How many players can play The Game Makers?

The Game Makers supports 1 to 6 players.

How long does a game of The Game Makers take?

A typical game of The Game Makers takes approximately 75 minutes.

What are the best video reviews of The Game Makers?

MindForge has curated 22 video reviews of The Game Makers from top board game content creators.

The Game Makers - Board Game

Video wITFbErTZNk Meeple University Top List at 7:24 sentiment: positive

video_pk 99461 · mention_pk 276535

Click to watch at 7:24 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really enjoy the game.
Cool mechanism with the rondel.
Good for gamers who love to see games represented.

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Producing board games

Comparison games

Arnova
Terform
Wingspan
SM 2013

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Objective Fulfillment — Trying to complete objectives based on games in certain rows and columns.
resource collection — Collecting resources to make games.
Rondel — Uses a rondel-like mechanism for action selection.
simultaneous action — Features simultaneous action selection.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Hi everyone, Stella here from Mele University and that's Tarant and we are doing our Gen Con anticipated games which are the games that we are anticipating and wanting to play or de buy a demo and we haven't played them yet.
So um, again, we're going to talk about these 10 games in no particular order. And game number one is called Falling.
So, that makes for an interesting point of decision tension.
And it is beige. So, it's going to be a good game, right? A good Euro game.
And if that doesn't sound like a classic Euro theme we say with nothing else
So, this is for demo and it's recently on crowdfunding. So, I think just finished.
Yes. Well- loved game and given a redo. Yeah, must be a a reason I mean people there want to be a demand for this game right like container they redo that and a few other games these days is more of a trend
So those are our 10 anticipated games genon if you see me please say hello even even though I'm in a meeting that's okay you can just I'm happy for people to interrupt me no problems and hopefully I'll see you there soon.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video qck5XpyFit0 Grant Lyon Top List at 14:44 sentiment: positive

video_pk 99386 · mention_pk 276337

Click to watch at 14:44 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Big crowdfunding campaign game delivering now
Game that won't be in retail if you didn't back it
Really enjoyed the play
Surprisingly easy teach and play
Central system with forklifts is cool
Balancing choices is interesting
Love letter to the board game hobby
Fun game if you are already deep into the hobby
Impressed with how big it is but how simple it is to jump in and play and teach
Plays pretty quickly

Cons

Not recommended for someone that doesn't really care about board games

Thematic elements

Board game hobby

Comparison games

Foundations of Rome
Fromage

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — A central system involves sending forklifts out, with choices affecting resource acquisition and forklift availability.
Resource Management — Players manage resources, balancing the cost of acquiring them with their usefulness.
Set Collection — Players collect resources to build games and fulfill requirements on cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Gen Con is upon us. The largest tabletop game convention in all of North America is here.
This video is about the 10 games I am most excited about at Gen Con.
These are all games that you can get for the first time at Gen Con, which is why I'm excited about them and why I think you should check them out.
One of the most underrated mechanisms in board games, I think, is the mechanism I split, you choose.
The Game Makers is a love letter to the board game hobby.
If you like deck building If you like card games, if you like fun, check out Flip Tunes season 2.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video XEeI5602H-I The Dice Tower Review at 1:02 sentiment: positive

video_pk 99357 · mention_pk 276210

Click to watch at 1:02 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

The journey of playing the game is fun and entertaining.
Simultaneous play leads to almost no downtime.
Satisfying end result of a shelf full of built games.
The game is not bloated and feels streamlined.
Reasonable playtime due to simultaneous actions.
Great thematic connection to making games.
Excellent job with the overall design and theme.
Solid gameplay that is enjoyable.
Licensing of popular and highly-rated games.
Clever use of custom dice.
Fun choices with dice, tiles, and cards.
The production suits the theme.
Storage insert is clever.

Cons

Bags for tiles are janky and difficult to fit in the tray.
Storage in the box requires remembering a specific setup.
Putting the whole thing back in the box is a pain.
There are some errors on components.
Takes up a lot of table space, especially for six players.
End-game scoring can be complex to explain (especially co-op).
Co-op scoring is less exciting than war game scoring.
Requires using scoring sheets for each player, which will run out quickly.
The 'tweeners' component name is disliked.
Plastic buildings and their scoring are the weakest part for some.

Thematic elements

Making board games

Comparison games

Foundations of Rome
Viticulture
Gloomhaven

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Area Control (on player board) — Placing tiles and buildings on specific spots on player boards can grant discounts or bonuses.
Dice Rolling — Dice can be rolled to increase marketing or used as components, with custom dice offering a unique strategic choice.
Engine Building — Players build engine-building games that score points based on columns and track progression.
Resource Management — Players collect resources like wood, plastic, and dice based on where they place pieces, which are then used to build games.
Set Collection — Players collect sets of components to build specific games, with different game types requiring different combinations.
Simultaneous action selection — Players simultaneously take pieces from wedges and place them on their board, leading to minimal downtime.
Worker placement (implied) — Workers can be spent to move up tracks or gain bonuses, suggesting a worker placement element.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Guess what? You'll still know nothing when this is over.
This is a meta game about making board games.
The journey is better than the destination, by far.
This game feels like it's not bloated. It's It's been pretty streamlined.
The gameplay is really solid.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video qWXihFLDHcs Meeple University Top 10 List at 9:26 sentiment: positive

video_pk 85032 · mention_pk 217187

Click to watch at 9:26 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

board game manufacturing
manufacturing games; turning a factory into a board game factory; inheritance

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

factory-building / manufacturing — Turn a factory into a board game factory to manufacture games.
Rondell action selection — Rondell action selection mechanism.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This one is a card shedding game.
you'll be upgrading cards to create combos which you can then use to shed.
you basically uncover some ruins and finding treasure.
This was a trick taking game where you're trying to avoid taking tricks.
it's a modern take on Microsoft Hearts.
There is something nostalgic and classy feeling about wine-themed games.
This is a small box worker placement game.
you'll be placing workers to go and get pollen as resources.
Think oron alipo but with trains instead of llamas.
one person playing as Hal, refusing to open pod bay doors and the other players are trying to disable HAL.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 1dNEZzRzurs Rolling Dice & Taking Names Event Coverage at 161:34:56 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84736 · mention_pk 215808

Click to watch at 161:34:56 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive (with price concern)

Pros

Unique and engaging theme.
Innovative rotating worker placement mechanic.
High component count and production quality.
No downtime due to simultaneous actions.
Clever tiebreaker system involving BGG rankings.

Cons

High price point ($150-$200).
Takes up significant table space.

Thematic elements

Manufacturing board games
Board game factory

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Engine Building — Collected resources (meeples, dice, cards) can be used to upgrade the factory for more efficient production.
Set Collection — Players collect components to manufacture board games.
Simultaneous action selection — Players resolve their workers at the same time, leading to no downtime.
Tableau Building — Manufactured games are placed on a player's board shelf, creating a collection.
Worker Placement — Utilizes a unique rotating circular board with windows to select worker placement spots.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Zombie Princess is brutal. Like, it's just brutal.
The horde is coming. You just gotta do your best to try and survive.
It's another one of those train games where you're building routes and delivering goods.
The economic engine in this game is really satisfying.
Lost Ruins of Arnak is just gorgeous.
It's a really interesting mix of worker placement and deck-building.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video Uo3JY1FvKNM Meeple University Top 10 List at 2:16 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84653 · mention_pk 215257

Click to watch at 2:16 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

very fun

Cons

none

Thematic elements

manufacturing games

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Rondel — Unique mechanic in the middle with action spaces that the rondel moves around and eats up.
Worker Placement — Move your worker, a little forklift, to do the action.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Games are getting coming out thick and fast.
It's raining games now.
It is very multiplayer solitaire, but then again, most deck builders.
The game flexes up and down between rounds of plenty and rounds of scarcity which makes for all these different there's always an offset.
It's going to get your brain working, but it's going to get your heart pumping and it's going to create a fun atmosphere for a nice little filler.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video TjHgnPhDow0 Tim Chuon Discussion at 10:29 sentiment: positive

video_pk 84556 · mention_pk 214937

Click to watch at 10:29 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

huge breadth (300+ publishers) as selling point
conceptual focus on the game development and publishing process

Cons

none

Thematic elements

mass production and game development
game-design factory-style theme; publishing pipeline
meta-board game design experience

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

design-to-market production — mass-producing games with publishers; marketing multipliers

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

what if we just enjoy what we have?
we bash on a game, people get upset.
there's a ton of crowdfunding stuff coming this month
Genesis adds in so many interesting dynamics to the game
shrines are added to the sides of the board
it's super easy to introduce to groups
this game is a ton of fan service
you are playing as two fighters, hence tag team

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video yfyyXUuPwKs Sir Thecos Analysis at 3:01 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 84228 · mention_pk 213870

Click to watch at 3:01 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

The theme is just amazing.
It has some nice thematic touches.
It has a lot of potential to be like a really huge games with loads of board games that you can build.

Cons

Loads of like little small parts that are just not optimal.
It takes quite some time to get into.
It is not as intuitive as you would hope.

Thematic elements

Seeing all your board games that you know, that you can build those in the game.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — The idea of seeing like all your board games that you know, right, that you can like build those uh in the game that is really cool.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is just my opinion, right? Yours may differ from mine, and if it does, that's great.
It's a nice little abstract game for two players um trying to like again get like uh like the largest or smallest difference um between your own tableau and the one in the middle um that is shared.
Really really nice tableau builder.
I think I personally for my collection would put it in B, but um that wouldn't be quite fair because I need to like evaluate the game as it is.
Um, but I find it has like a loads of like little small parts um that are just not optimal.
It's one of my most favorite smallbox games, not just of last year, but ever.
Come on. Please, please release the physical version. I'm begging you, man.
I would say like the components are amazing. You actually build like up 3D terrain which is pretty amazing.
But it's still not it's not one of my most favorite dungeon crawlers because I just think like these scenarios are like a little bit too long almost.
But I think Unmatched is like way superior.
That may change because I'm playing a lot of dungeon crawlers at the moment, but currently it is definitely S my my favorite one.
So, you see, I this was a strong month. I didn't play a whole lot of games, but I played a lot of really good games.
Let me know in the comments which were the best and worst games you played last month.
Especially want to give a shout out to my generous patrons. The big thanks go out to Thagon for supporting me at the highest tier.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video H5wNAb7hp94 Board Games UnLocked Top List at 18:20 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 83588 · mention_pk 210861

Click to watch at 18:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Unique concept of manufacturing games
Extensive use of real-world game IPs
Central rondelle mechanic

Cons

High cost due to licensing
Concern about potential lack of innovation or being "painfully mediocre"

Thematic elements

Creating and developing games
Game manufacturing

Comparison games

Lost Ruins of Arnac
Netrunner

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Multi-Use Cards — Mentioned as a mechanic in the game, exemplified by Netrunner.
Rondelle — Features a large plastic rondelle for action selection.
Set Collection — Players collect resources and components to develop games.
Worker Placement — The game involves collecting resources and using workers properly.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

On Trust Odyssey is a 10 out of 10 game for me. there was no reality where any of these other games were gonna surpass this.
It'll I probably won't even [ __ ] get to it next year when it comes out because I still haven't finished my atto stuff
This game is is the replacement. Like it's so it's it it is Netrunner. They just changed the terms.
So in the uh in this game, you're both doing the same thing. They they found a way to merge the corp and the runner for each person to control at the same time.
Michael Bogs is the creator of this and he was the one doing the last like third of Netrunner.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video iXhW8gzscK4 Grant Lyon Top List at 19:27 sentiment: positive

video_pk 83354 · mention_pk 209783

Click to watch at 19:27 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Excellent for board game enthusiasts
Strong mechanics independent of theme
Interesting rondel system
Strategic worker timing
High replayability
Unique theme of making games

Cons

Can be played sub-optimally due to emotional investment in theme

Thematic elements

Board Game Hobby

Comparison games

Fromage

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

action selection — And the you can do actions at different strengths and abilities.
Board building — There's a lot of ways to upgrade your boards, to upgrade what you're doing.
Manufacturing (in-game) — in the end you will be actually manufacturing cards. You need resources to make cards and then you're going to put those cards. Those cards are board games.
Rondel — At the central system of the of the game is this rondel where you are going to be dropping off uh little fort glyphs on this rondel.
Worker Placement — The further you go ahead with the your worker, the better the action is going to be, but the longer it's going to take you to get that worker back.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's really cool and it's a you know, it's a feels very uh strategic and still plays in like 30 minutes.
I mean I I love that when a game feels like it has some strategic depth, but still plays pretty quickly.
So yeah, Flintlock is awesome for that.
I love this duel trend that we have right now because of a couple of things. I think that they're doing a great job distilling these bigger games into faster experiences, which I really love.
It's also got wonderful artwork, wonderful production design. Everything looks awesome on the table and it's just yeah, it's it's all the things I love about Wonderland's War, but in like half of the time.
And so I love that now I just need one other player and I can get this to the table as well.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video A_D2gIZTV0Y BoardGameCo Top 10 List at 11:34 sentiment: mixed

video_pk 81480 · mention_pk 202639

Click to watch at 11:34 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Enjoyed the delayed action system.
Enjoyed the worker placement on the rondelle.

Cons

Scored horribly on the first play.

Thematic elements

Making Games

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Delayed Action — Refers to the system of placing workers.
Set Collection — Gathering components to make games and putting them into a display case to score.
Worker Placement — Placing workers on a rondelle, with benefits increasing the further ahead you place.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

But you're basically gathering movies. That's what you're doing. You're kind of a you're taking a turn to either buy better seats for your theater or buying movies to play in your theaters.
The first game on its own would have been like a 2.5, maybe a three. Without the cards that make the game interesting, it's a forgettable yatsi-ish game where you get one reroll, not two. It's an okay game. Nothing bad about it, just like it's been done before. The cards made it interesting. and the Cars made it fun.
It's straightforward. It's straightforward. It's fine. I don't think again definitely didn't wow me. Like the more I talk about it, the more I'm like, I will never buy this game. Nothing against it. I just I think it's a fun enough game to play on boardame arena. I don't think it does anything particularly special to make it a game that I feel the need to own in my collection.
Overall, you're going around a rondell. You're kind of working around this map. It's basically it's it's a rondelle, but it's a map. You move around the board. You stop at various locations. You place down your crew. You buy various cards. You engage in combat. It's kind of reminiscent to Pirates of Marbo, just less fun so far. It really feels like Pirates of Marabo is just a straightup better game
It's just such a good game of just trying to figure out how to optimize.
My most favorite game on this list is Darwin's Journey.
It is not the easiest game to learn, but it's also not the hardest game to learn. one of my favorite games of all time. Incredible game. Absolutely amazing.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 5VcmeuF_f6g Neon Gorilla Interview at 1:49:32 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81119 · mention_pk 199905

Click to watch at 1:49:32 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

Very Positive

Pros

People love it once they play it.
Strong tactile component experience.
Huge table presence.
The meta aspect of players reacting to and building specific games is a unique hook.
Captures the feeling of wanting to include favorite games.
Brings back memories and encourages game discovery.
Includes a spinning lazy Susan for components.
Releases at Gen Con.

Cons

The digital version on BGA is very different from the physical copy.
Required extensive research to match components to existing games, sometimes needing to look at pictures because rulebooks didn't list components.
Getting publisher permissions was challenging and time-consuming.
Games with large IPs (like War of the Ring, Disney, Star Wars) were impossible to include due to complex licensing.

Thematic elements

Manufacturing board games
Board game manufacturing

Comparison games

Zombie Prince
War of the Ring

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

contract fulfillment — The core gameplay involves fulfilling contracts by acquiring specific components to build named board games.
Resource Management — Players collect resources like wood, plastic, and dice to fulfill contracts.
Set Collection — Collecting specific combinations of components (cards, metal, punch board, dice) is required to build games.
table presence — The game is noted for its large and impressive table presence.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The cover and the title of the game are more important than the gameplay.
The powers are very different though. Like in Rebel Princess, it's all about shot and fraud, throwing another princess under the bus because that's what Hearts like thrives on, right? ... But for a bidding game, you you can't do that at all because it's bidding is so difficult in itself.
All the princess powers are more about uh information, sharing information, and gaining information. So that way you can make more accurate bids.
If you don't use your princess power in zombie princess, you get uh you get points. You get something.
We wanted all the princesses to have weapons. And that is still my favorite day that I've ever worked for Bez was our pitch meeting where like I think Cinderella should have pumpkin bombs.
The hook is the meta aspect of the game, right?
People love a game so much that they want to include it no matter what, even if it doesn't do anything for their strategy.
I love collusion. this that that is controversial. I think that would be that's a little divisive. Some people hate that. But I love kind of like going against the you know king making or at least tearing down the king.
The dopamine hits of that game are pretty fun. It's like, 'Oh, I can do this and this and this and this and this.' So it's Comboastic.
It's gorgeous. It's gorgeous. Like, there are games where you open up and you're like, did I really get my money's worth? ... You just see it. You're like, 'Yeah, I got my money's worth. This game is gorgeous.'
Everyone has like this little action board with like these little check marks and you take a little check mark and you stick it in that little recessed area. ... But then you're going to pass that around the table and then someone to your left will give you theirs and then you'll take another action. But you can't take the action that they took. You'll have to take another action. You do take the action that they took, but you have to pay them money to do it.
I think that saying that these are bad games or not games in a way like you're we're putting a gate where you don't really need one because at ultimately at the end of the day we want more gamers. We want more people in this board game cafes. We want more people showing up to game nights. We want to because we want more people to game with.
It is lighter than Sweetlands um, but more complicated than Oia.
The last place gets a whole bunch of debt, which is negative victory points. Uh, which is brutal in a two-player game because it's either you win or you lose, right?

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video 5VcmeuF_f6g Neon Gorilla Interview at 1:49:36 sentiment: positive

video_pk 81119 · mention_pk 199900

Click to watch at 1:49:36 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

very positive

Pros

People love it after playing.
Great meta aspect where players build games they are passionate about.
Has a huge table presence.
The engineering of the lazy Susan and warehouse works perfectly.
It's on Board Game Arena (BGA), but the physical version is preferred for its tactile experience.

Cons

The digital version on BGA loses a lot of the tactile experience.
Requires looking up components for 400 different games.

Thematic elements

board game manufacturing and creating games

Comparison games

Zombie Princess
Kingdom Death Monster
Tuah

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Component Management — Players manage a variety of components like wooden pieces, plastic buildings, and dice.
contract fulfillment — Players fulfill contracts by gathering specific game components (metal, punch board, dice) to build other games.
Engine Building — Players build up their ability to create more complex games.
Set Collection — Players collect components needed for specific game contracts.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The cover and the title of the game are more important than the gameplay.
The powers are very different though. Like in Rebel Princess, it's all about shot and fraud, throwing another princess under the bus because that's what Hearts like thrives on, right? ... But for a bidding game, you you can't do that at all because it's bidding is so difficult in itself.
All the princess powers are more about uh information, sharing information, and gaining information. So that way you can make more accurate bids.
If you don't use your princess power in zombie princess, you get uh you get points. You get something.
We wanted all the princesses to have weapons. And that is still my favorite day that I've ever worked for Bez was our pitch meeting where like I think Cinderella should have pumpkin bombs.
The hook is the meta aspect of the game, right?
People love a game so much that they want to include it no matter what, even if it doesn't do anything for their strategy.
I love collusion. this that that is controversial. I think that would be that's a little divisive. Some people hate that. But I love kind of like going against the you know king making or at least tearing down the king.
The dopamine hits of that game are pretty fun. It's like, 'Oh, I can do this and this and this and this and this.' So it's Comboastic.
It's gorgeous. It's gorgeous. Like, there are games where you open up and you're like, did I really get my money's worth? ... You just see it. You're like, 'Yeah, I got my money's worth. This game is gorgeous.'
Everyone has like this little action board with like these little check marks and you take a little check mark and you stick it in that little recessed area. ... But then you're going to pass that around the table and then someone to your left will give you theirs and then you'll take another action. But you can't take the action that they took. You'll have to take another action. You do take the action that they took, but you have to pay them money to do it.
I think that saying that these are bad games or not games in a way like you're we're putting a gate where you don't really need one because at ultimately at the end of the day we want more gamers. We want more people in this board game cafes. We want more people showing up to game nights. We want to because we want more people to game with.
It is lighter than Sweetlands um, but more complicated than Oia.
The last place gets a whole bunch of debt, which is negative victory points. Uh, which is brutal in a two-player game because it's either you win or you lose, right?

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video CNl2wKKbDWE BoardGameCo Analysis at 113:05:20 sentiment: positive

video_pk 80733 · mention_pk 197639

Click to watch at 113:05:20 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

In the middle of playing it again right now
Going well

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 made three videos earlier this year. Three videos where I cover the different games I want to play, some games, some expansions, some games in 2024, all the various categories.
Now, I've shown off some of the things they have in the past. I have this kind of messily over here right now. Just the various uh bits and bobs of various ways you can track 10 by 10 lists or you know uh the 5x5 lists or any different kind of challenges using fun little uh blanks that go in here and then you use little meeples to track the various uh scores you the various games you've played in order to see how well you're doing on your personal challenges.
Um, I mean, I've played a bunch of games and I have various games I will want to play, but stick around to the end of this video and you'll see me uh put together on the fly with subject to change a challenge board for me to go through separate from my uh current challenge.
Speaking of my current challenge, I have a package from him that just showed up over here.
As much as Vegas Geek 3D does fun little magnetic boards, if you want a fun place to put your fun little magnetic board, check out these shelves behind me from Allplay, the table from AllPlay.
Long story short, uh he saw that I have this challenge for myself of games I want to play. And so he said, "Hey, what if I think a challenge board for you?" And I was like, "That would be awesome."
Do I actually have 35? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. No, this is a 50 challenge board. Oh no, I need to add 50 games to the mix.
I'm going to go ahead and open up the tokens and simply see how well we've been doing.
Middle Ages is one of the games that I wanted to play and I have played Middle Ages.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video ZxOrmb5zcnE Top List at 5:40 sentiment: positive

video_pk 79460 · mention_pk 192879

Click to watch at 5:40 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Celebration of the hobby
Good gameplay
Smooth once learned
Great introduction to mechanics
Thematically introduces game titles to new gamers

Cons

May look intimidating to newer casual gamers

Thematic elements

board game production

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Resource Management — Acquiring resources to make board games and allocate towards objectives.
Rondel — Action selection involves moving a worker forward on a rondel to acquire resources and determine scoring.
Set Collection — Implied through allocating resources towards objectives for scoring.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Medium-weight games tend to blend a quicker experience with a rule set that offers interesting decisions to make, and to me, that's what makes a great medium-weight game.
Lowlands is an amazing game.
The social tension of interacting with that mechanism is really interesting, and that's why it's so high on this list, as well.
It has to be Wingspan.
This game is such a great bridge between light and heavy gaming and I and I've seen it being proved time and time again in my own experiences.
It's one that can be played competitively or casually and still be great.
It's always a very comforting game to play.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video J03Nk4UMuUo Event Coverage at 2:10 sentiment: positive

video_pk 68527 · mention_pk 164797

Click to watch at 2:10 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

About making board games
Cool spinning component
Licenses popular board games

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Making board games

Comparison games

Nikoima
Nucleium
Wingspan

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Set Collection — Implied by making games and licensing existing ones.
Worker Placement — Uses 'forklifts' to unlock new placement spots.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

We're going to show you some cool things to check out on the floor.
They literally brought a fully functional tattoo booth with professional tattoo artists.
We love Crokinol.
This game is so satisfying
This is the new game that pits giant Godzilla monsters against each other in big epic battles.
This is coming out at Gen Con, but we got a hands-on preview of this really, really cool dexterity game with kind of a sad theme.
which is sad, but the game is awesome.
It's really kind of a board that can be used in a lot of different ways.
This is a brand new game about making board games with this awesome component in the middle that actually kind of spins to unlock new placement spots for your forklifts.
They licensed all of your favorite board games
So, that is everything we have to show you on the floor here at Origins.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video x4YRrlqe0x4 BoardGameCo Top 10 List at 4:58 sentiment: other

video_pk 38769 · mention_pk 116838

Click to watch at 4:58 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

intrigued

Pros

availability on Board Game Arena
thematic meta approach

Cons

crowdfunding-heavy background
uncertainty about depth

Thematic elements

hobby meta-game about board games
meta-board game hobby ecosystem
meta/hobby-centric

Comparison games

Terror of Melee City
Meeples and Monsters
Rampage (the Rampage/MeMees family)

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

meta-game/board-game industry commentary — themes around crowdfunding and game development
Player Board | Main Board — themes around crowdfunding and game development
wheel/tulken-like wheel — rotation/triggering actions with a wheel-based mechanism
Worker Placement — placement and timing around hobby-themed actions
worker-placement-lite — placement and timing around hobby-themed actions

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

It's a deck building game that kind of gives me vibes of like let's go to Japan, like you're building your deck, but you're playing through your story and your life as you go through it.
The art looks great. I'm very intrigued by the art.
A 7.2 rating does not make me think it's going to fall into the need to add.
This is a meta game around the hobby that we're in featuring all these various games as you deal with the worker placement.
I love chaining rewards.
Keyflower... I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Production holds it back a bit; I hope for a deluxeified version.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video myWFSI48ob4 Board Gaming Doctor Review at 0:08 sentiment: positive

video_pk 36812 · mention_pk 110553

Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Unique meta-theme representing real-world games
Engaging spatial rondelle mechanic with resource placement
Accessible to new players; scalable to up to six players
Rich opportunities for thematic discussion and nostalgia
Potential for expansions and new content representing more games

Cons

Solo mode description is unclear and potentially underdeveloped
Some rules and interactions rely on external sources (video) for clarity
Simultaneous play can feel chaotic for players who prefer strict turn-taking
Not the deepest strategic depth compared to some peers

Thematic elements

metafictional celebration of board game publishing and real-world games
board game industry context with real-life game contracts and publishing
meta and industry-insight oriented

Comparison games

Fromage
Chimera Station
Earth
Race for the Galaxy
Galaxy Trucker

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

board assembly area puzzle — tiles form a pattern (diamond) that grants one-time bonuses
dice-driven resource shaping — dice can be used as components or to influence marketing tracks
drafting and expansion choices — draft area and markets allow for branching options and score multipliers
resource drafting and prioritization — edge-annotated resources on the rondelle; arrangement affects value
rondelle with forklifts — a rotating board section where worker placement choices determine resource access
set collection and contract fulfillment — cards represent contracts; components are needed to fulfill them to earn rewards
Simultaneous action selection — all players act in parallel each round until all have resolved
Simultaneous Actions — all players act in parallel each round until all have resolved

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Here's my final rating. It's a 7.2 out of 10.
This game will have legs because of its theme.
I would play this game over Fromage.
The solo mode is hard for me to grade.
The game Makers I feel like has a more chaotic nature.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video PQ6kzRAlVKI JestaThaRogue Top 10 List at 8:35 sentiment: positive

video_pk 36792 · mention_pk 110482

Click to watch at 8:35 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Intriguing meta-theme; recognizable Bezier style; weight around 2.9 suggests mid-to-heavy gameplay

Cons

Bezier has history of new editions; final release version may shift

Thematic elements

bureaucratic competition between game publishers
in-universe meta-board game about manufacturing classic modern games
engineered competition with meta-commentary

Comparison games

Android: Netrunner

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

assembly line — Sequential action flow to simulate product development.
dice enhancements — Improve dice capabilities to boost actions and yields.
Resource gathering — Acquire resources to manufacture and display games.
Resource Management — Acquire resources to manufacture and display games.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

this is a DC version of Marvel United, which is one of my favorite games of all time.
I think it does look okay.
You're a mad scientist. Use your laboratory robots and trusty assistant eager to gather the resources and inventions you need.
you draft dancers from the central dance floor to train their own personal dance troop.
The board looks very involved. Lots of symbology.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video rSDMS-mCm6o The Board Gaming Doctor Top 10 List at 9:28 sentiment: positive

video_pk 32625 · mention_pk 96590

Click to watch at 9:28 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Thematic celebration of beloved classics
Potential for expansions that honor other games

Cons

Mechanics integration could be uneven; unclear how well gel together

Thematic elements

Homage to Wingspan, Brass, GrofZ? (Gricola) and other classics
Racing to assemble a collection of iconic classic games
Celebratory and thematic homage to classic games

Comparison games

Rolling Realms
Wingspan
Brass
Gricola

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

component-driven theme — Mechanisms referenced through tables and components imitating classics
Set Collection — Collect components and motifs that evoke classic games
set-collection / thematic collection — Collect components and motifs that evoke classic games

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This will be a top 10 list of games that I'm excited about for Gen Con 2025 as well as for this year in general.
I'm hopeful that Finsspan delivers for me in a way that Wingspan almost does in my anecdotal testing.
I love pulling this out and playing.
a tiny epic, you know, quote unquote type of game, a small box edition of a space 4X.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video g7F3rrTCodg The Dice Tower Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive

video_pk 31018 · mention_pk 91447

Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

tutorial on Board Game Arena makes learning accessible
co-production with publishers yields real-game integration
thematic meta about game design and publishing
solo mode eliminates wait times
dense engine-building and set-collection depth
visual components and shelf/shelf-like mechanics provide depth

Cons

dice rolls can be unpredictable ('janky dice rolls')
complex rules and many moving parts may deter beginners
early playtest notes and potential balance changes
network hiccup during play can disrupt recording

Thematic elements

Making games
Board game production industry
live-playthrough with commentary

Comparison games

Civil Evolution
Loyang
Gates of Loyang
Deep Regrets
Lisboa
Tobago
Tainted Grail
Meadow
Dinosaur Island
Istanbul
Feast for Odin

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

assembly line discounts — Unlock discounts by placing components on assembly-line tracks.
contract drafting and shelf placement — Choose starting contracts that become components and place completed cards on the shelf for scoring.
dice actions / dice-driven multipliers — Roll dice and either place as components or apply to marketing multipliers to boost scoring.
Engine Building — Build engines using buildings, tiles, workers, and dice to unlock ongoing bonuses.
Resource Management — Manage wood, dye, plastic, cardboard, and other resources to meet contract requirements.
Rondel — Rotating dial that drives the sequence of actions.
rondelle action selection — Rotating dial that drives the sequence of actions.
Set Collection — Collect sets across cabinets, trees, and tracks for endgame points.
Worker Placement — Assign workers to improve actions and access higher-tier resources.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is the first kind of co-production and the reason why it's cool and it makes sense is that it's about making games as you see in the name.
There are real games in this game that you're going to be making.
I learned the game here on Board Game Arena through playing the tutorial.
It's coming at some point this year.
I love the meta of the theme on it.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

Video nahvsi_ox5Q The Dice Tower Top 10 List at 6:59 sentiment: positive

video_pk 30190 · mention_pk 88758

Click to watch at 6:59 · YouTube ↗

Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Strong meta-theme with recognizable production-heavy IPs
Appealing for board game collectors and publishing fans

Cons

Prototype exposure noted; gameplay quality to be proven in final product

Thematic elements

Industry, publishing, and IP collaborations
A meta-board game about producing board games
Self-referential, production-focused

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Rondel — Circular action selection mechanism used to choose actions.
Rondelle (round action selection) — Circular action selection mechanism used to choose actions.
Set Collection — Players collect sets of components/resources.
Tech Trees — Tech tree progression to unlock abilities or actions.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

An asymmetric game. Everyone's playing slightly differently.
The mix looks to have a very different kind of style and aesthetic.
I adore that theme so much.
I'm optimistic that 2026 will be a fantastic year in board games.

References (from this video)

No references stored for this video.

The Game Makers

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The Game Makers

The Game Makers Review: Panda Express Yourself

The Game Makers - Dice Tower Arena

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