Announcements
News
In Depth World Series Wrap Up
Mirror of Galadriel Player Card Review
Retro Preview - Shadow and Flame
Deck Spotlight - Rohan
GG&G 1024! This week Shelley and I check out two mini-box games from Allplay
Llama Llama by Kaya Miyano
For the Emperor by Whitney Loraine
Then check out a bigger game, which is actually the smaller cousin of Ark Nova
Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele
Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!
Remember you can support the podcast and our video series (for which we have editions for each of these games) 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:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing
Okay, things are a bit different this year. In honour of our 350th episode (a very important milestone), we're going to combine forces, like ... Voltron. I'm the head, and my left and right feet are here with me to collaboratively (yes, you heard right) compile Board Game Barrage's definitive (definitely definitive) top 50 board games... of all-time!
06:27 - #50 - Zoo Vadis 08:32 - #49 - Splendor 11:45 - #48 - Azul 14:51 - #47 - Imperial 2030 17:13 - #46 - Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant 19:15 - #45 - Pictomania 25:50 - #44 - Stationfall 32:35 - #43 - Ra 34:20 - #42 - Food Chain Magnate 39:31 - #41 - Diplomacy 41:41 - #40 - Dune: Imperium - Uprising 43:33 - #39 - Race for the Galaxy 47:40 - #38 - Caylus 1303 50:59 - #37 - Root 54:34 - #36 - Cosmic Encounter 56:40 - #35 - Blood on the Clocktower 59:03 - #34 - Glory to Rome 1:01:04 - #33 - Fresh Fish 1:05:01 - #32 - Biblios 1:06:23 - #31 - So Clover!
Get added to the BGB community map at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/map
Send us topic ideas at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/topics
Check out our wiki at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/wiki
Join the discussion at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord
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Get a Board Game Barrage T-shirt at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/store
It's your turn...to click here to send us your comments on the show
Having caught up with the chaps from Paper Fort Games over the convention circuit we wanted to get some proper time to chat with James & Chris from the studio to talk all about their experiences, their lessons and ultimately their upcoming games Terraria & Cult of the Lamb.
GUEST PLAYERS: James Faulkner & Chris Kingsnorth
PLAYERS: JP & Davey
In this episode you'll learn:
- about how James & Chris got into the hobby and how Paper Fort Games started
- more about the world of Terraria and the challenges of making a true sandbox game as a board game
- more about the new and upcoming title Cult of the Lamb also based on the video game IP
- that James won't rest until he's converted all the core retro video games from our childhood.
LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Website - https://paperfortgames.store/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paperfortgames/
Cult of the Lamb Preview Page -https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paperfortgames/cult-of-the-lamb-the-board-game
Terraria Board Game - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paperfortgames/terraria-the-board-game
EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count
1:25 - TURN 2 - Paper Fort Games - Introducing James & Chris
2:31 - How did James get into the hobby & birth of Paper Fort Games
8:38 - How did Chris get into the hobby?
15:14 - What are your favourite games?
17:28 - TURN 3 - Terraria
24:27 - A fish tank sandbox experience
29:05 - How do you put an end to a sandbox game?
38:42 - TURN 4 - Cult of the Lamb
49:09 - A worker placement with teeth
51:27 - Turning retro games into board games
57:34 - TURN 5 - Keeping the community engaged & what's coming up?
1:06:39 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn
You can check out JP's new podcast called Just Play right here https://www.justplaypod.co.uk we'd love to have you and also on the new YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@JustPlayPodcast
ENGAGING WITH THE SHOW
- Join us on Discord
It's time for our look back at the games of 2025. Highs and lows, heavy and light, thorny and rosy and hoopy.
01:20 - Top Tens on Video
01:51 - Year as a Whole
07:49 - Convention/On The Go Game - Hot Streak, Light Speed Arena, Ghost Lift, Ito, 1AM Jailbreak
12:07 - All-Day-to-Play - Regicide Legacy, My Father's Work, Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era
14:48 - Best Theme - Luthier, Flow, Storyfold: Wildwoods
20:06 - Guilty Pleasure - Deep Regrets, Moon Colony Bloodbath
24:38 - Favorite Classic - Race for the Galaxy, At The Gates of Loyang, Sentient, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, You're Bluffing
27:22 - Stand-Out in Our Favorite Genre - Bohemians, EXIT Advent, Threads of Fate, Rove
32:48 - Hoopiest Hula-Hoop - Spooktacular, Oddland, Zenith
37:05 - Thorniest Thorn - Feel Like a Fool, Lynx, Donald Duck in Happy Camper
41:38 - Rosiest Rose - Vantage, Formaggio, Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
47:42 - Looking Forward to 2026 - Use Up All Your Sick Days, Vegan Cafe, Sail Legacy, Floe
50:35 - Announcements: Gamefound, Dice Tower Cruise, East, West
Next Episode: January 13, 2026
Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
"I thought the Rococo was the name of the ship in Aliens."
"No, that's Sulaco. Rococo is the statute targeting organized crime."
"No, that's RICO. Rococo is the hot beverage made with chocolate."
"No, that's cocoa. Rococo is what you put on walls to give them texture."
"No, that's stucco. Rococo is a kind of shortened note in music."
"No, that's staccato..."
1:10 AYURIS: Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2024)
Games Played Last Week:
4:38 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020)
5:54 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021)
8:54 -Men-Nefer (Germán P. Millán, Ludonova, 2024)
12:49 -Philharmonix (Faris Suhaimi, Archona Games, 2025)
20:20 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)
26:51 -Kinfire Council (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2025)
36:08 -La Pâtisserie Rococo (Stefan Malz & Louis Malz, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2025)
News (and why it doesn't matter):
43:32 Leviathan Wilds: Shattered Peak expansion in 2026
43:56 Take no longer to be published by Leder Games
44:37 Queen of Spies by Liz Davidson and David Thompson
45:29 Topic: Racing Games
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00:01:40 Happy Anniversary
00:06:30 Miniature Market Contest
00:11:15 AI makes RDTN better
00:12:30 Passing of a Legend
00:16:30 Toy Hall of Fame Revisit
00:17:45 Family Games
00:27:30 Taste Buds
00:32:45 Miniature Market
00:33:45 Operation Barclay
00:40:00 Sanctuary
00:58:30 Portal Games
00:59:30 Scope Panzer
01:05:00 Neko Syndicate
01:09:30 Outro
This year marks our 13th anniversary in the world of play, as board games continue to cement their place in our lives. Anniversaries often invite reflection, and it’s remarkable to see how games that once felt like simple pastimes have evolved into celebrated traditions like gaming with friends, family members asking “So, what are we playing?”, or a gateway to conversation with people you meet. These moments remind us that board games are more than cardboard and dice—they’re shared memories that endure across generations.
Board games themselves have become a bridge between nostalgia and innovation, and their recognition in the National Toy Hall of Fame underscores their cultural significance. Titles like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue have already earned their place among the Hall’s inductees, standing alongside toys like the Rubik’s Cube and LEGO. It’s a reminder that the Hall isn’t just about toys—it’s about honoring the timeless rituals of play.
Thanks to all that continue to listen to us, we really appreciate it.
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Anmelden