How long does a game of Earth take?

A typical game of Earth takes approximately 90 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of Earth?

MindForge has curated 163 video reviews of Earth from top board game content creators.

What type of game is Earth?

Earth features mechanics including Action Following, Compound Scoring, Engine Building, Resource Management, Simultaneous Actions.

Earth - Board Game

Video 7lAu7YTlbLM Meeple University Discussion at 11:24 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91528 · mention_pk 245592

Click to watch at 11:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

I like this sort of stealth game
Probably designed by a couple of magical farmers
Not collectible just good sir
Less money to spare

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Stealth

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Deduction — Stealth game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Academy deep water games really good to play a games yeah we freakin yeah this is one of our last ones against the table out of everything we purchased but it's a quick little jewel simple rules deep strategy and quick so I very much recommend this one yep I know that you want to play once you play it feels playing this terran wants to play against her away because I think he's that because I want the game know I was working fun because okay just let me have the last week okay yeah it is quick and fun but I was I got my bad thing I was a little bit late at night and we didn't end up playing good again but we'll definitely play again
next is roughly guard position we have the other view for you of this one as well it's a social reduction game yep social reduction sedna Magic the Gathering universe yeah for me we haven't we haven't got a group of people around to play this one yet but I like its idea and I like that it is a biscuit now we've had it yeah because if you've watched a vlog from a couple of months ago I always struggle with the blank slate nature of a game like Avalon or werewolf this one structures things a bit better specific events are going to happen right you can respond to those that's that's what I prefer in a social reduction game and I think this puts it together pretty nicely we really need to get a group together that can play this with us because our normal gaming group is usually four because most games can be played with four so our gaming group is naturally for people
next one if it's not you'll play a game trick-taking game called claim by deep water games yep I think like we don't play a lot of trick taking games I played a lot of 503 university but Stella didn't say yeah it's still fun though we'd see the twists with a special power of which sections trying to claim throne yep I think what I would say for this game I've seen a few modern trick-taking games out there and they all have these twists on gaining points in certain ways of trying to get certain cards I like this one because it's not too convoluted each suit has a relatively simple ability that you've got to manage it's not like you know this number does this and this suit gives you that sort of points it's like you know just trying to get suit majorities and each suit has a small ability that doesn't throw the the standards of trick-taking out and so I think this is one of the best design modern tricked design bicycle else hi Scott yep considering I haven't actually played a lot of trick-taking units this one's pretty easy
so please a some pads here which is the welcome to expansions oh thank all of those outs away yep so this one's the Easter egg hunts Halloween the bomb shelters they do all change up the game changer game out quite a bit and I think the one that's stood out in my mind we played doomsday and it was the shortest game welcome to with a plague by far because the three the three objectives we were playing just you could complete them all in one street essentially and so we were done so quickly and I did not adjust my strategy I can't even thank you I can't remember we're playing for you this is one of our my favorite go-to when it just have two of us or there many people wanting to play
and that's the the Roland rifle Copenhagen alright that's a really good quality Roland right it is currently a diploma filament is on Kickstarter yep yep yeah it's it plays very quickly it has some clear strategies you can go for with different types of colors you get I think they've put together a really good lead and follow Roland right there yeah there's another one as well that is steel prototype which is for plant so they're still in development and they're still changing up the rules changing up the card so it's a little bit like welcome to is this by the same publisher is welcome to which is support against so it we play it once it has got that similar sort of taste - welcome - when you put which one you're gonna do you know which one you're gonna solve face and so on that's very interesting
yeah there's another one as well that is steel prototype which is for plant so they're still in development and they're still changing up the rules changing up the card so it's a little bit like welcome to is this by the same publisher is welcome to which is support against so it we play it once it has got that similar sort of taste - welcome - when you put which one you're gonna do you know which one you're gonna solve face and so on that's very interesting

References (from this video)

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Video s8DDOE3V8XY Getting Games Discussion at 12:10

video_pk 89894 · mention_pk 239462

Click to watch at 12:10 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

resource synergy and ecosystem expansion
earth/environmental engine-building theme

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Drafting — drafting actions to build a self-sustaining engine
Card Drafting — cards drive engine building and synergies

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it looks like this is a 60 to 120 minute game
the balance between workers (which are warriors) and resources (which are livestock) are two sides of the same coin
the more of uh one thing that you do the less of the other thing
this is the next game coming out from delicious games

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video bWL4mrPZqF4 Drive Thru Games Top List at 9:24 sentiment: negative

video_pk 88823 · mention_pk 234948

Click to watch at 9:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

The row/column activation is a neat concept.
Well presented with good graphic design and art.

Cons

Has the same problem as '11' with nuanced differences that don't feel dramatic.
Became more boring on the second play.
Felt repetitive.
Drawing cards that do almost the same thing lacks drama.

Thematic elements

Ecology, planting

Comparison games

Arc Nova
Wingspan

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card activation — Cards activate based on color actions chosen by other players, flowing through rows and columns.
Hand Management — Drawing and playing cards.
Resource Management — Using soil (from composting cards) to pay for playing cards.
Set Collection — Collecting different types of plant cards and environments.
Tableau Building — Playing cards into a 3x3 grid.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a very moving experience because some of the things some of the decision making as you're trying to win the game about where to sort of spend your resources and spend your time so the effectively you can win you know you're going to have to leave certain people behind
the combat's really cool you know it's right up there with any good Skirmish game
this is another one where as soon as I was done with the campaign of the first you know the the main box I really felt like I wanted to go back and play it again but I think I need to give it time because now as time has kind of moved on I don't really have the desire to go back and play it again
those to me are the best of that kind of genre because it has a lot of just more physical elements than like the unlock or even exit has it has a really cool like uh very analog feeling mechanism that goes with it
this is other than the next game on the list probably the perfect Legacy game because it makes the right jump at the right time and it really stages you into getting to the more and more complex layers Without Really Ever Actually Ever Being Boring at any point
the magic of that first playthrough would not be there it just would not be there when the some of the reveals and some of the things in terms of like you know why are we playing this game 12 times in a row what's the kind of story that's threaded through here
the mechanically altered board and characters and stuff becomes the story itself and that is revealed to you one time and then you don't get to do it again
the games aren't in jail like you know what I mean like why why are you forcing me to play a certain kind of game or a certain game over and over that's jail

References (from this video)

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Video RmVOVMTy2Ks UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 55:29 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88628 · mention_pk 234082

Click to watch at 55:29 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Host believes daughter will enjoy it
Host thinks it's a good game

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Terraforming Mars

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the White House plumbers with uh Woody Harris it was about Watergate
that looked good
it was a pretty funny if all this [ __ ] is like even somewhat true that happened in the series it was pretty wild what the [ __ ] happened
she's still working man
she's got like three or four credits every year
I can't think of a movie I've seen her in in forever and for a while there she was in a ton of stuff
99 was a big year
97 was a big year

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video djqXwP2WLFo Meeple University Discussion at 10:22 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 88584 · mention_pk 233907

Click to watch at 10:22 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Simple, neat.
A fun game.
Can be played with family.
Challenging to match without overlaying.

Cons

Doesn't go much further than an icebreaker.
Doesn't have the staying power of Illusion.
Didn't hit for one reviewer due to length and lack of creativity.
Turn times can make it feel too long for a party game.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Illusion

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Deduction — Players guess which two circles on overlaid cards are exactly a certain distance apart.
Pattern Recognition — The core gameplay involves recognizing visual patterns and distances between circles on cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hello everyone I'm Stella and this is Tara from Maple University today we are back with five games in 30 minutes or under 30 minutes we'll try our best
The premise is that you only score points for the cards that you complete the cards that you get once you get them all covered with coins you get your coins back and then you flip it down into a scoring pile
It becomes a game of extreme balance because there's never a benefit in winning something by a lot you want to win everything by the absolute minimum amount
This is a little icebreaker game
I really like the way the game progresses as well because all of these tracks you move up them more quickly with smaller sets to at the start of the game and you need larger sets at the end of the game so it even has this big shift where in the first round it's probably most effective to like play a bunch of one and two card sets just to bank these points that you'll score at the end of every round and then as you go more on you get more specialized and it's harder to to get these big sets and the points aren't necessarily worth as much
It's such a simple twist but it works so effectively

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video vBJoqNrxyeo Getting Games Discussion at 4:18 sentiment: negative

video_pk 88458 · mention_pk 233182

Click to watch at 4:18 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

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 have a monstrous shifting shelf
nine games leaving the collection
there are 19 new games that arrived this month
I backed it on Kickstarter and apparently I backed it for a level that also got me Deep Dive
Founders is a Thailand game
bone race essentially
this is going to be four videos coming out that week

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video BjYstevDW5g Allies or Enemies Top 10 List at 9:35 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88149 · mention_pk 231703

Click to watch at 9:35 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

high interaction without waiting for turns
gateway-friendly but with deep strategic layers
strong Wingspan-esque feel with a tighter action economy

Cons

can be complex to teach for newcomers
some players may find it dense for the perceived weight

Thematic elements

nature, plant and animal synergy
Ecology and environmental Tableau building
gateway-friendly yet rich in interactivity

Comparison games

Wingspan

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Compound Scoring — public and private goals shape how your tableau evolves over the game
goal-driven scoring — public and private goals shape how your tableau evolves over the game
shared-action selection — when one player selects an action, everyone else executes that action at a reduced level
Tableau Building — build colored cards to form combos and chains
tableau-building — build colored cards to form combos and chains

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the rule book which is this hard cover rule book that's got all this backstory and interesting actual science information
it's such an interesting way to have this like emerging action selection
this is absolutely not for everyone this is a very Marite game
this is the most played game we have on our list we have played this a ton
it's like engines on engines
set collection with more set collection and more set collection

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video oMuYw5L7ZJs The Board Gaming Doctor Top List at 18:50 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88115 · mention_pk 231470

Click to watch at 18:50 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Engaging tableau building with unique resource mechanics.
Distinct identity for each play due to personal and public objectives.
Gorgeous artwork.
Sound mechanics that are always fun.
Simultaneous play makes for efficient gameplay.

Cons

Subject matter (plants) may not be as engaging as others (like animals in Ark Nova).
Less intense rules/gameplay compared to other tableau builders like Terraforming Mars or Ark Nova.

Thematic elements

Ecosystems, Plants

Comparison games

Forest Shuffle
Terraforming Mars
Ark Nova

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Set Collection — Collecting cubes and trees.
Simultaneous Play — You have simultaneous play.
Tableau Building — This is the epitome of a card-based tableau builder... you have these a nice board presence with these trees and cubes that you're collecting as well but there's a little bit more of a mechanism towards these resources in order to make your tableau feel different every time.
Variable objectives — Many personal and public objectives that you're chasing as well.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I go over my top 10 favorite games from 2023 games that were published this year and are listed as such in this year for and on Board Game Geek
I feel like I could accomplish what I would like to set out to do as far as solving this kind of puzzle in other games like Lisboa and so it it didn't quite reach the same excitement level
The actions that you take are a little bit simpler and so it's a more streamlined version of what scythe could be
I felt like the I guess the the Nuance to this game the tblo building wasn't as exciting to me
it is such a deep and heavy game that it kind of passes passes that threshold and that that sweet spot for me for being very replayable
The fact of building an engine and watching it be dissembled and having to continuously think about what you're going to be playing next to continue that engine is a really interesting puzzle
The Disney IP which I do enjoy and is nostalgic for me
there's a lot of interaction there's a lot of uh you know route building and uh you know piggybacking off of the work of other players as well
this is the epitome of a card-based tblo builder
this game epitomizes What U Rosenberg games are about
This is the epitome of a card-based tableau builder.
The mechanics of this game are really sound I I really enjoy everything that this game provides and it's always a fun time to play.
This game is Uwe Rosenberg at his finest.
This game is just fantastic and as you will see in my top games of all time it is pretty much up there.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video rulAqJiPHds UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 250:39:24 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 88101 · mention_pk 231381

Click to watch at 250:39:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Great game
Very good
Interesting mechanics
Good art
Nice production
Spatial appeal
Visually appealing

Cons

Not for me
Pieces fall over

Thematic elements

Building a tableau of cards to score points
North America

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Set Collection — Collecting specific combinations of plants and terrain for points.
Tableau Building — Players build a tableau of cards to create scoring synergies.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's one of those games where you are freaking out about the game ending
You got your special little tiles to build the map with and then you got your different colored tokens that go on the board
They all have special abilities that are different
The end game scoring can be brutal, but it's so good
You can spend like an hour trying to figure out the rules and then you still don't understand some of the rulings
It's really satisfying placing your little tiles and seeing how the map grows and develops

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video mPoUGq54Esw The Board Gaming Doctor Top List at 19:52 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88091 · mention_pk 231312

Click to watch at 19:52 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Embodies many enjoyed game aspects
Feels shorter and breezier due to simultaneous play
Grateful it's on Board Game Arena
Underrated, should have a higher rating
Solid and widely accepted

Cons

Might be a little underrated

Thematic elements

Ecosystem building
Card-driven tableau building

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Play — Focuses on card play with individualized cards.
Simultaneous Play — Actions are taken simultaneously by players.
Tableau Building — Players build out their own ecosystem.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this game for how quick it can play for like a medium to medium heavy weighted Euro game is just really unique and or at least feels unique to me and feels varied and enough that I love coming back to it time and time again
it doesn't surprise me that this game has been so well received by the community as a whole as it is the number one game played on board game arena
Glass Road is one of the most unique games I've ever played when it comes to I guess Euro games
it creates a very interactive game as a socially interactive game in a euro game which is very to me unheard of
this game is one of the most deeply played games I think it's one of the most competitive games and lifestyle games amongst board games of all time
the ability to create something out of very little and to become good at this game has been the most rewarding thing that I have one of the most rewarding things that I have done in board gaming

References (from this video)

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Video s8uvIlIbyLY kovray Top 10 List at 26:11 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88052 · mention_pk 231047

Click to watch at 26:11 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

deep strategy with multiple scoring vectors
beautiful presentation

Cons

none

Thematic elements

ecosystem construction and grid-based terraforming

Comparison games

Terraforming Mars
Ark Nova

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection with color-coded cards — you pick from four actions, activate color-based abilities, and build a grid

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is our top 10 2023 games
it's an incredibly strong year for gaming
Forest Shuffle is my number one and it's fantastic

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video qMiu0llCopU Meeple University Top List at 30:25 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88084 · mention_pk 231213

Click to watch at 30:25 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Simple, satisfying actions
Passive interaction benefits other players
Strong engine building potential
Achieves common objectives through placement

Cons

Interaction is limited beyond passive benefits.

Thematic elements

Nature, growth, tile placement

Comparison games

Ark Nova
Terraforming Mars

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — There are four distinct actions that drive player turns.
Card Drafting — Players draft cards to play.
Engine Building — Players create combos and engines through card placement.
Set Collection — Players try to achieve common objectives by placing cards in specific locations.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal tableau of cards/tiles.
Tile Placement — Players place tiles (cards) to form a 4x4 grid.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Goblin vaults this year is not only that game but it's all the way up in my top five
the closest analog I haven't really seen anything exactly like it but the closest analog is Great Western Trail in terms of how the secondary scoring Market works
for me this takes classic Great Western Trail and adds that Medium interaction I'm looking for
I like Expeditions more than Scythe but I like Scythe
I really like a good two-player abstract and this is a really good two-player abstract
this has got this Euphoria bumping mechanics love it love it love it
this really hits the mark there is a lot of medium Euro interaction in this game
my number one game of 2023
this is my favorite of Great Western Trail well Great Western Trail Argentina is close second but I decided okay I can't really you know I just want to put one great won Trail as one game one entry

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 37Ivw3KtV1w UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 21:05

video_pk 87567 · mention_pk 229058

Click to watch at 21:05 · 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)

played the game once on camera and then gave his review of the tutorial and it at least he's being honest about it
all he kept doing was comparing it to another game the entire time
the cooldown system what they call it yeah so basically if you use it if you use this action you gotta way to turn you put it on your Tableau and then at the end of you turn it slides over and once it slides off then you can take it into your hand and use it again right
I don't like this it's the best way to do it because everyone forgets when they can take it back like you put it and you slide it and you get slides off it comes back to your hand it's it's really simple it makes it very easy to know when something when you get something back too and he's like I don't need that
he literally watches the guy play the game wrong make mistakes and then complain about the things he did wrong
publishing zombies
there was like a line I couldn't believe like they haven't roped off in the back it's changed a lot since the last time I've been there and they had it roped off and people were like around the block and [__] waiting to take the picture it was weird
it's just like a popup Rocky store they s like Rocky M bilion [__] those people that come take a picture with the Statue yeah
you can say hi to two of us what a deal two alab Boomers two the Boomers two Boomers the original Boomers Boomer OG y

References (from this video)

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Video SWYbhWDatbQ Getting Games Discussion

video_pk 87024 · mention_pk 226785

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Splendor
Ticket to Ride
Cascadia
Ark Nova
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Terraforming Mars
Great Western Trail

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a board game convention like there are 16 specific games every year they sometimes rotate what those games are but not by a lot and every day four tournaments fire off you can only play in one of those four tournaments and it is a single elimination style tournament until you are basically last person standing if you are the last person standing you win
it's board gaming for money which uh makes it you know some folks have like strong feelings about that
it's not about winning it's about having a fun time it's about playing a good game it's about being a good Sportsman

References (from this video)

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Video SWYbhWDatbQ Getting Games Discussion

video_pk 87024 · mention_pk 265067

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Splendor
Ticket to Ride
Cascadia
Ark Nova
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Terraforming Mars
Great Western Trail

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a board game convention like there are 16 specific games every year they sometimes rotate what those games are but not by a lot and every day four tournaments fire off you can only play in one of those four tournaments and it is a single elimination style tournament until you are basically last person standing if you are the last person standing you win
it's board gaming for money which uh makes it you know some folks have like strong feelings about that
it's not about winning it's about having a fun time it's about playing a good game it's about being a good Sportsman

References (from this video)

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Video b5u9ArZ-Stk Heavy Cardboard Discussion at 53:35 sentiment: other

video_pk 86569 · mention_pk 224370

Click to watch at 53:35 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Heard of

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)

my only fear is that it runs too long
it's so much but now I am
it is the most feudum stress biotics looks at feudum says ha hold my beer it's a lot but it is about as heavy of a Euro as you're ever going to get in your life and if you want just an insane theme and the kitchen sink it's a lot of fun and I cannot wait to play it more
heaviest game I've ever played non war game
my take on nucleum was it's fine um I don't think it was as good as it seems a lot of the critical world out there thought um I don't think nucleum is going to be uh played in five years
perfectly forgettable in a sense that it's just the same old
the lack of respect is staggering to me but I welcome it because I guarantee Dan Lanning is going to find a way to use this and I cannot wait till tomorrow and I think Oregon houses them
The Bear oh my God that is the most stressful I've ever or most stressed I've ever felt watching the show
if you've ever wanted to watch me cry yes 100% I cry at the end of Great British baking show almost every episode it is wonderful
it's a lot of work and a lot of fun
I would love to have you over maybe in the summer when you're up at at the cottage over on the cape I would love that
it's the most surreal place I've ever been to weatherwise and if you ever get a chance it's worth making a drive
half y'all still don't subscribe I don't I I just don't get it
my Cowboys are atrocious but good God do do I have everything riding on my ducks tomorrow
it is a lot but it is about as heavy of a Euro as you're ever going to get in your life
I'll tell you what I don't drink beer and I'm still down to make that bet that's fine that works done book it
I think the concept in the theme of Cerebria is fantastic
Nemo's War that's a great way to end the year
The Colonist that's a game I could get back into I miss that
stress biotics Odyssey somebody make one so I don't have to try and help design it I would love that You' be my best friend ever
stress spox Odyssey heaviest game I've played n war game honestly it might be the heaviest game I've played
Three Kingdoms Redux bought and got it to the table this year Hidden Gem needs more awareness
just a fantastic great game that if you play with three players and you enjoy heav your it's a game that should be in your collection
Mount Washington is the weirdest place on Earth weatherwise that I've ever experienced
happy New Year everybody I hope everyone H uh be safe if you go out on amateur night tonight be safe don't drink a drive please

References (from this video)

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Video d9d3sxFZc0U Zilla Blitz Discussion at 5:15 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 86315 · mention_pk 222927

Click to watch at 5:15 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

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)

The Battle Before The Muse River scenario
one of the most historically infused games that I've ever run across
just a training scenario to see if I can get used to movement and defensive fire and first fire and all those things maybe some close combat
I've got Raiders of the deep and Phantom Fury I've got these in boxes right now
my goal really for this year is to play a lot of games play five new games a month what I'm trying to do with this now is to get some breath to the tea to experience a lot of different games uh and play them but not necessarily go that deep yet
do you have a gaming te um what and if so what are those things that you feel like you've played a ton of that have gotten you to a lot of depth
The winner is Kevin a212 congratulations Kevin
hope to see you at SD histon or maybe perhaps watching the professional wargaming live discussion on Saturday

References (from this video)

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Video uGTxxtPTXao Discussion at 10:15 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86156 · mention_pk 222209

Click to watch at 10:15 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

was fun

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)

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)

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Video dVh7C1jgyZo Brains On Games Interview at 7:11

video_pk 85997 · mention_pk 221671

Click to watch at 7:11 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

environmental stewardship, ecology
Earth-themed nature/environment

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 friendly place to be
the board game industry is not a pie it's a smorgasbord with new dishes coming out every year in the tune of 5 to 7,000 new games
we are the Dear Abby for gamers
rising tide lifts all boats
open gaming area and play to win games is a fantastic concept

References (from this video)

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Video 7NjSvVtTvdI Foster the Meeple Review at 0:56 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85737 · mention_pk 220404

Click to watch at 0:56 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Synergistic card play leading to combos.
Engaging for all players due to shared actions.
Creates an efficient and beautiful ecosystem.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building out biodiverse environments

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — Players choose one of four actions: plant, compost, water, or grow.
Card Play — Strategically playing cards to a 4x4 grid.
Set Collection — Players score points for cards in their compost.
shared action selection — When a player takes an action, everyone else also gets a weaker version of that action.
Tableau Building — Building out biodiverse environments using cards representing flora, terrain, ecosystems, and climate.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

In Earth, one to five players take on the role of planetary caretakers building out biodiverse environments using cards that represent things like flora, terrain, ecosystems, and climate.
Earth is a true engine builder.
Animal Kingdom is an expansion, so you will need the base game in order to play, and you can also combine it with the other expansion for Earth, Abundance.
The objective in Animal Kingdom remains the same.
This expansion introduces animal abilities and global abilities.
Anytime a player uses a leaf, they may activate the ability of their animals.
The common loon is going to be collecting sprouts from their tableau, placing them on this card, scoring seven points for every two sprouts on this card for the end of the game.
The enemle moves exactly x cards away from its starting position, meaning partial movement is not allowed.
There are four types of animal abilities.
One global ability card is used per game, activating for all players each time the active player token is passed from the last player in turn order to the starting player.
There are four types of global abilities.
Please feel free to join the Foster and Evil Discord.
And don't forget to please be kind to the earth because it's the only one we got.
Be nice to cows and beavers.

References (from this video)

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Video FJNT32arKxY Brains On Games Review at 0:04 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85677 · mention_pk 220179

Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Beautiful components and card art
High replayability due to large card decks
Engaging engine-building with meaningful sequencing

Cons

Requires significant table space for 4x4 grids at higher player counts
Complexity can be daunting for new players

Thematic elements

ecology, biodiversity, resource management
Ecology-driven engine-building game focused on constructing a productive tableau that represents natural ecosystems.
engine-building tableau with multiple scoring paths and growth mechanics

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Following — Active player selects an action and others follow with a weaker version of that action.
action_follow — Active player selects an action and others follow with a weaker version of that action.
Engine Building — Your tableau grows to strengthen actions and provide victory point pathways.
engine-building — Your tableau grows to strengthen actions and provide victory point pathways.
Resource Management — Soil, sprouts, growth tokens, and compost serve as core resources.
resource_management — Soil, sprouts, growth tokens, and compost serve as core resources.
Tableau Building — 4x4 grid of cards forms your engine and determines available powers.
tableau_building — 4x4 grid of cards forms your engine and determines available powers.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

There's so many different ways to earn points in this game.
I really really like the global ability that goes around every round because then you've got that extra choice even as your tableau is building up.
Inside Up Games has really created something special.
There's nothing I can say as a negative about it other than you need lots of room to get those 4x4 grids if you're playing with four or five players.

References (from this video)

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Video sSCadodHv1Y The Broken Meeple Top List at 1:41 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85700 · mention_pk 220219

Click to watch at 1:41 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fun in general and a really good one to play solo.
Quick to set up and play.
Enjoyable engine building.

Cons

Solo rules are worded a little bit weird, particularly the red action.

Thematic elements

Tableau building with plants

Comparison games

Cascadia

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Deck building (minor) — You have a very tiny deck of cards that detects what action it does.
solo AI opponent — Solo effectively puts you up against a sort of semi AI which you you have a very tiny deck of cards that detects what action it does.
Tableau Building — A really fun tableau building game where I get to, you know, churn through a million cards, build up this very nice display of really nice looking plants, and build my little engine, get points.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I can chop and change between which ones I like and don't like at any particular time. and it just felt better to just go and carpet bomb about 25 solo games that I do really enjoy.
It's got a cool little dice system, but it's the it's the fact that the game feels like it's evolving as you play each one
But if you want just a nice light storybook game that you can pull out every now and again that feels a little bit different each time you play it, then Lands of Gowzer is a solid one.
But I think in terms of gameplay and challenge and theme, the solo mode for comban EV is, I think, the best of the Lord ones.
Basically, I just assume that all the like, you know, ranking stuff at the end of every Lord solo is blank, doesn't exist, and I just play the game, have fun, try a new strategy.
And honestly, if you can get it, it's definitely worth it because I would rather play this solo than four or five player any day.
It's like, oh, for crying out loud, I like solo modes and games, but not every single game needs one, people.
regardless of whether you prefer to play by yourself or play with other people, it's still only a game.

References (from this video)

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Video Pks4ZXnnnjI Board Gaming Ramblings Other at 3:09 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85609 · mention_pk 219889

Click to watch at 3:09 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really like it
Snappy with two players
Fun playing with expansions
Many different animals to choose from

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Building a nature tableau.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draft animal cards to add to their tableau.
Tableau Building — Players build a tableau of cards representing different aspects of nature.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's going so fast. It's going faster and faster.
Number one, uh, you will get our happy faces on your in on your screen.
It's called improv. Oh, I mean scripted.
A lot of trick takers, some other fun games, some not so fun games.
It is our own Easter hunt that our friends Osa and Christ made for us.
My my biggest and most fun experience was again for like I think the third month in a row.
Basically he made like a list. These are just like a bunch of games I want to play that I haven't played.
My biggest surprise is in the name.
It's weird because you put it up and it looks like a game like a game. Yes. But it is basically just like abstract puzzle.
It's like Ticket to Ride but with bolts.
Yes, indeed you forget.
Thank you. Bye.
Trickeron is gonna be my number star because I was not allowed to do my own number one this time.
Blood Rage is fantastic. I love Blood Rage. I think Blood Rage is it's not that complicated to get into and it has so much fun depth and strategy and tactics and I just enjoy my time with it a lot.
Blood Rage you like more than Rising Sun.

References (from this video)

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Video OdoCqY7ypB4 Grant Lyon Discussion at 9:48 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85242 · mention_pk 218061

Click to watch at 9:48 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Increases player count to six; great for larger groups
Seeds mechanic adds strategic deck control and planning

Cons

More components can add setup time

Thematic elements

engine-building tableau with natural growth
Ecological, growth-oriented world
simultaneous-action, flowing engine

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — Activate actions to grow your engine and generate growth tokens.
Simultaneous Actions — Many actions occur concurrently; players stay engaged each turn.
Simultaneous Play — Many actions occur concurrently; players stay engaged each turn.
Tableau Building — Build a tableau of actions to create combos and synergy.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is the first time we're doing it and I'm really excited.
We're going to be mixing traditional standup with gameplay.
This expansion adds six more of those round cards.

References (from this video)

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Video YwdvKm67VUo Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 50:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84877 · mention_pk 216491

Click to watch at 50:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Highly Positive

Pros

Makes the game even better.
Introduces wild actions (seeds) to allow flexibility in gameplay (e.g., always getting needed cards).

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Earth

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Wild actions — The expansion introduces 'seeds that are kind of wild actions that you can do all kinds of stuff'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Planet Unknown is Planet Unknown in my top 10 of all time now.
I'm generally not a fan of that, but the game is so good I'll allow it.
I think Earth is near perfect as it is, but abundance for my wife makes the game even better.
A musthave expansion for one of the 10 greatest games of all time, Earth Abundance.

References (from this video)

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Video 1fh6v57otsY The Brothers Murph Top List at 657:06:40 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84237 · mention_pk 213952

Click to watch at 657:06:40 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

highly positive

Pros

gorgeous artwork
satisfying engine building
wide variety of cards and strategies

Cons

none

Thematic elements

ecosystem building, nature

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Managing cards that provide abilities and resources.
Resource Management — Managing different types of resources like water, soil, and compost.
Set Collection — Collecting sets of cards or achieving specific card combinations.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal set of cards (their ecosystem) that interact with each other.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The rulebook for this is so bad. It's so bad.
I was so wrong about this game.
It's so cool when you get to the end of the game and you see all your little foxes lined up.
You're building out this industrial empire. You're moving goods. You're investing in cities.
It's a really satisfying feeling when your engine finally starts to hum.
It's a really atmospheric game.
You're scavenging through the ruins of a flooded world.
It's like a city-building simulation.
There's a lot going on. You really have to plan ahead.
It's a game about shifting alliances and political intrigue.
You never know who to trust.
This game really nails the feeling of high-speed racing.
It's so much fun, and it's surprisingly easy to get into.

References (from this video)

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Video FuMmQWQsf90 UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 3:43:26 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 84200 · mention_pk 213765

Click to watch at 3:43:26 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

The theme of building an ecosystem is appealing.
One of the cover art options was considered cool.

Cons

One speaker initially found the artwork to be bad and like clip art.
The complexity might be an issue for some, with a 720-minute playtime mentioned.

Thematic elements

Build your ecosystem by placing cards.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — The game involves drafting cards.
Tableau Building — Players build their ecosystem by placing cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Carnival of Kalamala. That game, that game has been like reprinted how many times? It seems like
Antagonist of Temple of Doom.
Adam Pastor, a no auto game where multi-use cars and growing traumas test your crew.
Vantage looks cool.
this is basically an escape room. 18 cars.
60 minutes. An 18 escape adventure. It takes an hour and it costs 10 bucks or€10.
You saw a full length escape room using just 18 playing cards.
Lay your tracks to revolutionize the Japan railway industry.
Oh, that looks pretty euro.
it's not euro, but I do like his designs.
Bomb busters.
Bombbusters.
That is awesome.
Yokohama is also awesome. Yokohama is an awesome game.
Tracerian Anniversary Edition.
It's a big giant box, right?
Build your Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
It's got a weird It's got a weird thing going on there.
It's like a draft maybe or something. I don't know.
Well, it's like like you're creating things to help you protect you when like the Vikings show up. I don't know. It looks It looks
Survival of the planet.
Escape from the prison planet.
Oh, I don't like that.
Some hack. Schneider.
My apologies to Ingo Schneider and all of his friends and family. I you're much better artist than I'll ever be.
That sounds really fun.
You can already buy it on Amazon.
Formidable.
Fulfill wishes of the village population with the supply of field crops and rewards.
Propolis.
I have played propolis propulolis.
Isn't that uh that's a bee thing.
Yeah, it's bees.
it's basically like a splendor but with like a little extra.
It wasn't It's like a seven out of 10 for me. You know, it was good, but like
It's Splendoric, you know.
Oh my gosh, what a depressing theme.
1975 White Christmas direct the air evacuations of Operation Frequent Wind from Saigon's rooftops.
Oh, that's intense.
Wow.
Well, those looping games are pretty deep. Like the small box that they're coming in.
They're pushing the the ship that off the the carrier. Yeah, they they cuz they were running out to so they could put more people like they because they didn't have time to refuel. The they that's true thing. So they didn't have time to refuel the helicopters and more helicopters are coming that had to land and so instead of like they just they just pushed them into the ocean.
Yeah. You wouldn't see that today.
People over machines.
Yeah.
what a depressing theme.
Penguin Kaboom.
red carpet, the leprechaun lararseny, baby.
Iliad, a game of trust, tragedy, and the unknown.
All right, this is the last one I'm clicking on. It's 1:00 in the morning, and I am I I I've got Afterboom to talk to you about, and then I got a
Shinjakor that puts you in a Victorian Victorian area ghost story area.
This game is either fully cooperative or one versus all.
Only you have no way of knowing which one.
Yeah, I like the cover.
Purple Lantern Games. Never even heard of them.
they've only made two games.
This is what they've made.
Purple Lantern Games. Let's go to your website.
Get the game we made.
They value your privacy.
I I I am I am convinced it does nothing. It does absolutely nothing.
Well, stay tuned next week everybody for our indepth
our in-depth analysis of the eight

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Video THXsVqYBQxk Board Games UnLocked Top List at 21:27 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83418 · mention_pk 210149

Click to watch at 21:27 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Beautiful artwork
Lots of replayability
Fun to play
Good interaction
Great addition of animals with the expansion

Cons

Charm has worn off slightly, leading to a fall in rank
Not the most strategic game
Players can do whatever they want, potentially lacking tough decisions

Thematic elements

Building an ecosystem with plants, animals, and terrain.
Nature/environment
Flavor text on cards provides facts about the flora and fauna.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Players can have a large number of cards in their hand.
Simultaneous action selection — Players choose from four actions, and everyone else gets to do the bottom action and trigger their cards.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal tableau of biome cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Yeah, dude. I was uh on on a side note, I was uh watching an old interview with the woman that did uh Who Wants to be a Bill a millionaire. Like there was Regis who did it, then the woman who took over after him. She was interviewing Tim Curry uh and was talking about how like he's very seductive about like with like his being a villain and stuff that it's like, man, if you were the devil and you were talking to me, it's like I I'd go with you. And I was listening to him talk and I was like, damn, he really does have a sexy voice.
I I pretty much take what PubMed gives me and I'm like, well, that's the algorithm.
Um, and the and the more of those citizens you have on top of each other, um, the more powerful their action gets.
So, it has that follow mechanism. Okay. So, which I always like kind of because it keeps everybody engaged, right?
This game's kind of an anomaly nowadays just because of the amount of content you get for the price you pay.
This is a nonverbal cooperative uh game kind of like the crew but it's not tricktaking where you as a group are trying to diffuse wires um based off of the mission.
This game is very very challenging. It is. Uh but it's so quick to play that once you lose, you're like, 'Okay, reset.'
It's It's kind of an anomaly, but it's a really really good one. One to definitely break out during a game day.

References (from this video)

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Video jOuETgGEk7o Going Analog Interview at 2:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 82005 · mention_pk 205501

Click to watch at 2:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

broad appeal with approachable weight
educational potential when paired with materials

Cons

rules depth not fully captured in interview

Thematic elements

environmental strategy and exploration
Earth-themed strategy with nature and wildlife context
mechanics-driven with thematic flavor

Comparison games

Behind the Lens

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

strategy/resource interaction — global strategy with environmental considerations and player interaction

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Votes for Women was accepted by the American Library Association's Hall of Fame
History is amazing; truth is sometimes stranger than fiction
For every game that we publish, we always include an educational booklet that a noted scholar on the topic writes
we wanted to make games that have a little bit more of an evergreen nature by tying that something in history
Earth Express is a condensed quick version of Earth
the big brain puzzle to solve in Behind the Lens
Swing Spelling is something we joke about as a reach for popularity

References (from this video)

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Video zCR2hLYSiUM Board Gaming Ramblings Other at 14:50 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 81801 · mention_pk 204443

Click to watch at 14:50 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Really fun (Johannes)
Enjoyed playing it (Johannes)
Euro-ish civ game
Strategic planning is possible
Interesting balance of card/board actions

Cons

Long game
Hard to store
Questionable when to choose to play it
Declaring war has a delay
Can be negative to be a warmonger

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Age of Galaxy
Through the Ages

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — each round you're going to play six actions.
Card Play — half of them are going to play new kind of inventions. So you have a hand of inventions you're going to when you play a card from the last round you're going to get a new card from next round.
civilization building — Civilization games Yeah, aren't usually our bread and butter. 4X games, special especially. I would say this is kind of a 4X game.
Combat — You will attack people or get attacked.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's a double keep. This one was really fun.
Very quick game. Highly recommend this one. A small filler game that is really really good.
It was meh.
ultimately, I I found it just like I have I have better games that I'm more excited to play. That's the bottom line.
It's a fine game. It's another one of those where I played and I like that was a fun. Never need to do that again.
But it ended up feeling very like meaningful for in tactical when you started playing and just like oh, but I saw this opportunity.
This was not up to those No. I mean, I know some people really liked it, but for us it just fell flat.
It is long.
But for me, it ends up not being a keeper. Oh yeah, for me, too.
This is a game about leading an expedition. Through Ice and Snow. Yes. And you I would say this is a painfully thematic game.

References (from this video)

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Video 9hgw4bgyg6s Zilla Blitz Other at 32:46:40 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81619 · mention_pk 203577

Click to watch at 32:46:40 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

beautiful artwork
satisfying engine building

Cons

can be AP-prone for some players

Thematic elements

building a nature preserve with diverse ecosystems
Nature

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draft cards to add to their tableau.
Tableau Building — Players build a tableau of ecosystem cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

There's a lot of designers and company representatives that are there, like GMT Games is there, uh Uwe from Sound of Drums was there coming in from Europe.
So, if you're looking at a chance to play up-and-coming games with some of the designers that are designing on them, it's quite an experience.
You really get some insight into the design process, into how historical board games are created as you're playing them and giving feedback to the designers.
In this game, you take on the role of companies that are trying to win military contracts uh from the US

References (from this video)

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Video yEX7xujH2PE The Dice Tower Analysis at 6:31 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81471 · mention_pk 202528

Click to watch at 6:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

adds more stuff
makes the game a little faster
allows you to find cards
just more good good good
Love Earth, love Earth Abundance

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Earth

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Hey everybody, I'm Tom Vasel. Welcome to look back, a series where I take a look at games that I reviewed last year, 5 years ago, 10 years ago, and 20 years ago this week and tell you what I think about them now, if I think about them at all.
So, let's jump back 20 years ago. I reviewed a game called Astro Plane, which was an abstract strategy game that almost required you to completely understand astrophysics to play it. It was not very good at all. I gave it a two out of 10 and it is one of the first times where the designer wrote me a very strong rant and went online and pretty much attacked me for being too stupid to understand this game, but it was pretty bad.
I'm noticing games from 10 years ago didn't look necessarily great.
And then surprisingly to me the game Face to Face. This is a two-player version of The Game. And I don't I think The Game is at best okay. But The Game Face to Face, that two-player version of it, I thought worked really well.
So, this is a game where uh that Stonemaier Games did where I was like, "What is this Red Rising?" I went and read the the first trilogy so I could better play this game, which didn't matter because the theme is barely there.
This is sort of like a Blackjack but with algebraic equations.
Um algebra in a game, but I'm just amused by it.

References (from this video)

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Video 09rjzzAImCM The Dice Tower News at 44:53 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81467 · mention_pk 202483

Click to watch at 44:53 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Highly Positive

Pros

Smooth and enjoyable gameplay.
Offers strategic depth.
Grows on players with repeated plays.
Relatively short playtime.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Ecology
Nature

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — Players create engines to gain benefits.
Set Collection — Collecting elements related to nature and ecology.
Simultaneous action selection — Players choose actions simultaneously.
Tableau Building — Players build their own tableau.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

So, all of the wood components in this game are being locally sourced from Hokkaido where the publisher, not Mighty Boards to be clear, the original publisher and the designers of the game are based.
This is the first real-time two-way pet translator.
My thoughts are dark. I would I have never wanted to hack into something more in my life.
I'm going to say 3,612 are Twitch streamers, right? Oh, I agree 100%. This is This ain't going IN THIS AIN'T GOING in your your foyer, right?
I look, I I can't imagine this has any actual science Did you ever see The Far Side where the guy invents He goes, 'I can finally find out what dogs are saying.'

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Video TvOtU8bU-Vc The Dice Tower News at 12:17

video_pk 81460 · mention_pk 202383

Click to watch at 12:17 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Becoming the greatest ninja
Naruto universe

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Arena Battler — Players fight within an arena environment.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

man, this theme and everything about this from One More Turn Games, I'm very pumped about this one. I love the I cannot wait.
It's a cool cover actually. It's just not very legible, but it's a life.
If you like gardens, that's great. You like dragons, that's great. You like them both, buy three copies.
This is teetering on the edge. This is almost more of a tainted grail type of a look to me.
I think of all the ones that we've mentioned, this is the one I'm least interested in
Never mind. This might be the one I'm least interested in.
Cuz Clank! Catacombs exists.
that's a really good-looking prototype.
This would have been my most anticipated game of the year or one of them had I known about it
This is one of my most anticipated games of the year now.
This is basically um a Star Trek version of Captain Sonar.
We know about this for a while. We've been very excited. We've already played it actually.

References (from this video)

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Video UnSVAPUz1rY The Broken Meeple Analysis at 7:28 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81391 · mention_pk 201763

Click to watch at 7:28 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

An interesting little game.
Gorgeous imagery and photographs on the cards.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

nature, plants, fauna

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Tableau Building — Players build a tableau of cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The expo just frankly does not have enough content to keep me going for three days.
So, you know, it's just literally to try stuff uh and socialize with people and pretty much get in the atmosphere. That's main main reason I go to the expo.
I don't get this obsession with buying designer labels or pattern tops or anything like that.
It's like, I don't care about fashion trends. I'm not fashion conscious.
It feels meaningful. Like if I wasn't there to do something, I feel like things would fall apart in certain respects.
It's very refreshing to have it back. It's a much more laidback culture.
You know, I mean, I say chum troll feedback we're talking maybe if I was to take a hundred comments then 95 would be nice comments they would be agree comments they would be disagree comments but reasoned counterarguments respectful comments that kind of thing and then five would be trolls who are just there to basically insult you.
The person who won the game didn't win it because they were a skillful player. they got lucky with a couple of cards and then you know they just didn't get hosed by the game as much as everyone else.
I mean, this has got so many problems with it. It's insane.
Why do you have negative victory points in this game?
These events are so random and punishing that they are not fun. They kill any sense of enjoyment in the game.
You know, this one clearly was not [designed for 3-4 players].
I mean, this is just screaming in the face that this is another four player game.
So, you know, why the hell has this got an average rating of seven?
I mean, I don't know, but that's the way.
I mean, we're talking about one in a minute, actually.
It's it's stuff like that. But whatever.
So, it's it's interesting. Um, you know, similar dynamic, but uh, yeah, suffice to say, Deepod is going to have some fans.
That's the whole point of a critical review video, you know, why is this a concept that's so hard to understand in 2026?
So, you know, maybe I'll revisit that.
So, yeah, there's definitely themes I like, themes I don't, and everybody else is going to have their opinions out there.
The theme is important. It can't not. It's impossible.
Remember, no trolls. You will be dealt with.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video lS0DedxtOLw Neon Gorilla Discussion at 1:37:27 sentiment: other

video_pk 81355 · mention_pk 201547

Click to watch at 1:37:27 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Challenging

Pros

They agreed to do a playthrough and comprehensive how-to for the base game and two expansions.

Cons

They had never played Earth before undertaking the project.
They had only six days to complete the playthrough and comprehensive how-to.
The project involved playing the game four times incrementally within those six days.
The project involved significant editing and B-roll shooting.
The team involved had very little sleep during the six-day period.
This was considered a horrible idea due to the time constraints.

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)

We're the best channel on YouTube. You should work with us.
I don't have a good filter. I just, you know, you get excited, right?
It's it's a representation of you. That's true.
So for me, the why is 100% just spending time with my friends.
It's it's a labor of love and it's just because we love board games and we love each other.
I want the soul to still be there. I still want it to be at its heart friends just having fun and playing games.
It's it's literally the thing that I put the most effort into ever, and it gave me the least amount of return.
The incentives on this are so backwards and drive me absolutely. No, for sure.
you know, like you said, you'll you'll put a lot of effort into a video and then it won't get a lot of views.
If I had like one piece of advice, there's a lot of channels that could improve their audio.
We never see you just naturally, right? which is hilarious because Ivy Studios is probably the most concerned with production across their videos, their playthroughs, their their actual games.
Not being afraid to be told no because like that's the worst that's gonna happen is they're gonna say no.
I want them to look up is there a Grove how to play on it. That's my that's my goal.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video lS0DedxtOLw Neon Gorilla Discussion at 1:37:45 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81355 · mention_pk 201539

Click to watch at 1:37:45 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Engine building is good
Intense, but rewarding, production effort

Cons

Requires a significant time commitment for content creation

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Earth Abundance
Animal Kingdom

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — The reviewer likes engine builders and found Earth to be one.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

We're the best channel on YouTube. You should work with us.
I don't have a good filter. I just, you know, you get excited, right?
It's it's a representation of you. That's true.
So for me, the why is 100% just spending time with my friends.
It's it's a labor of love and it's just because we love board games and we love each other.
I want the soul to still be there. I still want it to be at its heart friends just having fun and playing games.
It's it's literally the thing that I put the most effort into ever, and it gave me the least amount of return.
The incentives on this are so backwards and drive me absolutely. No, for sure.
you know, like you said, you'll you'll put a lot of effort into a video and then it won't get a lot of views.
If I had like one piece of advice, there's a lot of channels that could improve their audio.
We never see you just naturally, right? which is hilarious because Ivy Studios is probably the most concerned with production across their videos, their playthroughs, their their actual games.
Not being afraid to be told no because like that's the worst that's gonna happen is they're gonna say no.
I want them to look up is there a Grove how to play on it. That's my that's my goal.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video midXFKcSS3w Rob's Tabletop World Review at 1:13 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81286 · mention_pk 200954

Click to watch at 1:13 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Expansion of the year
Tremendous
Adds another layer to this great game
Opens up the possibility to do so much
Fantastic system
Masterpiece
Compendiums and everything else that they've added are just glorious and a must-have

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Shifting maze

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

character customization — Allows players to make their own characters in addition to using pre-made ones.
Modular Board — The boards assemble to create different areas of the labyrinth.
Monster add-ons — Includes monster add-ons such as dragons and golems.
Pre-made characters — Includes pre-made characters like a dwarf spellcaster and a human martial artist, which the host enjoys using.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Few years back, I declared a game that was relatively unknown at the time as the game of the year.
Pericles Gathering Darkness is just a fantastic fantastic game.
If you've gone through the core system the way I have, you'll see that this is just fantastic and just does so many different things and it's really really good.
This is a fantastic, especially if you're down on Dungeons and Dragons.
This game really works well with an app and it really does a beautiful job.
Labreth, the latest expansion from Pericles, and I can guarantee that it is going to just enhance what is already a great great game.
I've really had a chance to get into this and oh my god, it just opens up the world and and and makes it easier for replayability and so many other things and adds so many more layers to this fantastic and I do mean fantastic game.
This was my game of year a couple years ago and this expansion has to be considered the expansion of the year because it's just tremendous.
The game is for you to experience, to enjoy, and is probably one of the one of the best dungeon crawlers um that I've played in quite some time.
Labirth is a masterpiece. A masterpiece.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 1bHJFcaVQAs The Dice Tower Preview at 2:53 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80835 · mention_pk 198225

Click to watch at 2:53 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Did really well after release
Ranked 209 on BoardGameGeek (incredibly high)
Host very much enjoys the game
Successful Kickstarter for expansion and deluxe components
Crowdfunded a mini version

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

simultaneous selection — The host describes it as 'a simultaneous selection game.'

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

First of all today, we have Kaboola.
This is a really wonky game.
Next is Deep Rock Galactic: The Board Game.
Next, we have Iron Forest.
Then, we have Earth.
Rumors and Legends.
A Howl Rulers of Yucatán.
Dinosauria the micro game.
Tiwanaqu, the exclusive deluxe edition of Tiwanaqu.
Hamlet, the village building game.
Western Legends the Big Box.
This was a bad project.
Then we have Literati.
And then finally today we're taking a look at the Lost Code Reboot.
My favorite of today, very easily, is Earth.
all the games I talked about today were delivered, which is a nice change of pace for this show.
I'm going to try to bring this back in rotation more often.
Then we have Literati. Literati here from Gap Closer Games. This is a game a cooperative game in which you're fighting against the Literati, the people who don't want folks to read.
So it's kind of in the middle on BoardGameGeek rankings, but I think it's a very solid game. As you can see I gave it an eight. I enjoy this one.
And then finally today we're taking a look at the Lost Code Reboot. So the Lost Code Reboot was a remake as we can see here of Think Straight with an eight at the end of it. Uh the Lost Code did not do particularly well here $35,000. This is from Mojito.
I've given The Lost Code an 8.5, but I think I would have given it even higher rating, but there was still a few production issues. They always seem to have a few production issues.
I think it's a really solid deduction game.
My favorite of today, very easily, is Earth. What a fantastic game

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video -3g0yVc-nG4 Stonemaier Games Discussion at 18:21 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80868 · mention_pk 198443

Click to watch at 18:21 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Host is excited to try the expansion.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Ecosystem/nature

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

expansion — The host mentions having the 'new Earth expansion' shrink-wrapped and ready to play.
meeples — The expansion 'adds a lot of animal meeples to the table'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

In my opinion, I think they are trying to make the right amount of games for people, but uh print to demand or print on demand is is very different.
We haven't discontinued Charter Stone. In fact, we haven't discontinued any of our games.
If there if there is demand for a game, we will make more of it.
I really love what Covenant is doing lately with these long form discussions that are available on their YouTube channel and also as a podcast.
I wonder if maybe it was put in there because the designer thought the game was running a little long in general.
My I've only played Deep Regrets once, but it lasted over 3 hours, which did feel a little long for the game.
I think um getting uh quantity of blind playtesting with that asymmetry and variability, and also analyzing that data.
I think it's a good question to ask yourself. Like how how much um if I'm putting a component that I think will cost quite a bit to make, how much value is that adding to the game?
I do have a recent video about regrets. In fact, I have two videos about regrets, so you can see um the types of things that I regret about game design and product design decisions.
If we can combine those two together for a seamless experience without increasing the price, we're happy to do that.
I truly truly am not interested in using AI at all.
I think the original Between Two Cities box, I think it was too small.
People the contestants on Survivor have gotten really focused in my opinion of on trying to bring people to the finale that they think they can win against.
"Human made no generative AI." We have that on the box of the the reprint of the Wingspan European expansion.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 8OK5BQbz-F8 The Broken Meeple Review at 0:48 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80697 · mention_pk 197348

Click to watch at 0:48 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Consistently rated highly (top 10)
Enjoyable solo and in groups
Appeals to theme and simplicity
Engaging card play and decision-making

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Play — Players manage a hand of cards, deciding which to play and which to discard. The game involves juggling these cards to make strategic choices.
Resource Management — The game involves managing resources, such as 'sprout cubes.'
simultaneous turns — The game features simultaneous turns, which the reviewer finds enjoyable.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Win or lose, I'm going to be honest with you.
It's just great to pull the game out, whether it's solo or group. I just get a kick out of it.
The variety is off the freaking chain.
I will happily play Earth in its base form without any of the expansions, and I'll still have a fantastic 10 out of 10 rated time. It's that good.
Remember it's only a game, regardless of which one of these animals you want to take with you on your adventures

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 8OK5BQbz-F8 The Broken Meeple Review at 1:26 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 80697 · mention_pk 197349

Click to watch at 1:26 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Mitigates luck factor
Provides more sprout cubes
Grown on the reviewer over time

Cons

Multiplayer abilities looking at other people's tables threw off new players
Slightly harder to get new players into the game

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Germination luck mitigation — The reviewer notes that this mechanic is 'actually pretty needed' and has grown on them over time.
luck mitigation — This expansion allows players to mitigate the luck factor in finding certain cards and provides more ways to obtain 'sprout cubes.'

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Win or lose, I'm going to be honest with you.
It's just great to pull the game out, whether it's solo or group. I just get a kick out of it.
The variety is off the freaking chain.
I will happily play Earth in its base form without any of the expansions, and I'll still have a fantastic 10 out of 10 rated time. It's that good.
Remember it's only a game, regardless of which one of these animals you want to take with you on your adventures

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video zY5omV52K5w Stonemaier Games Analysis at 24:21 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80651 · mention_pk 197012

Click to watch at 24:21 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Provides interesting facts about specific plants.
Card design effectively integrates theme with gameplay mechanics.
Encourages learning about nature.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Ecosystems and nature

Comparison games

Ark Nova

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Managing cards in hand to play effectively.
Set Collection — Collecting specific types of plants or elements to score points.
Tableau Building — Players build a personal tableau of plant cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

So, it's using a lot of like core basic math skills that I think are great for kids to learn, but I also think they're great for adults to continue to do a little bit.
I think it's good for our minds to try to go through that math and not always pull out our calculators.
One of the ways I think this game sneakily teaches geography is that you have to say the names of the cities a lot.
Wingspan was just such a beautifully done in in teaching about birds without a very sneakily.
Wingspan is really good at helping us notice the world that has always been around us but see it in a new way or see it more clearly.
So, Let's Go to Japan does a fantastic job of teaching about a specific country's geography and culture.
I can see it used in great ways for language arts but also for second language learning.
And, whenever the design of the card really ties the theme of that of of the card into like how tall of a tree you can make or how much soil you can put on it or the habitat that it belongs in, that helps it like that kind of anchors it in my memory a little bit more than than otherwise would happen.
The combination of math and um and flora and fauna and just my love of the game is what what made me pick it as not my number one.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 6Y56Qy1Er_U Neon Gorilla Interview at 1:23:27 sentiment: negative

video_pk 80661 · mention_pk 197086

Click to watch at 1:23:27 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

Ultimate feelgood game.
You will find success no matter what you do.
You will find something to do, plant trees, sprout things, get water.

Cons

Hollow and meaningless.
Provides progress without impediments.
Numbers in a spreadsheet.
Felt like there was no actual thought put into actions.
Less should be more.

Thematic elements

Creating environments
Sahara Desert

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — Players build an engine by planting trees, sprouting things, and getting water to create their environment.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Secret Hitler to me is essentially social deduction at its most baby. It's a baby game.
I absolutely detest it. I think it's one of the most uh maybe the sin of our uh decade. You know, the 2020s is a decade of FOMO.
Yeah. I hate the fact that we're that we're uh essentially manipulated into giving an interestfree loan and build as somehow saving money or getting the thing that nobody will ever be able to get. All of it feels bad.
Zombicide to me is flavorless. like the core game is essentially like the most generic unimagin uh uninteresting kind of gameplay and then you stack things on until uh it appeals to you by some uh crossmarket appeal like you know I think there's a DC or a Marvel zombicide I can't remember which one now there's you know zombicide uh white death or white plague or something like that and you just keep stacking things on until you find something you like and then the person's like oh I like Danny Tjo let me buy Jasicide so I can play as Danny Treyo. And I'm like, it's it's just functionless or formless. There's no interest in mechanics behind it. It's just like here's product after product after product and it's like Funko Pops. It's like you're collecting Funko Pops with your goddamn board games. I'm like, I don't want to collect any more Funko Pops for this [ ] board game, you know? Like that's how I feel.
Earth to me is like the ultimate ultimate feelgood game. Like you are going to find success in Earth no matter what you do.
Um, and to me, uh, the feeling of progress without any kind of uh counterbalance to any kind of like feeling of uh impediments, it's ultimately hollow. It feels like there's no actual thought being put into my actions as much as there is just actions being taken for the sake of an action being taken to hit my little dopamine in my head and then I walk away feeling like, "Oh, I did something with my little [ ] Sahara Desert and I put [ ] bamboo leaves in here and now I feel good because I have this environment." There's it's it's just literally it's numbers in a spreadsheet that you're just playing with until you get an output that makes you feel good. And to me, that's not really an enjoyable experience.
>> Phil Uckland is a [ ] idiot for some of his uh political beliefs and you know his anti- u uh uh uh climate change uh positions that man-made climate change isn't uh real I believe and also his essay on uh British imperialism that was in the first PAX uh premiere if I remember correctly. Uh those are [ ] idiotic things to say uh and I disagree with them vehemently. Um, but he's a [ ] genius when it comes to game design. Like he might be like one of the greatest minds of game design of our time.
I I think the the thing is like I care more about people thinking about like the process of religion being created. That's what I care about. I don't care about what the end result is necessarily. Like I don't care about like the the the morality of religious doctrine. I care about how it's been implemented and created and used as a tool. You know, that's what I care about.
It is. It's the Wikipedia of board games
You can't be afraid to like say something that's going to make people mad.
It's not going to be a game that you're going to be able to play with your grandpa and your like, you know, your whole family around the table after a nice Christmas dinner.
I I don't want to collect any more Funko Pops for this board game.
I I feel like those ones are like kind of like they're indicators of quality again, you know, like I'm like when I see an AI thumbnail, I'm like I I get like a little icky, you know?
I I think thumbnails are like an art of itself and I'm trying to perfect it.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 6Y56Qy1Er_U Neon Gorilla Interview at 2:15:33 sentiment: negative

video_pk 80661 · mention_pk 197105

Click to watch at 2:15:33 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

feel-good atmosphere
provides a sense of progress
easy to get to ~75% optimal play

Cons

hollow feeling of progress without challenge
lack of meaningful decisions
can feel like playing with numbers in a spreadsheet
overwhelmingly easy, making players feel not smart

Thematic elements

Environmental/Nature
Sahara Desert
Disconnected math with a beautiful theme stapled on

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Acquiring cards and managing resources is part of the gameplay.
Set Collection — Players collect things like 'little tree to plant', 'things to sprout', 'water', and 'cards'.
Tableau Building — Players build an environment, such as a 'little [ ] Sahara Desert' with 'bamboo leaves'.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Secret Hitler to me is essentially social deduction at its most baby. It's a baby game.
I absolutely detest it. I think it's one of the most uh maybe the sin of our uh decade. You know, the 2020s is a decade of FOMO.
Yeah. I hate the fact that we're that we're uh essentially manipulated into giving an interestfree loan and build as somehow saving money or getting the thing that nobody will ever be able to get. All of it feels bad.
Zombicide to me is flavorless. like the core game is essentially like the most generic unimagin uh uninteresting kind of gameplay and then you stack things on until uh it appeals to you by some uh crossmarket appeal like you know I think there's a DC or a Marvel zombicide I can't remember which one now there's you know zombicide uh white death or white plague or something like that and you just keep stacking things on until you find something you like and then the person's like oh I like Danny Tjo let me buy Jasicide so I can play as Danny Treyo. And I'm like, it's it's just functionless or formless. There's no interest in mechanics behind it. It's just like here's product after product after product and it's like Funko Pops. It's like you're collecting Funko Pops with your goddamn board games. I'm like, I don't want to collect any more Funko Pops for this [ ] board game, you know? Like that's how I feel.
Earth to me is like the ultimate ultimate feelgood game. Like you are going to find success in Earth no matter what you do.
Um, and to me, uh, the feeling of progress without any kind of uh counterbalance to any kind of like feeling of uh impediments, it's ultimately hollow. It feels like there's no actual thought being put into my actions as much as there is just actions being taken for the sake of an action being taken to hit my little dopamine in my head and then I walk away feeling like, "Oh, I did something with my little [ ] Sahara Desert and I put [ ] bamboo leaves in here and now I feel good because I have this environment." There's it's it's just literally it's numbers in a spreadsheet that you're just playing with until you get an output that makes you feel good. And to me, that's not really an enjoyable experience.
>> Phil Uckland is a [ ] idiot for some of his uh political beliefs and you know his anti- u uh uh uh climate change uh positions that man-made climate change isn't uh real I believe and also his essay on uh British imperialism that was in the first PAX uh premiere if I remember correctly. Uh those are [ ] idiotic things to say uh and I disagree with them vehemently. Um, but he's a [ ] genius when it comes to game design. Like he might be like one of the greatest minds of game design of our time.
I I think the the thing is like I care more about people thinking about like the process of religion being created. That's what I care about. I don't care about what the end result is necessarily. Like I don't care about like the the the morality of religious doctrine. I care about how it's been implemented and created and used as a tool. You know, that's what I care about.
It is. It's the Wikipedia of board games
You can't be afraid to like say something that's going to make people mad.
It's not going to be a game that you're going to be able to play with your grandpa and your like, you know, your whole family around the table after a nice Christmas dinner.
I I don't want to collect any more Funko Pops for this board game.
I I feel like those ones are like kind of like they're indicators of quality again, you know, like I'm like when I see an AI thumbnail, I'm like I I get like a little icky, you know?
I I think thumbnails are like an art of itself and I'm trying to perfect it.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video vr8OnVebd3E The Board Gaming Doctor Discussion at 4:31 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 80179 · mention_pk 194694

Click to watch at 4:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Animal Kingdom expansion adds good variability
New way to approach the game
More options for pursuing points

Cons

Disaster module felt out of place
Disaster module felt punishing
Disaster module's take-that mechanism was not enjoyable

Thematic elements

nature

Comparison games

Abundance

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draw cards for their purposes.
Hand Management — Players utilize animal powers by using or discarding leaf tokens.
Set Collection — Animal cards have special abilities and terrain cards offer points.
Tableau Building — Players are actively building out their tableau with animal powers and terrain cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I feel like this game was one that I should have played years ago.
But I really do appreciate the variability that comes with the different monsters.
And so I felt like the disasters really did feel targeted. They felt pretty punishing even though it said it was light.
I definitely prefer the theme and mechanisms of those other games. they're more enticing to me.
I would say Noosu dice was my preferred of the two.
It felt very streamlined and yet really strategic with how the dice drafting and playing of cards felt.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video TRFYOPnoJCw Beyond Solitaire Analysis at 4:01

video_pk 80103 · mention_pk 194372

Click to watch at 4:01 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Being young and going downhill

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

speed — Gravity pulls you faster and faster downhill, making the experience scarier as you go faster.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

What you want to see is a game that has a specific tension point or story beat that is determined to show you above all the other ones.
The driving feeling or tension that you're trying to create in your game and that can be a semantic tension or it could be a mechanical tension.
The tightness of time and like the sort of panic about running out of it is a key aspect of the way the game feels when you play it, because that was part of our thesis for playing the game.
The feeling that it's trying to capture is being young, going downhill, you don't have an engine, gravity's pulling you faster and faster and faster.
What I like about Jungo is figuring out when to ditch cards versus pick them up and take them into my hand, how big of a combo do I need to make before I can go for broke and try to clear my hand out and win the game.
Is it fun? has never been like what I was looking for as somebody who's talking about games.
When I'm thinking about a game, I want to be able to assess it not just based on like whether I like it, but on what it's trying to say.
The point of the game is to communicate about the miracle of everybody on that expedition surviving, and also to kind of show some of the depressing and difficult aspects of being in Antarctica waiting for rescue.
Your game needs a thesis statement not because you have to make a big highfalutin argument.
So, get in touch with your inner high schooler, I guess. And uh start thinking about that game thesis.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ZxOrmb5zcnE Top List at 10:46 sentiment: positive

video_pk 79460 · mention_pk 192884

Click to watch at 10:46 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Large deck of cards
Synergistic card play
Simultaneous action selection
Approachable for lighter game players
Holds special place due to being first Kickstarter

Cons

Host is surprised it's not higher on BGG all-time list

Thematic elements

nature, tableau building

Comparison games

Ark Nova

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Icon Collection — Implied through tableau building.
Simultaneous action selection — Offers simultaneous action selection with lots of positive interactive effects on cards played.
Simultaneous Actions — Offers simultaneous action selection with lots of positive interactive effects on cards played.
Tableau Building — Features tableau building with icon collection.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Medium-weight games tend to blend a quicker experience with a rule set that offers interesting decisions to make, and to me, that's what makes a great medium-weight game.
Lowlands is an amazing game.
The social tension of interacting with that mechanism is really interesting, and that's why it's so high on this list, as well.
It has to be Wingspan.
This game is such a great bridge between light and heavy gaming and I and I've seen it being proved time and time again in my own experiences.
It's one that can be played competitively or casually and still be great.
It's always a very comforting game to play.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 1GSiS780vrc All You Can Board Discussion at 16:15 sentiment: positive

video_pk 77834 · mention_pk 188241

Click to watch at 16:15 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

attractive theme with broad appeal
easy to introduce to new players
great implementation and artwork

Cons

can be played on Board Game Arena asynchronously, which may reduce physical play

Thematic elements

environmental impact and sustainability
Ecology-themed, nature-driven world
thematic, approachable with depth

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Multiple player counts with engaging depth — Works to engage both casual and more experienced players
Positive Player Interaction — Works to engage both casual and more experienced players
Variable scoring and card-driven actions — Different starting cards influence play and scoring directions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Ethnos is an area majority game that plays really simply, has tons of variety from play to play, but feels really satisfying and plays up to six.
one of my favorite two-player experiences.
Gift of Tulips is just a great option.
it's not leaving my collection.
This is going to be my go-to.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video NBiugoNxm7U People University Top 10 List at 4:31 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 74197 · mention_pk 178559

Click to watch at 4:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

fun on BGA

Cons

a bit much tableau
a bit too much small text
don't love it on BGA, especially on a phone

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is a long game, but I feel like Terforming Mask is longer.
I enjoy Arknova on BJ as much as I do in person, I think.
It's a game that on paper shouldn't actually work as a turnbased game because of how much you have to remember from turn to turn, but it's always been a nice one.
it's a very very great game on board game arena because there's less maintenance like because otherwise there are some maintenance there are some icons that can be just explained easily on board game arena mouse hovering action
Such a great game. Like it's such a great game in real but then the maintenance also less. So in board game arena.
A two-player cooperative game of limited communication which is that's what happened in Board Game Arena.
We pretty much had a game of The Crew going non-stop for a year, a year and a half.
BGA gives us the chance, even in slow turn-based version, to play those tough scenarios. I've had a lot of fun with many of those scenarios.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Earth

Earth - Review in 2

Earth: Animal Kingdom Expansion - Enter Cute Animeeples

Earth - Playthrough & Review

Earth

Earth - Review in 2

Earth: Animal Kingdom Expansion - Enter Cute Animeeples

Earth - Playthrough & Review

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