This week on BGA, Chris and Anthony are joined by Will to talk about conventions and what makes for a killer experience. We bring our favorite experiences, the things that stood out to us over the years, and what we wish conventions could bring in going forward.

Roll for Preview: Scales of Fate

Roll for Review: SETI: Space Agencies

Feature Review: Your Ideal Tabletop Convention: Past Highlights & Future Wishes

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, Chris and Anthony are joined by special guests and BGA cohorts Will and Meghan, who attended PAX Unplugged and have a bunch of games to talk about.

Roll for Review: Side Effects, Kite, Pillars of Fate

Feature: PAX Unplugged vs. BGGCon top library games (lists reviewed from of Hilary Clair and Matt Morgan on BoardGameGeek.com).

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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Anthony and Chris are back from PAX Unplugged this year and have a whole bunch of games to talk about, plus some previews and reviews of even more games from before the con.

Roll for Preview: The Great Library, Employee Disposal Program

Roll for Review: CakoZaurus, Star Trek Lower Decks: Buffer Time The Card Game

PAX Unplugged Hotness 2025
Fantasy Flight In-Flight Report

Lord of the Rings Room: Dave

New Stuff:
* Deckers
* SETI: Space Agencies
* Sanctuary
* Flamecraft Duals
* The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Trick Taking Game
* A Place for All My Books
* Graft
* Orleans Big Box
* Emberheart
* Cozy Stickerville
* Six Sojourns
* Burgle Bros Blackjack
Previews:
* Cascadia Alpine Lakes
* Whisperwood
* Slay the Spire: Downfall
* The Game Makers
* Voidfall: Resurgence
* Re;MATCH: Marble Puzzle Fighter
* Mystic Curling Club
* Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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Anthony and Chris are back with another annual holiday gift guide, featuring our top picks in nearly a dozen categories for games, apps, and accessories that fit the gamer in your life.

If you're going to PAX Unplugged this weekend, be sure to reach out so we can connect!

• Roll for Review: Clans of Caledonia: Industria, FlipToons

• Feature: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, Chris is joined by Will Nation to discuss all things dice and defiance, including a preview of next week's Pax Unplugged and some game reviews from recent plays.

• Roll for Preview: Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game
• Roll for Review: Betrayal at House on the Hill: 3rd Edition, Trash Talk, Flamecraft
• Feature: Dice, Defiance, and the Tabletop Revolution!

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, Anthony and Chris dig into the games that we think have a shot at game of the year for 2025, plus which games from this year we think will eventually make the Top 100 on Board Game Geek and which games we'll still be playing in 10 years.

• Roll for Preview: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth – Allies
• Roll for Review: The Hobbit: There and Back Again
• Feature: Predictions for 2025 Board Games

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, we take a dive into the hottest games out of Essen SPIEL 2025, looking at the games that drove the hotness on BoardGameGeek and that we're most excited to play when they come stateside. Plus, a review of Ayar: Children of the Sun, and preview of Disney Afternoon Rewind.

• Roll for Preview: Disney Afternoon REWIND Board Games
• Roll for Review: Ayar: Children of the Sun
• Feature: Essen SPIEL 2025 Hotness

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, we hit a big round number (550) and talk about the five games that have had a lasting impact on us both on and off the podcast, the five designers and publishers we most resonate with, and our zero regrets over the last 12 years.

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, Anthony and Chris are looking back at all of the Versus episodes they've done to reflect on which games won, which ones would win today, and all the good gaming that's happened since.

• Collecting and value in our collections
• Roll for Preview: Terra Mystica Special Edition, Berserk: The Board Game
• Feature: Versus: All the Battles, None of the Rules!

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, we take a look at the 10 most influential games of the 20th century, fresh off our visit to the Strong National Museum of Play for Board Game Academics' annual conference, plus a whole bunch of fun previews of upcoming games.

• Magic The Gathering Universes Beyond reveals
• Roll for Preview: Underwater Cities: Data Era, Academia: A Game of Administrative Bloat, Obsession Big Box, Origin Story
• Feature: 10 Most Influential Games of the 20th Century

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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This week, we do a deep dive on the games that use deckbuilding most effectively in 2025, plus reflect on our original 2017 list of top 10 deckbuilders (episode 155), and review the expansion materials for Energy Empire.

• Magic the Gathering Universes Beyond reveals
• Roll for Preview: Dogs of War, Slay the Spire: Downfall
• Roll for Review: Manhattan Project: Energy Empire Cold War
• Feature: Top 10 Games with Deckbuilding

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.www.boardgamersanonymous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). You can support the show as well by donating on Patreon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/bga)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or using our Amazon affiliate link.

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