The Unofficial Bellhop Awards

The Unofficial Bellhop Awards

Author: Tabletop Bellhop January 18, 2026 Duration: 2:10:39

We share the best new to us games that we played in 2025, five from each of us, for fifteen total. We also talk about all of the games we played over the holidays (which was a lot!). Then we wrap up with a review of SETI from CGE.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 292 was recorded on January 14th, 2026. We usually record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep292/

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) CHECK-IN

(00:02:01) Announcements
We renewed our GAMA membership https://www.gama.org/
We will be at GAMA Expo https://www.gama.org/page/gama-expo
Learn more about GAMA and the Expo: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep236/

Upcoming Events: Jan 22nd - Brews & Board Games at the Walkerville Brewery
Jan 25th - Board Game Mixer at Hidden Trail

Our event calendar: https://tabletopbellhop.com/local/

(00:03:41) Ask the Bellhop

(00:32:36) The Bellhop’s Tabletop

(01:37:51) The Game Room - SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Pick up SETI at B&N, https://barnesandnoble.sjv.io/jex6DM
Check out our other CGE content, https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=CGE
Visit https://www.czechgames.com

(02:08:42) 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:
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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: 50

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Unmatched Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This episode we have some game recommendations for a fan looking for games like Unmatched from Restoration Games. We also announce a new local partnership, geek out about a trip to the new Asmodee Canada office in Brantf…
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This episode we talk about board games to get you thinking, and games that are great to play with aging parents. We also share thoughts on trying some of the optional rules in Gnome Hollow and wrap up with two reviews: C…
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This episode is all about catching up. Catching you up on the games we’ve been playing, talking about catch up mechanics in games and catching up on a long overdue review of the Riftlands expansion for Shadow Kingdoms of…
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We share our favourite tabletop games that involve improvisation as part of gameplay. To go with the topic, we review Oh Captain, My Captain from Simon & Schuster. We also review Emerald Skulls from Thunderworks and, of…
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This episode we hope to help a fan find some new games to play with her grandkids. To go with this we’ve got two reviews from the new Queen games Family & Friends line, Star Explorer and Moonlight market. We’re also goin…
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Duration: 2:06:49
This episode we’re back talking about one of our most popular topics, two player games. We take a look at some recent finds and list off some of our new favourite games for two. To go with this we have some two player ga…
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Duration: 2:26:29
Tonight we’re talking about board games that were rebooted and given new life. We share the games we’ve been playing including first plays of Floristry, Lone Wolves, Azul Duel, and Julius Caesar. We wrap up with two meat…
Ridiculous Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:51
Tonight we’re going a bit wacky and talking about some of the most ridiculous games we’ve played. To go along with this we have three rather unique games to review tonight: Trash Talk, Words of a Feather, and Pusheen the…
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…