How to Save a World

To paraphrase Sir Mix-a-Lot (O.B.E.), I like big bears and I cannot lie! Fat Bear Week is upon us. Let these corpulent kings of ursine excellence strut their stuff, and let us admire in awe at their tangible gains. These bears do not skip leg day. Some people have mukbang--we have out fat bears. Games Played Last Week: 01:05 -Panda Spin (Carl Chudyk, Moon Gate Design 2024) 05:04 -Brightcast (Nicholas Forker & Hugh Kramer, self-published, 2025) 09:10 -Landfall: A Cozy Volcano Island-Building Game (Evan Katz, Zachary Lee, and Josh Roberts, Evan and Josh's Very Special Game Company, 2026) 14:08 -Leaps and Ledges (Uncredited, MindWare, 2014) 16:44 -Spaggetin (Franco Spardo, Alley Cat Games, 2026) 20:24 -Othello (John W. Mollett, Lewis Waterman, and Goro Hasegawa, Tsukuda Original, 1973) 27:26 -Cyberpunk Trading Card Game (Chris Solis, WeirdCo, 2026) 33:50 -Floral (James Newman, Edition Spielwiese, 2024) 36:00 -Drillers (Roman Bednář & Adam Španěl, CGE, 2026) 41:31 -Jibber Jabble (Cassie Sikes, Allplay, 2026) News (and why it doesn't matter): 48:33 Got Five: Ghost! 49:26 Opera Magna: Throwback theme, novel distribution? 50:43 It's Fat Bear Week! https://explore.org/fat-bear-week 51:11 Feature Game: How to Save a World (Yuval Grinspun, Burnt Island Games, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Walker imminently about to move (to Kingston from Kingston) and Mark still storing his games from the previous move, the overwhelming preponderance of the SVWAG collection(s) is currently shackled by packing tape. So much good design and fun toys yearning to get out! Alas, physical instantiation is a curse, the material world is a prison, and entropy always wins. Find me one realtor sympathetic to the specific needs of a boardgame collector, and that'd be something, at least. 01:12 AYURIS: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game (Bryan Bormueller, Office Dog, 2025) Games Played Last Week: 04:04 -The Crew: Journey to the Ends of the Earth (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2026) 06:32 -Avalon: The Riven Veil (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2026) 18:14 -Got Five! (Yoann Levet, Blue Orange, 2026) 22:06 -Tiefe Taschen (Fabian Zimmermann, Fobs Games, 2016) 28:14 -Keltis: Dad Orakel (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2010) 32:16 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 34:04 -Starts With / Ends With (Jason Tagmire, Championland, 2008) 36:58 -Pacts (Ben Brin, DVC Games, 2025) 39:39 -Cyclades: Legendary Edition (Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Open Sesame Games, 2024) 47:24 -Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2026) 53:53 -Railway Boom (Hisashi Hayashi & Simone Luciani, Arclight Games, 2025) 57:08 -Reef Gardens (Jeffrey D. Allers, dlp games, 2025) firgon, nalka News (and why it doesn't matter): 1:00:44 Too Many Bones -> Too Little Time from Chip Theory 1:01:27 Cola Wars pulled from crowdfunding over AI generated art, will retool and relaunch 1:03:19 Antlanteum from Bad Comet 1:03:52 New expansion for Dwellings of Eldervale 1:04:39 New Deception in Hong Kong! No Murder, Heist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The SVWAG Canon (https://www.sowronggames.com/svwag-canon) is an elite list of games that Walker and Mark both very much enjoy. Walker is nervous around recommendations, per se, and the imitations on an ideal game library or somesuch is subject to many practical constraints--so instead SVWAG has an unruly list of games that are greatly enjoyed by both the hosts. And it is time for that list to be updated! 02:08 AYURIS: EGO (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) Games Played Last Week: 04:52 -Dwellings of Eldervale (Luke Laurie, Breaking Games, 2020) 09:10 -Brumble Quest (J. Arthur Ellis, Plaid Hat Games, 2026) 13:53 -Endless Winter: Paleoamericans (Stan Kordonskiy, Fantasia Games, 2022) 16:31 -Banana Governance (Mukai, Mukai, 2025) 23:06 -Avalon: The Riven Veil (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2026) 30:26 -Cats Knocking Things Off Ledges (David Killing & Sen Foong-Lim, The Op games, 2026) 35:37 -The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers--Trick-Taking Game (Bryan Bornmueller, Office Dog, 2026) 38:06 -World Championship Russian Roulette (Anthony Burch, Tuesday Knight Games, 2017) News (and why it doesn't matter): 43:57 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag 49:17 Glorious Listener Survey over 46:07 Concept Kids to Concept: Stories 47:00 Mass market, big box store versions of Scout and now Dro Polter 47:54 Wizards of the Grimoire (aka Bookie Bookie, Pew Pew) 3 48:24 Topic: Canon Update Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's hard to go wrong with cats. Even most people who don't like cats are wise enough to keep relatively quiet about it, lest they suffer the consequences. What consequences? Oh, I don't know, maybe the fury of needle-armed psychopaths who watch things die for fun! And that's just the cat owners. ZING I kid, I kid. We here at SVWAG have considerable enthusiasm for Official SVWAG cat, Chandler, aka Chan-Chan aka Chan Man aka Potato. Games Played Last Week: 00:54 -Movie Tricks (Vegard Eliassen Stillerud, Eilif Svensson, and Åsmund Svensson, Chilifox Games, 2025) 06:49 -Avalon: The Riven Veil (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2026) 15:04 -D.E.I.: Divide et Impera (Tommaso Battista, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2022) 17:27 -Barrage: The Colorado Connection (Tommaso Battista & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2024) 25:06 -Alibis (Yusuke Sato, Allplay, 2025) 27:36 -Landmarks (Rodrigo Rego & Danilo Valente, Floodgate Games, 2024) 28:22 -dnup (Kei Kajino, asmodee, 2025) 31:11 -Bookshelf (Caezar Al-Jassar, Alley Cat Games, 2026) 33:19 -Realm of Reckoning (Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, and Austin Harrison, IV Studio, 2026) 39:37 -Totally Human (Kasper Lapp, Bitewing Games, 2026) 45:52 -Cats Knocking Things Off Ledges (David Killing & Sen Foong-Lim, The Op games, 2026) News (and why it doesn't matter): 49:17 Glorious Listener Survey! https://forms.gle/ghqMH9cuiRWCVyZn9 49:46 Valuable creator, JonGetsGames, on hiatus 51:38 Dinosaurs, everybody! Dino Racer from Underdog and Marceline Leiman 53:08 Rebels Against Rebellion by Trevor Benjamin, David Thompson, and art by Kwanchai Moriya 54:32 Feature Game: Robo Rally Dice (Kane Klenko, Renegade Game Studios, 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

[EDIT] In this episode, Mark falsely attributes the co-authorship of Ayar to Nestore Mangone, when in fact it was designed by Mandela Fernandez-Grandon and Fabio Lopiano. We regret the error. Have you heard of the Walker Quint? This patent-pending, uncopyrightable system is more than just a game organizational schema--it is a multipurpose framework that will REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR LIFE in every way! It's more like a cult, really. Join us in following the Eternal Path of the Walker Quint. 01:43 AYURIS: Undaunted 2200: Callisto (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 05:53 -Gold Country (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2026) 09:45 -Bottle Imp (Günter Cornett, Grail Games, 2024) 15:27 -Las Vegas (Rüdiger Dorn, alea, 2012) 18:44 -Avalon: The Riven Veil (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2026) 28:06 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022) 32:53 -Baghdad: The City of Peace (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2025) 40:03 -Into the Machine (Kasper Lapp, AEG, 2026) 46:22 -Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition (Christopher Badell & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 54:19 Calactic Cruise rakes in the Dice Tower ards at Gen Con 54:36 Glorious Listener Survey! https://forms.gle/ghqMH9cuiRWCVyZn9 55:05 Nidavellir re-developed into Dwarves of Aquilon 56:20 One Page Rules is crowdfunding starter boxes 57:39 Blind buy for Games Workshop minis 1:00:35 Topic: Games that Build Cred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world is changing, what with everything being cozy and (some) crowdfunding projects fulfilling in weeks rather than years. This dizzying pace of evolution can be disorienting, which is why Notebook Nations seeks to comfort and console you by having throwbacks to the design decisions of years past. Games Played Last Week: 01:55 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, and Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022) 06:48 -The Quest for El Dorado: Expansion Collection (Reiner Knizia, Lautapelit.fi, 2025) 13:54 -Star Wars: Rebellion (Corey Konieczka, Fantasy Flight, 2016) 23:34 -Container (Franz-Benno Delonge, Thomas Ewert, and Kevin Nesbitt, Allplay, 2026) 30:06 -Tag Team (Gricha German & Corentin Lebrat, Scorpion Masqué, 2025) 35:38 -Chang'an (Carlo Camarotto & Nestore Mangone, Arcane Wonders, 2026) 37:57 -Nokosu Dice (Yusuke Matsumoto, Engames, 2016) 44:12 -Kabuto Sumo: Sakura Slam (John Brieger, Michael Dunsmore, & Tony Miller, Allplay, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 47:26 Glorious Listener Survey! https://forms.gle/ghqMH9cuiRWCVyZn9 48:26 The Lord of the Rings: King's Gambit price speculation and lamentation 52:21 Feature Game: Notebook Nations (Amy Droz & Dusty Droz, Dux Somnium Games, 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have recovered from SVWAG Con II: Electric Boogaloo, and to the best of our knowledge there was no "con crud" or equivalent contagion. We make no claims that the con possesses curative powers, though we haven't had anyone say that it *didn't* cure a chronic illness. 01:27 AYURIS: Andromeda's Edge (Luke Laurie and Maximus Laurie, Cardboard Alchemy, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 03:48 -Eternal Decks (Hiroken, tricktakers Games, 2025) 09:46 -D.E.I.: Divide et Impera (Tommaso Battista, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2022) 14:58 -Coalitions (Andrew Rourke, PHALANX, 2026) 21:37 -Smartphone Inc. (Ivan Lashin, Cosmodrome Games, 2018 24:42 -Wroth (Manny Trembley, Chip Theory Games, 2025) 32:19 -Alibis (Yusuke Sato, Allplay, 2025) 35:35 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025) 36:16 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022) 36:39 -The Resistance (Don Eskridge, Indie Boards & Cards, 2009) 38:49 -The Defence of Procyon III (Dávid Turczi, PSC Games, 2021) News (and why it doesn't matter): 44:06 Aristeia 2.0: Hexadome Tactics 45:55 XCom miniatures game for preorder 46:46 Malediction expands with new factions and starter sets 48:12 Allplay gives Dominant Species an Ian O'Toole facelift 48:54 Through the Desert gets a sequel: Through the Mountains 49:57 Spirit Island's future, according to R. Eric Reuss: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3728767/eric-s-2026-update 51:00 Topic: The Mid-Year Tag Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for SVWAGCon, Mark's car has fallen prey to Princeton's unforgiving roads and local practitioners of the mechanical arts. Which ones are trustworthy? Which are inept mountebanks? As far as mountebanks are concerned, would one prefer an inept one or a skilled one? These pressing questions will have to wait, as in the interim the barrier between Mark and his SVWAGCon obligations is ALL THE MONEYS. 01:55 AYURIS: The Vale of Eternity (Eric Hong, Mandoo Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 06:12 -Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef (Tim Eisner & Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2020) 09:24 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022) 14:18 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024) 18:29 -Daybreak (Matt Leacock & Matteo Menapace, CMYK, 2023) 24:10 -Super Auto Pets Card Battle (Nick Conley, Plaid Hat Games, 2026) 29:38 -Gal4xeon (Jackson Pope, Eurydice Games, 2026) 36:03 -dnup (Kei Kajino, asmodee, 2025) 37:53 -Mystic Curling Club (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2026) 44:31 -Shadowrift (Jeremy Anderson, Game Salute, 2012) 52:25 -HEROish (TechDweeb, Web-published, 2026) https://techdweeb.itch.io/heroish News (and why it doesn't matter): 56:44 Come join us in Kingston, Ontario July 24th-26th for SVWAG Con! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 Icebreaker events to meet new people at SVWAG Con! https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/379864/svwagcon-2-icebreaker-signup 58:23 Alexander Pfister and Peter Prinz go Sixty Below in -60° 58:55 Upcoming Snap Ships Tactics "Massive Expansion" buttons 1:00:27 More details on Tigris & Euphrates reprint's deluxe tile options 1:01:46 Please support us on Patreon! Last week before price increase. www.patreon.com/svwag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"If you're down and confused And you don't remember who you're talking to Concentration slips away Because your baby is so far away Well there's a rose in a fisted glove And the eagle flies with the dove And if you can't be with the one you love honey Love the one you're with" -Confucius (probably, maybe Socrates, I don't know) 02:13 AYURIS: Deep Rock Galactic (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2022) Games Played Last Week: 05:28 -Firefighters on Duty (Konstantinos Kokkinis & Sotirios Tsantilas, Artipia Games, 2025) 08:48 -The Witches of Willospur (Jenna Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2026) 18:53 -Gingham (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025) 22:53 -Revenant (Allan Kirkeby, Mindclash Games, 2026) 30:51 -Pencil Book Quest (David David, Grumpy Spider Games, 2025) 34:30 -3 Witches (Corey Young, Allplay, 2025) 38:18 -The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers--Trick-Taking Game (Bryan Bornmueller, Office Dog, 2026) 40:46 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 44:03 Come join us in Kingston, Ontario July 24th-26th for SVWAG Con! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 Icebreaker events to meet new people at SVWAG Con! https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/379864/svwagcon-2-icebreaker-signup 45:10 Shelfy by Brotherwise lets you blind buy your collection in miniature 48:08 Why associate with Kingdom Come: Deliverance's creator, Daniel Vávra, and his GamerGate support? Make better choices, Vlaada Chvátil! Rated "U" for "UGH" 49:51 Topic: Falling in Love with Your Collection (Again) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was three actions deep into my tenth turn of Recall when I achieved total mastery. I was beyond the Schwarzenegger and the Farrell, deep with Koato and triple-mammaried subversives. A newb at the table interrupted my reverie with a question concerning ambiguous inconography. "That card?" I said, feeling like cutting a deal. "I can remember it for you wholesale." They called me a dick. Games Played Last Week: 01:20 -Innovation Deluxe (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2017) 05:19 -Wroth (Manny Trembley, Chip Theory Games, 2025) 08:37 -All In: Predictions (Phil Walker-Harding, Next Move Games, 2026) 12:06 -dnup (Kei Kajino, asmodee, 2025) 14:36 -Double Seven (Michael Schacht, TIKI Editions, 2025) 17:54 -Eternal Decks (Hiroken, tricktakers Games, 2025) 24:49 -Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023) 26:03 -Orléans: Invasion (Inka Brand, Markus Brand, & Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2015) 30:58 -Queen of Spies (Liz Davidson & David Thompson, Salt & Pepper Games, 2026) 37:32 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 39:07 -Snakes and Hawks (Carey Suber, Suber Electronics, 2020) News (and why it doesn't matter): 42:10 Come join us in Kingston, Ontario July 24th-26th for SVWAG Con! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/svwag-con-ii-electric-boogaloo-tickets-1986634285627 Icebreaker events to meet new people at SVWAG Con! https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/379864/svwagcon-2-icebreaker-signup 43:57 Kingdom Come: Deliverance preorder from CGE (by Vlaada Chvátil & Tomáš Holek!) 47:14 Eternal Sevens, psuedo-sequel to Eternal Decks 47:41 Feature Game: Recall (Helge Meissner, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Kjetil Svendsen, and Anna Wermlund, Alion – by Dr Ø, 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices