10 Board Games That You Loved But We Thought Were S**t

[@enjoythestruggle]

*Me sitting here with all but one deck of Summoner Wars 2nd Edition* "It's okay, he's only talking about First Edition..."

[@lukewortley4000]

This one was so funny. Wingspan, Root, and Spirit Island are all among my favorite games ever, but nevertheless I loved hearing them roasted. Happy to keep watching as a relatively new subscriber. Thanks for everything.

[@richardgalati1323]

I have a few of these games on your list and your video put a big smile on my face. Not everyone has the same tastes in game but your take on the ones you hated was great!!😂

[@28Lost]

7:56 Duuuude, you are hilarious xD This channel deserves more views. I always laugh with your reviews!

[@slimyweasel]

That was so refreshingly offensive and nihilistic, beautiful! I just finished my 15th solo game of Pax Pamir (it might be one of my favourite games ever) and your video pops up. I was a subscriber, but now I've also clicked that bell.

[@Trueflights]

Pretty much spot on agree with everything in this video. My only exception is Spirit Island, though I do agree with your complaints about it. I enjoy the puzzle of figuring out how the various spirits work to deal with it. Doesn't hurt that most of the time I play it solo, or with experienced players, so I don't have to worry about teaching it to people (which is one of the biggest complaints I have with almost any asymmetrical game).

[@EvangelionPower]

I am a huge fan of both Root and the new Libertalia, and I also really like Wingspan, but this video was still a treat for me for two reasons: 1. It's funny AF. 2. It has the type of raw honesty that the tons of glittery, euphemistic game "reviews' lack. It's invigorating to hear someone's unpurified opinion right into the face.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@kbvt]

If you're tempted to try Dominant Species again but hated the constant check for dominance, you should give Dominant Species: Marine a look. No more dominance cones, game is streamlined and shorter, but has the same core worker placement and hex map. I like a few of the games on your list but enjoyed the video nonetheless.

[@boardgametotears]

I agree. It will fix all your issues with the original. DM: Marine is one of my top games.

[@shawnhilliard]

I got a free copy of Wingspan because i agreed to lasercut a custom birdhouse dice tower before everyone was doing it, got the designer to sign it, then traded it for those impossible to find mansions of madness expansions. Best decision I ever made lol.

[@freeheeler00]

As far as Wingspan goes, I kinda look at it as a sort of TCG for bird nuts. My kid and I love the cards and the mechanism that constantly flushes out birds and brings in new ones is perfect for people that kinda just want to look at cards and casually play a game where they get to collect their favorites that happen to come along. Perhaps if it was themed with something more up your alley, like sausages or matchbox cars perhaps, you'd enjoy it more. Cheers!

[@Mark-jagger]

This might be your best video yet. So many genuine laugh out loud moments, especially your parting shot! Fan fucking tastic and I actually like a few of these games quite a bit. Brilliant as always just ramped up even more.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@mosiah.torres]

This is the type of totally contrarian content I've subbed for 👏🏼👏🏼

[@Bowsar1337]

not having the same opinion as you =/= being contrarian

[@theshogunstein6475]

Spirit Island is one of those games that reminds me of a movie you are supposed to like because it won a bunch of awards but you are never ever going to watch

[@dallashill23]

I’ve watched maybe 20 different board game channels on KZbin and you were the only one to earn my sub

[@BoardGameBollocks]

An honour 👍🏻

[@kalega311]

Such a great, funny video. I agree about Spirit Island and Wingspan. Disagree about Summoner Wars and Detective. Kinda feel mixed about Root. We'll see about Pax Pamir when I get around to playing it.

[@MisterAbysmul]

This is why your channel is amazing. Well done.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

✊🏻

[@crippledfoxgaming]

Bravo, mate. Some of these were bang-on correct. I wondered why I wanted to bludgeon myself rather than play Spirit Island or Root.

[@MrDeadstu]

Just found this video. My kind of channel, no bullshit talk about board games. Subbed.

[@ryokunn1]

This list is perfectly accurate. I agree wholeheartedly with it! Please do a 20-11 🤣

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Ok 👍🏻

[@dab0331]

You seem pretty simple in the meat computing system if you hate Pax Pamir. And no, there is no doubling of the scoring system at the end. You just don't know what the fuck you're doing. If Detective is hard for you, then that's precisely because you are simple in the meat computer, and you would never be a Detective in real life where you have no one to hold your simple minded hand​@@BoardGameBollocks

[@dab0331]

​@@BoardGameBollocksYou seem pretty simple in the meat computing system if you hate Pax Pamir. And no, there is no doubling of the scoring system at the end. You just don't know what the fuck you're doing. If Detective is hard for you, then that's precisely because you are simple in the meat computer, and you would never be a Detective in real life where you have no one to hold your simple minded hand

[@dab0331]

​@@BoardGameBollocksYou seem pretty simple in the meat computing system if you hate Pax Pamir. You just don't know what the fuck you're doing. Of course you'll get double the points in the last round because that's the end of the war and you're playing for keeps. It causes you to have FORESIGHT (which you lack, I guess) and being able to set up your win in the THIRD round BEFORE the 4th. If Detective is hard for you, then that's precisely because you are simple in the meat computer, and you would never be a Detective in real life where you have no one to hold your simple minded hand. And Root has the best replay factor precisely because of the asymmetry. Yeah it's a huge learning curve and isn't the kind of game you whip out at a drinking party, but with a dedicated group of friends Root is the best game of all time. You're always trying to outsmart each other yet the asymmetry and slight luck factor of the dice cause you to never get to comfortable no matter how much more experienced you are.

[@simplyviewerforfun]

Man you have no idea how I love your videos, finally something entertaining and honest, having the balls to express negative thoughts about games out there. Too many channels are only influencers in it for the money or blend as hell doing 30min+ videos I can't care about

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Exactly why I started making videos 👍🏻

[@konezone]

Wingspan is one of my new favorite games, but I laughed pretty hard at your comments about it. (and others) Love your channel and your reviews. Keep it up.

[@chrisiliopoulos]

Totally enjoyed this one ... not because I agreed with all the picks but because the dishing and cursing of 'cute' games was really funny man! Keep it up!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@Orochi_001]

The way you feel about 7th Continent is how I feel about all the “--haven,” KDM types of adventure games. I can either press a single button on a videogame controller, or I can draw from five decks, chuck a bunch of dice, and then do maths.

[@gregorys9629]

Loved the tone of this video, made me laugh! Always refreshing to see different takes on popular games - not every game is for everyone.

[@KingDomsKingdom85]

Banging video mate, you proper smashed this one. Good list and viewpoints.

[@bakpakgoblin]

I love Root. I'm the guy in our group who memorizes the rule book for the whole group so we can have a great time. Root was one of the most miserable games to learn I've ever played, and it was even worse to try and teach.

[@JustACuteFox]

I always tell people, "if you are only ever going to place Root once or twice, just don't bother". I can teach Root back to front, and I can even do it in a way that makes sense and gets people up and running quickly with it. But I have played it a ton, to get there.

[@siejaiz]

I like Root too, but agreed if you aren't going to play it multiple times just don't bother.

[@mikewilliams4443]

Best one yet. Really hitting your stride now, good on you.

[@BoiledEgg74]

Damn we needed this. The herd mentality of loving games based on hype and political correctness steers the consumer away from games that are actually good and worth our money. Love your hot takes and your points... they make total sense!!

[@treytechie]

Completely agree! Herd mentality is totally spot on!

[@TabletopTurtle]

The Board Game Geek Collective. All games are problematic.

[@ChrisSimmons-78028]

@@TabletopTurtle Yep, and you can't get honesty like this on BGG because a moderator with fancy "woke" microbadges will delete your comment.

[@RvLeshrac]

What in the actual fuck are you gits on about? "woke moderators"? "Political correctness"?

[@olanmills64]

Haha based on political correctness? "Woke" 🤣 You guys or sad. What the fuck is woke about Root or Wingspan (I don't like these games either)? 🤣🤣🤣

[@dangerousbeans2907]

There’s nothing I don’t appreciate about your channel. Truly a fuckin breath of fresh air.

[@marcusp4278]

Honest contest like this is why I keep coming back to this channel. Keep up the solid work. Man, 7th continent was such trash haha.

[@jean-paularends4535]

It's lists like this why i love this channel! That felt so goooood.

[@ImperialGit]

Root being on here hurts, but 10:06 made me laugh so hard I'll let it slide XD Good one XD

[@earthling-ad]

I haven't been able to get root to the table yet because my gaming group plays on a Friday evening and im generally too exhausted to try and explain the rules for each faction.

[@dab0331]

You need to just be the referee then. It's easier to just let 3 guys play and as you literally go around the table explaining each step to them, rather than sitting there and having to keep getting back up. Once you have at least 2 experienced friends it makes each subsequent teach much easier as long as it's no more than 2 people you have to teach in a game of 4 or 5

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Sound like a right ball ache

[@KujoPainting]

I like Spirit Island as a solo game but with multiple players it gets way too complex and every turn ends up being a massive headache.

[@halforange1]

This list synergizes REALLY well with your schtick. Love it!

[@crimson49er]

hilarious, the wingspan commentary had me legit laughing at the end.. time for my bath!

[@akhedena]

I'm a relatively new subscriber, but I'm already a huge fan. Your videos are hilarious and insightful.

[@CptnJoystick]

Fun video. Sounds like complicated games are not right for your group.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

We played hundreds of complicated games over the years…shit games aren’t for us

[@CptnJoystick]

@@BoardGameBollocks Enjoy them while your mind is still sharp brotha 🤞

[@thomasdixon1500]

Lol I loved this! There were a few games I love on the list. Some of your points I agree with and love the game despite this. Great video!

[@TabletopTurtle]

Libertalia is a brilliant game that Stonemaier decided redo to appeal to both your grandma and your toddler and as a results, ended up with a sterile and artistically bland abomination that has as much charm as a corporate stock photo. Couldn't agree more with that one.

[@harveydents]

with fucking TUMBLR art!

[@TabletopTurtle]

@@harveydents Someone should let the artist know that Corporate Memphis style art is for inoffensive business marketing on tech blogs, not beloved board games.

[@seansteel328]

It's a shame, I really wanted the original but settled on the new version. At least the tokens are nice but...yeah, pointless when the old punchboard tokens worked just fine

[@dangerousbeans2907]

Tru dat.

[@Fatpie42]

Admittedly I've never seen Libertalia original in the flesh. I played it on BGG. I quite liked the new artwork, but what are these censored elements? I didn't really see that there was much different. What was "gritty" in the original?

[@SortOfBoardGames]

Wow, coming out strong! With Spirit Island and Wingspan I was audibly shocked. I get all the reasons why though. Good video and honestly I’m somewhat with you on Spirit Island. Wingspan… is in my top games but I understand. Stonemaier is about blinging out the games. Keep the videos coming.

[@TheTintinjb]

I love Spirit Island. But I play solo with one and now with two spirits. Probably you could not play 4 players without others being experienced players

[@hugocruz2439]

Wingspan (just like the beloved by the community castles of burgundy) is a multiplayer solitaire. I'm in the niche of people who really hate that kind of games. I prefer interacting with other players like war or negotiation games, but most gamers are averse to cobflict

[@Fatpie42]

​@@TheTintinjbI think the last 4 player game I played of Spirit Island took 6 hours, lol!

[@BliskMyth]

I dislike Scythe because each player sits in a corner doing nothing until they build whatever is needed to pass a river.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

That happens relatively quickly. Combat is t the main focus of the game for me.

[@willmolinar]

Wingspan, Root, and Spirit Island have all been major turn offs to me and I'm glad I have avoided them.

[@roofrecordz]

Loads of people were complaining about Dominant Species, that you have to always adjust dominance, nearly after each action. But I don't understand why should you do this? You need to check and adjust dominance only once per round before you are doing scoring, it's important only then to get a card, thats it. Anybody can explain me why people adjust dominance 20 times per round? Try to play the game again and adjust dominance only once per round before the scoring and you'll get really nice experience.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I’d rather die

[@baileydelgado6932]

Just found this channel and now I have to subscribe, love this!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@미드미-v7k]

Lol, I love the blunt truthfulness of this guy

[@budsticky]

If you think Wingspan came with too much needless bling just imagine the amount of 3rd party accessories that people buy for the game.

[@kosterix123]

As always highly appreciate your clear thoughts on games. I did print out the demo of T7c and I can see your point. As for Summoner Wars, it reminds me of that game called Space Hulk Death Angel. Massive fan base but all I got out of it was a heavy migraine.

[@Jason_Reynolds]

I got Spirit Island about a year ago and haven’t managed to get it to the table for the same reasons you stated. I wouldn’t be able to teach it to my group. It’s why I didn’t even try Root and like you, I don’t like birds either! Some great choices there. Glad to say I only have Spirit Island.

[@harveydents]

ROFLMAO "you might like punching yourself in the face" fucking woke up my wife laughing at that. LOL.

[@Noland55]

I get you don't like playing Pax Pamir, but what part, beside the blocks, of thr game you dislike?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Watch my review 👍🏻

[@johanlotigiers]

I'm dying here! 🙂We need more channels like this. Keep up the fun work and don't hesitate to swear when you feel like you have to! Greetz from Belgium!

[@manducator824]

Is the brother of Helmut a board gamer?

[@johanlotigiers]

@@manducator824, yes, he is 👍

[@johanlotigiers]

@@manducator824, yes he is. He is also known for other incredible achievements 👍😂👍

[@manducator824]

@@johanlotigiers Cool!

[@awakecommonman5291]

Correct, Wingspan is a pretty poor game. Then after you top-trumph for a few rounds, just spam spam spam eggs in the last round. Not a big fan of birds either, one shat on my windscreen last night, it's the last time I take her out!!

[@MichaelBomholt]

wingspan is about as deep as a puddle

[@playground2137]

Yeah just spam eggs at the end

[@CarbonBallas]

Summoner wars is what got me started in board gaming!! SO SHOCKED! Can't say I agree but this was HILARIOUS. Thumbs up!

[@cg5380]

I think root is pretty easy to teach when using the walking through root start. Only thing that sucks is that doing it that way creates a bit of an unbalanced game. A good time but it is aguably still not worth it in some aspects

[@lystic9392]

I loved this. My only defense is for Pax Pamir, because if you don't do much someone will win outright and you won't even get to double scoring. (Four points ahead = instant victory.) (If a player wins the first round of a successful dominance check, then if you let them do it again it's likely an instant victory.) And if you are too far behind in round 4 because you were not getting many points, you will have a hard time to come back because your situation will be bad unless you prepared? The blocks stay on the board when a dominance check is unsuccessful. So when you're set up for victory as the leading player you may want round 3 to be unsuccessful. (Gaining less points maybe, but preparing for round 4.) In that sense, the game is more about (setting up for) the final round, yes. Catching up is often possible but not easy, I think.

[@alexmaric4419]

It's Scythe for me! Love your unsavoury comments 😆😆😆

[@matthiascolmelet3064]

Oh, God, Scythe! How I hate it! This lifeless, scripted abomination! It's Frankenstein's monster, if Doctor Frankenstein, instead of pillaging the nearest cemetery, had instead robbed a game store and escaped with Catan, Caylus, Top Trumps, a few wooden shelf boards and a bag full of products made by the fretwork class from the school next door, and with all that stuff he created this monster devoid not only of life but also of the will to live! . . . . (It does look great on the table, though!)

[@wrath231]

Scythe is an abomination.

[@bmrigs]

Scythe sucks.

[@Zunidrap]

So hilarious, and so true! I love this channel. 🤣😂

[@scottray1265]

just discovered you today....cant stop laughing.....auto subscribe

[@jankogo]

Good work, m8! I may disagree with you on Root, but you make good points all around.

[@JonasGrumby-OO]

So me and my games are being judged by a British football hooligan? Subbed

[@dapliff]

From now on this is my favorite board game channel…

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Word!

[@b-squadhero9698]

This video is why I love this channel.

[@garryclarke9852]

Well at least I'm not the only one. I hated Wingspan as much as you but I think you've put it far more eloquently than I ever could.

[@stevedogwildman2133]

My mate told me to get wingspan. What should I say to him?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Tell him you’ll buy Top Trumps Birds and save £40

[@matthewrichardson1805]

Perfect meeting of persona and topic. Loved this!

[@halab963]

Completely agree with you on Wingspan, it's so dull, and I usually don't care about theme but it makes absolutely no sense. Have you had a chance to try Dominant Species: Marine yet? I'd be interested to hear if it's changed your mind about the game and fixed the issues you had with the original.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I haven’t played DS marine I’m afraid

[@adriang6259]

Well, I don’t buy a lot of board games, pretty much only because of budget. Otherwise I’d have a room with a door you couldn’t close. So videos like these are super valuable to me. Thanks for saving me the cash. I only had ‘root’ and ‘Libertalia’ on the radar from this list. Good job, Mate.

[@7H3541N7]

Don't knock one out in the bath. Staff just turns to glue and gums up any hair it comes in to contact with. You end up still finding gummed up patches of leg hair days later. The stuff just doesn't come off.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

If you say so…

[@Puzzu]

Damn other than Summoner Wars I found myself nodding along with everything your list, nice to have someone voice what I’ve been thinking about those other games lol. Insta subscribed after this. I will never get Dominant Feces out of my head now 😂

[@nicolebry1120]

Root was… an experience for me. I played the cats but my friend played the mouse, and my other friend was the vagabond. Too often the vagabond was fucking everyone and the mouse was recovering faster than anyone could account for. There was no killing them, and it was frustrating enough that I had to take a shot of tequila mid-game just to force myself to finish.

[@16Ezalb]

Summoner Wars 2e is my favourite game so I'm trying not to feel insulted 🤣🤣

[@ifnyou]

Even though I like a couple of these, I was laughing out loud. Great stuff!

[@danieldouglasclemens]

Eye opener and honest as f***!

[@JoshOBryan]

i don't agree with a lot of these, but I do appreciate your candor.

[@TyvanTV]

Holy shit this guy gets it. Damn I literally had 5 of these on my Why the fuck do people like this and how the fuck is it ranked so high list. I love this dude now.

[@waitingforvirtue3080]

I'm normally shouting from the back, no bath for me this evening. Fully with you on all of these.

[@kulman4295]

I love playing with those fucking birds, and so does my family

[@tridentcheckit2640]

summoner wars wasn't a reprint. its summoner wars 2, rule changes and dice do more dmg more often it seems

[@th3cha1rmak3r]

I think your body is ready for Oath, Pax Porfiriana and Dominant Species: Next Generation, sorry, Marine. I'm one 100% sure that you're gonna love them all.

[@jfmcdonald3ify]

Refreshing to here a bit of honesty on these hyped games

[@WriterMcWriteface]

Dude, Sleeping Gods is a giant book of ass where nothing you do matters because after 3 hours, or so, of making meaningless choices, you read a randomly selected ending and congratulate yourselves for burning an evening of your life.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

You’re probably right but I need to finish the thing…

[@fastpoose]

God yeah. Got it out twice so far. The writing is sooo bad, friggin fiddly and huge table hog... Cant face getting it out again...😢

[@dab0331]

​@@BoardGameBollocksYou seem pretty simple in the meat computing system if you hate Pax Pamir. You just don't know what the fuck you're doing. Of course you'll get double the points in the last round because that's the end of the war and you're playing for keeps. It causes you to have FORESIGHT (which you lack, I guess) and being able to set up your win in the THIRD round BEFORE the 4th. If Detective is hard for you, then that's precisely because you are simple in the meat computer, and you would never be a Detective in real life where you have no one to hold your simple minded hand. And Root has the best replay factor precisely because of the asymmetry. Yeah it's a huge learning curve and isn't the kind of game you whip out at a drinking party, but with a dedicated group of friends Root is the best game of all time. You're always trying to outsmart each other yet the asymmetry and slight luck factor of the dice cause you to never get to comfortable no matter how much more experienced you are.

[@shaneannigans]

Agree with your thoughts on Wingspan and Spirit Island. Can't argue with the others either.

[@tamasczikora9982]

Most entertaining video I have seen in a long time.

[@BrianHazardVideos]

You're a foul-mouthed Philistine! Subbed.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

😂

[@Fatpie42]

When you said your issue with Spirit Island (where people play in pretty similar ways but have slightly different capabilities and very different starting cards) was that the player rules are too different and take too long to explain, it was inevitable that Root would be on here too. I found Root a slog until a friend who was a big fan showed me the app. I played the hell out of the app and then wiped the floor with everyone on my next three games playing physical Root with other people. It wasn't a good feeling, honestly.

[@positronisomer206]

Bullet Tooth Tony reviews board games and I’m here for it

[@pausaqeno]

Thank God. I felt so lonely hating Wingspan...

[@vinceA3748]

I love this channel. LOL!!!

[@piefcake1]

Loved it, agree with the list completely. 7th Continent and Wingspan I couldn’t agree more!

[@ChrisHutton-b5u]

This was a breath of fresh air and a blast to watch.

[@drunken_physics]

nailed this list!!!!! YES!!!! just YES!!!! been my unpopular opinion for years its like these games are emprorers new cloths. i knew i liked your reviews but this list just turned you into a legend! thank you just thank you.

[@hewieedacat6375]

This was hilarious! Loved this. Can't believe I agreed with you on every game, thought it was just me!!!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Not just you, brother…

[@tobyr21]

I Own seventh continent. I have played dominant species. I have avoided root and spirit island, and I greatly enjoyed everything you had to say. Thanks.-Toby

[@rik0071]

Another brilliant, funny video! I've not played many of these games but agree about Spirit Island.

[@JasonD19736]

Why have I been watching Dice Tower videos all this time when I could have been watching this channel?

[@SootySmoke]

That was A+ diagnosis of Portal Games publishing strategy over past few years xD

[@jemwilli]

I agree with all your critiques surprised you didn't mention the tiny text on all the Pax Pamir cards though, that's what killed it for me probably doubles the game time.

[@qtherage7536]

I love this guy because I know whatever he hates on is a phenomenal game

[@SenseiDecay]

100% agree with root and wingspan. Both are great looking games that fall flat when you play them.