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: 100

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Holiday Gaming with Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Zoom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Welcome to the second part of our discussion on miniatures in board games. Last week we talked about the pros and cons of miniatures, this week we’re going to be sharing some of our favourite fantasy games with lots of m…
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Duration: 2:18:20
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In this episode, we recommend some games we think would be great for older teens, both games we think teens would enjoy and games for parents to play with their teens. We follow that with reviews of boop. and Tapple. We…
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Duration: 1:40:51
Where we’ve been, and potential future disruptions to the show. Once we get everyone up to speed we move on to two puzzle reviews, a murder mystery from Mysterious Package Company, and a look at a new sci-fi-themed Quezz…
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Duration: 1:56:03
This week’s episode is a live Q&A. Topics include games that give a Momento-like experience, meat, RPG settings we want to see made into video games, higher player count games, keeping players with different likes happy,…