In this episode we give some new backers some nicknames, bestow some titles to the Knights of Doomsday, speak to Patrick Kapera of Crafty Games about their reprint of Ostia and answer your questions. Get on it!
On this subsequent episode of the Shut Up & Sit Down Podcast, Matt and Tom are returning to a couple of the games they were excited about in the Essen Special, as well as covering one that was missed from the billing!
Excuse the occasional odd buzzing on this one - we tried to scrub it as much as possible but there's only so much you can do to heal a dodgy microphone before you start making Matt sound like a blender.
Sponsor this podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table:
Just for reference, the population of Klaipėda, the third largest city in Lithuania is approximately 161 000 people. The number of attendees in this year's Spiel Essen was 220 000 people, meaning they managed to cram the entirey of Klaipėda and much more into just eight convention halls and every one of those people were buying board games.
I appreciate that that is maybe not everybody's jam, and aspects of it are not our jam either. But getting our mitts into a jar of Bonne Maman filled with gooey new board game releases - put a bib on me and fire up the toaster!
In this special joint episode of No Pun Included and Talk Cardboard we cover 16 new releases from Spiel Essen 2025, which you can either listen to here or partake in the video version https://youtu.be/NHVLn-ZxVWs
On this FULL CAPS CHUNKY episode of the Shut Up & Sit Down Podcast, Tom and Matt are talking about all of the games they played at Essen 2025!
This is an audio-only reupload of the video we just put out on the main channel - so if you’d like to enjoy a physical tier list alongside these wobbly words? Then that’s where it is, and will be, forever and ever.
One episode isn't enough to cover the biggest board game show in the world so JP, Davey and our special guest Mark from NinjaGeekGames returns to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday's highlights. So get ready to jump back in, there's a LOT of games covered.
OUR PLAYERS - JP & Davey SPECIAL GUEST - Mark Monk (NinjaGeekGames)
Hey Now Cabalists! Welcome to another jam-packed episode of The Cabal! Today we talk about our brand-new gaming haunt — Franklin Street Social. Then we dive into some games we’ve been playing, including Galactic Cruise, XCOM, Claustrophobia 1643, Sweet Lands, Magical Athlete, and Chicken! Then Don and Jamie give you a feature review of Tabriz, designed by Randy Flynn. After Tony T hooks you up with the greatest damn news segment in the history of news segments, the gang takes on a bunch of listener questions with topics including narrating your turn, board game movies, and when table talk starts to look like cheating. Galactic Cruise: 00:10:51, XCOM: 00:19:51, Claustrophobia 1643: 00:29:36, Sweet Lands: 00:37:44, Magical Athlete and Chicken: 00:47:59 Tabriz Review: 01:01:26, News with Tony T: 01:28:53, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:27:04. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/ and Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/.
Clef and Tim breeze through disc golf talk to get spend a little time on sports before diving deep into musicals! Clef returns from his trip to New York and has plenty to talk about before we get into board games. We talk some recent plays including Pax Pamir, La Granja, and Blitzkrieg!
Join the discord at discord.gg/s8hYtWkMS3 and visit punchboardparadise.com for more info on PPCon 2026!
Board Game talk starts at 52:50. It's A LOT of musical talk.
The delicious schnitzel's are calling us over to Germany again for another round of Essen Spiel 2025 and as always we've got you covered with games, experiences and bringing to life the convention. In this first part we cover the journey over including an encounter with "Double Bake Brenda" on Tuesday, Wednesday including the press event and Thursday. Stay tuned for the next part which includes Friday - Sundays shenanigans.
OUR PLAYERS - JP & Davey SPECIAL GUEST - Mark Monk (NinjaGeekGames)
We deliver this episode despite the officially mandated period of public mourning due to Toronto's setbacks in basesball. In Canada, public mourning is characterized by donning black jean jackets and swapping our Tragically Hip for the more down-tempo Blue Rodeo, to say nothing of abstaining from boardgaming.
Please don't turn us in for violating federal law. We might get banned from Tim Horton's.
01:44 AYURIS: An Age Contrived (Chris Matthew, Bellows Intent, 2024)
Games Played Last Week:
04:56 -X-ODUS: Rise of the Corruption (Second Edition) (Francisco Velasco E., Szilágyi L. Gábor, Yann Hilaire, Romain Lesiuk, & Bernardo Rippe, Bored Game Ink, 2026)
Another year and another BooBQ is in the books. It was a great time and we had the opportunity to play a bunch of group games, eat a ton of food, and test our Halloween knowledge through Wits and Wagers, what a classic. We even got the chance to do a local constructed deck Star Wars Unlimited tournament that sucked in a bunch of new players. So, in a way, we were like a bunch of vampires and brought them into the fold
Magical Athlete is a riotous racing game where fantasy characters with wildly asymmetric powers compete in unpredictable sprints. It’s light, fast, dice rolling game that will have hilarious moments throughout the game—perfect for groups who love a bit of chaos. Dirt & Dust, by contrast, is a deck builder that leans into the solitaire play with players trying to solve their own challenges while not really being impacted by others. Then there’s Railroad Tiles, a spatial puzzle that rewards clever planning and route optimization. It’s a satisfying blend of tactical tile placement and long-term strategy, ideal for fans of games like Carcassonne or Metro.
Finally, Umami brings a unique twist to the table: a culinary-themed game that’s all about balancing flavors and crafting harmonious dishes. With elegant mechanics and a soothing aesthetic, it’s a game that feels like a warm bowl of ramen on a rainy day. Together, these four titles form a kind of tasting menu for board gamers—each one distinct, memorable, and worth savoring. Whether you’re in the mood for laughter, clever puzzles, or thematic immersion, this quartet offers a delicious spread of experiences. Just like the buffet table at BooBQ.
This week join Jules, Adrian and Conor as they chat about what they've been getting played. Jules has been watching sumos slam in Slambo. Conor has been scaling colossi in Leviathan Wilds. Adrian shares the tale of losing at Riftbound to a literal child - because nothing says humble like being demolished by someone who still needs to be put to bed at night!
This plus our Question of the Pod recap and finally ending with what has us fired up!
Timestamps:
Up or Down [0:07:40]
Money [0:13:26]
Merchants of Andromeda [0:17:25]
Cities [0:25:45]
Slambo [0:33:10]
Leviathan Wilds [0:38:14]
Riftbound: The League of Legends TCG [0:45:39]
New Question of the Pod: What game rule have you been playing incorrectly?
PATREON
Hey there, BBQ fans! Guess what? We’ve got a Patreon! By joining, you’ll unlock exclusive content, gain access to a members-only section of our Discord where you can help shape the show, and so much more. Plus, your support will help us grow and bring some awesome new projects to life in 2025.
At the Board Game BBQ Podcast, we’re passionate about what we do and promise to keep the fun and shenanigans rolling. We’re so grateful for your support! Joining our Patreon is totally optional, and we ask that you don’t contribute if it’ll cause financial stress. But if you’d like to chip in from just USD$5 a month, click the link to check out our Patreon page.
Thanks a million for being amazing! We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive community, and you all make it special. See you at the BBQ!! https://www.patreon.com/BoardGameBBQ
This week's guest is owner of Crafty Games, Alex Flagg. We talk about gentrification, the RPG world and rendering Brandon Sanderson into ludological form...but which games did he choose?
Anmelden
