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Game Info
Year
2018
Players
2-4
Age
8+
Playtime
30 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
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Description
Orbis is a tactical game of world development and strategic resource management, in which players take on the roles of gods creating their best universes. Utilizing lands lost in the aether, players accumulate worshippers to spend on even more fruitful lands — some of which grant game-changing bonuses. The key to victory lies in having the most creation points (CPs) at the end of the game!
On your turn, you must take a tile from either the nine region tiles in the center of the table or the available God tiles. (A player may take only one God tile throughout the game.) Every time you take a region tile, worshippers of the same color as the tile taken are placed on adjacent tiles, making the tiles left behind more enticing for the next player. Restrictions apply to region tile placement, making each decision tougher than the last!
After fifteen rounds, the game ends when all players have created their universe, at which point CPs are calculated, bonus tiles awarded, and a winner is crowned. Beautifully simple yet rich in strategy, Orbis is a different game each and every time you play it.
Become the best god and craft your most prosperous universe!
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 30
This page: 30
Sentiment:
pos 23 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 4 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–30 of 30
Video gX5FdlG8h0s
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Review at 1:02:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93446 · mention_pk 253627
Click to watch at 1:02:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Plays quickly, even with up to five players.
- The Spy card adds a fun hidden element.
- Beautiful artwork and foil on cards.
- Simple to learn and play.
- Nice small box for portability.
- Strategic interaction between players.
Cons
- The long, thin cards are a bit awkward to shuffle.
- Low scoring can make it feel like points are hard to come by.
Thematic elements
- Gaining favor with the queen
- Royal court
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Majority — Players compete to have the most cards of a faction above or below the Queen's table to influence their favor.
- Hand Management — Players manage a hand of cards, playing one to their area, one to the center (Queen's table), and one to an opponent's area.
- Hidden Roles — The Spy card is played face down, adding an element of uncertainty about its impact.
- Set Collection — Collecting cards of specific factions to score points based on their favor status.
- Variable objectives — Secret objectives given at the start of the game guide player strategy.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it was a puzzle I could not solve
- the combos go absolutely insane when played right
- this is probably the most basic of basic tile drafting tile laying games
- Disco is not dead
- Staying Alive
- We're going to start talking about Star Wars unlimited all the time now
- I don't get it I don't get what am I trying to do there's no end game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9MeuRnuyC1s
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 7:28
video_pk 92532 · mention_pk 248689
Click to watch at 7:28 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Close Combat — Can safely move into close range once suppressed.
- combat knives — A variant armament for zombie units.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't know what Rodney was doing but it was a mistake I should have rolled three dice
- I'm gonna move my heavy Recon Grand here so they can hit the hammer
- The real challenge in this decision was whether or not the heavy Recon grandiers should go after the Hammers or after the tank Busters
- The nice thing about that is even if we removed one of the hits that I rolled it doesn't change the outcome from the combat
- I'm gonna move and attack with Ludwig
- The main objective here is to try to put some suppression token on these units because they're behind hard cover
- The only problem is they still have a reaction and a suppression token so they can't actually do anything during this unit phase
- Now the trick here is at the beginning of Luke's unit phase there wasn't any reaction tokens or suppression tokens on these tank Busters so if he had tried to move the zombies in at the beginning I would have been able to do an attack reaction
- Well I am in quite a pickle as they say in the military
- I doubt they say that
- I'm gonna give an order to my last remaining Hammer model here and rather than go run and hide which I certainly considered I'm gonna jump him behind this crate hopefully be able to keep him in hard cover from those heavy Recon grenadiers
- Well it's Luke's unit phase once again you know what that means we have to end the episode here and turn things over to you guys
- I don't know what to take away from that unit phase I mean yeah you definitely accomplished what you set out to do
- I am closing the Gap a little bit here there's a chance yet for me a small chance but honestly I still have a couple of units that are you know on the brink here
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8K97Ru99DO0
Getting Games Discussion at 28:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91920 · mention_pk 246761
Click to watch at 28:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- world-building tiling
- space worlds
- tile-placement with world-building objective
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- network building — connect regions to score
- tiling — tile placement to build worlds
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm not making a review videos anymore
- I've been so excited to be playing games over this last month
- BoardGameGeek is an amazing resource for me as a content creator
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fIQFp7oo1ZE
Getting Games Discussion at 59:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91852 · mention_pk 246582
Click to watch at 59:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- simple core mechanic with elegant tiling
- solid, straightforward teach and quick variance in maps
Cons
- reliance on tiling and planning can be slow to ramp up
- may have more variance with map layouts
Thematic elements
- tile drafting to build a vertical pyramid map
- world-building with hex tiles
- tiling/area-control with engine elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- continuous scoring and expansion — as you place tiles, scoring expands and you unlock more map space
- gods and followers — gods grant end-game scoring modifiers; followers used to pay for tiles
- pyramid tiling — tiles stack into a pyramid; matching and adjacency scoring to maximize points
- tile drafting with follower costs — draft hex tiles by paying follower resources to meet tile restrictions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is definitely a light style game
- I think it's actually easier to teach than the original Azul
- the randomness of the card draw is gonna be a turn-off for some people
- I am looking forward to exploring this one more
- this was the biggest disappointment of the convention for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5GOD4e5A0yM
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top 10 List at 5:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90418 · mention_pk 241628
Click to watch at 5:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy to learn
- great for kids
- encourages memory and interaction
Cons
- can become repetitive
Thematic elements
- fisherman’s game
- family/tabletop
- classic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card asking — Players ask opponents for specific cards to complete sets.
- draw from deck (pond) — If you don’t obtain the needed card, you draw from the deck.
- Set Collection — Players collect cards to complete sets (usually of four).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "it's absolutely hilarious"
- "it's a ton of fun"
- "Go Fish simple game"
- "shoot the moon"
- "our number one games match-up and it's euchre"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DwgujXAqK6M
Watch It Played News at 3:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88178 · mention_pk 231866
Click to watch at 3:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Backstabbing and placing families in the spotlight.
- A banquet held by the Queen
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Play — Receive and play three cards on each turn: one at the Queen's table, two in your domain and an opponent's domain.
- Set Collection — Cards can be worth positive or negative points depending on their family status at the end of the game.
- Trick-Taking — No trick is too dirty if it allows you to place your favorite families in the spotlight.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is one of the greatest games of all time
- Dominion style deck builder
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ScVsRqIHGdo
Meeple University Top 5 List at 10:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87727 · mention_pk 229758
Click to watch at 10:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy entry
- mean but engaging
- fast-paced negotiation dynamics
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- negatives/positives influence scoring
- stockholding / market-inspired
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- face-down cards — some cards are played face down to conceal information.
- Negotiation and interaction — players negotiate and interact as part of scoring dynamics.
- positive/negative center cards — center cards have positive or negative values; some score double; some are played face down.
- three-card hand with center discard — you hold three cards; keep one, give one to someone, and place one in the center.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "I love the upgrade bits of it you upgrade your sand worm that's the theme you are delivering on your sandworm it's like June but it's not June"
- "you can take the shortcut to deliver and then cost more or you know just normal way"
- "this is the sixth realm this is the uh it's been very big on Kickstarter"
- "it's the engine build"
- "harmonies... it's generating a bit of Buzz very nice little TI placement game"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 37Ivw3KtV1w
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 3:15:47 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 87567 · mention_pk 229080
Click to watch at 3:15:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- zombies
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- played the game once on camera and then gave his review of the tutorial and it at least he's being honest about it
- all he kept doing was comparing it to another game the entire time
- the cooldown system what they call it yeah so basically if you use it if you use this action you gotta way to turn you put it on your Tableau and then at the end of you turn it slides over and once it slides off then you can take it into your hand and use it again right
- I don't like this it's the best way to do it because everyone forgets when they can take it back like you put it and you slide it and you get slides off it comes back to your hand it's it's really simple it makes it very easy to know when something when you get something back too and he's like I don't need that
- he literally watches the guy play the game wrong make mistakes and then complain about the things he did wrong
- publishing zombies
- there was like a line I couldn't believe like they haven't roped off in the back it's changed a lot since the last time I've been there and they had it roped off and people were like around the block and [__] waiting to take the picture it was weird
- it's just like a popup Rocky store they s like Rocky M bilion [__] those people that come take a picture with the Statue yeah
- you can say hi to two of us what a deal two alab Boomers two the Boomers two Boomers the original Boomers Boomer OG y
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BGLeTgVte0Y
Neon Gorilla Discussion at 6:26 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 87286 · mention_pk 227729
Click to watch at 6:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Nostalgic for family games
- Very accessible
Cons
- Very light; limited depth
Thematic elements
- Memory and matching
- Classic children's card game
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hand Management — Collect sets of cards by asking others for matches
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the house is on fire what game are you going to bring
- we have a little bit of room in our car
- shelf of shame
- Radlands quick the house is burning down what games are you saving
- I've already saved the cats I've saved everything in the house
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hDnwfRQHN70
Board Gaming Ramblings Analysis at 18:17
video_pk 86596 · mention_pk 224593
Click to watch at 18:17 · 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)
- Congratulations to all the nominees and spectacular and to you for watching this award video Woo we will see you in 2025 bye
- The spoiler alert he has designed set Tea Garden Galileo galile and the designer is obviously then toas holck a designer just like came out of nowhere got so much hype this year and I will say even though like we have ranked those games we like all three of those games like two of them better than the last one but this is a designer I am looking forward to see more games from
- We are going to be bringing you the nominations and the winner for the best card game of 2024 and the nominees are Star Wars unlimited cortis an misos and 5050
- Lone wolves yay and lone wolves was one of my favorite small box games of the year so I am so glad it made the list
- If you like a High degree of uh interaction that head-to-head kind of style game this is I think my all-time favorite two-player trick game
- Congratulations Agonia for winning best narrative campaign game for 2024 in these rambling Awards
- Harmonies congratulations to Harmony is one of the most played games from this last year with the People's Choice as well over at the dice Towers uh game of the year uh so this is one that is very impressive so kudos to harmonies the winner of this year's abstract Game of the Year
- Tranquility the ascent yes congratulations indeed we have played that game do you remember we were we were building the the the oh my goodness I love that game oh there we go I love that game it's a deserved win I'm sorry I don't hate co-op games anymore it's an amazing game it's beautiful on the table if you haven't played it check it out it won fair and square this is a great game
- The winner is flip seven
- To the winner is iron Forest congratulations
- Most Innovative game is War Stories Occupied France designed by David Neil and David Thompson art by Mara and published by Osprey games congratulations to all the nominees but of course congratulations to War Stories Occupied friends
- we have made a big list of awards that we are giving away to different games
- this is all of the awards we have made a big list of awards that we are giving away to different games
- we want to highlight these amazing games that gives our or all so much joy
- I focus on cozy games welcoming games family games card games um also solo games as well
- Winner for the category of the most Innovative game is War Stories Occupied France
- that was amazing I really enjoyed that I hope you did too
- please go check all those amazing people out because they make really good content
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mqIPGj_w4z8
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top 10 List at 14:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86136 · mention_pk 222123
Click to watch at 14:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Challenging and deceptively simple rules
- Actively engaging due to limited play options per turn
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Manipulation and scoring through central, side, and opponent piles
- Court intrigue with shifting piles
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — top/bottom placement affects scoring via favor vs. out of favor.
- influence/favor scoring — top/bottom placement affects scoring via favor vs. out of favor.
- Pile manipulation — cards can be played to your own pile, opponent's pile, or the middle pile.
- restricted play — you must play only one card to yourself, one to an opponent, and one to the main board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's not a party game it's a card game but you use it at parties.
- I would use this every time over Code Names.
- This is a blast, a super fun game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XNp6_Syfjwc
The Dice Tower Top List at 13:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81632 · mention_pk 203643
Click to watch at 13:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Very fun racing game.
- Approachable and easy to learn.
- Surprisingly enjoyable.
- Good for a quick playtime.
Cons
- The board might look intimidating initially.
- The acronym in the title is noted as unusual.
Thematic elements
- An orbit race between interstellar tourists.
- Interstellar space.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hand Management — Players play cards that move their ship and a planet.
- Modular Board — The planets orbit, changing the board state.
- racing — Players race to visit planets.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Um I like this one a lot. It's a very It's It's It's a relaxing game. You You got a few minutes, you don't know what to do while you're waiting for such and such thing to come around, shuffle up the deck and start playing.
- I will say I absolutely hate the cover. That is one of my least favorite covers from last year, period.
- This game manages to feel cozy to me because of the theme, but very not cozy in the gameplay. It's very thinky.
- And no matter who I play it with, we always find ourselves getting into the theme and talking about the family like, 'Oh, my mom's going to go play play um Whist over here with my, you know, sister.' Or whatever.
- I think if either side holds back, especially the heroes because you're you're you've been kind of conditioned to do that um by playing other games. If you hold back, you get steamrolled and I think this game got a lot of pushback for that.
- I just the Mancala thing, I wish more games did it. And this one does it in such a very satisfying way.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zuaifosRCpY
kovray Event Coverage at 17:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80532 · mention_pk 196195
Click to watch at 17:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Really quick.
- Really fun.
- Did a fast demo.
- Scoring large points is possible.
- Little points can boot big points out.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card shedding — Players play sets and discard other players' sets.
- Set Collection — Players play sets.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Which was Jinxo, which we brought brought to UK GE to play with people.
- It is one of the spiel de Jarus uh um nominees and we had not played it before.
- It is so much fun.
- We played it with three separate groups every time. We had plenty of laughs.
- This has hit one of our top party games.
- Jump Masters. This is a prototype copy, I believe, of a new game from Chip Theory Games. I actually don't know much about it, but I'm excited to try it out because Chip Theory produces some really high quality stuff.
- So, by limiting the amount of space you have in a suitcase, you can limit the num the amount of money and games you bring home.
- No, you have to. It has to be have six sides, but that's the only rule.
- I didn't follow that rule when making my die.
- Tyler made a ridiculous die because it's more fun that way. Don't try to make a regular dye.
- Paddington, UKG was pretty amazing and honestly just the people along the way.
- Not to not to be dramatic, but I think I would die for Paddington.
- We saw the musical, not just the bear. We saw Paddington the musical, which was 10 out of 10.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WhFQ7z5WAZg
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:10 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 69899 · mention_pk 229220
Click to watch at 0:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- courtly prestige and domain building
- Queen's banquet
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Assassin card — When you play an Assassin, you may discard any one other card from the location where the Assassin is placed. If played in your own domain you discard from your domain; if on the Queen's table you can discard any card on the table (including a card opposite the Assassin).
- Deck composition and removal — The full 90-card deck is reduced by removing a certain number of cards depending on player count (e.g., six removed in four-player, eighteen in three-player, thirty in two-player).
- Dice Placement — On your turn you must play all three cards, placing one in your own domain, one in another player's domain, and one in the Queen's table, then decide whether the card goes above or below the Queen's table to influence scoring.
- Endgame and Scoring — At final scoring, spies are revealed and added to their columns. Families are evaluated as esteemed or fallen from grace based on cards above/below the table; nobles count as two cards; end objectives (white cards for domain requirements, blue cards for Queen's table requirements) are scored; highest score wins.
- Multi-Use Cards — There are four standard cards with no effect, four double cards, three Shield cards, two Assassin cards, and two Spy cards.
- Placement above/below Queen's table — The number of cards above vs below the Queen's table determines scoring for that color.
- Reclaim as Action — After playing, you redraw to three courtier cards from the top of the deck.
- Redraw after your turn — After playing, you redraw to three courtier cards from the top of the deck.
- Special cards — There are four standard cards with no effect, four double cards, three Shield cards, two Assassin cards, and two Spy cards.
- Spy card — Spies are played face down into the location and cannot be looked at until end of the game. Spies placed on the Queen's table go in the Center column and can be eliminated by Assassins.
- Three-card placement on each turn — On your turn you must play all three cards, placing one in your own domain, one in another player's domain, and one in the Queen's table, then decide whether the card goes above or below the Queen's table to influence scoring.
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 vcFbeuTa17c
Unknown Channel Top 5 List at 8:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66278 · mention_pk 161177
Click to watch at 8:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Gorgeous art and components
- Engaging abstract puzzle that scales with player count
- Accessible yet deep
Cons
- Not as widely known; learning curve can be steep
Thematic elements
- Gods and planetary-like realms built through tiled tableau
- Mythological universe creation with god tiles
- Tableau-building with a color-adjacency constraint
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- color adjacency constraint — Placed tiles must touch similarly colored tiles; illegal placements flip to wasteland
- End Game Bonuses — Tiles have various win conditions and scoring rules
- end-game scoring by tile conditions — Tiles have various win conditions and scoring rules
- Resource Management — Worshipers (resources) are used to buy more tiles for your universe
- tile drafting / placement — Draft god tiles and place them to build a connected tableau
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- five hidden gems inside my collection
- the art style is amazing the cute animals and creatures
- this is a dungeon crawling rolling right game
- that one extra roll I need to beat him and take his final Health down and defeat him
- it's a very interesting little game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video U5yp4ZRQSQA
Watch It Played Discussion at 0:44
video_pk 65442 · mention_pk 159111
Click to watch at 0:44 · 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)
- this is a prototype for a Kickstarter game
- basically the reason why we don't do kickstarters as a general rule here on watch it played is because uh the games themselves may not fund
- that said uh that said I'm probably going to break all of these fine principles at least once or twice at some point
- on a personal level though I I have backed a few different Kickstarter games and lately I'm shying away from it a bit
- the other thing is the cost and not so much the cost of the games themselves I find most times they're pretty reasonably priced it's the shipping
- so that's giving me pause to to think about what games I jump in on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VhyX-vBhvng
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64979 · mention_pk 158581
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Learning the rules doesn't have to be difficult.
- The game involves building a universe and gathering worshippers.
Cons
- Wilderness tiles are worth minus one point at the end of the game.
Thematic elements
- building a universe and gathering worshippers
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Majority — Points are awarded at the end of the game based on who has the most temple symbols, with tie-breakers involving specific tile colors and numbers.
- Resource Management — Players manage worshipper cubes, spending them to claim tiles and discarding down to a hand limit. Cubes are also used for specific tile effects like volcanoes and villages.
- Set Collection — Players collect worshipper cubes of various colors, which are used as a cost to acquire tiles. There's also a limit on the number of cubes a player can hold.
- Tile Placement — Players place region tiles into a tableau with specific placement rules regarding connections, color matching, and adjacency to existing tiles. Wilderness tiles have special placement rules.
- Variable player powers — God tiles provide unique abilities or end-game scoring opportunities, and a player can only obtain one God tile per game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- look no one said being a god would be easy but at least learning the rules doesn't have to be difficult
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hkGq7m27a4c
Board Gaymes James Top List at 1:15 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 62160 · mention_pk 154687
Click to watch at 1:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- unknown — Not described in transcript.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a co-op game where you're going to be trying to ascend the mountain
- I like this small box it's nice and pretty
- there is a lot of math involved with this and a lot of thinking
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6YhWWRYcERU
Let's Table It Review at 0:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61944 · mention_pk 154555
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- quick, tense, backstab-heavy interaction
- high-quality components with foil-like art
- thematic flavor with the Queen's table
- varied strategies due to nobles, spies, and missions
- short playtime makes it good for quick sessions
Cons
- mat is optional and neoprene mat may be overkill or increase cost
- potential for back-and-forth politics to stall games
- some players may dislike hidden information and eliminations
- end-game scoring can be complex for newcomers
Thematic elements
- backstabbing, manipulation, status at the Queen's table
- The Queen's table during a banquet where players vie for esteem and influence
- commentary/guide-style explanation of rules and strategy
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character cards — Nobles, Spy, Assassin, Guard provide special effects and scoring modifiers.
- End of round/points — Deck depletion ends the game; count cards at Queen's table and mission points.
- Hand Management — Each turn you hold three cards and place one at the Queen's table; you aim to place value cards to affect scoring.
- Positive/negative scoring by color — Cards can score +1 or -1 depending on whether there are more cards above or below the matching color.
- Secret Missions — Each player gets two secret mission cards worth bonus points at end.
- Tableau Building — Cards are placed face up or face down in colored regions with above/below rules for scoring.
- Tableau on Queen's table — Cards are placed face up or face down in colored regions with above/below rules for scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a great quick game for trying to manipulate the Queen's table
- it's a fun game of placing out cards in different locations to backstab or to press your preferred family status forward
- The game is produced very well and the cards look pretty amazing
- this is a fun game of placing out cards in different locations to backstab
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2v8uicriQ_s
Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61403 · mention_pk 154079
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clever and unique mechanic in peck/steal system
- Bird theme with clever flavor and visuals
- Engaging player interaction through stealing and nest concealment
- Compact and accessible setup with visible quick-start cues
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Resource competition and stashing treasures among corvid birds; stealing mechanics via feathers
- Bird-themed treasure collection around a central nesting mat with exposed nests and hidden cards
- Light-weight, abstract thematic cueing with hidden roles and cheeky bird flavor
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- End-of-round scoring and set collection — Score based on sets of icons on collected cards and nest abilities.
- Feathers as currency — Feathers collected enable stealing and scoring combinations.
- Nesting concealment — Nests are face-down and only revealed later; protecting nest affects stealing opportunities.
- Peck (flip/reveal) — Flip and reveal cards from the central layout, take revealed cards and feathers as resources.
- Special abilities on species cards — Some bird types grant extra actions or points when conditions are met.
- Stealing — When you have feathers, you can steal cards from revealed or face-down nests.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think it is a very clever game.
- three simple things. PE, flip it over, pick, take one card that's fully uncovered, and then resolve any actions and pass to the next player.
- It's two to four players.
- I like the peck action that you can like, woo, really mess things up and just kind of go all over the board.
- Corvids from DVC Games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xtBvBUaRJ1w
Allies or Enemies Top List at 9:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61070 · mention_pk 153501
Click to watch at 9:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Extremely teachable with high repeat playability
- Engaging social dynamics and easy-to-understand scoring
- Very quick to pick up for both casual and experienced players
Cons
- Requires a few plays to internalize subtle scoring blocks
Thematic elements
- Power plays within a medieval court
- Court intrigue with a social/positional dynamic
- lightly thematic, highly accessible
Comparison games
- Other quick-to-teach social deduction-like family games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- above/below card placement — Families score based on their position relative to a court cloth
- Hand Management — Play one card in front of yourself, one in front of another, and one in the middle
- three-card hand management — Play one card in front of yourself, one in front of another, and one in the middle
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "it's about windmills"
- "the closest I've seen to Mario Kart as a board game"
- "it's a very tight worker placement game"
- "the biggest surprise of the year"
- "this is my favorite game of the year so far"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kVWN3emqu9s
Board Game Garden Top 10 List at 17:52 sentiment: positive
video_pk 40462 · mention_pk 189320
Click to watch at 17:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Interesting balance of scoring and table presence
- Accessible drafting with clear decisions
- Appealing visual design (suits, layout)
Cons
- Mechanics can be dense to explain briefly
Thematic elements
- house/room collection and scoring by position
- center board with a front tableau
- competitive, strategic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Center board interaction — Cards above/below center boards determine point values for your tableau.
- Draft and compare — Players draft cards and compare against others to maximize positive/negative scoring.
- Tableau Building — Six suits form a personal tableau, scoring based on positioning relative to houses on a central board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just a very simple push your luck card game
- it's such a simple game but we have played this so many times with friends and family and it's just a hit every time
- freaking love this game
- it's such a fun time
- I am in love with this game
- Stool Pigeon I 100% recommend it
- this is a great compact small drafting game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dJcNUiGmXAs
Meeple Mountain Discussion at 1:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 39285 · mention_pk 243825
Click to watch at 1:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- simple rules, great for kids
Cons
- can be slow with older players or higher variance
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Kings Korner
- Cribbage
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- matching cards by rank — Players ask opponents for cards to form matching sets; first to deplete hand wins or achieves target sets.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love playing cards card games I feel like are what got me into modern board gaming
- there are so many different games that you can play with just a simple deck of cards
- get your cards out get some games played
- there were so many different variants of rules I got really confused
- this is board game Brody I hope you enjoyed this video
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6IAeWTyokXs
No Pun Included Review at 0:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35830 · mention_pk 107186
Click to watch at 0:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deep, tight puzzle with emergent depth that rewards planning and adaptation
- Accessible to teach yet offers surprising layers of strategy
- Thematic flavor around deity-building and color-driven mechanics
- Wasteland tiles add strategic flexibility and late-game options
- Strong appeal for families and casual players while satisfying hobbyists
Cons
- Artwork and visual style sometimes criticized as outdated or too contemporary via a freemium aesthetic
- Reminiscent of other drafting games; the balance can feel tight and occasionally luck-influenced by tile flips
- Can become restrictive as layers fill and color options narrow, potentially stifling choices
Thematic elements
- Divine creation and world-building; worshipers as currency
- A cosmic, mythic universe where players shape their world by placing tiles
- Abstract with mythic overtones; thematic flavor through color and geometry
Comparison games
- Azul
- Splendor
- Concordia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area of effect and blocking — Draft choices impact what tiles are available to others, creating tactical contention.
- color matching and layering — Lower layers must align colors beneath; upper layers form a pyramid-like structure with color constraints.
- End Game Bonuses — Partial tile flips and endgame scoring strategies. Penalties can become tools for strategic flexibility.
- endgame scoring and penalties — Partial tile flips and endgame scoring strategies. Penalties can become tools for strategic flexibility.
- Layer Building — Lower layers must align colors beneath; upper layers form a pyramid-like structure with color constraints.
- negative scoring tiles (wastelands) — Some tiles can score negative points if not properly used; they provide flexibility by allowing any color when scoring.
- tableau drafting — Draft from a central pool of tiles; one tile per turn to influence your board construction.
- Tile Placement — Place a selected tile from the center into your tableau, following color-matching constraints as you build a layered structure.
- worshipers as currency — Worshipers (tokens) are spent to take tiles and to activate tile abilities; they also seed adjacent tiles, influencing options for opponents.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Orbis is a tile placement tableau drafting game within only 15 rounds or about 45 minutes to an hour
- you are the best at being God
- a color matching puzzle could turn into something so fiendish so devious and so engrossing
- it's like a garlic crouton with a bit of zest
- Concordia for its slightly outdated artwork surely we can forgive Orbitz for its misguided attempt at being contemporary
- the winner of this game can be very much determined at a flip of a tile
- if you press me to the wall and ask me if I honestly think this is as great as Azul or Splendor then it emulates I would have to say yes
- it is about 95 percent as great as Azul or Splendor
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video B7JknDGQ9S4
The Dice Tower Top 10 List at 6:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35627 · mention_pk 161842
Click to watch at 6:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful bright color artwork
- Polished overall package
Cons
- May require multiple plays to master
Thematic elements
- space racing with moving planets
- Planetary race in orbit
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area/positioning interaction — If your ship is on a planet, you move it; opponents can be moved.
- Card-driven movement — Play a card to move your ship; planets rotate and influence movement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The gimmick is you have a large plastic cube that has magnets on it, and you are rolling it around a board picking up tiles.
- Magnets are cool, folks.
- This one's simple with a fun, bright theme, and I found it easy to jump into and play.
- Ink is a game in which you are, well, basically getting rid of ink wells. That's it.
- it looks very abstract because the inks wells don't mean anything, but it's easy to play and fun for people to get into.
- Simple, fun, easy. That is pencil pirates.
- chunky components very much interactive where your tower might block the towers behind you and then they don't score any points
- Very interesting, silly artwork, but anybody can play it.
- If you like games like Rummy or games that we call card shedding where you're trying to get rid of all the cards from your hand, this is an amazing one.
- beautiful bright color artwork. The whole package comes together very nice.
- Magical Athlete is not a game to be taken seriously by any means, but it's just so entertaining and fun to play.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TYtr85sqqe4
The Board Game Garden Discussion at 8:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28795 · mention_pk 84503
Click to watch at 8:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great for big groups
- engaging social play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Large-group social card games
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- large-group card game — Party-style card play for many players.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Let's Get Cozy and play some board games
- I get very socially anxious
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MrSW2dwETjw
Board Game Animal Top 10 List at 2:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28439 · mention_pk 226693
Click to watch at 2:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- unique bird theme
- strong art and vibe
- grows with play
Cons
- some complexity for a light title
- potentially longer teach
Thematic elements
- Birds collecting bits and Bobs to build nests
- Bird-themed strategic game
- clean, thematic, with a playful presentation
Comparison games
- Rolling Realms Redux
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dexterity-like interaction — pecking/dexterity feel via card drafting and micro-actions
- Multi-Use Cards — cards that can be used for different actions depending on play
- Set Collection — collecting items to optimize nest-building
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is one of those great little rolling realms redux that you can sit and have a good think with
- let's go to Japan a nine furnace expansion interbellum is a 9.5 with room to grow
- if you like games with cards with powers especially if you like building an engine, aquatic is rich for it
- this game night is getting out of hand; i’m having trouble with the guest list
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2GecVh3RiYE
The Board Game Garden Top 10 List at 8:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28061 · mention_pk 82083
Click to watch at 8:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun take-that dynamics
- strong art
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- pantsoaurus world with colors and cards
- tableau-building with color/suit alignment
- playful, take-that
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — pick, pass, and place cards into a central tableau on your turn
- color/suit scoring — top vs bottom placement affects scoring by suit
- Tableau Building — cards placed determine suit values and end-of-round scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a very cute Resource Management Town Builder game
- the interesting thing about this trick-taking game is that you are combining both trick taking with cards as well as trick-taking with dice
- the amount of chaining in this game is really really good
- it's a wonderful flip town game
- Vienna is fantastic and I want to try more of the Stephen Feld City collection
- this game is addicting
- I am addicted
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6kJsoRtRyyQ
Board With Steve Top List at 4:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10455 · mention_pk 100372
Click to watch at 4:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- devious and puzzle-like
- easy to learn yet deeply strategic
- blends area-control with hidden information for tension
Cons
- can feel punishing if you misread others' intentions
- slightly heavier than other titles in this list
Thematic elements
- noble maneuvering, spies, assassins, secret missions
- royal banquet with political intrigue
- devious, puzzle-like, strategic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Three cards per turn placed in center court, own domain, and opponents' domain with positional effects.
- card drafting and placement — Three cards per turn placed in center court, own domain, and opponents' domain with positional effects.
- hidden information and assassinations — Spies remain hidden; assassins can remove cards from domains.
- Hidden Roles — Spies remain hidden; assassins can remove cards from domains.
- secret missions and set collection — Points come from collected cards and covert objectives.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Pitch Out is such an underrated game I rarely hear anybody talking about it
- Skull is a game that's all about bluffing
- it's a d little game but absolutely anyone can play it
- Scout is my favorite card game of all time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KwM02RDzHXI
Board Game Coffee Discussion at 6:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4624 · mention_pk 13549
Click to watch at 6:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Excellent artwork
- Purchased on sale
Cons
- Mark has no idea what the game is
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 got this for Christmas I have no idea how to play this
- I remember liking it I I I don't remember not liking it
- if you like dachshunds or if you like which is like the hot dog dogs
- I liked the first two times I played I was like oh that's fun and then the more you play just kind of grates on you
- Brittany said that if you ever play this with me again I will burn down this house
- I will never get over it it's done
- you could play it like one to 100 players
- my brain is exhausted I feel like this is one of those games gets you the gears going your head
- I have no idea what this game is but how cool is that art
- this is just chess but it's like shot glasses
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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