The Fifth Meeple Board Game Podcast

We've finally made it to the top 5! After working our way through some of the best board games we've ever played, it's time to reveal the games that made the very top of our list. Which games were good enough to crack the top 5, and more importantly, which one takes the number one spot? Join us as we count down our best of the best! Episode 123: Best of the Best: Top 15 Games of All Time (5-1) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Best of the Best #5-1 Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

We’re down to the final 10! The Best Board Games of All Time countdown rolls on as we reveal games 10 through 6. These are the games that have earned their spots near the top of our list, but there’s still plenty of debate about which ones deserve to be here. Join us as we talk through our picks, defend our rankings, and set the stage for the big reveal of our top 5. Episode 122: Best of the Best: Top 15 Games of All Time (10-6) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Best of the Best #10-6 Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

We’re back at it again, counting down our Best Board Games of All Time! This time, we’re tackling spots 15 through 11 and talking about the games that have earned their place among our all-time favorites. Do you agree with our picks, or are we completely off our rockers? Let us know what you think! Episode 121: Best of the Best: Top 15 Games of All Time! (15-11) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Best of the Best #15-11 Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

This week on The Fifth Meeple, it’s a true one-on-one showdown with Tag Team vs. Lairs! Both games put two players directly against each other, but they go about it in very different ways. We’ll see which game gave us the better head-to-head experience and which one kept us coming back for more. It’s a Duel of the Minds, and only one game can come out the victor! Episode 120: Duel of the Minds: Tag Team vs Lairs Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:09 What's on your table? 12:49 Tag Team 25:01 Tag Team: Collector's Corner 25:56 Tag Team: Final Thoughts 28:07 Lairs 40:13 Lairs: Collector's Corner 42:30 Lairs: Final Thoughts 45:12 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

The Rating the Rankings train keeps moving! This time we’re looking at BGG’s #21–30, breaking down the games, questioning some of their placements, and talking about which ones we’d move up or down. Then we bring back the snake draft for another round of board game bragging rights. Who built the better list?  (Check out Episode 97, 108 for the series "Rating the Rankings) Special Episode 119 (Rating the Rankings): BGG 21-30 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:22 BGG #21-30 49:04 The Draft Whose draft did you like best? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] and maybe we'll give you a shout out in our next episode!  As always get those games to the table!

DNUP is on the table for this mini review, and we’re breaking down everything from the gameplay to the fun factor. We’ll give you the good, the bad, and our honest take after playing it. Would we play DNUP again? You’ll have to listen to find out! Episode 118 (Mini): DNUP Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:51 DNUP 02:24 DNUP: The Good 08:13 DNUP: The Bad 15:16 DNUP: Collector's Corner 16:25 DNUP: Final Scores Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Two games, one universe, and a whole lot of mechs! This week we’re putting Scythe against Expeditions in a battle that pits a beloved strategy classic against its spiritual successor. Which one gives us the better experience at the table? There’s only one way to find out!  Join us for this week's Battle of the Funnest Showdown! Episode 117: Mech vs Mech: Scythe vs Expeditions Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 What's on your table? 11:42 Scythe 34:28 Scythe: Collector's Corner 35:33 Scythe: Final Thoughts 40:35 Expeditions 01:01:09 Expeditions: Collector's Corner 01:02:33 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

In this mini episode, we’re heading behind the counter for a taste of Soda Jerk! We give you a quick rundown on how the game plays, what we enjoyed, and whether it deserves a spot at your next game night.  Enjoy! Episode 116 (Mini): Soda Jerk Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction 00:52 Soda Jerk 02:08 Soda Jerk: The Good 09:31 Soda Jerk: The Bad 13:39 Soda Jerk: Collector's Corner 14:20 Soda Jerk: Final Scores Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

This week we're proving that great board games don't need a giant box as Tenby and Forest Shuffle go head-to-head. From building up a seaside town in Tenby to creating powerful combinations of trees, animals, and wildlife in Forest Shuffle, both games give you plenty to think about without taking over your table. Which small-box game packs the biggest punch?  Let's find out in this week's Battle of the Funnest Showdown! Episode 115: Small Box, Big Punch: Forest Shuffle vs Tenby Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:09 What's on your table? 09:11 Forest Shuffle 25:16 Forest Shuffle: Collector's Corner 26:38 Forest Shuffle: Final Thoughts 28:39 Tenby 42:39 Tenby: Collector's Corner 43:34 Tenby: Final Thoughts 46:49 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

In this mini review, we’re taking a shot at Crokinole! We’ll talk about the gameplay, the skill, the flicking, and why this classic dexterity game continues to hit the mark! Episode 114 (Mini): Crokinole Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Crokinole 02:25 Crokinole: The Good 07:13 Crokinole: The Bad 11:42 Crokinole: Collector's Corner 13:06 Crokinole: Final Scores Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!