How long does a game of Tak take?

A typical game of Tak takes approximately 20 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of Tak?

MindForge has curated 46 video reviews of Tak from top board game content creators.

Tak - Board Game | MindForge

Video kor5TVHDOq4 Watch It Played Discussion at 12:27

video_pk 92370 · mention_pk 248174

Click to watch at 12:27 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

campaign

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the more expensive a game is the more I feel I need to play it in order to justify its cost likewise the cheaper something is I don't feel like I have to play it as often
it's not quantity it's quality
you kind of forget when you're a member of The Cult of the new as I sometimes tend to be just what it's like to sit down and not have to teach the game again not have to try to remember the rules for other people and everyone can just sit down and just focus on playing the game rather than learning to play the game
the game that I really want to try and exhaust for me is Star Trek Fleet captains because it's the only one I know of that includes all three of these elements but I can also use it for the fourth one as a Sandbox to explore and experiment with
you know you might think well 10 plays of a game that's not so much well it's 10 by 10 so you're looking at 100 plays of your year
it's possible as you play a game more often as Sarah comments you'll find things in it you don't like and as you play it more that could get accentuated
the biggest thing that really brought me back into the same game like Warhammer or 40K all the time was creating these campaign Maps
I can forgive a game several perceived design flaws if out of the experience it creates a memorable moment that makes me smile to think about or makes me want to retell it
it just depends on how you look at it you can justify anything the important thing is that you enjoy the game you're playing if you don't enjoy then you certainly have not gotten your money's worth out of it
I don't often consider how much gaming time do I really have to work with here

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video LRl6RAJ4aok Watch It Played Discussion at 3:12 sentiment: positive

video_pk 92210 · mention_pk 247685

Click to watch at 3:12 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Drew a crowd and was fun to watch.
Played right, it's a lot of fun.

Cons

Loses fun if played too seriously.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Dice Rolling — Players roll dice simultaneously trying to find specific symbols.
Group challenges — There's a group challenge, possibly involving physical actions, and players can affect others.
Hand Management — Players can only lock one die per turn and must then pick up and reroll the rest.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The Expo is basically a small convention there was around 300 people in attendance lots of special guests and several activities
I don't like to offer opinions and reviews on games that we feature here on the channel but I will say after playing this game pep and I both said okay we need to play this again before the weekend is over and we did
The monsters in the game are actually six-sided dice
It was just pandemonium
This is very much a party game if you want to play it serious I'm sure it loses a lot of its fun but these guys in my opinion were doing it right
You'll hear some comparisons to bejweled and games like that because you have this contraption with all these marbles in it
This one has that in Spades as well
So over the course of the game you're deploying your thugs to shake down businesses for goods to complete jobs and gain influence over various city blocks
And unsurprisingly it adds pets to the game
Certainly a game because of the length and well how far apart we live from each other we would not normally get to play and it was fantastic
Essentially you'll have one player who knows from this grid of 12 suspects who the guilty person is and they will have to give Clues saying yes or no to questions about the suspects however the only thing you have to go by are the looks of the suspects themselves
Well pretty much everyone talks about when they come back from a convention sure the games are fun and everyone has a good time playing them but one of the things that you really take with you are the memories of the people that you play the games with
These cons really have become little mini camps for adults
So a big thanks to him
And this popcorn stuck around and honestly it was really good still so don't judge us too harshly for eating it

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video uyrbmEtu7-A Nights Around a Table Analysis at 4:10

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Click to watch at 4:10 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Rondelle — This is one of a slew of games with a rondelle mechanic by designer Matthias Cramer.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a circle and this is a very loosely defined thing there's no set in stone way to do a rondelle in a game but it's a circle
what a rondelle does in this particular implementation is it discourages me uh from taking the same action multiple times in a row i have to sort of like spin around the circle doing other things before i can do this one thing
it's not a hard and fast rule all this mechanic is not set in stone because with game design it's constantly evolving and we're constantly finding out uh new and better ways to have fun
you don't have to be uh you don't have to have a like a circle a geometric circle drawn on the board for a game to have a rondelle mechanic
it's neat all kinds of implementations all over the board

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video JJYca04yRq0 Watch It Played Analysis at 1:27

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Click to watch at 1:27 · 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)

do miniatures really enhance the board game experience
chess is a culture untowards itself
flgs mean
well very simply flgs stands for friendly local game store
if that person does not want to play any ball games don't force them
all your games are more complicated than you think they are
tailor that experience to that person is my suggestion

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 6Vy0v6NSelA Drive Thru Games Analysis at 32:28 sentiment: neutral

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Neutral

Pros

Marker Light provides a built-in re-roll.
Stealth battle suits have good saves (3-up).

Cons

Some units have a low wound count (7 wounds).
Some units have a 5-up save.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drones — Drones are mentioned as performing various 'tricksy things'.
Fire Team Structure — The T'au can field two fire teams, choosing from Fire Warrior, Pathfinder, or Stealth Battlesuit options.
Marker Light — An action that applies a marker light token to an enemy operative, allowing the user to re-roll one attack die against them. It cannot be used while engaged, and if used with a shoot action, must target the shoot action's target.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it gives you a built-in reroll so it's a little kind of aim action for the tau there
these guys could be interesting i think with a good mix of teams maybe battle suits with somebody else
this is just one croot team it's gonna be one leader and also includes 12 operatives so this is going to be very much a swarm thing
these guys are cool because they're just you can just deck them out and guns and things like that
this seems like a cool team they give you some options to play with so i'm excited about this team
the heavy rock cutter heavy rock drill heavy rock saw these are some big damage items there
the five-up save just really just kills them
I really liked that sort of aspect of that last edition
the whole concealed versus engaged uh whatever the thing's called uh tactical marker right so I thought that was very very interesting
the one thing i wanted to mention was we've been talking about kind of the older editions and stuff and shadow war and i couldn't really put my finger on it when i was doing the old review or the last review that's a week old but uh the melee the thing i really liked about it was it's hey it's actually kind of necromunda style melee
i like that they in this case moved away from it because i don't always want to do that sometimes i just want to say you know what just hang in there and keep fighting
this is not a games workshop game and it still feels like it in a way in a good way but they've done a lot of these little things i'm like oh cool they're really kind of breaking out of their their sort of design box with this one
the one kind of worry that i have that they sort of lock stuff behind kind of a pay wall with these sort of thematic boxes

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video BLGlbN63N_g Watch It Played Discussion at 6:29 sentiment: positive

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Click to watch at 6:29 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

abstract strategy — An abstract strategy game that has a travel edition.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The first question I have for you this month is how do you feel comfortable buying a game on Kickstarter if you haven't played it?
It seems like a gamble. Kickstarter is a lot less like a shop front or a storefront going to a board game shop and buying a game and much more like investing in an idea.
My golden rule for Kickstarter is I wouldn't back any game that did not have a copy of the rules PDF available for you to read through.
Long flight coming up? What are the best roll and right games small enough to fit on an airplane trade table?
How long is too long to allow a retcon in a game?
If you could only play mass market games, what games would you play?
IP or no IP?
I don't really love IPs on games but like everybody in the world if it's the IP that I really like I'm also much more interested in playing a game if it's got an IP that I like.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video BztXzcWmq0M Watch It Played News at 10:08 sentiment: positive

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Click to watch at 10:08 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Enticing box art with a yak
Cute yak design
Task of constructing a great stone tower
Simultaneous card play mechanism
Potential for fog to disrupt plans

Cons

Fog can hinder plans

Thematic elements

Constructing a great stone tower to guide merchants and their yaks.
Himalayas
Simultaneous card play to determine actions.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Resource Management — Yaks arrive carrying milk, bread, and meat, as well as specific color stone.
Set Collection — Collecting specific color stone to complete the tower.
Simultaneous action selection — All players choose a card in hand simultaneously and place it face down.
Variable player powers — Whoever holds the baby yak token starts the turn order.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Which isn't a positive mindset batman come on leave some cynicism for the rest of us
I always assumed it would be the internal collapse of the substitute butter industry but I am really correct about these things
This is possibly the best cover to any board game ever
Which got my noggin jogging because Iranian Burger Canal is a Spielworks game so this was a design publisher pairing that I wasn't expecting to see but one that makes total sense like maple and bacon cheese and pickles
Brad Garrett I mean Merlin
All of which sounds to me like a D&D session bound for a total party knockout
Enticed me to this was the noble mighty and underappreciated yak that adorns the box Also, it's cute. Look at that face. I'd kiss it.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video NUg03TQErM8 kovray Review at 0:41 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 89680 · mention_pk 238564

Click to watch at 0:41 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

easy to teach and quick to learn
beautiful production and components
engaging and appealing to beginners
good introduction game for non-gamers
variability from bonus cards

Cons

perceived over-production relative to game depth
not a heavy or meatier game; may not appeal to heavier gamers
could offer more scaling or personalization options

Thematic elements

caravan trade and protective tower-building for merchants and yak
Himalayas, building a stone tower to guide yak caravans

Comparison games

Athenium
Azul

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

bonus cards / objective cards — bonus cards add color-specific objectives for scoring and can be used during the game
Card drafting / Simultaneous action selection — each round players choose a card face-down to play; sunrise to noon timing; actions revealed and executed
carriage limits and restrictions — carriages have restrictions (e.g., no milk, no bread) and limits on stones and food tokens
draw and selection from quarry — take two food tokens from the center and draw three stones from the quarry, placing one
Endgame trigger and scoring — game ends when a player completes the fourth level of the tower; final scoring includes stone groups, stupa value, and food tokens
fog mechanic with yak direction — drawing a white stone reverses yak direction; fog markers and track dynamics affect future turns
resource exchange with carriages — exchange combinations of food tokens and stones for carriage actions, with varying costs per carriage
restock and quarry draws — restock allows taking all food tokens of one type from a carriage and drawing stones from the quarry bag
Tile Placement — stones placed in the tower must be adjacent to existing stones; connected groups of the same color score
tile/stone placement with adjacency rules — stones placed in the tower must be adjacent to existing stones; connected groups of the same color score

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a very simple set collection
it's very easy to teach
it's a fun little lighter game
the production is out of this world
it's over produced
it's not my type of game
i think it's hilarious that there's easy acts and the first player is the baby yak
this game is beautiful

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video gurLpvfhprY All You Can Board Announcement at 33:04

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Click to watch at 33:04 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the first ever aycb 24 hour charity live stream in support of mental health
100 of all proceeds are going to be going to a local mental health organization here in Winnipeg called the Sarah Riel
every five dollars you donate will get you one entry into every single prize package
we're going to be playing board games for 24 hours straight

References (from this video)

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Video G6O15Z3G5jA kovray Top 10 List at 28:32 sentiment: positive

video_pk 88953 · mention_pk 235529

Click to watch at 28:32 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Fun
Simple and easy to play
Cute components (yaks)

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Collecting resources and building pyramids

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

building — Build up these cubes to build up your pyramid.
resource collection — You just like go around and try to collect resources.
Set Collection — Score points based on how you've grouped all of your different color cubes.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I think this game deserves much more love than it has gotten
it's a work replacement in real time which is just brilliant
this one is a lot of fun it's super super random it's also really it's kind of chaotic
I really like the combos of rice
Scout is amazing it's a game you can bring anywhere it's small it's compact
it's like pattern laying
it made my brain explode and I want more of that
who doesn't love Marvel United it's very fun
it's super well done I think it's a lot of fun
Zap Attack it was very fun and we still haven't gone back to it and we should because it was a really good game
Yak is fun it's very cool because you just like go around and try to collect resources build up these cubes to build up your pyramid and then score points based on how you've grouped all of your different color uh cubes and it's it's it's simple it's easy and the um Yaks alone are amazing and they go around there they're so cute and there's a little baby yak
what is our Z game we only have one and it's called zapotec which we both really want to play yes it's gonna play this yes we have wait when did we play it about a year ago I'm thinking of um yeah yeah we played zap okay Zap Attack it was very fun and we still haven't gone back to it and we should because it was a really good game
it's just been so long that's what happens when you have so many games
well that's been at least recommendations 26 recommendations there are some doubles in there but you know what we'll let you do the math how many games you recommended let us know in the comments down below not like we can compare our lists or anything does Tyler's double game count we don't know we'll find out boom
well if you've played any of these games that we've mentioned and you would also recommend them to other people in the board gaming hobby or who want who you want to play board games with let us know down in the comments below what are some of the games we missed and if you're feeling ambitious for it why you type the alphabet down the whole suggestions go from your collection because we love to hear what your recommendations are for each letter and which letter do you have the most games of true bars is s s

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video F7n1sdQEiBA Tabletop Minions Discussion at 1:35:31

video_pk 87707 · mention_pk 229672

Click to watch at 1:35:31 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

two books there's Mech Borg which is a role playing game and then there's steel somm I think is what it's called which is like a miniature game based off of The Forbidden somm engine and so I was just like well I don't want the RPG but I'll I'll buy the other one so yeah I in in theory I'll see it some towards sometime towards the end of the year
if you like eisenhorn I strongly suggest Bloodlines and the rest of the Warhammer crime line H um
I built and painted my scaven blood bow Team this week they were a lot of fun but yeah the age shows
the stormcast Eternal res sculpts are uninspired I mean I it's a lot more of the same really you know what I mean and the rules previewed of a weird board gamey vibe that doesn't really click
do you think that the price hikes and the lack of availability of models by GW is hurting lgs's more than GW itself
stores are going to have to eventually get to a point where if they just can't get too much GW stuff they're going to have to start thinking about diversifying and starting to do some uh games like you know start bringing in models from like War Games Atlantic start bringing in like Star grave models and frost grave models and things like that from Northstar
the reason I don't like plastic cement is because sometimes I have to go back and remove an arm or take the thing off of the base or something like that and if it's plastic cement it's really almost hard to do that because it actually is melting the plastic to the plastic
GW price hike hit the critical level for me players around here buying 3D printers even the very hardcore 40K players that frowned at me when I mentioned 3D printers are buying 3D printers
basically the only big company out there is GW I mean everybody else is you know like they're they're sitting on I think and this is admittedly it's a lot of the retail people but they've got like five or six thousand employees but again half of those well maybe not half almost half of those I think are are are retail employees so there's that but still even if you take half of those people out you've still got 2,000 employees let's say
GW is weird in that they are like I said before I was talking about how Distributors are like the kind of the middleman between the stores and the manufacturers and the Publishers GW is one of those companies that yeah you can buy it from Distributors and you'll pay normal distributor prices but if you buy it directly from GW then you get it for a slightly better price but you have to jump through a bunch of Hoops to become like approved to be able to buy it from their store
you know at some point maybe down the road we'll work with like a sculptor that we like and do like maybe some stls or something like that do like a partnership but I don't see us ever really selling plastic models that's really expensive and also very very timec consuming
the stormcast eternals had 40 just Heroes just individual heroes in that line so there were twice as many heroes in stormcast eternals than there were entire War Scrolls in the iron in the iron Jaws or whatever so yeah you know there there was way too many of those guys
I think it's twofold I think it's partially there's been some change in not leadership per se but change in uh people working there that are some of those folks are a little bit more interested in t in in in in tournament stuff like you go back 10 years GW did not give a crap about tournaments
when a company gets that big it's not good for the game company it may be good for the shareholders it may be good but it's not it's bad for the games and it's bad for the players just in general when the choices have to be made because somebody on a spreadsheet was able to point at it and go this will make the line go up that doesn't necessarily make a better game it makes a better product as far as bottom line it doesn't make a better game
GW always tries to make it sound like they're doing you a favor by raising prices by the amount that they are and not a little bit more pray I do not I've I've altered the deal pray I do not alter it further indeed
see the thing is the cards are produced separately from the it wouldn't matter if you were in Denmark or even here in the states the they're printed at two different facilities sadly uh that's one of the problems with the cards but there's nothing we can do about that
see that's not supposed to happen we paid a lot of money to get those things shipped out and it sucks that some places that it got to then also there was another fee that's I apologize about that

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video b80bl01a8sk Beyond Solitaire Analysis at 17:45

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Click to watch at 17:45 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the board game is not it's programmed to facilitate a social interaction and then the social interaction develops the rhetoric so how how do we approach that it's different
this is just that but with a different kind of text and this type of text still has an author it still has a purpose right it still has you know constraints to it um they're just a different type of constraints so the rhetorical situation still exists
the punitive nature of that helps them much it's not going to encourage them that's for sure so I was I was trying to think of a way like how do I improve engagement not necessarily make them read but like how do I improve engagement
I don't want this to be like the EAS the skate class right like we all took that in undergrad like I remember my dinosaurs class like I get my easy 3 credits for science I took biological toxins and poisons I really enjoyed it actually but oh that's fun
I do feel strong about meeting them where they are like what they're interested in and what's relevant to them in their lives
you know you you plow your way through 101 and 102 and drag these students through like you can do it just finish the paper and then all of a sudden they're very excited
we want to legitimize it I guess to some degree that I don't know maybe sounds a little bit too like we're not we're not to that level that we can legitimize anything necessarily but just the more people doing it I think the better

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video WaYqJ1gMWMs Tabletop Minions Discussion at 1:33:49 sentiment: mixed

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Mixed

Pros

Good time to start a new edition.

Cons

Rules constantly changing
Too expensive
Not a great time to get into it, even at the start of a new edition.

Thematic elements

Grimdark Sci-fi

Comparison games

Grim Dark Future
Horus Heresy

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Rules — The host discusses how rules in 40k can be a reason people leave the hobby, and that it's best to get into the game at the start of a new edition cycle.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

HOAs are a blight on this country.
My first videos were shot on a Nikon D5100, which I had to trick into shooting, well, that's not true. I didn't have to trick it into shooting video. I had to trick it into kind of giving me manual control of how I shot video.
It's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's 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it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it
This stuff looks like it came straight out of Dawn of War video game.
I used rattle can primer on my last metal minis. It's what I did with my old 40k minis as well.
The game itself can be very standalone. You can use whatever miniatures you want. It's very miniature agnostic.
The games play very quickly because it's um it's not about like, oh, I've got five wounds. It's like, oop, I got shot. That guy's out.
I'm leaving because 40k is constantly changing the rules or I'm leaving because it's too expensive.
Don't get into 40k unless it is the first year of their three-year cycle. That's probably a good piece of advice for sure. If you're going to get into 40k, do it when a new edition comes out. That's the best time, and it's still not a great time.
GW have been real weird about the way they've been dealing with stores lately.
It's a multi-billion dollar market cap company and you guys can't have a like a website backend for people to put their orders in. You got to use Google Docs. Are you crazy?
Space Station Zero is probably my second favorite if I had to choose. My first favorite probably being um Majestic 13.
It was definitely uh was a was a thing that we did a lot uh at the uh there when we lived over there on uh that place burned down.

References (from this video)

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Video 1rCWr8MJN0k Board Gaymes James Discussion at 3:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85374 · mention_pk 218595

Click to watch at 3:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

unknown
Unknown
unknown

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)

it's time to log these all into BGG, and we will see you next time.
the trump changes based off of the phases of the moon
Has English rules, but it's in Japanese.
I won that by pulling a duck out of a hat.

References (from this video)

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Video OF1yz1OnAxw Board Games UnLocked Top List at 54:34 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83358 · mention_pk 209811

Click to watch at 54:34 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Solid Euro game
Interesting dice mechanic
Lots of decisions

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Family legacy and influence
Europe

Comparison games

Black Angel
Lorenzo Magnificico

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — Actions are chosen based on dice rolls, with the option to use other players' dice for a cost.
Dice Rolling — Players roll dice which determine the strength and type of actions they can take.
Resource Management — Players manage resources to pay for actions or to use other players' dice.
Worker Placement — Players send 'underlings' or 'peasants' to perform various actions around the city or on the cathedral.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this game I never would have thought just looking at the cover and then like the side art of the cover and all that stuff all cutesy and the name is all cutesy.
I think that's my favorite part of the game is that it's just nope, just you took a tile, place it somewhere.
Still a great game. Still my top 100.
this is the best racing game out there.
the solo variant, even if you can call me, you can just throw in bots into into multiplayer games, uh, are some of the best bots in board gaming in my opinion.
So it's like why the [ __ ] are you doing this? It's so stupid.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video nG8sDAKie1Q Tabletop Minions Discussion at 1:30:46 sentiment: negative

video_pk 81398 · mention_pk 201844

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Negative

Pros

none

Cons

Artificially deep rules relying on 'gotcha' situations

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)

OPR is the GURPS of wargaming.
40K rules as deep, I would call it artificially deep.
Star Wars Legion terrain is almost always the best.
OPR skirmish is a breath of fresh air compared to Kill Team.
The damned stuff is supposed to be out, but it's not out yet, unfortunately.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video DFX_ilyx2U8 Playthrough at 0:10 sentiment: positive

video_pk 72688 · mention_pk 172095

Click to watch at 0:10 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really really good
Fantastic job with this
Quick but very puzzly abstract
Randomized, so never play the same game twice
Efficiency puzzle
Aesthetically pleasing once you understand the information

Cons

none

Thematic elements

compete to launch stasis pods in order to save humanity and the people who are asleep

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Point Allowance — Players have to move their robots and activate pods within a limited number of actions.
Set Collection — Players collect victory points by launching escape pods that match available numbers.
Tile Placement — The game involves placing and activating tiles with numbers.
Worker Placement — Players use a robot/worker and can only move up or down by one number to adjacent tiles.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a real brain burn because you have to use your worker or the robot robot and you can only go up or down by one
The Apprentice has beaten the master
I really need to release a pod right now like honestly that's all I need to do
this is not a cooperative game you understand
I'm so sick of this stop taking my stuff get out of my house
you beat me so bad I give up I'm a freaking table flip look freaking table flip right now

References (from this video)

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Video aSiEUEey404 Review at 0:03 sentiment: positive

video_pk 72310 · mention_pk 170534

Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Full of strategy
Solo mode works surprisingly well
Can up the strategy and difficulty
A lot of variability
Plays quickly
Great solo option
A lot of fun

Cons

Don't love the rule where the higher total roll only plays with four dice

Thematic elements

Race to a lighthouse

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Dice Placement — Dice are placed in columns on the board, and their sum can trigger scoring conditions.
Dice Rolling — Players roll dice and use their values to move their boat.
Movement — Players move their boats forward or backward based on dice rolls.
Push Your Luck — The bust mechanic, where exceeding a column total forces a re-roll, introduces a push-your-luck element.
Set Collection — Meeting a scoring condition with a combination of your own and opponent's dice implies a form of set collection or condition fulfillment.
Variable player powers — The rule variants like 'hot day', 'cold day', and 'wind rules' effectively change how dice function or influence the game, acting as variable modifiers.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

So, it's this tugof-war game, but it's interesting because usually you are not going to meet the scoring condition with only your dice.
So, there's a lot of variability to this. There's a lot of strategy, but it plays quickly.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video yvZECgMd2A0 Watch It Played Playthrough at 0:17 sentiment: positive

video_pk 68718 · mention_pk 248557

Click to watch at 0:17 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

The game is described as fun and engaging with strategic depth.
Objectives provide clear goals and encourage specific play.
The weather die adds an interesting variable element.

Cons

The repetition of yellow plot tiles is noted as a minor frustration.
The initial turns can feel limited due to the available starting tiles.

Thematic elements

growing a bamboo garden

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — Players choose from a set of available actions on their turn, such as drawing tiles, placing tiles, taking objectives, or moving characters.
Area Irrigation — Tiles are considered irrigated if they are adjacent to a pond or an irrigation channel, which is crucial for bamboo growth.
Dice Rolling — A weather die is rolled each turn (after the first) to introduce a random effect that can alter the gameplay.
Set Collection — Players collect bamboo pieces and complete objective cards that require specific conditions or sets of bamboo.
Tile Placement — Players draw and place hexagonal tiles to expand the garden, considering adjacency for irrigation and growth.
Variable player powers — While not explicitly detailed, the game involves player turns and actions, suggesting individual agency and potential for unique strategies.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Now, I have no idea what you just said.
So, this was my introduction.
I'm going to introduce myself. And as an exchange student, I had to do that a lot. Okay. So, this was my introduction.
But before we go, Andrea, you actually were in Japan very recently.
We have to admit that.

References (from this video)

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Video R_itOXbLG0M Watch It Played Playthrough at 0:42 sentiment: positive

video_pk 68717 · mention_pk 311131

Click to watch at 0:42 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Completing objectives provides points and satisfaction.
The game has an engaging objective completion system, especially when a long-sought objective is finally achieved.
The interaction with the panda and gardener adds dynamic elements to the game.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Gardener — The Gardener can be moved to cause bamboo to grow on adjacent irrigated plots.
Improvements — Players can take Improvement actions, such as placing Watershed tiles.
Irrigation — Irrigation tiles can be placed to make plots fertile, causing bamboo to grow.
Objective Cards — Players can complete objective cards by fulfilling specific garden conditions (e.g., specific colors or amounts of bamboo on certain plots) to score points. Some objectives can be claimed immediately if conditions are met.
Panda — The Panda can be moved to eat bamboo from tiles. Its movement can be restricted or flexible depending on game events.
Plot Action — Players can choose to place a plot tile.
weather die — A die rolled at the start of a turn that can affect gameplay, with effects like rain, sun, or lightning. Players can sometimes choose to ignore its effects.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

if you've agreed to it and besides cheaters are jerks correct
he actually wants me to start by ignoring the weather die that I rolled I rolled rain but you can always choose to ignore ignore the effects of the weather diey if you want
The panda's going to eat that Panda no wonder he's so chubby looking he's just constantly eating around here pleasantly plump pleasantly plump

References (from this video)

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Video X8S-WjbTEb8 Top 10 List at 5:09 sentiment: positive

video_pk 67850 · mention_pk 164118

Click to watch at 5:09 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Gorgeous art
Baby yak first player marker is a highlight
Easy to teach
Has heavy strategy and planning

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Constructing a great stone tower to guide merchants and their yaks.
Himalayas

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Hand Management — Each player has one card in front of them containing stones and food.
Resource Management — Players acquire stones from visiting merchants and manage carts containing stones and food.
Worker Placement — Players use worker placement mechanisms to manage their dojo and train athletes.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

my name is at the start it's fine is it hello i'm matthew and joining me to count down the 10 games our viewers are playing this month is paula hi everyone i'm here too uh because we're in my house right now i'm at your house also i am real jet-lagged so who knows how this is gonna go
fun flippin right like game the special abilities feel great a fun puzzle to solve each time and solo is quick to play it's great i love you when every card feels super good yeah a game where you're like everyone else has way better powers than me but everyone else is like oh everyone else is weird yeah yeah yeah i love it it's fun i like it it does kind of feel like a flipping right but it's not it's a it's a flipping place cubes yeah it's a flipping cube we've coined it it's a coin game
got it as a late birthday present the gifter was originally going to buy a different game but she was swayed by the cute kittens i would be too and that's why i had to interrupt you so but what we were talking about is being a teppanyaki chef over our hot hibachi grill and it sure does look entertaining but could you be one throw the egg grab the pepper and find out in hibachi players are japanese teppanyaki chefs who must use their hibachi grill to please hungry customers by throwing disks which are actually poker chips onto the board where the chips land determines which ingredients the chefs can buy or sell and which special actions they might be able to take the first chef to complete three orders from customers not just ones they made up out of their brain wins in that it's obvious like i win nobody wants everyone i did it they just came in for water they did it viewer jonathan l recently fired up this game stating hauling poke chips across the board to complete recipes and getting to annoy your friends by kicking their chips around what not to like my brother really enjoyed this game well the game that this was really based on yes this sounds really fun i like it's obviously a dexterity game it is but also the way you go about it is very very fun it's like flicking throwing and flick i think it'd be bad at it i just need to get some gums i wish what did they look like did the pieces feel like slices of the onion volcano oh exactly like that of course that's exactly how i was going to describe it before you started saying the deluxe version of this game should have actual edible bits that you're throwing on the board i feel like you think that you want that but you don't want that i want it no don't tell me what i don't want okay it comes with an egg
this game is more phenomenal it creates the most faithfully immersive board game experience for a franchise that i never stopped loving since i was a kid the sheer number of expansions allow for so much gameplay variety creating unique combat puzzles for each playthrough depending on the combination of rangers and their fighting styles that you're playing with also the miniatures are so cool i think i had the last jason toy that was in the country my mom had to drive to a port to get it from a guy who had it in a box oh wow oh it was huge never let me forget it
deduction and suspense deduction and suspense carefully observe strange clues strange and ominous patterns it's actually quite distracting when you do that now think about it distracting in the things going on in the apartments across the way there's parties knives a saw bickering laughing music and a mysterious trunk do you detect a murder or is the secret private world of
Knocking it out of the park at number two is Barron park.
The first game is the guild of merchant explorers in which cities will grow in reach as players traverse the map to increase their network of connections and build routes toward the goal of achieving their personal secret objectives.
Parks are created by combining polyamidos with players scoring for animal house animal areas completed construction and more.
We were just taught this at a game night with friends we had such a great time and it's one of the best games we've played recently and autumn p adds just charming not all the babies are bears oh the game sorry cares like charmin is what i thought just charming because they have a bear mascot that's true
Near and Far in which players explore different maps in a search for the last ruin recruiting adventurers hunting for treasure and competing to be the most storied traveler they must collect food and equipment at town for long journeys to mysterious locales making sure not i do the pointing that's my thing i have the mug and the pointing i'm so sorry long journeys mysterious locales making sure not to forget enough weapons to fight off bandits living statues and rusty robots statues exactly you've got to watch out for the living statues sometimes travelers run into something unique in a mini adventure is read from a book of stories it's giving the player a choice of how to react creating a new and memorable tale each game
We just started playing this one and are so impressed with the different modes of play campaign character arcade is like a choose your own adventure book inside the choose your own avenger book
I like the characters in storytelling
Maybe my favorite red raven game maybe my favorite game ev my favorite game ever

References (from this video)

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Video yvOZxLVZiMo Review at 2:32:32 sentiment: positive

video_pk 67592 · mention_pk 163733

Click to watch at 2:32:32 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fills a gap in games about heists, focusing on planning and execution.
Has a robust solo mode.
Excellent player interaction and negotiation.
Creates emergent narratives and memorable moments.
Research-driven design leads to a historically grounded theme.
The getaway system is a tense and engaging set-piece.
Embraces the 'fun' aspect of heists, focusing on non-violent crime.
Unique mechanics and 'above the table' interactions.

Cons

The requirement for players to advocate for themselves in negotiation can be a weakness for some.
Two-player cooperative variant reportedly removes tension.

Thematic elements

planning and executing a series of heists to acquire the most money without getting caught by the police
late 80s, early 90s

Comparison games

Burrow Brothers series
Splatter
Leaving Earth
Chinatown
Oceans 11
Nemo War

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Point Allowance — Players have a certain number of actions to perform during the heist.
Dice Rolling — Dice are used, particularly in the getaway sequences and potentially other risk-related actions.
Negotiation — Players engage in negotiation with each other to plan and execute heists.
Risk Management — Players must plan and execute heists while managing the risk of getting caught.
scenario-based play — The solo mode features different scenarios like bank heists, armored cars, and museums.
Set Collection — Players may collect specific crew members or tools needed for heists.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

For me, heists were kind of the biggest gap in what I could find a game for.
The original thesis of the game was that with unlimited amount of planning time, you could erase all of the risk from a job.
When we talk about what makes a game a Leader game, it was that level of player interaction.
The development process involved numerous iterations, especially for the getaway system.
If you actually pull the trigger on a job, you will get caught. It just raises the stakes to such a level that I don't think you can find a major heist where somebody was killed that didn't end up getting caught.
The idea of like representing it just be it became a historical uh to rep the idea that if someone had a gun and was able to use it and then still get away with it just didn't ring true.
We're telling the story from uh the point of view of the criminals. You just simply don't know what the police are doing at any given time.
I think it is because the uh the object of desire is so obvious and relatable.
There are no guns in Tate and there are no like directly represented police.
The solo mode is based on the one big job and we can swap it out among different scenarios.

References (from this video)

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Video FxW9Nk8139o Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:24 sentiment: positive

video_pk 65062 · mention_pk 158666

Click to watch at 0:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Multiple board sizes available for varied gameplay.
Clear objective of creating a connected road.
Engaging movement mechanics with stacks and capstones.
Alternative win condition based on controlling stacks.
Optional scoring variants add replayability.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

abstract strategy

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area Control (implied) — Controlling stacks by having your piece on top is a key aspect of movement, and winning by controlling the most stacks is an alternative win condition.
Capstone Ability — Capstones count as part of a road, can be moved with stacks, and have the unique ability to flatten standing stones.
piece placement — Players can place stones flat or standing upright on empty spaces during their turn, or as part of setup.
Road building — Players aim to create a connected road of their flat pieces or capstones from one side of the board to the opposite side.
Stack movement — Players can move stacks of pieces they control in a straight line, dropping off pieces in each space entered, up to a carry limit determined by the board width.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Tac was first mentioned as a purely fictional game in the novel by Patrick Rothfuss The Wiseman's Fear
The primary objective is for you to create a road of your connected pieces from any one side of the board to the opposite side
Standing stones do not count as a part of your road
Capstones are rare and powerful; they also count as a part of your road
Capstones have another property: they're the one piece that can flatten standing stones
The player with the most of those stacks is the winner
You say Tac out loud to your opponent anytime you're one turn away from winning the game

References (from this video)

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Video ihOGMm4TFkg Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:40 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 64517 · mention_pk 157985

Click to watch at 0:40 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

appeasing a volcano monster; village building and ceremonial pacts
the tribes of the village of Wutaki compete with each other in their worship of the mighty volcano monster Booker
mythic/ceremonial with contracts, omens, and a doom pyramid

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

ascending pyramid of doom — players can ascend the pyramid for increasing victory points
Contracts — contracts are represented by cards in the display and can be completed by paying resources
contracts/pacts — contracts are represented by cards in the display and can be completed by paying resources
end game triggers — end triggers when someone reaches 100 points or ascends the pyramid of doom, then final scoring occurs
feeding workers — as pacts are completed by all players, extra workers must be fed with unique resources or be lost
omens — omens cards grant powerful one-off or persistent abilities
Resource Management — players gain five resources, upgrade towers, and upgrade town spaces to influence resources
Resource management and upgrades — players gain five resources, upgrade towers, and upgrade town spaces to influence resources
revenue/score cards (revenge) — revenge cards have objectives that must be met at end of game or lose points; can be used via cost of strong actions
round-based play — round-based play where turns proceed until all players have placed their workers
secret elemental scoring — each player has a secret elemental that scores points from pacts, with opponents able to affect scoring as well
special worker — there is a special worker that doubles the effect of any action
Worker Placement — players place a worker on a board space to gain resources, then retrieve workers for a new round

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

wutaki is a worker placement game in which the inhabitants of wutaki compete with each other in their worship of the mighty volcano monster booker
this makes wutaki a particularly more cutthroat game than your typical worker placement game

References (from this video)

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Video jClb-9dYdLI kovray Review at 2:06 sentiment: positive

video_pk 63933 · mention_pk 157456

Click to watch at 2:06 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Two-player game with a small, portable box
Evolves with play and reveals strategic depth
High variability with Wind and Storm cards

Cons

Prototype components are not final
Initial rules can be a bit abstract to grasp

Thematic elements

sailing, wind, weather manipulation
sailing/wind-based navigation with weather effects

Comparison games

Chess

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Column wind comparison — After movement, if any column totals exceed the wind value, dice in that column are returned to the owners and rerolled.
End condition — First player to nine points wins; ties lead to another sail-off.
Limited Points — First player to nine points wins; ties lead to another sail-off.
Movement within a row — On your turn, move one of your five dice forwards or backwards within its row; you cannot move back to the starting position.
reroll mechanics — Dice are rerolled and returned to their columns after scoring or when forced back.
Roll/Spin to Move — On your turn, move one of your five dice forwards or backwards within its row; you cannot move back to the starting position.
Scoring on wind match — If a column total equals the wind, each die in that column scores one point.
Setup and die upgrade rule — At setup, draw a wind card, place colors and dice in starting column, and if all dice are three or lower you may upgrade one die to four to six.
Wind and Storm cards — Wind cards set the wind value; Storm cards provide abilities and are dealt three to the bottom of the board.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Tac is designed by Emily L Ro it's published by zeru games
it's a two-player game
the box is quite small
it's pretty easy to carry around and show to other people
this is a prototype and the components are not final
learn more about the glory of TAC
and that's Tac

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video hLpN4Zz2gTk Board Game Dad Discussion at 0:45 sentiment: positive

video_pk 40034 · mention_pk 121021

Click to watch at 0:45 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

Comparison games

Castles by the Sea

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The objective of castles by the sea is to keep your pocket-sized structures and figures on the beach as long as possible before they can be devastated by the hazards of a smaller existence
You draw at least three blocks of sand and place them anywhere on the board such that they remain a connected unit
As long as the structures remain standing you will receive victory points
These games are short with only a few turns per player and gameplay is strategic but also fun and easy going
for a similar game with less threats take a look at Yak

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video i6ZG2Fs6-ck BoardGameCo Review at 8:51 sentiment: positive

video_pk 36213 · mention_pk 108432

Click to watch at 8:51 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Fun, approachable

Cons

Limited depth; repeated plays not deeply compelling

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'm going to be reviewing 17 board games from Board Game Arena.
I will be going from least fun to most fun.
There are some great games that I love that I do not think Board Game Arena is the best platform for them.
This is not one of the videos where I have a lot of them.
I hope you enjoyed this video and as always I hope you have a good...

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Ardk5_e4DqY The Dice Tower Discussion at 16:58 sentiment: positive

video_pk 32733 · mention_pk 96997

Click to watch at 16:58 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

fast filler with drafting tension

Cons

some luck and blocking can limit strategy

Thematic elements

ancient civilizations
pyramid drafting

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Drafting — players secretly draft blocks and build a pyramid for points
drafting / set collection — players secretly draft blocks and build a pyramid for points

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I hate this game so much.
The theme definitely is carrying the game but I really like the mechanisms too.
It's a nice back and forth two-player game trying to outguess the other person.
This is basically Scrabble with pictures.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video GyBrSl8FJNY Unknown Channel Discussion at 0:07 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 24839 · mention_pk 72778

Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Elegant abstract mechanics that seamlessly blend placement, movement, and capture concepts into a cohesive system.
Accessible entry point for newcomers due to its simple core rules, yet capable of profound strategic depth for seasoned players.
Components and visual design reinforce the thematic clarity of road-building and stacking without overwhelming the tactical decisions.

Cons

Rule interpretation can be non-obvious at first, particularly around stack movement and capstone interactions, which may lead to misplays for new players.
Early game can feel meandering if players focus too much on development rather than contesting the road; tempo may vary depending on board size and player style.
Some players may prefer more overt conflict or asymmetrical powers to drive tension, which Tak deliberately eschews in favor of quiet strategic pressure.

Thematic elements

The central theme is quiet strategic mastery: routing and connecting territories, forcing your opponent to adapt to emergent board shapes, and using walls and capstones to bend the board to your will. The thematic tone blends minimalist elegance with a sense of ancient craftsmanship, where simple components give rise to deep strategic pressure and long-term planning.
Tak is framed as a stylized, timeless abstract strategy game set on a flat board where players place, move, and stack stones to construct a continuous road between opposite edges. The world-building around Tak leans into a mythic, almost folkloric vibe where the stones are not merely objects but part of a broader narrative about path-building, balance, and clever use of terrain. The imagined setting emphasizes a calm, contemplative experience rather than a high-tension, firefight style of play, inviting players to think several moves ahead in a low-ceremony environment.
Tak presents an abstract, almost Zen-like narrative frame. It hides a rich design philosophy about how small, elegant rules can generate complex emergent play. The storytelling flavor is indirect—players infer story through the evolving geometry of the board rather than through explicit cinematic cues.

Comparison games

Go
Chess
Hive
Blokus
Arimaa
Onitama

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Capstones and walls — Capstones can flatten standing stones (walls), enabling paths that had been blocked. Walls serve as strategic impediments that shape the road-building effort but can be nullified by capstones. This interaction introduces a rock-paper-scissors feel between offense (building walls) and disruption (flattening walls), encouraging players to balance offense with the capacity to undermine obstacles.
Movement and stacking — Pieces can be moved as stacks across the board, with the top piece determining control of the stack. Stacks allow players to convey multiple strategic threats with a single move, creating a dynamic where control can shift rapidly. The stack mechanic also enables players to consolidate material and respond flexibly to changing board geometry, which rewards foresight and adaptability.
placement — Players alternately place stones on the board, laying down the foundation of potential roads. Each placement creates new branching possibilities and invites responses that shape the evolving topology. The act of dropping a piece is deliberately simple, but its impact compounds as more stones accumulate, building a tension between initiative and defense.
Winning road criterion — The objective is to connect opposite sides of the board with an unbroken chain of stones. The road can traverse elevations created by stacks, making movement and placement decisions multi-layered. Achieving a road requires both spatial foresight and tactical timing, as the board evolves from quiet beginnings into a dense, interwoven structure that favors the patient over the impulsive.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The idea of a road isn’t about a single moment of victory; it’s the patient accumulation of moves across time.
In Tak, walls are not just obstacles; they’re sculpted possibilities that can be reshaped by a well-timed capstone.
Seasonal imagery isn’t just decoration—it sets a frame in which strategy feels meant to be contemplated rather than rushed.
A single placement can redefine the entire road you’re building and the defense your opponent must contest.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video lbtzDWYG1bE GamesNight News at 0:00 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 10452 · mention_pk 124847

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Unique gameplay mechanic

Cons

Reduced cannibalism effectiveness

Thematic elements

Survival/Cannibalism

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Cannibalism — Ability to eat other players with specific hunger and curse conditions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It feels like we only just got the option to eat your friends in peak and they're already taking it away almost.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video AHH7cD2RqN8 Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 24:33 sentiment: positive

video_pk 9303 · mention_pk 92051

Click to watch at 24:33 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Absolutely brilliant and unique approach to city building
High replay value due to modular card combinations

Cons

Long play time; express modes would help
Steep learning curve for new players

Thematic elements

Three color based action cards representing religion, civic, and military endeavors
City building in Renaissance era
Highly variable with modular card mixes

Comparison games

Tuah comparisons within Rosenberg catalog

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

dice drafting with color coded actions — Draft dice that map to three color action sets to build a city.
dice maintenance and upkeep — Maintaining dice costs and feeding meeples to use dice.
multi color action cards — Cards in red, white, and yellow drive different action sets and disasters.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Nations is the civilization game to beat quite frankly.
Two great two player games in one countdown; the golden age of two player gaming.
Isle of Cats Explore and Draw is the second greatest roll and write of all time.
The Rival Networks is fast, tight, and makes you sweat from start to finish.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 0vSQwvm6EzA Good Time Society Discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 9115 · mention_pk 114215

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

features beautiful art
designer has been working on it for years
cute art style
includes solo mode
good for 3-5 players plus solo

Cons

none

Thematic elements

heist

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Good morning everybody. Friends, look, we've got a special guest.
Moon Colony Blood Bath has been my obsession lately
I always need to learn a game in person. I just the way my brain works.
this game was really really hard to get
worker placement is probably my favorite mechanism in games
I need a break from all the Stefan Feld games
it's got that Euro feel to it. It is a Euro game

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video hHUGYb294q8 BoardGameCo Top List at 45:47 sentiment: positive

video_pk 6474 · mention_pk 83422

Click to watch at 45:47 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

tight abstract feel
deluxe aspirations and premium components desired

Cons

needs a deluxe treatment to fully shine

Thematic elements

card play with positional depth
abstract strategy from a book, inspired by Gwent-like vibes
puzzle-driven, head-to-head duel

Comparison games

Gwent
Gargantua (abstract comparison)

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

card-based area control — players place cards to gain better positions and control

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

I'm judging a little.
I want a deluxe version of this game.
This is a solo puzzle, and it's a five out of five for me.
I would pay for a deluxe version.
Skyrise is a crossover we both have in the same video.
This is a fantastic set of games. This is a good set of games.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video E37q1P2rtoE Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 32:43 sentiment: positive

video_pk 5799 · mention_pk 103701

Click to watch at 32:43 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

great family weight
beautiful production
engaging tension with current market and cards

Cons

slightly random due to bag draw
some players may desire more interaction

Thematic elements

tower-building with blocks and yak carts
village with yak caravans
light, family-friendly

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action cards — three action cards per turn to add to a tower, restock, or draw from market
bag-draw resource placement — draw blocks/cubes from a bag and place on yak carts
token/row placement — build a stack with matching colors to maximize points

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Scout by own games highly recommended by us
It plays in 15 minutes
This is one of the best thematic rolling rights I've played in a while
production Top Notch
it's a very family friendly game
there's not a lot of play interaction but it's Thinky

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video pXaDTbJqGxw Actualol Top List at 2:23 sentiment: positive

video_pk 5583 · mention_pk 97481

Click to watch at 2:23 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

flows gracefully with minimal setup
high portability and travel-ready components
dense bite-sized decisions that stay engaging

Cons

theme depth may be limited for players seeking narrative flavor
pure abstract feel may not appeal to all casual players

Thematic elements

historic/antique puzzle vibe
Abstract, grid-based strategy with wood pieces
meditative, focused on pure strategy

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

area control via path connectivity — Win by forming a continuous path from one side of the grid to the opposite side.
foresight and planning — Look ahead to anticipate your opponent's threats and winning lines.
low-fuss design — Minimal components, no cards, no lengthy setup; quick to teach and play.
placement and movement — On your turn you place a stone in an empty space or move an existing stone.
stacking and line-building — You can move stacks and drop them in a line to threaten winning routes.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Tac just flows.
The fugitive is moving from one hideout to the next, leaving a trail behind him, but his options are limited.
Each player has a god card, a special power that sets them apart.
There are hundreds of god combinations, it's impossible to master Santorini.
Sigrada is a delightful but cunning puzzle about making stained glass windows that will involve no broken glass, metaphorical or otherwise.
The morel of the story is that you can't do everything, especially if you want to be a fun guy.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video qg7bTA2-5UI Board Game Hangover Top List at 2:45 sentiment: positive

video_pk 5347 · mention_pk 100330

Click to watch at 2:45 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

very positive

Pros

Gorgeous components
Great with two players
Dice placement mechanic

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Resource collection

Comparison games

Crisis of Burgundy
Civolution

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Dice Placement — Roll dice to place on worker spaces and collect tokens

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

If you care for Star Wars, this is a must-play game for you. Hands down.
An amazing two-player game where you can explain the rules in just couple of minutes

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video SrTvdhhcDec The Cardboard Herald Top List at 30:32 sentiment: positive

video_pk 4073 · mention_pk 109034

Click to watch at 30:32 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

deep solo design with multiple factions
community-supported scenarios beyond base game
satisfying asymmetry and tension

Cons

teaching can be intimidating
print-and-play history; some components may be minimal

Thematic elements

asymmetric warfare and strategic faction play
anti-Nazi resistance through subversion
campaign-like with community-driven content

Comparison games

Nutzkrieg
Command & Colors: Ancients (solo mods)

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

campaigns and scenarios — community-driven scenarios with evolving play
worker placement with subversion — place workers to advance goals while undermining opponents

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's going to be our individual top 10s that may have overlap
Spirit Island is the best solo game there is
one class two characters combine it all into one deck
the solo mode is neat

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video a32TztIRT34 Foster the Meeple Discussion at 3:47

video_pk 3795 · mention_pk 108958

Click to watch at 3:47 · 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)

it's like giving your games a grade like a letter grade
it's all subjective nothing matters our ranks it's our ranks it's all subjective
we have to come to some sort agreement on disagreements probably a lot
we are two different people we like different things
this is our list and it's completely subjective and none of this matters in the grand scheme of Life 100%
we're just adults playing with toys

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 8bPze0Wxn3A Beyond Solitaire Discussion at 7:07 sentiment: positive

video_pk 3574 · mention_pk 91073

Click to watch at 7:07 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

dynamic, free-form negotiation
live demonstration of game pitch
solo mode available

Cons

depends on group dynamics
may require experienced players to unlock depth

Thematic elements

negotiation, trust, payout division
group heist planning; criminal enterprise
cooperative yet competitive heist planning

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

cooperative strategy — players cooperate on the heist plan with payout distribution
Negotiation — players negotiate who participates and what contributions are made
payout division — deciding rewards based on contributions
route planning / detection avoidance — players coordinate plans to avoid cops and maximize reward

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's one of my absolute favorite conventions of the year.
Shakespeare's First Folio... it's looking super cute.
The cheese party always kicks ass.
PAX unplugged is the one.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video _hc8JbbRCK8 Foster the Meeple Discussion at 22:44 sentiment: positive

video_pk 3469 · mention_pk 121064

Click to watch at 22:44 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

fans of the Kingkiller Chronicles may appreciate the thematic tie-in
creative take on board-game time interaction

Cons

not widely known; availability may vary
mechanics can be confusing without context

Thematic elements

time-shift narrative with match-like play
thematic nod to Kingkiller Chronicles
thematic yet abstract

Comparison games

That Time You Killed Me
Philosophy

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

time-themed strategy — uses a time-travel frame from the Kingkiller Chronicles to frame moves

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's 100% strategy you are just trying to optimize the placement of your pieces and trying to block the other person
it's the cutest version of a chess like game
Santorini is probably one of the closest like direct comparisons
Go which is probably even older than chess and more popular than chess

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video QBJoOFe9QIw GamesNight Rules Teach at 0:00 sentiment: neutral

video_pk 2863 · mention_pk 96769

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Detailed food consumption rules
Unique badge system

Cons

Confusing food classification rules

Thematic elements

Survival and exploration
Island survival

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Badge System — Players can earn badges by following specific rules or challenges
Food Consumption — Players must follow specific rules about what food can be eaten

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Be sure to like this video if it helped you out

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video YNx5h_-wupw BoardGameCo Analysis at 3:11

video_pk 2080 · mention_pk 106587

Click to watch at 3:11 · YouTube ↗

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Mechanics unknown.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The two by the way was Kingdoms for Lauren which is actually I think liked by others but I felt that you had to break your teeth on the rules to get to a game that was a whole lot of messiness.
I really did not love Kingdoms for Lauren but I respect that it's a game that will work for others.
The highest the highest individual score given out in 2022. So that's the 3.5 is the most common rating given.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video zD_qiW67avc Foster the Meeple Discussion at 26:38 sentiment: positive

video_pk 2025 · mention_pk 86582

Click to watch at 26:38 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

kid-friendly
cute and approachable

Cons

might be too simple for seasoned players

Thematic elements

Cute aesthetic with resource patterns
Yak herding and resource gathering with temple-building
family-friendly and approachable

Comparison games

Zooloretto
Isle of Skye (family variants)

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Resource gathering and pattern building — build structures by patterning stones/colors from moving wagons

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a deck deconstruction game where you have a bunch of cards in your hand with differing values
it's mean but like the funny thing is it's mean but like you don't necessarily get a Target so somebody usually ends up being the punching bag
we did a video on the new iteration of libertalia Winds of galecrest from stonemeyer games you can go check that out
this is one of those games where it's like a badge of honor if you win and we've just had such a great time with it
it's a really cool experience I think that's the best way this is a really cool experience of a game to play

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video CACsxXw02AA Chairman of the Board Discussion at 4:51 sentiment: positive

video_pk 1653 · mention_pk 82684

Click to watch at 4:51 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

versatile card set; many different plays
interactive dice economy

Cons

depends on others' dice; can feel opportunistic

Thematic elements

dice manipulation and placement
generic Eurogame setting
strategic engine-building with dice buying from others

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

dice drafting/occupation — you roll dice that can be bought by other players and used for regions
dice manipulation/placement — build an engine by converting dice into money and points

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is such a wonderful game
I had a huge Monopoly on the money generating Viking
it's such a great little programming game
I like this little Jewel Rondell system

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video fBWDfXE9xsU Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 21:26 sentiment: positive

video_pk 988 · mention_pk 2776

Click to watch at 21:26 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

clear, elegant path-building mechanic
distinctive pieces with varied function

Cons

some players expect deeper thematic integration

Thematic elements

Comparison games

Camelot
Quarto

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

flat stones with path creation — create a continuous path toward the opponent's edge

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

these games have no theme
it's a toolbox for you as a game designer which of these mechanisms do you want to employ in your own abstract strategy game
product design is everything
the single most impactful feature of connect 4 was that little hatch beneath the frame
abstract strategy games are some of the most interactive games in existence

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video v1NP3fEBrmc GamesNight News sentiment: neutral

video_pk 687 · mention_pk 129996

Overall sentiment (raw)

neutral

Pros

Unique game mechanic

Cons

Potentially chaotic gameplay

Thematic elements

survival/climbing

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Cannibalism — Ability to 'eat' other players with specific conditions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

You can only eat your friends when your hunger bar is now at 70%
You can just turn off cannibalism entirely if the feature is causing too much of a mess

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Tak

Beyond Solitaire Podcast 219: Ted Caya on Take

Tak - How To Play

Takenoko - Game Play 1

Images

Tak

Beyond Solitaire Podcast 219: Ted Caya on Take

Tak - How To Play

Takenoko - Game Play 1

Images

Welcome Friend

Create a New Guild