Being Critical

Being Critical

Author: Tabletop Bellhop October 8, 2024 Duration: 1:26:04

In part one of episode 254 we answer a fantastic question from one of our patreon patrons about what we’ve learned over the years about reviewing games. We’ve got some new game announcements from our sponsor, an announcement about potential changes to our show format and then wrap up with a preview of Estate: Raise the Realm a game hitting Kickstarter Soon.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 254, was recorded on October 2nd, 2024. Join us live on Wednesdays at 8 PM EST at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Show notes with links to everything we talk about in this episode: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep254

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) Checking In (00:01:35) Ask the Bellhop - A look at board game criticism and how we review games (00:57:46) A Word From Our Sponsor
(00:59:49) Announcement (01:02:00) Preview of Estate: Raise the Realm (01:24:11) Closing the Doors

Send feedback to moe@tabletopbellhop.com or sean@tabletopbellhop.com or Deanna@tabletopbellhop.com

If you enjoyed the show be sure to tip The Bellhop https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US: Webpage: tabletopbellhop.com
Newsletter: newsletter.tabletopbellhop.com
Merch tabletopbellhop.com/merch
Discord: discord.tabletopbellhop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/
Instagram: instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/
YouTube: youtube.com/tabletopbellhop
Twitch: twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop
Mastodon: dice.camp/@TabletopBellhop
Blue Sky: bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.bsky.social


Ever find yourself staring at your shelf of board games, wondering which one would actually work for your particular group this weekend? Or perhaps you’ve just unboxed a new game and feel a bit lost in the rulebook. That’s the space where the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast lives. Hosted by the folks at Tabletop Bellhop, this show is like having a knowledgeable friend on call to help navigate the vast world of tabletop gaming. Each episode dives into practical advice and genuine conversations aimed at making your game nights smoother and more fun. You’ll hear detailed reviews of specific games, discussions on common gaming hurdles, and tips for everything from teaching rules to managing player dynamics. While the focus is firmly on board games, the occasional role-playing game conversation slips in, reflecting the full spectrum of tabletop hobbies. The tone is welcoming and down-to-earth, avoiding insider jargon in favour of clear, useful insights. It’s a resource built on the idea that the best games are the ones that actually get played, and that a great experience is about more than just the components in the box. Tune in for a podcast that feels like a direct consultation with your own cardboard concierge, dedicated to answering the real questions that pop up around the gaming table.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast
Podcast Episodes
All Decked Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:09
Can you believe, until now we’ve never actually covered our favourite deck-building card games? We fix that in this episode. In addition, we share what we’ve been playing, which includes some first thoughts on Slanguage…
Epic Fail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:11:32
This episode Deanna is back to join an open discussion about what to do when the inevitable happens and your gaming event fails. We announce a new local event, and then Gwen returns to talk about the games we’ve been pla…
Growing up a Board Gamer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:31
Gwen joins us again on the tabletop bellhop, this time sharing the favourite games she played growing up, including some great games you may want to share with your kids. After that we talk about the games we’ve been pla…
Returning to Breakout Con [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:22
Tonight we’ve got a very special guest, Gwendolen - Moe and Deanna’s daughter, on the show to talk about Breakout Con 2025. We haven’t been to Breakout since 2019 and this was Gwen’s first ever tabletop gaming con experi…
Going Digital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36:31
This episode we answer a question from a long time fan who’s wondering if board games would be better off being digital. We talk about the non-con games we’ve been playing (there’s a lot) and finish off with two reviews:…
Board Gaming At The Gamers Ranch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:43
In this special board game event recap episode of The Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, Deanna and Moe tell us all about their trip to the very cool Gamers Ranch for ATOM 2025. They are going to let you know why you want…
Stories from GAMA Expo 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:06:09
This special episode is all about GAMA Expo 2025. We start by sharing some stories from this tabletop industry trade show and follow that up with talk about some of the awesome new games we saw. Tabletop Bellhop Gaming P…
Board Game Hype for GAMA Expo 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:56
Welcome to a special GAMA Preview episode where we highlight the games we’re excited to see at the first big convention of the year as well as give you a bit of info on this industry trade show. We also review a couple o…
Stacking Stones and Adventures with Gnomes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:39
Welcome to a Bellhop’s Tabletop episode where we talk about the games that have been hitting our table lately. This includes lots of Qawale, an RPG party game, getting some use out of my new Targi Geek Up Bits, a return…
Get in Character [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:27
This episode we talk about board games with strong RPG elements, giving our recommendations for board games that provide more roleplaying than your average dungeon crawler. To go along with that topic, we will be reviewi…