Escape Into Board Games
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: 27 days ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThe Escape Into Board Games Podcast is where Matt McKenzie and Chris Cormier escape reality and talk about board games! Each episode they explore a different topic, genre or theme in boardgaming by presenting a handful of some of their favorite games. Escape with us, we'll try and have you back in a hour.
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Episodes
Game Night Tails: Pet-Approved Playtime
March 31, 2024 22:40 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBOur furriest, fluffiest and most paw-some episode ever! Discover how pet ownership and board gaming collide and bring together wagging tails with cunning strategies and cardboard boxes become enchanted castles. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Game Night Tails: Pet-Approved Playtime 11:34 DIG (2017) 24:41 MLEM: Space Agency (2024) 37:39 Dog Park (2022) 54:12 The Isle of Cats (2019) Tell us about YOUR favourite board game that feature dogs, cats and other pets....
Board Games that Flow
January 28, 2024 23:08 - 1 hour - 70.5 MBJoin Matt and Chris on an exploration into the captivating realm where the joy of board gaming converges with the profound state of 'Flow.' In this episode we delve into the intricacies of the Flow state, a state of consciousness marked by effortless effort, exhilarating challenges, and the seamless flow of actions. Discover how board games, with their diverse mechanisms and immersive themes, serve as a perfect catalyst for triggering Flow. From the delicate balance of challenges and skil...
From Page to Play
December 24, 2023 15:06 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBFrom Page to Play: The Renaissance of Remarkable IP Board Games | Escape Into Board Games Podcast In this episode of The Escape Into Board Games Podcast, hosts Chris and Matt explore the flourishing landscape of high-quality board games based on Intellectual Properties (I.P.). The duo reflects on the bygone era of lackluster I.P. games and passionately makes a compelling case for being in the Renaissance of Remarkable IP Board Games. From cinematic adaptations to iconic TV series, they ...
Oh, The Places You'll Go
November 23, 2023 15:22 - 51 minutes - 41.2 MBJoin Matt and Chris on a journey through the imaginative landscapes of board gaming! In this episode we explore how board games can transport you to intellectual spaces within your mind and how these games become vibrant, memorable destinations in your gaming adventures. From bustling cities to serene islands, each game is a doorway to fun, exciting moments and cherished memories. Tune in for a delightful exploration of the places board games can take you – not just on the board, but in ...
Four Fast Games for Fright Night
October 09, 2023 16:04 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBFour Fast Games for Fright Night Join hosts Matt and Chris as they dive into the world of board games perfect for a chilly October evening. Just like the variety of spooky movies that grace our screens during this haunted season, board games offer a diverse range of experiences to match your Halloween vibes. In this episode, we explore some quick games with an array of mechanisms that are sure to keep you entertained while you sip on your pumpkin spiced latte or enjoy some caramel apple...
The Nature of Games
September 06, 2023 03:03 - 58 minutes - 46.9 MBIn this episode Matt and Chris explore board games with a nature theme and in doing so, discover how the nature of games is changing. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 The Nature of Games 06:30 Parks 24:50 Herbaceous 35:00 Second Summer 43:05 Living Forest Please remember to like and subscribe to the Escape Into Board Games podcast Listen to the show: http://escapeintoboardgames.com/ Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapeintoboard...
Push Your Luck Games
July 27, 2023 22:30 - 39 minutes - 31.5 MBPress Your Luck or Push Your Luck can be found in thousands of different board games. In this episode Chris and Matt talk about just four of them. Exploring from the distilled to the deeply embedded. There’s plenty of great games that Push Your Luck. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Push Your Luck Games 03:31 Can’t Stop 12:14 Celestia 19:40 Ten 27:57 Above and Below Do you have a favourite push your luck game? Write to us and tell us about it at escapeintoboardg...
Board Games are Bigger on the Inside
June 21, 2023 02:25 - 54 minutes - 43.4 MBBoard Games are Bigger on the Inside Board Games can offer a variety of experiences, challenges and escapes! Sometimes it's hard to imagine the adventure that awaits inside the small, unsuspecting game box on the shelf. Join Chris and Matt as they explore some of their favourite board games that come in small packages and within that, try to explain how Board Games are Bigger on the Inside. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Board Games are Bigger on the Inside 05:02 IOTA (2012) 14:...
Games That Do The Trick
May 21, 2023 17:00 - 40 minutes - 32.4 MBGames That Do The Trick Card Games have been around for centuries and trick-taking games have been around for just as long and yet game designers continue to discover, invent and remix the genre in new and exciting ways. In this episode Chris and Matt talk about some trick-taking games they grew up with and then dive into some of the newer games that are keeping the mechanism fresh. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Games That Do The Trick 07:47 Stick Em 13:49 The Crew: The Quest fo...
Board Games You Can Play When You're Lit
April 19, 2023 14:38 - 52 minutes - 42.1 MBBoard Games You Can Play When You're Lit For those nights when you don't want to learn a new game and everyone is more into "chilling out." These are just some of our games that are *high* on our list of favorite games to play when you're lit. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Board Games You Can Play When You Are Lit 07:13 Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza 17:12 Rhino Hero 24:35 Dr. Eureka 30:41 Sticky Chameleons 36:51 Junk Art 45:46 Flying Sushi Kitchen Please remember ...
Hidden Gems
March 19, 2023 20:34 - 41 minutes - 33.4 MBHidden Gems Some of our favourite games on our shelves are little known treasures, surprise bargain deals or classic games that have been lost to time. In this episode Chris and Matt explore some of their favourite Hidden Gems. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Hidden Gems 3:18 The Boss 9:08 Ceylon 17:57 Next Station: London 25:19 Broom Service What is YOUR favourite Hidden Gem board game? Write to us and tell us about it at [email protected] Plea...
Games That Cascade
February 20, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 33.9 MBGames That Cascade Like triggering a line of falling dominoes, some games capture a feeling of excitement and action. In this episode we explore games that have a windfall or chain-reaction that is successively passed on during the game. Join Matt and Chris as they talk about Games That Cascade. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Games That Cascade 04:05 Anomia 11:20 Gizmos 20:10 Potion Explosion 31:18 That's Pretty Clever! (Ganz Schön Clever) ...
Date Night at the Board Game Café
January 23, 2023 01:40 - 50 minutes - 40.2 MBDate Night at the Board Game Café Are you interested in games that are easy to learn, quick to play, are low in confrontation and "take that" and take up just a little table space? In this episode, Chris and Matt explore some great games that go well on a date, at a Board Game Café. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 - Date Night at the Board Game Café 08:25 - A Little Wordy 14:05 - Kingdomino 26:33 - Fox in the Forest 37:03 - Chakra Please remember to like and subsc...
The All Ages Board Game Party
December 19, 2022 04:00 - 59 minutes - 47.5 MBThe All Ages Board Game Party When family time brings together lots of different personalities, it’s hard to find an activity that everyone will enjoy. In this episode, Chris and Matt talk about some games that will bring together the most diverse family members and create memories that everyone will remember for years to come. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 The All Ages Board Game Party! 02:57 Codenames 16:00 Pitch Car 25:20 Timebomb 34:36 Imag...
Great Games for Giving
November 21, 2022 19:31 - 1 hour - 89.5 MBGreat Games for Giving Giving the gift of gaming is really about giving the gift of great times, fun and laughter to your friends and loved ones. In this DOUBLE-SIZED episode, Chris and Matt share over 30 different games that would make great gifts for just about anyone! 00:00 Great Games for Giving 03:39 Great Games for Very Young Families 12:02 Escape into: Outfoxed 20:30 Great Games for Young Families 34:55 Escape into: Catan Junior 42:05 Great Games for Familie...
Creepy Board Games for a Scary Night!
October 12, 2022 13:57 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBCreepy Board Games for a Scary Night! In this episode, we explore some creepy, scary or horror-themed board games that bring family and friends around the table. Park all your brooms at the door and stop in for a spell as we tell tales of: Creepy Board Games for a Scary Night! 05:42 Haunt the House 17:56 Eldritch Horror 35:12 Horrified 46:07 Dexterity Games 49:16 Flick 'em Up!: Dead of Winter 60:55 Betrayal at House on the Hill Please remember to like and subscrib...
Unique Board Game Experiences
September 19, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 77.3 MBUnique Board Game Experiences Sometimes, when you play the right board game at the right time with just the right people you experience something very different. What makes some games we play different? In this episode Chris and Matt explore some board games that have provided them with unique experiences that have been remembered long after they left the table and discuss why they felt so different. 0:00 Unique Board Game Experiences 5:52 Two Rooms and a Boom 22:30 Someone Has D...
Beautiful Board Games
August 15, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBBeautiful Board Games In this episode Chris and Matt explore what makes a game beautiful, some of their favorite beautiful games and how the art in board games continues to improve. Games Presented: 3:23 Sagrada 15:49 Lanterns: The Harvest Festival 27:53 Arboretum 40:47 Wasabi 50:26 Scythe 1:17:31 Everdell The Beautiful Board Games logo for this episode was designed by Alison Tooke. Please remember to like and subscribe to the Escape Into Board Games podcast Listen to the...
Table for 2 - Board Games for 2 Players
July 18, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBTable for 2 - Board Games for 2 Players In this episode we look at the great games you can only get to the table when it's only you and one other player. We also learn how Chris acquired his Grail Game. So pull up a chair to our Table for Two as we explore board games for two players. 3:24 Lost Cities 14:01 Akrotiri 21:52 Fugitive 31:10 Targi 38:32 That Time You Killed Me 46:46 Patchwork 53:25 Jaipur 1:01:10 Star Wars: The Queen’s Gambit Please remember to like and...
A Contemplation of Deduction Games
June 20, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 52 MBA Contemplation of Deduction Games Deduction Games have been around for a long time. Clue is almost 75 years old! Recently, we've seen some impressive improvements in deduction games. In this episode, we explore a few classic games as well as some newer games that are bringing some advancements to the genre. 03:29 Purrrlock Holmes: Furriarty's Trail 13:01 Cryptid 21:57 Mystery of the Abbey 33:06 Awkward Guests 42:16 Code 777 48:28 The Search for Planet X 55:14 MicroMacro: Crime Ci...
Board Games Dripping With Theme
May 16, 2022 02:49 - 1 hour - 69 MBBoard Games Dripping With Theme What's your favorite board game theme? Which board game has the most immersive theme? Theme is often the hook that brings you into a game, but it's also the clothes the game wears and the language we use when we talk about the game. In this episode we talk about just some of our favorite games that are dripping with theme. 04:02 Dead of Winter 18:15 Chronicles of Crime 32:45 Star Wars Rebellion 45:53 Black Orchestra 55:01 Flashpoint: Fire Rescu...
Modern Classics
April 19, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBModern Classics How many board games on your shelf are fifteen, twenty, thirty years old? They might show a little shelf wear and their art might be a little dated but these games still get plenty of plays at our table. Maybe you're not familiar with them all, in which case we'd be happy to introduce you to some of our favourite Modern Classics. Jump to a specific section: 2:56 Catan 10:53 Carcassonne 21:08 Stone Age 25:29 Puerto Rico 32:45 Caverna: The Cave Farmers 40:19 P...
Near Mint Comic Book Board Games
March 21, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBNear Mint Comic Book Board Games In this edition of the Escape Into Board Games podcast, Matt and Chris squeeze into spandex and capes to talk about some board games based on comic books. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Near Mint Comic Book Board Games 03:42 Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game 14:21 The Walking Dead: The Board Game 20:53 Marvel United 29:24 Locke & Key: The Game 38:24 Attack on Titan: The Last Stand 44:56 Marvel Heroes 51:05 Marvel Champions: Th...
Fantastic Fillers Finale
February 21, 2022 04:30 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBIn the Fantastic Fillers Finale we continue talking about the fast-to-set-up and easy-to-learn filler games that we enjoy. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Fantastic Fillers Finale 00:58 Zombie Dice 05:11 Blank Slate 11:04 Coup 16:14 No Thanks 23:01 Cockroach Poker 28:40 For Sale 33:31 Fantastic Gymnastics Please remember to like and subscribe to the Escape Into Board Games podcast Listen to the show: http://escapeintoboardgames.com/ Join our Facebook communi...
Fantastic Filler's Finale
February 21, 2022 04:30 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBIn the Fantastic Fillers Finale Matt and Chris continue talking about the fast-to-set-up and easy-to-learn filler games that we enjoy. You don't need to listen to the first episode of Fantastic Fillers to enjoy this one but if you're looking for more fast filler game recommendations, you should check it out as well.
Fantastic Fillers
February 14, 2022 04:24 - 44 minutes - 29.8 MBIn this episode Chris Cormier and Matt McKenzie talk about some of their favourite Filler Games. They discuss the difficulties of playing a game about some of the gruesome details of the French Revolution, talk about a strategy to rescue a certain unloved game from thrift stores, and mention a game that you can play online with your friends using Board Game Arena for free.
Exploring Deck Building Games
January 17, 2022 13:01 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBChris Cormier and Matt McKenzie talk about games that have interesting and unique game mechanisms. We're not claiming to have discovered the next great genre of boardgaming and these garme are not the only games that contain these mechanisms, however, we think they are implemented in new and interesting ways. We also do a segment about sleeving your games.
Several Superior Spelling Games that Supersede Scrabble
December 13, 2021 02:49 - 40 minutes - 43.5 MBSeveral Superior Spelling Games that Supersede Scrabble In this episode Chris and Matt talk about the spelling games that have replaced Scrabble for them. Jump to a specific section: 00:00 Several Superior Spelling Games that Supersede Scrabble 04:31 Bananagrams 10:16 Word on the Street 16:23 Spell Smashers 22:57 Letter Jam 29:00 Wordsy 33:11 Paperback and Hardback Please remember to like and subscribe to the Escape Into Board Games podcast Listen to the show:...
Several Superior Spelling Game that Supersede Scrabble
December 13, 2021 02:49 - 40 minutes - 43.5 MBIn this episode Chris and Matt talk about the spelling games that have replaced Scrabble for them.
Board Games with Unique Mechanisms
November 14, 2021 23:44 - 52 minutes - 44.7 MBBoard Games with Unique Mechanisms In this episode Matt and Chris talk about 8 board games that have interesting and unique game mechanisms. As well as a segment about Sleeving your games Jump to a specific section: 0:00 Games with Unique Mechanisms 03:26 Wavelength 07:47 Jungle Smart 13:33 Concept 18:46 Kluster 23:11 Treasure Island 28:47 Mord im Arosa 33:43 The Mind 39:34 Cartooner 45:43 To Sleeve or Not To Sleeve Please remember to like and subscrib...
Five Fun Games for Families
July 09, 2021 18:50 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBFive Fun Games for Families Whether your family is small or large, every game collection should include some go-to games that you can bring out that the entire family will enjoy. However, finding the right game for your family can be tricky and often involves balancing thematic elements, table presence, learning time, skill levels, confrontational elements, game length and even the game components. But it can also be the difference between the same old, hum-drum holiday dinner and an even...