Episode 88: Justin Bell, Contributor with Meeple Mountain - Kitting out your Board Game Experience - Top 5 Games of 2025

Justin Bell is back! He joins me to discuss all of the extra stuff we buy to make our board game experience better. This can be everything from upgrading bits from cardboard to wooden components to the perfect bags to always have on hand. Also, how much we love player aids. Then we discuss our top 5 games of 2025. Ending with how everyone should touch grass and bring baked goods to conventions.00:00:00 Intro00:02:03 Justin's Journey in the Board Game IndustryBGG Podcast Episode 30The Five By Podcast00:04:36 Favorite Game Mechanics and Personal Collection00:17:20 The Art of Kitting Out: Personal Experiences and TipsSunrise Tornado PlaymatP’Kup00:33:52 Player Aids: Enhancing the Gaming ExperienceEvery Game Needs a Player Aid Article00:36:09 The Debate on Game Inserts00:39:39 Upgrades for Game NightMicrofiber Bags “Size of Justin’s Hands”Modern MeepleAllplay00:46:38 Top 5 Games of 202500:47:16 Ayar: Children of the Sun 00:50:26 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence00:53:09 Jungo / Hachi Train /  Nanatoridori00:55:56 Citizens of the Spark00:58:21 Masters of Crime: Rapture 01:01:48 Endeavor: Deep Sea01:06:21 Speakeasy01:11:06 Sanctuary01:13:30 Vantage01:18:03 Pergola01:21:23 Moment of Positivity01:25:22 Where can you find Justin Bell?Meeple MountainInstagram @JustinBellSays X @JustinBellSays 01:26:41 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-2026Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeekTwitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeekEmail: [email protected]