What are the best video reviews of Hadara?

MindForge has curated 24 video reviews of Hadara from top board game content creators.

What type of game is Hadara?

Hadara features mechanics including card drafting, Combat: Dice, Resource management.

Hadara - Board Game

Video 7OvI7E5YTTI Top List at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 68076 · mention_pk 164403

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

excellent little engine building, little tableau building card game
nice escalation due to decreasing card costs
rewards commitment to a strategy
satisfying turns with boosted tracks
enough strategy to keep you hooked long term
tactical enough to keep you hooked turn after turn
balanced cards with no obviously better strategies
highly tuned and finely polished game
versatile for Euro and gateway gamers
gameplay is strong enough to be highly enjoyable
fun factor is high

Cons

theme might be a little bit dry, vague, and generic

Thematic elements

colonizing islands and building statues

Comparison games

St. Petersburg

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card drafting — as you are drafting these different colored suits of cards in order to build up an engine which will do lots of different things.
Discount — they get cheaper for each one you've taken. So, you know, for example, if this card cost five coins to buy, I already had three of them, then I'd get a two. Then I'd only have to pay two because I get a three card discount on them.
engine building — this is an excellent little engine building, little tableau building card game.
set collection — at the end of each round, you can invest in these medals, which will score you a really strong amount of points for each gen each set that you've collected.
tableau building — this is an excellent little engine building, little tableau building card game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Hadara. So, this is a game that's been on my kind of periphery vision for quite some time.
And it's one of those games that you can't really do everything.
It just seems to be like a a very highly tuned and finely polished game um that I think works a treat.
Euro gamers are going to love this one. Gateway gamers are going to love this one.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video hf8ao-bDlF4 Rules Teach at 0:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 68086 · mention_pk 164413

Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Exciting and well-considered designs
Unique double rondelle mechanic
High potential for scoring and growth
Satisfying tile-laying and end-game crunch
Lots of strategic options and opportunities for pivoting
Player interaction through blocking and resource payments

Cons

Can be overwhelming with too many options in a two-player game
The board can feel too open and less challenging in a two-player game compared to higher player counts

Thematic elements

Building a society and civilization
Mesopotamia, 1500 BCE

Comparison games

Fanies
Dungeon Petz

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

area majority — End-game scoring involves bonuses for having the most of certain building types (cities, temples) or achieving specific goals (longest river).
Knowledge as a Score Multiplier — Knowledge acts as a limiter on how many points a player can score, emphasizing the importance of increasing knowledge throughout the game.
Resource management — Players manage resources like Lapis and Papyrus, which are crucial for building structures, increasing knowledge, and taking certain actions.
Rondelle — Features a double rondelle system where players move pieces around circular tracks to select actions, with two separate rondelles for different piece types (wanderers and ships).
set collection — Collecting specific types of tiles or achieving certain configurations (e.g., longest river, most temples) contributes to scoring.
tile laying — Players expand their territory by drawing and placing hexagonal tiles adjacent to their priest.
worker placement — While a rondelle, it incorporates elements of worker placement where players can block spaces and potentially pay opponents to move into their spots.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

At first glance, seem really just kind of, oh, these are sort of norm. I've seen other games before, but oh my gosh, look how they function so differently here than what I expect.
The game has a huge growth curve as it goes on.
Everything is a trade-off. Everything is a compromise.
For me, I think it's a little much... I wish there was an alternate mode where it just said, 'Hey, you know what? Dungeon pet style set up as part of setup...'
I personally think um the game just becoming a little bit harder to do what you want to do is going to make it a more satisfying experience when you pull off something really big.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video lDPQdL_1O9o Unboxing at 2:18 sentiment: positive

video_pk 67931 · mention_pk 164208

Click to watch at 2:18 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Phenomenal dungeon crawler
Fantastic miniatures
Great art
Immersive story
Second to none character creation and building
Great solo play option
Fun bounty packs
Expanding game

Cons

none

Thematic elements

JRPG game type feel

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Bounty hunting — This is the pit boss bounty expansion. This is going to be very similar to the last one we saw. It's going to have some extra large cards that we'll have to experience as we play through the game.
Campaign play — insert this into your campaign as you're playing.
Character creation — the character creation and the character building in this game is second to none.
Crawl mode — This is going to be just a character I believe you can use in some of the crawl mode type experiences which are basically one-offs but also can be combined to make a very short campaign.
Deck building — There's so many different people out there that have thought of so many awesome things.
miniatures — This is all now completely a miniatures game with this thing.
Solo Play — This is a solo game that you can play for Madara.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It is my favorite dungeon crawler that is out there right now.
The art is awesome. The story is fantastic. It's really immersive and really keeps you interested in the characters that are in this game.
the character creation and the character building in this game is second to none.
If you're interested in anything from Madara, please go to their website, check out their web store, and put in the code meet me for a 10% discount on anything on the web store.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video O84_1W7hqig Discussion at 4:49 sentiment: neutral

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Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Token upgrade pack provides miniatures.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

miniatures — Includes miniatures as a token upgrade pack.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

And so this is the video where I start the process of taking a look at them, seeing what has come in, talking about the campaigns that I cannot wait to play and realistically acknowledging that now that I have a child that goes to sleep at a fairly regularly scheduled time and wakes up rarely in the middle of the night.
So, pour a drink with me and uh let's go ahead and start going through all of the games that I need to not only unbox, sort, learn, but sit down and start to play.
Not a shelf of shame. No, not that. But a lustful, girthful pile of board games that are ready for you to just sweep them up in your arms and make dear and desperate late night romance.
I've been receiving stuff that I've already got on back order and I've been uh playing through a lot of stuff that I already had.
The most accessible big game campaign game narrative adventure setup I've ever experienced.
And the other thing for me is it has these really interesting branching narrative pathways.
How do you all go about opening up and organizing your games?
Listen, any of these games, I need I need people to come play them with me and make sure I don't get all the rules wrong.
The point of this video is just to talk about these giant flipping big box games that I have that I need to open up and all of the lovely games that I need to sit down and play.
Y'all said having a kid was going to like throw a wrench. Yeah, I didn't believe you.
I need you to let me know what games you have sitting on your desirable floor of unloved, begotten relics of a different age or future past.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video _xkrHh3uZ8w Top List at 6:26 sentiment: positive

video_pk 66736 · mention_pk 162539

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Great at a higher player count because it moves quickly.
Simple enough where you can teach it quick and just kind of breeze through it.
Nice art, very colorful.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Civilization development
Civilization

Comparison games

Civ 7
Civ 6

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card drafting — when you're drawing cards, you're drawing two cards. You can keep one and then you're going to discard one down to the pile.
Resource management — The yellow track is a money track, that gives you more money so you can buy more cards.
tableau building — And then you basically put it in your ever-growing tableau.
Track advancement — you are basically trying to bump up these tracks in all these different parts of civilization. You have like a military track, you have like a culture track, a food track, a money track, those different kinds of things.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's like Any euro game is like, 'Here's a fifth-player expansion.' I'm like, Incorrect. No, thank you.
The reason I love this game in general is that every turn everyone is gaining information because Nick might be asking Molly over here a question, but we all write down who asked who what and what letter and how many matches that made.
So, it just makes for this kind of like maximum mind puzzle that will just I have games where I feel like I'm smart and other games where I feel like I could not be further from understanding anything about the world.
Ready Set Bet is so much fun. And this game particularly is great at five cuz you can have one person be kind of the announcer and then everyone else um bidding and betting and stuff like that.
It's just this fun silly thing.
I love ready set bet. It's got to be number one.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video DMdMn7DX-oE Meeple University Review at 1:01 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Quick playtime (approx. 45 minutes)
Simple to learn and play
Satisfying strategic depth with multiple viable strategies
Colorful and appealing components
Modular board offers variability
Good replayability

Cons

none

Thematic elements

civilization building

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

area control / influence — Players can acquire 'colonies' which can be 'plundered' for gold or 'integrated' to provide benefits, and 'statues' that boost tracks and provide victory points.
card drafting — Players simultaneously draw two cards from a stack indicated by their player symbol, then choose one to keep or sell, and the other to discard. Later in the turn, players can draft from a face-up discard pile with discounts for owning similar cards.
Resource management — Players manage gold to purchase cards and actions, and food to feed their civilization. Military strength and culture are also tracked.
set collection — Gold medals award victory points for sets of cards in each color, encouraging players to collect different types of cards.
Track advancement — Players advance on four tracks (income, military, arts/culture, food) which influence available actions and scoring.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hi telling you from University I have a special guest he with me Beth from demon games how are you today I'm good we hate origins thank you so much for joining me yeah and displaying your lovely colorful game of Hodari

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video rbCaUpZcS7w watch it played Rules Teach at 0:12 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 64739 · mention_pk 158236

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Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

developing infrastructure and culture by attracting people and managing resources
civilization-building game centered on growing a settlement into an advanced civilization
epoch-based progression with phases and recurring events

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

buy or sell kept cards — the kept card can be bought by paying its cost and placing it under the matching color; alternatively it can be sold for coins
carve a statue — players may carve a statue if they fulfill the requirements; placing bonus tiles can modify tracks or award points
cost reduction by color set — the cost of a new card is reduced by the number of cards you already own of that color (minimum zero)
draw and select cards — each player draws two cards from the deck corresponding to their icon, then selects one to keep and discards the other
feeding phase — end of phase B, players count cards beneath their board and compare to their food; if short, discard cards and adjust tracks accordingly
final scoring via medals and sets — end-game scoring uses silver/gold medals and color sets to compute points, with additional scoring from statue placements
phase A and phase B — epochs are split into two phases with card drawing, buying, selling, and track adjustments in each phase
plunder vs integrate — colonies can be plundered for green coins or paid red to flip and gain related track bonuses
take a colony — players may take a single colony tile they meet the military requirements for; placeholders cannot be taken from stacks previously used
tile placement — players may carve a statue if they fulfill the requirements; placing bonus tiles can modify tracks or award points
Variable Phase Order — epochs are split into two phases with card drawing, buying, selling, and track adjustments in each phase
wheel setup and rotation — the first player sets the wheel in the center and it is rotated to determine the next actions
worker placement — players may take a single colony tile they meet the military requirements for; placeholders cannot be taken from stacks previously used

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

two to five player game Hodari designed by Benjamin Scheuer and published by Z Man games
end of three epochs they will have the most advanced civilization

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ufGLqJTKusI Allies or Enemies Review at 0:06 sentiment: positive

video_pk 61192 · mention_pk 153868

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

High replayability due to deck variation, board changes, and randomized colony bonuses, which consistently produce distinct experiences across games
Colorful, vibrant component design; icons are clear and readable even on smaller euro-sized cards; insert and storage are well considered
Strong physical design, including well-thought-out player boards with dedicated slots for bonuses, which helps with tactile satisfaction and ease of scoring
Accessible for players who enjoy Azul, Splendor, and lighter euros; offers a good bridge for players who are curious about civ themes without the heavier commitments
Solid replay hooks from starting cards and long-tail asymmetries that push players toward different strategic aims over multiple plays

Cons

Theme feels tentative at times; the civ veneer is more thematic flavor than a deep civ simulation, which can disappoint players seeking a richer civ experience
May be too light for hardcore gamers or non-gamers who want a fully spread-out civ-game feeling; balance sits in a gray zone between entry-level and light strategy
Some players may find the purple bonuses and color-based discounts a little opaque at first glance, requiring a learning phase to fully grok how best to sequence colors
Public information in the drafting phase can dampen the element of surprise and slightly reduce strategic tension, since everyone sees the same potential options and can plan to obstruct or preempt others
Thematically, the red/blue tracks and purple bonuses can feel underexplored or under-explained in the rule set, leading to momentary confusion during first plays

Thematic elements

Civilization and empire-building are the flavor, but the game emphasizes approachable gameplay over simulating a full civ experience; it leans toward theme as a wrapper for accessible mechanics rather than a deeply thematic simulation.
Civilization-themed city-building and empire management framework presented through a compact, card-driven euro-game structure.
Theme-forward with a subtle strategic undercurrent; the game communicates a hopeful, polished aesthetic through bright visuals, accessible icons, and a tightly designed flow that encourages planning and adaptation.

Comparison games

Splendor
Through the Ages
Azul

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Affordable early power with escalating costs — Early rounds are designed to be approachable and help players build a workable core, while later rounds introduce more expensive, powerful options that require careful resource management and timing. This creates a gentle ramp that rewards planning without overwhelming new players.
card drafting — Players simultaneously draw or select from a subset of available cards each round, then add the chosen card to their tableau or sell it for coins. The drafting is public and tends to create shared information about what others are pursuing, contributing to a dynamic, slightly interactive environment.
Discount chaining — The cost of future cards of a given color is reduced based on how many cards of that color you have already acquired. This mechanic encourages color-coding and planning how to accelerate certain colors to gain cheaper access to high-value cards later in the round or in subsequent rounds.
engine building — Early rounds are designed to be approachable and help players build a workable core, while later rounds introduce more expensive, powerful options that require careful resource management and timing. This creates a gentle ramp that rewards planning without overwhelming new players.
Set collection / track advancement — Cards contribute to multiple tracks—economy, military, culture, and food—represented on the board. Collected cards advance these tracks, and colored cards open up bonus opportunities and synergies; purple cards provide various bonuses that can influence strategy in more nuanced ways.
Simultaneous drafting rounds — Most of the action happens in rounds where all players perform their choices at roughly the same time, creating a fast pace and a need to anticipate opponents’ likely moves. This structure keeps everyone engaged and reduces downtime, but also increases the potential for misreads and clever play to undercut others.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Hadara is a light civilization themed game
it's fairly quick and light
the colors are all pop off the table
the insert is terrific
it's a great next step for anyone who loves games like Azul or Splendor
this could be the hidden gem you were looking for
Hadara has a surprising amount of replayability
not multiplayer solitaire at least not in the face up drafting round
Hadara is a great game as long as you know what you are getting

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Rlzz-z__sHQ Allies or Enemies Review at 0:10 sentiment: positive

video_pk 61037 · mention_pk 153445

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Streamlined for a large, thematic game without Twilight Imperium-level complexity
Fast combat despite large scale due to limited dice per unit, and two-phase combat balance
Strong faction variety with thematic artwork and distinct upgrade paths
Two-player works surprisingly well and is less taxing than expected for a big dice chucker
High-quality components and well-thought storage trays that aid setup/teardown

Cons

Very large box and space requirements; storage can be difficult in small spaces
Exploration introduces randomness, which can feel luck-based and hard to plan around
Dice-heavy mechanics may frustrate players seeking tighter control or fewer RNG elements
Does not reach the complexity level of games like Twilight Imperium or Eclipse

Thematic elements

Array
Steampunk world blending magic and technology
Strategic, descriptive discussion of factions and technologies

Comparison games

Twilight Imperium
Eclipse

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area movement — On each turn players place an order token in a region and can move units between regions, triggering potential combat when they share a region.
Combat: Dice — When combat occurs, both sides roll dice at the same time, with outcomes based on unit speed/type and defenses, removing enemy units if possible.
Development cards and upgrades — End of round reveals development cards to draft; upgrades are applied by flipping cards to enhance ships and grant ongoing powers.
Expansion and variable player count — Expansion content adds new factions and scales for five or six players, including event cards that modify round rules.
Exploration and card rewards — After moving and often fighting, players may explore by placing a token to gain exploration or development cards that provide bonuses or upgrades.
Factions with unique powers — Four factions provide distinct starting techs and ongoing powers that influence playstyles in meaningful but balanced ways.
Map setup and terrain value — The hex map is randomized at setup, and terrain tiles offer different resource opportunities (e.g., gold mines yielding coins).
region-based movement — On each turn players place an order token in a region and can move units between regions, triggering potential combat when they share a region.
resource generation and expenditure — Control of map locations yields coins and crystals, which can be spent to buy points or upgrade units.
Resource management — Control of map locations yields coins and crystals, which can be spent to buy points or upgrade units.
Simultaneous dice combat — When combat occurs, both sides roll dice at the same time, with outcomes based on unit speed/type and defenses, removing enemy units if possible.
Two-phase combat (light vs heavy) — Battles involve a light phase (weaker units) and a heavy phase (stronger units), allowing smaller ships to contribute and potentially prolong fights.
Unique player powers — Four factions provide distinct starting techs and ongoing powers that influence playstyles in meaningful but balanced ways.
variable map — The hex map is randomized at setup, and terrain tiles offer different resource opportunities (e.g., gold mines yielding coins).
Variable Set-up: Player — Expansion content adds new factions and scales for five or six players, including event cards that modify round rules.
X-like structure with a primary combat focus — The game is framed as a 4X experience with a heavy emphasis on combat; exploration and expansion are present but less central than conflict.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is really about fighting, about rolling the dice.
it's a head-to-head dice chucker. Like this is fight fight fight. That is the main thing you're doing in this.
The two-player game works shockingly well for this kind of game.
not going to be anywhere near that level of complexity.
There is a ton of dice rolling.
There is a lot of randomness, because when you're exploring that part of it is just all random.
I've been very pleasantly surprised by this.
This is a very big game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video BfoCu_fX5dI Allies or Enemies Review at 6:29 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Good thematic fit with the Realm
Relatively easy to achieve three stars

Cons

Harder to surpass three stars

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Rolling Realms
original Rolling Realms

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

dice drafting
dice-drafting

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's exactly the same as the original Rolling Realms but there is a bunch of stuff that's different
I feel like one of the big reasons this game even exists is because it's kind of the big box for Rolling realm
I will say that it is not waterproof we learned that the hard way
this is our first one back in London so let's see if this sticks or not
what we're going to do from now on is I think just mix it in with the rest of the Rolling Realms
Meadow has this terrific drafting mechanism where you're putting your little number arrows
Planet Unknown is probably my favorite of all the games represented
this would have been in the fourth category but we played it just recently again and it grew on me
I like this one a lot

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video xke3OhSjhNs Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Top List at 4:52 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Huge quantity of content and components (books, dice, tiles, tokens, cards, and 44 miniatures)
Narrative-driven, with decisions shaping the story
Long-form play potential (over 90 hours)

Cons

Massive box and heavy to handle

Thematic elements

Cooperative storytelling with branching narratives and high tabletop heft
Ultra Modern fantasy universe coexisting alongside our own, with a dash of mutant-dinosaur flavor
Cooperative choose-your-own-adventure style RPG

Comparison games

The Lost Expedition

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Ignorance is Bliss which I can really get into adds a bunch of brand new recruit cards and Market tiles that can be used to replace or augment those from the original game
this expansion called ignorance is bliss
it's really a beautiful production
we tried the new Cooperative mode and came up just just a few turns short of a win
this redesigned version called CO2 Second Chance features new iconography a completely Rewritten rule book more balanced gameplay a new events track improved and streamlined mechanisms and upgraded wooden components
Judge Dread the cursed Earth may be worth checking out
mutants dinosaurs and possibly mutant dinosaurs because why stop there
the cursed Earth itself as they search for an object of immense power before it falls into the wrong hands possibly dinosaur hands
this game is ridiculous
this box is packed with stuff there's five different books 17 dice 40 stand 36 double-sided tiles 342 tokens one of those red plastic screen decoder thingies over 800 cards and 44 miniatures
the Lost Expedition was over on that shelf too
if you enjoy the lost expedition or mutant dinosaurs wielding immense power then Judge Dread the cursed Earth may be worth checking out
this video is really not not going very well

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video j2vb2MFZBQE Stonemaier Games Top List at 9:07 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Color-based discounts encourage color diversification
Drafting and color synergy create an appealing engine-building vibe

Cons

Can be complex for new players
Requires careful tracking of color synergies

Thematic elements

Cultural development and color synergy
A civilization-building drafting game with color-based incentives.
Strategic, civilization-building

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Color-based ongoing discounts — Card costs are discounted based on number of same-color cards already in play.
Multi-use cards — Card costs are discounted based on number of same-color cards already in play.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Skyler: My favorite game featuring ongoing discounts is Flamecraft.
Dylan: This is my favorite of the West Kingdom trilogy, and managing ongoing discounts is a major key to success in the game.
Aaron: Space the final frontier. These are the voyages of whatever you name your ship.
Caitlyn: In Ark Nova, you can claim partner zoos in four of the five continents. And whenever you play an animal into your zoo that matches one of your partner zoos, you get a three credit discount on the animals cost.
Skyler: This creates a very low conflict environment where everyone helps to improve the town, making it awesome for families.
Jamie: Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle-earth really got me thinking about the decision space of do I spend money on a card now or wait to get the resource that a card provides so I don't have to pay it in the future.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 5TWC4jmQTBI Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Discussion at 3:31 sentiment: neutral

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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)

And it's not just small publishers that are being affected.
The tariffs applied to their products are equal to $14.50 for every $10 that they spend on manufacturing for an estimated total of $1.5 million of additional expenses just in import taxes.
I do believe that the first step towards inflicting change for the better is for each of us to start finding opportunities to speak up, speak out, speak often.
Using your voice empowers others to do the same.
That's why I made this video to use my little voice to hopefully try and encourage all of us to use our voice.
That's all I got.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video TFnyw-vdEXY Meet Me At The Table Analysis at 0:00 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

significant balance improvements and deeper tactical options
token-driven systems clarified by rulebook and tokens section
new monster variants and higher HP pools add challenge and longevity
community-driven balancing and collaboration with Succubus Publishing

Cons

increased complexity and steeper learning curve
wording and terminology shifts may require additional reference material
relearning many card interactions due to tokenized mechanics

Thematic elements

cooperative exploration and tactical combat with collectible upgrades and token-driven effects
fantasy dungeon crawl with a modular monster set and evolving encounter rules
informational/design-update focus; card-by-card and rule-change oriented

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

combatant tokens and bulbs — bulbs and other tokens drive special powers and AI choices; 1.1 consolidates bulb-related text into a tokens system
dice pools and conviction dice — combat uses customizable dice pools with conviction dice; 1.1 refines dice colors, outcomes, and interactions
Energy tokens — new energy tokens power certain spells and abilities; they are used for determining force and other effects
monster loot and upgrade system overhaul — monster loot cards become spendable for gold or upgrades via a material tag; upgrades become universal rather than rarity-bound
monsters and AI step changes — monster stats, ai steps, and debuffs reworked across numerous enemies for balance and variety
summoning and loyal espers — summoning mechanics shifted to loyal espers with persistent effects across encounters; summoning now uses upgrade pack tokens

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

greetings i'm barron and welcome to meet me at the table
everybody was able to work together to create a massively fantastic game
i'm excited to show you these changes
succubus publishing is a fantastic company

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ogBNIpBX-gE The Brothers Murph Top List at 9:04 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Asymmetric faction design
Combat is accessible without overwhelming rules
Discovery cards add ongoing variety
Multiple paths to victory

Cons

none

Thematic elements

4X exploration and conquest
Fantasy world with dragons and space dwarves
Strategic civilization building with combat

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

4X gameplay — Explore, expand, exploit, exterminate in fantasy setting
asymmetric factions — Four different factions with unique asymmetric abilities
Combat — Combat system that is not overloaded with rules and easy to get into
Discovery cards — Cards that give ongoing powers as players explore
Objective Completion — Fulfill secondary objectives and reach 20 points to trigger end game
Unit upgrades — Units have different powers and can be upgraded

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the infinite replayability of cartographers...is because like the order that the cards come out that show those land types will always be different
the game is how do I deal with the puzzle that's given to me right
you're playing the player right...it's about positioning it's about all that kind of stuff
this is a game that's been around for a very long time it's still such a lifestyle game for some people
you can just play forever and ever and ever there's always strategies to explore
the playability comes with the fact that there's this massive menu of options
we'll never create the same Clover twice
literally has millions of combinations of different puzzles
the entire purpose of the game is you were given this hand of cards...how do I make this work
the puzzle is always interesting because the puzzle is what's in your hand
the puzzles going to be different every time and it's just always always interesting and fun to play
every single one of these Spirits plays wildly differently...they're super asymmetric
it's infinitely playable...it really is...a lifestyle game for so many many people

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video G_vd44djk4w Meet Me At The Table Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 6429 · mention_pk 121077

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Deep tactical combat with dice and card-driven actions
Rich upgrade and loot system with meaningful rewards
Varied character kits and synergy between items and spells
Engaging swarm encounters and boss dynamics (Earth Loa)

Cons

High complexity and long play sessions; difficult to learn
Reliance on dice can lead to frustrating misses
Tracking many tokens and statuses can be tedious

Thematic elements

adventure, combat with monsters and relics
fantasy dungeon crawl, underground vaults, earth loa
procedural narration with live commentary; no fixed story text; story moments occur via reading and pages later

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Armor and barrier — Armor tokens provide defense; barrier tokens grant additional protection against damage.
Combat: Damage Based — Damage tracked with tokens; some abilities adjust effective HP; heals occur via status phases and items.
Conviction dice and spellcasting — Spells rely on conviction dice; magic items like the magic staff or gore shot interact with dice results and opponent defenses.
Health, damage tokens and HP — Damage tracked with tokens; some abilities adjust effective HP; heals occur via status phases and items.
Hive mind / swarm enemies — Cave Sickle swarm behavior; strength and dice depend on sphere of influence and number present.
Initiative deck and turn order — A shuffled initiative deck determines the action order each round, creating dynamic pacing.
Loot and relics — Loot is gained from defeated enemies; combatant loot cards and relics provide powerful ongoing or one-time effects.
Once-Per-Game Abilities — Certain powers and items are usable per encounter or grant persistent benefits; some powers require exhaustion.
Per-encounter abilities and items — Certain powers and items are usable per encounter or grant persistent benefits; some powers require exhaustion.
Shop, XP, and upgrades — Experience points spent on disciplines; gold used to purchase items and upgrades in a shop-like phase.
Stamina pool and action economy — Each character starts with a stamina pool; actions consume stamina; can empower attacks by spending stamina.
Status tokens and paralysis — Status effects (e.g., paralyzed) hinder actions and can require conviction checks to recover.
Terrain and hindering terrain — Movement, line of sight, and attack ranges are affected by terrain; hindering terrain can impede actions.
Winning condition and exit — Escape to a blue exit marks success; losing all adventurers is a loss; encountering earth loa introduces a boss dynamic.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

gosh i love magic in this game
not quite unkillable
zeke is now the bearer of justice
i love gold

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video sDRgwT6zL94 Getting Games Discussion at 7:02 sentiment: negative

video_pk 5282 · mention_pk 15697

Click to watch at 7:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I've really liked it my many plays of this game over the years.
it's probably better to move it on.
I don't think I'd be sad to never play Kalimala again.
This has been on my mind for a couple of months now honestly.
we are planning on doing something ... playing games with my friends that also turns into play-throughs that people can enjoy.
there's a lot of kinks that we're trying to work through.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video OHh64oIjhT4 Jong Games Discussion at 1:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 5079 · mention_pk 86408

Click to watch at 1:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Highly interactive and player-driven economy that rewards careful attention to opponents’ moves
Tense, nuanced decision-making with clear cause-and-effect between builds and market prices
Rich thematic integration—building, mining, population dynamics, and cathedral incentives reinforce the mechanics
High replayability and strong room for tactical play and learning through repeated sessions

Cons

Steep learning curve and initial teach can be rough; rules are opaque until you experience interconnected effects
Two-player games feel weaker; the strongest experience is with three or more players
Can be time-heavy and analysis-heavy, potentially leading to analysis paralysis for some groups

Thematic elements

interactive economy, market-driven pricing, land rights, and municipal development within a dynamic population.
Town of Cen Ora with silver mines; a developing economy built around mining and trade, with a cathedral-building arc.
Euro-style economic engine with heavy inter-player interaction and indirect competition; leadership emerges from market forces.

Comparison games

Brass
Brass: Birmingham
Kunora (Cen Ora)

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action cards with dual options — Six action cards are used per round; each card can be oriented to reveal two distinct actions, forcing players to choose which action to take and which to forego.
Card/Chit Market — Two deck-like market devices with sliding windows reveal top-card values for resources; visibility changes as cards are moved or consumed.
Cathedral and prestige elements — Special components (Pelican Shields) unlock cathedral-related bonuses that interact with house placement and end-game scoring.
Market computers and visibility — Two deck-like market devices with sliding windows reveal top-card values for resources; visibility changes as cards are moved or consumed.
Market-driven resource pricing — A branded market board shows six resources with prices that shift based on population and production; players pay money equal to the displayed price.
Production and population trackers — Population growth and resource production influence market prices, which in turn affects players' profitability.
Town-building with blueprints and land claims — Construct buildings by acquiring blueprints, claiming land, and then building; outcomes alter production, population, and scoring opportunities.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I really like this game
it's going to be very high on a top list
I think it's scratching the brass part of my brain
this is the kind of game where you have to be Tactical
it's 100% Nuance
I am intensely excited about this game; I think it's going to be very high on a top list
Land and Freedom shines; it is so impressive and balanced in a three-player setting

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video fnTVMQwj6II Board Game Coffee Unboxing at 0:08 sentiment: positive

video_pk 4242 · mention_pk 108148

Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Gorgeous anime-inspired art with vibrant colors
High-quality, heavy components
Rich narrative structure with act-based progression
Diverse character designs and equipment options
Detailed resin minis for collectors and hobbyists

Cons

Very heavy and bulky box
Rulebook is lengthy and dense
Resin minis require assembly and are fragile
Packaging content can be confusing (mixed content types)
Glossy art can cause glare in video reviews

Thematic elements

Dark magic, covens, and epic battles with vividly stylized characters
An anime-inspired fantasy world with a campaign-driven quest structure
episodic campaign with act-based progression (Act One included)

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Art-forward immersion — Artwork and flavor text contribute to mood and theme.
Campaign narrative progression via act books — Act One book and diagrams guide the adventure flow.
card crafting — Cards provide weapons, relics, props, and abilities for characters.
Card-driven abilities — Cards provide weapons, relics, props, and abilities for characters.
Dice-based resolution — Combat and skill checks are resolved with dice rolls.
Loot, relics, and equipment management — Decks of loot and equipment provide progression options.
Modular map tiles and double-sided tiles — Campaign map uses punch-out tiles that are double-sided for exploration.
Standees and minis for characters/enemies — Visual representations of units, including resin minis and standees.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I'm sold
I love the artwork
this art will be seen elsewhere
the box is heavy
I could be paint minis forever

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video a6T3_T3WH20 Meet Me At The Table Playthrough at 1:44 sentiment: positive

video_pk 3874 · mention_pk 109504

Click to watch at 1:44 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

educational live painting demo
enthusiastic host and community interaction
practical tips on brush care and paint management

Cons

camera angles and focus occasionally obstruct view
long-form, time-intensive session may deter casual viewers

Thematic elements

adventure, exploration, and fantasy combat
fantasy battlefield with undead guardians
linear campaign with fail-forward elements

Comparison games

Myth
Kingdom Death: Monster
Folklore: The Affliction
Marvel Champions
Tiny Epic

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

base coating and basing — techniques to base and mud-texture bases
contrast paints usage — use contrast paints and washes to speed painting
dry brushing — minimal dry brushing for highlight effects
metallics and washes — layering metallics with washes for depth
paint-along workflow — live painting while discussing gameplay and strategy

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I've always got a plan
paint on move on
gold is always the key to victory
baron's got a plan

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video RMLWb4LJd-Y The Dice Tower Top List at 1:01:19 sentiment: positive

video_pk 2765 · mention_pk 8098

Click to watch at 1:01:19 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Rich theme and multiple viable paths to victory
Strong interaction in a mid-weight euro

Cons

Some may find the scoring feels opaque at first
Expansion-rich meta can be overwhelming

Thematic elements

Civilizational development through card drafting
Ancient civilizations and cultural advancement
Multi-spectral, with varied civilizations

Comparison games

Concordia
Earth

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Auction / Bidding — Players bid or select cards to optimize future rounds.
auction / set collection — Players bid or select cards to optimize future rounds.
card drafting — Draft cards to build a diversified strategy and score points.
Drafting / card play — Draft cards to build a diversified strategy and score points.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is Mind Management, the best hidden movement game I’ve played in a long time.
The central mechanism of ruby on that around that mala… it’s simple but deliciously clever.
This is Aridia. I love this game from the first playthrough.
This is a game system that’s incredibly versatile and has staying power—Marvel United.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video FxzHXUHiFeU The Dice Tower Top List at 56:48 sentiment: positive

video_pk 1309 · mention_pk 3869

Click to watch at 56:48 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Clean, well-balanced drafting with a central wheel mechanic
Solid feel similar to Seven Wonders but distinct in wheel drafting

Cons

Purple deck (special abilities) could be expanded for more variety

Thematic elements

Seven Wonders-like drafting with a turning wheel
Ancient world, civilization-building with cards
Strategic, multi-resource drafting

Comparison games

Seven Wonders
Gaia Project

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting with a rotating wheel — Simultaneous drafting with a wheel that turns each round, producing dynamic card availability

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

One list to rule them all. the greatest list since last year's list.
This is Batman the Dark Knight Returns.
I started from scratch.
I like this arc of Batman quite a bit.
This game is fast, which I think helps you. You play a lot of rounds, but the rounds are so fast.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 5-4eVS9KPfk Meet Me At The Table Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 256 · mention_pk 93276

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Highly thematic and immersive with strong narrative drive.
Deep customization through disciplines, items, and spells.
Dynamic combat with meaningful spell/uptime synergies.
Cooperative play encourages team coordination and planning.

Cons

Complex rule set and numerous interactions can be intimidating.
Currents/elevation/line-of-sight rules are easy to misread and may slow play.
Long play sessions and heavy setup may deter casual players.

Thematic elements

Cooperative dungeon-crawl with spellcasting, tactical combat, and exploration.
Fantasy cave exploration with river currents, totems, and a multi-act storyline.
Story-driven campaign feel with Foreteller app integration and act-based progression.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Combat Dice — Combat relies on colored dice with symbols; weapons and items modify outcomes; some abilities flip dice to higher results.
Combat: Dice — Combat relies on colored dice with symbols; weapons and items modify outcomes; some abilities flip dice to higher results.
Currents and Elevation — Board-wide currents push figures and tokens; elevation affects line of sight and reach; fall damage and pits are lateral hazards.
Encounters — Encounters trigger special rules (e.g., shotgun token mechanics) and offer alternate win/lose conditions.
Loot and Gear — Loot cards (combatant loot, common loot) and consumables drive power spikes and resource management.
Movement — Stamina-based movement; movement costs vary by terrain (currents, elevation) and flying abilities.
Resource management — Loot cards (combatant loot, common loot) and consumables drive power spikes and resource management.
Spellcasting — Casting uses spell dice, conviction checks, and various upgrades/items; magic can ignore armor in some cases.
Status Effects — Paralyze, barrier, armor, immunity, flight, and other conditions influence actions and survivability.
Token Pairing — Totems, exit tokens, loot tokens, and special terrain drive map dynamics; some terrain is impassable or dangerous.
Token/Tile Rules — Totems, exit tokens, loot tokens, and special terrain drive map dynamics; some terrain is impassable or dangerous.
Turn Order — Initiative is randomized each round; currents and end-of-turn effects may shift engagement priority.
Turn Order: Variable — Initiative is randomized each round; currents and end-of-turn effects may shift engagement priority.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

an absolute immense game
Remy is the master of spell resistance
this game is absolutely amazing
the customization is unbelievable

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video eIiYdPf1iLU Meet Me at the Table Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 291 · mention_pk 115700

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

High tactical depth from combining dice, cards, and character abilities
Strong party synergy with multiple spellcasters and ranged options
Engaging swarm/boss encounter (Earth Loa and cave sickles) offers dramatic, turn-by-turn decisions
Loot progression and unique items add a satisfying sense of advancement
Narrative framing with Foreteller narration and SparkNotes options enhances storytelling

Cons

Rule complexity and occasional misreads; version differences (1.1 vs 1.2) can cause confusion
Earth Loa encounter is extremely challenging and punishes mistakes heavily
Long, dense turns with many mechanics can slow momentum and be overwhelming
Reliance on narration or external content to follow story may affect accessibility

Thematic elements

Narrative-driven cooperative campaign featuring spellcasters, ranged combatants, and swarm monsters
Fantasy setting with Ramstead Cliffside and dungeon-like encounters; quest-driven campaign with swarms and bosses
Foreteller narration or SparkNotes summaries offered as story support

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Barrier and armor mechanics — Armor provides protection; barrier tokens grant temporary defense improvements against attacks
Character-specific abilities and equipment — Characters gain upgrades (e.g., better weapons, cores, or relics) that alter stats and provide new tactics
Combat: Dice — Combat uses teal, orange, red, purple and black dice with special symbols that influence range, damage, and effects
Dice-based combat with color-coded dice — Combat uses teal, orange, red, purple and black dice with special symbols that influence range, damage, and effects
Energy tokens — Earned by dealing damage and spent to heal, remove effects, or enhance actions; adds resource management to battles
Initiative deck and turn order — Turn order is determined by initiative cards; strategic sequencing is key to handling threats and boss monsters
Resource management — Earned by dealing damage and spent to heal, remove effects, or enhance actions; adds resource management to battles
Spellcasting with conviction checks — Spells require conviction checks; failures can deal irreducible damage or produce other spell-focused outcomes
Sphere of influence and healing/ buffing — Characters affect allies within a radius; healing and buffs can be cast to those within range
Stamina system — Actions such as moving, attacking, and encounters require spending stamina; stamina can be replenished or managed across turns
Swarm enemies and loot rewards — Defeating swarm-type enemies yields combatant loot; unique and common loot tokens drive progression
Terrain hazards and checks — Slippery rocks, dangerous edges, and current tiles require agility, perception, or other checks and can alter movement
Totems and exploration mechanics — Totems reveal hidden aspects of the map; line of sight and action placement around terrain influence strategy

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This game is so bonkers good.
This spell is so bonkers good.
This campaign game is so good.
I rocked this thing.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Hadara

Hadara Board Game - Preview and Interview at Origins 2019

Hadara - How To Play

Middara 1.1 Encounter 7 Into The Gloom

Middara: Unintentional Malum- Act 1 4K Unboxing

Hadara

Hadara Board Game - Preview and Interview at Origins 2019

Hadara - How To Play

Middara 1.1 Encounter 7 Into The Gloom

Middara: Unintentional Malum- Act 1 4K Unboxing

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Create a New Guild