Current Plays

Current Plays
  • 3.0 (1)
  • GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join hosts Jordan and Thomas for weekly board game discussions, playthrough impressions, and tabletop gaming banter. Each episode dives into a modern board game we played that week: strategy games, euro games, and card-driven favourites, exploring mechanics, components, and overall gameplay experience as we review our current plays. Whether you’re a hobby gamer or deep into the tabletop scene, tune in for honest insights, humour, and recommendations. Find all our info at currentplayspodcast.wixsite.com/currentplays

  1. S3E25 - The White Castle

    4H AGO

    S3E25 - The White Castle

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas step through the gates of The White Castle by Isra C. and Shei S., a sharp and elegant euro set in feudal Japan. Beneath its serene exterior lies a game of razor-focused decision making, where every die placement matters and every action feels consequential. The hosts talk about how the streamlined design delivers big strategic choices in a surprisingly quick play time, proving that depth doesn’t require a sprawling footprint. With its tightly interwoven systems, spot-on theme, and beautiful artwork that brings Himeji Castle to life, The White Castle is a compact masterclass in thoughtful euro design.

    38 min
  2. S3E24 - Ark Nova

    FEB 13

    S3E24 - Ark Nova

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas head to the zoo with Ark Nova, the heavyweight strategy title currently ranked #2 on BoardGameGeek. Tasked with building the most successful modern zoo, the hosts dive into a design packed with clever decisions, long-term planning, and a steady stream of satisfying combos. They chat about the game’s standout action-selection system, where timing and card strength shape every turn and the unique scoring track that keeps progress dynamic from start to finish. With deep strategy, meaningful choices, and plenty of room for clever plays, Ark Nova delivers a rich, engaging experience that shows exactly why it continues to sit near the very top of the hobby.

    39 min
  3. S3E23 - Ezra and Nehemiah

    FEB 9

    S3E23 - Ezra and Nehemiah

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas travel to ancient Jerusalem with Ezra and Nehemiah, a game of rebuilding, restoration, and carefully chosen actions. From the first turn, the engaging action-selection system takes centre stage, with three shared action areas that interlock in satisfying ways and reward thoughtful timing. Watching those spaces fill, shift, and interact gives the whole game a sense of momentum, much like a city slowly rising back to life. They talk about how much they enjoy the way the mechanisms support one another, creating a steady rhythm of planning, adapting, and finding just the right moment to act. As always with Garphill Games, the theme is deeply integrated and ultimately a strong foundation for a genuinely great game. It’s a measured, engaging experience where every decision helps shape the rebuilding effort and the journey is just as rewarding as the result.

    38 min
  4. S3E22 - The Old King's Crown

    JAN 30

    S3E22 - The Old King's Crown

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas kneel before the throne of The Old King’s Crown—and emerge utterly enchanted. What begins as a simple, elegant contest for power quickly reveals itself as a masterclass in subtle manipulation, clever timing, and razor-fine positioning. Every move feels like courtly intrigue: a quiet nudge here, a delicate shift there, and suddenly the entire kingdom tilts in your favour. The hosts gush over how effortlessly the game delivers depth without complexity, rewarding players who can read the board like a royal decree and twist it just enough to claim victory. The design is packed with smart choices and satisfying little moments that make it genuinely hard to believe this is Pablo Clark’s first published game. And then there’s the artwork, which is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s the kind of visual splendour that makes the table feel like a storybook kingdom come to life, where every card and component looks worthy of the crown itself. In short: The Old King’s Crown is a jewel-box of a game; deceptively simple, endlessly clever, and fit for royalty.

    43 min
  5. S3E21 - Creature Caravan

    JAN 26

    S3E21 - Creature Caravan

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas set out on a gentle journey with Creature Caravan by Ryan Laukat and Red Raven Games. It’s a relaxed, mid-weight adventure where clever planning and quiet efficiency guide your caravan across a beautifully illustrated world brought to life by Laukat’s signature artwork. They chat about why this one feels so comfortable at the table: a smooth multiplayer solitaire experience, thoughtful decisions without pressure, and gameplay that feels fresh while still easy to settle into. Creature Caravan is the kind of game that invites you to slow down, enjoy the journey, and appreciate the charm along the way—and that made it a delight to explore together.

    38 min
  6. S3E20 - On Mars

    JAN 9

    S3E20 - On Mars

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas touch down on the red planet with On Mars by Vital Lacerda—a monumental design where every system, resource, and decision is shared, intertwined, and fiercely consequential. From the moment boots hit Martian soil, the game demands careful timing, long-term vision, and a deep awareness of what everyone else at the table is building toward. The hosts dive into how On Mars weaves its many systems into a single, living ecosystem: incentives shift, priorities evolve, and no action exists in isolation. Progress on Mars is communal, but success is personal, creating a competitive landscape that feels both collaborative and relentlessly strategic. It’s a game of planning, adaptation, and precision, and one that rewards patience, foresight, and mastery. For Jordan and Thomas, this wasn’t just a great play, it was a discovery of why On Mars stands among the very best in modern board game design.

    39 min
  7. S3E19 - War Story: Occupied France

    JAN 2

    S3E19 - War Story: Occupied France

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas step into the opening mission of War Story: Occupied France, a story-driven experience set in a world of uncertainty, difficult choices, and scarce resources. From the very first decisions, the game asks players to act with incomplete information, weighing risk and consequence in ways that feel both tense and meaningful. They discuss how the branching decision system drives the narrative forward, why every resource feels precious, and how even the combat leans into that same choice-driven design. Encounters unfold through smart decision trees that keep the action engaging and surprisingly exciting. It’s a thoughtful, immersive take on storytelling games—one that left a strong first impression after just a single mission.

    38 min
  8. S3E18 - Architects of the West Kingdom

    JAN 2

    S3E18 - Architects of the West Kingdom

    This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas revisit Architects of the West Kingdom, returning to one of Garphill Games’ most approachable takes on worker placement. With a mitt-full of workers in hand right from the start, the game flips the usual scarcity on its head, encouraging bold plays, clever timing, and plenty of interaction at the table. Revisiting it several years later, the hosts reflect on how the game now feels lighter than they remember—still strategic and satisfying, but firmly in the realm of classic worker placement. That said, the familiar Garphill charm shines through, delivering a design that’s clean, engaging, and consistently fun. Sometimes it’s nice to return to the foundations and appreciate just how well they were built.

    39 min
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Join hosts Jordan and Thomas for weekly board game discussions, playthrough impressions, and tabletop gaming banter. Each episode dives into a modern board game we played that week: strategy games, euro games, and card-driven favourites, exploring mechanics, components, and overall gameplay experience as we review our current plays. Whether you’re a hobby gamer or deep into the tabletop scene, tune in for honest insights, humour, and recommendations. Find all our info at currentplayspodcast.wixsite.com/currentplays

Information

  • Creator
    Current Plays
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Current Plays
  • Show Website
    Current Plays