How many players can play Kavango?

Kavango supports 1 to 5 players.

How long does a game of Kavango take?

A typical game of Kavango takes approximately 60 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of Kavango?

MindForge has curated 34 video reviews of Kavango from top board game content creators.

Kavango - Board Game

Video ohztHH5qoBg Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 4:49 sentiment: positive

video_pk 94253 · mention_pk 256758

Click to watch at 4:49 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

The reviewer trusts the person who recommended it.
It's described as 'real good'.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card game — Mentioned as a card game purchased in Spain.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The iconography on this game you got to learn and have the manual right there with you because even though it seems pretty straightforward it took us a while to get a grasp of it.
It is ingenious how they did that but it's somewhat confusing because I kept had to get my mind wrapped around it.
However way you plan your tactics will tell you whether you want or lose.
It's teaching you computer programming is what it's doing.
It's just a fun little stupid game but it's challenging in that you're having to make sure that your program works and I never feel like you're being penalized when you screw up you just have to figure it out.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video YTJZPMEiDgk Box of Delights Playthrough at 0:06 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88395 · mention_pk 232919

Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Beautiful artwork
Engaging puzzle-like gameplay
Mindful theme
Good solo experience
Satisfying progression and scoring

Cons

Can be financially tight
Mistakes can feel like blunders
Requires careful planning for end-game awards

Thematic elements

Conservation and rewilding of nature reserves

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area Control (implied) — Investing in climate protection is a competitive element where players vie for awards by contributing more.
Card Drafting — Players select cards from available hands, influencing animal acquisition and research tasks.
End game scoring — Awards for biodiversity, protection levels, and climate contribution significantly impact the final score.
Resource Management — Managing money is crucial for upgrading protection levels, buying animals, and rewilding.
Set Collection — Collecting specific types of animals or icons is necessary for completing research tasks and achieving awards.
Tableau Building — Players build their nature reserve by adding animals and upgrading protection levels.
Worker placement (implied) — The 'Ranger' acts as a worker that can be used for specific actions like placing animals requiring protection upgrades, but can be freed up.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's wonderful the artwork for that Matt's done it's just beautiful to engage with
this is a nice relaxing mindful theme you know you're not killing anyone but at the same time it's a real puzzle and there's different layers of um decision making is going on and even in the Solar game I mean there's a lot to think about
yeah I'm impressed
this has really helped this might be the winning move
wow we stormed it
that's my best score so far
Madness

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 9NcJCvUliUY Watch It Played Discussion at 12:31 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 88006 · mention_pk 230851

Click to watch at 12:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

200 games in one go
The Shelf of Shame
these games aren't going anywhere
I'm killing two birds with one stone
The joy of a legacy game is that you can all pitch in together and buy it

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 6naoipI9Evo Watch It Played Top 10 List at 0:32 sentiment: positive

video_pk 87413 · mention_pk 228358

Click to watch at 0:32 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Won over a skeptical player
Big fun from a small but great idea

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Players try to discard their hand as quickly as possible, ideally without picking up penalties along the way.
Set Collection — Players try to discard their hand as quickly as possible, ideally without picking up penalties along the way. Players take turns placing their cards in a shared row in the middle ideally with as small a difference as possible.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hello join us as we cover 10 board games
these are games on our radar
if you're always keen on discovering new games and others you may have previously overlooked then you've come to the right place
Matthew mentioned that he played kabanga with a great group of people but they all went into the game with some skepticism however they soon all fell in love with it
there are so many games so many games how do you decide which ones are worth your time
sometimes it just takes a picture and that's all it took for me with this one I saw this and all critical thought flew out of my brain
Oh hey Chaz while you're here maybe you can lend me a hand with monik nen's first pick too
I really liked it and I'm looking forward to playing it more and showing it to my friends
It's nice when your job can also be your hobby
until next time I've been Abigail Pennington and thanks for watching

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video kWkwzGp_Ca8 Watch It Played Discussion at 3:22 sentiment: negative

video_pk 87400 · mention_pk 228316

Click to watch at 3:22 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

negative

Pros

none

Cons

Rules and how the game is played are criticized as not matching stated gameplay

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 am very good friends with people who with whom I disagree greatly
it's not a reflection on you as a person or as even them as a person
Gloom Haven is Great Value
Skull King will be the one I'll probably go for

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video SKsh-Xqh6nI Before You Play Discussion at 18:30 sentiment: positive

video_pk 87328 · mention_pk 227909

Click to watch at 18:30 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Casual and fun for all players.
Easy to learn and play.
Good for families.

Cons

The name can be hard to remember.
Can lead to drawing cards if others yell 'Kabanga'.

Thematic elements

none

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Call Out — If anybody does have a card that fits within that Gap then they can yell cabanga and basically shed their card from their hand.
Card Play — On your turn, you're going to play a single card from your hand onto either the left or the right of any one of the four suits.
hand shedding — Your goal is to try to shed your entire hand over the course of the game.
Set Collection — You want to try to play a card that is going to keep the Gap as narrow as possible on each side of that specific suit.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Kabanga is it cabanga kabanga kabanga for sure
Your goal is to try to shed your entire hand
it felt really really nice to just sit around and play just this kind of casual U kabanga tabanga tabanga tabanga hard game
things in rings is a new partyish game from all play
this is the game we've played the most uh since from Gen Con to now
it has Dr Seuss like artwork
it is very silly really really silly
you're engaged the entire time
Crokinole is a dexterity game that is literally all we knew
we also brought home our first trading card game which is Neopets battle dome
he is a wizard he's not a magician he's a wizard
if you have the chance to go to Gen Con and he is doing this charity go just drop your plans and go see him cuz he's amazing

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ZswLhWrj_dk Chairman of the Board Other at 2:57 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86954 · mention_pk 226593

Click to watch at 2:57 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

small card game

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card laying — you have or several rows of these um cards here and what you're doing is you are overlapping uh the cards of the matching colors trying to keep the gaps between those two numbers as close as possible
Set Collection — whenever you play a particular card then your opponent Can Shed all those cards in those gaps

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hey everybody it's that time of the month again where I talk about all of the new board games that I've added to my collection
I did miss the boat on the original foundations of Rome um not like I would have bought it anyway because it just looked a bit too cumbersome um too expensive and just too large but I love the idea of the game
I am yet to play this one um because you do need the higher player counts really I'm probably going to wait until I have at least four people with this one even then I probably want to play it with five or six players to get the to get the most from it
I think it could go one of two ways it's either going to be a really big hit or it's going to crash and burn but I'm excited to find out regardless
I've pretty much explained the whole game there lots of games like this out there but um I will review it and to compare it against some of the you know the classics
I'm quite excited to share my thoughts on castle combo and my review of this one should be up very very soon as part of a review Series
for one reason or another which I can't even imagine now I did choose to sell this one because I played it quite a few times on the bounce thought that I'd seen everything
so really happy to have that one back in the collection
I think there's some interesting ones you know big small again old and new I'm really looking forward to trying I'm the boss
hopefully you've enjoyed the video um and are excited to see my thoughts on some of these games

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video xTqhFjwBL9w Chairman of the Board Discussion at 4:31 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86842 · mention_pk 226182

Click to watch at 4:31 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Charm comes to the forefront with more plays
Players are always involved
Can be gamified with memory aspect
Lovely experience
Good for family weight gamers or playing with kids

Cons

Initial impression was just rolling with the punches

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Memory — There's an optional memory aspect to the game.
shedding — Players play numbered cards on matching colors, and other players can shed cards from their hand if they have a card between the two numbers shown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is where I talk about all of the games that I have been playing over the last couple of weeks
will it maintain its um top spot this year you'll have to stay tuned to my top 100
it was quite nice to see that she enjoyed it um as much as we did despite her not really dipping her toe into Euro games yet
I did have a a bit of a game from hell where nothing really seemed to be going my way
it's one of the best games ever made in my opinion
it's going to be a bit of a sleeper hit already I think there's going to be a hidden audience for this one
it came get very close game actually
it's becoming one of those games that I would never really turn down
it's a lot of fun and um you know always guaranteed a good time
it kind of reminds me of that Nish Shaw of games like high society and so on but this is a good example of the genre

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video UUCkB1NHfrs Chairman of the Board Top List at 7:37 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86694 · mention_pk 225280

Click to watch at 7:37 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Much more typical chess game
All pieces are the same
Dynamic board state
Can plan several turns ahead
Accessible abstract game
Not paralyzed by options like in chess
Brisk and super quick
Tension feels muted compared to chess
Breezy and fun
Home run

Cons

Scoring can be confusing

Thematic elements

Abstract strategy

Comparison games

Chess

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

abstract strategy — A chess variant with a square board and pieces.
Movement based on board space — Pieces move differently depending on the color of the space they are on (e.g., yellow spaces for diagonal movement, red for straight lines).
Objective: Reach opponent's side — The objective is to get two of your pieces over to your opponent's side.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

hopefully you have enjoyed it if you have please be sure to hit like And subscribe to the channel and keep an out for the remainder of the series
hey everybody and welcome back to my 2024 into 2025 edition of my top 100 board games of all time today I'll be covering game 70 up to number 61 and I have a massive four new games to the list on this portion of the video
before we get started on the games I want to give a shout out to the show sponsor kendra.co.uk who are my goto online retailer and if you use the link in the show notes or the QR code then you can get 5% off your first order
be sure to check out my new game Thalamus and send me an email if you want to secure yourself a copy

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video RFV2M6esA-s Chairman of the Board Discussion at 9:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86666 · mention_pk 225129

Click to watch at 9:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Super competitive.
Fantastic chess variant.
More oversight on options compared to chess.
One of the favorite new-to-me games of the year.

Cons

Critical error allowing opponent to reach the other side early.
Found myself constantly blocking/obstructing rather than attacking.
Fell for traps.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Chess

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

abstract strategy — A chess variant where pieces move based on the tile they stand on.
Area Control — Gaining strength on the board and blocking opponents.
Movement — Pieces only move based on the tile that they stood on.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I have to say I am very impressed with the changes that that introduces.
I do really like the game mechanically, I think it's super silky smooth.
Such a silky smooth and elegant game.
For the level of crunchy decisions but relative breeziness at the same time is quite impressive.
One of the best kind of racing betting games out there.
It's almost like an essential to a collection at this point.
One of my favorite games from 2023.
It's an excellent game and I'm excited to see what other things this game has in store.
This is again one of my favorite games or new to me games of the year.
A game that I I always did enjoy but the more I'm playing it the more I am finding quite critical problems with it.
Mechanically I think the game is fantastic but I think there's a few rough edges that I think maybe a second edition could clear up and do away with so much of the luck factor because this is such a great Euro.
Really like this one and um yeah I play this one anytime.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Ca2J2c-zB48 Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 33:11 sentiment: positive

video_pk 86488 · mention_pk 223835

Click to watch at 33:11 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Clever and fun
Easy to teach
Engaging strategy
Family enjoyed it
Affordable price point

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Card shedding game

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card counting (advanced) — Advanced players can track played cards to gain a strategic advantage.
card shedding — Players discard cards from their hand, aiming to be the first to run out.
Hand Management — Players must manage their hand size and decide when to play cards or take risks.
Set Collection — Players use cards to fill gaps in numerical sequences of colors.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I like this one a little bit more because first off, it's Lord of the Rings.
The art in this game is topnotch. It very much has a Lord of the Rings feel to it.
Do you feel it somewhat capture at least the spirit of the game?
I definitely do think it captures some of it with like the line of sight like the guards will can only see in front of them.
Those two things right there, the dice roll and the dual value cards, is what turned this game into something that I just freaking loved.
One of the best new trick taking games I've played in quite a while.
I went in prepared for control decks and didn't have face on one of them.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video k9LepsTDgSc Our Family Plays Games Top List at 27:04 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85686 · mention_pk 220191

Click to watch at 27:04 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fun card shedding game
Good for the end of the night
Wakes you up

Cons

Can put more cards back in your hand if called 'kabanga'

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card shedding — It's nothing but card shedding.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It is the is the is the filler game of 2024. It really it is the filler game of 2024.
Players give gifts to each other while trying to remember who gave what and which gift they have in front of them.
You got to say it with confidence, you got to say it's a bat.
Straight memory.
It's like Black Mirror, y'all.
Buttonshot probably has one of the most tariff resistant business models.
It's all about memory and and bluffing.
The more people are sitting at the table, the more things you got to remember.
You got to bluff with a straight face.
This is straight memory. It's straight memory.
trio is straight memory game with a little bit of go fish in there.
It's quick to learn, quick to play. You know, before you know it, you've played like three, four, five rounds in just a few minutes.
I would like to hear about uh Aldi from BGG.
I say Star Wars so we can have DC Star Wars.
We are going to BGG Spring.
The $6 million man. If they do a re ru reboot. A reboot. It would be the $6 billion man today due to inflation.
The weather is horrible.
We love the weird of Portland. We love the weird.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ol36GeMVsjg Our Family Plays Games Discussion at 55:13 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85166 · mention_pk 217742

Click to watch at 55:13 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Small size
Fit in pocket/purse
Great game
Fits around the table
Easy to play

Cons

Can be mean if players can't remember
Can cause arguments over who gets points

Thematic elements

Avoiding points

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Players manage cards in hand to play them strategically.
Push Your Luck — Players try to avoid getting cards that push them over the point limit.
Set Collection — Players aim to collect sets of cards that minimize point values in different areas.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The game could be played by anybody because I mean, the rules change per the card. You just got to be able to read the card. Read the card. Do what the card says. Play the game.
This game will make non board gamers board gamers.
It's a mean game, family. It's a mean game. But you can get a lot of people around the table. But it's mean, Stala. It's mean.
The humans humans are having a sausage sizzle. Yes. And it's drawing a crowd of hungry Aussie critters.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video moT204eN1UA Grant Lyon Top List at 42:58 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84436 · mention_pk 214537

Click to watch at 42:58 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Very Positive

Pros

Strong and passionate conservation theme
Mechanically features engine building and tableau building
Fast-paced simultaneous turns
Available at Barnes & Noble

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Conservation efforts, combating illegal wildlife trade
Southern Africa, Batswana region
Mimics real-life conservation

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players draft cards.
Engine Building — The more animals built, the more actions can be taken later.
Set Collection — Goal cards require specific sets of things to be accomplished.
Tableau Building — Players build a tableau of animals.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I try to keep it to about 25 games and sometimes that slides to like 30 games, but I don't want it to be more than 30 games because I don't want this video to be crazy long.
if you want a smaller box pretty game, then check out Parks and Potions.
it's a really good introduction to strategy games.
This is one that is going to be a huge hit with young kids, I imagine.
So, if you want a lot of story in your solo games, that is a reason to play this one.
It adds more player interaction to the worker placement game.
I like that sort of fluctuating market aspect of the game. It makes it feel different than other worker placement games out there.
I think a lot of gamers and just a lot of people in general really respond to this theme, right? I think it's something that's super relatable about having to charge up your social battery in order to go out into the world and do stuff.
there's just a lot of intrigue on like, why are you moving that? What are you doing right now? How do I outsmart you?
Vantage over the last month has been fairly divisive.
if you like worker placement games or if you like visually interesting games, then that's, uh, for sure a reason to play T- Witches.
It is a deck building game, but it has an interesting aspect to the deck building because every round you're going to shuffle your entire deck and then you're going to flip out cards in a 2x3 grid.
I love Flip Tunes
The OP is also releasing fountains.
This plays 1 to five players in 30 to 45 minutes and it is a mediumweight game though at the lower end of medium weight.
This is another sort of visually very interesting game.
It is a deck building game, but it has a interesting aspect to the deck building because every round you're going to shuffle your entire deck and then you're going to flip out cards in a 2x3 grid.
And so there is a real strategy to the deck building of the game, but there's also just these fun exciting moments where you're like, "Ah, yes, I got that where I needed it to go."
I love Flip Tunes a lot. I really recommend it.
I've been doing this Green Team Wins live show at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and it's been going super well
Next night of that is Sunday, November 2nd.
It's really fun. It's really interactive. It's memorable. It's different every time the show happens.

References (from this video)

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Video -F6avGo6qw0 Rahdo Runs Through Preview at 0:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84162 · mention_pk 213584

Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Adds a meaningful positional puzzle with the lodges expansion.
The lodges expansion makes the game 'crunchy' and adds depth.
The conservation theme is well-integrated and educational.
Focus on green production with no plastic and recyclable materials.
Gameplay is flexible for different player levels.
The expansion adds satisfying puzzle factors.
Thematic story and art are lovely.
Nice card holders included.
Solo game is fun.
Turning unused board space into solar farms is a cool mechanic.

Cons

With the lodges expansion, it may no longer be suitable as a gateway game for novice players.
Leftover money at the end of the game is worth nothing and not a tiebreaker, which can feel unintuitive.

Thematic elements

Conservation, developing wildlife refuges
Okavango

Comparison games

Ticket to Ride
Seven Wonders

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Card Play — Players can play action cards for various effects, such as gaining money, manipulating the discard pile, or investing in protection.
area control/influence — Investing in environmental protection benefits all players, creating a cooperative element.
Card Drafting — Players draft cards over three rounds, with hands of cards being passed around the table. In the solo game, the automated opponent takes a card first, then the player.
Resource Management — Players manage money to invest in animals, habitats, and protection levels.
Set Collection — Players collect specific types of animals or food resources to fulfill goals and lodge requirements.
Set Collection (Lodge Building) — Players arrange animals in specific patterns to fulfill lodge requirements for points.
Worker Placement — Players invest money (cubes) into various areas like community tiles, solar farms, or protection initiatives.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This game was done by realworld conservationists who devoted years of their lives and then came back home and made a game to tell the story of all the good work going on in the Cabongo and and surrounding areas.
The lodges expansion adds a lot more positional um thought process.
This game has gotten super crunchy.
It adds so much now that we actually have a positional puzzle on top of all the other puzzles we have.
This expansion takes it to the next level.
Lodges fixes it.
It's lovely. It's wonderful. It tells such a great story.
There is no plastic in this at all.

References (from this video)

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Video S8jrpDIf7Gs Board Game Critique Review at 0:42 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 84111 · mention_pk 213354

Click to watch at 0:42 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Strong thematic presentation and components
Rich replayability with many animals and lodge patterns
Tense, meaningful planning with tangible tradeoffs

Cons

Base Kavango can feel hollow without the expansion
No turn tracker leads to AP and occasional confusion
Large player boards can be unwieldy at higher player counts

Thematic elements

wildlife conservation and lodge-based exploration
Savannah region, eco-tourism lodges
descriptive

Comparison games

Ark Nova
Seven Wonders
Wingspan

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — Managing lodge payments, habitats, and climate-related goals to optimize scoring.
engine-building / resource management — Managing lodge payments, habitats, and climate-related goals to optimize scoring.
grid-based placement — Placed lodge tiles form patterns on a shared board, contributing to scoring and strategy.
Multi-use card drafting — Drafted cards influence multiple lodge placements and scoring opportunities.
pattern drafting — Players draft animal-pattern tokens that determine lodge-building objectives on the grid.
set-rotation research goals — Rotating research goals influence scoring and player decisions across rounds.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Kavango is that Ark Nova Light plus seven wonders drafting plus wingspan animal bliss combo.
The expansion absolutely fixes the base game's nothing placement problem.
The economy becomes flexible without becoming a cakewalk.
AP is real and that missing turn tracker is a face palm.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video bG5Vt8VHvMc Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 1:26:46 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84001 · mention_pk 212805

Click to watch at 1:26:46 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Highly Positive

Pros

Beautiful game with great theme
Designed by people with real-life conservation experience
Expansion adds significant depth and addresses previous criticisms
Super crunchy in the best possible way

Cons

Base game lacked positional elements (addressed by expansion)

Thematic elements

Conservation efforts, rehoming animals, protecting from poaching, rebuilding habitats
Okavango

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area management — The Lodges expansion adds positional elements where placement of animals matters for scoring. (5364.84)
Card Drafting — Seven Wonders style drafting where players choose one card from a hand and pass the rest. (5229.76)
Resource Management — Investing in local communities which can turn into solar farms, generating money for anti-poaching initiatives. (5446.56)
Set Collection — Collecting the right combinations of cards to create the circle of life and score lodges by having specific animal types next to each other. (5381.68)
Tableau Building — Players play cards to their own section of the Okavango to create a 'circle of life' for animals. (5245.76)

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Ants. And I loved this game. Um it is a phenomenal worker placement game where we are controlling a colony of ants trying to, you know, spread out into the uh the countryside, um you know, set up pheromone trails of scavenging ants, exploring, dealing with big scary bigger bugs than us, like centipedes and millipedes and whatnot, getting to the far reaches where there are huge benefits if we're the first player to occupy, and, you know, basically expand our little ant kingdom.
And unlike most other ant colony civilization games, there is no player versus player in this game. No direct attacking. We just have to fight, you know, the the other big bugs that are out there.
this is a conveyor belt game, folks, and I love conveyor belts. The conveyor belt here is the life cycle of our ants.
Everything about this game is fantastic.
It's the second best game we played this month. It's Ants.
The Last Droids.
This game is phenomenal.
It's an I split, I choose game, which is a fun little thing.
That decision, which do I keep for myself, which two do I give to the other players, is phenomenal.
The rules actually suggest that once the cards are revealed before the lead player hands them out and keeps one for themselves that players could say, "Hey, I really want that one."
The art in this game is stunning.
It is the best game I played this month as a three-player game.
As a two-player game, I don't know. So, I'm going to have to do a follow-up in a future roundup, I assume.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video navw8T9-GE0 Chairman of the Board Other at 17:14

video_pk 82279 · mention_pk 206859

Click to watch at 17:14 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

No quotes stored for this video.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video BvMS_sxB4kE Meeple University Other at 1:44:28 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80605 · mention_pk 196668

Click to watch at 1:44:28 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Even better than Wingspan.
Cute animals
Shiny cards

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Animals

Comparison games

Wingspan

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — Described as a drafting game.
Tableau Building — Described as a tableau building game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I feel like it can feel a bit like solitaire at times, but it was a nice relaxing game to wind down with after a busy day.
I love the artwork and the components for Son of a Stitch, it's really pretty.
It's just you trying to be the best seamstress, you are kind of competing against each other but not in a really aggressive way.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video CK_aY_9Y_-U Top List at 9:14 sentiment: positive

video_pk 73221 · mention_pk 174955

Click to watch at 9:14 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Charming
Fast
Easy to play

Cons

Very luck-dependent

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Players manage the cards in their hand to make strategic plays and fulfill game objectives.
Set Collection — Players collect sets of cards, which likely contribute to scoring or game-winning conditions.
shedding — Players discard cards from their hand, aiming to be the first to empty their hand or achieve a specific end state.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

these games have a tiny footprint so not only is the Box small the actual game itself is pretty small when it's on the table and also these games are very affordable
it's much more difficult than it sounds and it's actually much more fun than it sounds as well because normally I don't like games like this but this one is tremendous fun
it's kind of an efficiency puzzle where you are playing with your luck you know can you keep everything in front of you without banking them or are you going to spend that extra time to be a bit more cautious
it's a lot of fun and if you like games like cockroach poker this is a great alternative that I actually think is a lot better
it's only six turns so it's lightning fast and again it's a great way to dip your toe into the kind
very luck dependent but it's charming and it's fast and easy to play
this one probably the gamest of all of them in terms of I'm being a bit more restrictive and some of the rules being you know a little bit more gamified but it's still super easy to play
the more cards you play your options quickly start to dwindle and it's all about trying to squeeze every single point out of this game it's a wonderful design and one of the best filler games to come out in the last 5 years or so

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 2e2fhZ0s34A Meeple University Rules Teach

video_pk 69891 · mention_pk 166780

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

none

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

that's how to play kavango
this is an expensive way to get these basic icons
the most valuable cards often require many species
there'll no longer be any producer icons

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 2e2fhZ0s34A Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:07 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 69891 · mention_pk 227521

Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

conservation and ecosystem management
kavango zambesi trans froner Conservation Area
educational, scenario-based conservation work

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action card priority — Action cards resolve first in order from the lowest hand marker to the highest.
Card drafting and simultaneous reveal — Each turn, players secretly choose one card from their hand; cards are revealed simultaneously and then resolved by card type.
Climate protection pool — Players contribute cubes to a shared climate track; once filled, a new round of card play becomes available.
Deck Building — Three rounds; deck types used change by round (A/B in early rounds, C deck later; A/B cards removed in round 3).
End-game scoring — Final scoring considers habitats, protection, species diversity, and climate contributions.
Investment — Invest money to upgrade habitats or climate protection and complete research cards for rewards.
Investments and research — Invest money to upgrade habitats or climate protection and complete research cards for rewards.
Producer (A-card) placement — A-cards function as producers and slot into a playboard column.
Rewilding purchases — Spending cubes buys a Rewilding card to add basic icons.
Round structure and deck progression — Three rounds; deck types used change by round (A/B in early rounds, C deck later; A/B cards removed in round 3).
Sanctuary storage — A sanctuary slot temporarily stores species until requirements are met for moving to reserve.
Species placement with resource requirements — Species cards require meeting food (and protection) requirements before adding to reserve.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

that's how to play kavango
this is an expensive way to get these basic icons
the most valuable cards often require many species
there'll no longer be any producer icons

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video iF1mOXlfkvI Rules Teach at 0:06 sentiment: positive

video_pk 69754 · mention_pk 166453

Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Visually appealing artwork.
Thematic setting and immersion.
Engaging card drafting and set collection mechanics.
Strategic depth in managing resources and protection levels.
Variable setup with different conservation experts.

Cons

Solo mode simulation of hands can be complex.
AI opponent's decision-making adds a layer of challenge.
Prototype status means some rules might change slightly.

Thematic elements

Building a thriving nature reserve and conserving wildlife.
Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — Players select cards from shared hands, simulating a two-player game with hands for both the player and an AI opponent.
Resource Management — Players manage money to invest in habitat, poaching, and climate protection, which are crucial for introducing animals into their reserve.
Set Collection — Players aim to collect specific types of animals and producers to fulfill research tasks and score points.
Tableau Building — Players build their reserve by adding animal cards, which then provide points and potentially contribute to research tasks.
Variable player powers — The game starts with different conservation experts that can dictate initial strategies and offer unique abilities, like the Ranger allowing the play of an animal without the required protection level.
Worker Placement — The protection levels (habitat, poaching, climate) are increased by placing cubes/tokens, simulating investment in conservation efforts.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I love the look of the game and wanted to play it so I'm sharing this with you today but do be aware that it is prototype what you're seeing is pretty much final.
Our aim is to collect cards I'm gonna draft them from these hands one from here then one from here one from here back and for both play them into our Nature Reserve or into our Sanctuary.
Timing when to complete the researches is a key part of the game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video RIEauZZawHE Top List at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 69434 · mention_pk 165923

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Super simple game system
Flow is enjoyable
Can make informed decisions
Very enjoyable
Very pleasant

Cons

There isn't as much piggybacking as I would have liked
Sometimes forced to make big spreads

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card shedding — Try to shed your cards quicker than your opponent because at the end of the round if you have any cards left in your hand then they are going to be worth negative points.
Push Your Luck (Implied) — Keeping gaps small stops piggybacking, but sometimes you are forced to make big spreads which means people throw loads of cards at you and you are forced to pick loads more up.
Set Collection (implied) — Players play numbered cards on matching colored rows. The rows have two cards with different numbers. Players can discard cards from their hand based on the gap between the numbers on the row cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is as simple as it gets.
It's probably like one out of five in terms of complexity.
It really is a turn your brain off and kind of roll with the punches style of game.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video -JuA6JEWDqA Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Review at 0:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 61480 · mention_pk 154143

Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Quick to teach and easy to learn
Snappy turns with meaningful decisions on every turn
Great for families and casual game nights
Compact box, easy to bring on trips
Accessible for 3-6 players, especially 4-5

Cons

Negative scoring can feel punishing for some players
Less interaction at 3 players compared to 4-5
Availability can be limited outside certain retailers

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Color rule and penalties — You cannot play the same color as the previous player unless you accept a penalty card.
Dynamic rounding and variability — Gray number cards are shuffled and placed differently each round to keep the ranges unpredictable.
Hand Management — At the end of each round, players count the pips on remaining cards as negative points; the goal is to avoid accumulating points.
Hand management and scoring — At the end of each round, players count the pips on remaining cards as negative points; the goal is to avoid accumulating points.
Kabanga trigger and penalty — If players hold a card within the active range of a color, they can play it to 'kabanga' others, forcing the attacker to draw additional cards.
Range-shifting card play — Players play a colored card to adjust the allowed numeric range for that color, changing which cards can be played next.
Round structure and end condition — Rounds revolve around shedding cards; the round ends when a player runs out of cards, and the game continues across multiple rounds until a cumulative score reaches -18.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a really fun game.
It's quick. It's snappy.
I love this game.
It's small box, easy to teach, quick to play.
Would love to know if you have played it.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 0NL3mxDpd3Y The Board Game Garden Top 10 List at 33:51 sentiment: positive

video_pk 35263 · mention_pk 105207

Click to watch at 33:51 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Gorgeous production; strong table presence
Solid close drafting with thematic goals

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Conservation and population management
Wildlife reserve management with animal cards
Tableau-building with objectives

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

close drafting / tableau building — Draft cards in a pass-around fashion to build a population and reserve
Compound Scoring — Complete round objectives to gain cubes and points
Objective-based scoring — Complete round objectives to gain cubes and points

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the gallerist was my number one for February
it's a trick-taking game that has a solo mode and I am so intrigued to see how that game plays solo
I really enjoyed laav ... it's absolutely beautiful

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video vfO9Pc5EclU JestaThaRogue Top 10 List at 20:50 sentiment: positive

video_pk 33555 · mention_pk 210346

Click to watch at 20:50 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

immediate accessibility with a satisfying puzzle feel
competitive tension with penalty deck adds drama

Cons

randomness and memory aspects can swing outcomes

Thematic elements

hand management; avoid penalties while closing gaps
color-coded card game with penalty risk
puzzle-like abstract card game

Comparison games

Flip Seven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card_play_and_gap_management — play cards to either side of a pile to minimize gaps
Compound Scoring — end-of-round penalties contribute to final score via pip totals
penalty_deck — shout Kabanga to force opponents to draw penalties when gaps appear
round-based_scoring — end-of-round penalties contribute to final score via pip totals

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The gameplay is straightforward, clear actions and logical flow.
This is a very good game. I am keeping it on the shelf.
Backwards scoring is fun and fresh and makes you plan ahead more than in many tableau games.
Don't just validate the card because you can.
The princess options will make every game play differently, which is true.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 4QX0Kq4PsRY The Board Game Garden Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 33210 · mention_pk 98604

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Beautiful animal illustrations and high-production components
Solid solo experience that mirrors multiplayer dynamics
Engaging closed drafting and meaningful engine-building through reserves

Cons

Steep learning curve for optimizing solo AI interactions
Potentially lengthy play sessions for a solo game
Some moments of uncertainty around AI scoring behavior and deck management

Thematic elements

Conservation, habitat protection, animal stewardship
Wildlife conservation reserve with three rounds; players draft animals and build reserves
Live-stream commentary with host notes and audience interaction

Comparison games

Evenfall
Explorers of Neoria
Wingspan
Galileo Galilei

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Closed Drafting — Two private card decks per round; both player and AI draft from their respective pools in alternating turns.
goals-based scoring — End-of-round goals and end-game awards provide varied scoring opportunities and money rewards.
Resource Management — Money cubes and habitat/protection resources are spent to acquire cards and upgrade protections.
round-based deck reconfiguration — At the start of each round new action, A, B, and C cards are drafted to form the round’s decks.
set collection / tableau building — Drafted animals are placed into a sanctuary/reserve to form a growing tableau that drives scoring.
Solo mode with AI — Play against an AI opponent with predefined decision heuristics and adjustable difficulty.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This copy of Kavango was provided by them for review.
The solo mode honestly is very similar, like I said, to the multiplayer.
It is a wonderful game. I am so happy that I was able to try it.
This is Kavango. We have the main board here, which is going to be where we have the conservation.
I love Kavango. Such a good game, especially solo.
I filled my entire board.
I ended with 213.
The art in all of the animal cards is really, really nice.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video a59HHGXmSP0 The Board Game Garden Discussion at 12:07 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 28845 · mention_pk 84682

Click to watch at 12:07 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Potential for interesting spatial decisions

Cons

Limited explicit information in the stream; unclear on details

Thematic elements

exploration, resource allocation
Exploration and resource management in a real-world or fictional locale
abstract, mechanics-driven

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Drafting — players choose actions to optimize their itinerary/board state

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I am absolutely obsessed with this little Tory gate.
We love a good casual crunch.
Solo game. I do what I want.
I read the solo rules and it seems fairly simple.
The day pieces are so cute.
I am going back to my color from before, which is dark brown.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video HvFdRpzfo-Q The Board Game Garden Discussion at 25:22 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 28287 · mention_pk 82983

Click to watch at 25:22 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a convention that is solely based on gaming
level up gaming retreat ends up being just a little bit more of a relaxing convention
you are somebody's reason to smile
play games for three days straight it is amazing

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Pas-TtJBf9o Chairman of the Board Discussion at 6:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 13729 · mention_pk 129484

Click to watch at 6:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Tense, shifting dynamics
Elegant and simple to learn, hard to master

Cons

Has a niche appeal; potentially intimidating to newcomers

Thematic elements

grid-based tactical maneuvering
chess-like two-player abstract
pure abstract strategy

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

moving rules vary by position — pieces move in non-standard ways based on their location
pawns crossing the board — two-player chess variant with shifting victory conditions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this one is a lovely game by Stephan Dora, a great design in his own right.
you are trying to collect exactly three of these animal tokens of each type to get the maximum amount of points
a real brain burner but so simple and elegant to play as well
Lost Cities a joy to get that one back to the table
it's far too long I think it took us nearly two hours to play this which is obscene for the weight of the game
Katarena one of the best abstract strategy games out there
this is a bit of a whitewash of a game

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video UnuS6U4y_DA Chairman of the Board Discussion at 4:46 sentiment: positive

video_pk 12231 · mention_pk 125700

Click to watch at 4:46 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

one of the reviewer's favorite two-player abstracts
dynamic state and interesting decision points

Cons

abstract rule-set may be less accessible to some players

Thematic elements

two-player abstract/strategy with chess-like movement on colored tiles

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Abstract strategy / color-tile movement — pawns move based on color-coded tiles; objective to advance pawns across the board.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is bonfire... kind of one of his more recent ones
I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed this two-player game
it's remarkably fast as well I think I played it in about 75 minutes
I think it's absolutely fantastic and one of the best two-player games I've played this year
I love this game because the dice system in Bora Bora is great and the powers help balance outcomes
expansion Mekka & Bah definitely did make a big change in the gameplay
Caesar's Empire ... an evergreen feeling game that should be up there with Ticket to Ride

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 660aACd3-WM Meeple University Rules Teach

video_pk 9541 · mention_pk 166703

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

none

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

lodges adds three new mechanisms which players will race to achieve
The personal lodges and community protection and golden lodge.
The Golden Lodge is worth 10 points at the end of the game.
In easiest mode, you do not use community protection.
This introduces no new ways of scoring.
You unlock these spaces by paying money during the research and invest money step of your turn.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video rcU9Pt9K9Cg Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 52:10 sentiment: positive

video_pk 8891 · mention_pk 26217

Click to watch at 52:10 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

beautiful production and art
accessible drafting core
engaging goals with variable expansions

Cons

some players may find it familiar or light for weight

Thematic elements

wildlife habitat management
conservation area theme
light, environmental

Comparison games

Seven Wonders

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting / tableau-building — A Seven Wonders-style drafting game where you choose cards to develop a tableau and pursue conservation objectives; plus goals and global tracks.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Earth Under Siege Flashpoint... captures a stealth game in the way that I want stealth to be captured in a board game.
Cat Packs is a fantastic little sweet, charming game.
Race to Mars... two halves; draft for crew, then deck build; it’s so good I reorganized my collection around it.
Bobblins Rebellion... the goblin cubes are adorable and the engine-building is a blast.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Kavango

Kavango Lodges Expansion: The Brutal Honest Review You Need Before Backing

Kavango - 🐘🐒How to Play Board Game. Satisfying drafting, building your conservation.

Let's Play... Kavango! | Patreon Choice Solo Playthrough Livestream

Kavango

Kavango Lodges Expansion: The Brutal Honest Review You Need Before Backing

Kavango - 🐘🐒How to Play Board Game. Satisfying drafting, building your conservation.

Let's Play... Kavango! | Patreon Choice Solo Playthrough Livestream

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