Cardboard Philosophy

Apr 02 2025 48 ep. 35 mins 24

Cardboard Philosophy Podcast artwork

Welcome to Cardboard Philosophy! The board game podcast where we talk about nothing serious, seriously. Every episode we roll a die and are randomly assigned a discussion topic about niche, deep board game topics - and have at it! Like the show? Have a question you want to ask? Let us know at [email protected]!

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Episode 047 - Genre VS Mechanism

Apr 02 2025 38 mins

We love a good verses episode here at Cardboard Philosophy! Which is exactly what we are diving into this week! Genres verses mechanisms! Which is which? How do we separate them and how do these two words affect the games we know and love? Plus, we put our money where our mouths are and actually use some of these new definitions in the real world! Want to ask a question or give us

Episode 046 - Do Games Require Player "Buy-In"?

Mar 05 2025 28 mins

We’ve talked in the past about the communal focus the whole table can get when playing a board game. But is that communal focus a requirement to play a game? Can designers help nudge us toward that state of “buy in” or is it just something magical that happens once in a while? This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Evan attempt to find out! Want to ask a question or give us yo

Episode 045 - Buying Hope

Feb 05 2025 31 mins

We buy games for a lot of reasons. To have fun with friends, to discover a new designer or enjoy a mechanic we don’t currently have represented in our collection. But could there be… another reason? One that goes down to the very root of human nature? Are we maybe buying promise more than just the hot new cardboard offering at our FLGS? This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Eva

Episode 044 - End Game Points

Jan 01 2025 36 mins

Some would say that points make the board gaming world go round! A lot of our favorite games all come down to a contest of having the most points… but what do those points tell us about the game? More to the point… what to they tell us about the players and the session? Are more points really always better? This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Evan attempt to find out! Want to

Bonus Episode! - Cardboard Con 2024 Recap Special

Dec 25 2024 61 mins

We did a mini-con! It was invite only, and only 3 invites were sent out. We had guest travel over 5000 k/m to join in the fun… so what better way to commemorate this than a bonus pod! Please enjoy this recap of our time together for Cardboard Con 2024. And thanks for being a listener of Cardboard Philosophy. It’s been a great year, can’t wait to continue this into 2025!! Want

Episode 043 - What Is Play? (Featuring The Dice Tower's Chris Yi)

Dec 04 2024 44 mins

We say the word “play” a lot in board gaming. “Wanna play a game” usually initiates the game nights that got us into the hobby in the first place… but what is play? That’s a big question. So big we’ve enlisted the help of The Dice Tower’s Chris Yi to make sure we cover all the ins and outs of play… and the Treaty of Versailles! Want to ask a question or give us yo

Episode 042 - Theme Vs Setting

Nov 06 2024 38 mins

Theme and setting are both terms that get thrown around a lot in board game discussions – often as synonyms. But are they actually the same thing? If not… what makes them different? This week on the show Evan, Robert and Steve are all diving into the weird and wonderful world of Theme VS Setting! Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us

Episode 041 - Are Any Topics Too Far For Board Games?

Oct 02 2024 30 mins

How far is too far in board gaming? No, I don’t mean collection size… and no, I don’t mean how far would you travel to play one… I mean subject matter! How far is too far? Is there a too far? Is there anything fully off limits for publishers or players? This week on the show, Evan, Robert and Steve try to find out! Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the

Episode 040 - What Makes A Game Immersive?

Sep 14 2024 38 mins

In a rare continuation on the previous week’s topic – this week we’re talking immersion! But what is immersion in a game? Is it a Scrooge McDuck style dive into a swimming pool of board games? Or is it something more design based? More player based? I’m sure curious to know what Robert, Evan and Steve dredge up from the depths of philosophy on this one! Want to ask a questi

Episode 039 - What Makes Board Games Unique?

Aug 28 2024 34 mins

Books, movies, TV shows, slam poetry, art – there are a lot of artistic mediums out there; but what makes board games unique among the lot? Are they better geared to a specific type of storytelling? Or are they bad for story telling full stop? This week on the show, the dynamic trio of Steven, Robert and Evan endeavor to find out! Want to ask a question or give us your two cents