Dominion create right like just that mechanic of deck building or deck uh yeah deck building
Lords of water deep is a good game
Castles of Burgundy oh that's got to be in there at least in my opinion
I should probably kick it in I got an early morning
well next week I'll I'll be able to let it fly but I just couldn't too fresh too fresh

References (from this video)

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Video e34Tr29sQ88 Rolling Dice & Taking Names Analysis at 8:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86365 · mention_pk 223155

Click to watch at 8:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

people had a good time with that

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)

If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently?
Usually [music] you add sauce to the food, but when the sauce is this good, the food is just there to get the sauce [music] to your mouth.
No kidding, y'all. Marty had written school wagon for me to say, like he's from the 1800s or something.
God, Atlanta traffic. Y'all y'all can have that. Just have it.
The ones that's come out in retail, like a Barnes & Noble, is a bigger box, and people don't want that. people want, you know, the small box so they can just throw it in their pocket or throw it in their bag or something like that.
So, it was remade, like you said, look like it's a in the same that would come out like with Uno or Rook or something like that.
Free cookies and milk.
You know, there's there's a lot of businesses around there. So, it was a great location.
So y'all, we got to play two hot games from last year that everybody talked about and then two games that are newer for this year.
Biggest surprise of the games that we played.
Biggest disappointment of the games that we played.
So, after the when they say 40 minutes per player, they ain't lying.
It's just one of those things, Tony, you and I, it's like maybe it's just not for us, right?
Basically, what we used to think was just fun is now considered death traps and you'll never see them again sort of deal.
When there is the least chance of snow, the guys who have the brine trucks to get it ready, they they get excited and they have to go spread brine.
You look like an old man sitting there with a blanket around your shoulder. Turn on the heat.
Can't do it. State can't State won't allow it. Too many crazy people out there.
They'd pick you up, take you back, and that's how they made their money. Hey, worked.
So, what that is is when a bus in North Carolina, cuz you know, we don't have crossing guards here for tracks.
Now, hopefully you looked for the reason why you were running the tracks. You needed to see if there's a train coming.
I got off the bus. I looked left. I looked right. And there was this big ass train sitting there.
So, they were shifting the um tanks around, shifting them around u disposing or unloading them.
It's a civ style tech tree game, which is what it was with the Beyond the Sun.
The game was coming to the to to an end.
So, I I don't Here's my final thoughts on this game. I'd play it again. No doubt.
So, that is Chu Han from Tom Leman and Mato Games.
So, that is Beyond the Horizon from Kio Creations and Capstone Games.
Another reason come visit the Discord channel for Rolling Dice and Taking Aims.
Did you see they're re-releasing Nurosima Hex?
So, for moving wild, it is fast. It's quick. Those are synonyms, but that's all right because that's the intent of it.
So, I I definitely think leave it in your game bag for a 10 to 15 minute game at night.
And the first thing I'm going to say about this game is it is not a trick-taking game.
Flowcharts. I know you don't need rule books if you got a flowchart. A good flowchart.
This is definitely a player interaction conflict game. This isn't a Euro where you're just sitting there playing look at your own player board.
So, the ambition you set is also determined by the cards.
So, I mean, yes, you're going to get [clears throat] screwed if you don't have a higher value than what was played because you're going to be denying yourself actions, but you're always guaranteed to at least do one of something.
So, I wish there was a way to take care of that.
So, a lot of people said Arcs was their game of the year. I think it's a very solid game.
I like the mechanics that were in there. I would play it again with people who know it. I would not go through the teach again.
And believe it or not, it is a trick-taking game.
This is definitely a player interaction conflict game.
I really enjoyed the battle perspective of this game. It was very quick and it was over very fast and you took on the chance of getting hurt based on the dice that you were rolling.
It was a tough teach.
It's a unique experience. I haven't played another game that's like this.
Believe it or not, it is a trick-taking game.

References (from this video)

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Video uGTxxtPTXao Discussion at 3:48 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86156 · mention_pk 222206

Click to watch at 3:48 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

adorable art
quick to play
easy to teach
can play while conversing
team enjoyed it

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — you're just taking turns drafting from either the castle row or the village row.
Set Collection — score this many for this many of this symbol in the same column or score this many points if you don't have the symbol in your grid.
Tableau Building — you're making a three by three grid of cards you're just taking turns drafting from either the castle row or the village row.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

that is above retail it's very far above retail I don't know what's going on there
oh Critter kitchen I was like now means we got to play this five times you got to commit to it
it's terrible it's it's it's like I have nothing that's how bad the production is
all of us think it's the the best of all of them
which everyone knows was my my game of the year
it's a legacy now I think it's like a 10 or 12 game thing and it's tile laying and it has an app
every game you add one new section of map that is whoever I think it's whoever wins whoever wins or whoever loses gets to pick the new section of map
every single section introduces a new mechanic to the game
the story wasn't super compelling
Betrayal Legacy is brilliant the way they do the story and unlocking stuff is incredible
however not a satisfying ending story-wise and never remember it
it still felt weird even up to the last game was that you don't score points as you go
the mechanics it's very sound and I legitimately am interested in playing the game again
make sure you're taking time for yourself and one of the best ways to do that is to play games with people you enjoy

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 4lJ-VRHPDzM Board Gaymes James Discussion at 9:25 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85985 · mention_pk 221639

Click to watch at 9:25 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Ancient/Castle-building

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 a really awesome board game if you like RPGs
the base game is amazing all this stuff is extra if you're not a fan of fiddly bits and euros don't get this
amazing amazing amazing crew amazing amazing game
it's a very accessible con
we'll bring you along

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video OO6TYtHv3aU Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Discussion at 18:01 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85733 · mention_pk 220385

Click to watch at 18:01 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

fast and chill async play
tight grading of grid layouts

Cons

some players may want more depth

Thematic elements

card-driven grid scoring
grid-based scoring over a 3x3 board
abstract

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Compound Scoring — Each card provides different scoring criteria for various columns/rows.
grid scoring with cards — Each card provides different scoring criteria for various columns/rows.
marker placement and keys — Markers and keys enable row/column access and scoring choices.
Tile Placement — Markers and keys enable row/column access and scoring choices.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's a fun little game.
Sea Salt and Paper... I really like Sea Salt and Paper and Paper.
Fromage has this lazy susan which basically has three mini games on it.
I really like Stone Spine Architects. It is a blasting game to play.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video c5r2mefPR2Q UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 16:38 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85601 · mention_pk 219780

Click to watch at 16:38 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Very good
Very fun
Quick to finish (20-30 minutes)

Cons

Not as good as Flip Seven

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Flip Seven
Captain Flip

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It was fantastic. It was just there was so much stuff going on that was really enjoyable.
Well, I think there's that one Warhammer guy that syn There's some synthesizer show synthesizer synthesizer shows that I watch that have been around for a long time.
We must slay them.
Thanks for nothing, Danny Nunan.
It's like, Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.
This is the longest running weekly live stream thing held on YouTube 10 years or so in a row.
Americans don't even like America.
It's not like we're keeping track here yeah, who's keeping score
Oh, really? Runner up code names.
You don't make a podcast.
I mean, the definition I don't even know what you're saying.
You're just making up words.
So defeist.
Yeah, that gumballs.com. They suck.
This is not a good website.
The two eyes are swords.
It's like, how does anybody know this guy exists?
I'm always impressed when things like that exist.
Oh, yeah. I guess you can. Yes, you can. But that's not the same because podcast is a different
It's like, oh, you know, use use use non like you have didn't make this game colorblind uh friendly.
Be excellent to one another as Bill and Ted would say.
The fact that the dice rolls were so unlucky against me.
I love the game, but it's when those dice rolls don't go your way.
It's like, Oh, you know, should he fight the wolves or should he run away?
This is the most evil, most powerful terrorist organization in the world that never wins.
It's like, 'No, nobody's died. This is realistic.'

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video c5r2mefPR2Q UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 17:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85601 · mention_pk 219788

Click to watch at 17:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

It's very good.
It's a game that you can finish it in like 20 30 minutes.
All the decisions are great.
It's fun.

Cons

It's not as good as Flip Seven.

Thematic elements

none

Comparison games

Flip Seven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It was fantastic. It was just there was so much stuff going on that was really enjoyable.
Well, I think there's that one Warhammer guy that syn There's some synthesizer show synthesizer synthesizer shows that I watch that have been around for a long time.
We must slay them.
Thanks for nothing, Danny Nunan.
It's like, Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.
This is the longest running weekly live stream thing held on YouTube 10 years or so in a row.
Americans don't even like America.
It's not like we're keeping track here yeah, who's keeping score
Oh, really? Runner up code names.
You don't make a podcast.
I mean, the definition I don't even know what you're saying.
You're just making up words.
So defeist.
Yeah, that gumballs.com. They suck.
This is not a good website.
The two eyes are swords.
It's like, how does anybody know this guy exists?
I'm always impressed when things like that exist.
Oh, yeah. I guess you can. Yes, you can. But that's not the same because podcast is a different
It's like, oh, you know, use use use non like you have didn't make this game colorblind uh friendly.
Be excellent to one another as Bill and Ted would say.
The fact that the dice rolls were so unlucky against me.
I love the game, but it's when those dice rolls don't go your way.
It's like, Oh, you know, should he fight the wolves or should he run away?
This is the most evil, most powerful terrorist organization in the world that never wins.
It's like, 'No, nobody's died. This is realistic.'

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video U5LJvMT7aFs The Broken Meeple Discussion at 55:11 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85580 · mention_pk 219661

Click to watch at 55:11 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

fantastic filler
light
easy to teach
quick
good mechanics
varied scoring
surprising quality

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

varied scoring — The game has 'varied scoring'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It takes elements of The Mind and those sort of games where you have to you can't communicate and you've got to figure stuff out.
But the game uses Texas Holden Poker to do it.
So flip seven.
It's literally just the equivalent of an Uno card game of push your luck.
I found Slay the Spire to be boring as a computer game.
The rinse repeat nature of a rogike game is just not fun to me because you just rinse and repeat the same thing.
Let's Go to Japan actually did a pretty good job of doing the theme well with that.
Let's Go to Japan is mostly about the scoring phase.
SETI search for extraterrestrial intelligence one win it wins it over
But, Seti, yeah, I'm I'm happy with this one.
war game. To be honest, I'm not interested in war games. Arcs is I mean, that is basically what Arcs is.
I don't find what you do in the game that interesting, period.
the card system has a major problem.
the ambitions as well, this is one thing I really do not like.
So, my scoring objectives are based on random chance.
How is that a good aspect of design?
the defenses I was getting from some people were really bad.
It's only a game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ewdfzVQZrF8 TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Analysis at 13:30 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 85457 · mention_pk 219053

Click to watch at 13:30 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Belongs on the recommended list.

Cons

Host did not like it as much as others.
Host gave it a 7/10, stating it was good but didn't blow their socks off.

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)

Nontaku Temple of the Ice. This is a cosmos game by designer Kane Keno. Fantastic game drafting set collection. Building a three-dimensional pyramid area control. Not super heavy. It's pretty light, but it's probably a little too heavy for the spiel. This is a perfect kenner spiel pick.
Aqua, Biodiversity in the Oceans from the OP. Uh, another great one that is again a little heavier than a Spielus. A puzzly game where you're tile laying, you're trying to attract animals to your coral and then have bigger animals eat the animals that you've already got. It's a puzzly game. Very good. Little too heavy for Spiel, I think, but perfect for Ken Spiel.
This next one is probably the heaviest of this list. Craft Wagon Age of Engineering. This is a re-implementation of a of a heavier mediumweight Euro game, Craft Wagon.
And the last one I'm going to mention is Enaria demo by Michael Keesling. This is like a step heavier than Azul, but has lots of similarities to Azul. Uh so, but it's definitely heavier.
I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of hate mail in the comments just like I did last year when I or two years ago when I uh was blasting the the the challengers whole debacle and then the Sky Team thing. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of people from Germany hating this video, but this is how people outside of Germany feel about the award and it doesn't seem like the Germans really care.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video nhi06ghD_gg UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:07:20 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85436 · mention_pk 218939

Click to watch at 2:07:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Very Positive

Pros

Grown on the player
Highly re-playable
Played a ton

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Far Away

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

progression — It's one of those games where you think you can just do better every next no next game I'll do more you know better.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the one other game that took us by surprise was Crackle or Rackle, which is a drawing game where you draw a word.
It's a Viking game without much Viking Vikinging.
Endeavor Deep Sea, amazing if anybody's played that.
It's one of those games where you think you can just do better every next no next game I'll do more you know better.
It's a really good poker dice game that from Schmidt and it's No one ever talks about it and it's so good.
The games were all the library. It's all for charity, by the way.
We sold $11,500 worth of games in an hour.
It's like, "Oh, you have Mestre Schmidt 57. Amazing."
I just got talked into reviewing a a war game because I like the people. They're so nice. I was like, I don't like war games.
It's like, "Wow, this is cool."
I mean, they're like, "Take them, right?"
It's a year-long internship. It's life-changing.
I am on the verge of victory here.
He can take any stealth card from the discard pile.
It's really good. You see James Bond just losing his mind screaming at people.
The Phoenician scheme. Asteroid City is not in the box set.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video veNW7fBDyTE Man vs Meeple Analysis at 4:12 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84993 · mention_pk 216969

Click to watch at 4:12 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Liked quite a bit

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)

Bomb Busters has a deeper level of strategy than Flip 7 for sure.
In flip seven, it's really just a game of statistics and probabilities that you're you're just kind of considering.
Endeavor is a different class of game.
Over the years, the spiel, the Kenner spiel has had an identity crisis in my opinion.
this one was already on my radar now that it's won the Kinder Kinder Spiel I think it's even more so if and when it comes out over here.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video zO5Jp5dGsTA Hungry Gamer Top 29 List at 17:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85002 · mention_pk 217024

Click to watch at 17:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

3x3 grid drafting / scoring adjacency — Draft into a grid and score based on neighboring and positional bonuses.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is a delightful small convention.
The Rage Bucks program... it is fantastic.
It's a huge huge game library.
Every con should be using this Cardboard Events system.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video oIOmRSlMOfs Zilla Blitz Other at 11:14 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84879 · mention_pk 216510

Click to watch at 11:14 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Neat twist on block games
Requires active defense
Intriguing gameplay

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Defense against Turkish attackers
Besieged town of Castle Novo

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Asymmetrical play — One player controls the Spanish defenders, the other the Turkish attackers.
Block wargame — A block-based game where players cannot see their opponent's values.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Got it. Off the line. Another man-to-man combat game. Each counter is a single man, just like in combat 3, but uh combat is a solo game. This is uh it's got solo guidance for it, but it's designed as a two-player game, although it's I think it's going to be very solo friendly.
I feel like that sort of it's easy for me to sit down when I've got 20 minutes and just cruise through my phone and look at social media, but instead I can play a whole game. And so I think these games offer me an opportunity to do something more interesting than Doomcroll
when talk about companies that have high production values with their stuff, I mean, of course, we've got the big ones, you know, GMT, Compass Games, and things. Worthington Publishing is right up there with Bua Sims in terms of the quality of their content. The boxes are good, the counters are good, materials are good, the cards are all vinyl. I mean, just really they don't they they make good stuff, too, which is always really nice to see some durability.
It's going to be something different, right? I mean, it's always good to throw different things in the channel. Something a little bit different, but I think there's enough overlap with it with Wargaming that and and I know there's a lot of football fans on the channel as well.
49% no, 51% yes. So roughly 50% half of the people watching this video play miniatures wargaming as well as tabletop board gaming or or play and don't play anything else which was I thought it's more than I thought.
Miniatures games for me represent the extension of a childhood hobby of mine, which was building and painting model airplane kits. Totally can see that. So you're building the miniatures, painting the miniatures, playing the games. These can all go together into one big hobby.
The other thing would be PC Hex Encounters kind of like we did with the Panzer Core 2. The nice thing about that is that it's very easy to play in a live stream format because the rules are all managed for you in the background.

References (from this video)

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Video 4BBtMu4VkPU The Broken Meeple Analysis at 1:26:30 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84342 · mention_pk 214288

Click to watch at 1:26:30 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive, but questions the value of the expansion

Pros

Fantastic filler game
Great game

Cons

Unsure how it can be expanded
Worried about diluting the card deck
Worried about making it too complicated
Expansion is only 12 cards

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)

The artwork is very pretty.
it's an aggressive area control game.
This expansion is fixing a fundamental flaw of the original game.
I am salivating at the mouth for this one.
This game is the theme done justice in tabletop form.
I do have to temper my expectations because I think Valheim's going to be a little bit trickier to bring to tabletop.
There's not a lot of innovation in games anymore.
But when I played it, it's like, 'Okay, that mechanism I like. Let's find out.'
This is a very long podcast.
But remember, it's only a game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video u4avrLmj1EM Chairman of the Board Discussion at 12:05 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84073 · mention_pk 213065

Click to watch at 12:05 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Adds new cards and combos.
Small expansion that won't bog down the game.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Castle Combo

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Combo Building — Seems to add just a few new cards, new combos you can play with.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I have 10 new games as well as four new expansions uh to talk about just to give you an idea about what is coming up for coverage on the channel.
RA is pretty much a perfect game.
This one's going to be big, I think.
Tletum is one of the best Euros to be released in the last few years.
I love Tlesto. I think it's close to a perfect euro.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video OGBUCbRgbbE Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 24:54 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83976 · mention_pk 212696

Click to watch at 24:54 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Very Positive

Pros

Amazing feat of design
Does so much with so little
Crunchy filler game
Over incredibly fast
Phenomenal design

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building a castle

Comparison games

Seven Wonders

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Point Allowance / Budget — you have a limited number of keys you can use like okay oh I'm stuck on my turn I'm going to get a a noble no I want to I want that rig I want that carpenter down there. you can spend to be able to jump the queue
Card Drafting — every round you're going to grab a new card um from you know the display but uh every other round it switches whether you can get the villagers or the highborn you know the lowborn folks or the highbone for born folk.
Set Collection — all the different types of cards you can get have wildly different ways to score.
tile laying — you could call it a tile layer. They're cards, but you lay them out like tiles, right? I'm going to call it a tile layer in card form.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Castle Combo just came out of nowhere and I think blew everybody away.
This is, I think, the tightest tile air I'm talking about today.
So, this is the crunchiest of filler games because you have to think so hard and accomplish so much in such a fast time frame.
Globe Trotters... We're writing on globes because it's our job to plot out the ideal worldwide trip.
What makes this one stand out is its insane depth if you want it.
It is a blast. Jen loves it too.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video v2B6qiErqJ8 Chairman of the Board Analysis at 5:30 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83871 · mention_pk 212244

Click to watch at 5:30 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Big big climb
Will do really well if expansions are released

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Filler card game — Described as a potential 'evergreen filler card game'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Baron strong debut at number 77 as well.
Floriferous has actually been in my collection for many years, but year after year it does nudge up and up and up, which goes to show it strength because of course we play more games each year, which naturally makes things fall down. But the fact this has gone from number um 98 to number 78 and it's a new best foriferous 2.
kind of a passive rise for underwater cities. It's such a quality little engine building game from back onto the list from number 107 up to number 83.
NAR as well has actually again been in my collection for a couple of years now, but last year in its debut year, it came in at number 124. So, it's pushed onto my top 100 for the first time at number 85.
Get on board has come back into the top 100 as well, going from number 110 up to number 89.
another debut with Toy Battle at number 90.
Far Away, come back onto the top 100 from number 116 up to number 91.
The same goes with QE went from 120 up to number 92 because I did play that one recently and obviously enjoyed it.
other than that, we had a bit of a fall for games like Gold West, a bit of a fall for games like Mexico.
Even brass fell a little bit, just hanging on to my top at 100, going from number 78 down to 96. Now, I really like brass, but I don't really play it too often um anymore.
No Thanks, the classic little bidding or anti bidding game goes from a 104 up to number 97 back onto the list.
interestingly, um Subastral and Stellar, two card games I recommended. They've always kind of just held on onto my top 100. Um they are now at number 98 and number 100. Um which was slightly down from number 95, 96 last year.
the last kind of debut taunt game onto my top 100 is Tag Team. Um, a game I've reviewed recently uh on the channel.
So, those are all the new games this year.
So that's kind of why I didn't want to do the whole top 100 again because I thought, you know, it's going to be quite similar to last year's with a few jiggles up and down.
a lot of these more unique games are going up. card game seem to be climbing for me quite a bit and those euros may be holding their place or slightly falling but the great euros of course I'm anchoring themselves at the top of my of my top 100.

References (from this video)

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Video SxJx0vFj5pU Man vs Meeple Analysis at 12:26 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83633 · mention_pk 211203

Click to watch at 12:26 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Played consistently and on BGA.
A good game to have readily available.

Cons

Host was surprised it wasn't on his list.
Ryan also didn't have it on his list.

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 just I thought this was going to end up being a huge game.
If you can get a copy of Men Nefer, if you can find that game and you like Eurogame, that is definitely one to try.
My number one, Star Wars Unlimited, which even at the time I was like, I'm it didn't really feel like a board game, but like it was the game I played most in 2024.
this was my number one, this was the one for me that beat out STI was Saltfield.
Saltfield I 100% stand behind.
He destroyed everybody just like he always does. And it felt like, you know, and again, this is not unself because I played uh what was the one Sor also with him and he destroyed everyone in that to the point where I was like, "Oh, what? Either we're dumb or the game is broken and the games aren't broken."
this is what makes Isaac such a great game designer. And this is how we get games like Gloom Haven
The ones I didn't get to play, they're just going to get shoved over to the 2026 year.
It came out in December of 2024. Not a lot of people got to play in 2024.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video L2GHwLR5byA The Brothers Murph Top List at 10:11 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83610 · mention_pk 211001

Click to watch at 10:11 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Still play this a lot.
Has stayed way harder than Captain Flip.
Gets tabled a lot.
Really simple and really fun.
Great art.
Easy to explain.
Gets played a lot.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building a tableau of cards to maximize synergies and score points.

Comparison games

Captain Flip

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players acquire cards from a central market to add to their tableau.
Set Collection — Players aim to collect sets of villager cards or cards with specific shield colors in columns/rows for scoring.
Tableau Building — Players build a 3x3 grid of cards over nine turns, aiming for synergistic combinations.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's time for the better, let's be honest, more more accurate list.
We're re-ranking our list.
You got to subscribe. Okay. Subscribe right now.
It's the search for Extrestle Intelligence.
It's just so good. Like, the art's good. It's so simple. It's
So, we're going to talk about our kind of now as of today 10 favorite games from 2024.
But nonetheless, Imperium Horizons, uh, which is a new game for sure, but was building on Imperium Classics and Legends, but it is its own game.
So, like the Romans, you're trying to get a bunch of reasons because the Romans be expanding. They out there taking over reasons. That's what they do, right?
every faction plays very differently.
play this game solo or two-player and that's it.
The solo mode's really fantastic as well.
soloing this game is awesome.
This is my favorite game from last year and it's still not that close.
for me it's still not that close.
I love STEI so much.
It's such a good year.
the aliens are the coolest part of the game.
I love the mid-game reveal. It's so cool.
Seriously, crazy good year.
Crazy good year for games uh in 2024.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video l2cYLNYA-30 kovray Top List at 17:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83392 · mention_pk 209984

Click to watch at 17:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

draft tableau with 3x3 grid — you draft from a set of cards to build a tableau and score through various patterns.
left-right interaction — cards influence scoring based on neighbors and row changes.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Cozy Sticker Ville. It is such a cute game.
Yeah, it's cozy. It's fun. It reminds me of Stardew.
The art is fantastic. It's like this old I don't know exactly what year is probably 70s vibe maybe.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video KBJKNLG361U Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 8:56 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83267 · mention_pk 209491

Click to watch at 8:56 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

unknown

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

If you would like to play with me on Board Game Arena, there is my username, Wisco Wills.
Sky Team I have multiple games going as of right now as well.
I played 35 times in 2025.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video mXIwGKctI9s Board Game Buzzz Discussion at 12:31 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83202 · mention_pk 209243

Click to watch at 12:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Good quick play and approachable

Cons

May be lightweight for some players

Thematic elements

light, family-friendly
castle-building or combo-based micro-game

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Set Collection — players create combinations of castle pieces or actions
set collection / combo-building — players create combinations of castle pieces or actions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I love Dice Throne. I love having all of them, and I love having just to have all the options.
One box is plenty.
Return to Dark Tower, a fantastic game. Never going anywhere.
Duel for Cardia is so good. I'm like obsessed with this game.
Radlands, I love this game. It's not going anywhere.
Orbit was my favorite out of the three. I think I am going to pull Ego and Silos.
31 games. So we hit the mark.
Blink, not going anywhere.

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Video navw8T9-GE0 Chairman of the Board Other at 14:14 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 82279 · mention_pk 206828

Click to watch at 14:14 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Neutral

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 SLGhlYMpcdo DaniCha Top List at 9:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81447 · mention_pk 202310

Click to watch at 9:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fun
Easy to teach
Light and family-friendly
Good multiplayer

Cons

Solo mode is not as preferred as multiplayer

Thematic elements

Building a castle

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Set Collection — Players collect points to beat their opponent, implying a set collection or scoring mechanism.
Tableau Building — Players build a 3x3 tableau, aiming to score as many points as possible.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I always get excited about your list and I get weary about my wallet when talking about your list.
it's gorgeous. Like the the cards are beautiful. The card art is amazing. Um the dice are even more beautiful.
And you don't really have to know how to play. Um, kids can play as long as they can, you know, use their fingers or something to hit hit the disc.
This one I could probably
So, my number three, we have Legendary, a Marvel deck building game.
This one has great replayability as well. You can have um mix and match.
So, this number two is Marvel Champions.
I just love the comic book theme. Like like the uh the overall theme of it is is very fun.
My number one is a gentle rain.
So, this is a solo must. Like, if you're a solo player, I do recommend you give this a try.
This is the game for me that I just immediately pull out. I don't have to think too too hard.
It scratches the right itches of like cozy kind of game. Like this is a very cozy experience.

References (from this video)

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Video Aei05cGUV5g Get into games Interview at 55:18 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81312 · mention_pk 201114

Click to watch at 55:18 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Played during a Christmas championship

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)

Strange World Above the Clouds because who doesn't love a cuddle monster?
Temple Code because I was terrible at it and I decided I need to do something about it because I was really embarrassed to play it with other people.
hydrate, bring a bottle of water, refill it.
don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to try and play all of the games. It is impossible.
It's the people, right, that make the show somehow
this whole hobby is about the people we play the games with rather than just the games.

References (from this video)

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Video Aei05cGUV5g Get into games Interview at 1:35:05

video_pk 81312 · mention_pk 201127

Click to watch at 1:35:05 · 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)

Strange World Above the Clouds because who doesn't love a cuddle monster?
Temple Code because I was terrible at it and I decided I need to do something about it because I was really embarrassed to play it with other people.
hydrate, bring a bottle of water, refill it.
don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to try and play all of the games. It is impossible.
It's the people, right, that make the show somehow
this whole hobby is about the people we play the games with rather than just the games.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video j_iVzwBbOQk 3 Minute Board Games Top List at 2:19 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80748 · mention_pk 197695

Click to watch at 2:19 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Manipulative drafting
Quick
Little setup
Good at two players

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Super cutesy medieval
Medieval

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — A wonderful card drafting game... you'll be drafting one card from the display. Now, there's an upper class display or a lowerass display.
Grid Building — Each time you pick up a character, you'll place it into part of a 3x3 grid that you're forming.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This video is brought to you by the 3minut board game patrons.
Keep us independent by supporting us on Patreon.
So, the criteria these games need to fulfill are one, that they set up and pack away easily. Two, that you can fit them onto a kitchen table rather than a big gaming table. Three, that they are excellent for two-player, but not necessarily only good at two-player. and four, have a reasonably short play time, or at least the ability to save the game after a short amount of play so you can return to it later. Oh, and five, games you can play a heck of a lot.
I'm going to review the list, not from worst to best, but from smallest box to biggest box.
This is possibly the most competitive game on the list as well.
Calico is an absolute mindbreaker and one of those games that you'll be playing and as the game gets closer and closer to its end, steam will start coming out your ears.
This is one of the most popular couples games in the world right now, and for good reason.
And Pandemic is here both for itself, but because it represents a whole meu of other games. Games I call firefighting co-ops.
This whole genre is just full of great games for couples game night.
For me, this gives you all the benefits of a legacy game without it being a destroyable game as well.
3minute Board Games does not do paid content. Keep us independent by supporting us on Patreon.
And if you have any other suggestions for great couples game night games, just let me know in the comments.

References (from this video)

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Video _ceDvAUIKkQ Hungry Gamer Other at 6:25 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80760 · mention_pk 197759

Click to watch at 6:25 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

really good game
clever game
really good
really fun
brilliant little filler game

Cons

didn't get to experience the oubliette mini expansion

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 is so hard to get to the table because, in my players going, all five players need to understand the game or it will fall apart.
HOW DO YOU KEEP GETTING AWAY from me?
The best game I played at KublaCon Prime 2026 is Red Dragon Inn Battle for Greyport.
If you are a fan of a cooperative deck building game that my favorite thing I always say is you get more cards, but you always get a card.
I love it so much I played it twice at one con.
I still say it is the one to go to in the Bay Area, bar none.

References (from this video)

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Video RFdloUttBL4 BoardGameCo Analysis at 0:33 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80703 · mention_pk 197394

Click to watch at 0:33 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Amazing game
Easy addition
Integrates very smoothly
Low price point
Simple, easy to play game

Cons

Might not be worth shipping on their own

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Taking a card and getting its instant ability and its end game scoring ability.
Grid Building — Building a 3 by 3 grid of cards and being mindful of how they impact each other's scoring.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Both of these games are fantastic games.
I think both of these are easy additions.
They're definitely worth the price of admission.
I don't know if they're worth the price of shipping on top of it.
Overall though, it doesn't change my opinion of Far Away.
Overall rating for both of these is going to come in at a four out of five for both the expansions.
I rate expansions based on how much they adjust or improve or alter my gameplay.

References (from this video)

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Video Xq4ex-sXoj8 kovray Top List at 9:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80618 · mention_pk 196739

Click to watch at 9:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Parents liked it
Simple drafting
Lots of scoring opportunities
No perfect game, requires smart play
Quick to play
Easy to get to the table
Comes in a small box
Good for travel

Cons

Can be slightly too complicated for some
Expansion recommended but not played yet

Thematic elements

Building the best tableau of cards for your fiefdom.
Fiefdom building

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draft cards to build a tableau.
Resource Management — Managing money is crucial for acquiring cards and their effects.
Set Collection — Collecting specific combinations of cards and symbols for scoring.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal tableau of cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is a game we introduced to my parents, thinking that they would like it, and they ended up liking it.
Now, we recently got back from UKGE, and Not back. We we recently just finished UKGE.
This is a recap for the top games of May.
in the month of May, we have played 31 different games.
I think you did, too. I was looking at it, and cuz there was a few that I think we just rushed at the convention that I forgot to log.
This is a good reminder that if you
This game really caught my eye at our preview night that we were at, and it's essentially just these beautiful flower cards
It's super simple, super easy to play, but I have really enjoyed just like the simplicity of that and it's beautiful. Small box, beautiful game.
It was so beautiful that we were so immersed in it I forgot to take a lot of b-roll and it's my number two.
That hasn't happened in a while. It has not, I don't think.
And this game is a game that we do not have, but we recently got a 3D printer and the whole point was so that I could make like well, 3D prints. But part of that is inserts, board game inserts.
it was fantastic.
The really cool aspect of this game though is the timing of everything that you do.
resources are very tight in this game. So, that's the other thing is you have to be very clever with how you use everything.
I'll allow it. It was very fun.
It's definitely more layered. It's more layered than Suburbia. Yeah. Yeah.
Like Sweet Land's is much more complicated.
which has been hopping up because it was nominated for the Kennerspiel. I think it's number one on the BGG hotness right now.
Which it very very much so deserves because it is a fantastic game.
Do not get scammed. Be aware.
what have you been playing this uh past month? What have you really enjoyed? What was your favorite? What games are you hoping to get to the table this month?

References (from this video)

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Video lVMGBzQwTyg Board Game Sanctuary Discussion at 0:23

video_pk 80428 · mention_pk 195760

Click to watch at 0:23 · 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)

Did you know you can find some amazing board games at your local mall?
There's my pigs.

References (from this video)

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Video EgM0ECWofOg Tabletop Turtle Top List at 19:30 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80370 · mention_pk 195517

Click to watch at 19:30 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Simplest ruleset with limited decision space forcing immense trade-offs
Constant optimization and push your luck
Painstakingly tense decisions with limited resources
Every turn feels meaningful
Plethora of options within limited drafting pool
Incentivized to pay attention to opponents
Can move messenger pawn with plausible deniability

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area Movement — move the messenger pawn to the other row
Card Drafting — you're only drafting from like six cards.
grid placement — slot them into a 3x3 grid.
market — buy villagers and nobles from a shared market
Push Your Luck — constant optimization of discovery and push your luck as you refresh your row and you're crossing your fingers you the perfect card comes out.
Resource Management — those keys are worth points at the end of the game and they're a very limited resource.
Tableau Building — a nine-card tableau builder where you spend coins to buy villagers and nobles from a shared market and slot them into a 3x3 grid.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Citadels is an absolute classic and has been in my collection now for I think almost 25 years.
There's just so much game packed in such a tiny little box.
Citadels ask you to adapt not just to the players around the table and what their behaviors are and what their needs are, but also to the small hand of cards you draw from a large pool of building cards.
Castle Combo is a nine-card tableau builder where you spend coins to buy villagers and nobles from a shared market and slot them into a 3x3 grid.
This game is constantly through the simplest rule set and limited decision space forcing you to make immense trade-offs and decisions.
it makes every turn feel meaningful despite the fact that you're only drafting from like six cards.
I'm incentivized to pay close attention to what my opponent is doing which is something you rarely get in these sort of like much larger and more complicated tableau builders.
If you want to join my Patreon, then I could have got the money to hire Rick Moranis.
I have been on a tear now going through small box board games and just replaying a bunch of them because I want to make the biggest tier list video I have ever made.

References (from this video)

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Video qrHeippm_Kw kovray Discussion at 17:53 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80242 · mention_pk 194952

Click to watch at 17:53 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Simple to learn and teach.
Quick playtime.
Satisfying immediate scoring.
Good production quality.
Engaging for new and experienced players.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — A simple draft game where you spend resources to play cards.
Immediate Scoring — You score right away when you place a tile.
Resource Management — You have to spend resources to play cards.
Tableau Building — You are building a nine-card tableau in a 3x3 grid.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I think Castle Combo has been a game this year in particular. off castle.
It's a simple draft game where you have to spend resources to play cards and you're building a nine card tableau. Super easy, super simple.
I think it's definitely on the lighter side when it comes to hobby games as well.
I feel like every time we play that game, you see people's faces light up and we want to come back to it again and again.
What cult of the old game, so like 10 years old, have you discovered just this year?
Last Will.
Oh, it's so good.
But the last will is hilarious because your whole goal is you got to spend money and you got to spend all of it
Oracles of Delelfie.
I played this game I think two or three years ago at a convention and I loved every minute of it and I have just not been able to find it.
I'm really intrigued because I love Sweetland so much. I want to try Rosalie.
I will shout out another store uh local to us called Pomemetto Games run by the owner of David. He is a phenomenal human being.
A shout out I have is a Instagram creator named Dana from Better Mood Board Games.
Dana is one of the most talented creators out there.
What is your personal favorite piece of content we've created this year?
Most recently, I think the UKG video we did, the tend to demo, tend to buy.
I think my favorite video I like the one we did in the park.
That'd be a long video.
What game right now can you teach from heart? Setup and everything. You just take out the box, you teach the game.

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Video dPPJAlo4jUU Board Games UnLocked Analysis at 3:25

video_pk 80123 · mention_pk 194475

Click to watch at 3:25 · 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)

I feel like they just uploaded this one.
I have realized that I pay a lot more attention to publishers more than designers, which probably doesn't bode well, cuz you want to kind of follow the designers more than the publishers, but hey, what can you do?
All right, same rules looks like they kept, which is nice.
I didn't even try on the designer cuz I knew I wasn't going to get it.
I've only ever heard of this game from Tom Vassal.
It's something you'd see in a fever dream.
Wow. Kind of want to play it now, though.
I don't think I'm going to do that well on this one.
I just care about that.
I don't know who designed it.
I don't think anyone knows.
I've never seen that before in my life.
Do I see the red down there?
Did CMON pick this one up, too?
I don't know.
I don't think they did, but Colossal Games definitely makes sense.
Didn't I know that?
Just because that's my go-to apparently.
Well, I'll I don't know enough to prove them wrong.
I'm sure someone did.
This is a great two-player game.
Who published it?
Damn. That one's Arcane Wonders.
It's a Hasbro. Haba. Damn it, not Hasbro. I meant Haba, but I mean, I'm not going to give I don't [ ] know. But yeah, Haba makes more sense.
No, dang it.
I know I did not do as good as last one.

References (from this video)

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Video zm_0BYwYLSo Discussion at 1:42 sentiment: positive

video_pk 69397 · mention_pk 165877

Click to watch at 1:42 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Made my top 10 of the year last year
Cool different strategy of getting discounts

Cons

Narrowly missed out on the win
Opponent's key strategy was too powerful

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Discounting — The strategy I went for this game was to get lots of discounts on my cards and then pick up some cards that would score me based on the disc accounts that I got.
Set Collection — One of my opponents had a really heavy key strategy where they collected tons of keys.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Rise is a fantastic Euro um that all about climbing tracks and it really does have this kind of roll and right feel um as when you move up some tracks it'll push you up other tracks which will give you other bonuses it really does have that kind of combo domino effect scoring um all well that's what this game is all about really and I don't think any other game does it better than rise does.
This is such a cool game that I must admit I do need to be in the right mood to play because it is quite cerebral it's a bit of a game of attrition where you need to be patient and know when to strike and know when to sit back.
What a wonderful game it's so smooth and so streamlined but still offers so many options and it's exactly what I want for a game in my collection.
This is probably the most competitive game of bble that I've had um very cut Thro as we were tearing each other's temples down switching temples off to the other side.
Really cool Euro again criminally underrated and overlooked um but maybe the new addition will get this one back into the spotlight so that is ayia.
I actually prefer this game to Splendor because um it's it's just a bit more bit more interesting in my opinion.
Kind of really does walk that tight rip of being a Euro but also an abstract strategy game.

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Video zz9-sEfx4Xo Top 10 List at 16:16 sentiment: positive

video_pk 67938 · mention_pk 164221

Click to watch at 16:16 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

wonderful hit
plays super quick
interesting decisions
scratches the itch for heavier games
easy to teach to new gamers
great hit

Cons

a lot of chance in card availability
choices can be different than expected

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Beer & Bread

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — buying from a deck a couple of decks of individualized cards
Economy management — You have these cards that have their costs, so there's a currency in the game. You've got um ways to you know, you're drafting from two different rows, and so you've got ways to switch up between those two rows in the form of the another currency in keys.
immediate effects — these cards have immediate effects.
Scoring based on placement — They have game point awarding effects based off of where they're placed on the tableau, what else is on your tableau, what's next to them as well.
Tableau Building — you're only building out a 3 by 3 tableau.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Oftentimes on this channel I feature heavier games, meaning games that are typically longer and have more complex rule sets.
But ultimately, I've come to realize that the way that I think about and rate games differs completely from a heavier game compared to a lighter one.
So that's why today I wanted to talk about my top 10 lighter games.
And so any game below 2.4 though, out of the majority of the ones that I've played, kind of fit that category that I was looking for.
This game is, I think, my lightest game on this list.
It still scratches an itch for me that I tend to see in heavier games, you know, it's it's a really light experience and quick and I've had a lot of success teaching this to gamers who weren't familiar with some of these mechanisms and so I think it's a a great hit.
And so, if you're looking for a light game that provides a lot of tough decisions at this complexity level, then Age of Civilization might be a great game to try.

References (from this video)

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Castle Combo

Let's Talk Board Games #33 - Castle Combo, Middle Ages, Junk Drawer, Finding Atlantis

Castle Combo - How to Play. A board game tutorial, including cards explanation

Dice Tower Arena - Castle Combo and 7 Wonders Architects

Images

Castle Combo

Let's Talk Board Games #33 - Castle Combo, Middle Ages, Junk Drawer, Finding Atlantis

Castle Combo - How to Play. A board game tutorial, including cards explanation

Dice Tower Arena - Castle Combo and 7 Wonders Architects

Images

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