Don't Make Me Choose

Don't Make Me Choose

Author: Tabletop Bellhop September 30, 2025 Duration: 1:29:37

This week we’ve got a question about choosing favourites and why it’s so hard to pick a favourite game. We share first thoughts on Tea Witches from The Op and then review two games, Reign of Dragoness from Grandpa Beck’s Games and Ahau: Rulers of Yucatan from Grand Gamers Guild.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 283, was recorded on September 24th, 2025. We usually record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop .

Find full, detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep283/

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
(00:02:05) Announcement
We messed up, The Shackleton Series from Escape Mail contains up to 720 minutes of play not over 700 hours as we said last episode. Either way you can still save 10% off with our code BELLHOP https://collabs.shop/sbvg4b

(00:02:43) Ask the Bellhop
Send your questions to: Questions@tabletopbellhop.com
(00:37:56) The Bellhop's Tabletop
(00:46:25) The Game Room - Reign of Dragoness Review Check out all of Grandpa Beck’s Games. Use BELLHOP to save 15%: https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/collections/all?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX
Pick up Reign of Dragoness: https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/products/reign-of-dragoness?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX
Check out our Skull King Review on Tabletop Bellhop Ep 263: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep263/
Pick up Skull King: https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/products/copy-of-skull-king%C2%AE?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX

(01:05:09) The Game Room - Ahau: Rulers of Yucatán Review Check out our Ahau unboxing video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7ouO67lHtP8?si=a6DQtRRxxAcukp3w
Pick up Ahau on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4my6fZa
Or direct from Grand Gamers Guild: https://grandgamersguild.com/products/ahau
Check out our other Grand Gamers Guild Content (there’s lots): https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=Grand%20Gamers%20Guild

(01:27:37) Closing the Doors

TIP THE BELLHOP: Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop
Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch
Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US: Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com
Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop


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
Pub Crawl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:43
Tonight we’ve got someone looking for great games to bring out for a night at the pub. That’s followed by reviews of two games that are great for playing at a bar, Shobu and Psychobabble. We wrap up with our usual week i…
Quality of Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:35
This episode we discuss quality of life board game improvements we’ve found and those that we would love to see more of in the games we play. That’s followed by reviews of the At the Ready Expansion for Disney Sorcerer’s…
Meeples & Memories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:53
This is a special episode celebrating our 5th birthday as a podcast. We start off with a couple of quick reviews, including a preview of the latest puzzle box from EscapeWelt and then a review of a birthday-themed escape…
When is a board game too pretty? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:18:55
In this episode, we talk about art in board games and how it can be taken too far. We then have a preview of the latest rendition of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. That is followed by two reviews, Illiterati, a co-op wo…
Allies in Fun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:36
We try to help someone decide what cooperative game to buy next, including a list of our favourite cooperative board games. We then have three reviews: Trickdraw, a fast flipping card game, Outsmarted!, a modern take on…
Highlights from Origins 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:57:49
Welcome to our Origins 2023 recap where we spend the majority of the episode talking about our experience at the Origins Game Fair held last week in Columbus Ohio. Along with that we do talk a bit about some games we pla…
Live Board Game Q and A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:35
We’re taking it easy this episode, answering some shorter questions from our questions pile, as well as answering questions in real time from The Lobby, our chatroom on Twitch. Interestingly all of these questions end up…
The Rhythm of Play [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:17
In this episode, we discuss board game pacing, what affects it, and what you can do to keep a game moving. We also review the Leading the Charge expansion for Disney Sorcerer’s Arena Epic Alliances and Dr Lovenstein Pres…
Damage Control [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:22:02
Ask the Bellhop: “How can I protect my board games?” Reviews: Thrills & Chills expansion for Disney Sorcerer’s Arena and Castellans of Valeria Preview. We also talk about Kitara, Aqualin, Kings in the Corner, Skip Bo, De…
Looks Like Kids' Games But They're Not! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:33
In this episode we talk about games that look like they are made for kids but then when you sit down to play them you find out they are not. We’ve got two reviews to go with that, My Little Pony Adventures in Equestria D…