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Game Info
Year
2022
Players
1-4
Age
12+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Mechanic profile
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Description
Designed by Stan Kordonskiy (Dice Hospital, Rurik, Lock Up), developed by Jonny Pac (Coloma, Sierra West, Lions of Lydia), solo mode by Drake Villareal (Solani, Spook Manor), and illustrated by The Mico (Raiders of the North Sea, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Valeria), Endless Winter: Paleoamericans takes place in North America, around 10,000 BCE. Players guide the development of their tribes across several generations—from nomadic hunter-gatherers to prosperous tribal societies. Over the course of the game, tribes migrate and settle new lands, establish cultural traditions, hunt paleolithic megafauna, and build everlasting megalithic structures.
Endless Winter is a euro-style game that combines worker placement and deck building in an innovative way. Each round, players send their tribe members to various action spaces, and pay for the actions by playing cards and spending resources. Tribe cards grant additional labor, while Culture cards provide a variety of unique effects. As an alternative, cards can be saved for an end-of-round Eclipse phase, where they are simultaneously revealed to determine the new player order, and trigger various bonus actions.
The game features a novel blend of interwoven systems and mechanisms, such as multi-use cards, area influence, tile placement, and set collection. Plus, there are many viable paths to victory. After four brisk rounds, scores are tallied, and the tribe with the most points wins!
—description from the publisher
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 35
This page: 35
Sentiment:
pos 23 ·
mix 5 ·
neu 4 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–35 of 35
Video K8ylfD2KLKM
kovray Top 10 List at 7:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89935 · mention_pk 239651
Click to watch at 7:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Lost Ruins of Arnak
- Dune: Imperium
- Paladins of the West Kingdom
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck builder — It is a deck builder.
- Worker Placement — It is a worker placement game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is our combined list there's going to be less than 20.
- The excitement just cannot be measured.
- I'm going to stop saying we're super excited because we are so excited.
- It really fills that void of really crunchy brain energy.
- I can't wait to play it. It's the characters though because it's just so cute.
- The fact that you can select a character and play it in Title Blades one and then potentially have it in Title Blades two and then you just watch your character grow you really get you really get an appreciation for the universe and then also a love for wanting to know more.
- For those anybody who's had roommates before like I'm sure we've explored just any like general like living situation cohabitating parents anything I think everyone can relate to this game.
- It is coming, it is coming.
- So the kickstarter occurred last year hopefully it will arrive this year but it looks like a gorgeous game.
- I think just like what I'll say about it is the really the thing I really appreciate about it so far is that it stays in the same realm as Cascadia Calico but it is different enough that I will a hundred percent be playing this probably just as much as I play Calico in Cascadia.
- Holy moly dim sum beautiful game.
- The trilogy's gonna be fantastic I feel like I'm so excited for just Garfield in general because I feel like they're getting better and better every game they come out with is just like the innovative super neat super beautiful so many things to love about it.
- We have a goal to reach we need to play games game games games.
- Ryan Lockett is just genius when it comes to the board and he does he doesn't know everything he does it all.
- The vegetables are scrum-diddly-umptious.
- There's nothing much more I can say.
- So much I feel like we should someone should tell us how many times we said excitement to this video.
- It's clear that we're very excited about it.
- Overall are just getting better production value like unique mechanisms morally draw you more in.
- It's going to be so difficult to pick make lists and pick what we're excited for.
- Hype us up because we're excited even more.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ShsJY8Hsk0M
kovray Discussion at 19:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89614 · mention_pk 238282
Click to watch at 19:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a production game it's still so much fun
- Azul i'm not good at that game
- open and sort the games and mainly because i learn the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6bDeTK9PTIM
Board Gaming Ramblings Top 20 List at 17:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89364 · mention_pk 237174
Click to watch at 17:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great production and visual appeal
- multiple mechanisms integrated well
Cons
- kickstarted and uncertain delivery timing
Thematic elements
- winter survival and Euro-style engine-building
- late medieval/euro-style civilization-building
- grand strategy
Comparison games
- Gaia Project
- Great Western Trail
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engineering/euro mechanisms — multi-mechanism Euro with large rule set
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- please subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so
- it's a button down there it's free and it helps us out a lot
- I cannot wait to play the final version of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video t47jFiuUQx4
Meeple University Top 10 List at 23:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89371 · mention_pk 237249
Click to watch at 23:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Well anticipated
- Available for demo/sale at Pax Australia
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Prehistoric
- Australia
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Mentioned in the context of the Concordia style card play.
- Worker Placement — Implied by the mention of Concordia style card play and general Euro themes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- uh yes sister Ami yes by boarding guys and it has rondel worker placement game Wheel rather than a Rondo thank you thank you um but it was you know for everything that you'll see here it's fundamentally a uh simple worker placement leading to a tile placement but it's very interesting tile placement
- plain craft this is this was successfully kick-started we this is the deluxe edition with beautiful components by cardboard I can't say things right now cardboard Alchemy yeah very uh very big in the hotness at the moment this one indeed indeed
- next one is Evergreen now this is by the designer of photosynthesis it has some same feeling but I think it's not as special as rotationally as photosynthesis yeah you really struggle to uh to visualize what was going on with photosynthesis and even I did and I can rotate stuff in my head oh right yeah it's very challenging that one yeah this one Evergreen
- next one is endless winter now this is this is the uh the Australian version which has got gas Studios so I am part of goth Studios with Mark and Carl so there's no way I'm gonna review this game I'm just telling you that I think this is going to be it's well anticipated well anticipated it'll be a in my anticipated list not because I want to get it but because I'm excited for our partner Fantasia games so it's liberation
- if you're in Australia um Essen weekend corresponds with Pax Australia week and it'll be a demo there as well and hopefully be for sale there as well
- this is we're helping Mozart in his last days and this is also it is going to be I think it's really good the components are great it's double layered it's from Denver games which is the rectil guys let me show you the back of the box it boxes kind of like typical Euro gaming and I was looking at the components I was punching it out the other day and look at this side it's so cool it's like it's music book but it's a double layer player board ta-da it we have not played this yet as of today but it looks like kind of like the Concordia style card play which the deck building pool building pool action Action Pool thank you so theme is great so excited for this one
- so again what are your release am I going to see you at Essen let me know let us know in the comments section below and I'll be happy to also check it out maybe it is your game maybe someone else's game I don't care in any cases write in the comments and I'll check it out anything else Sam
- if you enjoy this video and you want us to make this sort of video or you know maybe our most anticipated other games or our whole Essence Hall games it's probably like should be another one which is showing and then compare this video with the next one anyways if you do that please let us know like the video comments below and subscribe and hit the bell
References (from this video)
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Video LLP_YYaySDg
Meeple Mountain Discussion at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89298 · mention_pk 236929
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- upgraded components are lovely
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Paleo Americans
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- everyone bork and Brody here I just got my pledge in the mail of endless winter paleo Americans I'm guessing they're probably going to have more endless Winters with other sub themes or I don't know what you call this but I'm guessing so
- this is the kickstarter I'm probably the last one in the United States to get my but that's okay
- I know the base game really well because I've watched all the videos and and the rulebook and I'm ready for that but I don't know much about the expansion
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Utc3KS7e9vg
Tim Chuon Unboxing at 7:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89241 · mention_pk 236772
Click to watch at 7:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Impressive visual presentation and components
- Expansions add depth and variety
Cons
- Heavy rules, longer play time
Thematic elements
- Resource management and strategic development under harsh conditions
- Ice Age civilization-building in a snowy, perilous world
- Array
Comparison games
- Flamecraft
- Endless Winter: Rivers and Rafts
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- today I have seen everyone bring their copies of flamecraft to the table and I'm so glad I finally got mine
- I am an absolute sucker for anything like that
- this is Azul the chocolatier Master chocolatier version
- I cannot wait to dive into this one
- Captain Sonar looks so fun
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qs8dOWscEak
Meeple University Discussion at 1:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89021 · mention_pk 235781
Click to watch at 1:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Depth with multiple Euro-style mechanics
- The Ice Age setting and thematic elements are appealing
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- tribe growth, exploration, and lands
- Ice Age
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — involves controlling areas on the map
- area_control — involves controlling areas on the map
- Deck Building — deck-building component
- deck_building — deck-building component
- Set Collection — collecting animal sets
- set_collection — collecting animal sets
- Worker Placement — uses workers to take actions
- worker_placement — uses workers to take actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Endless Winter ... in the Ice Age ... area control ... set collection ... capturing animals as you grow your tribe and trying to master the most points in this very Euro worker placement deck builder
- the real trick of the game being that we're trying to encourage the physics and understanding how the balance works as opposed to um dexterity side of the game
- Orchard nine card solitaire game
- yesterday I played bamboo which is the new Deva Devi games
- pendulum fifty dollars rescuing Robin Hood it was a great card game that one
- Lego Minifigures oh this is awesome
- it's the hill I do sometimes
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -dvPHdQke7g
Meeple University Top 10 List at 7:02 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 89073 · mention_pk 236012
Click to watch at 7:02 · 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)
- there were a number of different ways to engine build and work towards you know you could get lots of large workers so you had lots of choice of actions or you could get lots of incomes but it ended up being a really tight battle on that tile placement the Army Warrior placement board
- it's the type of Cooperative that no Alpha player can take control
- the way you draft them here you've got so many things to think about
- it's a brilliant release
- this is the best real-time game there is because there's very few rules and that means you don't have to stop and ask each other the rules all the time
- it's highly interactive you look at other opponents what they are close to you can also steal one of their
- this is actually going to sound like quite an understated review because there's nothing there's not much new here this is a five action Euro it's got a map it's got a um you know it's got a track it's got all the sorts of things said collection nothing really new
- the dice drafting you mentioned before each die that you take it's going to have a color which tells you how many resources which tells you what resource you get it's going to have a number which tells you how many of that resource you'll get and it dictates what action the dye is connected to and the action points you'll get is equal to 7 minus the number on the die
- the map is really tight once people have built in locations it really blocks others out and that's a lot it's a lot tighter than I'm used to seeing these days on Euro map boards and it was what made it stand out
- what I like about this is that it's combo your egg combo your actions of other players back of cards
- you've always dropped like the risk yeah you've always got the risk if you're just waiting for that one little extra thing to come into someone's hand you've got that risk that they all get
References (from this video)
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Video v15K4oOydQY
Foster the Meeple Discussion at 2:49
video_pk 86701 · mention_pk 225393
Click to watch at 2:49 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Refrigeration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Bob Vance Vance Refrigeration Bob Vance Vance Refrigeration Bob Vance Vance Refrigeration
- Fashion show fashion show fashion show at lunch
- it's Halloween oh this is perfect this perfect timing
- The pens happened the pens happened
- Do you know who I am I'm Lizard King I'm the Lizard King
- that's dice jail when the dice rolls are bad you send them to jail
- well you're wrong because we talked to them
- if you think that any of them are wrong well you're wrong
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AV1jMqvf1nU
Quackalope Discussion at 27:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86502 · mention_pk 223915
Click to watch at 27:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
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 want everyone to back your game. I also want no one who will not like your game to back your game.
- If there's not a rule book that tells me there isn't a game.
- Don't buy games for a future you're unwilling to build.
- Games are work. It takes effort to prioritize the time, arrange the people coming together.
- if you're going to be a hardcore Kickstarter backer you should be engaged in the campaigns you're backing.
- The shortest campaign page I've probably ever seen was a slate spider sure there was almost no gameplay sure I backed it in a heartbeat because I love slave aspire
- The number one way to not get your game that you spend a lot of money on is not filling out your pledge manager.
- I'll never finish the. I have a calyx worth of games downstairs that I desperately want to play.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video iDmc2xLeXko
Neon Gorilla Interview at 15:54 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81223 · mention_pk 200540
Click to watch at 15:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- cool paleolithic theme
Cons
- did not like that one much at all
- came out when Lost Ruins of Arnack and Dune: Imperium were hitting the shelves
- did not end up feeling like that
- played it three times, four times, maybe
- it wasn't bad
- will still own it
Thematic elements
- worker placement, deck building
- paleolithic
Comparison games
- Lost Ruins of Arnac
- Dune: Imperium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Came out when Lost Ruins of Arnack and Dune: Imperium were hitting the shelves, and everyone backed and played these other incredible worker placement deck building games.
- Worker Placement — Came out when Lost Ruins of Arnack and Dune: Imperium were hitting the shelves, and everyone backed and played these other incredible worker placement deck building games.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love Spirit Island. One of my top games of all time. Amazing design, but it's a game that will often have a boring ending...
- if you make your game fun enough, like it's just a blast to play, you can forgive a lot.
- Pandemic has a lot of problems with this. Alpha player will creep in.
- I do think some games like you can design against alpha player without like totally hiding everything.
- The biggest one is like the more your game is a puzzle and there are sudden must-win like moves that need to be made.
- The only way the only reason it was uh beneficial was because of the asymmetry. If we both could do the same thing, it would just be kind of annoying to sit there and have a discussion on strategy past, you know, a couple minutes.
- I love the idea that this is a new starting point. We're going to be going they yes yes they want me to keep buying more stuff but we're going to go through what seasons essentially
- I mean Arkham is my favorite Arkham is my favorite game that I tell people not to buy.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZmUMHsyq6Nc
Meeple University Rules Teach
video_pk 69962 · mention_pk 166854
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the cave paintings expansion introduces a new core mechanism to the game
- the rivers and rafts map introduces a number of new Eclipse benefits
- ancestors is a card's only expansion which introduces new animal tribe culture and chief cards for further variability between your plays
- the Aurora Borealis module introduces the Aurora cards
- ceremonial grounds offers a new way of scoring points in the game as an alternative to building up your burial pile
- the final module is canine familiars
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5P_0mOohX3I
Meeple University Playthrough
video_pk 70003 · mention_pk 166900
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZmUMHsyq6Nc
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:02 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 69962 · mention_pk 236061
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- The Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Points — A new action space allows players to cross out dots on a cave painting board by spending labor, tools, etc., to gain benefits and unlock end-game scoring.
- Cave painting action space — A new action space allows players to cross out dots on a cave painting board by spending labor, tools, etc., to gain benefits and unlock end-game scoring.
- Compound Scoring — Cave painting track interacts with eclipse-phase scoring and terrain/tile bonuses.
- DOT surrounding and rewards — Surrounding body sections yields immediate benefits; surrounding leg sections yields benefits during the eclipse phase.
- Eclipse phase and scoring — Cave painting track interacts with eclipse-phase scoring and terrain/tile bonuses.
- First-player torch and bonuses — First to use an action gains a torch and an immediate square bonus, with potential to adjust future costs.
- Lines to connect dots — Middle action lets you draw lines to connect dots; some lines are dashed but treated the same.
- New terrain tiles and effects — Sacred stone and megalith tiles modify bonuses linked to the cave painting track.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the cave paintings expansion introduces a new core mechanism to the game
- the rivers and rafts map introduces a number of new Eclipse benefits
- ancestors is a card's only expansion which introduces new animal tribe culture and chief cards for further variability between your plays
- the Aurora Borealis module introduces the Aurora cards
- ceremonial grounds offers a new way of scoring points in the game as an alternative to building up your burial pile
- the final module is canine familiars
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ogn70BJ2Qjs
Meeple University Playthrough at 3:21 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 69977 · mention_pk 236735
Click to watch at 3:21 · 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)
- an amazing Euro game and very rich in theme
- this is a two-player blocky blocky
- the chat's a good distraction
- Freud reaches the end that's what triggers the end of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video QnN7BVyJRhI
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:36 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 64356 · mention_pk 157806
Click to watch at 0:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- survival and cultural development of tribes
- prehistoric tribe attempting to survive and thrive in frigid ice age North America
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Burial pile — Players can bury cards from their discard pile or hand to remove weaker cards and score points later.
- Chief card effects — When placing a chief, you resolve its card effect, which can be done in any order with other actions.
- Culture card play — You may play one or more culture cards from your hand to resolve their effects; for each culture you play after the first you must discard another card from your hand.
- Drive placement — You take one of your drives (a general tribes person or your chief) and place it into one of four locations on the board; actions are resolved from top to bottom.
- Eclipse phase — At the end of each round, eclipse piles are prepared, flipped, and eclipse benefits are resolved.
- End-game scoring mechanics — Scores are determined through multiple tracks (honor, village, megalith), end-game sets, and buried/tipped animals.
- Hunting and animals — Hunting involves drawing and gaining animal cards; tipped animals provide benefits and contribute to end-game scoring.
- Labor generation and spending — Labor can be gained by paying icons or by card actions, and all labor gained on a turn must be spent in that same turn.
- Megalith placement — Players place megaliths on the board to gain points; stacking megaliths can grant additional benefits.
- Reclaim as Action — Resting draws cards and may trigger reshuffling if the draw deck is empty.
- Resource costs — Most actions require paying resources such as food, tools, or labor.
- Resource Management — Most actions require paying resources such as food, tools, or labor.
- Rest Action — Resting draws cards and may trigger reshuffling if the draw deck is empty.
- Variable Phase Order — At the end of each round, eclipse piles are prepared, flipped, and eclipse benefits are resolved.
- Village and camp placement — Camps and villages are placed on hexes; movement and placement rules determine influence and future scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- in endless winter each player plays the role of a prehistoric tribe attempting to survive and thrive in frigid ice age north america
- Endless Winter plays in four rounds which are broken into two eras
- the player with the highest score wins
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -dakfbs8tmI
Meeple University Playthrough at 0:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64347 · mention_pk 157799
Click to watch at 0:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Striking art and premium production feel
- Deep, nuanced engine with multiple scoring paths
- Challenging AI bot creates tense play
- Replayability with deck variety and era-shifted cards
Cons
- High complexity may be daunting for new players
- AI-heavy and lengthy playthroughs can be exhausting
Thematic elements
- tribal survival, resource management, and area/territory influence
- prehistoric tribes surviving the Ice Age in North America
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Placement of tents, villagers, and exploration actions creates area control on the board, influencing eclipse scoring.
- area control / exploration — Placement of tents, villagers, and exploration actions creates area control on the board, influencing eclipse scoring.
- Deck Building — Culture cards are drawn at the start of rounds, played before main actions, and discarded to gain effects; cards switch decks between eras.
- Deck-building with culture cards — Culture cards are drawn at the start of rounds, played before main actions, and discarded to gain effects; cards switch decks between eras.
- Eclipse phase scoring — At the end of each eclipse phase, players reveal hands, determine turn order, and score points from various sources, with cards potentially carried into the next phase.
- Megalith placement and stacking — Megalith tiles are placed on a central track; stacking them yields points based on tiles covered and scoring for the placer and the holder.
- Sacrifice / burial — Sacrifice/burial mechanics allow burying cards for end-of-round bonuses and scoring, influenced by burial track interactions.
- Worker Placement — Players have free workers that can be placed on five action spots on the board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- brain burner that's for sure
- it's been really fun playing a couple games with this
- an advanced production copy for Golf Studios
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5QRR3ANR0TY
Allies or Enemies Top List at 24:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61145 · mention_pk 153675
Click to watch at 24:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- ambitious scope for a gateway-weight game
- surprisingly light for how much is going on
Cons
- can feel easy with house rules; needs tightening for two players
Thematic elements
- multifaceted resource management with multiple boards
- ice-age/Celtic winter landscape
- puzzle-like yet approachable
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building and set collection — improve actions via cards and fulfill sets for resources.
- Engine Building — work across terrain, camps, animals, and monuments for synergy.
- multi-board engine building — work across terrain, camps, animals, and monuments for synergy.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a good Gateway game
- the art on the cards looks fantastic
- it's one of those simple flip and write games that you just want to play again and again
- the lazy Susan is genius
- Planet Unknown just knocks our socks off
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 28XkKDV6XO0
Neon Gorilla Top List at 19:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 59482 · mention_pk 152035
Click to watch at 19:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Grounded but innovative blend of mechanics
- Rich theme and variability
Cons
- Rule complexity can be intimidating
- Heavy for casual players
Thematic elements
- Worker placement meets engine-building
- Prehistoric North America with hunter-gatherer and farming themes
- Cooperative competition with scenario-like scoring
Comparison games
- Dune Imperium
- Concordia
- Gaia Project
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Develop a card-driven engine to generate actions and points
- Deck-building/engine-building — Develop a card-driven engine to generate actions and points
- Worker Placement — Place workers to gather resources and complete goals
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a wonderful starter game for nearly anyone.
- how have I not played dominion
- when I played Dominion I just felt like an absolute idiot
- the quintessential racing game out there
- it's an absolutely brilliant game
- the best network builder of all time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UTRQCbiIkVU
Meeple Mountain Top 10 List at 4:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 40932 · mention_pk 239508
Click to watch at 4:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- streamlined yet interconnected systems
- anticipation built through successful campaign and components
Cons
- not fully known to the public yet
- weight may vary depending on rules interpretation
Thematic elements
- settlement-building with resource management
- prehistoric North American exploration and survival
- streamlined, campaign-like progression
Comparison games
- Endeavor: Age of Sail
- Viticulture
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — cards integrate with workers and actions in a layered way
- deck-building — cards integrate with workers and actions in a layered way
- Worker Placement — turn-based worker actions with interwoven deck-building decisions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a pure euro that is nicely connected to the theme more than you would anticipate
- money is super tight in this game which adds a lot of tension
- the rondelle with dice worker placement it has contracts and there's a market that changes the values of all the items
- it's a game i can get my wife and kids to play with me yet still a very enjoyable game for me
- the weight and the length of the game is just a perfect scenario for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HoasAyL0KBQ
Meeple Mountain Review at 0:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 39363 · mention_pk 118757
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High-quality components, minis, and sturdy boards that cleanly convey roles and pieces
- Multiple viable strategies (animals, terrain, megaliths, deck refinement) with meaningful trade-offs
- Rules feel approachable for a heavy-medium game; intuitive flow once learned
- Strong production values from Fantasia Games and Kickstarter extras
- Clear, engaging engine with tangible goals and satisfying endgame scoring
Cons
- Iconography is dense; players may need to reference icons frequently early on
- Complexity is non-trivial and could be intimidating for casual gamers
- Endgame scoring can be lengthy to tally for some players or groups
Thematic elements
- tribal development, resource management, area control, and monumental construction via megaliths
- Ancient tribal world during a prehistoric era where tribes compete for resources, use megaliths, and manage terrain and animal resources.
- mechanics-driven with light narrative framing and thematic flavor embedded in card and tab interactions
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area majority / terrain control — Terrain board controls villages and camps to gain influence and end-of-round bonuses; majority on hexes yields rewards.
- Deck Building — Players start with five cards; playing culture cards adds actions; advancing tribes and burying cards affects future draws and endgame scoring.
- deck-building / hand management — Players start with five cards; playing culture cards adds actions; advancing tribes and burying cards affects future draws and endgame scoring.
- Eclipse phase (end-of-round scoring) — After the action phase, players reveal and total labor from cards; eclipse phase grants bonuses based on labor totals and tribal cards in Eclipse pile.
- Megalith tile placement and scoring — Megalith tiles placed on the Megalith board; placement decisions unlock rewards and endgame points, with interactions when four tiles form a square.
- Resource Management — Labor and tools are spent to take actions; food is used to bury or recruit cards; tools fuel many actions and are highly valued for flexibility.
- Resource management (labor, tools, food) — Labor and tools are spent to take actions; food is used to bury or recruit cards; tools fuel many actions and are highly valued for flexibility.
- Tile Placement — Megalith tiles placed on the Megalith board; placement decisions unlock rewards and endgame points, with interactions when four tiles form a square.
- Worker Placement — Four action columns on the main board; players place chiefs/tribe members to perform actions. First player to take a bottom action gains the bottom bonus; multiple actions can be chained in a turn.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's The Sweet Spot it's that Medium heavy area where it's not too heavy that you get confused or need to invest a lot
- the rules are not simple nor too complex but they are easy enough to understand
- this is a medium to heavyweight worker placement game
- definitely lives up to its hype
- I like the look of the game including the art and the components
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3LlnEnmLNrY
Board Stupid Top 5 List at 11:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38946 · mention_pk 117413
Click to watch at 11:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Very thematic production and depth
- Rich strategic options and variability
Cons
- Long playtime and potential complexity for new players
Thematic elements
- Heavy Euro with rich thematic depth
- Post-ice-age survival world
- Strategic, thematic and long-term planning
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Engine Building — Players gain and spend resources to build their engine and achieve goals
- engine-building and resource management — Players gain and spend resources to build their engine and achieve goals
- Multiple viable strategies — Many paths to victory encourage diverse playstyles
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a sandbox game so what you choose to do in G is up to you
- Root is basically my favorite game of all time
- replayability is infinite as much as it can be
- this is a classic
- it's a juicy beefy top Dungeon Crawler on the market
- HeroQuest what a Legendary game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ko23MOMpZl0
The Board Game Garden Discussion at 43:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37951 · mention_pk 234922
Click to watch at 43:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- deep, heavy solo experience
Cons
- heavy rules, long play time
Thematic elements
- survival and resource management
- ice-age survival with deck-building and worker placement
- grim but strategic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building / worker placement — combine your cards and workers to gather resources and fulfill goals
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- huge shout out to all my patrons
- the patreon link down below
- this video is sponsored by wsbg
- it's so comforting to me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VbXJdza8dwQ
Board Stupid Analysis at 13:46 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 36758 · mention_pk 110343
Click to watch at 13:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Wide breadth of decisions and engine-building potential
- Visually appealing and thematic
Cons
- Not as deep as some other big euros
- Rule complexity can feel diffuse
Thematic elements
- resource management and tableau-building
- Ice-age survival and civilization building
- cooperative/competitive civilization development
Comparison games
- Gloomhaven
- El Grande
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building with open information — Decks build through actions and resources; open information on board.
- resource management and paced drafting — Collect and optimize resources to advance engines.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Twilight Imperium is over four (weight) and a lot of people still find it rewarding.
- heavy doesn't mean good, and should never be assumed to be better.
- we should have a graph rather than just a chart for weight, depth, and breadth.
- mom threshold: anything below that is considered very simple.
- it's a messy but fun game—Nemesis is a mess with too many rules.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -J6YD0q8S6o
Board Gaming Ramblings Discussion at 6:54 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 36245 · mention_pk 108541
Click to watch at 6:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Strong thematic feel and components
Cons
- Occasionally unforgiving, heavy rules
Thematic elements
- Climate-driven resource management and survival
- Ice age survival with civilization-building elements
- Euro-game weight with heavy decisions
Comparison games
- Cascadia
- Lorenzo il Magnifico
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice_rogue_like — Randomized events affecting choices
- Engine Building — Developing engines to generate resources
- engine_building — Developing engines to generate resources
- Resource Management — Balancing scarce resources across turns
- resource_management — Balancing scarce resources across turns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's gonna be a very short one
- we have two more videos we're gonna have keeper curl
- this is gonna be the year that we actually meet you
- they tend to play with the same group
- for me those would be the heaviest
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9dMwrGQcz3g
Board Stupid Top 10 List at 28:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33898 · mention_pk 100960
Click to watch at 28:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cascading mechanic interactions create satisfying tension
- Thematic cohesion and production quality
- High variety in gameplay through systems interaction
Cons
- Very crowded on the table; can be complex
- Learning curve steep for new players
Thematic elements
- Resource management, worker placement, set collection
- Ice-age North America with prehistoric tribes
- Epic width with many interacting systems
Comparison games
- Viticulture
- Gaia Project
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Control areas and collect resources for scoring
- Area control and set collection — Control areas and collect resources for scoring
- Deck Building — Deck interactions drive many actions and combos
- deck-building — Deck interactions drive many actions and combos
- set collection and area control — Collect certain items and dominate regions to score
- Worker Placement — Place workers to activate resources and board effects
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the expert game category so you're going to be head first into it
- it's Star Wars in a box, it's absolutely brilliant
- this is a huge long heavy game
- everything cascades from one mechanism to the next
- the theme and production are incredible
- you'll be talking about it until you play the next game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video krNyxqb1058
Board Stupid Top List at 6:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33528 · mention_pk 99718
Click to watch at 6:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- spectacular production
- heavy euro experience with rich thematic hooks
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- hunter-gatherer society, psychological themes
- Paleo-American era
- heavy euro with thematic subtext about Freud's unconscious
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- contract completion / personal objectives — achieve contracts and personal goals tied to the theme
- Contracts — achieve contracts and personal goals tied to the theme
- Point to Point Movement — map-based movement to complete actions
- point-to-point movement — map-based movement to complete actions
- Worker Placement — map-driven worker placement with multiple Run/Tasks
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Cascadia has been one of my favorite games lately it's so easy to put on the table and having more to play with is just great
- it's gonna add more way of scoring points and more tiles more cards yeah more end game bonuses
- you can add a fifth and a sixth player to your table that's just amazing because it's such one of those wonderful party games that even people that never play a board game will pick it up in seconds
- if you liked Cascadia this is Cascadia but with more and what's not to like about that absolutely more Cascadia more Cascadia
- it's a two-player Co-Op where you basically need to fly and land the plane
- every airport where you need to land is a different challenge
- the production looks magnificent
- Endless Winter Paleo-American ... absolutely spectacular
- it's going to be a heavy Euro
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video P7yM5Al9lL8
Totally Tabled Top List at 9:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28566 · mention_pk 83799
Click to watch at 9:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- rich combination of mechanisms that cohere
- strong solo implementation
- smooth play for a heavy game
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Worker placement, deck-building, and multiple pathways to victory
- Frosty post-pandemic world with survival and exploration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck-building with multi-use cards — Cards provide actions when drafted and used for multiple purposes.
- Multi-Use Cards — Cards provide actions when drafted and used for multiple purposes.
- tile laying and building — Construct buildings and control regions for bonuses.
- Worker Placement — Place workers to take a variety of actions and advance on tracks.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- my number 10 is Woodcraft
- the zombies are represented by little cubes
- I love the voucher system here where when you take one of the actions you have to pay certain vouchers and then you also receive other ones
- Frostpunk has aspects of War of Mine it has aspects of Robinson Crusoe
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SfmJai0NZEA
Totally Tabled Top List at 9:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28436 · mention_pk 83489
Click to watch at 9:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Noted as a strong contender for the year
Cons
- Not fully explored in the transcript
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 still absolutely love this design
- the AI system is so smart
- it's on the totally table Todo list
- Frost Punk is incredible
- I absolutely plan to get to the table this year
- the slide puzzle mechanism I love
- Weather Machine remains one of my favorites
- Sleeping Gods no reason to believe that I won't love this one as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SfmJai0NZEA
Totally Tabled Top List at 9:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28436 · mention_pk 83482
Click to watch at 9:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Noted as a strong game in the prior year
Cons
- Not on the top anticipated list; unsure why
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 still absolutely love this design
- the AI system is so smart
- it's on the totally table Todo list
- Frost Punk is incredible
- I absolutely plan to get to the table this year
- the slide puzzle mechanism I love
- Weather Machine remains one of my favorites
- Sleeping Gods no reason to believe that I won't love this one as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jhoqZ_Pvv9s
Paula Deming Top List at 4:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13603 · mention_pk 109456
Click to watch at 4:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong Euro-design feel with engaging decisions
- immersive setting that contrasts tropical island life
Cons
- complex and can be lengthy
- not ideal for quick island-style play sessions
Thematic elements
- resource management and strategic settlement building
- endless winter, paleo-American civilization development
- euro-style, with moving parts and emphasis on systems
Comparison games
- Gloomhaven
- Stone Age
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- tile/part management — managing components that move and interact to create actions
- Worker Placement — allocate workers to gather resources and advance techs
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- 10 out of 10 ideal Desert Island game
- the Cup's double is great rainwater collection devices
- you can't always get along with family
- it's solo only game
- the theme of the game is being the last survivor in a horror movie
- it's a great Euro game with a lot of moving parts
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qVQ9u2kroV4
Rolls in the Family Discussion at 9:45 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 13635 · mention_pk 93936
Click to watch at 9:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- sharp, layered design with many moving parts
- strong production and components
Cons
- payoff can feel underwhelming for the complexity
- teaching and setup can be lengthy
Thematic elements
- deck-building, area control, megolithic monuments
- prehistoric/early civilization map with exploration
- multi-path, Euro-style emergence
Comparison games
- Twilight Imperium
- Agricola
- Terraforming Mars
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — control map regions to gain points and bonuses
- Deck Building — build a hand of actions and synergy cards
- deck-building — build a hand of actions and synergy cards
- megalith/monolith development — special construction track with scoring implications
- Worker Placement — send workers to actions with limited uses and timing bonuses
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Cat in the Box is a fascinating Twist on trick taking
- the killer for me was I just don't think it was a game that was going to be an evergreen for me
- Endless Winter ... feels kind of like a kitchen sink Euro design
- it's not easy to teach
- I rate this an 8 out of 10
- Nemesis is one of my favorite games of all time
- the crew is a great game
- the new edition feels to me like the one that's going to be best for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wWZsmbm6HF0
cardboardrhino Review sentiment: positive
video_pk 12861 · mention_pk 140518
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique blend of mechanics
- Robust design
- Thematic depth
- Player agency
- Multiple strategies
- Interesting eclipse mechanic
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Tribal expansion and civilization building
- North America, around 10,000 BC
- Generational tribal leadership
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Players acquire and manage tribe and culture cards
- Set Collection — Collecting animals and sacred stones for points
- Worker Placement — Players place figures to perform actions on the board
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- You are a leader of a tribe and the game follows several generations towards building a more prosperous tribal society
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Uem1jjTHheI
BoardGameBollocks Review at 0:58 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 8446 · mention_pk 113337
Click to watch at 0:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- great variety of options and strategic choices
- feels like multiple classic Euros in one game
- hidden scoring creates tense finishes
- allows a taste of many mechanics without being too brain-dead
Cons
- setup and teardown can be lengthy and fiddly
- production heft and space requirements are substantial
- balance can be off, leading to a sense of one player falling behind
- borrowing from other games may feel less original
Thematic elements
- survival, resource management, community-building, monoliths
- Paleolithic era
- epic, multi-path strategy with hidden scoring
Comparison games
- Terra Mystica
- Dune Imperium
- Roads & Boats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — culture cards are drafted and used for actions; unused cards go to Clips and can be buried or played later
- deck-building — culture cards are drafted and used for actions; unused cards go to Clips and can be buried or played later
- Eclipse phase — reveal eclipse cards after actions; total labor values determine turn order for the next round
- hidden end-game scoring — final scoring is not fully visible until the end, increasing tension and unpredictability
- hunting/draw — hunt action draws animal cards; use them for eating benefits or form point-earning sets
- idols and tracks — move markers on idle tracks; end-game bonuses awarded to leaders on these tracks
- monolith/mega lift — place or move tiles to a mega lift; placement yields points and bonuses
- Phase structure — action phase, eclipse phase, preparation phase, and final scoring are used sequentially
- Resource Management — manage food, labor, and tools to perform actions and fuel growth
- Track Advancement — move markers on idle tracks; end-game bonuses awarded to leaders on these tracks
- Variable Phase Order — action phase, eclipse phase, preparation phase, and final scoring are used sequentially
- Worker Placement — place workers to take actions on the map; first player to go grants a bottom-list bonus
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there is an abundance of options not only when you're placing your workers out on a board but with the cards that you have there is loads of things to think about
- it's basically a bit of Catan with the roads and stuff
- hidden final scoring at the end and you're on tender hooks thinking have I done enough to get over the finish line
- it's a massive ball like here
- this game sits best with three players
- if you are into American games then you will want to avoid this like Ebola
- the setup is painful, there's so much stuff to set up
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2PUkzR5jBTU
Our Family Plays Games Top List at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3565 · mention_pk 87726
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Thematic and deep strategic options
- Beautiful art and components
Cons
- Heavy for newcomers
- Can take several hours
Thematic elements
- tribal development, foraging, and culture
- North America around 10,000 BCE
- epic survival storytelling
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
- Gaia Project
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Cards enable family actions and seasonal progression.
- deck-building — Cards enable family actions and seasonal progression.
- Evolution across generations — Build a tribe over multiple generations to optimize outcomes.
- Worker Placement — Assign family members to collect resources and progress through seasons.
- Worker placement + deck-building — Place workers to forage and build; use cards to enhance actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love worker placement games.
- The spice must flow.
- This stream is about the top 20 worker placement games and we love them all.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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Game Deep Dive