Author: Chris

Board Game Red Flags: When We Know a Game Isn’t for Us We all have them: those little warning signs that make us look at a board game and immediately start planning our escape from the table. This week, Chris and Tim break down their biggest board game red flags—the mechanisms, themes, design choices, components, and other telltale signs that can turn “Want to play this?” into a very quick “I’m good.” Maybe it’s a rulebook that looks like it requires continuing education credits. Maybe it’s a game proudly advertising 240 minutes of playtime. Maybe there are 47 different resources,…

Episode 589 – Roll for Initiative…With Strangers! This week, Chris is joined by our good friend Chris Rodriguez from Board Games for the Better to tackle something almost every gamer has experienced at some point: the anxiety of sitting down at a table with people you don’t know. Whether you’re walking into a local game night for the first time, looking for a seat at a convention, or trying to find a new gaming group, playing with strangers can be intimidating. Chris and Chris talk about the challenges of putting yourself out there, finding a group where you feel comfortable,…

Episode 588: 13 Years of BGA — Taking on the BGG Top 100 Board Gamers Anonymous is officially 13 years old! To celebrate, Chris is joined by Tim and Game Master Dave, together on the podcast for the very first time, for a special look at the BoardGameGeek Top 100 games. All three of us are diving into the list and giving our hot takes: the games that deserve their spots, the ones that should be higher, the ones we can’t believe are still there, and the sacred cows we’re willing to knock down a few pegs. After 13 years…

Episode 587: The Clue Is…10 Games That Keep You Guessing The clue is…a great game night! Chris and Tim count down 10 games built around giving clues, deciphering hints, and guessing the right words or numbers. Some clues will lead straight to the answer, while others may leave everyone wondering what their teammates were thinking. In Roll for Preview, Chris checks out DC Deck-Building Game: Green Lantern Corps, while Tim heads Abroad. Then, in Roll for Review, Chris puts the pedal to the prehistoric metal with Dino Racer, and Tim shares his thoughts on Whistle Mountain, Rebirth, and Hoplomachus: Origins. If you haven’t yet, check out the…

Chris is joined by Game Master Dave for an episode packed with previews, reviews, and a dive into the world of solitaire gaming. Roll for Preview: Chris checks out Reiner Knizia’s Medici Traders, a tile auction game that brings a new spin to the classic Medici system, while Dave digs into Drillers. Roll for Review: Chris stomps into King of Tokyo: Godzilla, while Dave tackles Lumberjacks with Rocket Launchers, Hot Streak, and Flip 7. Then it’s time for Solitaire Game Commander Dave! Dave takes command of the table to explore solo gaming, including Agricola, Master of Britain, B-17: Queen of…

Gen Con 2026 Postgame Report! Gen Con is in the books, and Chris and Tim are breaking down the biggest news, announcements, and games coming out of another record-breaking year in Indianapolis. More than 74,000 gamers showed up and brought rain, leaking roofs, tornado warnings, and plenty of tabletop chaos with them. We cover the growing presence of massive IPs like Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, Star Wars, Stormlight Archive, and Dungeon Crawler Carl before diving into the games that caught our attention, including Entropy, Gruntz, Drillers, Kokeshi, Layers, Three Witches, Thunder Road: Ignition, The Lord of the Rings:…

With the release of Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey, Chris and Tim set sail in search of board games that capture the timeless themes of Homer’s legendary journey. From perilous voyages and impossible choices to cunning strategy, loyalty, monsters, and the long road home, discover tabletop adventures that evoke the spirit of one of history’s greatest stories. Plus, in Roll for Preview, Chris digs into Rosalie: A Rosy Game of Gardening, while Tim heads to the wizarding world with Defenders of Hogwarts. Then it’s time for Roll for Review as Chris takes a look at the travel-friendly Wingspan Pocket, and Tim shares his thoughts on Oh,…

Hi all! Reuploading this to address an audio issue. The World Cup has come to the tabletop! In this special tournament episode of Board Gamers Anonymous, Chris and Tim continue their World Cup of Board Game Designers, where the greatest designers from around the globe represent their countries of origin in a head-to-head bracket to determine who deserves the championship trophy. This week, the competition heats up as we enter the Sweet 16, with legendary designers facing off in epic matchups based on their influence, innovation, iconic games, and lasting impact on the hobby. Will Germany’s design powerhouse continue its…

Love Cascadia but looking for your next favorite game? Chris and Tim explore a collection of board games that share a satisfying blend of thoughtful decision-making, relaxing gameplay, and rewarding puzzle-solving. From tile-laying and spatial planning to completing patterns and balancing multiple scoring objectives, they highlight games that scratch the same itch while offering unique twists. Roll for Preview Chris: Kemet: The Gates of Thonis Tim: 8 Dragons Roll for Review Tim: Nippon: Genro and Nippon: Zaibatsu Chris: Container Whether you’re searching for another nature-inspired puzzler or simply enjoy games that challenge you to optimize every placement, this episode is…

This week on Board Gamers Anonymous, Game Master Dave returns from the convention circuit with tales from the gaming tables, standout discoveries, and memorable moments in our feature segment, Game Master Dave’s Convention Report. In Roll for Preview, Dave looks ahead to the geopolitical strategy game World Order, while Chris previews The Terror: Can You Survive the French Revolution?, a tense historical experience where survival is anything but guaranteed. Then it’s time for Roll for Review. Dave shares his thoughts on the classic abstract strategy game Ingenious and the fantasy-themed Diplomancy: The Golden Blade. Chris rounds out the reviews with…