It’s time for our 10th Annual Squirrelly awards! We look at our top games of 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this year is a little different.
Let us know what your favorite games are over in our Discord Channel
We are talking about so really big thinking games in this episode with Seti and Altay. Seti has been on the hot list for awhile and during a convention where we had no interruptions in our play time, we got it to the table. Up front, this is one of those games where the actions are easy to understand on a players turn, but all the little stuff takes the time to explain. Then when playing the game, you have to concentrate on how it will all go together based on the cards you have acquired. Lots to plan out, time crunch to beat other players to certain goals and you can’t do it all which is a common theme in this game.
Altay was fresh when it came to a deck building game and one that we all enjoyed when it was on the table. It can promote a little pile on during the game, but that is when other players need to come to the rescue of the player that is getting beat upon. If you are not a friend of strong conflict in deck builders, then this may not be the game for you.
We have been fortunate enough to have the chance to play Prey and now Rainbow card games from All Play. Love this well thought out games and different takes on proper trick-taking games. With Rainbow, playing up to six is what sold me on this game because tough to find games that do trick taking well with six.
Thanks for listening and be ready for our annual award show that is coming up soon.
We got to attend Dice & Diversions this month and the drive was worth it. The location was great, and the gamers were so well taken care of by the team that if you are in the Southeast, consider going next year. The date for 2026 hasn’t been announced as they work on contracts with hotels, but just know it will be in the first quarter. There was plenty to do if you are into board games or RPGs with plenty of opportunities to join others as people were continuously looking for players.
One of the games we played was a re-implement of one we played many moons ago that I really enjoyed. Beyond the Horizon uses similar mechanics found in Beyond the Sun, but it is its own game and should be judged as such. We compare the two in this episode and found that the mechanics in one we enjoyed more than the other. I think for people that have played both, your playstyle will help you determine which you like more. For me, Beyond the Horizon is more my style with the map versus the space majority control board.
Thanks for listening and appreciate all the support
We understand that with the new embedded ads, the time stamps are a bit off. Unfortunately, we can’t guess how long some of the ads are, so we are going to give you approximate times on when things are happening on the show. We will continue to look for solutions and appreciate you hanging in there with us.
We got in some family game time over the holidays and we share our experiences. I got in some heavier games with Risk AD 2210 and Catan, New Energies, while Marty enjoyed leisure time with the family. Very happy with Risk because I went into the game with concerns. Thought for sure that this game would be just another version of Risk with little added pieces here and there. But it wasn’t. Yes, it did come down to dice rolls, but that is Risk you take in this game.
Unfortunately, many of the games we discussed are out of stock at Miniature Market. This is where their notification system on restock works really well, so be sure to take advantage on something you may want.
Cons are starting up and the next time we are back, we will be discussing Dice and Diversion down in Atlanta, GA. Man, just hope it is going to be warmer this year.
We are coming out of the gate almost hot for 2025. We got a very solid Board & Dice game to the table prior to the holiday break called Minos: Dawn of the Bronze Age. This game is like other Board & Dice euros where you really need a plan going into your turn knowing all so well that it is going to be modified at some point. So, you better have a Plan B ready to go. There is a twist to the dice drafting where you need higher numbers move you up a track, but higher numbers also mean you end up possibly not getting all the actions you want because you get bumped by lower numbers. However, you never loose out on doing the action which is nice. Lots going on with this game, so as with similar games, you can’t do it all.
Thanks for putting up with us through 2024 and we hope your 2025 is off to a good start.
Yes we have been around for twelve years and there is nothing stopping us now. Well, server crashes, hacking of the site, strife among hosts, those might but we are still here. I wondered if we would make it to 10 years, but we are just now hitting our stride.
Really interesting games in this episode, especially Diluvium. If you get a chance, give this one a play.
Thanks for all the support over the many years, we really do appreciate it.
Hope those that celebrated the recent holiday had an enjoyable and were able to get some board gaming in with the family during that time. Seldom do we get two similar games to the table at the same time, but we did for this episode. Both Yro and Castle Combo are very similar in style and mechanic, so it was nice for us to be able to compare to games against one another.
The new Thunder Road expansion is out and this expansion takes you out of the wasteland and into the Demolition Derby arena where more chaos will reign. Maybe that is why they called in Carnival of Chaos. Since there is no finish line, it is nice that there is a “timer” to help end the game and not just wait on elimination of everyone but one player.
Finally, there is a look behind the curtain as you will experience the pain that Marty goes through in trying to explain a game to me. We have all had the experience where the game isn’t clicking or you are explaining the game and you get nothing but blank stares back. Well, you get to experience it in RDTN style during our discussion of Battalion: War of the Ancients.
Thanks for listening and see you during the anniversary show next time.
It has been brought to my attention that the timestamps are off ever so slightly and that this is due to these commercials that are being injected into the episode. I do not know how long they are or how many. We are trying to come up with a way to manage this, but until then, the times are maybe 30 seconds to a minute off.
Here are the top tile laying games as we discussed in the show.
Appreciate you listening and be sure to join the Discord channel
Only three games in this episode and one of them is an expansion. So, you thought it would be a short episode? Nope, we make up for this in our extended, over the top discussion on Hegemony. Don't be scared by this game and the length. It is one of those games that just flowed and was easy to understand. Admit that each faction is different, but not to the point that you sit there and say that you have no idea what is going on with them. You can see how it all comes together in my opinion.
Looking to play a Mario Kart style game on the tabletop, then give Dungeon Kart a try. Little too chaotic for me and Marty and that might just be we are enjoying the simpler racing games. We appreciate what the game is pulling off and if you want that mayhem on the table, then give this a try
Thanks for listening and appreciate the support as always.
Another episode… that is right. This time it is about games, the reason you come and listen. Or maybe I am wrong. Maybe you come and listen because of the lawn care tips or the surgery stories. Hey, someone we know actually listened just for the gall bladder story.
Plenty of games to get to in this episode, so enjoy and hopefully we will provide some entertainment value for you time spent listening to the podcast.
The box office of the summer of 2024 had some big hits and major flops. Dan Patriss and Chris Kirkman come back on the show to talk about the movies we saw and discuss the results of our summer movie draft.
There’s nothing quite like spending a full day at Mega Moose Con, diving into a variety of games and sparking lively conversations. With different styles of games to offer, we had to constantly shift our thought processes as we moved from one game to the next. Of course, there was also a bit of a difference of opinion with the RDTN staff on one particular game. But hey, you can’t please everyone all the time!
And it is time for us to talk about the Toy Hall of Fame nominees. Be sure to post your thoughts on this year's nominees over in our Discord Channel.
In this episode we cover some of the hot games we saw at Gen Con. We also look back at the top games of 2002. And Tony misses game night because he and his gallbladder couldn't get a long
How do we share some of the games we got at Gen Con without making you listen to us for hour upon hour. We put the 5 Minute Initiative constraint on ourselves. So instead of me breaking down in writing all the games we covered and wasting your time this way, give a listen to those that interest you. The beauty of timestamps.
Thanks for taking the time and hope one of these games might be of interest to you.
Attending Gen Con 2024 is an exhilarating experience for any gaming enthusiast especially getting in that initial crowd rush going into the hall. For those that don’t know, it is held in Indianapolis and got started when D&D players got together over a weekend. It has grown into one of the biggest conventions for board games in the United States.
In this episode, we tell you about the events we attend and the new things we saw that will be coming to your gaming table soon.
Time for our thoughts on the upcoming games that are coming out at Gen Con based on the ones we were lucky enough to play. Got to admit, some solid games and for all age of gamers. We have the light entry with In the Footsteps of Marie Curie to the heavy hitter in Evenfall or Rock Hard 1977. But looking for middle of the road, check out River of Gold. Need a little coop in your life, then try Mandalorian Adventures. And if the old grey matter needs some work, Kronologic might be something you are looking for.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg at Gen Con as we head out this week and will report back some of our other favorites when we are there.
Thanks for listening and if at Gen Con, please say Hey if you see us.
There are many games about manipulating a stock market or trying to be a Tycoon of an industry. So, when we heard about Star Tycoon, we wondered what was different from all the other games in this category. For me, two things jumped out when playing. First, the market is not the dominating factor in this game, there is a nice balance between that and your other objectives. Second, the market wasn’t the only thing contributing to how you got your resources. Like the balance this game brought into the crowded stock market games.
Cities was a quick game to play with the need to concentrate on a few objectives and not many. And when teaching the game, it might need to be pointed out. This game will promote some sort of hate drafting to keep others from amassing large number of points and while this is solitary in play, little interaction, you need to pay attention to what others are doing.
Thanks for listening and hope you are having a wonderful summer so far.
What is the Golden Age of board gaming and has it passed? We give it some thought in this episode. One of us did a deep dive, while the other thought about it while setting up the microphone. Either way, it is defined differently for each of us. But we board gamers are drawn to rules, and so titles will rise in popularity and fall, just like we discussed in one of our reviews. Eventually, things get overused which leads to a shift and themes cycle. But fear not—new games emerge, striking a delicate balance, and the golden age continues.
In summary, the golden age isn’t a fixed point—it’s a dynamic journey fueled by creativity, passion, and the love of rolling dice and taking names.
Racing board games ignite the thrill of the track, where strategy meets speed. And being from NASCAR country, we enjoy our racing games. In this episode we explore three different styles of racing games: Charioteer, Rallyman Dirt, and Heat-Heavy Rain
Charioteer:
Race into the winner’s circle with this set collection style racing game.
Play your cards to either sprint ahead, damage your opponents or navigate the turn of the forum.
Strategic card play will definitely factor in on who will win this game.
Rallyman: Dirt:
Rev your engines by rolling dice and completing the track in the best time.
Push your luck as you navigate treacherous turns to outpace your opponents.
Modular tracks, dice-driven movement, and strategic decisions are key aspects of this game.
Heat Heavy Rain:
Are you ready for two new tracks for Heat, then pick up this expansion.
New elements on the track will test your hand management skills as you race into the corners.
Draft, strategize, and sprint to the finish line while dealing with your opponents in this expansion for Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Sandbag is an anti-trick taking card game where you look to manipulate trump but in doing so help out the other players. Agueda is a collection game where you are trying to meet three scoring objectives set forth at the beginning of the game. While playing, the family compared it to Azul, but with a little less stress and hate drafting.
Thanks for listening and those back from Origins, hope you had a wonderful time.
Anmelden
