The BoardGameGeek Podcast

Episode 98: Aaron B. (Game Enthus) - The Remaster’s Era - Top 5 Games We Like to Teach - Lunch Time Gaming & Getting Recognized

Hey everyone! I’m excited to introduce Aaron, also known as Game Enthus on social media, who’s joining me to chat about all those games that are getting remastered, remade, updated with a second edition, brought back, or republished with some tweaks. We’re gonna try to nail down what exactly defines the “Remaster’s Era” of tabletop gaming. Then, we’ll share our top 5 favorite games to teach others. We’ll wrap up with some feel-good stories about gaming with coworkers during lunch and those moments when we get recognized. Oh, and we almost forgot to mention—we usually team up to teach a game on the Learn and Play schedule at PAX Unplugged. So, if you’re heading there, come join us for a fun game!

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:54 Get to know Aaron B.
00:06:08 The Remasters Era in Board Games
00:33:06 Top 5 Games we Enjoy Teaching
00:35:51 Hues and Cues
00:39:22 River of Gold
00:41:54 Panda Royale
00:45:20 Wok and Roll
00:47:30 So Clover!
00:50:02 Duck and Cover
00:53:13 Faraway
00:56:36 Cities
Cities USA
01:00:10 Green Team Wins
Green Team Wins Again
01:03:28 Seti: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 
Kanban EV
Sweet Lands
01:08:00 Honorable Mentions
01:08:05 Chicken Fried Dice
01:10:55 Takenoko
01:12:33 Moments of Positivity in Gaming
01:16:52 Where can you find Aaron?
Game Enthus on Lintree
Game Enthus Podcast Website
Aaron’s Youtube Channel - @GameEnthus
The Five By Podcast Website / BGG Listing

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 97: Cole Smith - Games that Combine 2 Mechanisms well - Top 5 Area Control Games - A Frame Job & Good Food

Canadian board game and graphic designer, Cole Smith, joins me to talk about his current published games, games that combine 2 mechanisms well, and his favorite mechanism, area control, games.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:21 Get to Know Cole Smith and his games
Tanuki 
Sauros 
3 Magi 
00:05:58 The Journey of Game Design
00:08:23 Cole's Favorite Mechanism or Game that inspires him
00:14:42 Games that Blend 2 Well-Known Mechanics Well
Lost Ruins or Arnak
Dune Imperium
Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
Patchwork
Cascadia and other Flatout line of games
Sauros
Rumble Nation
Radlands 
7 Wonders Duel
Sagrada 
Nokosu dice
King of Tokyo
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick Taking Game
Iliad
Tag Team
Arcs
00:33:32 Top 5 Area Control Games
00:37:57 The King is Dead: Second Edition
00:40:18 Rumble Nation
00:41:46 Waddle
00:44:35 Ankh: Gods of Egypt
00:47:25 Marrakech
00:50:50 Rumble Nation (Overlap)
00:51:09 Sunrise Lane
00:54:27 Scythe
00:58:45 Foundations of Rome
01:03:16 Root
01:07:26 Patrician
01:10:29 Honorable Mentions
01:10:40 Big Boss
01:12:59 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon
01:15:01 Ahoy
01:16:02 Moment of Positivity
01:20:09 Where can you find Cole?
BGG Designer Page
Instagram @Cole_Designs_Games
01:21:24 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 96: Arwen Kathke - Vision Accessibility in Board Games - Top 5 Food-Themed Board Games - Hanging out with loved ones and friends

The amazing Arwen Kathke joins me to talk about her Cardboard Time podcast and her passion to increase vision accessibility in board games. We get hungry talk about our top 5 food themed games and going down some rabbit holes. Ending with good memories of hanging out with loved ones and friends.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:29 Get to know Arwen
00:01:49 How did the Cardboard Time Podcast start?
00:03:01 Why the name Cardboard Time?
00:07:12 Vision Accessibility in Board Games
Colorblind Games
00:18:01 Top 5 Food-Themed Board Games
Sang Kee Peking Duck House
BGG “Theme: Food Cooking” Tag List
00:24:24 Formage & Formaggio: We Love Cheese
00:32:13 Point Salad: A Game for Everyone
Point Galaxy
00:35:52 Coffee Roaster: A Solo Experience
In Front of the Elevators
00:40:13 Three Sisters: Harvest Edition: Expanding the Game
00:47:41 Chicken Fried Dice: Real-Time Roll and Write
Ashwin and Rob on BGG Podcast Ep. 91
00:51:35 Wok and Roll: Nostalgia in a Game
00:55:00 Diced Veggies: A Unique Chopping Mechanism
00:59:14 Sushi Go Party!: A Fun Twist on Drafting Games
Honorable Mentions
01:04:39 Pizza Roles - Yummy Deduction Game
01:07:44 Sweet Lands - The Charm of Heavy Strategy Games
01:13:26 Moments of Positivity
Big Gay Dinner - Rose Gauntlet Foundation
BGG Spring 2026Buc-ee’s
Sheetz

01:27:45 Where can you find Arwen?
The Cardboard Time Podcast on Spotify
Cardboard Time Website
Bluesky: @CardboardTime
Instagram: @Cardboard_Time
Youtube:@CardboardTime
Conventions: Origins Game Fair
Omaha Gaming Con (added after the recording)
Pax Unplugged 

01:31:51 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 95: Emily Vincent - Usability & UI Design in Board Games, 10+ Hidden Small Box Gems, Libraries, and cats calling in the Spring

Please come join me and meet this wonderful human and talented designer, Emily Vincent. We connect about cats, what makes a sandwich, and fonts. We discuss how UI design and accessibility design concepts are implemented in board games. Then we talk about 10+ small box games that we think fell under the radar or don’t get enough love. And end with cats, libraries, and hearing about her upcoming games.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:31 Who is Emily Vincent?
00:06:35 Playtesting Games
Boston Game Makers’ Guild
ProtoSpiel Online
Break My Game Discord
UnPub
00:07:41 Rapid Fire Questions
00:11:49 Applying Usability / UI Design Concepts to Game Design
00:36:31 Exploring our Top 5 Hidden Gems in Small Box Games
00:38:33 Newfoundland Jam
00:41:38 Cat Rescue
00:45:10 No Regerts: The Game of Art and Poor Life Choices
00:47:46 Big Sur
Strange Worlds Above the Clouds
00:50:54 Tootin' & Hollerin'
00:55:04 Espresso
00:57:57 Pass the Buck: A Game of Corporate Responsibility Management
01:02:26 Lunar Skyline
01:06:14 Holiday Hijinks #1: The Kringle Caper and series
01:10:23 Wok and Roll
01:12:47 Honorable Mentions
01:13:17 Trickadee
01:14:13 Bandido
01:16:06 Neko Syndicate
01:20:53 Moments of Positivity
01:28:49 Where can you find Emily?
Instagram @ Pink Hawk Games
Website: http://pinkhawkgames.com 
Discord: EmilyKeepsKitties
Building the Game podcast
01:32:12 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 94: Ambie Valdés- How Life Changes affect Board Games - Top 5 Kids Games, sort of - Loving on Family and Friends

Ambie Valdés from the Board Game Blitz podcast joins me to talk about how different stages in life change what and how we play board games. I talk about 5 games that are made for kids but adults also enjoy while you get a peek into what games Ambie’s twins enjoyed throughout the years. Ending with happy memories with friends and family. Happy 10 year anniversary to the Board Game Bliz Podcast!

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:36 Get to know Ambie
00:04:10 Life Changes and Their Impact on our Gaming tastes and playing
00:41:30 Top 5 Games made for Kids
00:42:25 Go Away Monster
00:44:26 Animal Upon Animal
00:47:15 My First Adventure: Finding the Dragon
00:51:13 My Little Scythe
00:54:26 Zombie Kidz Evolution
00:58:19 Drop It
01:00:39 MicroMacro: Kids – Crazy City Park
01:05:07 Rhino Hero
01:09:41 Unlock Series - Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
01:13:09 Brick Like This!
01:16:42 Kids Chronicles: Quest for Moon Stones
01:21:20 Digging for Dinos
01:24:40 Moment of Positivity
01:28:18 Where can you find Ambie?
Ambie’s Website
https://portaly.cc/ambievaldes
https://portaly.cc/BoardGameBlitz
Board Game Day book by Ambie in the BGG Store
01:31:42 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com