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New Year Rant 2026

31. Dezember 2025 um 18:36

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The so-called Golden Age of board games is over… and it didn’t die quietly.

In this video, we break down exactly why modern board gaming has lost its spark—from bloated Kickstarter campaigns and endless deluxe reprints, to recycled mechanics, shallow designs, and hype-driven reviews. What was once a creative renaissance has become an assembly line of overpriced boxes and forgettable experiences.

We’ll look at:

Why innovation has slowed to a crawl

How crowdfunding changed incentives for designers and publishers

The rise of “content over craft” game design

Why bigger, heavier, and shinier doesn’t mean better

Whether board gaming can recover—or if this is the new normal

This isn’t nostalgia for the past or blind cynicism—it’s a hard look at where board gaming is right now and why many players are quietly burning out. If you love board games but feel something’s gone wrong, this video is for you.

👉 Agree or disagree? Drop your take in the comments and let’s argue about it properly.

6 Solo Board Games That Changed Solo Gaming For Me

31. Dezember 2025 um 16:13

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I got into solo board games at the tail end of 2025, but not for all the reasons you may expect. These are the 6 games that got me into solo board games, but there's more to the story than that, so why not watch and find out the rest? Especially if you're curious what kept me away from AYCB for the better part of 2 years and more importantly, what brought me back.
And then take to the comments and share with me your unforgettable solo board game experiences, because I'd love to hear them.
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If you enjoy our videos, consider subscribing to the channel and/or joining our Discord community for further discussion, or support us either on Patreon, Paypal or by purchasing merchandise from our store! All links can be found below and we really appreciate your support!
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https://discord.gg/FdUC8NEU8P
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We're proudly sponsored by VICTORY PINTS, who specialize in board games and are located in our hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. They aim to have the best board game selection in the city and are also happy to special order you anything they don't have available!
Pop in and purchase any board games that have been featured on AYCB in the last year and say the discount code "TOP SHELF BILLING" to receive 10% off the games!
👕The All You Can Board Merch Store👕
https://all-you-can-boards-store.creator-spring.com/
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0:00 The experience of solo board games
1:00 Come on a journey with me
2:34 Arkham Horror: LCG
8:04 Earthborne Rangers
11:36 Fliptoons
13:18 Storyfold: Wildwoods
15:40 Civolution
17:58 Conservas

Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes – History, Design, and Play | Live Stream

31. Dezember 2025 um 11:02

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In this upcoming live stream, I will be joined by Yves Roig, the designer of Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes, and Valentin Crespel, the developer of the game, for an in-depth discussion and play session.

Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes is a two-player historical wargame covering the Battle of Brandywine, fought on 11 September 1777 during the American War of Independence. One player commands the British and Hessian forces under Howe, while the other leads the Continental Army under Washington. The game focuses on command decisions, maneuver, and the friction of 18th-century warfare, offering a tense and historically grounded experience.

During the stream, we will discuss the historical background of the battle, the core design principles behind the system, the development process, and what makes Brandywine 1777 distinct within the landscape of American Revolutionary War games. We will also talk about the production choices and what players can expect from the final version.

The game is currently available in late pledge on Gamefound. You can find the campaign here:
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/les-3-zouaves/brandywine-1777-a-time-for-heroes?ref=search

If you enjoy this content and want to support the channel, you can join the Discord and help keep Homo Ludens alive by donating on Ko-Fi:
https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871

Things In Rings Review | The Venn Diagram Party Game That Makes You Feel Smart

30. Dezember 2025 um 18:01

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Things In Rings turns a Venn diagram into a surprisingly spicy deduction party game. One player knows the secret rules for each ring, everyone else tests ideas by placing “things” into the diagram, and the table slowly reverse-engineers what’s really going on. It’s quick to teach, easy to scale in difficulty, and it delivers that “I am a genius (briefly)” feeling when your hypothesis finally clicks.

In this review, I cover:
• How it plays (Knower vs Finders + the Venn diagram puzzle)
• How difficulty scales (1 ring vs 2 vs 3)
• Who it’s best for (families, casual gamers, logic-lovers)
• Upsides & downsides

If you’ve played Things In Rings, drop your favorite ring or tell me what difficulty you prefer.

Chapters (optional)
0:00 Intro
01:19 Complexity & Play Count
02:25 Victory Conditions & How It Plays
07:20 Cognitive Skills Practiced
09:50 Final Thoughts



#BoardGames #TabletopGames #BrainsOnGames #PartyGames #DeductionGame #Allplay

Heat: Pedal to the Metal Review — Fast, but thematically limited?

29. Dezember 2025 um 21:56

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We review the most popular racing game! Heat took BGG by storm a couple years back, promising deckbuilding with streamlined gameplay that only takes about an hour. With 6 players! By combining the Heat card into a penalty and a resource, the gameplay has lots of hand management to ensure you round corners without spinning out. There’s even slipstreaming as a comeback mechanic! But could there be issues with taking the high-octane idea of racing and simplifying it so much? There could be some push-your-luck ideas with the stress cards, and you can easily play this game too with the legend variant! This game is also extremely popular on BoardGameArena, so let’s see if the programmed movement lets this hybrid party-board game feel like a race!

Games featured: Twilight Imperium, Dune: A Game of Conquest & Diplomacy, Gaia Project, Mario Kart, Crash: Nitro Kart, Catan, Camel Up, Ready Set Bet, Dominion 2nd Edition

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (0:52)
Pros - (2:38)
Cons - (10:46)
Recommender Score - (21:04)
Ashton's Personal Score - (26:30)

Support us:
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Our Website!
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Links to our other stuff:
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#boardgames #tabletop #review

15 of the Best Small Box Games

28. Dezember 2025 um 15:19

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Some of the best board games come in small boxes, it's a fact at this point. And in today's video, I'm looking at 15 of the best small box games I've been playing and what makes them especially appealing.
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If you enjoy our videos, consider subscribing to the channel and/or joining our Discord community for further discussion, or support us either on Patreon, Paypal or by purchasing merchandise from our store! All links can be found below and we really appreciate your support!
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✨Official AYCB Discord Community✨
https://discord.gg/FdUC8NEU8P
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We're proudly sponsored by VICTORY PINTS, who specialize in board games and are located in our hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. They aim to have the best board game selection in the city and are also happy to special order you anything they don't have available!
Pop in and purchase any board games that have been featured on AYCB in the last year and say the discount code "TOP SHELF BILLING" to receive 10% off the games!
👕The All You Can Board Merch Store👕
https://all-you-can-boards-store.creator-spring.com/
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0:00 The Small Box Bites Menu
1:14 THE APPETIZERS
10:26 THE COMFORT COURSE
19:44 THE CHEF SPECIALS
27:56 THE SPICY SPECIALS
35:19 DESSERT

Best Board Games of All Time 2025 (JG Edition)

28. Dezember 2025 um 12:48

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🔥 The ULTIMATE list is here — JG Edition!
In this video, we’re diving into the Best Board Games of All Time (2025). This is JG’s personal take, packed with iconic classics, modern masterpieces, and games that have truly stood the test of time.

🙏 Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WZWNT2LVC8RTU
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⭐ Access member perks: https://bit.ly/BGHJoin
🎉 Support us on Patreon: https://bit.ly/BGHPatreon

_______________________________________________________________________

In this video:
0:00 Intro
0:52 10th
2:11 9th
3:26 8th
4:28 7th
5:22 6th
6:08 5th
7:35 4th
8:37 3rd
9:40 2nd
10:48 1st
12:21 Outro

Board Game Hangover is your go-to channel for everything board games! From the best board game reviews, playthroughs, and top 10 lists to board game upgrades, house rules, and gameplay tips — we help you discover the best board games, improve your board gaming experience, and have a good laugh along the way. Whether you're into strategy board games, party games, solo board gaming, or family board games, you're in the right place.

#BoardGameHangover #BoardGames

The Finest Board Games of 2025: My Top 10 Selection

27. Dezember 2025 um 00:25

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PATREON

https://www.patreon.com/chairmanoftheboard

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/chairman_board

KIENDA DISCOUNT LINK

Use my Kienda link below to receive a 5% discount off your first order (£60+ spend)

https://kienda.co.uk/login?ref=1028908&create_account=1

THALAMUS

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426319/thalamus

https://youtu.be/QwftMw5sk64

available for purchase on BGG, eBay, or by direct contact for international sales.

CONTACT

chairmangames@hotmail.com

Top Board Game Surprises of 2025

26. Dezember 2025 um 15:14

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We play a lot of board games each year and there are always bound to be a slew of surprises. Games that we weren't expecting to like, games we weren't expecting to like as much as we did or any number of others that caught us off guard. Come find out what made the list this year!
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If you enjoy our videos, consider subscribing to the channel and/or joining our Discord community for further discussion, or support us either on Patreon, Paypal or by purchasing merchandise from our store! All links can be found below and we really appreciate your support!
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✨Official AYCB Discord Community✨
https://discord.gg/FdUC8NEU8P
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We're proudly sponsored by VICTORY PINTS, who specialize in board games and are located in our hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. They aim to have the best board game selection in the city and are also happy to special order you anything they don't have available!
Pop in and purchase any board games that have been featured on AYCB in the last year and say the discount code "TOP SHELF BILLING" to receive 10% off the games!
👕The All You Can Board Merch Store👕
https://all-you-can-boards-store.creator-spring.com/
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🌟If you'd like to, support us on Patreon!🌟
https://www.patreon.com/allyoucanboard
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0:00 The Board Game Surprises of 2025
1:17 Surprise #1 - Big Shot
5:24 Surprise #2 - Toy Battle
10:15 Surprise #3 - Sunrise Lane
15:09 Surprise #4 - Botswana
19:07 Surprise #5 - Guild of Merchant Explorers
25:03 Surprise #6 - Moon Colony Bloodbath
29:49 Surprise #7 - Cascadia: Rolling Rivers & Hills

Top 100 Board Games Of All Time - 10 to 1 (2025 Rankings)

24. Dezember 2025 um 11:00

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Welcome to the ultimate countdown 🎲
This is Top 100 Board Games Of All Time – 10 to 1, where we finally reveal the greatest board games ever made.

After ranking 100 modern classics, cult favourites, heavy euros, party games, and timeless legends, it all comes down to the final ten. These are the games that define the hobby, dominate tables, and stand the test of time — chosen through years of play, debate, and brutally honest opinion.

In this video you’ll get:

The Top 10 board games of all time

Clear explanations of why each game deserves its spot

Arguments, controversy, and no fence-sitting

Essential recommendations for collectors and newcomers alike

Whether you love strategy games, euros, thematic epics, or competitive classics, this list represents the very best board gaming has to offer.

👉 Do you agree with the number one game?
Drop your own Top 10 in the comments, hit like if you enjoy unapologetic rankings, and subscribe for more board game reviews, lists, and hot takes.

Board games don’t care about your feelings. Rankings shouldn’t either. 🎯

The SHELF ELF is Coming to Town

23. Dezember 2025 um 21:00

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A little holiday Gamesmas story for you as we near Christmas Eve. You better watch out: the SHELF ELF is coming to town. (not to be confusing with the Elf on the Shelf, of course. Totally different and unrelated in every way.) #boardgames #christmas

The Bottle Imp — Soporific Storytime 📖

23. Dezember 2025 um 19:15

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In this Very Special Episode of Board Gems, I read aloud the short story of The Bottle Imp, written by Robert Louis Stevenson and adapted into a card game by Günter Cornett.

My pronunciations are not always great, as I am not familiar with the Hawaiian language. For example I noticed the way I say "Haole" drifted over the course of the reading. Apologies!

I hope this is enjoyable for some people, if for no better purpose than as a sleeping aid.


Board Gems highlights older board and card games that are still great games today, and deserve to not be forgotten!

Join & Support: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX9Ab6egkU1ru3sgP8TUI2A/join
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BGG Blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/10011

BGG Listings:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/619/the-bottle-imp
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/413364/bottle-imp

Music provided by Chillhop Music
https://chillhop.ffm.to/creatorcred

#boardgames #tabletop #vancouver

Junior Monopoly, BUT COMMUNIST | House Rules

23. Dezember 2025 um 19:00

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Get 4 extra months of internet privacy and protection with Surfshark VPN when you use our code NRB at https://surfshark.com/nrb AD

🎲 For BONUS Board Game Club and Blood on the Clocktower episodes, including a bonus video with Sullivan's niece and nephew, check out our Patreon 👉 https://www.patreon.com/NoRollsBarred 🎲

Set sail with us on the NRB Cruise with live shows, gaming sessions and more on board! | Feb 15th-21st 2026 | Secure your cabin with a deposit today | Email nrbcruise@vacationeer.com for more info or visit https://norollsbarred.com/event-sign-up/oasis-of-the-seas/

For our North American friends, we highly recommend grabbing your board games from Game Nerdz - who we've happily partnered with to create our Board Game Library for our upcoming cruise: https://www.gamenerdz.com/

Subscribe to our RPG channel: Chaotic Neutral
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Our gorgeous board game table was custom built by GeekNSon. Check out their store using our affiliate link and get a FREE Dice Tower with each purchase of a table: https://bit.ly/NoRollsBarredXGeeknson_online_store_sm

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#BoardGames #Tabletop #LetsPlay

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Ducks in a Row Review | Build Your Row, Sabotage the Shared Pond

23. Dezember 2025 um 18:00

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Build your row. Guard your pond. Politely ruin everyone else’s plans. 🦆💥

Ducks in a Row is a clever card game where you’re balancing ducks between your personal row and a shared pond, trying to score big while other players keep sticking their beaks into your business. It’s fast, interactive, and just the right amount of “I can’t believe you did that” for game night.

In this review, I’ll cover:
• How the row + shared pond scoring tension works
• The kind of player interaction (read: sabotage) you should expect
• Who this game is best for (and who might waddle away mad)

Game Info
2–6 players | ~40 minutes | Ages 14+

👍 If you enjoyed the review, please like, subscribe, and tell me: what’s your favourite “cute game with mean decisions” ?

00:00 Intro
00:44 Play Count & Complexity
01:06 Victory Conditions & How It Plays
05:42 Skills
07:56 Final Thoughts
12:20 Contact & Socials




#BoardGames #CardGames #BrainsOnGames #BoardGameReview #TabletopGames #GameNight
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