Episode 549 - Versus: All the Battles, None of the Rules!

This week, Anthony and Chris dig into the games that we think have a shot at game of the year for 2025, plus which games from this year we think will eventually make the Top 100 on Board Game Geek and which games we'll still be playing in 10 years. Roll for Preview: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth – Allies Roll for Review: The Hobbit: There and Back Again Feature: Predictions for 2025 Board Games If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we take a dive into the hottest games out of Essen SPIEL 2025, looking at the games that drove the hotness on BoardGameGeek and that we're most excited to play when they come stateside. Plus, a review of Ayar: Children of the Sun, and preview of Disney Afternoon Rewind. Roll for Preview: Disney Afternoon REWIND Board Games Roll for Review: Ayar: Children of the Sun Feature: Essen SPIEL 2025 Hotness If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we hit a big round number (550) and talk about the five games that have had a lasting impact on us both on and off the podcast, the five designers and publishers we most resonate with, and our zero regrets over the last 12 years. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Anthony and Chris are looking back at all of the Versus episodes they've done to reflect on which games won, which ones would win today, and all the good gaming that's happened since. Collecting and value in our collections Roll for Preview: Terra Mystica Special Edition, Berserk: The Board Game Feature: Versus: All the Battles, None of the Rules! If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we take a look at the 10 most influential games of the 20th century, fresh off our visit to the Strong National Museum of Play for Board Game Academics' annual conference, plus a whole bunch of fun previews of upcoming games. Magic The Gathering Universes Beyond reveals Roll for Preview: Underwater Cities: Data Era, Academia: A Game of Administrative Bloat, Obsession Big Box, Origin Story Feature: 10 Most Influential Games of the 20th Century If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we do a deep dive on the games that use deckbuilding most effectively in 2025, plus reflect on our original 2017 list of top 10 deckbuilders (episode 155), and review the expansion materials for Energy Empire. Magic the Gathering Universes Beyond reveals Roll for Preview: Dogs of War, Slay the Spire: Downfall Roll for Review: Manhattan Project: Energy Empire Cold War Feature: Top 10 Games with Deckbuilding If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Anthony and Chris revisit a popular topic and update their 2018 list of top 10 heavy euros. See which one stick around and which new games have entered the discussion. Join us at the Board Game Academics Conference at the Strong Museum of Play: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardgameacademics.com/register/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Roll for Preview: Andromeda's Edge: Genesis, Dinosaur Island: Fully Charged Roll for Review: DC Super Heroes United: Hush Feature: Top 10 Heavy Euros If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 545 is up featuring our rundown of the most funded games of all time on Gamefound, which hold up, and how many we've gotten to the table, plus a rundown of the BGG Hotness for September. Join us at the Board Game Academics Conference at the Strong Museum of Play: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardgameacademics.com/register/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Anthony and Chris do a deep dive into the games that rank highest on Board Game Geek in each year of the podcast dating back to 2013. Find out if Chris can guess them all, and which games rank highly for us as well. Join us at the Board Game Academics Conference at the Strong Museum of Play: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardgameacademics.com/register/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Chris is joined by special guest Erin from Board Games for the Better to talk about her favorite thematic board games. Join us at the Board Game Academics Conference at the Strong Museum of Play: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardgameacademics.com/register/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Board Games for the Better: https://boardgamesforthebetter.org/ Episode Notes: Roll for Preview: Into the FUN FACTORY Roll for Review: Thunder Road: Vendetta: Carnival of Chaos Feature: Our Friends’ Favorite Thematic Games If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with us on Facebook (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/boardgamersanonymous),⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/bganonymous.bsky.social) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices