Congrats on taping from the new studio! The wall looks AWESOME (if a little too bare). Jamie looks so professional in her jacket in front of a sharp undecorated wall. Honestly, can't wait until you warm it up with pictures and board games and it looks more like you guys. ;) And I have the same sort of luck as you with Draft & Write Records (which I also love)! I'm slowly getting better at Fromage (and beating Chad more and more!) - but I seem to be getting worse at River of Gold. I won my first few games and have been faaar in last place the last few months playing. :(
85 games from this year is amazing! I gotta get more of these played each year. I love that your lists are so you and not necessarily followers all the most hyped ones. Usually I align with Jamie’s taste so even though I had a sour experience with Fromage on BGA, this has convinced me to give it another chance!!
I happened upon Fromage from a friend, and as soon as I saw the theme and the mechanics, I backed it on Kickstarter. I haven't played it yet, but I look forward to it even more now! Thanks for the list!
"it's both relaxing and stressfull at the same time" that is the PERFECT way to explain Harmonies 🤣 at home it was a hit as well... it climb to the top of our games like a rocket!... I now need to go check Fromage in BGA!😅
What a great year of board game releases! I'm wondering if either of you have had a chance to play Spectral? Great game, seems right up your alley Jeff.
Agreed. Fromage is great. Honeymoon gift to ourselves that we played on days leading up to PAXU. What did it for me was the games within the game. Great lists. Go Bills.
Nice lists but I think someone has changed the year for Maple Valley on BGG because we definitely played it in 2023. Love me some Draft & Write Records and Harmonies. Fromage is one of 3 games I need to get to the table before I do my top 10 list.
I am kicking myself, I slept on fromage and it sold out everywhere. I really want to get my hands on operation barclay too. Have you tried general orders wirkd war ii? It is another interesting looking 2 player game. And sumo is two player trick taker that has some interesting twists on the genre, KAY!
Studio is lookin good guys. The audio is a big step up from before, it's much clearer and crisper. Some kind of change in equipment or is it the new space........ prolly both 😂😂😂
I also can’t stop playing draft and write on bga. And there’s nothing about it that is in any way shape or form ‘my kind of game’ and just still can’t stop.
Jamie, just giving an opinion, i know you are working on the lighting. the lighting above you head in the corner of the room (i assume) is a little harsh. it doesn't even out the wall as it does on jeff's side. also, just got Civolution in the mail today. very excited to read the rules and try it out. great list of games. i agree with Draft & Write. that was one of my "most fun" games to play this year. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and Jeff.
Loved this video - we bought Arcs for Christmas and can’t wait to play it. We also still have yet to play Harvest but we own it. You both convinced me to get Fromage next!! Thanks, guys!
My 2cents with that Arcs campaign, you can do it in a single sitting, but there is so much to digest that the game heavily benefits from using the storage solution and playing it over 3 different sessions. I'm only 3 campaigns in with different groups, but it gets Arcs-ier than base game in many ways. IE there are more cards and board positions that don't get you towards what the objectives that emerge from the game shapeshifting over it's 3 acts. So you're fighting against a ferocious rules overhead + what I deem is "Low morale" gameplay. IE no move looks good, but you still search for one. It's pretty neat when you give yourself that breather between acts.
I can see it not being for everyone, but we have loved it and so has everyone we've played with! Luckily there are thousands of games for people to choose from and enjoy! ha
Working through your video now - I would love to see you guys play Civilization the board game. I think Jamie would love it! Also, Undaunted in forest animals or King Arthur would be something I'd LOVE to try. I love those themes - period.
First baby!! I'm expected to receive Fishing in a few days. I had never heard of the game until I watched a playthrough from Game Night. It seems very interesting how you want to win tricks in order to score more points but also want to be able to get upgraded cards by not winning tricks.
Heyyy! Thanks for the Honey Buzz love. You guys rock!
Also you got it 100% right with Fromage. That's my game of the year as well.
Thanks for always supporting us Paul!
Great lists, but MAN that's a nicely painted wall. 😁
3rd coat really did the trick!
Congrats on taping from the new studio! The wall looks AWESOME (if a little too bare). Jamie looks so professional in her jacket in front of a sharp undecorated wall. Honestly, can't wait until you warm it up with pictures and board games and it looks more like you guys. ;)
And I have the same sort of luck as you with Draft & Write Records (which I also love)!
I'm slowly getting better at Fromage (and beating Chad more and more!) - but I seem to be getting worse at River of Gold. I won my first few games and have been faaar in last place the last few months playing. :(
Agree. Best thing in Arcs is having a huge round. When you pull it off or even when someone else pulls off something crazy for big points.
It’s such an enjoyable mechanism to see pulled off well!
Played Fromage on BGA and feel in love and went and grabbed a pre-order copy on GN right away. So happy to have it
It’s so good!
85 games from this year is amazing! I gotta get more of these played each year. I love that your lists are so you and not necessarily followers all the most hyped ones. Usually I align with Jamie’s taste so even though I had a sour experience with Fromage on BGA, this has convinced me to give it another chance!!
You align with JAMIE!? *eyeroll*
Jamie’s reaction to River of Gold 😂
I LOVE Draft and Write Records...I really think it will be in my top 5 of the year as well! So so good!
Thanks for the recommendations, I checked out your channel after Before You Play shouted you out & really enjoyed your video
Awww they’re the best! Thanks for giving us a shot!
Thanks Jamie and Jeff! So glad you both enjoyed Fromage! Let's play on BGA sometime!
That would be awesome Ben!! We’d love to!
Great list ! I played a lot of solo Ironwood and it is great. Harmonies is just awesome ... Stressful and relaxe os a spot on description of the game.
Dune War for Arrakis is one of my favs from 2024!!! Glad to see it on the list! It’s so good!!!!
I just picked up Fromage, I am really excited for it!!
Let us know what you think of it!
I happened upon Fromage from a friend, and as soon as I saw the theme and the mechanics, I backed it on Kickstarter. I haven't played it yet, but I look forward to it even more now! Thanks for the list!
I hope you love it as much as we do!!
Been waiting for this one!
Nice job leveling-up the production!
Thanks!
So glad ya'll enjoy Harvest!
"it's both relaxing and stressfull at the same time" that is the PERFECT way to explain Harmonies 🤣 at home it was a hit as well... it climb to the top of our games like a rocket!... I now need to go check Fromage in BGA!😅
Right?!
What a great year of board game releases! I'm wondering if either of you have had a chance to play Spectral? Great game, seems right up your alley Jeff.
We havent played it yet but we do own it and we're excited to play!!
Fromage is great. Constantly in a game on BGA. Played it once and ended up buying the deluxe version.
Pagan was introduced as a new release at GenCon 2024. It does say 2022 on BGG but Capstone said it was new at GenCon.
Also yay! First video video at the new office! 🎉 congratulations!
Yaaay
Agreed. Fromage is great. Honeymoon gift to ourselves that we played on days leading up to PAXU. What did it for me was the games within the game. Great lists. Go Bills.
Go bills!
No wondrous creatures?! Seemed like you both really enjoyed that game!
We did! I think it was Jamie’s 12. Lots of great games out there!
Just got my copy of fromage and can’t wait up play it!
Now I gotta get Fromage!
Nice lists but I think someone has changed the year for Maple Valley on BGG because we definitely played it in 2023.
Love me some Draft & Write Records and Harmonies.
Fromage is one of 3 games I need to get to the table before I do my top 10 list.
So it sounds like the KS deluxe is listed as 2023 and the retail version is 2024. Grant Lions had it on his list as well and I was confused.
I am kicking myself, I slept on fromage and it sold out everywhere. I really want to get my hands on operation barclay too. Have you tried general orders wirkd war ii? It is another interesting looking 2 player game. And sumo is two player trick taker that has some interesting twists on the genre, KAY!
Yes we’ve played general orders! It’s very good!
Great vid! Where was Rock Hard ‘77 on your lists?
It landed on my short 20!
@ cool! Thanks for responding. Happy new year🎉
Studio is lookin good guys. The audio is a big step up from before, it's much clearer and crisper. Some kind of change in equipment or is it the new space........ prolly both
😂😂😂
Just new space! Which is wild because we haven’t added any sound proofing yet! But I’m very happy to hear it sounds good!
I also can’t stop playing draft and write on bga. And there’s nothing about it that is in any way shape or form ‘my kind of game’ and just still can’t stop.
It is addicting!!!
@ you’ve gotten me k to fromage now too
Jamie, just giving an opinion, i know you are working on the lighting. the lighting above you head in the corner of the room (i assume) is a little harsh. it doesn't even out the wall as it does on jeff's side.
also, just got Civolution in the mail today. very excited to read the rules and try it out. great list of games. i agree with Draft & Write. that was one of my "most fun" games to play this year. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and Jeff.
Yeah the lighting will be a work in progress for a bit! I have diffusers coming!
Nooooo! I literally checked 2 hours ago for your top 10 before I go to the boxing day sale at my flgs! I just got home from it 😂
LOL!!
I want to play Arcs! But no solo mode as of yet so I’m not sure if it’s worth buying for it to be played like once a year with a group 😢
If you're more into the emergent story and experience, two-handed solo is quite enjoyable :D
I know Jeff loves trick taking games. What did you guys think of the Tidal Blade's Banner Festival trick taking game?
We haven’t tried it yet!!
Did you guys play Tidal Blades 2? Just wondering cause I didn't see it on either of your lists
We havent played it yet but it literally just arrived at our house!!
Loved this video - we bought Arcs for Christmas and can’t wait to play it. We also still have yet to play Harvest but we own it. You both convinced me to get Fromage next!! Thanks, guys!
My 2cents with that Arcs campaign, you can do it in a single sitting, but there is so much to digest that the game heavily benefits from using the storage solution and playing it over 3 different sessions. I'm only 3 campaigns in with different groups, but it gets Arcs-ier than base game in many ways. IE there are more cards and board positions that don't get you towards what the objectives that emerge from the game shapeshifting over it's 3 acts. So you're fighting against a ferocious rules overhead + what I deem is "Low morale" gameplay. IE no move looks good, but you still search for one. It's pretty neat when you give yourself that breather between acts.
Thanks for the insights!
Pagan is 2022 release :)
Don’t I know it!! Haha
Andromeda's Edgeeeeeeeeee
I dont understand what people see in Arcs. I've played it 4x with 9 different people, and ONLY 1 person actually liked it
I can see it not being for everyone, but we have loved it and so has everyone we've played with! Luckily there are thousands of games for people to choose from and enjoy! ha
Botanicus?
No Wondrous Creatures? 😁
Not on this list but it’s very very close 👀
Working through your video now - I would love to see you guys play Civilization the board game. I think Jamie would love it!
Also, Undaunted in forest animals or King Arthur would be something I'd LOVE to try. I love those themes - period.
We’ve played it!! We both like it a lot
@@FostertheMeeple Jamie, have you played the video game at all?!? LOL. You'd love it!! :D. I agree with Jeff. lol.
Oh man now I want to play Fishing, and Fromage! Solo modes are required for me though! LOL.
First baby!!
I'm expected to receive Fishing in a few days. I had never heard of the game until I watched a playthrough from Game Night. It seems very interesting how you want to win tricks in order to score more points but also want to be able to get upgraded cards by not winning tricks.