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BGHT PhoenixCon Coverage Part 1 (11 Games Discussed)

·1 hr 20 min·5 clips

Adam reveals how his pet store past led to an embarrassing fish-ordering moment that his friends still mock him for.

This episode covers the first part of the Board Game Hot Takes crew's coverage of their biannual meetup, dubbed the BGHT PhoenixCon, held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hosts Tim, Chris, and Adam share their initial experiences and dive into reviews of several board games they played together. The group recounts their travel mishaps and local adventures before getting into the games. They begin by discussing their review copy of **Finship**, the new fish-themed game in the "Span" series from Stonemaier Games. Tim and Adam both played it, finding it a streamlined evolution of *Wingspan* with a thematic improvement and quicker bonus acquisition. Tim shares a personal story about ordering a "cleaner wrasse" fish during his high school job at a pet store. Next, they briefly mention playing **Clank! Catacombs** with the Lost Chambers and Lairs expansion, a game Adam and Chris typically avoid. Adam then recounts a humorous story about possibly encountering actor Stellan Skarsgård at a Starbucks bathroom during his drive. The first full game review is for **Renature**, a tile-placement game by Reiner Knizia set in a post-apocalyptic world rebuilding with eco-friendly technology. Adam, usually skeptical of Knizia's designs, enjoyed its strategic depth, quick play, and beautiful production using biodegradable components. Tim highlights its tactical nature and the fact that Steve bought a copy immediately after playing. They then played **Rebel Princess**, a trick-taking game that re-themes *Hearts* with variable round effects and unique player powers. Adam found it fun, though the leader powers felt inconsistently impactful, while Chris thought it was just okay and not a breakthrough for him regarding trick-takers. The group played **Power Vacuum**, another trick-taking game with a whimsical theme of appliances vying for a power outlet. Tim and Adam felt it suffered from a lack of player agency, where strategic moves felt unrewarding and winning could feel arbitrary. Chris was disappointed, as he had hoped its theme and production would win him over. They ended this session by playing **Flip 7**, a push-your-luck blackjack-style game, to determine who got the best bedrooms in their rental house, since they couldn't play their intended game, **Age of Galaxy**, due to missing components. A surprising insight was Adam, a self-professed skeptic of Reiner Knizia games, thoroughly enjoying *Renature* and calling it a highlight. Tim's anecdote about the "cleaner wrasse" fish order provided a memorable, personal connection to *Finship*. The stakes of playing *Flip 7* for bedroom assignments added a layer of fun and consequence to their game night. The episode has a conversational and humorous tone, filled with friendly banter and personal anecdotes alongside the game critiques. It is styled as a casual recap among friends, blending travel stories with board game analysis. This episode is ideal for board game enthusiasts who enjoy detailed, opinionated reviews mixed with the personal dynamics of a gaming group. Listeners who prefer strictly structured reviews or are annoyed by off-topic tangents might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A warm, scrappy meetup recap with real friend-group energy.

Board Game Hot Takes follows a Scottsdale house meetup with a light, easy rhythm, as Tim, Chris, and Adam swap stories about what they played, where they stayed, and which small logistics suddenly got too important. The fun is in the friendly needling.

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Why you'd press play

You want a tabletop weekend recap with jokes, room stakes, and one very real board-game mishap.

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