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Description
ISS Vanguard is a 1-4 player co-operative campaign Board Game. It will bring players right into epic Sci-Fi adventure, as they will play as 4 sections (security, recon, science, engineering) onboard the first human ship with the potential to reach outer space. The campaign will introduce the unique story written by Krzysztof Piskorski (Tainted Grail) full of hard player choices, twists and branching storylines. The game comes with over 100 different Crew members, each with unique characteristics.
A game session takes you through a Ship Management phase (using a large binder with printed sleeves) in which you choose your destination for your ship then research technologies, produce equipment, recruit crewmembers and resolve situations, and then commence a Planetary Exploration phase. During said Planetary Exploration phase you will proceed with a daring landing procedure with your Lander, explore the planet for information or resources, fighting back a barrage of threats as well as a running timer of supplies depletion before you have to run back to the Lander to lift off back to ISS Vanguard. What follows is the remainder of the Ship Management phase, which takes you through unloading discoveries and resources from the Lander, healing or memorialising crewmembers and taking apart the game board and recording changes to the planet on which you've just conducted your Planetary Exploration on, preserving its status for when you will want or need to return to it.
The Ship Management phase works allows players to make strategic decisions as to their resources and a way forward in the unknown galaxy chasing the mystery encoded in human's DNA. The Planetary Exploration draws the focus to the tactical, as players decide on cards, dice, crewmembers and equipment to bring to fulfill dice checks on the planet's Places of Interest. The players also decide which of the variety of specialised Landers they want to use and how to outfit their Lander for the perilous descent into the chosen planet's atmosphere (or lack thereof). Throughout the game, the narrative system relies on a web of structured and linked Mission Logs, often snippets of journal entries or dialogue, to provide gameplay choices and storyline information as well as keep track of progress throughout the universe.
Year Published
2022
Featured Videos
Playthrough
ISS Vanguard: Prologue SECRET Gameplay
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 28
This page: 28
Sentiment:
pos 20 ·
mix 5 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–28 of 28
Video GwJ9qe3jxds
Unknown Channel game_review at 1:10 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 60679 · mention_pk 153092
Click to watch at 1:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- High production quality: components, minis, and artwork
- Deep, thematic planetary exploration with meaningful choices
- Strong cooperative play and role-based asymmetry
- Flexible, replayable campaign with many discoveries
- Excellent ship binder and organized setup; helpful app for progress
- Compelling narrative and logbook integration
Cons
- Campaign can be punishing and very dice-reliant; risk of character deaths
- Ranking up and late-game progression can be grindy and sometimes impossible
- Game scales poorly for solo and can feel tedious with many players; four-player recommended
- Ship management phase and card trays can be fiddly and confusing without diagrams
- Printed components can be cramped and hard to read; small danger check icons and color-blind issues
- App is laggy and not a full replacement; logs not easily browsable; transition between app and logbook may be cumbersome
- Some late-mission puzzles feel illogical or forced and can drain exploration feel
Thematic elements
- Survival, exploration, and narrative-driven ship-management in a sci-fi universe
- Space exploration aboard the ISS Vanguard; planetary expeditions across a distant galaxy
- Logbook/log prompts, awaken realms-style cross-referencing, and a campaign arc
Comparison games
- Final Fantasy XV
- Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
- Battlestar Galactica
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App Assisted — An accompanying app tracks progress, logs, and provides audio cues; not a full replacement.
- App companion for progress tracking — An accompanying app tracks progress, logs, and provides audio cues; not a full replacement.
- Card/deck building with asymmetry — Each crew member has a 10-card deck with top/bottom abilities, enabling strategic synergies.
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to explore planets, manage ship and crew, and resolve encounters.
- cooperative play — Players work together to explore planets, manage ship and crew, and resolve encounters.
- Crew recruitment and rank-up — Recruit new crew, assign to ship sections, and rank up to unlock abilities and equipment.
- Dice check system — Color-coded dice with symbols; players choose dice and can use cards to modify results; risk of danger dice.
- Planetary exploration with Lander minis — Explorers move miniatures on a map, roll dice, and draw planet-sector cards.
- Ship management phase with a binder — Ship upgrades, crew management, and objective tracking use a physical binder and booklets.
- Time trackers and campaign progression — Global time tracks affect events and mission windows; progress influences difficulty.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This game is just awesome on the table.
- The app helps the experience come together with the audio cues that work exceptionally well.
- I would definitely be down to go on more adventures but probably next time not as a solo player.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NerzZHs4PsU
Board Games for One playthrough at 0:11 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 41393 · mention_pk 125573
Click to watch at 0:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Rich, immersive space exploration theme with tactile components
- Dynamic hazard and time-track mechanics create tension and variability
- Cooperative play and card/dice interaction offer interesting strategic options
- Promotes planning around environmental hazards (dust storms) and exploration rewards
Cons
- High rule complexity can be overwhelming and confusing
- Dice luck can lead to frustrating outcomes and near-deaths early on
- Tracking multiple tracks, equipment, and dice pools can be cognitively demanding
- Movement and travel rules can feel fiddly and occasionally non-intuitive
Thematic elements
- Cooperative space exploration with resource management, hazard mitigation, and faction-driven discoveries.
- A planetary exploration campaign on the Brimstone-like world with dust storms and hazardous environments, conducted by cadets and crew in a cooperative science-fiction setting.
- Array
Comparison games
- Nemesis Retaliation
- Lords of Ragnarok
- The Great Wall
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Checks — Rolling a mix of dice with various icons; successes yield benefits, exclamation marks trigger accidents, and danger icons dictate negative effects.
- Equipment assignment — Crew members can exchange or assign equipment to optimize actions and dice disposition.
- Exertion and actions — Exertion and action selection drive the flow of play; players can refresh dice or trigger special actions via cards.
- Hazards and injuries — Injury and danger dice introduce risk; injuries clog dice slots and can lead to character death if untreated.
- Time track — Global and sector-based time tracks advance with actions and events, shaping strategic pacing and hazard pacing (e.g., dust storms).
- Time tracks — Global and sector-based time tracks advance with actions and events, shaping strategic pacing and hazard pacing (e.g., dust storms).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- these rules are ridiculous
- I have issues with dice games sometimes they stress me out
- what a nightmare
- you have to roll a danger die
- it's a one-way travel
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video G-t9bf1CVqQ
Table interview at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 39748 · mention_pk 119997
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong thematic alignment with space opera and exploration
- unique binder representing the ship and campaign progression
- deep strategic decisions in ship management and planetary planning
- clear tutorial path that helps new players learn the system
Cons
- prototype components; not final
- steep learning curve due to many rules and procedures
- complexity may deter casual players
- requires multiple players to realize full depth
Thematic elements
- epic space opera with planetary exploration, alien discoveries and crew drama
- space exploration aboard a human starship venturing to distant systems
- campaign-driven, log-style storytelling with memory walls and mission log entries
Comparison games
- Star Trek
- Mass Effect
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative ship management — Four ship sections (Recon, Engineering, Science, Security) are controlled by players.
- crew progression and promotion — Crew members gain ranks, unlock dice, and are promoted via mission achievements.
- Deck building — Draft crew and action cards to form the ship's deck before each landing.
- deck-building — Draft crew and action cards to form the ship's deck before each landing.
- Dice allocation — Colored dice allocated to ship sections to resolve actions and events.
- memory wall / log book — Deaths and milestones are memorialized in an ongoing memory wall and log entries.
- Modular board — Ships can equip modules and lander components that alter capabilities.
- modular ship upgrades — Ships can equip modules and lander components that alter capabilities.
- planet landing planning — Energy management to travel, scan, and land with potential hazards.
- Resource management — Resources like generators, morale, energy drive decisions and upgrades.
- situation / event deck — A deck of evolving situations and discoveries drives tension and story.
- Track advancement — Crew members gain ranks, unlock dice, and are promoted via mission achievements.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- first time world premiere
- epic space opera kind of feel
- binder is actually our ship
- prototype of a prototype
- we want to push things forward
- flow is quick and smooth with clear procedures
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wC1n8ZZYEfs
Janna's Tabletop Channel rules teach at 0:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38888 · mention_pk 117174
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rich, modular storytelling with multiple branching storylines
- Binder format can be beginner-friendly and visually guided
- High replayability through symbol table combinations and crew customization
- Encourages collaboration and role specialization (multi-player dynamics)
Cons
- Prototype demo binder may lack full component variety in production
- High complexity can be daunting for newcomers
- Requires multiple players to realize full strategic depth
Thematic elements
- Crewed exploration and combat with branching narratives
- Near-future interstellar setting following Earth's pollution crisis
- Binder/workbook with symbol-driven event tables and multiple storylines
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- character and ship attribute allocation — Players allocate attributes with a cap of 16 total per crew, with customization options on level up
- dice-driven action resolution — Use d6 and d20 to determine flight options and outcomes during actions
- map and space exploration with a variety of maps — Maps with symbols and legend; 120 layouts in prototype; exploration guided by symbol glyphs
- resource economy and equipment purchase — Credits, items, weapons, and equipment modules bought for the ship and crew
- Resource management — Credits, items, weapons, and equipment modules bought for the ship and crew
- space combat rules and AI-driven opposition — Combat follows phase-based sequences with enemy ships and heroes' abilities; includes AI-driven decisions
- symbol-table linkage and storyline progression — Storylines involve selecting a line and consulting symbol tables to resolve events
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this simulation is recommended for beginners
- a tactical skyfi rpg game closed in the form of a workbook
- endless space even in this demo version of this game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video B3JZ8i_v2ZM
John unboxing_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38380 · mention_pk 115542
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Immersive, story-forward theme and atmosphere
- High-quality presentation of components in an unboxing context
- Clear linkage between physical elements and in-universe lore via logs and reports
Cons
- Spoilers are present in the narrative segments, potentially limiting surprise for some viewers
- Some viewers may crave explicit rules detail that isn’t the focus of an unboxing video
Thematic elements
- Cosmic discovery, survival under extreme conditions, and deciphering ancient alien architectures.
- Space exploration narrative set on a hostile, storm-wracked planet and its ancient, buried structures linked to a mysterious builders’ civilization.
- Epistolary and documentary in tone, combining captain’s logs, personal journals, and in-universe reports.
Comparison games
- Eye of the Void
- Builders' Eye (in-universe references)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative exploration — Players collaborate to explore unknown planetary ruins, manage environmental hazards, and uncover story beats.
- Narrative choice — Story events unfold through logs, scans, and artefact analyses that influence decisions and outcomes.
- Narrative-driven encounters — Story events unfold through logs, scans, and artefact analyses that influence decisions and outcomes.
- Resource and hazard management — Suits, equipment, and environmental dangers constrain actions and require careful allocation.
- Resource management — Suits, equipment, and environmental dangers constrain actions and require careful allocation.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- unboxing with detailed presentation of all the elements of the iss vanguard board game
- our first exploration of a world marked by the builders
- the machine was ancient as old as life itself on this planet and bore a striking resemblance to the builder architecture
- we found some sort of organism a homogenous bacterial colony several centimeters in diameter capable of motion
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xETTzzfjVD4
Board Games for One playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35881 · mention_pk 107433
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging pacing and tension that crescendos toward climactic moments
- Dice-building mechanics feel tactile and integrated with deck selection
- Cooperative play that can scale to solo with a two-handed approach
- High-quality components and thoughtful tray organization reduce setup clutter
- App integration and robust tutorials enhance accessibility and immersion
Cons
- Ship book management is intricate and lengthy for a single session
- Tutorial sometimes glosses over edge cases, requiring players to infer steps
- App onboarding can be confusing when switching between book and app log entries
Thematic elements
- Cooperative sci-fi exploration with ship management, resource optimization, and tactical away-mission decisions.
- Aboard the ISS Vanguard in a sci-fi future, exploring planets, managing crew, and fending off planetary threats while upgrading ship systems.
- Play-by-play logbook narration with real-time crew management decisions and planet encounters.
Comparison games
- Fields
- Nemesis Retaliation
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App Assisted — Using an app to support logs, tutorials, and in-game guidance, complementing the physical components.
- card drafting — Selective acquisition of crew and equipment cards to place into sleeves and use during actions.
- companion app integration — Using an app to support logs, tutorials, and in-game guidance, complementing the physical components.
- Crew promotion / ranking — Promoting crew members using success tokens to higher ranks, unlocking new abilities and slots.
- Deck selection / card drafting — Selective acquisition of crew and equipment cards to place into sleeves and use during actions.
- dice building — A dice-building system where the player allocates resources to create and modify dice pools across ship sections.
- Lander mods / equipment — Equipping landers with mods to improve away-team capabilities and mission outcomes.
- Resource management — Managing tokens for energy, command, morale, success, and other resources to drive actions.
- Resource tokens — Managing tokens for energy, command, morale, success, and other resources to drive actions.
- Ship management / modules — Managing ship systems (Barracks, Med Bay, Bridge, Production, Lander mods) and upgrading them via a planning phase.
- Star map travel — Planning outbound travel using energy costs, landing on planets, and resolving planetary expeditions.
- Threat / situation cards — Drawing and resolving threats and possible situations to shape gameplay and add tension.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I thoroughly enjoyed that
- it's a dice Builder
- Cooperative game first
- The app is great
- I love the voice acting
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wcJGrjlrv6Q
Awaken Realms playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33523 · mention_pk 99711
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Story-driven cooperative space exploration with a Star Trek-esque vibe
- App provides helpful storytelling guidance and voiceovers
- Flexible two-to-four player design with distinct roles and upgrade paths
- Dice mitigation and deck-building elements add strategic depth
- Planetary exploration with a robust discovery and lead system
Cons
- Complex rules and heavy setup may deter casual players
- Backer-only excitement around expansions can be a turn-off for some
- Sleeve options discussion indicates potential cost considerations for components
Thematic elements
- Story-driven cooperative space exploration with dream-like sequences and alien mystery
- Space, aboard the ISS Vanguard exploring a mysterious orb and the Brimstone planet
- Story-driven with app-guided narration and in-universe journals
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App Assisted — An optional companion app provides mission briefings, voiceovers, and narrative guidance.
- app-assisted storytelling — An optional companion app provides mission briefings, voiceovers, and narrative guidance.
- cooperative crew management — Two to four players coordinate roles (Recon, Engineering, etc.) with individual boards and unique abilities.
- Dice management — Players manage a pool of dice of different colors and abilities; used for actions and checks; dice can be refreshed using resources and crew abilities.
- Hazards and threats — Planetary hazards like dust storms; combat/dice checks can cause injuries or dice exhaustion.
- Lander and ship phases — Docking, landing on planets, and ship management happen in distinct phases with different actions.
- Mission and discovery system — Exploration of planets yields unique discoveries and mission objectives with tokens and leads.
- Rank-up / deck-building style crew development — Crew members have rank-specific cards; you build a hand and upgrade by earning tokens.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ISS Vanguard is a story driven cooperative space exploration Opera It's like Star Trek but it does have its own unique story
- This is a dice mitigation game
- Two to four players
- we are going to play through not the tutorial not the beginner Mission but the mission after that when you're truly on your own
- I am going to give you final thoughts but we're going to break these videos up
- stick with me this is going to be a cool adventure guys
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SSoL0c_K4jc
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 2:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12842 · mention_pk 37503
Click to watch at 2:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- high production value
- immersive voice narration
- epic scope
Cons
- heavy rules and setup
- quite dense
Thematic elements
- mystery and survival in a distant future
- space exploration aboard a spacecraft
- story-forward with voice narration and book-like progression
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice checks and story outcomes — dice-based resolution influences the narrative path
- Narrative-driven progression — open a space-book and follow story beats
- ship management and exploration phases — two-part cycle: managing ship systems and exploring space
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's epic there's a lot of cards the island can get really big
- the crew is the tiny thing I talked about cuz it's not epic it's not like big but it is crew is a simple trick-taking game
- Welcome To The Moon is flip and write game basically
- this is my number one but I completely get why it's number five
- it's a cooperative game where all of you jump into a fight and try to defeat the big baddy
- the story part where you just meet different people make choices that really matter and make you go into completely different directions
- Sleeping Gods is definitely the definition of an epic campaign game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7jrdRqVTOAM
Quackalope general_discussion at 43:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10927 · mention_pk 32186
Click to watch at 43:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- expansive sci-fi narrative
- branching technology and campaign options
Cons
- complex for beginners
- potential accessibility barriers
Thematic elements
- crew-based storytelling and crew management
- space exploration with a narrative-driven campaign
- branching, tech-tree-driven progression
Comparison games
- Gloomhaven
- Frosthaven
- Kingdom Death
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative exploration — players collaborate to explore a space setting with tech choices
- Tech tree progression — technological upgrades shape future play
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- board game content channels on YouTube are very wide and shallow
- we're narrowing that down and identifying five categories of videos
- the next year for the channel is really about building back relationships with the community
- I want to bring our channel down to probably about five identifiable series
- defund Kickstarter is an idea we talked about
- we're not going to trade Shabbat for conventions
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video yi4Ahl9q4pA
Three Minute Board Game game_review at 2:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10862 · mention_pk 32046
Click to watch at 2:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Ambitious, epic space adventure with deep ship management
- Extensive content and replay potential due to many locations, missions, and research paths
- App integration delivers strong voice acting and handles much of the bookkeeping
- Solid solo mode and campaign structure that invites long-term play
- Interactive ship and crew progression that scales with play time
Cons
- Very long play time and heavy bookkeeping can be daunting
- Requires a committed group with time to invest for meaningful payoff
- Complex learning curve due to multiple interconnected systems
Thematic elements
- Space exploration, crew management, survival, and discovery across a rich, evolving storyline.
- A long-duration space exploration mission aboard a starship, exploring planets and managing crew and resources, with modular ship systems and a campaign-driven narrative.
- Episodic, logbook/app-driven narrative with many story entries and mission-based progression.
Comparison games
- Unsettled
- Oathsworn
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card management / deck progression — A large deck of section cards governs actions and boosts; cards move along a track as they are used and sometimes get flipped or discarded, creating a tangible progression of options.
- Crew management and recruitment — Crew members are recruited or advanced via in-game mechanisms (e.g., ranks, sleeves, and section bonuses), expanding capabilities for future actions.
- dice-based checks — Challenges and encounters are resolved with a pool of dice whose faces include symbols, useful icons, and wilds; results determine success, partial progress, or failure.
- Event and wound tracking — Encountered events and wounds add ongoing effects to crews and ships; wound cards accumulate and influence future checks and outcomes.
- Events — Encountered events and wounds add ongoing effects to crews and ships; wound cards accumulate and influence future checks and outcomes.
- Lander customization and missions — Lander units are loaded with mods, supplies, and equipment up to capacity; landing tests and modular upgrades affect success on planetary site actions.
- Production and construction phase — The Production Complex enables placing cards to build modules; cards advance and are manipulated to unlock new capabilities and increase ship power.
- Research and development — The Research Lab lets players develop new techs by spending discoveries; multiple projects can be researched by matching symbols and flipping cards for effects.
- Resource economy (energy, tokens, and power) — Energy and command tokens power ship actions, with facilities enabling conversion or enhancement of resources to progress on objectives.
- Resource management — Energy and command tokens power ship actions, with facilities enabling conversion or enhancement of resources to progress on objectives.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ISS Vanguard is ambitious and something special, a truly epic space adventure and ship management game the likes of which I've been wanting to play for about 30 years
- There are buckets of content to work with here so many locations to explore, things to research and develop, and a story that has me hooked and wanting to find out more
- I'm nowhere near finishing the game, but I am enjoying building up my crew and exploring strange new worlds
- The best thing about this game is the app—it's got great voice acting in it and it does a lot of the bookkeeping for you
- 60 hours play time is no exaggeration; based on the time I've played it and how far along I am, it's an understatement
- You have to love bookkeeping, as half the game is spent doing it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FenSIi6hRRA
Foster the Meeple general_discussion at 17:46
video_pk 9977 · mention_pk 29399
Click to watch at 17:46 · 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)
- Two recommendations per category — a curveball for Jeff since he didn't know I was pulling out two classic picks.
- Draftasaurus and Catapult Kingdom are great for kids because eight-and-a-bit-year-olds can engage with simple rules and bright components.
- We want other people to love games, so you're going to get them games for Christmas whether they want them or not.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video skRo8JbKH2Q
Quakalo playthrough at 3:29 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 8868 · mention_pk 26162
Click to watch at 3:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Immersive campaign setup and live playthrough
- Interactive learning through tutorial steps
- Dynamic narrative with discoveries and POIs
Cons
- Rule complexity and lengthy tutorial
- On-camera reading and discussion can slow pacing
- Potential confusion with many tokens and cards
Thematic elements
- Interstellar exploration, mystery of an alien builders, survival in a long campaign.
- Aboard the ISS Vanguard exploring a Dyson Sphere called Eye of the Void in deep space.
- Narrative-driven with log entries, discoveries, and campaign progression.
Comparison games
- Kingdom Death: Monster
- Trespass Odyssey
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Crew ranking and ship management — Rank up crew members and perform ship management actions to upgrade capabilities.
- Dice checks and dice management — Players roll dice to resolve actions, with injury dice and Vanguard symbols affecting outcomes.
- Mission/Log cards (logs, POIs, and discoveries) — Narrative and task progression through log entries and POIs.
- Resource management — Manage supplies and dice, rest actions recover dice.
- Resource management and rest — Manage supplies and dice, rest actions recover dice.
- Time track — Time-based effects and global condition cards influence travel and operations.
- Time track and global conditions — Time-based effects and global condition cards influence travel and operations.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is totally how we play board games
- we should read Rule books uh we're gonna figure things out as we go along
- we're going to purchase a monitor that basically goes directly underneath this camera to be great so we should be able to look front and center
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZviD_pfi51E
3 Minute Board Games top_10_list at 4:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8939 · mention_pk 26374
Click to watch at 4:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging solo potential
- immersive campaign
Cons
- costly
- complex setup
Thematic elements
- narrative-driven exploration and crew management
- Space exploration/cooperative campaign
- branching missions with evolving threats
Comparison games
- Oathsworn
- Regicide
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- campaign with narrative choices — Narrative consequences affect future play and options
- cooperative strategy — Crew-based missions requiring coordinated planning
- Variable player powers — Each character brings unique abilities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- solo board gaming isn't really that weird
- it's a very smart and Savvy thing to do if you are infectious
- these six I would highly recommend as a great entry point to solo gaming
- it's fun to set up the game and go racing
- you can set up all parts and play all factions by yourself to understand a game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UIySi3BySqU
Three Minute Board Games top_10_list at 5:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8691 · mention_pk 25590
Click to watch at 5:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great narrative experience
- engaging mechanics
- appealing to Star Trek/Mass Effect fans
- story pulls player in
Cons
- serious time commitment required
Thematic elements
- spaceship exploration narrative
- space exploration
- narrative_exploration
Comparison games
- Star Trek
- Mass Effect
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck management — ship book and technology research
- narrative — story-driven game
- solo playable — designed for solo play
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is my list the video says the top 100 board games of all time but it really is just my top 100 board games of all time
- three minute board games is an independent channel we dont take money from publishers and we do not do any form of paid content
- Mosaic has the ambitious goal of being a civilization game that can be played in two to three hours and it very much succeeds at this goal
- a game that does not need to be played with a traitor because the inherent selfish goals in this game created enough internal conflict
- I love space racing games and space corp is the game that is most racy as far as space racers go
- the term I use instead of gateway game is foundation game
- Sentinels could easily be a forever game the kind of game you just play over and over and over and over again endlessly
- Modern Art is a simple and brilliant and beautiful game and easily the best pure auction game Ive ever played
- Black Orchestra models some very clever things about how conspiracy is run
- when I asked the question hey what game should I play with my non-gamer friend who's interested in gaming but hasn't done much gaming I almost always answer Sentient Golem Edition
- Arkham Horror is the game that really made board gaming my number one hobby
- there are a few things more fun and rewarding in board gaming than organizing a fight in the arena
- Twilight Struggle is one of the best head-to-head games out there
- Santorini is the definition of an elegant design
- Arkham Horror the card game absolutely should be for you it's a hundred percent for me and it is my number one game of 2023
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fRQC23ChE_Q
Meet Me At The Table playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8460 · mention_pk 24871
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- rich, thematic campaign with vivid in-play decisions
- live-stream friendly with dynamic interactions and emergent storytelling
- flexible crew roles and personal story arcs add depth and replayability
Cons
- rule familiarity is demanding; early sessions have a steep learning curve
- live-recording can exaggerate confusion around complex rules
- session length can be lengthy for an entire planet expedition
Thematic elements
- searching ruins, gathering leads, building up a crew, upgrading a ship
- Sci-fi planetary exploration aboard a campaign-focused starship
- campaign-driven exploration with evolving objectives and ship management
Comparison games
- Great Western Trail Argentina
- Unsettled
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Assistance and collaboration — Crew members in the same sector can assist a check, often altering the pool and results; sequencing matters for bonuses
- Dice pool and dice checks — Roll colored dice (blue/green/red/vanguard variants), modify results via crew abilities and items, resolve outcomes
- Discovery tokens and leads — Gaining discoveries and alien tech leads; leads combine with unique discoveries to unlock further capabilities
- Resource management — Supplies, energy, and command tokens circulate; managing these resources gates movement, actions, and ship upgrades
- Time/Log tracks and planetary logs — Time tracks advance via events; planetary logs determine how far exploration progresses and what events trigger
- two-phase gameplay — Planetary exploration phase plus ship management phase; actions shift between board exploration and ship upgrades
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm so incredibly excited I want to get you a log book here
- this is the new crew here we're hitting Miss
- I love this game, it's amazing
- the art is amazing
- Unsettled vibes but with more structure and story
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video S1yd4VZ9e88
Unknown game_review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 8169 · mention_pk 23972
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Epic, expansive campaign with vast scope
- High production value and art direction
- Strong app integration and narrative pacing
- Distinct factions with thematic variety
- Immersive storytelling that unfolds like a TV series
Cons
- Dice resolution can feel basic for a game of this scale
- Very long play sessions and heavy commitment
- Bookkeeping and procedural reading can be solitary and dense
- Steep learning curve and heavy setup
Thematic elements
- Space opera, exploration, mystery/diagnosis through logs
- Space exploration with star systems, planets, and an overarching mystery left by builders
- episodic, logbook-driven storytelling with app-assisted narration
Comparison games
- Sleeping Gods
- Unsettled
- XCOM (video game)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- campaign-driven narrative — Long-form campaign (40–60+ hours) with evolving story and potential character casualties
- Crew progression and upgrades — Selecting crew, improving their abilities, and upgrading dice/tools
- Dice-driven actions — Most actions resolve through dice rolls with icon matching and rerolls
- Logbook/app integration — Story progression via a physical logbook and companion app for narrative and events
- Planet/system exploration — Moving between star systems and performing searches and actions on planets
- Ship phase — Crew management, upgrades, and ship upgrading activities between exploration phases
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the app makes it quicker and simpler
- the production value is through the roof
- it's the best looking game I've seen for a while
- the ship book and the app
- it's a huge campaign game
- the story is huge
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video f9x0DLrug4Y
Board Game Coffee general_discussion at 15:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8029 · mention_pk 23622
Click to watch at 15:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Stunning production and art direction
- Epic scale with abundant content
- Immersive space exploration feel
Cons
- Very heavy; steep learning curve
- Potentially long play sessions
Thematic elements
- Space exploration with complex ship systems
- Exploration and management aboard a starship
- Campaign-driven, system-forward experience with a grand scale
Comparison games
- Nemesis
- The Princess of the Stars (fictional reference for scale)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign progression with modular content — Expanding scenarios and events as the campaign unfolds
- Cooperative play with heavy system-management — Players coordinate to manage ship systems and crew tasks
- deck-building / resource management — Cards and resources drive ship operations and exploration
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the best game ever
- this game is a nut job
- the art is amazing the storytelling is amazing
- Nemesis is fan Fantastic so it's it's semi-cooperative I guess it depends
- it's the best alien game I've ever played that's not the alien license
- Photosynthesis is a beautiful game
- the core box is amazing
- it's so heavy but it's worth it
- awaken Realms sponsor this they’re so awesome
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LwrlXQPkQqs
Shelf Made general_discussion at 3:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7748 · mention_pk 22870
Click to watch at 3:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Massive scope and content
- Rich space-opera vibe
Cons
- Complex and lengthy setup
- Higher learning curve
Thematic elements
- Epic space adventure with crew management
- Space Odyssey with ship management and planetary exploration
- Two-part structure: ship management + planetary exploration
Comparison games
- Gloomhaven
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice-driven exploration — Planet encounters drive events and outcomes.
- Ship management / crew progression — Upgrade ships, train crew, and manage resources to complete objectives.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game encapsulates everything that is great about Euro games or Resource Management games
- Self-made Legend
- Moon Rakers welcome to space we have a special mission for you but unfortunately you might not be able to do it alone
- this is not a huge collection yet it covers the whole range anybody could go to this collection and find something to play here
- Gloomhaven box is enormous
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jFsLuN0B3P4
Board Game Officer general_discussion at 10:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7661 · mention_pk 22687
Click to watch at 10:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong modular insert ecosystem for card management
- Engaging sci-fi theme with solvable challenges
Cons
- Complex rules for new players
- Setup can be lengthy without inserts
Thematic elements
- Cooperative exploration and resource management
- Sci-fi exploration and ship-based base operations
- Scenario-driven with evolving missions
Comparison games
- Arkham Horror
- Aeon Trespass Odyssey
- Nemesis
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Crew and equipment management — Assign crew to stations and manage gear
- Deck-driven actions — Actions determined by card play and timing
- Modular board with ship sections — Modules reorganize as you explore
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Glitter is terrible
- The instructions are incredible, way better than Ikea
- If it strikes your fancy, check it out
- Stay on target
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BSa6p2ZZHHo
Board Game Coffee interview at 6:40 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 4751 · mention_pk 13862
Click to watch at 6:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Potential for deep campaign storytelling
- High production value associated with Awaken Realms
Cons
- High complexity and weight
- Long playtime may deter casual players
Thematic elements
- Epic space exploration with a long-term campaign
- Space exploration and corporate governance within a sci-fi setting
- Epic, campaign-driven narrative
Comparison games
- Kingdom Rush
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign progression — Long-form campaign with evolving stories across missions
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to complete missions against the game
- cooperative play — Players work together to complete missions against the game
- Modular board — Exploration of a modular game board that changes per mission
- Modular/variable board — Exploration of a modular game board that changes per mission
- resource/hand management — Players manage resources and personnel to advance scenarios
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I deeply believe in community and giving to people because they often give back and create value.
- Steam is the standard for digital distribution; we want GameFound to be the Steam of board games.
- In a five-year horizon, I’d love to see a system where a creator can just create a great game and the platform handles production, logistics, and taxes.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ne_4pivs08o
Foster the Meeple general_discussion at 9:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4472 · mention_pk 13104
Click to watch at 9:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Highly anticipated
- Awaken Realm quality
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Space
- Science fiction
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- moments during board games that formulate memories that you'll never forget
- there's just something for everyone
- it's all about the people
- the board gaming space has allowed me to just have so many incredible fun moments that i'll never forget
- it chose us via christy
- we're gonna have it at jeff's parents basement everybody's coming
- agricola sucks and everybody else seems to love it
- arnak is severely overrated
- i don't think gloomhaven should be number one on the list anymore
- humans are not good at rating things
- my nine is different than your nine
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video oACZTWzIxxo
Broken Meeple game_review at 34:20 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 3327 · mention_pk 9829
Click to watch at 34:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- immersive space exploration vibe
- dense setting and theme
Cons
- rules-heavy
- not as tight as some space-sim peers
Thematic elements
- Interstellar exploration and resource management
- Space exploration with ship-upgrade and mission structure
- Story-light exploration with modular missions
Comparison games
- Earth Abundance
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- campaign-like progression — ship upgrades and crew management across missions
- exploration — map exploration and planetary missions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "Silverwood Grove... absolute trash"
- "I would actually give it a one out of 10"
- "Campaign games... I'm done with campaigns"
- "It's not going to be quick"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video yiBts8ZokoU
Quackalope top_10_list at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2679 · mention_pk 7896
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deep strategic depth and emergent storytelling
- Rich gear system with meaningful upgrades
- Readable ship book provides interesting choices
- Discovery cards and abilities create meaningful optimization
Cons
- Punishing consequences and heavy learning curve
- Early morale management can be tough
- Risk of rushing exploration leading to suboptimal outcomes
Thematic elements
- Crew survival, exploration, and discovery with resource management
- Aboard a starship during a deep space exploration mission
- Emergent, consequence-driven storytelling
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area exploration and discovery — Explore landings, gather discoveries, and trigger events and escalations
- deck-building / card economy — Build a personalized deck of cards to improve actions and probability outcomes
- dice-drafting and dice manipulation — Roll and assign dice to actions to resolve events and progress on the ship
- Resource management — Manage morale, discoveries, gear, and ship resources to survive
- tech tree / upgrade path — Technology and production upgrades unlock future exploration options
- Tech trees — Technology and production upgrades unlock future exploration options
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- don't rush
- there are things in this game that punish you for the sake of discovery
- ISS Vanguard is a game that does not apologize for killing your characters
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FRzhqrUMqk8
Meet Me at the Table playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2088 · mention_pk 6097
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rich, emergent storytelling through logbook-style logs and mission graphs
- Strong co-op feel with multiple crew roles and synergies
- High component quality and tactile gameplay (cards, tokens, whiteboard-like play area in the stream)
- Variety and replay potential through numerous discoveries, missions, and planetary events
- Dynamic planet encounters that shift the board and available options mid-game
Cons
- Rules clarity can be ambiguous in live play; players frequently reference the rulebook for edge cases
- Complex setup and numerous components may create downtime and learning curve for new players
- Some interactions (like travel modification via suits or items) require careful parsing and can slow the flow
Thematic elements
- Space exploration, planetary survey, alien life, discovery-driven storytelling
- Interstellar expedition in a distant future; crew explores alien worlds and encounters hostile environments
- logbook-driven episodic narrative with mission logs, events, and discoveries
Comparison games
- Halo (video game)
- Deep Rock Galactic (video game)
- Aliens (film) as thematic reference
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative action planning — Players coordinate character abilities and equipment to advance on planetary exploration goals.
- Dice pool management — Crew members roll dice, expend dyes, and manage a shared pool to fulfill checks and actions.
- Discovery and mission cards — Players draw and resolve unique discoveries and mission objectives that drive the campaign and scoring.
- Hazard and danger dice — Danger dice introduce risk and potential injuries, requiring strategic resource management.
- Live specimen and alien tech tokens — Acquiring and using specimens/leads to progress, upgrade capabilities, and unlock rewards.
- Logbook and ever-evolving planet rules — Planet cards and logbook entries modify rules and provide narrative developments between rounds.
- Planetary exploration on a modular map — Sector-based movement with planet cards, terrain hazards, and event cards driving exploration forward.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- that's the whole deal of the game right I love it I love it so much
- I love this game
- this is amazing to have you here
- the unknown is what's going on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wQ5hIfhhFxQ
No Rolls Bard playthrough at 0:52 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1521 · mention_pk 4366
Click to watch at 0:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- rich, immersive campaign with a strong narrative backbone
- cooperative play that rewards planning and player interaction
- app-driven storytelling enhances immersion and pacing
- varied locations and factions (Aragon, Danao, Akaro, etc.) create emergent drama
- dramatic moments and humor add personality to long play sessions
Cons
- very heavy rules and setup; not ideal for casual play or time-pressured sessions
- lengthy play sessions can tax players and require significant commitment
- component complexity and tracking (time tracks, injuries, energy, markers) can be challenging
Thematic elements
- cooperation under pressure, exploration, diplomacy, and planetary-scale intrigue
- Interstellar exploration aboard a Titan-sized colony ship; interactions with Aragon, Danau, and other alien factions as a mystery unfolds
- campaign-driven, app-assisted with logbooks and mission text
Comparison games
- Nemesis
- Nemesis Lockdown
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App Assisted — Story unfolds through an app and physical logbook entries; progress unlocks events and logs like log numbers
- app-assisted narrative and logbook — Story unfolds through an app and physical logbook entries; progress unlocks events and logs like log numbers
- character abilities and charges — Crew members have unique abilities and charges to manipulate dice results or draw/discard cards
- cooperative actions — Four players share a shipboard mission: coordinating dice checks, resource management (supplies), and crew abilities to achieve goals
- cooperative crew actions — Four players share a shipboard mission: coordinating dice checks, resource management (supplies), and crew abilities to achieve goals
- dice checks and danger die — Actions resolve with a pool of dice; danger die introduces risk and potential injuries
- mission cards and optional missions — Players draw and resolve mission cards (e.g., log 1070s, 10-54s) that guide exploration and potential side objectives
- Time track — Time tracks advance with certain events; delaying or accelerating progression affects outcomes
- time tracks and event progression — Time tracks advance with certain events; delaying or accelerating progression affects outcomes
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ISS Vanguard is a chunky boy
- it's designed by Christoph piscorski Pavel zamborski and Andre betkovitz
- we're all actors here
- we need the views
- we have eyes on three of their Titans making their way west each with a small City on its back
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GhzswkZgLs4
Board Game Hangover top_10_list at 0:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1097 · mention_pk 3197
Click to watch at 0:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fantastic story depth and thematic feel
- very high production values and components
- ample content for space-theme fans and campaign lovers
Cons
- heavy commitment with long play sessions
- steep learning curve for new players
Thematic elements
- Exploration, discovery, and crew-driven space missions
- Space exploration and a narrative-driven campaign aboard a starship
- Campaign-driven, story-rich arc with evolving missions
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative campaign — Players work together across a narrative-driven campaign with missions that progress the story.
- Deck building — Crew and action cards are drafted/used to trigger abilities and advance objectives.
- deck-building — Crew and action cards are drafted/used to trigger abilities and advance objectives.
- exploration — Modular or evolving map elements and event markers drive exploration and encounter resolution.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the story is fantastic
- production wall used through the roof
- tons to do if you're a sucker for Space theme
- it's a huge campaign game
- it's the only game you can't really get right now because it was just on Kickstarter
- my favorite solo game hands down this year
- it's a two-player card game
- the odds are always in your favor
- it's a drafting game
- every action does that
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 1vYS01PJ2B4
Gaming Rules general_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 200 · mention_pk 563
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong narrative momentum
- great for cable of campaign-driven play
Cons
- heavy to learn
- can be lengthy in sessions
Thematic elements
- mystery, diplomacy, and tactical challenges
- Space exploration and branching campaign aboard a starship
- interwoven narrative with evolving campaigns
Comparison games
- Tainted Grail
- Through the Ages
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- campaign-driven narrative — story unfolds as you progress through missions
- card-driven / action timing — selects actions with probabilistic planning
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I want to show you how the game plays and not to sell you the game.
- I’m one of the more genuine content creators.
- Mage Knight is the best game ever.
- Gaia Project beats Age of Innovation for me.
- I don’t like the idea of being a used car salesman.
- Star Trek: Captain’s Chair is an exciting licensed approach with lots of thematic promise.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video sz1gJqubOEc
Foster the Mee Channel general_discussion at 7:50 sentiment: negative
video_pk 174 · mention_pk 492
Click to watch at 7:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- Depth and richness for dedicated hobbyists
Cons
- Very high rule overhead
- Long learning curve
- Expensive and space-consuming
Thematic elements
- Cooperative campaign-style exploration
- Space exploration / sci‑fi
- Long-form, rule-heavy experience
Comparison games
- Awaken Realms campaigns
- Moon Breakers (concept)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- less big box games MH and more small box and quicker play
- I think you're going to see more and more of the Lord of the Rings IP
- cozy gaming and solo gaming resurgence
- better UX and UI in board games
- digital implementations... it's awesome I don't care
- there's going to be more re-implementations and deluxified versions
- there are too many conventions now; not enough attendance
- frogs are the next trend
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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