Game Info
Year
2018
Players
2
Playtime
60 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
“Restraint? Why are you so concerned with saving their lives? The whole idea is to kill the bastards. At the end of the war, if there are two Americans and one Russian left alive, we win.” ~Gen. Thomas Power, U.S. Strategic Air Command 1957-1964
19XX: The unthinkable happens. The world is scoured clean in nuclear fire. The oceans are poisoned for generations to come. One last patch of habitable land remains: Antarctica. The remnants of humanity huddle together in a fragile patchwork of research stations and refugee ships. But even here, the Cold War survives. And our civilization may not.
In Meltwater, two players take command of the shattered remains of the superpowers, struggling for control of the ice. Simple diceless mechanics let players displace, corner, and isolate their opponent’s survivors. Here, hunger is a crueler weapon than gunfire, and the barren tundra can only support so many souls. And every turn, radioactive contamination pushes in from the coastline, shrinking the available space and forcing the belligerents closer and closer together.
In the end, there is only either submission or annihilation, and whatever world is left.
—description from the publisher
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 9
This page: 9
Sentiment:
pos 7 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–9 of 9
Video SHjsFsq8fhc
Getting Games Discussion at 28:10 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 90293 · mention_pk 295360
Click to watch at 28:10 · 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)
- the algorithm for youtube is a black box
- you miss all the shots you don't take
- this is my full-time job
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3ckQB2RsM7o
Getting Games Interview at 37:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90334 · mention_pk 293373
Click to watch at 37:09 · 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)
- I've owned this table since 2006. I picked this up for 60 at a used furniture store.
- I call it the tank.
- I will honestly be emotional today I don't have this table anymore.
- Trans-Siberian Railroad is currently my favorite by a squeaker.
- Imperial Steam is supposedly a heavy logistics type train game.
- I would love to play oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video beKTeBSAKeA
Getting Games Discussion at 24:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90175 · mention_pk 295436
Click to watch at 24:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic tie-in with tactical depth for a two-player game
- Engaging strategic decisions and narrative progression
Cons
- Grim theme may not appeal to everyone
- Initial setup and parsing can be confusing
Thematic elements
- grim survival and strategic maneuvering
- post-apocalyptic war in Antarctica between US and USSR
- grim, war-torn survival narrative
Comparison games
- Indigo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Combat: Damage Based — Attack adjacent enemy units; removing units creates dead zones in the map.
- Dead zones and radiation forecast — Dirty zones and forecast cards influence where new dead zones appear and where civilians move.
- Direct combat interactions — Attack adjacent enemy units; removing units creates dead zones in the map.
- four actions per turn — Move forces, press gang neutrals, militarize civilians, or attack opposing units.
- Starvation phase — Each round starts with a starvation check to see who starves; hexes support two tokens and can be modified by depots and dirty zones.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a very nose-down type game where you're really paying attention to all the stuff that you're doing
- downtime just wasn't that bad even when my opponents were thinking through their turns
- it's just a cool tiling puzzle
- cascadia is really great i'm looking forward to playing this one more
- i was really impressed with this game
- the money that you pay for like a stock goes into a treasury for that company but this game has 23 different companies
- this is a two-player only game that is published by holiday and it came out a few years ago
- square on sale it's like a 14 year old game it's an amazing combination of multi-round auctions with othello type abstract mechanics
- this is twisty tracks now that's not currently the name of it on bgg
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kq8gD0SnWkc
Beyond Solitaire Interview at 57:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87832 · mention_pk 286106
Click to watch at 57:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Used to teach teenagers about nuclear implications.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Implications of nuclear bombs and nuclear warfare
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 iK_PLqbt6Bs
Board Gaymes James Top 10 List at 7:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85282 · mention_pk 291849
Click to watch at 7:11 · 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)
- This has debuted last year at Essence, so it's making its way through to North America.
- This is a great game. Uh definitely suggest that you pick this one up if you have the space for it because it is quite a large game.
- Drag queen at their booth.
- stay safe, and we'll see you next time.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RdnddhAGxJ8
Board Gaymes James Top 10 List at 1:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84670 · mention_pk 291823
Click to watch at 1:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Reprint of a well-regarded game
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Climate, water
- Polar/arctic environment
- informational
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- unknown — Not specified in transcript
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Diversity in gaming at Spiel.
- Unfortunately, there is not a lot of queer representation here this year.
- I'm very excited for Fossilium.
- I'm so excited for this because this is a nice, big, heavy Euro designed by Stefania Niccolini
- Cascadia Alpine Lakes is a new standalone Cascadia game designed by Randy Flynn, but still with amazing artwork by Beth Sobel.
- The pattern work that she did in this game is so beautiful.
- It is a brand new standalone game. It is not like a duel version of White Castle. It's just set in the same universe.
- Alice, de l'autre côté du miroir.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VbA_zzlaLAQ
Board Gaymes James Discussion at 1:22 sentiment: negative
video_pk 84492 · mention_pk 291769
Click to watch at 1:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- two-player only
- we were not the biggest fan
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)
- Tureaki was awesome.
- I love Aleif. He's like my favorite Euro designer.
- Darwin's Journey. I actually love this game.
- It's definitely the best pandemic ever, and it is definitely extremely thematic.
- I hardly ever play old games.
- Boop, love it.
- it's not going to hit the table anymore.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qf8bkv0ehOY
Unknown Channel Discussion at 2:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 74391 · mention_pk 179239
Click to watch at 2:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Easy to learn for a two-player war title
- High-quality components as usual from Chip Theory-inspired design
Cons
- Smaller chips may feel fiddly compared to larger components
Thematic elements
- Historical war conflict with accessible rules
- Two-player war game with updated artwork
- Reprint with updated artwork; Capstone edition
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Two-player area control confrontation.
- combat resolution — Basic combat resolution using components.
- two-player war/area control — Two-player area control confrontation.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Burns your brain fiercely.
- Watch out for the end of the game. It can hurt.
- This is a reprint of the older version. Uh so it's got new and updated artwork.
- I'm very excited to play this.
- The Fate of the Fellowship is now available in North America.
- not very difficult, but amazing quality components as usual from Chip Theory.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DqihUZsDDKc
Stonemaier Games Analysis at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 32794 · mention_pk 97191
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Innovative, non-violent victory condition focused on positioning
- Clear visibility of near-future events through face-up cards
- Distinct rhythm and pacing with environmental constraints
Cons
- Two-player-only dynamic may limit replayability with more players
- Learning curve due to unique rules and card interactions
- Some ambiguity in initial setup or terminology as described in video
Thematic elements
- Survival, territorial control under environmental hazards
- Post-apocalyptic Antarctica/North Pole after nuclear meltdown, with surviving factions in polar zones.
- Abstract, strategic, less about direct combat; emphasis on placement and resource scarcity
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Movement — Players win by forcing opponents off their territories rather than by direct combat; positioning dictates mobility and safety zones.
- Contamination/toxin spread via shown cards — Two face-up cards show where contamination will expand in the near and long term, guiding strategic planning.
- Forced movement / area denial — Players win by forcing opponents off their territories rather than by direct combat; positioning dictates mobility and safety zones.
- Hex-based occupancy limits — Each hex has a maximum number of units based on terrain and hazards; skulls or toxic tokens reduce capacity, ice locations allow extra units.
- Hexagon Grid — Each hex has a maximum number of units based on terrain and hazards; skulls or toxic tokens reduce capacity, ice locations allow extra units.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- my favorite mechanism in this game is really the ability to plan ahead due to the transparency of those two face up cards combined with this whole positioning aspect
- It's about forcing them off their territory onto territories where they cannot survive
- Very interesting game. Very different game than the type of game that I've played in the past
- Meltwater was designed by Aaron Escobedto
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–9 of 9