Time to talk about the larget board game convention in the world, Essen Spiel! Are you going? Becasue we sure are not and again wish we were. So we are sharing our top games that we would be checking out and almost certainly purchasing if we were attending!

Shoot us a comment or an email with the games you are most excited to learn more about from Spiel 2026.

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00:00:00 Preamble

00:02:50 State of Mind: The Greatest Hits

00:15:03 Main Topic: Essen Spiel Hype List

00:56:22 En La Mesa

The Druids of Edora (2-4 players; 60-90min) published by Ravensburger

Pioneer Days (2-4 players; 45-75min) published by Tasty Minstrel Games

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Board States Podcast has officially hit it's 1 Year Anniversary. Reggie and Jazz are switching things up to celebrate and discussing their favorite Board Game Bling.

Are there things you add to games or purchase for games to elevate your gaming experience? Drop us a comment and let us know.

00:00:00 Preamble

00:04:08 State of Mind: Happy Clue-Niversary

00:21:54 Main Topic: Best Board Game Bling

00:50:51 En La Mesa

Tend (2-6 players; published by IV Studios

Combo published by Happy Camper

3 Chapters published by Amigo Games

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

It's 10 year Board Game Reunion time and Reggie and Jazz are looking at some of their favorite games of 2016. There were some amazing games released during the year. What are some of your favs? Drop us a comment and let us know.

00:00:00 Preamble

00:09:17 State of Mind - Board Game Haikus

00:14:40 Main Topic - Class of 2016

Games Discussed: Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition, Scythe, A Feast for Odin, Clank!, Viticulture Tuscany Essential Edition, Kingdomino, Imhotep, Star Wars Rebellion, Inis, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Mechs and Minions, Great Western Trail, Sushi Go Party, Lorenzo il Magnífico, Captain Sonar, Yokohama

00:57:29 En La Mesa -

Faraway: Under Starry Skies Expansion - Designed by Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat and published by Pandasaurus Games (2-6 players; 15-30min)

Gold Country - Designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Bitewing Games (2-4 players; 30-60min)

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Batman & Robin. Arroz y Pollo. So many great pairs make a new, magical offspring! Join us in discussing some games that mash up elements of their predecessors. Comment below or email us which ones we missed.

00:00:00 Preamble

00:06:47 State of Mind - Rhyme Time

00:14:00 Main Topic - If These Two Games Had A Baby

Games Discussed: Viticulture, Tzolk'in The Mayan Calendar, Wingspan, Skulls of Sedlec, Neko Syndicate, Penguin Party, Lords of Waterdeep, Sushi Go, Tussie Mussie, Duck Duck Goose, Terraforming Mars, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Ark Nova, Cascadia, Orleans, Harmonies, Wondrous Creatures, Skull King, Cover Your Kingdoms, Cover Your Assets, Cover Your Cookies

00:50:13 En La Mesa -

The Bears and The Bees - Designed by Jeffrey and Published by Grandpa Beck's Games (2-5 players; 30min)

Wingspan Pocket - Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and Published by Stonemaier Games (1-5 players; 25-35min)

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Reggie & Jazz talk Sports on this Sportsball Board Games episode. They are joyed by the man, the myth himself, Ruel Gaviola. Whether you are a sports fan or not there is something for you in this episode. Whats sports games made their lists?

Send us some sports games that you enjoy, you never know if your responses are picked to be featured on a future episode!

00:00:00 Preamble

00:02:52 State of Mind - The Price is Right!

00:15:57 Main Topic - Sportsball Board Games

Games Discussed: Biñho, Velomino, Baseball Highlights 2045, Magic Number Eleven, Friendly Fishing, Magical Athlete, Best Eleven, Challengers

01:02:55 En La Mesa -

Star Wars Battle of Hoth - Designed by Richard Borg & Adrien Martinot and Published by Days of Wonder (2-4 players; 30min)

Brink - Designed by Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, & Autin Harrison and Published by IV Studios (2-5 players; 60-150min)

Puerto Rico 1897- Designed by Andreas Seyfarth and Published by Ravensburger (2-5 players; 70-120min)

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Reggie & Jazz into the world of solo gaming. Whats games they enjoy solo, why they may prefer some game solo, and give some standouts in their solo gaming journeys. Whether you solo game or not join along an discuss why solo gaming may or may not be right for you.

Send us some game that you enjoy solo or even reason why you prefer not to solo game, you never know if your responses are picked to be featured on a future episode!

00:00:00 Preamble

00:02:32 State of Mind - AutomaRama

00:06:12 Main Topic - Solo Gaming

Games Discussed: Next Station London, Marvel Champs, Cascadia, Fantastic Factories, Dune Imperium: Uprising, SETI, Three Sisters, Moon Colony Bloodbath, Turing Machine, Vantage.

00:57:17 En La Mesa -

Panda Panda - Designed by Kaya Miyano and Published by AllPlay (2-4 players; 15min)

Mountain Goats - Designed by Stefan Risthaus and Published by AllPlay (2-4 players; 20min)

Triangulation - Designed by Peter C. Hayward and Published by AllPlay (3-8 players; 10-20min)

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Reggie challenges Jazz to his Mid-Year Board Game Tag. They discuss some of the games that are stand outs they have played in 2026 so far. Have a listen and join along.

Send us your answers to the Mid-Year Board Game Tag, you never know if your answers are picked to be featured on a future episode!

00:00:00 Preamble

00:02:00 Reggie’s Origins Game Fair 2026 Takeaways

00:08:44Main Topic - Mid-Year Board Game Tag

00:57:06 En La Mesa -

Seashells - Designed by Bruno Faidutti and Published by KTBG (2-5 players; 15-20min)

JinxO - Designed by Marin And and Published by Tabletoys Games (4-7 players; 30-45min)

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com

Reggie and Jazz discuss their Hype List for the games coming to Origins Game Fair 2026. Reggie will be in attendance so he has a list of games he is looking to pick up while there.

Join us for the discussion and for today's State of Mind tasty treat Piragua!!!

Tell us in the comments or by email the games that would make your Hype List and maybe we’ll feature your favorites and reactions on a future episode.

0:00 - Preamble

03:55 - State of Mind "

11:15 - Main Topic Origins Hype List

15:39 - Jazz Game 1

17:13 - Reggie Game 1

20:17 - Jazz game 2

22:43 - Reggie game 2

25:19 - Jazz game 3

29:06 - Reggie game 3

33:18 - Jazz game 4

36:40 - Reggie game 4

39:09 - Jazz game 5

43:00 - Reg game 5

45:54 - Honorable Mentions

53:13 - En La Mesa

Excalibur by Roxley Games

Got Five! by Blue Orange Games

Music by: @DretheProducer of Asteroid Muziq

Logo Design: @punchboardcathedral

Reach out! boardstatespod@gmail.com