The Fifth Meeple Board Game Podcast

Welcome back to The Fifth Meeple! Today's showdown is a race unlike any other. One contender brings post-apocalyptic carnage, while the other delivers fantasy-fueled kart racing. Will Thunder Road Vendetta run its rival off the road, or will Dungeon Kart use a few magical shortcuts to claim the crown? Let's hit the track and find out! Episode 104: Raucous Racing: Thunder Road Vendetta vs Dungeon Kart Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 What's on our table? 14:40 Thunder Road Vendetta 30:52 Thunder Road Vendetta: The Collector's Corner 31:57 Thunder Road Vendetta: Final Thoughts 35:12 Dungeon Kart 52:57 Dungeon Kart: The Collector's Corner 54:42 Dungeon Kart: Final Thoughts 56:15 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 102: Classic Drafts: Azul vs Sagrada In today's episode the Goofy Noob Returns as we battle and review two modern classic board games. Both are masterpieces of color and design. One asks players to craft breathtaking mosaics for a Portuguese palace. The other challenges them to create stunning stained-glass windows worthy of a cathedral. Both have captivated millions of players around the world. But when the dust settles, which puzzle reigns supreme? Join us as we dive deep into the beauty, strategy, and tension of Azul versus Sagrada! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction (Return of the Goofy Noob) 01:10 Topic of the Day! 14:22 Azul 26:17 Azul: The Collector's Corner 27:06 Azul: Final Thoughts 29:58 Sagrada 44:27 Sagrada: The Collector's Corner 46:17 Sagrada: Final Thoughts 49:50 Battle of the Funnest Showdown If you are going to be at Origins 2026 and want to catch us reach out this week and we can maybe play a game or two with you! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 100: Music to Our Ears: Luthier vs Lacrimosa Welcome to our 100th episode spectacular! We couldn’t think of a better theme than Music to Our Ears! Today’s contenders are two of the hobby’s most melodic heavy hitters: Lacrimosa and Luthier. Tune your instruments and shuffle your decks — it's time to see which performance earns the standing ovation! Enjoy! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Topic of the Day! 10:54 Luthier 32:27 Luthier: Collector's Corner 36:14 Luthier: Final Thoughts 39:03 Lacrimosa 58:35 Lacrimosa: Collector's Corner 01:00:01 Lacrimosa: Final Thoughts 01:01:52 Battle of the Funnest Showdown! Thanks for listening to our 100th episode! We never thought we would make it this far and want to say to all of our listeners thanks for listening! We couldn't have done it without you all! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 98: Living the Theme: Obsession vs Rock Hard 1977 Some board games have a theme pasted on top. Others pull you completely into their world. That’s what this week is all about. Today, we’re diving into two games that don’t just give you actions to take… they give you a life to live. In Rock Hard: 1977, you’re chasing fame, sleep deprivation, and your next big gig in the gritty world of late-70s rock. In Obsession, you’re managing servants, social status, and scandal in high society England. By the end of the episode, we’ll decide which game does the better job of making players forget they’re sitting at a table… and start believing they’re living another life! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Topic of the Day! 06:32 Obsession 27:09 Obsession: Collector's Corner 29:55 Obsession: Final Thoughts 32:04 Rock Hard 1977 44:19 Rock Hard 1977: Collector's Corner 44:57 Rock Hard 1977: Final Thoughts 47:35 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 96: Stars, Sweets, and Heavy Euros: Galactic Cruise vs Sweet Lands Welcome back! This week, we’ve got a showdown that pits cosmic elegance against confectionery chaos. Galactic Cruise promises five-star experiences in zero gravity, while Sweet Lands delivers a bright, candy-filled world of playful competition. We’re throwing them into the ring to see which one actually satisfies. Space luxury or sugar rush—what’s it going to be? Listen in as these 2025 Heavy Euros battle for victory! Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Topic of the Day! 06:07 Galactic Cruise 24:45 Galactic Cruise: Collector's Corner 26:09 Galact Cruise: Final Thoughts 27:46 Sweet Lands 46:04 Sweet Lands: Collector's Corner 47:48 Sweet Lands: Final Thoughts 50:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 94: Allies or Adversaries: Kinfire Council vs Archipelago In today's episode are friends working together… or secretly plotting against each other? This episode dives into Kinfire Council and Archipelago, two games that handle teamwork very differently. Expect laughs, tough choices, and a debate over which one creates the best game night chaos. Only one can come out victorious as we battle them off in our Battle of the Funnest Showdown! Enjoy! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Topic of the Day! 10:30 Kinfire Council 32:04 Kinfire Council: Collector's Corner 33:40 Archipelago 47:21 Archipelago: Collector's Corner 48:15 Archipelago: Final Thoughts 52:00 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 92: Forever and Ever-dell: Everdell vs Everdell Silverfrost In today's episode we’re heading deep into the forest—but don’t forget your coat, because things are about to get cold. That’s right, we’re putting Everdell head-to-head with its frosty counterpart, Everdell: Silverfrost. This one’s more than just vibes—it’s a true test of design. We’re comparing the cozy, streamlined engine-building of the original against the expanded systems and icy twists Silverfrost brings to the table. Does the classic still deliver the tightest, most satisfying experience, or has the new contender evolved the formula into something even better? Only one game earns the win—let’s find out into today's battle of the funnest showdown! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Topic of the Day! 10:20 Everdell Silverfrost 21:54 Everdell Silverfrost: Collector's Corner 23:47 Everdell Silverfrost: Final Thoughts 25:53 Battle of the Funnest Showdown Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 90: Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament (Part 1) It’s March… which means chaos. Not on the court—but on the table. Inspired by March Madness, we’re seeding this past year's winners of our Battle of the Funnest Matches into one brutal bracket. Upsets will happen, favorites will fall, and legacies are on the line. This is Meeple Madness 2026! Want to fill out a bracket before you listen? Print one out here: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Fifth-Meeple-Board-Game-Podcast-61558676691506/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 88 (Mini): Take Time Today we’re taking a quick look at Take Time, a cooperative puzzle game from Libellud. In this one to four player experience, you’ll be placing cards around a clock face while trying to solve a series of increasingly tricky logic challenges. See what our crew thinks about this unique co-op! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Take Time 02:34 Take Time: The Good 08:03 Take Time: The Bad 11:51 Take Time: Final Scores Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 86 (Mini): Foolish Fool Today we’re spotlighting Foolish Fool, a fast-paced card game packed with quick turns and playful tension. Everyone’s trying to dodge becoming the round’s fool, which leads to light strategy, cheeky moves, and just enough chaos to keep the table buzzing. Listen in to see what we think about this small box game! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Foolish Fool 02:07 Foolish Fool: The Good 07:43 Foolish Fool: The Bad 10:08 Foolish Fool: Final Scores 13:40 Bloopers Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Episode 84 (Mini): For Sale In this mini review, we take a look at For Sale, the fast-paced auction card game that’s become a staple of the hobby. We break down its two-phase gameplay, why it works so well as a filler, and whether its simple design still holds up today. Quick, clever, and full of tense decisions — find out what we think about this classic game. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:56 For Sale 02:16 For Sale: The Good 09:11 For Sale: The Bad 11:52 For Sale: Final Scores Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 82 (Trivia): Board Game Mechanisms How well do you really know game mechanics? In this trivia-style episode, we dive into worker placement, design complexity, and the language gamers use—inviting listeners to play along as we break down what makes these systems tick. Thanks for listening! Enjoy Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Chris's 15 Trivia Questions (Mechanisms) Play along with us! Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

Episode 80: Don't Bet on It: Hot Streak vs Magical Athlete Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Topic of the Day! 04:24 Magical Athlete 13:35 Magical Athlete: Collector's Corner 14:40 Magical Athlete: Final Thoughts 16:22 Hot Streak 27:24 Hot Streak: Collector's Corner 27:51 Hot Streak: Final Thoughts 30:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown 41:29 Bloopers Thanks for listening! Want to connect with us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and as always play more board games!