Episode 560 - BGA Awards: Best Games of 2025

It's that time of year again - we're looking at the most anticipated games on the upcoming year's release calendar. Check out more than 50 games, expansions, and rereleases we're excited to see, play, or purchase in the year ahead. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠! 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.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for the 2025 BGA Awards, in which we choose our top picks in 10 different categories for the year. Find out which game takes home our game of the year award, plus so much more in this year's Awards! If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at www.boardgamersanonymous.com! 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.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a look back at all the games we thought would be in the hotness in 2025, discuss the ones we played, the ones we didn't, and the surprises along the way. A great way to recap and prepare for next week's BGA Awards episode! If you haven't yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at www.boardgamersanonymous.com! 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 and Anthony dig into the paradox that is AI and how it is impacting and influencing tabletop gaming. We have pros, cons, and a few extra thoughts on the future of AI in our hobby. Roll for Preview: Chess Joker Roll for Review: A Place for All My Books Feature Review: AI in Tabletop Gaming: The Wall-E Paradox 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 on BGA, Chris and Anthony are joined by Will to talk about conventions and what makes for a killer experience. We bring our favorite experiences, the things that stood out to us over the years, and what we wish conventions could bring in going forward. Roll for Preview: Scales of Fate Roll for Review: SETI: Space Agencies Feature Review: Your Ideal Tabletop Convention: Past Highlights & Future Wishes 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 and Anthony are joined by special guests and BGA cohorts Will and Meghan, who attended PAX Unplugged and have a bunch of games to talk about. Roll for Review: Side Effects, Kite, Pillars of Fate Feature: PAX Unplugged vs. BGGCon top library games (lists reviewed from of Hilary Clair and Matt Morgan on BoardGameGeek.com). 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

Anthony and Chris are back from PAX Unplugged this year and have a whole bunch of games to talk about, plus some previews and reviews of even more games from before the con. Roll for Preview: The Great Library, Employee Disposal Program Roll for Review: CakoZaurus, Star Trek Lower Decks: Buffer Time The Card Game PAX Unplugged Hotness 2025Fantasy Flight In-Flight Report
Lord of the Rings Room: Dave
New Stuff: * Deckers* SETI: Space Agencies* Sanctuary* Flamecraft Duals* The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Trick Taking Game* A Place for All My Books* Graft* Orleans Big Box* Emberheart* Cozy Stickerville* Six Sojourns* Burgle Bros BlackjackPreviews:* Cascadia Alpine Lakes* Whisperwood* Slay the Spire: Downfall* The Game Makers* Voidfall: Resurgence* Re;MATCH: Marble Puzzle Fighter* Mystic Curling Club* Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes 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

Anthony and Chris are back with another annual holiday gift guide, featuring our top picks in nearly a dozen categories for games, apps, and accessories that fit the gamer in your life. If you're going to PAX Unplugged this weekend, be sure to reach out so we can connect! Roll for Review: Clans of Caledonia: Industria, FlipToons Feature: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide 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 Will Nation to discuss all things dice and defiance, including a preview of next week's Pax Unplugged and some game reviews from recent plays. Roll for Preview: Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game Roll for Review: Betrayal at House on the Hill: 3rd Edition, Trash Talk, Flamecraft Feature: Dice, Defiance, and the Tabletop Revolution! 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 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