Episode 572 - March Gamer Madness: “Best Mechanics” Bracket

It all comes down to this! 64 of the greatest board game mechanics, down to our Sweet 16, Final Four, and then, our Number 1 Board Game Mechanic! Which mechanic is top?! Find out now, with Chris & Anthony. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read the newest journal of tabletop gaming! Volume 3, Issue 1 is out now! 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

This week on the podcast, we go a bit mad with our yearly Board Game Bracket. This year, it is the best board game mechanics! And we also get a bit sad with Anthony's announcement. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read the newest journal of tabletop gaming! Volume 3, Issue 1 is out now! 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

(Sorry for the late upload from last week! Stay tuned for this week's regularly scheduled episode in a couple of days). Anthony and Chris take a look at some of their favorite types of games: tableau builders set in nature. Find out which ten games make the list and why they're the best of the bunch. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Volume III Issue 1 is now live. Contents Goodbye to the Compleat Strategist? Roll for Preview: Mage Knight: Emergence — The Portal to Power Roll for Review: 7 Wonders Dice, Corvids Feature: Top 10 Nature-Based Tableau Engine Builders 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

Anthony and Chris dig into the full list of nominees (all 120 of them!!) for the Origins Awards, recently announced of June's Origins Game Fair. Plus more discussion of AI's impact on the industry, and Hasbro's recent comments on the future use of AI in MTG and D&D. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents MTG and D&D (Will they or won't they go there with AI)? Roll for Preview: Re;MATCH Roll for Review: Point Galaxy, Up or Down? Feature: Origins Game Fair Awards 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

Game Master Dave joins Chris this week to talk about the nuts and bolts of running a board game convention in the lead up to Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents Continue Fallout between Rodney and Chaz Roll for Preview: Concordia Special Edition, Citadel Duels Roll for Review: SETI, Civolution Feature: From Meeple to Megacon 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

This week, Anthony and Chris take a deep dive into 10 of their favorite designers, and identify the game that represents them at the peak of their designer game. Plus discussions on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the board gaming hobby right now, and previews of Labyrinth Chronicles and Almighty: The Godliest God Game. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Registration is now open for Tabletop Scholars, and the CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Atlas raises money in Minnesota, the Supreme Court rules on Tariffs, and AEG's COO says a dumb thing. Roll for Preview: Labyrinth Chronicles, Almighty: The Godliest God Game Feature: Top 10 Designers at Their Peak 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

This week, Anthony and Chris look at 11 games that act as the magical bridge between medium and big, crunchy Euro games. Which heavy games come first? We have you covered. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Registration is now open for Tabletop Scholars, and the CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents Roll for Preview: Foes of Middle Earth Roll for Review: Sagrada (2026 Edition) Feature: My First Heavy Game 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

This week, Anthony and Chris delve into ten games that are not just defined by one central mechanic, but that are as good as they are almost solely because of that mechanic. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Registration is now open for Tabletop Scholars, and the CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents Roll for Preview: Rurik Second Edition Roll for Review: Tea Garden Feature: Critiquing BGG’s 2026 Hall of Fame Class 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

This week, Anthony and Chris delve into the five games added to the BGG Hall of Fame this year, with plenty of controversy and concern on display. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠⁠. Registration is now open for Tabletop Scholars, and the CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents Roll for Preview: Marco Polo Deluxe Master Set, 7 Wonders Deluxe Roll for Review: Aquaria Feature: Critiquing BGG's 2026 Hall of Fame Class 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

This week, Anthony and Chris are joined by Will and Megan to talk about a whole bunch of games we've all been playing lately, plus some corrections and additions to our board game cinematic universe last week, and a breakdown of how and why so many board games companies are failing all of a sudden. If you haven’t yet, check out the recently updated BGA website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠! Join us over at ⁠⁠www.boardgameacademics.com⁠⁠. Registration is now open for Tabletop Scholars, and the CFP is up for Volume IV of the journal. Contents Roll for Preview: Mountain Goats Legacy Roll for Review: Wroth, Concept, Puppies or Poop, Stardew Valley, Splendor Kids, Herd Mentality, Outsmarted!, Pictionary Air, Horrible Therapist, Flip 7 Grinch Feature: Rolling a Nat 1 on Corporate Strategy 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