In The Networks, you and your opponents are new television networks, and you need new programming. For this, you’ll need Shows, Stars, and Ads.
Shows need Stars and Ads. Stars give you bonus viewers (points), and Ads give you extra money. You’ll need everything you can get; you'll have a small amount of resources and time, and you must grab the latest hot show before your opponents.
And some Stars will give their best effort only if you put them on in the proper conditions. For example, some Stars only want to be put on dramas. Other Stars want to be the only Star on the show. And your Ads will give you the most money only if you put them on in the correct time slot.
Finally, Shows age and viewers lose interest, so you have to keep your line-up fresh by canceling shows and sending them into reruns. Fortunately, you can get viewers from your reruns, and you'll get bonuses if you get a lot of shows of the same genre throughout the game.
If you need a special push, Network Cards can give you special powers — but will a Network Card be better than another action? You'll have to make that call.
The player with the most viewers after five seasons wins!
The Networks
UKGE haul | 2026
- television broadcasting
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Implied by the mention of Gilhova and the game's mechanics.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The Squirrelies are the type of award show that you would expect from RDTN.
- Get it? Gy. Not like game as in the smell, but gy as in playing board games. Get it?
- Man, brevity, I love it. You know, it speaks to me.
- Autobots roll out.
- So, the other guy gave me the award, not not Marty, you know, who's the guy, right?
- I wonder if they do automatic draft over there at Fantasy Flight from your checking account.
- And we really need to give that one another shot.
References (from this video)
- Simple core gameplay
- Thorough rulebook
- Humorous and thematic card/text variety
- Decisions with meaningful tradeoffs early and across seasons
- Genre bonuses add depth in later seasons
- Prototype cards have no art yet
- Some players may find card count (about 15 options) overwhelming early on
- TV show management and network programming
- A TV network where players manage shows, stars, and advertisements across five seasons
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Ads and stars — Players place advertisements and stars into shows to increase revenue/viewers; some cards have restrictions (may only be used if an advertisement/star is available).
- Budget and season progression — One action allows dropping a budget to advance turn order to the next season; budget yields money and reshuffles the turn order.
- End Game Bonuses — Once three shows of the same genre exist in your empire, you gain bonus points/viewers and can acquire network cards or ads; this can unlock large earnings later.
- Genre bonuses — Once three shows of the same genre exist in your empire, you gain bonus points/viewers and can acquire network cards or ads; this can unlock large earnings later.
- Hiring shows and slotting into time slots — Players hire shows by paying a cost, assign them to preferred time slots to maximize viewers, with changes across seasons.
- Reruns and aging — Shows can be put into reruns; at season end, reruns are scored and shows age to reflect changing popularity.
- Turn actions — On each turn, a player chooses one of six actions, four of which draw a card from four rows; the rest include hiring shows, adding ads, placing network cards, or other effects.
- Worker Placement — Players hire shows by paying a cost, assign them to preferred time slots to maximize viewers, with changes across seasons.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a prototype preview copy there is no art on any of the cards
- I enjoyed playing the game it's it's fun there are lots of decisions to be made
- I enjoyed laughing at the various combinations that I came up with
- this is a funny game
References (from this video)
- High anticipation from the community
- Interest in the designer's work
- Running network television.
- Network Television
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Pap, you still haven't received your Tekkaido that you backed at a pretty high amount because you got your own character in the game.
- It's funny. We we talked about that at some point. Just like the humor, like the humor of doing something like a pep talks where I would talk about, you know, like some advice for particular games and it's something I like that. I like that. I love that idea of a pep talk.
- Rebel Mage here uh, left a message just said, "Pep, just want to say you're a great co-host for watching play. Keep up the good work."
- For me, it's probably going to be Star Realms. Star Realms is very high on here as well for me. Um, but I kind of want to skip that just because of how repeatable Star Realms is anyway. And I'm going to go to Sheriff of Nottingham.
- Uh, this is self- serving, but I would dress up as a Mounty and be my character from the Dead of Winter promo that's in the fundraiser.
- I'd want to find something I already look like and kind of like I wouldn't just go as my favorite character. I'd go as a character that I think I that I could that I could best look even kind of naturally almost, right?
- Yes, we talk about it somewhat frequently actually. Like, oh, we should probably cover some of the old older classics. Yeah, cuz there are still people today who pick up those games and and want to uh learn how to play them, right?
- Every game. But the one that always comes to mind for me is uh Pathfinder and any game that's kind of trying to do what the Pathfinder adventure card game is doing because in that game whenever you level up and complete missions, you get like draw a random item out of the box or do this or do that.
- Like Seall has something similar to that. They have an emnity thing. If you attack someone then they remember that other players remember that in in the game's mechanics and then that comes back to haunt you later or whatever.
- The whole idea of under Mountain is like it's constantly shifting and like it's the surroundings are changing. So every time you go down, things will be a little different anyway. So it' be really cool to make like a legacy style dungeon exploring thing around the end of that naturally.
References (from this video)
- high anticipation; promotional access at Gen Con
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- your videos are great I love your YouTube channel especially your playthroughs
- Lisboa is a beautiful game
- this was the funnest moment that I had at the convention
References (from this video)
- Great idea for a game
- Solid core mechanics
- Fun presentation with wacky characters and shows
- None explicitly stated, but the description focuses on the core and presentation
- Running a television network, picking shows, stars, and ads
- Television Network
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting — A drafting game about running a television neighborhood.
- Engine Building — A drafting engine building game about running a television neighborhood.
- Set Collection — Picking shows, picking stars, picking ads.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Great card drafting
- Solid core gameplay
- Wacky theme
- Charmingly executed
- running a television network
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — A great card drafting game about running a television network.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Fantastic theme
- Super fun
- High Rise
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I remember playing the the original one and I remember standing at the table playing with Don and JB no Jamie wasn't there it was uh Chris and a couple other guys and I remember the cover of the game but I do not remember playing the game you know it's like it left no impression on me whatsoever
- I mean it hit the table a couple times for me and then like then it did hit the table forever so it was one of those things where you know just give it up you know let somebody else you know
- but but highrise was one of those games that everybody said no it's just too expensive to publish now I have no idea what happened with his high-rise campaign or or how he did it but when he only raised like 52 grand for it and then like and then he did his high-rise Ultra plastic Edition and he raised like a little over 100 Grand like for the life of me I I think like basically he didn't my me personally with with covet and everything else it was like one of those things where I think it was just way too expensive I mean you can't make a big old plastic fancy thing for 100 grand
- It's like it's like the the the the the the best answer in most situations if you are stopped by a police officer um and asked hey uh where are you going your best answer is I don't answer questions that is just yeah and just yeah yeah and that's I mean and yeah they're they're gonna be annoyed with you and they're gonna but you know you're just better off not saying anything and and just go the fifth
- I think it's a good thing for the hobby I think it really is I think it's just gonna some of those people just uh suck it suck it uh go go work at UH Burger Time and and try to uh the same pre-insured me okay go to the work houses
- I just don't understand it neither do I if you if you can't find a game for fifty dollars that's available right now and you will go back some 300 no no backer no backer history no prior history game I just don't get it why would you do that
- I don't think it's a perfect solution would you want to get bigger anymore I don't think so I mean I really like it the way it is I feel like it's it's unwieldy
- I think it's a lot of potential here too people really seem to enjoy I don't think the coffee ones are that funny if I mean me personally
- Yeah the problem is those those rooms go into the block or don't go back into the block price so they go in for stupid price so you don't get a good deal
- I mean it's just it's crazy hard like what yeah you know we we ship out we don't really let stuff sit in orders for more than a day maybe a day at most and it still like takes a couple days takes two three days three or four days yeah
- it is rules dense but it is nowhere near as rules and sense as uh as as magic Rome was
- I'm going to hate doing the video I'm going to absolutely hate doing the video because it is going to be it is going to be uh uh it's going to be annoying to try to get all the rules correct
- magic realm was one of his all-time favorite games when he was a kid
- bo Jackson bo knows baby
- I just don't understand how you make money on honestly selling games it's really tough
- people don't want to buy games that exist already they want to buy games that don't exist for some reason I don't get it
- I mean it is like it is like there are pages and pages and pages of games that are just like who is this who is publishing this what is this you know
- the flea market spoken Lobster steak
- it's like the the ideal game library was a database of mine oh sorry a database of more than 700 short board game reviews in French and broken English
References (from this video)
- Great thematic integration with clever references.
- Smart and sharp gameplay.
- Entertaining due to the references.
- Expansions add new networks and executive powers.
- A new edition is planned for 2026 with expansions and upgrades.
- Has been out of print for a long time.
- The publisher (Formal Ferret) closed down.
- Running a major modern television network, with cards representing shows, actors, and ads referencing TV shows, actors, and ad campaigns.
- Television networks
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — There are a million cards sprayed out on the table. cards that represent new shows that you can put on your channel, actors that you can cast for the shows, ads you can put on the shows... grabbing cards and plugging them into your own little network board.
- Engine Building — While not strictly an engine builder, the mechanics of shows producing points that eventually drop in popularity necessitate developing new shows to replace old ones, creating a form of engine maintenance.
- Set Collection — Combining the right actors with the right shows based on audience preference.
- Tableau Building — Plugging cards into your own little network board.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Man, how many uh Stephan Felds am I talking about today? Was that the second, the third? I don't know. But that's why Stephen Feld is the greatest.
- And this time he's taking on roll to move. Maybe the most hated board game mechanism of all time because of course that's, you know, Monopoly. You roll your dice, you see where you land, you get what you get. Isn't that great? No. It's a really terrible, antiquated, outdated, uh, mechanism. And yet, um, Stefan Feld found a way to make it awesome.
- This is definitely what people would like to, you know, pjoratively call a point salad. But to me, that's a good thing because that just means, oh my gosh, there's so many different things you can do.
- The problem with the expansions is it makes the game longer. I wish it didn't uh because now we have to spend we take more turns because we we go through all those dice, right?
- Are you sick of Stephen Feld? If so, too bad because number 41 is Forum Trainum. uh not his most well-known game, but one of my favorites. I think this might be my number three highest ranked feld game of all time.
- It really deserves more attention.
- As you've seen, just gotten a small glimpse of what life is really like on the road. Because when your house is made to drive down the motorway at 50, 60, 70 mph, things shake loose. Stuff happens and maintenance is always required.
References (from this video)
- Unique blend of car drafting, money, and show planning
- Older title, not as flashy as newer titles
- TV network
- Car drafting games
- other tycoon sims
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a game about acquiring mergers and things that happen as you're physically placing out these pieces onto the board and starting hotels and then you can spend money to buy stock.
- It's so good.
- It's a two-player game, so it's perfect for two players.
- Brass Pittsburgh does cool stuff. If you like brass, I think you're going to like Brass Pittsburgh. If you're not a fan of brass, it didn't change a dang thing.
- The wake and loadup stuff, there's this kind of thing with like fuel range where you can really only be in the air so long.
- This is Baby's first dog fight.
References (from this video)
- Smoother gameplay with rough edges shaved off
- More gateway-friendly than the original
- Rules are simpler and shorter
- Wife prefers this version
- Design is superior for modern board game audiences
- Includes some original expansion content in the base game
- Lacks the tension, highs, lows, and drama of the original
- Too laidback and chill for the host's preference
- Without the 'Mega Corp' expansion, it's too easygoing
- Requires the 'Mega Corp' expansion to regain some of the host's preferred complexity
- Running a TV network
- Television industry
- The Networks
- Ticket to Ride
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft cards representing stars, ads, or new shows.
- Engine Building — Players build a TV lineup to generate money, viewers (VP), and ads.
- Hand Management — Players manage cards in hand to create the optimal TV lineup.
- Press Your Luck — Players decide when to pass, affecting rewards and card availability.
- Set Collection — Players aim to get sets of shows within the same genre for bonuses.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a very small box. Doesn't take up much shelf space.
- but it definitely hits above its weight.
- this is not one that makes you insanely powerful and you know just kind of like you know you know does uh you know power inflation, power creep like so many expansions I'm seeing these days that just like kind of fundamentally upset the balance of the original game.
- Minos is a long beast of a game.
- I would not play Emberleaf without this expansion. It is excellent. It's a simple little tweak, but it's a mustave.
- It turns the whole game cooperative, which I got to say I love.
- And I just got to say folks, it is freaking brilliant.
- The Networks Prime Time is the Networks with all the rough edges shaved off
- it becomes so laidback and chillax
- But this game does that better than any other Machioro inspired game, including Machi Koro itself ever has. It destroys all of them, including Space Base.
- it is by far the coolest implementation of a victory point track that the board game industry has ever seen. It is literally the best of class of all time.
- This is an expansion that just makes um, Evenf Fall, a very hard name to remember, Evenfall, deeper and richer.
- Every year, like clockwork, the publishers come out with a new brilliant expansion, and every year it's my number one thing of that month, and System Overload is no different.
- it introduces a new idea and you can see it there on the screen. If you look over in the bottom right of the screen on the boss I'm fighting, there's a die there. Don't worry, you never roll that dice. That die is your intensity marker.
- Evenfall was in my top 10 for the year. It came out a few years ago. I think it's absolutely amazing.
- It is so deep and it's so rich because it borrows an idea from one of my all-time faves, Allesium.
- The best one are these cute Everybody gets this cute little cat that's a little wooden cat that literally hangs off of a wooden hat of one of your little wooden witches and it's the cutest thing you've ever seen.
- it comes with new mages that somehow come up with completely new and interesting ideas that we still have never seen before.
- This is a simple little set of rules that really creates a new and interesting dynamic shifting element that is just a lot of fun.
- It's the best thing I played in the month of May. Aon's end system overload.
References (from this video)
- Excited to try
- No clue about gameplay
- Running your own TV network.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- solo — The only solo game from All Play that the host has not played yet.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I am so excited to show you everything that I got and some games that were gifted to me by publishers.
- So, I picked up the Walk the Roll expansion. Oh, I'm so excited for that.
- The Fairies Have Gone Mad. It's Irish. It's folklore. It's amazing.
- It's Fate of Witches, and it just looked so good. It's a deck building game.
- I have heard so many people rave about this game.
- So, I've heard from someone I trust that it is definitely better at one player.
- Who doesn't love some free stuff?
- The vibes are just immaculate.
- And now we have like a royal theme which speaks to me very deeply.
- Let's kill everybody in the kingdom. I'm already excited. Let's let chaos reign, I shall say.
- Do I need another bag? I do not, but it is a very good quality sturdy like board game bag.
- I have not. Have I bought the video game immediately when I got back home from UK Games Expo so that I can play it? Yes, you got that right. I'm playing it today.
References (from this video)
- Streamlined and made better version
- television networks
- The Networks
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I had to increase this rating to a 10. I play this all the time. Love this game, it's fantastic.
- This is a remake of an older game. Um Miss Miss Miss Miss I forget the Missenium or whatever it's called. Um from Reiner Knizia and the cows are being abducted. It's weird and unusual and I There's some things I liked about it, but I can't really recommend it because I think it's too odd.
- My kids liked it more though, but 6.5.
References (from this video)
- Really, really fun
- Hilarious cards
- Very thematic
- Modular expansion that doesn't make the game feel different
- Fantastic game
- Readily available and easy to get
- Starting cards don't matter
- Running a TV network and competing with other networks
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players can draft cards, including shows, stars, ads, and network cards.
- Modular Board — Based on player count, the correct board is put on there. This tells you starting money, number of shows, types of cards, and pass bonuses.
- player interaction — Competing with all of the other networks.
- Push Your Luck — Deciding when to pass for the round, where passing early gets money and bonus viewers, while passing last gets more actions but a smaller bonus.
- Resource Management — Managing money to pay for shows and stars, and cancelling shows if unable to pay.
- Set Collection — Tracking genres to get bonuses.
- Variable player powers — Different viewers want to watch certain shows at different times.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- When I saw it at my friendly local game store, I immediately had to pick it up.
- So, when I saw it at my friendly local game store, I immediately had to pick it up. As well as the Moguls or the Mega Corp expansion, Mogul is part of it.
- This is a really fun game where you are going to be running a network and you are trying to compete with all of the other networks.
- It's very thematic. It's a lot of fun. Um, I think the cards are hilarious.
- So, this is my green room. This is my reruns. That's all going on.
- So, this game works where you're playing over four rounds, and you get to decide when you're passing for the round.
- This game is so fun. It feels really thematic. At this point, it almost feels nostalgic because I don't know the last time I watch network TV, but I have such a great time with it, figuring out the best way to do things.
- I love bringing in the expansion because it gives you just enough of more but doesn't feel like a different game and it's modular so you can do all three modules or just one.
- I think this is an absolutely fantastic game and I am so excited that it is now readily available and easy to get.
References (from this video)
- plays well at two players
- expansion adds meaningful asymmetry
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tableau Building — players curate networks of TV stations with asymmetrical goals.
- tableau_building — players curate networks of TV stations with asymmetrical goals.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Arc Nova was our most played game last year in terms of the length of time that we played it.
- the audio bit is holy cow nine days it's such a difference
- I love cats Explore and Draw every single day of the week
- it's just it's great to have a framework for fun
References (from this video)
- Cheeky, humorous card texts and theme
- Accessible and straightforward solo mode
- Paced, self-contained rounds with clear transitions
- Engaging endgame scoring through reruns and genre alignment
- Expansion content can add complexity
- Some card text references may feel dense or tangential for new players
- satirical look at media production, advertising, and celebrity culture
- Television networks and shows with a focus on prime time scheduling and ads
- card drafting and tableau-building to create a TV network
- Adulthood
- Ark Nova
- Luier
- Distilled
- Too Many Bones
- Pursuit of Happiness
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft TV show cards to build their network.
- Combat: Deck/Hand — The solo version uses a solo deck and a non-scoring AI opponent; scoring is determined by a solo chart.
- Endgame scoring via reruns and genre tracks — Shows placed in reruns and genre tracks contribute to final victory points.
- Solo mode with AI using a simplified deck — The solo version uses a solo deck and a non-scoring AI opponent; scoring is determined by a solo chart.
- Tableau Building — Cards must attach to shows with specific requirements, constructing a network tableau.
- Tableau building / set collection — Cards must attach to shows with specific requirements, constructing a network tableau.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is the networks, specifically the networks prime time.
- This is just the base game.
- It's a very simple game for the most part.
- The solo mode for this version, the solo mode is a very simple solo mode.
References (from this video)
- fun twist on TV network building
- engaging pacing
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It is an excellent production. It is everything you've come to maybe know and love about Neuroshima Hex.
- Outstanding, man. I love this trick-T game that also includes set collection.
- Disappointing. This is basically Forbidden Island, the card game with too few spaces and a little too much swinginess.
References (from this video)
- Clever theme with industry flavor
- Solid engine-building decisions
- Flavorful shows and parodies
- Can be heavy for shorter sessions
- Potential learning curve
- Media industry, scheduling and ratings
- Running a television network, selecting shows, stars, and time slots
- Engine-building with hand-management flavor
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Engine Building — Create an efficient slate of shows and management sequence to maximize points.
- engine_building — Create an efficient slate of shows and management sequence to maximize points.
- set_slot_management — Choosing time slots and star lineups yields varying points.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The hobby business is from different sides.
- It's a wonderful experience.
- This podcast has brought me a lot of joy.
- The experience at PAX Unplugged was wonderful.
- The passion and generosity of publishers is special.