Skip to main content
Twilight Struggle box art

Twilight Struggle

Game ID: GID0369035
Game Info
Year
2005
Players
2
Age
13+
Playtime
180 min
Collection
Your Tier
Loading…
Expansions & Family
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea – Conflict in the Horn of Africa
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
Description

Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are – but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle. – John F. Kennedy

In 1945, unlikely allies toppled Hitler's war machine, while humanity's most devastating weapons forced the Japanese Empire to its knees in a storm of fire. Where once there stood many great powers, there then stood only two. The world had scant months to sigh its collective relief before a new conflict threatened. Unlike the titanic struggles of the preceding decades, this conflict would be waged not primarily by soldiers and tanks, but by spies and politicians, scientists and intellectuals, artists and traitors.

Twilight Struggle is a two-player game simulating the forty-five year dance of intrigue, prestige, and occasional flares of warfare between the Soviet Union and the United States. The entire world is the stage on which these two titans fight to make the world safe for their own ideologies and ways of life. The game begins amidst the ruins of Europe as the two new "superpowers" scramble over the wreckage of the Second World War, and ends in 1989, when only the United States remained standing.

Twilight Struggle inherits its fundamental systems from the card-driven classics We the People and Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage. It is a quick-playing, low-complexity game in that tradition. The game map is a world map of the period, whereon players move units and exert influence in attempts to gain allies and control for their superpower. As with GMT's other card-driven games, decision-making is a challenge; how to best use one's cards and units given consistently limited resources? Event cards add detail and flavor to the game. They cover a vast array of historical happenings, from the Arab-Israeli conflicts of 1948 and 1967, to Vietnam and the U.S. peace movement, to the Cuban Missile Crisis and other such incidents that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. Subsystems capture the prestige-laden Space Race as well as nuclear tensions, with the possibility of game-ending nuclear war.

TIME SCALE: approx. 3-5 years per turn
MAP SCALE: Point-to-point system
UNIT SCALE: Influence markers

Description

Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are – but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle. – John F. Kennedy

In 1945, unlikely allies toppled Hitler's war machine, while humanity's most devastating weapons forced the Japanese Empire to its knees in a storm of fire. Where once there stood many great powers, there then stood only two. The world had scant months to sigh its collective relief before a new conflict threatened. Unlike the titanic struggles of the preceding decades, this conflict would be waged not primarily by soldiers and tanks, but by spies and politicians, scientists and intellectuals, artists and traitors.

Twilight Struggle is a two-player game simulating the forty-five year dance of intrigue, prestige, and occasional flares of warfare between the Soviet Union and the United States. The entire world is the stage on which these two titans fight to make the world safe for their own ideologies and ways of life. The game begins amidst the ruins of Europe as the two new "superpowers" scramble over the wreckage of the Second World War, and ends in 1989, when only the United States remained standing.

Twilight Struggle inherits its fundamental systems from the card-driven classics We the People and Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage. It is a quick-playing, low-complexity game in that tradition. The game map is a world map of the period, whereon players move units and exert influence in attempts to gain allies and control for their superpower. As with GMT's other card-driven games, decision-making is a challenge; how to best use one's cards and units given consistently limited resources? Event cards add detail and flavor to the game. They cover a vast array of historical happenings, from the Arab-Israeli conflicts of 1948 and 1967, to Vietnam and the U.S. peace movement, to the Cuban Missile Crisis and other such incidents that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. Subsystems capture the prestige-laden Space Race as well as nuclear tensions, with the possibility of game-ending nuclear war.

TIME SCALE: approx. 3-5 years per turn
MAP SCALE: Point-to-point system
UNIT SCALE: Influence markers

Featured Videos
Review
Rapid Reviews | Two Player Board Games | (OVER FIFTY Games Featured!) Part 4 | GIVEAWAY!

Rapid Reviews | Two Player Board Games | (OVER FIFTY Games Featured!) Part 4 | GIVEAWAY!

kovray Jul 13, 2026
Rules Teach
Twilight Struggle - Rules explanation in Greek + English Subs

Twilight Struggle - Rules explanation in Greek + English Subs

Peaky BoardGamer Jan 20, 2026
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 137
This page: 50
Sentiment: pos 35 · mix 5 · neu 1 · neg 1
Mentions per page
Showing 1–50 of 137
Video 5TOvIvqIZoM Board Games UnLocked Top List at 48:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 99505 · mention_pk 276667
Board Games UnLocked - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 48:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive, but not played recently
Pros
  • Really, really solid two-player war strategy game.
  • Nailing the theme and mechanics.
  • Hoping to get it to the table soon.
Cons
  • Haven't played this in a very long time.
  • On the heavier side.
  • Benefits from multiple plays to be aware of auto-win cards.
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitics
  • Cold War
Comparison games
  • War of the Ring
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Players try to control different continents.
  • Card Drafting — Players have two separate decks of cards depending on their side, with cards providing action points or abilities.
  • Set Collection — Implied through gathering victory points.
  • Track management — Players need to balance the Defcon track.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • And then you have to balance the Defcon track and then balance your military while also uh balancing the victory points
  • The fact that every player has a very busted player power, but because they're all bro because they're all broken, none of them are.
  • This was the first game that I played that had that element. And I've always liked that ever since.
  • It it's the battle of Helms's Deep H just with a different theme.
  • So it wasn't the most highly narrative game, but it was something that I feel like this game needed right off rip.
  • Just buddy cop buddy cop the game.
  • The problem with modular expansions for games like this. And the reason why it's on this list is because I don't play this all the time.
  • I would go out of my way to probably say this is the best pirate game.
  • this one's gameplay just really does it for me.
  • It hit number one because I'm I'd be more inclined to play BattleCon than I would any of these other games, but it also has been games that I haven't touched in a long time.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 4OHWCxS0MJk Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:32:38 sentiment: positive
video_pk 94710 · mention_pk 258750
Rolling Dice & Taking Names - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:32:38 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Appears in the top 32 of the geek madness tournament.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's a popularity contest
  • those are your gateway games that will eventually lead to the pandemics
  • I'm not gonna begrudge anybody to sit and play Monopoly that that's all they know man
  • if you like monopoly you might like and then suggest something else
  • I will play Monopoly with you anytime as long as we play by the rules
  • there's the problem everybody has a slight what do you play with this particular rule no there's no house rules play by the real rules
  • I think that's a natural step and I think people could easily go from monopoly to ticket to ride
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Olu7G3tfu7g Rolling Dice & Taking Names Analysis at 8:47 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 94663 · mention_pk 258624
Rolling Dice & Taking Names - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 8:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Historically significant game
Cons
  • Intimidating for beginners
  • Complex card interactions
Thematic elements
  • Cold War
  • Cold War
Comparison games
  • 13 Days
  • Watergate
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Mentioned in the context of influencing and taking over areas of Europe.
  • Card Play — Mentioned as a core mechanic, with interaction and understanding Victory conditions being important.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • to me that was a very simple game easy to learn but kind of recreated what really happened during that time
  • if y'all ever seen a GMT rule book They're they're not pretty books with glossy pages and big images and very few words per page they're double column they're they're numbered almost like a contract a legal document that's just how they're formatted
  • it's basically the conflict between uh uh basically the US and and that region of the world between China and us trying to influence and control that area
  • this is coming from somebody who complained I did a 45 minute history lesson on Cuba Libra when I taught it to you
  • I knew nothing about how Castro took over CU I I knew he did it how he did it and why I don't know but playing that game three or four times now I have a I'm not a master by any means but I have a much better understanding of what really happened during that time
  • I am learning about stuff that happened during the Vietnam war knew nothing about super excited as I play through this game learning about that
  • you do learn as you're playing the game how the forces had to build towards that final battle of waterl you learn the players that took place
  • yes I have that one I've never play amazing historical game from Marton Wallace yes I had some Muro stuff in it but I actually learned a lot about that from Lincoln
  • we got access and allies coming up talking about jumping to the deep end we'll jump straight into that
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video x9D7ZH1jHrQ Rolling Dice & Taking Names Analysis at 52:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93562 · mention_pk 253347
Rolling Dice & Taking Names - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 52:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Exciting acquisition
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical conflict
  • Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Players vie for control of regions on the world map.
  • card-driven — Gameplay is driven by playing cards that represent historical events and actions.
  • influence — Placing influence markers to gain control of countries.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • The organizer mark hill has done a really really good job
  • We got to use the oculus rift that was freaky
  • strike was brought out it was on the table first thing it was awesome
  • When I saw the board you see this big map you see these mechs I'm immediately thinking area control and a lot of head-to-head conflict and it didn't really play out like that
  • the setup is forever
  • it didn't give me a lie people said they gave him that rush of when they walked into the store and they ripped open a booster pack I did not feel
  • Fantasy Flight Games basically lives off IP right now and everybody else did the original stuff
  • Mega Moose Con's incredible they've already talked about trying to pick a date for next year
  • There are brain-eating amoebas in the water
  • I wonder on you that's the class says
  • it's funny because you know how you go through that period or you're just like why haven't i played this in a while I want no dude I am totally the same way
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AN2I-B543Ns Watch It Played Analysis at 2:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92351 · mention_pk 248128
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
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)
  • David I thought that was an interesting point because when you commit to a 10x10 challenge well maybe the game you think you enjoy the third or fourth play in starts to lose some of its shine then what do you stick with your commitment to keep playing it even if you're not enjoying it anymore
  • I really like this additional challenge you've given yourself here though the 2x2 x 12 challenge because even just playing a game twice you know if you're a part of the cult of the new sometimes you'll play a game have a decent experience and that's enough for you to go okay I'll keep this in my collection cuz you're moving on anyway and playing other games and you'll get back to that one sometime by playing it even just an additional time I think like you said helps you understand the game better but beyond that it's going to give you at least another experience to compare against your first one and that may reveal some very key things about whether or not this is a game that would be a good fit for you
  • well this resolution has great personal interest to me because pep is a friend of mine he's in my local game group so I'll probably be playing some of those prototypes and maybe even some of your 15 X15 challenge perhaps there'll be some crossover in our resolutions and we can help each other out
  • Marcus let's try to keep our resolutions realistic okay
  • cam I actually agree with this at least on a certain level these kind of challenges you know are not like a challenge to lose weight for the sake of your health where you're trying to do something that's good for you whether or not it's something you enjoy a challenge like this I think is meant to be fun it's meant to be enjoyable in some way and so if you're doing it just to slog through it and get her done that's probably the wrong motivation but I know personally I appreciated that my last year's resolution did get me to pull certain games off my shelf that I might not otherwise have gotten to just because I had that extra motivation of trying to complete it because I played some games that created wonderful experience for me that I might have passed over and and I'm glad I didn't so again I think if you're doing it as a fun objective then that's great that's healthy and and enjoy and if you want to avoid it that's okay too play what you want to play when you want to play this is a hobby right it's meant to be fun
  • well not to be outdone I've created my own resolution the 5x10 + 5x 5 + 10x 2 + 20 by 1 challenge
  • I know this is ridiculous but this is my Challenge and here's what it means I'm going to pick five games from my collection to play 10 times each and then later in the year I'm going to commit to another five that I'll play at least five times each so I'm leaving myself some room that maybe a game I already have in my collection or one I'll discover will be one that I want to add in so that's kind of like the living component of this equation then over here want to pick 10 games from my collection as of the end of 2014 that I haven't played yet and I want to play them two times each and then I want to pick 20 games in my collection I haven't played yet to play one time each so that's that's the 5x1 plus 5x5 plus 10 x two plus 20 X1 Challenge and my idea here is that any of those games I start playing that I plunk into this equation if I don't complete them I'll remove them from my collection
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3ql95wSEIyg Watch It Played Discussion at 12:03:40
video_pk 92306 · mention_pk 247964
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 12:03:40 · 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)
  • I have this smile forcing its way onto my face it doesn't matter how many fingers I try to on or if I think of Margaret fater on a cold day it doesn't work
  • I always make sure mine are standing straight up I cringe when people place them upside down on their side or anything
  • Michael you're like a terrible architect your people keep making these horrific houses
  • I sleeve the cards for almost all of my games
  • I'm especially bad about neatness with magic the Gathering I change my sleeves every month or two because I can't stand the bent edges and slightly gunky feel they get from being in your hands so much
  • I just wanted to reach into the screen and straighten it some of the Ed in my videos are done to cut out shots of me straightening components in Carone
  • if someone places a tile that shifts the whole play area I cannot continue until all of the roads and cities are lined up again
  • When playing Dominion I put cards in order by cost value and then alphabetically
  • I'm sorry for the distress I caused by sweeping all of the pieces of my Twilight Struggle into the box I feel bad about it it's now organized I hope you're happy
  • I cannot play a game that uses paper money I will be holding in my hand the entire game folded up like I'm one of the participants in a back alley craps game from one of those mob movies
  • when a monster is in range of the heroes and they're all facing random directions I have to take their pieces and the monster and make them all face each other otherwise it just looks silly to me
  • it gets me when someone keeps the communal dice in front of them when they are done rolling
  • one of my many quirks is seeing game components and not knowing what game they came from
  • I count all of them cubes dice mles cards boards other pieces I'll even look up the quantities on Board Game Geek if the rules don't cover it I need to do it before playing a game the first time
  • I have these lying around blank cubes you know those were handy for prototyping games and things but I mean that's for a game collector that's no good
  • I have to take their pieces and the monsters and make them all face each other
  • I need to shuffle the cards seeing people shuffle cards horribly bothers me so much
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video nZmqjmNQJdY Watch It Played Discussion at 32:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92213 · mention_pk 247713
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 32:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging strategic depth.
  • The puzzle of optimizing card usage is interesting.
Cons
  • Only available on Steam currently, with anticipation for an iOS version.
  • Decisions can be very difficult and time-consuming.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area influence — Players compete to gain influence in different regions.
  • Card Drafting — Players select cards to use for actions or events.
  • two-player — Designed specifically for two players.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I don't look at games and go this is too complex we couldn't do it it's more about do I think it's the right fit is a game I'm excited about and energized about
  • I have some sort of a weird feeling of Purity in a game so let's say I was playing the path finder Adventure game um anytime that I was going to play the game again I'd be very careful to try to weed out anything extra that had get stuck in until certain points
  • I love small Skirmish style games so
  • I love that open world just getting to explore everything and just doing nonsense things for hours on end have nothing to do with the main quest and thoroughly enjoying it
  • I'm so excited to see Spider-Man done by Marvel and not by Sony that I'm I'm just I'm over the moon
  • superheroes are weapons of mass destruction yeah right so so some of them having them regulated probably makes sense
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 1vE6V0ZdB8o 3 Minute Board Games Top List at 12:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91734 · mention_pk 246190
3 Minute Board Games - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 12:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Highly Positive
Pros
  • Fantastic thematic two-player card-driven game
  • Allows replaying the Cold War
  • Agonizing decision-making process
  • Compelling due to shared player thought process
Cons
  • A little on the heavy side for some people
  • Skill player will beat a novice player
Thematic elements
  • Replaying the Cold War
  • The Cold War
  • null
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Implied by the theme of the Cold War and influencing regions.
  • card-driven — A two-player, card-driven game.
  • Hand Management — Mitigating terrible cards in hand is a key aspect.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Hunter is another one of those games we ended up playing a lot at University mostly while drinking
  • Hunter has several problems it takes a lot longer to play than it should for what it is especially when you're doing the coup those can drag on quite a long time and also fundamentally it's pretty racist
  • I think the hunter idea of a Banana Republic itself is pretty dated but the idea of a corrupt government where players of different office members competing for positions and stockpiling money definitely has potential just there's got to be a better way to interpret it
  • Cosmic Encounter is still going strong and that is an achievement and a half
  • it's core idea of a simple gameplay element Modified by a whole bunch of variable Powers has had a profound influence on all of gaming and unlike a lot of designs from this period it still holds up pretty well today
  • so happy birthday to me for 42 years old today here's to 42 more
  • if you want to do the same thing yourself just go to board game geek click on advanced search and search by year published range and just fill in the year and feel free to post your list Below in the comments
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TGVxl732psk 3 Minute Board Games Rules Teach at 0:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91537 · mention_pk 245652
3 Minute Board Games - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Requires thinking turns in advance
  • Manages short-term risks based on hand draw
  • Giant history lesson on the Cold War
  • Cards are about pivotal events and people
  • Card mechanics lead to painful decisions
Cons
  • Long game
  • Complex
  • Not for players wanting a light breezy experience
Thematic elements
  • The Cold War, ideological struggle between the United States (capitalism) and the Soviet Union (communism)
  • 1945, in the aftermath of World War II
Comparison games
  • Paths of Glory
  • 1960 The Making of a President
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Growing your influence in different regions is the key to winning.
  • card management — All actions in this game are determined by cards.
  • Coups — Players can initiate a coup in a region by playing a card, rolling a die, and subtracting stability scores. This action can increase DEFCON level and award military operations points.
  • DEFCON Track — The DEFCON track can increase with coups in battleground countries and reaching DEFCON 1 results in a loss. Victory points can be lost based on DEFCON level relative to military operations.
  • Headline card — The first card played each turn, must be played for its event, and is resolved from largest to smallest.
  • influence — Players buy influence in different regions through operations points. Controlling a region occurs when a player has significantly more influence than their opponent.
  • Operations points — Operations points can be spent on actions like building influence, conducting a coup, or realigning influence.
  • Realignment — This is an operation to weaken an opponent's influence in a region, resolved through an opposed roll modified by regional influence.
  • scoring cards — Scoring cards are based on control of regions, awarding domination points.
  • Space race — Once per turn, a player can spend a card on the space race if they don't wish to play it for its event or operations.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Twilight Struggle is one of my all-time favorite games and I wish I could play it more often
  • It's basically a giant history lesson on the Cold War
  • The best thing about this game is the card mechanics having a hand of your opponents events makes for some really painful decisions
  • However, this is a long complex game and not one that will appeal to people who want to light breezy play experience.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cKiaPxwghIQ Watch It Played Live Stream at 52:25 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 91272 · mention_pk 244749
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 52:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Carcassonne is a very on the face of it can look like a very pleasant pleasing game and it is and can be super cutthroat.
  • the best way to do it is to start your question with the word QUESTION in all caps
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ttqY2ZIfX-A Watch It Played Discussion at 48:38 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91107 · mention_pk 244236
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 48:38 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Highly Positive
Pros
  • It is a fantastic game.
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)
  • i don't believe in the concept of must-have game oh this is a game you must have there's no game you must have there's no game that everyone enjoys
  • you know what i i have to say i think the mountie from dead of winter is my favorite promo
  • i don't want to say no very very well could be
  • if you enjoyed seeing me at this convention that we're now meeting in person and we're shaking hands if you enjoy seeing the things online that you do understand you made it happen like you've literally made it happen because none of this works uh without some kind of financial support at the end
  • I always say that and then I don't actually keep to it.
  • You know what uh oh gosh hold on one more second oh I'm gonna get something else really the stream should be over this chat is we're closing it down in just a couple of minutes this is the last time I'm getting up it really is I promise you
  • I won't belabor the story here because you should buy this book.
  • I don't have a link in the description to it I'll try to think to put it there but this is a great tips and tricks guide
  • I really felt like the fifth edition is really quite quite cool.
  • I like what they've done with it so anyway.
  • I would love a a game based on the television show the prisoner
  • I highly recommend it to you go out and watch that that show it's so so good
  • I would love to do a rules tutorial for twilight struggle
  • it's it's a fantastic game it really is
  • I am not a number that is right that is a quote from the prisoner
  • I hope you stay safe wash your hands be careful keep distance from everyone
  • Let's just stay safe I just want all of you to stay safe
  • Stay safe out there I care about you all and I really appreciate the caring and thoughtful things that people have said to me as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OgAMbmnzQ6E Watch It Played Interview at 48:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90975 · mention_pk 243691
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 48:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
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)
  • Downforce is now available to play as a beta
  • I almost had it... but it just couldn't quite make it happen
  • Fair Dinkum time
  • test test test test everything
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video oTlek5mVkos Watch It Played Discussion at 0:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90865 · mention_pk 243260
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • well deserving of this upgrade
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • cold war
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • people sometimes ask me to do a top ten and if i ever did one twilight struggle would certainly be on it
  • this is a two player brain burning tension filled cold war themed masterpiece that has been on bgg's top 10 for over a decade
  • i'm very happy to see this released
  • if you know what it is if you believe you know what it is and you can prove maybe you can find someone local pronouncing it pronouncing it oh lord pronouncing it see i got problems right from the start
  • i really like how they match the color of the plastic to the artwork on the token so this way they just fit right into the game
  • i've never played but i've heard lots of good things about newton
  • maybe you should even it's just for yourself brighten it up a little bit
  • it really is kind of their fresh interpretation
  • i really like the way these turned out
  • i'm a fan of these holders
  • i think i accidentally did order a second copy of this
  • allows you to immerse yourself further into the case
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dH5PntTkBr8 Watch It Played Discussion at 3:13
video_pk 90678 · mention_pk 242489
Watch It Played - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:13 · 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 the only table I've had experience with so it's difficult for me to recommend other tables.
  • I don't think it simplifies it too much at all.
  • I think sometimes when people play games that are complex it's it's natural those two two possible reactions I've seen both of these happen in the comments on my videos sometimes.
  • I love doing the vlog and I really want to get back to it and I committed on the vlog that I would do 100 episodes we're at 50. I still implanted I still plan to follow through on that conviction
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ikw-zJzGVL8 Nights Around a Table Discussion at 1:34
video_pk 89501 · mention_pk 237788
Nights Around a Table - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:34 · 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)
  • Oh my goodness oh my goodness oh gosh oh God I have so many
  • It's my roommates so it's less my shelf a shame and more his shelf of Shame it's shared shame
  • Well it's actually head to the by itself now
  • I have a lot of Legacy games on my shelf of opportunity because you need the right combination of people just it's so difficult to get to the table it's a big overhead and figuring it out is a lot once you start if somebody decides they don't like it you've got problems just takes hours
  • I'm talking to somebody who's in game nine of charterstone with no hope in finishing
  • It's so terrible that they vowed me not to sell it and I've had it for so long they can basically make him make me hold on to it
  • I don't buy board games I hate to break it to you but there are yarn shells of Shame and there are bookshelves and I I have subscribed I'm at the top of the list for both of those but I'm not I can only be on so many shelves of shade the shame is gone now
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SJTJ0n36bXU kovray Review at 7:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89526 · mention_pk 237964
kovray - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • historical authenticity and streamlined feel for a heavy game
  • depth that rewards repeated plays and card knowledge
  • strong thematic integration with a satisfying battle dynamic
Cons
  • long playtime and steep learning curve for new players
  • risk of analysis paralysis for some groups
Thematic elements
  • influence, space race, military operations, and nuclear threat
  • Cold War geopolitical tension across ten rounds
  • card-driven history with real-world flavor and presidential phases
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Control and influence across territories affects scoring.
  • area/global influence — Control and influence across territories affects scoring.
  • Card-driven mechanics — Decks drive political events, influence, and actions each turn.
  • Deck Manipulation — Decks drive political events, influence, and actions each turn.
  • military operations and space race tracks — Militaries and space exploration influence scoring and power dynamics.
  • multi-round progression — Ten rounds of evolving political and military scenarios culminate in victory.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is a very interesting game I really appreciated the way that the card pairing works I think it's really cool
  • Production in this game is super cool there's some surprises in the box
  • it's unlike any board game I've played
  • the more you put into this game the more you get out of it
  • the battle system is so much fun and very smooth
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8nfYyNizuzw kovray Top 10 List at 40:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89512 · mention_pk 237908
kovray - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 40:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • highly regarded two-player strategy
  • deep strategic decisions
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 art knit is absolutely phenomenal
  • it's a very exciting game
  • the edge of the seat factor really elevates this game
  • it's a tug and pull in an internal tug and pull
  • production, the theme, the art, the rules are easy to teach
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kEkB4P2xXIY Shelfside Top 100 List at 1:12:25 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 89113 · mention_pk 236244
Shelfside - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:12:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Here's the best way to teach games if you ask me.
  • the format of rulebooks has me convinced that like dude your game should just always have here's like the how to play.
  • this game is a euro... it's all about tech trees that's that's all I've heard of.
  • it's the best like World traversing pandemic scale level of like Eldritch Abomination fighting.
  • the most interaction... that's what Dominion is all about.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video W7-5tzDwjks kovray Top 10 List at 15:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89050 · mention_pk 235894
kovray - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 15:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Heavy political simulation
  • Educational historical events
  • Tight hand management decisions
  • Engaging give and take
  • Stands the test of time
  • Highly acclaimed
Cons
  • Strictly two-player
  • Can be hard to play
Thematic elements
  • political area control
  • Cold War
  • historical events
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Political area control during the Cold War.
  • Card Play — Playing cards from your hand in different eras and different rounds as either the USSR or the USA.
  • event cards — You can use the cards as an event, but some events trigger the other player.
  • Hand Management — Tight decisions with your hand because you're going to end up playing all but one sometimes all of your cards.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I think the crunch of deciding which Cathedral or which Tower I guess you want to go into is really really neat.
  • The dice movement around the board and strategically moving so you can get yourself additional bonuses I think is super clever.
  • Everything in this game just flows so smoothly and so cleverly that and even the static in this game and the table presence is spring is brilliant.
  • I was scared because the expansion has as much content in it as the base game basically it's a half teaks mansion and I was scared it was going to be overwhelming but it's not at all and it's fantastic.
  • it's a very intimidating game because they literally give you this giant piece of paper that is your guide to how you should play the game.
  • it is a very complex game.
  • this back and forth creates this real high tension moment where you don't know whether or not you're going to be able to trade your resources because ilia's over here trying to blockade you and take over your countries.
  • it's a really tight game.
  • I love that it is just a two-player game it felt super super natural to get into it.
  • it is the one of the original bag Builders there's others out there but this is the one that really put when people tell you about bag building on the map and it's a brilliant game.
  • it's really crunchy.
  • every decision you make in this game is so impactful to your strategy.
  • it just flows so well and it has everything that I love in bag Builders.
  • if you're looking for a yearly beige type of game that has bag building this is this is it this is the one.
  • the decisions that you have to make are extremely tight.
  • that's where I think it gets more and more intense.
  • it kind of just like snowballs from there it really escalates as you play this game.
  • I feel like this is like the game that the complexity is just perfect for what it is.
  • it looks very approachable it looks really friendly.
  • if the truck doesn't land in exactly at the space where the pipe is to receive that color then everything is ruined.
  • this game fits perfectly into what I enjoy.
  • it's crunchy it's grindy the mechanics are there the resource management is tight the decisions in the round one versus the round two are really vibrant.
  • the way the board is set up there are resources on the board that you could be like oh yeah conveniently you've got this or over here that I'm just going to use because I can.
  • it can like create some tense moments in the game.
  • I took the port from you I remember that yeah you ruined ruined me maybe that's why it's not as high on my list.
  • the sheer element of how you do your actions is based on how you place your tile and if it creates a joint group and all of a sudden you have more of one symbol it's just such a clever way to utilize the actions you can take in the game.
  • then there's so much like layers in it goals you can take of racism you are going for the recruiting there's so many different things you can do.
  • even the way that you travel with your boat like how you position yourself is so clever.
  • I really do think it's the entry thing.
  • there's a lot of iconography it's a lot to take in initially but once you play it and once you understand what's happening it's a game you'll simply want to get back and back to the table.
  • it's a wonderful game I absolutely love bonfire.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video klwiLB6OfvA Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88676 · mention_pk 234379
Rolling Dice & Taking Names - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Much quicker and smaller than the original Twilight Struggle
  • Offers multiple options for card play
  • Works very well from the standpoint of having options
  • Smaller deck of cards makes it easier to learn
  • Board layout is good for seeing options
  • Rules are easy to understand
  • GMT rulebooks are appreciated for their flow
Cons
  • The board is translucent
  • It took longer than the estimated 35 minutes to play
Thematic elements
  • Cold War
  • The Horn of Africa
Comparison games
  • Twilight Struggle
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area scoring — The scoring of regions like the Middle East is noted as significant.
  • Auto Victory — There is a mention of an auto-victory condition.
  • Card Driven — The game uses cards for both events and operational values, described as an 'event driven car game'.
  • Coups and Influence — Core mechanics involve managing coups and influence in different regions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • How freaking cool is that to meet somebody who experienced the exact games that we're getting ready to play that's what I love about these things is I told him I said you know I can read about the history of the stuff
  • Spoiler alert Saigon fell to Northern North Vietnam so it's really interesting that North Vietnam gets stronger over time. South Vietnam gets weaker but your goal is just the last eight rounds.
  • I really like this. Yeah I really like it has multiple for me you're not restricted by just only playing cards for your event you have to choose how you want to do them.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fsK9aCdubBw Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top 10 List at 8:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88638 · mention_pk 234137
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 8:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Widely regarded as a cornerstone two-player strategy
  • Deep, thematic, and tightly balanced
Cons
  • Can feel dated in design by modern standards
  • Learning curve and duration can be daunting
Thematic elements
  • Global influence, political strategy, and power balance
  • Cold War era geopolitics
  • Card-driven, high-tension strategy with historical flavor
Comparison games
  • 1960: The Making of the President (card-driven diplomacy analogies)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area influence / geopolitical competition — Players vie for influence across global regions to score.
  • card-driven play — Cards drive actions, events, and geopolitical outcomes.
  • Diplomacy / negotiation tension — Strategic negotiation and long-term plan setting under pressure.
  • Negotiation — Strategic negotiation and long-term plan setting under pressure.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's one of those classic uh you know Market train style games I think that everyone should play it's fantastic
  • the new Lincolnshire editions have you know really evocative art and that age of Industry style uh art and oh it's great
  • it's still the same idea you're still building your Tableau but it's different at the same time like this definitely deserves it's different enough for it to vote for both of these games to be honest they're completely different games in terms of the drafting of cards
  • it's basically aliens the board game without the IP
  • the alien is ultimately reproducing and moving around in the ship and you don't know exactly how it's getting around
  • this is one of those games that when you are just developing your collection this is this is one of the games that you want to own
  • it's a heavier one it's a pretty involved game
  • it's a space themed game as opposed to the more like fantasy themed themed game but they play pretty similarly
  • Through the Ages is the same dang game it's just got slightly different box art
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video CUIxUkSMsqA BoardGameBollocks Analysis at 9:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88417 · mention_pk 232998
BoardGameBollocks - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Great two-player experience
  • Deep strategy
Cons
  • Long playtime
  • Card draw can be problematic
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical influence and conflict
  • Cold War
  • Simulates historical events
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area influence — you trying to spread your inform influence around different countries on the board
  • Card Drafting — you'll be playing cards that activate different pivotal moments in the Cold War timeline
  • Variable player powers — one of you is going to be the Soviet Union and the other is going to take control of the United States
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Castle burgundy is a dice game you're rolling a cut of dice you'll be using the result to take different actions to expand your Province to send Goods off to different markets and all that sort of stuff you know typical themeless affair that Stephen Feld will always always offer you but that doesn't mean anything it's still a fantastic experience I still love playing castles of Burg today and is still a fascinating romp even if you do want to push that gun out of the window
  • it's a game by Jamie stigmar stonar games it's side yeah this game changed the landscape with their Kickstarter campaign it created its own unique Universe with some fantastic artwork and it's wrongly regarded as a war game it's the threat of war that is the more concerning thing in this game
  • it's a fine game but it's just not as good as everybody tells you that it is
  • Love Twilight Struggle it's a great two player only game there's a lot of debt fear it's not perfect there's a few problems with the way that the cards come in and out of the game and it can be long if you take your time and you're going to have to do that if you want to win so yeah Twilight Struggle we don't play this all the time even though I love the maybe we should play a little bit more yeah
  • Vlad sh's Rule books turn my brain into soup
  • it's a space themed reimagining of Terror mystica
  • Spirit Island it's overrated piece of trash
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bZO78LGLtjs BoardGameBollocks Top List at 9:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88130 · mention_pk 231600
BoardGameBollocks - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Glad I pulled the trigger to get it.
  • Play this with my eldest son quite a bit.
  • The theme interests me quite a bit.
  • The way all the cards are related to historical events and facts makes it a fascinating game.
  • Lifts a lid on a portion of history that isn't really talked about that much these days.
Cons
  • Uses dice to determine the outcome of different events, which is a little bit of a poo poo.
  • Cards are a little bit biased towards the United States and the West.
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical influence between US and Soviet Union
  • Cold War Era
  • Historical event cards
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area influence — Manipulating influence on the board for the US or Soviet Union.
  • Card Driven Wargame — Playing cards from different eras to manipulate influence on the board.
  • Risk Management — Being mindful not to trigger nuclear war.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • fear not after this there's only going to be two more segments and then it will be Christmas day
  • this was made infinitely better with the first expansion where each player was given a role and each role had a unique special ability
  • the artwork in all own is really really nice it's in the same vein as twice it's got that old medieval style artwork that is remin of the days before people invented caffeine
  • kis is the granddaddy of worker placement games for a reason
  • space base is another one of them games that takes an idea that's already been implemented and turns it into something else
  • it's called the granddaddy of area control games in the same way that kis is called the granddaddy of worker placement games
  • Dogs of War is one of the most overproduced games that you can imagine
  • playing RV Caesar is like saying goodbye to the world off into the Wilderness and living in a cave
  • the fact that seven wonders can condense an epic civilization building game down to 30 minutes or less is nothing short of astonishing
  • the way that all the cards are related to historical events and historical facts even if they are a little bit B towards the United States and the West means that Twilight Struggle is a fascinating game
  • Feed the Kraken is an absolutely fantastic party game
  • if you can find it and you got a large number of people especially at your Christmas piss up this should be a game that you pull out instead of your penis
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5k3PFe-Qrn4 UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:11:32
video_pk 88069 · mention_pk 231148
UndeadVikingVideos - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:11:32 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Peter Piper oh oh yeah is correct yes
  • It's not a problem it's who cares it's just it's just drop in the bucket doesn't matter these people's ratings doesn't matter at all
  • I think that person would just go pound sand
  • It's like you know you know who I am me it's just like you know I am like no [ __ ] no no I was I was quoting Quint
  • I think the fact that you like like Lance Evan you get an email Board Game Geek that you know with this new system six negative reviews have been removed here you know the reasons because they mentioned shipping was the issue or you mentioned the word first edition
  • You're becoming the Arbiter of what is or isn't an acceptable reason to rate
  • It's like you can't create anything without without yes there's warts I Make Some somebody say that you suck right
  • I think it's cool I think it's a cool idea think it's a cool system I think it make the board game geek rating that much better and more reputable
  • You know it's like it's like you know you say hey look this is [ __ ] you'd be like okay fine it's [ __ ] but if like I went in there and I was like oh well you know it's like if somebody said play it played R to three played this game way too random
  • You know it's like you can’t create anything without without yes there’s warts I Make Some somebody say that you suck right
  • I think the rating system I I don't know what I would change for that one but there there's definitely other things I would change
  • I think you're just not looking at from the perspective of a really small I guess that's my perspective I'm thinking of a firsttime Kickstarter who actually is on board game geek
  • I think you're becoming the Arbiter of what is or isn't an acceptable reason to rate
  • The idea is you want to make the ratings you want to see and that'll be what I mean I get it
  • The fact that you like like Lance Evan you get an email Board Game Geek that you know with this new system six negative reviews have been removed here you know the reasons because they mentioned shipping was the issue or you mentioned the word first edition
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kq8gD0SnWkc Beyond Solitaire Interview at 20:11
video_pk 87832 · mention_pk 230223
Beyond Solitaire - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 20:11 · YouTube ↗
Pros
  • Gets a lot of digital play.
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 journey is as educational as the outcome
  • every game I I try to explain to students is making a statement about something
  • The games games give the opportunity to put students into the decision space of historical problems
  • I do more work on this than I did on my senior engineering Capstone and I'm going to be a civil engineer and I'm like okay um like this was more fun this was more engaging
  • they do more research than if I set them papers
  • I guess what playing games is partly about
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _kT_QXvX_Vo UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 171:42:48 sentiment: negative
video_pk 86712 · mention_pk 225451
UndeadVikingVideos - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 171:42:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
  • Fool's gold, always lost when playing.
Thematic elements
  • Space Race
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 it's fun
  • it's it's very light
  • not every old grognard who's cranky about um the new versions of D and D coming out has is you know a sexist a racist a misogynist it's not everybody
  • It's just a [ __ ] bottle of water
  • I I wanted to just say something like but I you know saying something in an airport is definitely not you don't want to do that
  • I'm gonna say so like I all so you can guess because he can't hear you like what would you think if he had to pick the thing
  • We need another Sherlock Holmes too
  • This is pretty Swank
  • I I regret all of it
  • I don't know what's going on no one ever post anything in in my slack at midnight
  • He died doing what he loved increasing the shareholders value
  • I'll never dance in somebody's grave but I will read obituaries
  • it's one of those things where you eventually like I mean you hate to say that like Forest hit the nail on the head there
  • what extent you're gonna get a hit put out on you
  • I think he'll get caught I'm very suspicious about it though
  • well on that bombshell I'm GNA start going to my gate
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BjnCdzU3M9s Shelfside Top 10 List at 11:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86690 · mention_pk 225272
Shelfside - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 11:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Rich historical context and deep strategic play
  • Widely regarded as one of the flagship heavy War Games
  • Strong thematic resonance with Cold War history
Cons
  • Very long play sessions and complex rules
  • GMT-wue style can be intimidating for new players
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Cold War era global strategy, 1945-1989
  • Historically grounded, card-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card-driven strategy — Event cards drive the actions and global influence in the game.
  • Global Influence / HR Balance — Players seek political influence and events across geopolitical regions.
  • Influence Points — Players seek political influence and events across geopolitical regions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • these aren't 10 games for smart people
  • the deeper we go the more it sounds smart
  • to sound smart you can talk about how it's a civilization game
  • this is probably one of the biggest big brain games on this list
  • sound smart when talking about anything just explain it well or drop jargon
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KBL1CJW9EeA BoardGameBollocks Top List at 2:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86648 · mention_pk 224958
BoardGameBollocks - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • One of the best thematic two-player games
  • One of the best thematic games about the Cold War
Cons
  • Timeline doesn't always line up logically
  • Some anomalies with the rules
Thematic elements
  • Global influence, space race, nuclear war avoidance
  • Cold War era
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Players try to bring different countries and regions under their sphere of influence.
  • Card Drafting — Players play cards to take different actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • remember if your top 100 Bard games aren't on this list so far that's because they might be on this list during or after this episode or we might just have not played them or we might think they I'll complete an utter [__] dog [__]
  • so remember if you're new here then please consider subscribing to this Channel with the like button and all that YouTube [__] see you after
  • it's one of the best tollan games ever made yeah it's one of the best ball games ever made and it's one of the best Gateway games
  • it's one of the best thematic two player games you can get
  • it's just something about the way it looks that is really compelling
  • they wowed the [__] pants off of me with fund Ro Vendetta
  • it's just a mental mad maxian romp through some sort of post-apocalyptic game show [__] nonsense [__] wank
  • you're never really sort of at the mercy of a random die roll
  • it feels very robotic very Android like in its implementation
  • it's just something about the ease and simplicity of the gameplay that makes this one of the best war games we've ever played
  • if El Grande was released today if it had never been released back in 1999 if it was released today you wouldn't know that it was 25 years old yeah it's that good
  • bring back the original Spar CU it had so much theme so much atmosphere yeah and it's just a fantastic backstabbing action game that I love to bits
  • Ready Set bet is so exciting yes you know what I mean when you get to the end of the race you're literally screaming out for your horse to come in first
  • don't turn back now don't do a lot to wife and turn into a [__] pillar of salt we that would be a tragedy
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vuhe_iyrWkw UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:39:25
video_pk 86395 · mention_pk 223326
UndeadVikingVideos - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:39:25 · 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)
  • Forest Bower has a wonderful story it's not a story he has a wonderful story not much about how how he he struck at rich
  • I bought it at 11 bucks I woke up there at $72 and I thought I'd be cute I thought I'd be super cute and I was like yeah I'll hold on to this until the inauguration because surely it'll go up till then
  • that son of a biscuit had to have his wife launch her own shitcoin the next day day which plummeted the value of his coin which is fantastic
  • I made like 1,200 bucks or over two days which uh and like I was telling Scott like the only reason I only made 1,200 was because I didn't have more money to throw at it that very moment
  • Karcassonne Power Grid was 2004 Kis was 2000 uh Ticket to Ride is 2004 Kis was 2005 Twilight Struggle 2005
  • Dominion it's a good game because it's it's it's foundational right it's like how many games did did Dominion create right like just that mechanic of deck building or deck uh yeah deck building
  • Lords of water deep is a good game
  • Castles of Burgundy oh that's got to be in there at least in my opinion
  • I should probably kick it in I got an early morning
  • well next week I'll I'll be able to let it fly but I just couldn't too fresh too fresh
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xYUhaAX_i6M UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:14:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85953 · mention_pk 221409
UndeadVikingVideos - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:14:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Deep strategic gameplay
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Political, Historical
  • Cold War
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 greatest worker placement game of all time gets even better.
  • Yeah, that board game is famously sucky.
  • It actually has some interesting ideas, but yeah, the game was trash.
  • I feel like you're leaving money on the table.
  • The Manhattan Project name carried a lot of passion and creativity under James Matthew. After playing this game, I felt a sense of dread.
  • The crowd's like cheering and it immediately goes fullon boo.
  • It's like, 'Oh my gosh, this is turning into a young man, like a teenager.'
  • I went downstairs, got the extension cord which I was using for something else down in the cellar and instead of closing the trap I left it open...
  • He he he just shattered the image he's been working on for 20 years.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video I74K9QFv5-s Heavy Cardboard Analysis at 39:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85914 · mention_pk 221075
Heavy Cardboard - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 39:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
  • Highly strategic
  • Was a former #1 game globally
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical struggle
  • Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Implied by the geopolitical struggle theme.
  • card-driven — Implied by the discussion of how players interact with the game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's Dominoes Ah
  • based on reviewing the Wikipedia for dominoes um that doesn't that seem that year seems wrong. That seems way late.
  • but anything that is like a Domino's game we would recognize doesn't occur until the very end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century.
  • and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., we're finishing up with Antiquity, which is pictured behind Ken's head over there.
  • Of our 402 games, only 13 are published before 1990.
  • So you got Spirit Island, you got Lizboa, you got Quest for Elorado, and 22 other games that are on one person's list.
  • 2019, PAX Premiere, Crystal Palace, and 24 other games.
  • 2015, Gallerist, Trickarion, Food Chain Magnate, 16 other games.
  • Brass, Birmingham, Obsession, Root.
  • John Company, sure. Weather Machine, Carnegi, 19 other games from 2022.
  • Age of steam. Age of steam, right? Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, right. Yeah.
  • Like trying to narrow it down is a hard thing when you when you have maybe the newer you are, the less hard that is.
  • there's going to be another one tomorrow where we go through tutorial number four of Atlantic Chase.
  • I might have a latest greatest version of Crossrox. I'm so excited about this game after hearing you guys talk about it.
  • Every game that you guys play, you're playing. It's oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video U11v8pu0gEo Board Gaming Ramblings Top List at 21:10 sentiment: other
video_pk 85080 · mention_pk 217398
Board Gaming Ramblings - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 21:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Unplayed
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)
  • For me, this is an S. This is one of the better games ever. I love it.
  • Um Tor Mars I've spoken about this many times. Hate love it. H I love to hate it and I hate to love it.
  • It's just like F plus for me. This is boring.
  • If this wasn't Marvel, if it was just called Champions, wouldn't be the same same wouldn't be a top 100.
  • We like lordas but like boa and kban ee is my favorite ones.
  • And then we're going to have Mara Kybo. Oh, Marbo is good. Uh I really like it still. Even though that Pirates of Marbo kind of did the same goodness in shorter amount of time.
  • I would place Marbo in B or C.
  • What? D.
  • And uh lastly for this part of the video, we're going to have come down EV S S. Yeah, that's an easy one to end on. We like lordas but like boa and kban ee is my favorite ones.
  • That was way more fun than I thought it would be.
  • I think this is fun because well we kind of have this thing in top 10 or especially in top uh when we make top 100 and top 50 because she's like oh you picked this so low or this is so high and we get like to kind of see our differences a little more clearly.
  • Also when we do the keep and we disagree we kind of I think that is fun and I thought that we we're going to agree more. So, but but it's nice that we don't.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XrM2u1434vY UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 1:51:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84777 · mention_pk 216006
UndeadVikingVideos - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:51:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive intention
Pros
  • Really good game
  • Will probably play again
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Old school war games
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Wrigle roulette is like a little bag draw game. Kind of fun.
  • the better game is Dying Message, which is like a you're the last you're basically it's the last moments before you die and they have this whole thing where you're supposed to like set up a crime scene and play dead on it and then they people are supposed to take a picture of you.
  • I'm working on this right now.
  • If Matt, if you get it, you win. If Evan gets it, you Matt wins. If Chad gets it, Matt wins.
  • Stolen base is correct. Well done.
  • It's just it's it's the stupid Minecraft duck all Minecraft chicken thing all over again.
  • randomized double blind placebo control study in adults to test the efficacy of mitoquinone mitoquinol mass methylate as postexposure prophylaxis for SARS COVID v V2 co SARS co V2.
  • So, um, you know, I mean, like the some of the complaints about it is just so dumb like they're like, "Oh, I can't believe like he had his own children like playing the roles in the in the in in in the movie or whatever."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dkViBAwawoY The Brothers Murph Top List at 11:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84712 · mention_pk 215618
The Brothers Murph - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 11:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Each card is a real event that happened.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Playing out interesting times in history
  • History
  • Each card is a real event that happened.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization is the engine builder to end all engine builders.
  • In Twilight Struggle, one of the more interesting times in history is played out. And I love that each card is a real event that happened.
  • Gaia Project built on Terrammystica and perfected the form. It's the best one.
  • Gloom Haven: Jaws of the Lion has the best tutorial system I have ever seen in a game, and I think it legitimately creates new board gamers constantly because of the way they make it so approachable.
  • Each Spirit in Spirit Island can be played over and over as you learn how to master their abilities, and there are so much content in the box. It also just plays amazing solo.
  • Dune Imperium Uprising took Dune Imperium to a whole new level of scale and scope, and it's got them worms.
  • It's impossible to have a bad time playing Star Wars Rebellion, especially if you love Star Wars. Okay, mostly only if you love Star Wars, but it's really fun. It's Lord of the Rings in a box, and it's perfect.
  • For a solid like 6 years, Terraforming Mars was absolutely the king of the board game hobby. Unreal staying power.
  • Dune Imperium uses art based on the movies, but it doesn't feel at all like a movie tie-in cash grab.
  • The scale and epic stories that come out of Twilight Imperium fourth edition make it everlasting. Every time you play, you get a permanent memory and story. It's truly impressive.
  • The sheer amount of content in Gloom Haven and the card play makes this dungeon crawler a Eurogamer's delight.
  • Ark Nova takes Terraforming Mars' cardplay in Civilization's action card mechanisms and put it into a theme we're just way more interested in. just the absolute pinnacle of mashing up mechanisms into a masterpiece.
  • Pandemic Legacy Season 1 has deserved every single ounce of acclaim and accolades it's received over the years. It was an absolute phenomena when it came out.
  • I don't want to say anything nice about this game. I don't want to say anything nice about this game. I don't like this game though.
  • Fine. Fine.
  • Brass Birmingham is objectively a board game. Done. Easy. That was nice. Words that are written.
  • Brass rhymes with ass. Got him. You're done.
  • Brass Birmingham has one of the best examples of positive player interaction and a game I'd actually seek out to play for a player. Was that so hard?
  • So, that was one nice thing about every single game in the Board Game Geek top 100. Many games that we actually don't even really like, but there's always something nice to say. Exactly.
  • Just engage.
  • We had a lot of fun making it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RBxgAec_loQ Zilla Blitz Discussion at 16:52 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83006 · mention_pk 208644
Zilla Blitz - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 16:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Celebrated for its 20th anniversary.
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 X Encounter guys, you know, they had a big old statue. you know, burning it, you know, and Herman sucks and [clears throat] they hated it so bad and said, "This is the worst thing in wargaming ever."
  • The people they hated it. They hated it. And they told me, but by the way, these are war gamers. They all told me they hated it [laughter] to my face.
  • It's a labor of love, but a lot of lot of time spent.
  • If you've never been to a historical board game conference before come. I mean it it it transforms the hobby and this type of conference because it's small and people are friendly and people are going to reach out and ga the work you do at SD Hiscon to make it a welcoming experience for everybody and the accessibility to get into games at tables and the way people can sign up for games beforehand the way you can schedule things the questions you can ask I I can't tell you you know how much that changes the hobby to be able to do that I went to the SD Hiscon in San Diego ago my first conference ever three years ago and it abs it just completely changes because you make friends that you're then going to play games with on in other places and then you know people at the online convention it it just exponentially makes the hobby better and there is no better conference I would say here and then circle DC is another one of my favorites but same type of experience look if you can't get to the SD His in in Minnesota or San Diego you know that's another one to look at but try to lean into one of these things because it will completely change your board gaming experience.
  • And I I might be making this up, but I I think it's true that if I'm un the the only confirmed month without ever having any snowfall in Minnesota is July. So, I think we're safe.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Fxanaz6YfJM Board Game Critique Top 10 List at 24:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 82369 · mention_pk 206964
Board Game Critique - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 24:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Accessible entry into war games with deep strategic space
  • Rich historical flavor with tight decision-space
Cons
  • Complex for newcomers
  • High analysis requirements for optimal play
Thematic elements
  • Strategic influence and crisis management via card-driven play
  • Cold War tensions across 1945-1989
  • Historical simulation with event-driven mechanics
Comparison games
  • Diplomacy
  • Risk
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card-driven mechanics with event cards — Events affect influence, operations, coups, realignments
  • Region-based influence scoring — Score across multiple regions as play evolves
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • "The golden rule. When power contradicts the rules, the power wins."
  • "You're not just playing a game. You're exploring a multiverse where normal rules are optional guidelines."
  • "What if deck construction was the core gameplay loop instead of pregame preparation?"
  • "All players work together against a game system instead of against each other."
  • "What if board games could change permanently?"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3qzAc4jZ4pM Zilla Blitz Interview at 11:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 82047 · mention_pk 205844
Zilla Blitz - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 11:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • exceptionally balanced and well-tuned
  • felt like chess with depth and strategic bluffing
  • highly influential and well-regarded in the hobby
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • geopolitical influence and power struggle between USA and USSR
  • Cold War
  • card-driven, strategic with bluffing
Comparison games
  • Common Sense
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card-driven — cards can be used for events or operations (ops) including space race
  • influence and coups — placing influence and executing coups in various countries
  • region scoring with hidden timing — regions score based on card plays; timing is not always known in advance
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I've designed close to a hundred. They are all asymmetrical.
  • I've been working on that game for 10 years.
  • Twilight Struggle... it's so good. It's like chess to me.
  • it's like full space 4X cosmic encounter
  • This is what I'm hoping will be the first game in the will to fight system.
  • Common Sense is the name of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xaPyb9sqHVk Board Game Hangover Discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81953 · mention_pk 205150
Board Game Hangover - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Highly thematic and historically flavored; cards teach and illuminate the period
  • Minimal minis, but a strong sense of scale and epic back-and-forth interaction
  • Massive replay value due to card order and deck composition (early/mid/late war sections)
  • Clear tension and strategic depth; skill tends to reward the better player rather than pure luck
  • The world feels big and global, with interesting decisions across regions
Cons
  • Length can be highly variable (3 hours to potentially much longer) and can swing wildly with bad hands or unlucky draws
  • New players can be overwhelmed and may need a skilled partner to teach or balance the experience
  • Heavy randomness in some hands can dampen the perception of skill for some players
  • Balance can feel uneven in one-off games; familiarity and player experience matters a lot
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Cold War era geopolitical competition (1945–1991) on a global map
  • analytical and evaluative
Comparison games
  • Watergate
  • War of the Ring
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Influence tokens are placed to control territories; control yields victory points on scoring.
  • Card Driven — Players use cards that can provide action points or trigger events; card choice and sequencing drive the strategy.
  • Dice Rolling — Dice rolls introduce randomness in conjunction with card events and influence removal or reinforcement.
  • Event resolution — Many cards trigger historical events that affect global influence or scoring; events can be opponent-triggered if played indirectly.
  • Events — Many cards trigger historical events that affect global influence or scoring; events can be opponent-triggered if played indirectly.
  • Hand Management — A large deck is drawn and played; the order and timing of cards shape each game, with a distinct early/mid/late war arc.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This game mechanically oozes with theme.
  • This is one of the highest rated two-player war games ever.
  • All you do is play out those cards. And that card play is great.
  • The card dilemma is not only about using points, it's also about triggering the opponent's events.
  • The replay value is huge. The order of cards makes every game different.
  • Europe is the most valuable territory because who controls Europe?
  • It's a tug-of-war where you want your side to win all the battles and get to the end.
  • If you know the odds, the better player will usually win this game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 63KMT72z7ZY The Dice Tower Discussion at 1:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81880 · mention_pk 204788
The Dice Tower - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • amazing game
  • solid game
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Cold War
  • Historical strategic analysis
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Twilight Struggle, amazing game.
  • Ticket to Ride Marklin, which is my favorite Ticket to Ride.
  • Five years ago, I reviewed Summoner Wars, which was absolutely amazing.
  • Room 25 is kind of like that.
  • Dive. Gorgeous game.
  • Last year, I reviewed Box Monster, a game where you're for kids where you're sticking your hands inside a box to feel things out.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9hgw4bgyg6s Zilla Blitz Other at 27:46:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81619 · mention_pk 203568
Zilla Blitz - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 27:46:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • captures the tension of the Cold War
  • engaging gameplay
Cons
  • can be long
Thematic elements
  • geopolitical struggle between the US and the Soviet Union
  • Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area influence — Players compete for influence in various regions.
  • Card Driven — Uses cards to drive actions and events.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • There's a lot of designers and company representatives that are there, like GMT Games is there, uh Uwe from Sound of Drums was there coming in from Europe.
  • So, if you're looking at a chance to play up-and-coming games with some of the designers that are designing on them, it's quite an experience.
  • You really get some insight into the design process, into how historical board games are created as you're playing them and giving feedback to the designers.
  • In this game, you take on the role of companies that are trying to win military contracts uh from the US
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7R41gQoSg9s Board Game Critique Analysis at 18:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81349 · mention_pk 201483
Board Game Critique - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 18:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • A masterpiece.
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)
  • Small box light board games are not the appetizer.
  • For most groups, most of the time in the actual real world where we actually play these things, they are the main course, and the sooner we stop treating complexity as a proxy for quality, the better off everyone's game nights are going to be.
  • The top 100 is disproportionately dominated by big, complex games, and it's not because those games are inherently better. It's a sampling bias problem fundamentally.
  • The depth emerges entirely from human interaction. That's not a shallow game.
  • Complexity creep is real.
  • Adding complexity is easy. Stripping a game to its essentials and making every rule and every component carry its weight, that is hard. That is a design achievement.
  • The most objectively impressive board game is worthless if it never hits the table.
  • Heavy games are implicitly luxury goods.
  • Small box games fit into real life.
  • The hobby has a prestige problem.
  • The goal is not to tear down heavy games. The goal is to build up the honest conversation around small ones.
  • The small game delivers every single time.
  • Stop calling them fillers.
  • Stop treating complexity as a virtue.
  • Stop letting a biased ranking system tell you what is good.
  • Grab the small box. Sit down. Play.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -lXN6UMxHA8 Neon Gorilla Interview at 51:27 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 80981 · mention_pk 198917
Neon Gorilla - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 51:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Historical theme (Cold War)
  • Niche appeal for those interested in history/geopolitics
Cons
  • Niche appeal limits audience
  • Intimidating theme and historical context
  • Less exciting theme compared to fantasy/sci-fi
  • Lack of a compelling narrative angle for content creation
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitics
  • Cold War
Comparison games
  • Eternals
  • Brass: Birmingham
  • Risk Legacy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — The theme of the Cold War implies control over regions.
  • Card Drafting — Implied by the context of playing older games and the nature of strategy games.
  • historical simulation — The game covers the Cold War and history.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Eldritch Horror was the first like really serious board game that I got into and just uh blew my mind.
  • Magic is is is a rich person's game.
  • It's just it's it's I think it's just not exciting for uh people who might even be wondering about the game.
  • Our community on Patreon and YouTube members is honestly the reason why we're still doing it.
  • We never thought about that. It's It's It always feels great when someone recognizes you, right? On the street or or or an accent.
  • I would not trust myself to be 100% impartial if I have a close relationship with the publisher.
  • We're we're we feel good if our community feels good, right?
  • It's it's more of an art than a science.
  • The audience is the most important in all all of this. So, it's important that you uh present the game accurately, cuz they will be the ones then playing that game, right?
  • I'm afraid to go buy Lords of Vegas cuz I don't think it'll ever be like that again.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kal3-GrZk_I The Dice Tower Top List at 1:09:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80678 · mention_pk 197226
The Dice Tower - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:09:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Highly Positive
Pros
  • Deeply strategic
  • Thematic immersion in the Cold War
  • Tug-of-war style gameplay
  • Multiple victory conditions
Cons
  • Requires both players to know the decks well for the best experience
  • Not casual
  • App version is considered 'naive'
Thematic elements
  • Political/War
  • Cold War
  • Historical
Comparison games
  • Star Wars Rebellion
  • War of the Ring
  • War for Arachus
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — It's got a tug-of-war style to it.
  • Card-driven wargame — It is card driven. And that's one of the things I've noticed is a lot of these games on my list are asymmetric card- driven multiuse political or war themed games in a lot of cases.
  • Multiple victory conditions — Has multiple victory conditions, which I also love.
  • Variable Phase Order — So the first three turns the first three cards you're going to be playing from are going to be from this early war. And then you have uh turns four to seven. You're taking 10 turns total are the midwar and then you've got the late war which are 8 through 10. And you will shuffle them into when you get to the next phase, you'll shuffle them into the cards you didn't play before.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is a two-player trick taking game competitive this time, mixing it with the lane battler.
  • So, you're just as invested in win in losing as you are winning. But if you lose too much, you're not going to ever have enough power.
  • My number one is not joking a political uh themed game. It's also in a way a a war game, but it is card driven.
  • This is Twilight Struggle.
  • It is so smart. It is so strategic.
  • If you really want to play this well and have the best version of the game you can is is both players know both decks.
  • It's got a tug-of-war style to it. Has multiple victory conditions, which I also love.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZZ6pYDVHB4Q The Discriminating Gamer Top List at 12:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80492 · mention_pk 195924
The Discriminating Gamer - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 12:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Love it
  • Forces players to make the best of bad choices
  • Love the theme
  • Love the history
  • Still get something new out of it every time
  • The game that keeps on giving
Cons
  • Hard to get to the table
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union
  • Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card Play — You've got a bunch of cards. And you can play the cards for points that let you do stuff, but many of the cards will have an event that will favor your opponent.
  • Event Activation — Many of the cards will have an event that will favor your opponent. And you've got no choice, you got to play it.
  • Geopolitical simulation — This is a game of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Does the International House of Pancakes answer to the United Nations or is it the other way around?
  • This is the great granddaddy of all diplomatic games.
  • This Many people have said this is the meanest game ever made. It's certainly up there.
  • I've never played a game that forces players to so consistently make the best of bad choices.
  • It's the game that keeps on giving.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Jg1djnTuwcI The Dice Tower Top List at 3:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80124 · mention_pk 194502
The Dice Tower - Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Teaches you history as you play.
  • Really grasps the Americana superpower feel.
  • Really covers the time frame of the Cold War.
  • It's also a really solid game.
  • It still holds up today.
Cons
  • You can really get bogged down into reading the cards.
Thematic elements
  • America emerging as a global superpower and the events of the Cold War.
  • The Cold War era, from the end of World War II to the fall of communism.
  • Card-driven events that reflect historical occurrences.
Comparison games
  • 1980
  • Flashpoint: China Sea
  • Founding Fathers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Implied through the superpower struggle and influence.
  • Card Drafting — Players read cards which have depth.
  • Wargame — Captures the feel of the Cold War.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is the year that is... Happy birthday to me. But also America. America is turning 250 years old this year.
  • So, we don't have a lot of Euro games made about us, about our old castles and such... yet.
  • We're just talking about games that give the Americana feeling.
  • There's nothing more American than Panam.
  • It really is the Cold War in a box.
  • There's nothing more American than the cowboy.
  • So, all right. My number one is again something very American is we're we have so much pride of our national park system.
  • Happy birthday to America.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7_IZ5n05SRg Discussion at 4:52 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 79446 · mention_pk 192868
Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 4:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Recreating the intrigue and suspense of the Cold War
  • The Cold War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the discriminating gamer.
  • You know, my flexibility was no good. So, I started doing lunges every day. It was one giant step forward.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video l7OEGDl_6rY Top List at 4:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 77053 · mention_pk 185588
Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 4:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
  • Highly respected game.
  • Enduring relevance and discussion.
  • Considered a no-brainer classic.
Cons
  • Neither host has played it yet.
Thematic elements
  • Political superpower struggle
  • Cold War era
  • Historical rewrite
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control
  • Card Drafting
  • influence
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • so we have a list of every single game that was released in 2005 and we're going to go through all of them in a three-hour episode absolutely not
  • we have a potential pool of 25 board games but only 10 can be inducted into our newly minted Hall of Fame that's the rules that's the rules only 10 we made them up that's the rules
  • you could argue with us in the comments and tell us why we're wrong you could do that always an option
  • I'm going to be real honest with everyone that this list of games from 2005 there are a bunch on here I don't know
  • that is like the oldest of old school hidden Trader Trad
  • it spawned so many other games right we have a ton of games in this Arkham Horror World which is obviously the world of HP Lovecraft
  • I think wits and wagers is a is a classic
  • it is on my list it's one of the very early like kind of worker placement kind of mean Euro dry Euro kind of game that I played
  • this is like a grill game for people
  • wow we didn't even rehearse that
  • it sounds like if your jam is hidden rolls or social deduction style games and you haven't played Shadow hunters and you see it out in the wild maybe pick KCK it maybe give it a whirl you might like it
  • if this isn't a classic game I don't know what it is
  • it is ubiquitous when it comes to board games not just the theme but sooner or later if you're talking about board games eventually Arkham Horror is going to hit the table
  • many aboard gamer covet this
  • people still talk about I mean any game that you're still it's 20 years old and you're like I should play that sometimes
  • I may have my Nostalgia goggles on and uh you know be looking at it through those rosecolor glasses
  • it's a game 100% you can play with your kids
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fDz-_P2CqH0 Top List at 30:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 77051 · mention_pk 185546
Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 30:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
highly positive
Pros
  • Fantastic and amazing game
  • Epic scale and depth of strategy
  • Tight gameplay
  • Innovative mechanics (card play vs event)
Cons
  • Requires significant time investment to master
  • Can be difficult to understand the deck's historical progression
Thematic elements
  • Geopolitical influence and manipulation
  • Cold War
Comparison games
  • 1989
  • Flashpoint: South China Sea
  • Westerrns us VOC
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Action Points — I played this card for these the action points on the card but the event might be for my opponent so that'll trigger that
  • Area Control — vying and manipulating and controlling the rest of the world
  • card-driven — the cards which I mentioned earlier in the video I love all the card driven stuff it's got some really unique scoring and lots of other things
  • Deck building / hand management — you move through them kind of historically in a way not there's not like a specific order but you have like an early mid and a late War deck that get kind of shuffled in as you are going through the game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's just really tight this game is a game that if you invest time in it it's relatively straightforward and simple mechanically
  • it's just a fantastic amazing game two player only
  • 1989 is almost like the epilogue Twilight struggled
  • it is just a majestic piece of ancient design that somehow Reiner canizia dug up from the substrate of the human subconsciousness
  • the game feels like it was originally designed during the time that it takes place
  • it's like a Euro game with direct conflict
  • every time I crack it open and play it I like feel like there's sand coming off of these tiles
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video w7JsptCXyzo Analysis at 7:30
video_pk 70955 · mention_pk 168102
Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:30 · 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)
  • I've been going through all the most anticipated lists on Board Game Geek starting with 2010 I'm up to 2014.
  • I don't need to play it anymore and how much do I need to play a game to have gotten my worth out of it or whatever I'm not talking about dollar amount either it's like you know
  • better to let it move on to somebody else and they can enjoy it and they can pass it on to somebody else as well
  • so I think that's okay doesn't doesn't it because it's on my shelf has nothing to do with the quality of the game
  • so we have seen those disappear a little bit no still being made it's still being played and as we add more people to the Hobby by osmosis some of them are going to you know find out about war games
  • those big crazy games those coffin boxes and those those big splash releases from Fantasy Flight they just really haven't been doing that
  • I don't like that and I don't know that any of the games on the on the last two lists are like that but I'm sure God I know there was some of that
  • it's no different than like let's say GMT or Fantasy Flight or whoever has a newsletter you know that goes out let's say every month an email newsletter and they tell people hey we're nominated on this list go vote for
  • it's a reviewer getting a review copy is much less biased than a Kickstarter backer
  • The way the hobby has worked I think going back to the 70s somebody will do something and this is the way a lot of things work somebody will do something that's successful and so you get copycats you get people trying to iterate on that
  • expansions will show up on these anticipated lists and that kind of says something to the kind of known quantity
  • there was a fair number of games that had a lot of trouble whether it was licensing trouble like glory to Rome nothing personal alien frontiers or other kind of Kickstarter Shenanigans
  • crowdfunding we're going to see more of that for sure moving forward in the years but it was also kind of still like the wild west back then
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Meij89QQxc0 Top List at 2:19 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 69590 · mention_pk 166152
Twilight Struggle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
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 Olympics may be over so now it's time to do the board game Olympics
  • I've put everything into bracket fights so afterwards you can do this yourself too
  • I've never even heard of Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion
  • let me know in the comments below what yours came out to be
  • the original brass versus terraforming Mars
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–50 of 137
View on BoardGameGeek