Episode 473 - BGG Hotness April 2024

This week, we're looking at the best of the best from Splotter; the heavy, crunchy, kind of mean, and not always pretty (but frequently brilliant) euro games from Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga.Question of the Week: What game makes you saltier than any other game? Do you avoid playing it?Acquisition Disorders: Dune: War for Arrakis - Desert War, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game - Clone Wars ExpansionAt the Table Reviews: Nucleum Australia, After the EmpireIf you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we take a deep dive into the recently announced BBG award nominations to discuss what we like for the awards and which games we want to track down and play before voting.Question of the Week - What's a game for which the retail edition is just as good as the crowdfunded version (or close enough)? Let's talk about games that didn't need to be crowdfunded.Acquisition Disorders - Keyforge Aember vs. Mindbug Battlefruits, Feudum Big Box, Munchkin Big Box, Canvas Big BoxAt the Table Reviews - Books of Time, Fractured SkyIf you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we're joined by special guest Chris Rodriguez from Board Games for the Better to discuss the hottest games on the April 2024 Board Game Geek hotness list. Acquisition Disorders: Vantage, Slay the Spire: The Board Game, 2025 Board Game Mosaic Calendar, Earth Abundance ExpansionAt the Table Reviews: Trailblazers, Expeditions: Around the WorldIf you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we look at data from several sources outlining some of the best selling games from 2023, and what we think of how well they sold. What games hit the most tables last year, which expansions did we all hoard? We take a deep dive to find out.Question of the Week: What's the most complex game you'd comfortable recommend for people new(ish) to gaming?Acquisition Disorders: We All Take from the River, Bloomchasers: Delightful 3D Tree Game of Flowers and WitsAt the Table Reviews: Rising Waters, Defenders of the Realm expansionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we're revisiting the best of the best games of 2023 to discuss what games we will be nominating for the Golden Geek Awards (and why). Check out all of our picks for the last year's best games, plus previews of DC Heroes United and Bebop.* Acquisition Disorders: DC Heroes United, Bebop===Nominate us for a Golden Geek Award! The nominations are now open here: https://boardgamegeek.com/geekawards/boardgameWe’d appreciate your support as we aim to make this podcast a little bit less anonymous in 2024.===If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we take you on an epic tabletop odyssey into the worlds of Star Wars and Star Trek board games and RPGs. Find out how to string together some of the best experiences from both IPs at your table.===Nominate us for a Golden Geek Award! The nominations are now open here: https://boardgamegeek.com/geekawards/boardgameWe'd appreciate your support as we aim to make this podcast a little bit less anonymous in 2024.===Acquisition Disorders: Rebirth, Millennium Blades...Again!At the Table Reviews: Star Wars Unlimited, Castle Up, Star Trek Away Mission Kirk & Scotty, Terraforming Mars on BGAIf you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Part two of March Gamer Madness is now! Enjoy our rundown of the 32 best-remaining games from the top non-IP-based themes in board games. Find out which one comes out on top in this year's bracket showdown.This year, we're looking at the most popular non-IP-based themes, meaning the best games featuring:CatsZombiesAliensRobotsSamuraiKnightsVikingsCowboys===If you’re attending Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo, be sure to stop by and say hi, or attend one of our two panels over the weekend: Long Island Tabletop: Level Up Your Teach & Your Mental Health===If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's time again for March Gamer Madness! Our annual bracket face off challenge pitting 64 board games against each other to find the very best of a very particular set of requirements.This year, we're looking at the most popular non-IP based themes, meaning the best games featuring:CatsZombiesAliensRobotsSamuraiKnightsVikingsCowboys===If you’re attending Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo, be sure to stop by and say hi, or attend one of our two panels over the weekend: Long Island Tabletop: Level Up Your Teach & Your Mental Health===CONTEST!Our annual March Gamer Madness bracket is now live. Enter your picks for a chance to win a game and to help break ties on the episodes:https://woobox.com/8avpq2===If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're going digital this week with a look at some of the best all-digital deck builders, card flippers, and more. ===If you're attending Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo, be sure to stop by and say hi, or attend one of our two panels over the weekend: Long Island Tabletop: Level Up Your Teach & Your Mental Health===CONTEST! Our annual March Gamer Madness bracket is now live. Enter your picks for a chance to win a game, and to help break ties on the episodes: https://woobox.com/8avpq2===* Acquisition Disorders - Queen's Blood (Final Fantasy VIII Rebirth, UniVersus CCG: Godzilla, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Tekken 8, Star Trek Star Realms* At the Table Reviews: Evacuation, Wings of Glory (WWI)If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we give ChatGPT a series of prompts and pitches board games based on those prompts. Chris guesses what input led to the description written by the AI. Can we guess the direction of the generative AI or will it outsmart us with clever designs? * Question of the Week: What's the best thing you've ever purchased for your board game collection?* Acquisition Disorders: Mage Knight: The Apocalypse Dragon, Mass Effect: The Board Game – Priority: Hagalaz* At the Table Reviews: Wyrmspan, Glitch Squad, KiteIf you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous), Twitter (http://twitter.com/bgapodcast), and our website (www.www.boardgamersanonymous.com). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bga) or using our Amazon affiliate link.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy