The State of Games, Ep. 146: The One About Expanding Your World

Love ’em or hate ’em, board game expansions are a huge part of the industry. Some companies survive just on expansions for their most popular titles, which can sometimes lead to consumer fatigue. They can often feel like cash grabs, but on occasion an expansion is released that not only provides more content for a game – it also makes that game better. So settle in Dear Listeners – we’re here to separate the suck from the essentials, all just for you. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 145: The One About One-Hour Wonders

If there’s one thing that’s awesome about board gaming it’s that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to variety. There are great card games that play in about 15 minutes, meaty Euros that burn your brain for 2 hours, or Ameritrash juggernauts that might take you a full day to play. But there’s also this super sweet spot in gaming where a certain type of game exists – one that plays in about an hour, isn’t overly-taxing, and yet makes you feel smart, fulfilled, and like you’ve just experienced something truly magical. These are the one-hour wonders, and herein we craft our ode. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 123: The One About A Table For One

Ah, Valentine’s Day is here and love is in the air! Not only do we love all the boundless cardboard bits in our favorite board games, but we also love sharing them with our significant others! And, as per usual with any podcast around this time, we should just follow suit and share our favorite games for two. Right? WRONG. We’re here to talk about how to enjoy all those delightful games with yourself! You don’t need anyone else to relish in board gaming! Not that there’s anything wrong with that… Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 121: The One About the Best Games of 2016

It’s the second most wonderful time of the year – that time when we look back on the best and brightest games of the previous year! This year it’s really pretty cool, as there is very little overlap in the games that Darrell, TC, Jessica, and myself have picked for our Games and Discoveries of the years, which means much more quality goodness and variety for all of you, dear listeners! As much as 2016 was a mixed bag of quality in the industry, it still turned out to be a tough task for all of us to narrow down what we like the best. Listen up, and please let us know what were your favorites of 2016! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 115: The One About The Hotness

If there’s one thing most of us gamers get all excited about, it’s the new shiny in cardboard. Board games are growing in leaps and bounds, and each month sees an exponential increase in board game releases. Some titles somehow tap into the zeitgeist and hurtle skyward with tons of hype, while other, equally-worthy, titles inexplicably tumble down into obscurity. We’re here to talk about this very thing, and how BGG’s The Hotness can make or break a game, and, sometimes, even a company. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 112 – The One About Gen Con 2016

The summer is drawing to a close and, with it, so is the season for big conventions. None are bigger each year than Gen Con, and this year was the biggest yet, scattering all four of us from the podcast to the four winds only to see each other sporadically. But, with the distance comes opportunity, as we all get to share very different experiences for all of you to enjoy, dear listeners. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 94 – The One About What’s In a Name

We love it when fans of the podcast send us topic ideas, and this time around Nat Levan took over the show with a fantastic outline about game names. We may have gotten a little carried away, but we think you’ll all have fun, nonetheless. Keep sending us those ideas! After all, this is your show, too, dear listeners. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 91 – The One About We Can Do Whatever We Want

Remember what I was saying last podcast about it being nearly-impossible to schedule a podcast with four incredibly busy hosts and a lot of sickness? I should have knocked on wood. Just when it seemed like we had a full slate once again I get food poisoning and Stephanie catches strep. Thankfully, TC and Darrell are pros, and newcomer Jessica Wade deftly picked up the slack. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 89 – The One About So Here’s The Thing

We weren’t even supposed to be here today. We all blame TC; he just wanted to quickly talk about a few random things on his mind. As is our custom, though, a few quick, random things turned into an hour and a half of weird awesomeness and lots of rants. So settle in, pop some popcorn, get ready to tell the kids to put their earmuffs on, and enjoy! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 88 – The One About Do-Overs

If there’s one thing we like to do on The State of Games, it’s be timely, and we aim to please once again. Since New Bedford is set to relaunch on July 21st, we asked designer Nat Levan to join us for a close look at how being given a second chance can be important for all aspects of the board gaming hobby, especially on Kickstarter. Read More  Read More