How many players can play Gloomhaven?

Gloomhaven supports 1 to 4 players.

How long does a game of Gloomhaven take?

A typical game of Gloomhaven takes approximately 120 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of Gloomhaven?

MindForge has curated 393 video reviews of Gloomhaven from top board game content creators.

What type of game is Gloomhaven?

Gloomhaven features mechanics including Campaign, Combat: Deck/Hand, Cooperative Game, Dungeon Crawl, Hand Management.

Gloomhaven - Board Game

Video cwVC64OW-kc The Board Game Garden Unboxing at 1:58 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 99477 · mention_pk 276591

Click to watch at 1:58 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

foiled version
big boy box
normal version
got both big boy boxes in one blind box

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

If you're not the hugest fan of blind boxes, I will say that you can purchase these Shelfy blind boxes all in one collection, so that you don't have that random Oh, okay.
I will say that they do have two different covers, which is cool.
There are quite a few that we have not got yet that are some of my faves from the set.
This is Wild Gardens, guys. I love Wild Gardens so so much.
Any game about coffee and cute little cryptids, I am down for.
So, let me know if you've played this one.
This is a very big stack. We got some big boys in this one, and I think I might know what it is.
Francis will probably want this one.
Gloomhaven, which fun fact, this was one of Francis' first purchases in board games.
He said, 'I'm going to start at 100 and just go straight to the biggest game you can possibly get.'
So, I'm very happy that we do have a duplicate of this one because Wild Gardens is amazing.
We got both big boy boxes in one blind box, which I think is pretty cool.
That is everything for this unboxing.
Come back for two more leading up to Gen Con.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 7eScidoT5go BoardGameCo Top List at 24:03

video_pk 99491 · mention_pk 276622

Click to watch at 24:03 · YouTube ↗

Pros

Live-streamed for two years.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Live Streaming — The speaker and Professor Meg live-streamed Gloomhaven for two years on Twitch.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is not an exhaustive list.
I would not be where I am today if not for Board Game Geek, if not for the way I use the platform, if not for the trading I was able to do on the platform.
He was a real friend who I did grow in this YouTube space with, who I did collaborate with and enjoyed those years of collaboration
She's someone who I have I've she's someone who I've been friends with now for h three years three years at this point.
one of the first games that I ever played one of the first games I ever bought in this hobby of space and I got to meet him interact with him and he became a friendship over the years
You've benefited from Nekoner.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video B9VFE0QLFu8 Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 31:24 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 95739 · mention_pk 263117

Click to watch at 31:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Free Kickstarter stuff
Has single-player

Cons

Causes buyer's remorse
Large campaign may be daunting

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it is a game that you are trying to build the best story
this is on steroids oh I can't wait when we can we play um by all means Thursday night when we go to a gaming night we are right there we are going to have a blast with that as well
there's going to be a big focus on board gaming because that's been the bread and butter of PACs
The Reading Terminal Market... adjacent to that subway station it is the best food market you will ever set foot in
RPGs and miniatures those types of gaming don't get enough love at the traditional paksas simply because there's not enough room for them
Chris Perkins was on Twitter two days ago all his fans that yeah I'll be at PacSun plug
the rulebook was not very good no we had to look up several times on some of the rules meant
it is a pretty quick game which is why we like it's only played over the course of three rounds

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video cPu7j2208SM Rolling Dice & Taking Names Analysis at 2:22 sentiment: positive

video_pk 94952 · mention_pk 260364

Click to watch at 2:22 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

achieving evergreen status
continues to sell well despite high price

Cons

over a hundred dollars

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 name is Marty these are my musings
I love looking at empirical cells data whether it be for movies or comic books or albums it doesn't matter I like seeing what the top sellers are
those four games have been around for quite a while which goes to show that either one people in this hobby are still buying those games or hopefully hopefully people are coming into the hobby and those are those gateway games that everybody recommends for people to check out
evergreen as' I just made that term up
it doesn't matter how often they refresh that game it's always a fantastic seller thing is though I bet it drops out of the top ten in the next quarter
so to have this game that is a hundred bucks still continue to sell well quarter after quarter year after year is just a testament to how popular that game is
exploding kicking kicking exploding chickens now that would be funny
now when I first saw Dominion on this list I thought wait a minute that should be a board game but I guess when you really think about it it's nothing but cards 100% card game
I love Arkham Horror LCG I have been into LCG games since they first came out
with Arkham Horror LCG every time I play that game I am totally sucked into the story
sweet sweet game if you have not tried it I highly recommend checking it out
Seven Wonders is considered a card game come on it's got player boards it's got a lot of different tokens I think personally that should belong in the board game category and not the cards and dice Hey but maybe I'm wrong
Games Workshop is killing it right now
Dungeons & Dragons since the release of the fifth edition has just skyrocketed in popularity it has taken over everything
it's yugioh TCG key Forge and Dragon Ball super
it's really cool to see ki Forge up in there
While it's not a CCG in the sense of you buy blind booster packs you don't know what's gonna be in there instead you're buying a blind deck and not sure what's gonna be in there I guess it still has a collectible aspect to it
since that game just came out also fourth quarter of last year it was hot it was hard to find
you were you surprised by any on this list or did you think there would be someone this list that weren't on there
smash that like button and flip that subscribe button

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video p1T-2nsERCc Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 24:55 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 94842 · mention_pk 259529

Click to watch at 24:55 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Mentioned as a game that will be covered in a future 'No Quarter Required' segment.
Potentially playable on PC for those who can't run it on older hardware.

Cons

Tony may not be able to run it on his system.

Thematic elements

Dungeon crawling, tactical combat.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card-driven combat — Players use cards to determine actions and abilities.
Dungeon Crawl — Players explore dungeons and battle monsters.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is where Just One I think can sometimes have an issue because we happen like three times for us.
Monolith Arena with the brand-new expansion coming out at Gen Con from portal called academics.
to me that game was comfort food that game is just like ah I'm so sit down
The academics which is the brand-new faction and he introduces this new mechanic of mana where you can put mana on a unit and if you can generate mana it boosts it somehow.
there's also healing now so you can heal up units you can heal up your your banner which is basically like your base
all of a sudden you had to try to get around to it to take that sucker out exactly so you can't ignore that you gotta say okay if he is that supercharged mega blaster loaded up ready to go I'm gonna take a lot of damage
As soon as I pulled up that trailer and as soon as I heard the dog, chills chills.
people forget blade was one of the first ever comic-book movies you know from the 90s it's just forgotten because comic book movies want that big bin aside from Spider-Man blade was good
The Russo brothers who directed the Avengers movies they directed second Captain America movie Winter Soldier they did the last two Avenger movies they announced they're bringing to the big screen one of my all-time favorite cartoons that I've mentioned on this show before from the 70s battle of the planets
Y'all gonna be getting some games soon right you're gonna be buying some games you're gonna need some organizers for cards and bits and you can find all that stuff over at the broken token calm

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 4OHWCxS0MJk Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:31:25 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 94710 · mention_pk 258742

Click to watch at 1:31:25 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

Lost to Cones of Dunshire in a popularity poll.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Cones of Dunshire

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a popularity contest
those are your gateway games that will eventually lead to the pandemics
I'm not gonna begrudge anybody to sit and play Monopoly that that's all they know man
if you like monopoly you might like and then suggest something else
I will play Monopoly with you anytime as long as we play by the rules
there's the problem everybody has a slight what do you play with this particular rule no there's no house rules play by the real rules
I think that's a natural step and I think people could easily go from monopoly to ticket to ride

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video vmNiKx01McI Sir Thecos Review at 272:13:20 sentiment: positive

video_pk 93857 · mention_pk 254483

Click to watch at 272:13:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Highly Positive

Pros

Epic campaign experience
Deep tactical combat
Sense of character progression
Immersive world

Cons

Very long playtime
High setup and tear-down time
Can be unforgiving

Thematic elements

Mercenaries undertaking quests in a persistent world
Fantasy
Campaign-based

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Campaign play — A long-term game with ongoing scenarios and character progression.
Hand Management — Players must carefully manage their limited hand of cards.
Tactical combat — Grid-based combat using unique card decks for each character.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

"I think Dominion is just the purest form of deck building."
"I think Terraforming Mars is a masterpiece."
"Wingspan is my most favorite board game."
"Root is such a unique game."
"Spirit Island is a fantastic cooperative game."
"Ark Nova is a really solid game."
"Gloomhaven is an epic experience."
"The Castles of Burgundy is a classic for a reason."
"Terra Mystica is a brilliant game."
"Founders of Gloomhaven is an interesting city builder."

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video vmNiKx01McI Sir Thecos Review at 309:43:20 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 93857 · mention_pk 254486

Click to watch at 309:43:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Mixed

Pros

Interesting city-building mechanics
Satisfying resource management

Cons

Weak thematic integration with Gloomhaven
Can feel a bit dry
High learning curve

Thematic elements

Founding the city of Gloomhaven

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

city building — Players develop a city by placing buildings.
Resource Management — Gathering and spending various resources.
Worker Placement — Using workers to claim actions and build.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

"I think Dominion is just the purest form of deck building."
"I think Terraforming Mars is a masterpiece."
"Wingspan is my most favorite board game."
"Root is such a unique game."
"Spirit Island is a fantastic cooperative game."
"Ark Nova is a really solid game."
"Gloomhaven is an epic experience."
"The Castles of Burgundy is a classic for a reason."
"Terra Mystica is a brilliant game."
"Founders of Gloomhaven is an interesting city builder."

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video nlvzuPjZ5MY Rolling Dice & Taking Names Analysis at 2:04 sentiment: positive

video_pk 93547 · mention_pk 253287

Click to watch at 2:04 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Highly anticipated campaign game for 2017.

Cons

Scheduling game times can be tough with family and friends.
If you go too long between sessions, you may forget some aspects of the story, the purpose, the plot, or even the rules.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Campaign — Games that can be played multiple times, with the story told through multiple play sessions.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Providing gamers a style of game that could be played multiple times with the game changing and evolving with each play.
The story of the game is told through multiple play sessions on your first play you're introduced to the story by learning about the characters locations and hopefully an interesting plot line the game will then move the story along through repeated plays where characters locations mechanics and even the game board itself may change in order to draw them there to fort by the end of the campaign you took part in the story that will hopefully give you as much enjoyment as seeing a really well good movie
number one BG g rated pandemic legacy
king of death monster 1.5 which just closed on kickstarter for twelve point three million dollars and over 19,000 backers
2017 is going to be a big year for campaign games with highly anticipated titles such as massive darkness first Martian charter stone pendant legacy season 2 seventh continent and bloom raven bloom raven it's supposed to be gloom haven look spell check this stuff it's really not the hard or look like an idiot here there is not a word so if you're interested in campaign games this will be your year
can there be too much of a good thing these types of games are meant to be played over multiple sessions providing many hours of entertainment
it's probably best if you can have the same group playing each time for continuity purposes
for me this presents a problem with the wife and kids scheduling game times can be tough and the people I game with also has a family so getting all of our schedules to sync up could be a struggle and if you go too long between sessions you may forget some aspects of the story the purpose the plot shoot even the rules would you please stop moving the teleprompter
even though I love campaign style games I'm only going to be able to pick one or two to play and with all these good ones coming out I hate to miss out on some great experiences so maybe too much of a good good thing isn't necessarily a bad bad thing because we have lots of choices but I know I can play six to eight different standard typical common off-the-shelf type board games over the course of a month or approximately 30 days while with a campaign-style game I'll be gosh darn lucky if I can even get to play that just one time dagnabbit
are you looking forward to these campaign games are you in the same boat as me having to pick only one or two to play let me know in the comments

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video wh5QWyajT30 Watch It Played Discussion at 11:10

video_pk 92463 · mention_pk 248484

Click to watch at 11:10 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I just missed having the option to play War of the Rings, even if I would only get the chance very seldom.
It's hard to get rid of them, but harder still to find storage space for all of them.
I'll tell myself, hey, maybe one of my friends would enjoy this or one of the friends I have yet to make in the future would enjoy this.
My games often find themselves becoming gifts.
There are games I would never part with. Even if I rarely play them, they just mean too much to me sentimentally.
There's just something locked away in here that I enjoy reminiscing about and it creates a value or feeling I have towards the game that I don't want to get rid of it.
I get attached to the games I purchase as well. I don't want my shelving to look bare.
The funny thing is though, isn't it about parenting? You try to do something like that to instill a good idea and then you can create this nervousness, this anxiety in your kid because now they're worried about losing something.
If I ever have to sell a game, I would rather give it to someone with the interest of starting that person in the wonderful world of board gaming.
My solution is research. a lot of research before purchasing a game. Therefore, I have no games that I want to get rid of.
Dungeon craws are my thing. They each do something different and I'm not going to throw any of them away. They are my heart.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video hC5B3Z6ieVg Getting Games Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 92093 · mention_pk 247266

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Massive, feature-rich box with long-term campaign potential
Random dungeon generator adds variety and replayability
Fully cooperative play with personal character quests
Depth of strategy and potential for powerful combos
Loot, XP, and progression provide meaningful rewards

Cons

Random dungeon can feel thematically disjointed at times
Game can be lengthy and exhausting due to resource management
High complexity requiring careful planning and management

Thematic elements

fantasy dungeon-crawl with cooperative tactical combat and campaign progression
an expansive fantasy world with dungeon delving, tactical card-based combat, fully cooperative play and an epic campaign consisting of almost 100 different scenarios
epic campaign with personal character quests and long-term progression

Comparison games

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Combat: Damage Based — Mechanics such as poison, shield, muddle, push, and retaliate influence combat and damage, with various modifiers affecting outcomes.
Cooperative Game — All players work towards a common objective in a fully cooperative mode.
cooperative play — All players work towards a common objective in a fully cooperative mode.
Equipment and inventory management — At level one, characters start with limited equipment; armor and consumables have carrying rules and restrictions on types and quantity.
experience and leveling — Characters gain experience during scenarios; XP is tracked and used toward leveling up (e.g., 45 XP to reach level 2 in the example).
Initiative structure — Turns are resolved in order of initiative values ranging from 1 to 99, with ties resolved by initiative value order and strategic decisions.
Line of Sight — Ranged attacks can go through enemies and obstacles; line of sight is determined by doors and movement paths.
Line of sight and ranged attacks — Ranged attacks can go through enemies and obstacles; line of sight is determined by doors and movement paths.
loot and gold economy — Entering rooms and defeating enemies yields loot; gold pieces have value, with level-1 scenarios treating each gold piece as worth two gold, and auto-loot applies to items beneath characters.
Muddled / disadvantage mechanic — If muddled, a player must draw two modifier cards and take the worst result.
Random dungeon deck generation — Dungeons are generated by drawing cards that specify dungeon layout, monsters, traps, entrances, and penalties for each room.
Reclaim as Action — There are short rests and long rests; short rests return some cards to the hand without losing a turn, long rests lose a turn but restore more resources.
resting — There are short rests and long rests; short rests return some cards to the hand without losing a turn, long rests lose a turn but restore more resources.
Status effects and combat tricks — Mechanics such as poison, shield, muddle, push, and retaliate influence combat and damage, with various modifiers affecting outcomes.
summons — Some classes can summon allies (e.g., a Mystic Ally) that enter adjacent spaces and can attack or perform actions.
two-card action selection — Each player selects two cards from their hand; the top half of one card and the bottom half of another determine their actions for the turn.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this box is gigantic
inside this massive box lies an expansive fantasy world full of dungeon delving tactical card-based combat fully cooperative play and an epic campaign consisting of almost a 100 different scenarios

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video DREJBwwuGaI Getting Games Discussion at 16:25 sentiment: positive

video_pk 92089 · mention_pk 247257

Click to watch at 16:25 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

fully cooperative play
heavy, deeply strategic puzzle-like card interactions
long-term campaign with branching choices
rich narrative and campaign structure

Cons

very heavy/complex
large rulebook (described as 56 pages) with many edge cases
high time investment per scenario (2-3 hours per session)

Thematic elements

cooperative dungeon exploration with long campaign
fantasy dungeon crawl
campaign long-term with branching, choose-your-own-adventure style elements

Comparison games

Lisboa
Kban
Vinhos
The Gallerist

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

exhaustion/rest mechanics — resting discards or removes cards, representing fatigue and reducing options over time
hero classes with unique decks — each player has a class with a distinct deck of top/bottom action cards
initiative numbers on cards — turn order is driven by initiative values on cards (ranging up to 99)
leveling up and deck customization — players level up and modify their decks, adding new cards and altering the modifier deck
long campaign with branching choices — a campaign spanning many scenarios with choices that affect future play
modifier deck instead of dice — attacks and actions rely on drawing from a modifier deck rather than rolling dice
Scenario-based cooperative play — players work together through a sequence of scenarios in a dungeon setting
top and bottom card actions — each card provides two linked actions (top and bottom) used to perform moves or effects

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this game has completely blown my socks off
it's a scenario based tactical uh dungeon craw Style game
it's fully Cooperative
the balance of the scenarios that I've seen has been very TI
the rule book is like 56 pages
it's gigantic it's heavy it's super exciting
there's actually a Kickstarter running for it right now
Caravan the spice roow

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Tp6PCSe9gmY Getting Games Discussion at 21:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 92072 · mention_pk 247200

Click to watch at 21:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

multi-layer action selection with card cultivation
thematic integration with city-building and district growth

Cons

none

Thematic elements

competitive Euro-style city-building with political aspects
town-building in Gloom Haven as a thematic prequel to Gloomhaven
explanatory/analytical

Comparison games

Concordia
Puerto Rico

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card-based_action_selection — you start with four cards; you play a card to take the action and it stays out; playing a card can enable buying new cards that remain in hand
public_works_auction — there are three major public works to bid on with influence; winning simply gives you placement rights and varies in payoff
shared_follow_actions — other players can follow your action with slight penalties or benefits depending on follow choices

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's really great to see that we've made it to 10 episodes
this is going to be the meat of the variety vlog
I would love opinions on all of these various things
it's a fun little podcast where we talk about board games
the dragon is catching people and doing damage to them
I think this might actually be a bit of a mey game experience for them

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video M1ad5h1gkcU Getting Games Discussion at 22:19 sentiment: positive

video_pk 92064 · mention_pk 247175

Click to watch at 22:19 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

cooperative dungeon exploration with evolving scenarios
dungeon-crawl themed adventure
campaign-driven storytelling

Comparison games

Spirit Island

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

cooperative dungeon crawl — team-based exploration with scenario-based goals
Dungeon Crawl — team-based exploration with scenario-based goals

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Gen Con is only two weeks away and this is my first time going
it's just fun like learning new things and using more professional products

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video TJrnLVJrpc8 Watch It Played Analysis at 1:16:02 sentiment: other

video_pk 92098 · mention_pk 247317

Click to watch at 1:16:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

curious

Pros

Hearing good buzz from trusted sources.

Cons

Does not own a copy.
Concerns about finding space and time to play it.

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 not that I wouldn't play more stuff you know if something's really cool and interesting sure why not but my laptop on camera by the way the uh uh probably that blocks it a little bit it's a little bit but it's fine it's fine you guys don't mind
if if she ever ends up over this way on the East Coast love to have her on for sure
I just don't I would say right now I don't have anything like planned specifically
I've been a little self-conscious about the space that I shoot in and having guests
Oh yes because I feel like the the illusion would be shattered for them
well Landon um thanks for the question I I guess I started initially just because I I I enjoyed watching other people who created YouTube videos especially around board games and I wanted to do something like that but I wanted to do something different than what was being done already
and this is again as I've said famously before this was before tabletop so everyone thinks a tabletop right but this was before that even existed
I have not played I didn't know you had the copy but I oh no I did I remember seeing it but I have not either
I do have a publisher at one point want to come actually to they were going to fly down to the watching PL Studios to actually teach us a game so that we could feature it on the channel
I felt like that wasn't going to be good because yeah you could teach it to me but unless you're willing to fly to everyone who buys a copy of this game I'm having a I have a really weird unfair advantage
My Hope Is that with the videos it is yeah it's a compliment to the rule book so that you can watch this and go I wasn't getting it the rule book I see it now I get it
Pete good friend Pete good friend of the show as well I self serving question self-serving I'm sure that seon's curious though about that too
I I think on the strength of blood rage which was a real hit for them knowing this is coming from the same designer and seon is kind of pushing it and promoting it as a spiritual successor to blood rage I think it has the potential for sure
well I recently updated my inventory and I believe on B you can H to your collection right
you know what I mean like if kep takes on more of the editing stuff and and I can continue to do some of the shooting but also doing his own shooting as well
well you answer I've been talking a lot oh no I do answer but I'll let you go
normally I try to run a fairly serious game and I said you know what let's try to be a little more silly and not be quite as serious it ended up being very serious as the game went on anyway
This is where my favorite experience was okay so normally they were going through things one at a time they went through two different of the scenarios one at a time yeah and then they said okay what we need to do now is we need to scout ahead
so the two of them pop into this location one of them's literally blind the other one like suddenly lost half of their powers and they have no way to contact the rest of the party great Scouts
we did it over Skype and I had a marvelous time I had such a good time it was really fun it made me go oh this is role playing so great
I actually contracted somebody to create an art print of that game that we played together featuring us as our characters in like this sort of action set piece
well listen if you had any questions about anything you saw there feel free to put them in the comments below and I'll gladly answer them as soon as I get a chance
yeah we really are going to get very polished with these things as they go on I someday someday we can make jokes about you know how rough some things are
I find that with Cooperative games you you tend to get at least one or two players kind of as the game dies down just have less interest or or less invested in it
This is what they call I think roll and right games
if you're looking to start and you don't know exactly who all your players are going to be you're going to invite people over for the first time my biggest tip is to is to pick games that are going to be light friendly kind of games
The quickest thing to kill the group is to have everyone show up drop Scythe on the table or Twilight Imperium or Twilight Imperium or something like that and then everyone's like I think video games are much more peeling
I I do wake up feeling like I have a knife in my back almost every day even when we're not playing games
I have a very difficult time playing Dark playing Sinister because I I do kind of like I I I want to be the hero of the story
and so I try to I someone damel in distress I try to go save it someone needs the the rats cleared out their Cellar I'll go do it you know like I just it feels like that's who I want to be ultimately in the game and I suppose ultimately in life
I don't think it's an acceptable risk you know and so I I I don't play either good or evil
well listen guys uh thanks again for joining us for another live show this has been a lot of fun it's been crazy
I'd love to do a convention here at some point like a small convention
beaches um just the scenery is just lovely
so the box of Neapolitan ice cream had specifically like a column of of chocolate um vanilla and strawberry and Christ's like what do you want and you were like I I like give me the strawberry and I'm like I like the chocolate
well yeah yeah no that happened there's more to this exciting thrilling story yeah there was just time on the live show telling a story about scooping ice cream I'm so sorry everybody
you know I I I see for the foreseeable future anyway like I think as long as Luke's in school um then we'll definitely stay here
oh I I I see these games I get excited about them and then I go okay what do I have to work on this week
I was actually hoping you would say it

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video TJrnLVJrpc8 Watch It Played Analysis at 1:16:03 sentiment: other

video_pk 92098 · mention_pk 247299

Click to watch at 1:16:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

curious

Pros

Highly anticipated and has a strong positive buzz.

Cons

Host does not own a copy and has not played it.
The large box size presents a logistical challenge for scheduling.

Thematic elements

Dungeon crawling
Fantasy world
Campaign-based

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Campaign play — Features a persistent world and evolving storyline.
Card-based combat — Combat is resolved through playing cards from a player's hand.
Dungeon Crawl — Players explore dungeons and fight monsters.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's not that I wouldn't play more stuff you know if something's really cool and interesting sure why not but my laptop on camera by the way the uh uh probably that blocks it a little bit it's a little bit but it's fine it's fine you guys don't mind
if if she ever ends up over this way on the East Coast love to have her on for sure
I just don't I would say right now I don't have anything like planned specifically
I've been a little self-conscious about the space that I shoot in and having guests
Oh yes because I feel like the the illusion would be shattered for them
well Landon um thanks for the question I I guess I started initially just because I I I enjoyed watching other people who created YouTube videos especially around board games and I wanted to do something like that but I wanted to do something different than what was being done already
and this is again as I've said famously before this was before tabletop so everyone thinks a tabletop right but this was before that even existed
I have not played I didn't know you had the copy but I oh no I did I remember seeing it but I have not either
I do have a publisher at one point want to come actually to they were going to fly down to the watching PL Studios to actually teach us a game so that we could feature it on the channel
I felt like that wasn't going to be good because yeah you could teach it to me but unless you're willing to fly to everyone who buys a copy of this game I'm having a I have a really weird unfair advantage
My Hope Is that with the videos it is yeah it's a compliment to the rule book so that you can watch this and go I wasn't getting it the rule book I see it now I get it
Pete good friend Pete good friend of the show as well I self serving question self-serving I'm sure that seon's curious though about that too
I I think on the strength of blood rage which was a real hit for them knowing this is coming from the same designer and seon is kind of pushing it and promoting it as a spiritual successor to blood rage I think it has the potential for sure
well I recently updated my inventory and I believe on B you can H to your collection right
you know what I mean like if kep takes on more of the editing stuff and and I can continue to do some of the shooting but also doing his own shooting as well
well you answer I've been talking a lot oh no I do answer but I'll let you go
normally I try to run a fairly serious game and I said you know what let's try to be a little more silly and not be quite as serious it ended up being very serious as the game went on anyway
This is where my favorite experience was okay so normally they were going through things one at a time they went through two different of the scenarios one at a time yeah and then they said okay what we need to do now is we need to scout ahead
so the two of them pop into this location one of them's literally blind the other one like suddenly lost half of their powers and they have no way to contact the rest of the party great Scouts
we did it over Skype and I had a marvelous time I had such a good time it was really fun it made me go oh this is role playing so great
I actually contracted somebody to create an art print of that game that we played together featuring us as our characters in like this sort of action set piece
well listen if you had any questions about anything you saw there feel free to put them in the comments below and I'll gladly answer them as soon as I get a chance
yeah we really are going to get very polished with these things as they go on I someday someday we can make jokes about you know how rough some things are
I find that with Cooperative games you you tend to get at least one or two players kind of as the game dies down just have less interest or or less invested in it
This is what they call I think roll and right games
if you're looking to start and you don't know exactly who all your players are going to be you're going to invite people over for the first time my biggest tip is to is to pick games that are going to be light friendly kind of games
The quickest thing to kill the group is to have everyone show up drop Scythe on the table or Twilight Imperium or Twilight Imperium or something like that and then everyone's like I think video games are much more peeling
I I do wake up feeling like I have a knife in my back almost every day even when we're not playing games
I have a very difficult time playing Dark playing Sinister because I I do kind of like I I I want to be the hero of the story
and so I try to I someone damel in distress I try to go save it someone needs the the rats cleared out their Cellar I'll go do it you know like I just it feels like that's who I want to be ultimately in the game and I suppose ultimately in life
I don't think it's an acceptable risk you know and so I I I don't play either good or evil
well listen guys uh thanks again for joining us for another live show this has been a lot of fun it's been crazy
I'd love to do a convention here at some point like a small convention
beaches um just the scenery is just lovely
so the box of Neapolitan ice cream had specifically like a column of of chocolate um vanilla and strawberry and Christ's like what do you want and you were like I I like give me the strawberry and I'm like I like the chocolate
well yeah yeah no that happened there's more to this exciting thrilling story yeah there was just time on the live show telling a story about scooping ice cream I'm so sorry everybody
you know I I I see for the foreseeable future anyway like I think as long as Luke's in school um then we'll definitely stay here
oh I I I see these games I get excited about them and then I go okay what do I have to work on this week
I was actually hoping you would say it

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video j6ANvz9Teo8 Getting Games Discussion at 44:09 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91995 · mention_pk 246943

Click to watch at 44:09 · 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 read rules once and then I read the rules again to catch all the mistakes I made.
I breathe rules constantly like I probably get 5 to 10 emails a week of people asking me to cover their games on YouTube.
Corkle is a brilliant two-player game and it's really really good in the iOS adaptation.
I’m my own boss now … the success of this drive is going to help dictate how many conventions I go to.
I design a game called Mutation, a dice rolling and stacking game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video jvoYxwIT1as Getting Games Discussion at 7:31 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 91905 · mention_pk 246693

Click to watch at 7:31 · 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)

it's an ongoing ripple effect of me changing the channel up and not making reviews any more
I've been thinking about doing this for a while and I finally went about changing my audio setup in here
thanks for watching

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video JTOacwSh9Jc Getting Games Top 14 List at 49:38 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91647 · mention_pk 245956

Click to watch at 49:38 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Rich, long-form campaign with deep customization
Highly replayable with many scenarios and characters

Cons

Expensive and table-space intensive
Can be intimidating to new players

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Spirit Island

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Attack deck customization — Players customize a hand/attack deck instead of rolling dice in many situations.
Campaign-style dungeon crawl — Fully cooperative with asymmetric characters and an action-selection mechanic.
Large player count support — Supports up to six players; expansive box with many scenarios and unlockables.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I wanted to expand this out to 14
it's a really neat overall experience
this is a fantastic gateway game
I think it's a really neat overall experience

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video J9DEhYzRNvc Meeple University Discussion at 1:30

video_pk 91293 · mention_pk 244814

Click to watch at 1:30 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

we found at origins in particular was the value of a big box and some rope and packing tape so we acquired a lot of games there
the big checked in luggage is the best way to go
make sure you have a water bottle or easy access to water
to research what games are out and what games you want to get pre-order things download the apps that will come with all conventions these days
the most important tip is to make most of the con if you want to play games
origins is not as busy

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video KDTt3JC6DPQ Meeple University Discussion at 4:45 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91279 · mention_pk 244780

Click to watch at 4:45 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Strong cooperative play and team coordination
Strategic card management and role synergy

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Character roles (tank/healer/tech etc.) — Different roles complement each other for team success; synergy and positioning matter.
cooperative dungeon exploration — Players work together to tackle enemies and complete objectives.
Hand Management — Players manage a hand of cards and decide when to play powerful actions to maximize impact without exhausting their deck.
Hand management and big action cards — Players manage a hand of cards and decide when to play powerful actions to maximize impact without exhausting their deck.
Narrative Choice — Narrative events offer choices with varying outcomes.
Story choices with non-spoilery paths — Narrative events offer choices with varying outcomes.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this game is centered around cards so take a look at the cards try to get synergies
communication is key as well with the story choices
keep an eye on your food if you're trying to get enough food to be able to move around

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video J5yDCiUHyQU Getting Games Discussion at 27:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91303 · mention_pk 244867

Click to watch at 27:00 · 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)

board games make me so happy
I try to be happiness focused
I don't speed up my playthroughs

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video cKiaPxwghIQ Watch It Played Live Stream at 1:28:09 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 91272 · mention_pk 244756

Click to watch at 1:28:09 · 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)

Carcassonne is a very on the face of it can look like a very pleasant pleasing game and it is and can be super cutthroat.
the best way to do it is to start your question with the word QUESTION in all caps

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video WAQsPb8sx8g Getting Games Discussion at 7:12 sentiment: negative

video_pk 91203 · mention_pk 244505

Click to watch at 7:12 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Brass

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Railroad Evolution is super cool and I want to play that one more
there were many things I liked about the game and there were several things that I really didn't like about the game
I just think brass is a better game
the scoring for the way you put your stuff out seemed pretty illogical to me
I really enjoyed this game
it's like being a kid in a candy store

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 61b-145eCBs Shelfside Review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 91132 · mention_pk 244293

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Massive amount of content with careful balance across classes, items, and enemies.
Highly tactical combat with meaningful decisions.
Rich world-state progression and legacy narrative that spans many sessions.
Companion app can significantly reduce setup and bookkeeping downtime.
Strong value for money given the breadth of content and replayability.

Cons

Can feel like you get weaker as you lose cards during combat.
Very long setup/takedown time and heavy physical component management.
Rulebook and onboarding can be inaccessible; reliance on external references and potential lack of appendix/FAQ.
Double-sided tiles and large components create setup friction and higher storage demands.
Narrative flavor and dialog can feel one-dimensional; world-building not as robust as many video-game adaptations.
Desire for a digital adaptation or PC version to expand narrative depth and accessibility.

Thematic elements

Moral choices, consequences, and evolving world state driven by campaign progression.
The city of Gloomhaven, a grimdark fantasy city filled with corrupt politics and dark secrets.
Legacy-style campaign with branching scenarios, personal quests, and a retirement/records system that echoes across sessions.

Comparison games

Hero Quest
Descent
Dungeons & Dragons
Baldur's Gate

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

App Assisted — An official companion app (Gloomhaven Helper) automates bookkeeping during combat, reducing downtime.
Campaign/world-state progression — Prosperity, reputation, and world events influence rewards and what players can do as the campaign advances.
Combat: Deck/Hand — Monsters have their own stat sheets and ability decks that differ by level and are flipped in combat.
Companion app support — An official companion app (Gloomhaven Helper) automates bookkeeping during combat, reducing downtime.
Component complexity and organization — A vast array of cards, tokens, tiles, and monster sheets; double-sided tiles and large components require good storage solutions.
Content depth and balance across many enemies — Balancing for dozens of enemies with many levels and a large pool of class abilities creates deep strategic options.
Health vs. fatigue with card loss — Damage can be mitigated by losing a card; fatigue and losing cards reduce future options and require careful planning.
Initiative and top/bottom card priority — All actions are organized by initiative values; players simultaneously reveal cards and the leading card determines turn order.
Legacy Game — Personal quests and retirement of characters are logged in a town records book, unlocking new characters and shaping ongoing lore.
Legacy/retirement — Personal quests and retirement of characters are logged in a town records book, unlocking new characters and shaping ongoing lore.
Monster decks and stat sheets — Monsters have their own stat sheets and ability decks that differ by level and are flipped in combat.
Reclaim as Action — Used cards go to a discard pile; resting recovers discard cards but moves some to a lost pile, permanently reducing options for the scenario.
Rest and discard management — Used cards go to a discard pile; resting recovers discard cards but moves some to a lost pile, permanently reducing options for the scenario.
Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game — Each scenario includes an introduction, setup, guide, conclusion, and rewards, driving the narrative forward.
Scenario book structure — Each scenario includes an introduction, setup, guide, conclusion, and rewards, driving the narrative forward.
Two-action hand per turn — Each round, players pick a top action and a bottom action from their hand and perform both.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a massive game and so of course the hardcore board gamers who are buying this are obviously gonna do some research
the combat is very tactical
the setup and takedown is insane
I wish there were tweaks made to it because I kind of feel like I'm abusing AI
it's easily one of the best ones out there for dungeon crawlers
you are 100% getting good bang for your buck here
the gloomhaven helper automates all your bookkeeping during combat
I would have enjoyed the game much more if our squad just waited till its official release and we could all play together
there's a ton of story here

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video tqX7Y3ob69M Shelfside Analysis at 4:17 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 91059 · mention_pk 244021

Click to watch at 4:17 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Adds variety through dungeon/card randomness
Strong cooperative potential and strategic depth

Cons

Complex setup and long play sessions can be challenging
Random dungeon elements can disrupt planned strategies

Thematic elements

Array
Fantasy
Campaign-driven cooperative adventure

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Cooperative Game — Multiple players work together to overcome dungeon challenges and enemy encounters.
cooperative play — Multiple players work together to overcome dungeon challenges and enemy encounters.
Deck-based dungeon setup — The game uses a deck of dungeon/encounter cards to generate scenarios and flow of play.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

randomness is a tool to be used in design just like anything else you would put into a game it can make or break it
the better players shouldn't always win I'm not saying that
paralysis analysis
there's nothing quite as hype as when an enemy attacks you and they flat-out miss doing no damage
randomness can balance a multiplayer game basically lucky rolls and unlucky draws can limit the importance of pure skill and give newer players a chance

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 0UPokmEm5VI Meeple University Analysis at 10:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 91009 · mention_pk 243850

Click to watch at 10:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action pool management — Uses a mechanic similar to Concordia, which involves building up an action pool.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

For me it's quite important let's say you find out about the game or somebody suggests it to you a game you know that you know just like in this game have you heard this my automatic response would be to go to war game get calm page and then look at it and in my eyes guys from the title do the I remember it's on the on the desktop anyway I think on on the mobile phone or mobile the fastest different the title and obviously the picture make sure it's the right game and then my eyes go to the right down for mechanics first thing every time before going through the description
Mechanics for me it's the quickest one of the quickest way to find out what's the game's about
The mechanics are less important than the the tightness of the game
A giant tableau eventually breaks my brain
I think the perfect engine builder is is the one where you're basically winning or losing not on the quality of your engine but when
Mechanics for me it's the quickest one of the quickest way to find out what's the game's about.
I think overall for me the mechanics are less important than the the tightness of the game.
You want the actions that other players are taking to have a significant impact on your options or the profitability in your options.
Simultaneous action and turn order drafting.
Colome is another one I can see up there on the shelf with simultaneous oh yes he's got that same happy pigs thing yeah where you don't want to pick the most popular action and you've got a look at what around what people can do because again you can you can get yourself stuck in a situation where there's only one obvious thing for you to do and if that happens it's that's it I don't want to lose that for nobody so you gotta feed that into your strategy.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video d1Gr31kUzZY Getting Games Discussion at 3:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90825 · mention_pk 243101

Click to watch at 3:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

host notes it as a very popular playthrough with high view counts

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 one of the more interesting games that i've played recently
I really liked Terra Mara and wanted to play it again
Gloomhaven playthrough has reached the stratosphere as far as views are concerned
The Crew is excellent
I love dice in games but I dislike it when you have dice in games and there are just strictly good results and strictly bad results

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video yw-q35g05wY Meeple University Analysis at 11:34

video_pk 90837 · mention_pk 243151

Click to watch at 11:34 · 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)

the apps in general they've played through the games pretty well especially when you're familiar with the game
it makes it portable
they don't all translate perfectly well
the i think what works very well with this sort of thing is that it does let you play a game quickly
the thing that doesn't translate well and that's cards particularly cards with text
that's where the app versions of games do flourish is that they introduce things that make the game easier to play
the challenge of changing from digital then from board game to digital game is like the space where is the focus where your eyes are seeing like the cards there's no way you can include all the cards all at once
it would tell you when there is no longer a tile that existed that would go somewhere
no one plays carcass on like that
board game arena although this is it's kind of like a digital one
the absence of taxi backsies
most of them are expected that you play the board game the physical game before playing that digital version of the game

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video DIqBobqFVSY Watch It Played News at 6:50 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90802 · mention_pk 243034

Click to watch at 6:50 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

New series of fantasy novels set in the Gloomhaven world
One-shot comic book also coming
Expanded lore and flavor for the Gloomhaven world

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Fantasy novels and comics set in the world of Gloomhaven
World of Gloomhaven

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Descent: Legends of the Dark has been revealed to be an app-driven descent game with a bucket full of miniatures and 175 dollar price tag.
The year is 1926. an astronomy professor has been killed and you're in her mansion trying to solve the mystery
Concordia despite its box art is a firm top 20 game on board game geek there's just something about it it's got sticking power like a like sellotape or a small dog with separation anxiety
The foul-minded black-throated blue warbler for instance The mouth on it
i'm both very very excited and happy about it but i'm also livid it's coming next year
Gloomhaven is one of the most impressive new game worlds of recent times
The new beta is available now for you to go check out and you'll find it in a link in the announcement section of the board game geeks homepage
well you're placing it there because it's going to open up the shelves literary chakras or something right
and for another first we turn now to rodney smith for the first in a new segment the book loving board gamers book nook

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 27K23b4hkNM Watch It Played Discussion at 5:45

video_pk 90642 · mention_pk 242364

Click to watch at 5:45 · YouTube ↗

Pros

Has a lot of story and text for lore fans
Beautiful artwork

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 not my intention to do multiple multiple multiples of these today to catch up even though that's what it feels like right now
live streaming so much fun
if you're into the lore of gloomhaven then there's gonna be quite a bit to dive into here and unpack and the artwork is really really nice
marvel or dc i'm a marvel guy but i grew up reading a lot of superman
dc tends to be gods among men kind of storytelling where you have these all-powerful creatures or beings or whatever and then marvel superheroes i often think of as down on your luck kind of humans who ended up with these powers that end up being kind of a curse along with a blessing
it's not surprising that board games did the same thing
oh that's what every woman feels like when they read a book oh i hadn't really thought of it that way because of course i didn't because of course this language was always catering to me traditionally
society does not typically change without some kind of effort
when the original blue haven came out i was like isaac childress what in the heck are you doing this is it this is doomed to fail in my mind because to me it looked like way too much game for anybody
you can't you you have to miss out there's no option but to miss out because no matter what you're playing there's like 100 other great games you could be playing

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video detNB5fqxTs Getting Games Top 10 List at 21:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90706 · mention_pk 242610

Click to watch at 21:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Terraforming Mars
Jaws of the Lion

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

i was blown away by how much i loved that game
i was blown away by the innovation that was in this game
i was blown away at how much fun i had actually playing this one
this game is so tense and so tight with such an elegant simple rule set
i don't think i actually enjoyed that play
i absolutely loved the experience
i was completely blown away by this game
i hated this game what a surprise
it's a top 10 game
so unfortunately my biggest surprise game overall is on the negative

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 27K23b4hkNM Watch It Played Discussion at 1:02:41 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90642 · mention_pk 242382

Click to watch at 1:02:41 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

highly positive

Pros

Incredible accomplishment by the designer
Many people fell in love with the game
Demonstrates that initial judgments can be wrong

Cons

Initially perceived as too complex and doomed to fail

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's not my intention to do multiple multiple multiples of these today to catch up even though that's what it feels like right now
live streaming so much fun
if you're into the lore of gloomhaven then there's gonna be quite a bit to dive into here and unpack and the artwork is really really nice
marvel or dc i'm a marvel guy but i grew up reading a lot of superman
dc tends to be gods among men kind of storytelling where you have these all-powerful creatures or beings or whatever and then marvel superheroes i often think of as down on your luck kind of humans who ended up with these powers that end up being kind of a curse along with a blessing
it's not surprising that board games did the same thing
oh that's what every woman feels like when they read a book oh i hadn't really thought of it that way because of course i didn't because of course this language was always catering to me traditionally
society does not typically change without some kind of effort
when the original blue haven came out i was like isaac childress what in the heck are you doing this is it this is doomed to fail in my mind because to me it looked like way too much game for anybody
you can't you you have to miss out there's no option but to miss out because no matter what you're playing there's like 100 other great games you could be playing

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video zy_r6jm1M0U Drive Thru Games Analysis at 3:04

video_pk 90372 · mention_pk 241417

Click to watch at 3:04 · 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)

the biggest tool out there is boardgamegeek.com
this does favor kind of the heavy strategic games just the general sort of user base of this website
people that like azul also like these other games so this gives you a nice jumping off point there
rodney smith he does probably the best how to play videos in the whole industry
the bigger the community the worse it is it seems like
i find that these targeted groups are very good
the weight rating is kind of in the middle range whereas if we go back here we can take a look on the side here and we'll go to azul remember it was a 2.4 for wingspan this one is a 1.76 so the order of magnitude in the weight is very very important here
two players is not really that good i mean it works and it plays fine but compared to playing with three four maybe even five players it's going to be a kind of a different experience
the main thing is having a good welcoming fun group that you can get along with and become friends with over the course of this hobby

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 3ckQB2RsM7o Getting Games Interview at 16:46 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90334 · mention_pk 241223

Click to watch at 16:46 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

engaging and expansive

Cons

none

Thematic elements

cooperative dungeon exploration
fantasy dungeon crawl

Comparison games

Descent

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

deck-building with modifier deck — combat uses a modifier deck to mitigate randomness

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I've owned this table since 2006. I picked this up for 60 at a used furniture store.
I call it the tank.
I will honestly be emotional today I don't have this table anymore.
Trans-Siberian Railroad is currently my favorite by a squeaker.
Imperial Steam is supposedly a heavy logistics type train game.
I would love to play oath.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video neXcI7cuenE Getting Games Discussion at 27:00 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 90276 · mention_pk 241017

Click to watch at 27:00 · 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)

Concordia Venus is technically an expansion to Concordia, although you can buy it as a standalone thing, but it’s almost more of a sibling game to Concordia because it brings in team play
Captain Sonar, what a great six player game. It’s a simultaneous team versus team sonar hunting and seeking out game
Dual Gauge is a dipping your toes into 18xx
On Mars is easily my favorite Lacerda game
i liked Escape Plan quite a bit

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video plsm0rgdNDI Shelfside Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 90129 · mention_pk 240435

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

deep cooperative combat with strong thematic immersion
high replayability through modular scenarios and class variety
persistent character progression and itemization

Cons

complex rules and frequent rule interactions can be confusing
scenarios can be punishing or opaque without careful rule-checking
learning curve is steep for new players

Thematic elements

cooperative exploration, tactical combat with campaign progression
fantasy dungeon crawl, fantasy city/dungeons with evolving scenarios
scenario-based, episodic storytelling with persistent character/gear progression

Comparison games

Bloodborne

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Campaign — character leveling, loot, and long-term upgrades shape the campaign over time
campaign progression and item decks — character leveling, loot, and long-term upgrades shape the campaign over time
enemy AI deck and behavior — monsters use a deck-driven set of actions and patterns, adding unpredictability
Hand Management — players select two actions from a hand card each turn; timing and combo potential matter, with cards providing top and bottom actions
Initiative and action economy — turn order and initiative influence what actions are available each round
Modular Board — scenarios are built from variable tiles to create maps each session
tile-based modular board — scenarios are built from variable tiles to create maps each session

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

objectives can only be targeted by melee attacks
these traps explode
you must stand between the enemy and the wards to make sure the city remains safe this is where they die
wait we should use our own loss cards
spawn monsters drop loot in jaws
oh no we have to run from the bloodborne berserk monster

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video qJt2BW1cTO4 Allies or Enemies Top 10 List at 5:40 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90099 · mention_pk 240257

Click to watch at 5:40 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Deep, immersive, highly replayable
Strong sense of progression

Cons

Long play sessions
Rule complexity

Thematic elements

Cooperative dungeon exploration with legacy progression
Fantasy dungeon-crawling with evolving story

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Cooperative Game — Players work together against AI enemies.
cooperative play — Players work together against AI enemies.
Deck Building — Use a unique ability deck to perform actions.
deck-building / hand management — Use a unique ability deck to perform actions.
legacy campaign — Campaign evolves with permanent changes across sessions.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

we have come to the end of our top 100 favorite board games countdown
our top 10 favorite games are going to be more likely to be ones that we both really enjoy
it's a sandbox and it has asymmetry and different fantasy races
the expansion adds one of our favorite elements which is asymmetrical player powers
it's cooperative and so it's super nice to have a relatively light cooperative game

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video x9PtmaCOMQo kovray Discussion at 11:38 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90061 · mention_pk 240150

Click to watch at 11:38 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Long-running campaign and supportive, engaged community
Creative adaptation during the pandemic with webcam play

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 just like a culmination of different memories
we started out in this space and we were testing keystone when it didn't have any of the art
the rules were quite difficult and the rules were a little different
we played brew with brown beard gaming
we got to teach them how to play brew
we had a gloomhaven campaign they've been running for a couple years now
pandemic happened and we got really creative
it's been an intense year and with everything going on

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 1kBm3P4eN8M kovray Discussion at 6:18 sentiment: positive

video_pk 90045 · mention_pk 240084

Click to watch at 6:18 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

It is the ritual that makes the game great.
Setting up for Gloomhaven is fun and is part of the ritual.
Sharing responsibility in managing game aspects creates a communal aspect.

Cons

It's a little bit cumbersome sometimes flipping various aspects and keeping track of everything.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Frosthaven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card-driven combat — Players use a card-marked system to battle monsters.
scenario-based gameplay — The game involves various scenarios.
setup — The process of setting up Gloomhaven is described as a fun little ritual.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hello everybody my name is ilya and my name is tyler together we make up cavray a couple that loves to play board games and make traditions
now thank you so much for celebrating our one year content anniversary
we're ending it off with a frost haven pledge which was sponsored by cephala fair game so thank you so so so much
we pick a color and we stick with the color
when we get any new game it is customary to open the box and within a millisecond of the box being opened tyler will smell it
what's board games without snacks
saving all low scores because you get to see the high scores of the games in the past and compare all of it
the gloomhaven itself isn't the tradition it is the ritual
I love the full analog off the tactile experience
Gloomhaven has become one of our traditions where it's almost like a board game night but exclusively
Gloomhaven has been that game that has really cemented our game group
it's probably one of my top games out there
Frosthaven is a successor of the gloomhaven game which is currently number one on working geek
it is designed by isaac childress and published by several affair games who helped sponsor this giveaway so thank you so much for that

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video sAhRE8Eku5w kovray Discussion at 27:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89980 · mention_pk 239893

Click to watch at 27:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Deep, campaign-driven experience with meaningful progression
High replayability due to scenarios and class variety
Strategic combat and cooperative play

Cons

Heavy rule set and long play times

Thematic elements

Heroic adventurers exploring modular scenarios with evolving story
Fantasy dungeon-crawl in a persistent campaign world
Campaign-driven, episodic narrative with branching outcomes

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card-driven action selection — Players choose actions by playing cards from a hand, shaping turn order and effects.
Character progression — Campaign progression provides evolving abilities and items.
Cooperative Game — Players work together to complete scenarios and defeat enemies.
cooperative play — Players work together to complete scenarios and defeat enemies.
Modular Board — Scenarios use a grid-based map built from modular tiles for exploration.
tile-based modular board — Scenarios use a grid-based map built from modular tiles for exploration.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

i belong here
abso freaking lutely we would
cephalofare announced that they're doing miniatures for all of their games which is the coolest we love gloomhaven

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video w2Qxas_xwc8 3 Minute Board Games Other at 4:48 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89931 · mention_pk 239621

Click to watch at 4:48 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really good app implementation
Having a rolicking good time with it
Implementation of the game is on point
Includes a fun sandbox mode
Near perfect job implementing the board game as an app
Board game at perfection

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Campaign-based

Comparison games

Concordia

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Campaign — Most of the way through the campaign.
Sandbox mode — There's an additional mode where you don't play the campaign that's in the box, you play a big sandbox mode.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

All award shows including this one are just opinion pieces
Board games are constantly evolving it's one of the things I love about the hobby is game Games come out that do something different games come out that take an approach on something that's just a little unusual a little weird and you go huh why didn't someone think of this earlier
it's living proof that games that are pretty and come with a cosmetic sort of element don't have to be rubbish
They've taken a great board game one of the best board games out there and they have done a near perfect job of implementing it as an app and for me that is board game at Perfection
it took a genre I really really didn't care for and made me relook it and go okay maybe there's something here maybe there's something worth me looking at more games in this genre
just because a game's IP has been locked away because of lawyers and all that kind of carryon the mechanics can still be rebranded reorganized and repackaged into a way that can resonate that can work and that can still entertain

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video CBdC7nOvBz8 Shelfside Discussion at 2:16 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89891 · mention_pk 239452

Click to watch at 2:16 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

deep tactical depth
high replayability and variety

Cons

very heavy rules
long setup and play sessions

Thematic elements

cooperative exploration with evolving scenarios
fantasy dungeon crawl, persistent campaign
campaign-driven, evolving map and character progression

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

campaign_progression — persistent character advancement
card_driven_actions — use ability cards for actions
Cooperative Game — players cooperate to complete goals
cooperative_play — players cooperate to complete goals
tile_based_exploration — map exploration with tiles
Tile/Map Shifting — map exploration with tiles
Track Advancement — persistent character advancement

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

here come the upvotes
check out how cool my deck is
did you know that this used to be called settlers of catan
did you know that your game was originally designed by kevin wilson
you can't ever beat my high score
i managed to play ti4 over the weekend and by some stroke of luck i won
i just toned every single box of battlestar galactica wait what happened to them no i sold them for a profit

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video rnjPIM66L0o Shelfside Analysis at 13:11 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89852 · mention_pk 239324

Click to watch at 13:11 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Interesting alternative to dice randomness via modifier deck
Well-integrated with game systems

Cons

Hates shuffling; deck fiddliness can be a drawback

Thematic elements

Deck management vs dice randomness
Fantasy dungeon-crawler with campaign
Campaign-driven with evolving decks

Comparison games

Ashes Reborn
War of the Ring
Twilight Imperium 4

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Attack modifier deck — Resolve attacks with a modifier deck instead of dice
Combat: Deck/Hand — Resolve attacks with a modifier deck instead of dice
Deck-building and shuffle mechanics — Decks are shuffled and modified over time, altering outcomes

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

randomness is a very good tool for building tension
let's say i roll this mana and then you can change that mana by paying stuff
the attack modifier deck is swingier than dice
you could change the die faces but at a cost
this game doesn't have dice how does that work
snake eyes

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video It_mW7aST24 All You Can Board Collection Roast at 6:41

video_pk 89707 · mention_pk 238690

Click to watch at 6:41 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

fantasy

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 one of those things where you spin it around it's sand and all the sand comes down like this isn't here
top shelf billing goes to the anniversary edition of cartoons beautiful like such yeah for those who don't know i love carcassonne
this has been fed to me on ads on my like it's like facebook instagram everything i'm getting ads fed for it to me for this thing constantly

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Pql3gf-Qrpg Getting Games Discussion at 18:12

video_pk 89713 · mention_pk 238704

Click to watch at 18:12 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

i understand a lot of people really enjoy solo games but um generally they're they're not really for me
it's essentially a fun thing that we like to do and we have to make sure that it doesn't turn into work
thousands of games come out every year and i feel like every couple of months i bump into something that i'm just like whoa that's totally new
i personally think patchwork is engine building because you're just kind of building up an income engine
sprinkles on the icing on the cake

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 22JcjK3XvqQ Drive Thru Games Top List at 17:50 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89350 · mention_pk 237127

Click to watch at 17:50 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Number one game on Board Game Geek.
Spawned successful follow-ups (Jaws of the Lion, Frost Haven).
Everyone has talked about it.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Epic Quest

Comparison games

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Frost Haven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Driven — It's a card driven game.
Dungeon Crawl — A dungeon crawl experience.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This week might be the weakest week.
I don't know anything about this game.
I apologize it's just like I don't know what that game is.
This is a really fun game and you really don't see too many people talk about this one.
I don't care for Time Stories.
Get it out of here I'm done I don't have time for it I have better things to do.
I think this one will go away because the Star Wars license can be a Fickle thing.
I just don't understand the game that's that's my problem absolutely my problem is this kind of game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 0NwYb79CE5U Getting Games Discussion at 29:18

video_pk 89373 · mention_pk 237271

Click to watch at 29:18 · 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)

No quotes stored for this video.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video IRkX4buDe_4 kovray Discussion at 14:39 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89268 · mention_pk 236856

Click to watch at 14:39 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

so much fun

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Frosthaven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

We were nominated by boxed meeples Libby and Julian and congratulations on your recent engagements that's very very exciting
Biggest pet peeve in board games
biggest peeve someone stopping halfway through turn and yeah other explanation is exactly what it's nice
when there's a lot of strategy happening and then somebody decides to take them away right and write the whole story and just be like oh today I went to the mall and you will not believe and it's like the crucial turn where the game will be determined and there just has to be a story and I don't like that
when there's a important ruler element missed I don't think you're very harsh you're more harsh on yourself than anybody else
least favorite theme
least favorite mechanic
favorite mechanic
least favorite game
favorite game
let us know in the comments who won
thank you again to Julian and Libby from box meeples for nominating us for this make sure to check them out we'll link their Channel down below
hit that like button hit that subscribe button and even press that Bell notification because we make weekly video content about board games and couples

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video kEkB4P2xXIY Shelfside Top 100 List at 58:20 sentiment: positive

video_pk 89113 · mention_pk 236243

Click to watch at 58:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Array
Fantasy/Adventure

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Here's the best way to teach games if you ask me.
the format of rulebooks has me convinced that like dude your game should just always have here's like the how to play.
this game is a euro... it's all about tech trees that's that's all I've heard of.
it's the best like World traversing pandemic scale level of like Eldritch Abomination fighting.
the most interaction... that's what Dominion is all about.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Gloomhaven

A Quick Table Update

How to Organize Gloomhaven

Mice And Mystics - Game Play 3

It’s time for more Shelfy unboxings! Got so many good ones in this video! 👏🏻🔥

Gloomhaven

A Quick Table Update

How to Organize Gloomhaven

Mice And Mystics - Game Play 3

It’s time for more Shelfy unboxings! Got so many good ones in this video! 👏🏻🔥

Welcome Friend

Create a New Guild