PODCAST · leisure
Play Games, Lose Friends
by Play Games, Lose Friends
What happens when two competitive board gamers share their hobby with the world? Join Ken and Ryan to find out, as they play, discuss, and review a wide range of different games and the hobby in general. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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58 - Summertime and the Gaming's Easy
The temperature is getting hotter outside, and it's heating up in the game room as the guys square off against two worthy opponents in Guards of Atlantis II. Ken introduces Ryan to Alibis, and they finally, FINALLY get to play Abyss. Some older classics are revisited including Fort, Ark Nova and...
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57 - Winter Playing, Spring Shopping
The guys chat about a huge list of played games, from Root to Doomlings to Finspan! Ryan's got a short update on the status of The Old King's Crown campaign, and Ken shares his healthy haul of spring shopping for new and old games alike. Games Discussed River of Gold Viticulture Root Pandemic...
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56 - Back in the Saddle
The boys are back and Ryan's basement is nearly complete, so the recording can resume regularly, and the unveiling of Ken's animatronic nightmare game parlor took place! Plenty of new titles were tried, including Altay: Dawn of Civilization, Nocturne, Orchicalcum and more! Listen in to hear what...
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55 - New Year, More Games
Ryan and Ken kicked off 2025 with a slew of games, some old and some new! The guys cover Ra and Arcs in greater detail, and pick apart a few new titles (to them) that they played on two separate occasions with their partners. Ken's youngest continues to enjoy discovering gaming with Dad, and…
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54 - PAX U '24 Recap
It's that time of year again! PAX Unplugged 2024 came and went, and Ryan and Ken share their thoughts on the show, some silly statistics, and recount TWENTY different games played, many of which were new experiences for the group! There were a whole lot of trick takers, some heavy strategy games,...
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53 - Big Fun in Small Boxes
Ken and Ryan give a slew of first impressions for a bunch of small-box games they've picked up and played in the last few months, and there are a couple favorites in the bunch. Ryan's absolutely hooked on Dune: Imperium's digital implementation (including the new Rise of Ix expansion) and Ken...
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52 - Dunes & Deltas
After putting it off for far too long, the guys finally play Dune: Imperium and kick themselves for not trying it sooner. Ken shares Delta with the game group, a crowdfunded hand and resource management title from 2023, and the guys share their first impressions. Ryan's Tichu redemption arc…
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51 - Good Day, Great Day, Game Day
Ken, Ryan, and the rest of their game group pulled off a game day with five new titles! Ryan was chewing his nails in a close race of Thunder Road: Vendetta, while Ken experienced a Marvel Villainous game he didn't quite bargain for. Ryan was also happy to get Distilled to the table, while Ken...
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50 - Mollusks & Morlock Mice
Fifty episodes and still going strong! Ryan and Ken finally get to crack open two much-anticipated Leder Games titles in Root and Ahoy and first impressions are discussed. The guys played two games of 3000 Scoundrels and share their thoughts. Ken brings home the gold in his first Star Wars...
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49 - Jamey Is Our Jam with Jamey Stegmaier
Summer is in full effect, and the sweltering weather has driven Ryan and Ken indoors to slam some games! Expeditions gets the official review treatment and the guys are joined by Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games to talk about all things Stonemaier, as well as Jamey's journey to game designer,...
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48 - Burgers and Pizzas and Drinks, Oh My!
The boys are back with some new plays, including the infamous Food Chain Magnate! After putting it on his shelf nearly two years ago and being intimidated by it, Ryan got it on the table and the game group ate it up. Ken provides a big Disney Lorcana update, including some once-in-a-nerd's…
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47 - Top 50, 2024 Edition: 20-1
Life finds a way... to destroy our recording schedule! Ryan and Ken are back after a long haitus, and you'll hear why. The top 50 gets wrapped up and the guys discuss the beautiful new art in the Wingspan Fan Art Pack, provided to the show by Stonemaier Games. Welcome back and on to the next!…
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46 - Top 50, 2024 Edition: 30-21
The guys continue to count down their top 50, with some surprising new additions to their lists. Ryan and Ken talk about a new-ish trick taker in Holly Oak, by the masterful Tom Lehmann. Ken falls in love with Honey Buzz by trouncing the group for his first win, and Ryan is happy because Renature...
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45 - Top 50, 2024 Edition: 40-31
The list continues, this time covering quite a few changes and new additions from last year's list. Ryan and Ken played quite a bit together to celebrate Ken's birthday, including four new titles, two of which were birthday gifts! Ken really, really disliked Sol: Last Days of a Star, but he was...
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44 - Top 50, 2024 Edition: 50-41
It's a new year and that means it's time to revisit our Top 50 of all time! Ken and Ryan take a look at 50-41, and as expected Ken still hates where Ryan has Wingspan ranked. The guys played a whole slew of new games, including a new crowdfunded buzz game in Bloodstones. Ken shares his feelings…
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43 - Year 2023, More Games for Me
Ken and Ryan recant the games they loved from 2023, both new releases and their personal favorites from 2023 and past years. Ken laments about lack of time for games, and Ryan pushes BGA to no avail, but has been really enjoying it himself. The guys discuss a long played list and a super solid...
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42 - PAX U '23 Recap
The less-than-dynamic duo went to PAX Unplugged and as usual had a fantastic experience. Ken got skunked on promos but scored a whole bunch of Lorcana, and Ryan came home with all of the games on his must-buy list. Plenty of games were played over the weekend, including some notable new releases,...
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41 - PAX U '23 Preview
It's that time of year again! The guys are heading to PAX Unplugged and have their games ready to go. Shopping lists are discussed and some new predictions are on the table as well. Ken went on an epic Black Friday shopping spree at one of his favorite stores and Ryan held off to save budget to...
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40 - Two Beers & Two Reviews
The guys are back and reviewing two games this episode while enjoying some fine brews! Stonemaier Games was kind enough to provide the show with a review copy of Between Two Cities: Essential Edition, and a highly-anticipated Kickstarter copy of Wild Realms arrived and hit the table last game...
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39 - An Undaunting Evening with David Thompson
IT HAPPENED! David Thompson, of War Chest and Undaunted fame, joined Ryan and Ken to let them nerd out over David's work, and find out more about what drives him as a designer and where his love for history in gaming was born. The guys talk about another engaging game of The Old King's Crown, and...
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38 - Kickstarted, But Never Started
Have you ever crowdfunded a game, waited over a year for fulfillment, bust the shrink once you get it, and then drool a little as you marvel at your new toy? And then promptly shelve the game and wait eagerly for your first play? Yea, we thought so, and welcome to the club. Ryan and Ken…
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37 - A New King on The Great Road with Pablo Clark
Ryan and Ken sit down by the castle hearth and chat with Pablo Clark from Eerie Idol Games, lead designer and artist on an upcoming Kickstarter campaign that has both very excited. Pablo shares with us his experiences in designing the game, inspirations of his unique and stunning art style, and...
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36 - Euro Makin' Me Sad
The guys finally sit down and hash out where on the doll the Eurogames hurt Ken. A Lorcana update helps give an inside view on the pandemonium that has been afoot, and both Ken and Ryan had some separate game time with family and friends and lots of new teaches. Ryan continues to struggle to...
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35 - Disney Owns Ken Now, Too
Ken is taking the plunge into Lorcana through a new league he's joined, and the guys talk about what that means for Ken's time and wallet. Ryan's sick of being burned by crowdfunding and so the inevitable discussion ensues on the merits for, and detriments against, Kickstarter and its ilk. Lots…
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34 - Campaign Conundrums
Ken and Ryan and their game group have started a new narrative campaign game for the second half of 2023, and Ken brought Lands of Galzyr to the fray. The guys discuss first impressions of the narrative-driven gameplay, and dive into what makes a campaign game great for them. A Tapestry contest...
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33 - One Game, or All the Games?
Yep, still alive, and still recording! Ryan and Ken are back to discuss their long played list as summer gets underway and game time starts becoming even more of a luxury, planned around vacations and activities. The guys explore a fun topic, discussing why we're more prone to play lots of new...
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32 - I Like Big Bass and I Can Not Lie
The guys had a game day! And then several game nights... This is what happens when no recording happens for a full month. But hey, that's more games to cover! A full lineup gets discussed, and there's a surprise hit in the mix. Ken has all of Tapestry, and all of Tapestry got to the tabletop to…
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31 - Buggin the Mind with Marvin Hegen
Want to know more about Mindbug and the Kickstarter campaign for Mindbug Beyond? Well look (and listen) no further, as Ryan and Ken bugged the mind (enough puns, please) of lead designer Marvin Hegen! Marvin dives in and gives an overview of the active campaign, what folks can expect from the new...
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30 - Set Sail to Cassar Island
Looking to get someone else into the hobby you hold so dear? Ryan and Ken give their top 5 intro games, and manage to span a whole bunch of board game mechanics in the process. The guys review a great intro game in Draftosaurus, and talk about why it's so approachable. Ryan finds some joy in War…
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29 - Hobo Trains and Horror with Kyle Rowan
Ryan and Ken are graced by the Wyrd wonder Kyle Rowan! The guys pick Kyle's brain about the masterpiece that is Vagrantsong, and find out Kyle and Ken have more in common than anticipated. In addition, Vagrantsong gets a formal review, and after a long hiatus (yes, we suck), a long list of played...
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28 - The Annual Top 50, 25-1
Ryan and Ken wrap up their top 50 games of all time, and cover 25 through 1 of the list. There are more crossovers than we predicted, and some real surprises in the top 10 for both. Check it out, and hit us up with your opinions on the lists. Enjoy! Visit us at http://www.playgameslosefriends.com...
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27 - The Annual Top 50, 50-26
It's time for a new tradition! Ryan and Ken spent some time rating their top 50 games of all time, and cover 50 through 26 of the list. There are a few surprises on each list, and a few inevitable crossovers as well. Join us and let us know if you would put any of these on your lists as well!…
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26 - Resolutions, Shmesolutions
It's a new year, which means another year full of games! Ryan and Ken ring in the new year with a recap of the last month's worth of gaming, and review their top 10 releases in 2022, as well as pick their most memorable game of the past year. Some gamer resolutions are in order, although we'll…
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25 - PAXU 2022 Recap
The boys are back from PAX! The final played list is covered, and what a list it is. A certain special trick-taking game was the hit of the show, and a surprise purchase by Joe becomes a new favorite. Show purchases are discussed and both of the guys found some new goodies to enjoy. Visit us at...
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24 - PAX U '22 Preview
It's that time of year folks! PAX Unplugged 2022 is nearly upon us, and Ryan and Ken talk a bit about what's coming along in the game bag this year, as well as the titles they're likely to hunt down with fervor. The guys talk about a marathon five-player game of Ankh: Gods of Egypt, and discuss…
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23 - Hhhhh-weet Tokens
The Everdell kickstarters have landed! The guys talk about their new additions and why this was worth the money, and the base game of Everdell gets a proper review. Game night happened, and both Dice Realms and Verdant were on the table, so those get a preview of sorts, and both have nits to pick...
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22 - Marvel-ous Dice
Why watch a Marvel movie when you can chuck some dice as your favorite superhero? The guys check out Marvel Dice Throne, generously provided by The OP for review. A previously unexplored hatred for eurogames haunts Ken as the guys played Hansa Teutonica. Ryan got a whole pile of two-player titles...
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21 - Arboretum With Popes
Trees with knives? You betcha! Ryan and Ken finally review Arboretum, one of the most well-designed card games they've ever played. Both the guys played a ton of games since last episode, so they run down their list, and continue to melt over Vagrantsong. Ken picked up some new goodies, and Ryan…
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20 - The Glass is Stained with Adrian Adamescu
We are joined by the artisan himself, Adrian Adamescu, to talk all things Sagrada, including the now-funded Sagrada: Artisans legacy game. Ryan and Ken slow down the buying, but up the playing, as the guys managed to get in Dominion, Isle of Cats, Red Rising, and start a group play of…
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19 - Phil's a Thrill with Phil Walker-Harding
Ryan and Ken are joined by the renowned Phil Walker-Harding, designer of such all-time classics as Sushi Go!, Imhotep, and so much more. The guys count down their top five games from his design catalog, and talk a bit about Joey Games, Phil's new sustainable publishing company that focuses on...
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18 - Fulfill Me, Kickstarter
Ryan and Ken discuss their top 5 backed games that should be fulfilling soon, and the wait is killing them both. Ark Nova is getting an expansion, and there's fish! And water! And probably different fish! Ken got his first Kallax, Ryan is behaving and keeping the wallet away, and the…
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17 - Thanks For Listening to Our Taylor Talk
We have a guest! Taylor Doolittle from Doolittle Gaming joins us to talk about his first baby, Reincardnated, and discusses a range of topics about the game and design in general, as well as playtesting and Kickstarter. The guys review the game, and one lucky listener will get a chance to win a...
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16 - I See You, Gen Con 2022
Now that Gen Con 2022 has come and gone, Ryan and Ken review their top 10 picks from biggest board game expo in the US. The guys review what may refer to as a modern classic in 2019's Wingspan, and Ken continues his spiral into the bargain bins and emerges with some real gems. Ryan discusses some...
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15 - You Stole My Titmouse
Covid and vacations have delayed us, but we have returned! During Ryan's adventures in Virusville, Ken went shopping for 90% of the games on the eastern seaboard. We get to discuss Meadow in our review and share in it's delights, and also discuss our collective disappointment of Sleeping Gods.…
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14 - Krampus Has a Black Sack
Ken played games. A LOT of games. Ryan officially bounces off Sleeping Gods. We finally get a four-player Ark Nova game in, and review our first impressions of the hot zoo-builder everyone's talking about. Brian Boru: High King of Ireland also hit the table and we chat about how great it is....
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13 - Cosmic Froggin' with Jim Felli
Special guest Jim Felli from Devious Weasel games joins us to discuss game design, Cosmic Frog, and his upcoming two-player game The Mirroring of Mary King! The guys review Cosmic Frog and have quite the backed/bought list. We discuss Cascadia and Reincardnated and get excited for Brian Boru....
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12 - Photo Finish: The Diarrhea Game
The guys review Arcadia Quest, a long-standing classic in both collections. Overproduction is discussed, and whether or not its benefitting the hobby in the long run, or hurting it. Ken finally tests some shrink shelf goodies, and Ryan is obsessed with Wyrd's Vagrantsong. An upcoming interview is...
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11 - 11:11
The long-awaited Oath review is finally here! Deeproot Dwellers did not hit their funding goal and Ken is sad. Ryan is the only human being on Earth who did not enjoy Sleeping Gods, but he did love Long Shot: The Dice Game. Ken is about to lose a lot of money to the Unstable Unicorn team, and…
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10 - Don't Hang Games on the Walls
Double-digit episodes! So we're not total frauds (or is it too soon to tell?) The boys get their first taste of what it takes to run a zoo in Ark Nova, and gush over Roxley's Radlands. The alchemical magic of Quacks of Quedlinberg takes the review spotlight, Ryan keeps his cell phone too close to...
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9 - Kabula Krazy with Antonio Liga
After a long month full of technical and scheduling issues, the guys finally play some Kabula! Two games and some first impressions, as well as a great chat with Kabula lead designer Antonio Liga from Stranger Games Studios. Visit us at http://www.playgameslosefriends.com for more episodes, visit...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
What happens when two competitive board gamers share their hobby with the world? Join Ken and Ryan to find out, as they play, discuss, and review a wide range of different games and the hobby in general.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Play Games, Lose Friends
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Play Games, Lose Friends have?
Play Games, Lose Friends currently has 58 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Play Games, Lose Friends about?
What happens when two competitive board gamers share their hobby with the world? Join Ken and Ryan to find out, as they play, discuss, and review a wide range of different games and the hobby in general. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Play Games, Lose Friends release new episodes?
Play Games, Lose Friends has 58 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Play Games, Lose Friends?
You can listen to Play Games, Lose Friends on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Play Games, Lose Friends?
Play Games, Lose Friends is created and hosted by Play Games, Lose Friends.
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