The Thoughtful Gamer Podcast

It's finally here! Our biggest podcast ever, and for good reason. Marc, Matt, Orion, Ben, and Amber discuss Marc's 10 favorite games of all time. As always, there's some disagreement and debate, but mostly Marc ranting and raving about how amazing these games are.  Music: Sailing The Solar Wind by Abstraction

In this episode, Marc and Matt discuss one of our most anticipated games of 2017: Near and Far. We give our first impressions of this beautiful campaign game. Halfway through Orion pops in in a villianous role. Then we talk about campaign games in general and what principles designers should consider when designing them. Finally, we end with some of Marc's half-baked campaign game design ideas. Also in this episode: Matt gets too excited about hockey, we say the word "whimsical" too much, and Matt poorly mixes a drink. Disclaimer: Very light spoilers for Near and Far. Music: Sailing The Solar Wind by Abstraction  

Almost to the end! Marc, Orion, Matt, Ben, and Amber discuss Marc's 20th-11th favorite games of all time. It starts with a shocker and ends with some debate. Don't miss it! Music: Sailing The Solar Wind by Abstraction

Come on in, take your coat off, and chill for a bit. Listen to Marc, Matt, and Orion talk about the games they've been playing lately, what they have preordered, and what they're looking forward to playing in 2017, all while playing a game of Skull. Games discussed: Hockey (yes, the sport. I'm sorry), Skull, Riftwalker, Labyrinth, Washington's War, Vinhos, Near and Far, Colonial Twilight, 1960, Gloomhaven, Here I Stand, The 7th Continent, Pandemic Legacy Season 2, Charterstone, First Martians, Rising Sun, Thunderstone Quest, Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, and BIOS Megafauna, among others. Music: Sailing The Solar Wind by Abstraction

The journey continues. Soon we will arrive at the peak--those top 10 magnificent games, shrouded in mystery and emblazoned with greatness. For now, join Marc, Matt, Orion, Ben, and Amber as they discuss games 30-21. Music: Sailing The Solar Wind by Abstraction

Join Marc and Orion as they discuss the newest deluxe expansion for Netrunner: Terminal Directive. They begin with a discussion of Netrunner itself and why they find it so compelling, then move on to the legacy experience of Terminal Directive itself, before providing some recommendations for what Netrunner players should purchase after the Core Set. If you wish to avoid Terminal Directive spoilers, please skip the discussion from 34:05-42:25.

The countdown continues! Marc, Matt, Orion, Ben, and Amber discuss Marc's 40th-31st favorite games of all time. They're all slightly better games than last time.

Marc, Matt, and Orion dive deep to compare and contrast these two amazing games to find the areas in which they succeed, as well as where they fall a bit short.  In this episode: Matt gets nerd-shamed, Orion proclaims his War of the Ring superiority, and Marc's name remains unchanged.

Join Marc, Matt, Orion, Ben, and Amber as they discuss Marc's 50th-41st favorite board games of all time. There's some heated disagreement here, but mostly a great discussion about fantastic games.

Marc and Matt discuss a situation that happened in a recent game of Dominant Species where Matt missed a very obvious play to his detriment. The discussion then morphs into the psychology of analysis paralysis.

Get Scythe'd!    Marc, Matt, Orion, and Ben discuss three of the hottest board games of the past couple of years. Will we feel the Rage in our Blood? Will Scythe slash our expectations? Will Food Chain Magnate chain us to the table with rapt attention? Only one way to find out!   In this episode, Orion makes cookies, Ben embraces his Loki side, Marc shamelessly tweets at Eric Lang, and Matt breaks rank and acts in generally traitorous ways.   Check our our website at thethoughtfulgamer.com,and reach out to us on facebook or twitter.

Marc, Orion, Matt, and Wes recount their experiences at PAX East 2017.   In this episode: Matt discovers his true calling as an artist, Orion plays jank decks and has fun, Marc eats some berries, and Wes does laundry.   Also in this episode: We discuss deep existential questions about dice, Marc experiences a moment of genuine terror while perusing indie games, and the cat makes an appearance.   Plus we talk about some games.   Games mentioned in this episode: Android: Netrunner, Mega Catan, Rick and Morty Simulator: Virtual Rick-ality, Blasters of the Universe: VR Bullet Hell, Evolution: Climate, Star Realms, Apochalyptica, and Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island.   Check our our website at thethoughtfulgamer.com,and reach out to us on facebook or twitter