Let's Talk Board Games #26 - 5 Quick Board Game Reviews

Subscribe for weekly videos!
Support us on Patreon! - / bypgames
Welcome to our Twenty Sixth episode of "Let's Talk Board Games," where we discuss and review several board games.
JUMP:
00:00 - Start
00:36 - The Castles of Burgundy Special Edition
05:43 - King of Monster Island
11:04 - Faraway
15:43 - Longboard
20:08 - Paper App Dungeon
The respective publishers sent us these as review copies
BGG Link - boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...
For more board game playthroughs and reviews, please subscribe!
For board gaming reviews, follow us on instagram - @beforeyouplay
BGG Link - boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...
Instagram: @beforeyouplay
Twitter: @beforeyouplay_
Facebook: beforeyouplay
Email: [e-mail]

[@michaelhall7080]

Totally agree with you guys on Castles of Burgundy. The hobby has gotten where everything needs to be upgraded and "larger" and I'm more of the school of thought that simpler is better. I would love to have the expansion content in the format that was compatible with the original version (or at least a more accessible version) but alas that will probably never happen.

[@SmithDesignLab]

I’m weird, I actually enjoy game setup and tear down, lol, I love getting everything organized and ready to play.

[@BeforeYouPlay]

Haha we need you in our game group!

[@scrumptiousborger21]

same hehe

[@VoidVerification]

Castles of Burgundy: I would usually agree with Naveen on preferring smaller box sizes and not being much into minis. Those are the reasons I didn't back the original campaign. I am however considering to back the reprint after all, because I love the new art design, and all the quality of life improvements this version brings. Especially the short explainer text on the back of each cardboard tile; I hate having to look up each and every tile's effect in the rulebook.

[@Atlasfilms08]

I really wish there was something halfway between the Awaken Realms version and the retail version. Like keep the upgraded art, expansions, cardboard bits, metal coins, wooden tokens and bags then ditch everything else and throw it in a box half the size. The fact that there are 4 copies of every single map is just silly.

[@karstenszajner6043]

Well it is a 4 player game...

[@KyussTheWalkingWorm]

CoB is one of the more popular eurogames for competitive play and for that you need everyone to have the same map.

[@jonathancheung8545]

I CAN confirm that King of Monster Island is great for families. My nieces and nephews love King of Tokyo and King of New York, I’m not crazy about them because of the luck aspect. But we all love King of Monster Island - it provides the same gameplay of the other games but with more planning involved.

[@corynardin]

I love the mechanism of using the pencil as a d6.

[@szassegamestabletop]

Once again great overview!

[@jenniferschlickbernd6280]

We played Faraway twice at SoCal Games Day last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of thinking in a short amount of time

[@karstenszajner6043]

Great video as always! I would encourage those that are interested in the Special edition of CoB not to be dissuaded by the "big box = daunting set up" comments. For the base game set up takes probably 5 minutes? Everything is super organized, bagged, and ready to go. This edition has player aids that cover every single tiles abilities makes this easily the nost accessible version for newer players. I would very much encourage only getting the most basic pledge though. You get the benefits of the new art, double layered boards, every single expansion for the game, an amazingly designed solo mode and the new vineyard board which is triple layered all for a steal of a price ( i belive it was $89 in the first print run).

[@Copterman]

You don't recommend the acrylic tiles?

[@karstenszajner6043]

@@Copterman If you're playing the game very frequently and it's one of your favorite games, go for it. I'm sure they are really nice! However, the cardboard ones work just fine and everything about the game is so upgraded I'm sure you won't miss not having them. It never crosses my mind to get them now that I have the game.

[@tombeullens4914]

Totally agree... It's one of my favorite games and than it's worth to get the special edition. The castle miniatures are not necessary for me, neither the acrylic tiles. As said the setup is really easy now... The only thing is the box size but this game deserves it

[@AndreasBolor]

Faraway is my favourite small game, i ordered the french version since it isnt available in Germany yet. Good to see you like it. I played it a lot with 2 players on bga, its a bit luck dependant if you understood the basics but a great game at all player counts.

[@kaboodledoodledoo]

I got the Castle of Burgundy Special Edition as soon as it was made available in SEA, and I agree with the finicky nature of the miniatures. I was even on the fence about whether or not to get the extra pack with the minis for all the hexes, but now I'd never go for it. I'd still consider the acrylic tiles and hexes though.

[@shaeduane]

I played faraway on BGA after they talked about it and loved it so much that I just purchased it. Such a great strategic game yet so simple in its rules and design.

[@BeforeYouPlay]

Great to hear! So happy you were able to try it out!!

[@xandermichael78]

I love these videos. I completely agree about Castles of Burgundy. I'm not interested in the miniatures that much, especially after hearing from Amy and Maggie (Thinker Themer) about the time it takes to swap things out and purely for an aesthetic purpose. I didn't back the original, but since then Castles of Burgundy has shot up to my most played game in my collection (that isn't a roll and write/filler) and so I took the plunge and backed it for everything except the minis. Faraway looks really interesting to me. Glad to hear you liked it and that there's a version on BGA for me to go try. Headed there now!

[@Flip5ide]

I have Faraway and it literally burns my brain, i haven't won a game yet but i enjoy playing it thats for sure.

[@jamesmorgan1967]

OK, this is a weird coincidence. I just clicked on a video last night about Paper App Dungeon and here you are tlaking about it today. Hmm.... board game synchronicity! I've been curious about the game of Faraway for a while. Will you guys be doing a playthrough on the channel? Had forgotten it was on BGA and will definitely check it out there!

[@ericyeung5296]

Thanks for the review as always. Can’t wait for more play through and review. You guys are the best in doing them. I agree about the big box especially when you can the game on bga 😅 I know what you mean I got the big box and love it but the set up is limits us from playing it…… is kind of the same with games like scythe, and ark nova. Digital version makes set up easier, scoring, and even remembering game rules. It does takes away from the in person game experience. Trade off. 😂

[@Zym1l]

I enjoy some dungeon crawler games that has tons of miniatures. I did not mind the setup. You expect long setups from those games. But not Burgundy. My wife and I logged over 100 games of Everdell in 2 years and decided to get the big box. It only gets played twice last year. I almost sold the big box and I got the idea of moving them into the smaller box. Then it gets played more often. Now I just need to figure out how to pack my burgundy into smaller package.

[@jogumby]

I'm with Navid as well on Castles of Burgundy. The special edition is beautiful but I think the original is much more functional. Give me function over looks any day! I would like the acrylic tiles but I don't think I'd ever use the minis.

[@pedrocustodio623]

Just a point, I consider my self a hardcore gamer and I do prefer this castle of burgundy. A hardcore gamer might also like deluxe version of older games, and sometimes it makes it easier to play. Just because you are a hardcore gamer you don't have to be OK with a game being a plane board and some colour cubes. And I don't think it has such a higher setting up time compared to the old (I only play with the castles miniatures).

[@flagg5806]

Because it's mostly hardcore gamers who back up all these fancy deluxe editions. It's not a casual gamer who is willing to spend over a hundred euro/bucks on a game they can get for less than 30-40. Casual gamer dont care about acrylic tiles, miniatures, deluxe components. They usually don't even follow Kickstarter campaigns. They get their games from retails. And just to clarify. I have nothing against Kickstarter or deluxe edition. If u can afford them - good for You and go for it. At the end of the day, only thing that matters is if it makes u happy. If it does, than it's all good

[@JoeTheGons]

I just pledged the new re-print of Castles of Burgundy. Will I take it to my new game group meet-ups... YES! Setup times do not bother us; everyone helps out and we just talk and admire the craftsmanship. It just depends on the players. I would love Paper App Dungeon on my phone- next step?

[@thomasjames8277]

I regret getting the giant CoB box...I never want to take it out even though I like the game a lot

[@ImaginEric]

I had to get the Castles of Burgundy Special Edition since it is my #1 game. I don’t find setup to be too much longer than my previous version. I keep the hex tiles in their matching bags, and don’t have the 3D terrain tiles. I did just pledge for the acrylic hex tiles and tokens though. While I do agree with Naveen that the older versions are fine with me, I find this version is a better introduction to those new to the game and newer gamers.

[@jenniferboerner5657]

I keep eyeballing the Castles of Burgundy Special Edition, but i just dont know if i have the *space* for all that (not to mention the money for what would essentially be a solo game, since my husband wouldn't play it).

[@hadzhere]

20:10 i think i'll wait for the android app version of this. :D

[@xxzenn01xx9]

Im the latter. I love the immersion and deluxifucation of board games and big boxes if its a title i know i like

[@dackjaniel]

Nice t-shirt, Monique! :D

[@BeforeYouPlay]

Thanks! 😄

[@kaerufamily2958]

YOASOBI Shirt!!

[@BeforeYouPlay]

One of Monique’s favorite bands!

[@linecroft1322]

When I saw Paper App Dungeon, I immediately saw that it would not be a left-handed friendly game. 😢 I have never been able to write in a notebook with a spiral binder.

[@BeforeYouPlay]

Fortunately it flips north/south not east/west.

[@corynardin]

I have seen far away on bga and I think I would like it but it just seems a little bit too complex to jump into.

[@tomlikeabomb6706]

I’m debating getting the castles of burgundy acrylic hex tiles. Do you guys have thoughts on them?

[@Flip5ide]

I have them, they are very nice, make sure if you do get them to get the Hexes and the tokens.

[@tomlikeabomb6706]

@@Flip5ide I was just going to get the hexes. I’m not sure the benefit of the acrylic tokens over the regular ones.

[@Flip5ide]

@@tomlikeabomb6706 I would say the amount of handling the worker get they are worth it, also it means everything you touch is acrylic or wooden.

[@karstenszajner6043]

Regular ones work just fine, save the money for another game 😊.

[@daem0nfaust]

I'm...lukewarm to Faraway. I probably need to play it a few more times, but in the one time I played it, I felt a lack of control. Also, at what point did I just got used to Monique not wearing glasses? Didn't you wear glasses not very long ago?

[@RedBird77]

i’m tracking how long her waves last. 😎

[@lydiasomnous9269]

Can you add Harmonies to the review list? :)

[@BeforeYouPlay]

We don’t have a copy unfortunately 😔.

[@DamonHart]

Castles of Burgundy is great

[@phamhuy9914]

voice not loud enough to hear

[@BeforeYouPlay]

Maybe a speaker issue on your end? We don’t seem to have any trouble with playback on a few devices we tested on.