Mutant Dice Chats

In Episode 12, we peel back the shiny, optimistic veneer of this modern engine-building classic. On the surface, the cards promise a glittering high-tech utopia. In reality, we’re strip-mining resources, recycling failed projects for spare materials, and aggressively gatekeeping technologies just to stop our friends from getting ahead. We break down the genius of the game’s sequential production system and explore how quickly noble empire-building devolves into cold, calculating efficiency.Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we attempt to build a better tomorrow through the dark arts of hate-drafting, resource hoarding, and just a touch of corporate mismanagement.

Put your workers to work—this week, we’re talking about Worker Placement games.In Episode 11, we dive headfirst into the cutthroat world of assigning meeples, gathering resources, and the pure, unadulterated fury of someone taking the exact spot you needed. From cozy classics to heavy strategy, we’re sharing our absolute favourite games in the genre. Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we clock in for a shift of strategic planning, argue over the best spots on the board, and inevitably watch our carefully managed engines completely fall apart.

To celebrate reaching double digits and a fancy new studio setup, Episode 10 is all about looking forward. We’re breaking down the brand-new releases hitting our tables right now and the upcoming games that have our hype meters fully maxed out. From well-known games to hidden indie gems we can't wait to unbox, we're giving you our ultimate wishlists.Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we revel in our high-def glory, debate which upcoming titles are actually worth the money, and—as always—let the conversation derail into beautiful, crystal-clear chaos.

Grab your favourite eraser—this week, we’re talking about Roll and Writes.In Episode 9, we dive into the addictive world of games that swap heavy boards for a simple pad of paper and a handful of dice. From the satisfaction of filling in the perfect combo to the frustration of needing just one specific result that never shows up, we discuss why these games often end up stealing the spotlight on game night. We also take a look at their "Flip and Write" cousins, even if Ian can’t seem to remember that he's playing with cards instead of dice!Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we share our top picks for the genre and—true to form—get completely sidetracked by our own strategic blunders. It’s time to sharpen those pencils and see if we can draw a winning line (without going off the rails)!

Is your tablet just another component, or is it a party pooper?In Episode 8, we’re logging on to discuss the rise of app-assisted board games. From digital dungeon masters to atmospheric soundscapes, we dive into the tech that’s changing how we play. We share our experiences with high-tech hits and the big question: do these apps enhance the magic or just distract us from the people across the table?Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we debate whether we’re embracing the future or if we’d rather just leave the screens in the other room. Whether you love the automation or find the "forced updates" a bit much, come along as we try to find a connection—hopefully without the Wi-Fi dropping!

Lock and load! This week, we intended to discuss the broad world of Wargaming, from historical battlefields to sci-fi skirmishes. However, the mission parameters changed almost immediately.Justine completely hijacks the conversation to talk about her obsession with Corvus Belli’s Infinity—and predictably, the lads are quick to dive into the Human Sphere right along with her.Join Ian, Lee, and Justine for a "general" wargaming episode that quickly becomes a deep dive into cyberpunk tactics and metal miniatures. It’s a total tactical takeover, but would you really expect anything else from this crew?

This week, we’re venturing into Middle-earth as we discuss our first play-through of The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship.Spoiler alert: It didn't go well. In fact, we lost. Badly. Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we recap our (very) brief journey toward Mordor, where we went wrong, and whether the fellowship actually stood a chance with us at the helm. We might have failed the mission, but we definitely didn't fail to find things to laugh about along the way.Grab your lembas bread and settle in for a tale of tactical errors, questionable decisions, and the inevitable tangents that make our quest even longer than the walk to Mount Doom!

Can a great movie or book actually make for a great board game?In Episode 5, we’re talking about Intellectual Properties—the movies, TV shows, and books we love that have made the jump to our gaming tables. Whether it’s exploring a galaxy far, far away or trying to survive a mission where no one can hear you scream, we discuss the games that successfully captured the magic of their source material (and the ones that missed the mark).Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we geek out over our favourite franchises, debate the best adaptations, and inevitably wander off into a few unrelated fandoms. If you’ve ever bought a game just because your favourite character was on the box, this one’s for you!

Can a board game's "bits" make the game better?In Episode 4, we celebrate the parts of board games that make us go “wow!” — the components. From beautifully sculpted miniatures to stunning boards, from clever tokens to luxurious cards, we dive into the games that win our hearts through tactile delight.Join us as we share our favourite board game components and why they make gameplay so much more enjoyable.

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but what about a board game? In this episode, we dive into some of our favourite games that we almost ignored because their box art just didn’t grab us. Whether it’s dull design, confusing visuals, or just plain forgettable packaging, these games prove that looks can be deceiving.Join us as we uncover the hidden gems hiding behind boring boxes, and chat about why great gameplay doesn’t always come with great presentation.

This week, we’re diving into our obsession with the Arkham Horror universe. We talk about our favourite (and most frustrating) sessions, why we keep coming back to the Madness, and our personal experiences with the games.We might get a little off-track along the way, but that’s all part of the fun. Grab a drink and join us for a laugh as we try to survive the Mythos!

Welcome to the very first episode! Get to know your hosts, Ian, Lee, and Justine, as we attempt to talk about the games we love.Warning: We get distracted. A lot. Between the games that bring us joy and the ones that absolutely frustrate us, we managed to fit in plenty of laughs, a few jokes, and a whole lot of tangents. If you love board games and don't mind a conversation that goes off the rails, you’re in the right place!

Welcome to the chaos! Mutant Dice Chats is the new home for board game geeks, RPG fans, and anyone who loves a good tabletop showdown. Join Ian, Lee, and Justine as we recap the stories, the laughs, and the inevitable rage over that one impossible rule.  From heavy strategy to casual party games, we’re celebrating everything that makes game night great (including the beer and the critical fumbles). Hit follow to join the table—our first full episodes are launching soon!