Welcome the Board Game Mechanism Museum, you've got your ticket, come on in and take a look around as I talk about my favourite mechanisms that I particularly enjoy in gaming. Just remember though to not touch the exhibits.

IN THIS EPISODE
- In our "Just Played" segment JP tried to become Unstoppable, a card crafting game by Renegade Studios and tries a different take on the 4x genre in March of the Ants by Weird City Games
- At the "Centre of the table" JP talks about some of his favourite mechanisms from board games which are so good they ought to be in a museum
- We take a look at the the top 5 trending games in "What's Hot, What's Not" including Terraria: The Board Game, LOTR Fate of the Fellowship, Lands of Evershade, Rolling Deep and Feya's Swamp

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/kyfBA9vXjC8

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - OPENING
00:00:24 - PHASE A: PULL UP A CHAIR
00:01:49 - PHASE B: JUST PLAYED
00:01:56 - Unstoppable
00:09:25 - March of the Ants: Evolved Edition
00:16:21 - PHASE C: CENTRE OF THE TABLE - Please don't touch the mechanisms
00:17:35 - Hand Management in Concordia
00:19:08 - Dice Drafting in Coimbra
00:21:24 - The Combat System in Arcs
00:23:43 - Aim Board in Apex Legends
00:25:37 - Powering Up Cards in Civ New Dawn
00:26:51 - Tile Placement & Activation in Glen More II
00:28:15 - Card Shedding in Anno 1800
00:29:48 - Deck Shift Management in Revive
00:31:12 - Secret Action Selection in Coloma
00:32:29 - Analogue Point & Click in Cantaloop
00:35:01 - PHASE D: WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT
00:40:07 - PHASE E: JUST ABOUT TO PLAY
00:41:43 - PHASE F: THE LAST PLAY

Get in touch with the show

Support the show

GET IN TOUCH
Website - https://www.justplaypod.co.uk
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JustPlayPodcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JustPlayPod
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justplaypod
Discord - Join us on Discord

INTRO / OUTRO CREDITS
Intro / Outro Music: Getaway by D0d
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/d0d/getaway
License code: AOBEG4AFXALEPGNZ

JP returns from a rather sweaty weekend in the Netherlands...no not like that, board gaming in 30+ degree heat of course. Every year Dávid Turczi hosts an invite only retreat for friends, family, developers, testers and this is my second year attending. So will I'll divulge any industry secrets, well no because NDA is a real thing but I did get a lot of games played so what an excuse to talk about them.

IN THIS EPISODE
- JP talks more about the event and the fun journeys driving to the Netherlands
- I joined a variety of content creators including Paul Grogan from Gaming Rules!, Mark Dainty from Not Bored Gaming and Assaf from EZBoardGames
- I talk about the following games including:
Andromedas Edge by Cardboard Alchemy
Slay the Spire by Contention Games
Leviathan Wilds by Moon Crab Games
Cat In The Box by Bézier Games
The Defense of Procyon III by PSC Games
Recall by Alion Games
World Order by Hegemonic Project Games
Clans of Caledonia

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcJr_buxLWU

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - OPENING
00:00:18 - PHASE A: PULL UP A CHAIR
00:00:40 - PHASE B: JUST PLAY WITH OTHERS - Netherlands Gaming Retreat
00:01:49 - Who attended the event?
00:03:28 - What was the place like and why was it sweaty?
00:05:04 - The journey to the Netherlands
00:06:17 - Secret games that I can't talk about...seriously JP
00:07:01 - PHASE C: JUST PLAYED AT THE EVENT
00:07:23 - Andromedas Edge
00:12:46 - Slay the Spire
00:18:08 - Leviathan Wilds
00:25:34 - Cat In The Box
00:28:15 - The Defense of Procyon III
00:35:17 - A quick aside for Star Trek Captains Chair
00:35:56 - Recall
00:40:21 - World Order
00:46:58 - Clans of Caledonia
00:51:42 - PHASE D: THE LAST PLAY

Get in touch with the show

Support the show

GET IN TOUCH
Website - https://www.justplaypod.co.uk
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JustPlayPodcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JustPlayPod
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justplaypod
Discord - Join us on Discord

INTRO / OUTRO CREDITS
Intro / Outro Music: Getaway by D0d
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/d0d/getaway
License code: AOBEG4AFXALEPGNZ

Con-Crud is a real thing but you know what, it's worth it when you've attended the UK Games Expo 2026. JP is joined by Mark Monk from @NinjaGeekGames where they break down the show, the games they've played, the people they've met and the wicked awesome (thanks Mark) time they had.

DISCLAIMER!!! For those watching on video Mark's video / audio has a slight delay which will be resolved in future guest episodes as JP has learnt his lesson.

IN THIS EPISODE
- JP & Mark catch-up around their journeys into the NEC Birmingham and find out that Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers have nothing to worry about.
- We break down our experiences over Thursday to Sunday and talk about games, games, games, people and more games

GAMES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Flip 7 / Flip 7 with a Vengeance by The Op Games
The Thing: Infection Outpost 31 by Mondo Games
Song of the Wildkin by Boken Games
Paths Unknown Series by Raybox Games
Almighty by Keen Bean Games
Drillers by Czech Games Edition
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures by Czech Games Edition
Wroth & Wreck by Chip Theory Games
Too Many Bones 2.0 by Chip Theory Games
Sublime Dark by Hall or Nothing Productions
Trouble on the Tempus by Minor Disaster Games
Railway Porters by Saachi & Saachi
Tally Up by Messy Table Games
A Carnivore Did It by Horrible Guild
Thief's Market by PickPocket Games
Kryptothera: The Cryptid Pursuit by NoctiLux Games
Prague: Unseen by Albi Games
Tenby by Mighty Boards
War of Whispers by Starling Games
Snowdonia Gran Tour by Naylor Games
Time Troopers by Molinarius Games
Whisperwood by Cardboard Alchemy

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Check out Mark's channel right here - https://www.youtube.com/@NinjaGeekGames
Becky's Cheesy Bangers Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2GB4D1yA8G2qehCSAOZ27o?si=5Itu0f0rRiyUg2XyX_GmcwEPISODE&nd=1&dlsi=996ec348f8654010

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - OPENING
00:00:24 - PHASE A: PULL UP A CHAIR
00:03:33 - PHASE B: JUST PLAY WITH OTHERS - UK Games Expo 2026
00:06:41 - Day 0 - THURSDAY - Press Event
00:07:01 - PHASE C: JUST PLAYED AT THE EVENT
00:12:20 - Flip 7 , Cabanga, Things In Rings
00:13:37 - The Thing: Infection Outpost 31
00:14:38 - DAY 1 - FRIDAY & Song of the Wildkin
00:19:41 - Paths Unknown Series
00:22:58 - Almighty
00:29:05 - Drillers
00:31:50 - Codenames: Critical Role Adventures
00:34:13 - Wroth & Wreck
00:37:57 - Too Many Bones 2.0
00:40:55 - Sublime Dark
00:44:15 - Trouble on the Tempus
00:49:58 - Sanctuary
00:51:38 - Flip 7: With a Vengence
00:53:39 - DAY 2 - SATURDAY & Hegemony: Shadows of Authority
00:59:20 - Meet & Greets then Railway Porters
01:03:32 - Tally Up, A Carnivore Did It & Thief's Market
01:08:04 - Kryptothera & Stoke Me A Clipper!!!
01:10:39 - Prague: Unseen
01:15:18 - Tenby
01:20:13 - War of Whispers & Heat: Mario Kart
01:23:47 - DAY 3 - SUNDAY & Snowdonia Grand Tour
01:29:43 - Catching up with Mindclash Games
01:32:03 - Time Troopers
01:34:17 - Whisperwood
01:41:59 - PHASE D: UKGE PURCHASES & WRAP UP
01:52:07 - PHASE E: THE LAST PLAY

Get in touch with the show

Support the show

GET IN TOUCH
Website - https://www.justplaypod.co.uk
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JustPlayPodcast
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JustPlayPod
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justplaypod
Discord - Join us on Discord

INTRO / OUTRO CREDITS
Intro / Outro Music: Getaway by D0d
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/d0d/getaway
License code: AOBEG4AFXALEPGNZ