Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast

Kenny Katayama & Tom Bowers
  • 5.0 (9)
  • GAMES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A podcast celebrating board games that have stood the test of time. https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

  1. 3H AGO

    #80 IP in Games

    Still waiting for the 18 card microgame from Button Shy where you get to milk the alien while Rey watches uncomfortably.   Games we played: 3:37 - PitchCar (1995, Jean du Poël, Ferti) 7:25 - Kobayakawa (2013, Jun Sasaki, Oink) 12:25 - Android Netrunner (2012 og1996, Richard Garfield & Lukas Litzsinger, FFG) 25:04 - Radlands (2021, Daniel Piechnik, Roxley)   100 games before you die: 32:36 - The Castles of Burgundy (2011, Stefan Feld, alea) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 38:59 - IP in games   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 14m

  2. 6D AGO

    #79 Date Night Game Night

    Don't listen to this one in a public setting, it might just make you blush... from all the anger you're experiencing at our incapacity to produce a successful date. It's telling that we're so capable of making dates uncomfortable but can't make a good one happen even when we sit down and brainstorm for half an hour.   Hot Dr Pepper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIRnM6s4GNo   Games we played: 3:15 - City of the Big Shoulders (2019, Raymond Chandler III, Parallel) 7:41 - Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (2018, Dave Campbell II, Dolphin Hat) 14:05 - Lords of Vegas (2010, James Ernest & Mike Selinker, Mayfair) 18:10 - Balderdash (1984, Laura Robinson & Paul Toyne, Mattel)   100 games before you die: 23:25 - The 7th Continent (2017, Ludovic Roudy, Serious Poulp) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 27:00 - Date Night Game Night   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 4m

  3. FEB 3

    #78 Chess & Other Games

    What if I told you there were more games than just Tiddlywinks and hitting a ball with a stick? Today we explore the wild world of board gaming or "tabletop gaming" as some people "in the hobby" call it. It turns out that board games have gotten pretty interesting and complicated since we were kids. Move over dice and spinners and say hello to Death Note moments and piss cubes. There's a new sheriff in town and their name is Food Chain Magnate!   4:19 - Some News: Upper Deck Harry Potter IP, help out and stay posted with Block Collective https://bsky.app/profile/blockcollectives.bsky.social/post/3mcmvptpv4c2h BGG Hall of Fame adds Puerto Rico and Terraforming Mars, 3MBG person-focused Hall of Fame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMtH7370xQ Sam Healey statements and Dice Tower lack of response https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2026/01/30/veteran-dice-tower-reviewer-sam-healey-resigns-in-wake-of-saying-alex-pretti-renee-good-to-blame-for-ice-killing-them-after-comments-began-impacting-review-giants-annual-pledge-drive/   Games we played: 13:02 - Welcome To... (2018, Benoit Turpin, Blue Cocker) 18:48 - Dungeon Fighter (2011, Aureliano Buonfino & Lorenzo Silva & Lorenzo Tucci Sorrentino, Iello) 23:06 - Great Plains (2021, Trevor Benjamin & Brett J. Gilbert, Lookout) 26:08 - Unsettled (2021, Tom Mattson & Marc Neidlinger, Orange Nebula)   100 games before you die: 33:42 - Blood Rage (2015, Eric M Lang, CMON) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 36:56 - Chess & Other Games   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 3m

  4. JAN 27

    #77 The Monopoly Killer Showdown

    I don't think you're going to like how the bracket goes. Not one bit. But hey, it's Shelf Stable. We're all about antagonizing our lovely, lovely audience. If you got new holes in your walls, new hair off your head, new ulcers in your tummy... you're welcome.   Games we played: 2:23 - Bohnanza (1997, Uwe Rosenberg, Rio Grande) 7:50 - Magical Athlete (2003 & 2025, Takashi Ishida & Richard Garfield, CMYK) 11:53 - Faiyum (2020, Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele) 15:39 - Riichi Mahjong (1920, Uncredited, Public Domain)   100 games before you die: 23:34 - Five Tribes The Djinns of Naqala (2014, Bruno Cathala, Days of Wonder) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 27:59 - The Monopoly Killer Showdown The Final Bracket [SPOILERS] https://challonge.com/wridaixb   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    57 min

  5. JAN 20

    #76 Characteristics of Games Pt. 3

    We continue our observation of tall serious character and short crazy character in the third part of our study. Short character most definitely thinks everyone should embrace the rolling teach while tall character implores short character to have some empathy. The female spider then consume's the male's head to sustain her body during the birthing of the many thousands of offspring.   Games we played: 7:49 - Botswana aka Wildlife Safari (1994, Reiner Knizia, 25th Century) Kenny's question about eating board game pieces https://podcastaddict.com/but-why-vikings/episode/214541461 13:16 - Cross Clues (2020, Gregory Grard, Blue Orange) 17:19 - The Bottle Imp (1995, Günter Cornett, Matagot) 22:03 - Hearts (1850, Uncredited, Public Domain)   100 games before you die: 26:16 - Wabash Cannonball aka Chicago Express (2007, John Bohrer, Winsome) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 30:09 - Characteristics of Games Pt. 3 (chapters 3-5) Characteristics of Games (2012, George Skaff Elias & Richard Garfield & K. Robert Gutschera, MIT Press) https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542692/characteristics-of-games   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 3m

  6. JAN 13

    #75 Crunchy

    Not like that! We got another one. What is it with kids these days chowing down on Azul pieces? When we said crunch, we meant the brain ya dingus! Use your noggin and crunch what we're spitting, metaphorically. And please, don't make us have to call another ambulance. Castle Pandemic has enough patients as it is.   Games we played: 2:51 - The Estates (2018, Klaus Zoch, Capstone) 7:40 - Cat in the Box (2020, Muneyuki Yokouchi, Bezier Games og Ayatsurare Ningyoukan) 11:55 - Bargain Hunter (1998, Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games) 16:13 - Castle Panic (2009, Justin De Witt, Fireside Games)   100 games before you die: 19:46 - Innovation (2010, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 24:44 - Crunchy   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    47 min

  7. JAN 6

    #74 Resolution Wars the Pantry Strikes Back

    December 31, 2026. Tom has the build of that one doge meme. Regular body. Swollen, muscular arms. Kenny qualifies every board game comment by stating the number of plays and that he needs to play it more. Neither has purchased a game in two years. They don't even play board games anymore. They just talk about gooning to Twilight Imperium videos.   Games we played: 4:15 - Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition (2017, Dane Beltrami & Corey Konieczka & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight) 12:06 - Toddles-Bobbles (2010, Alena Lebedeva, Simple Rules) 14:42 - Fine Sand (2018, Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele) 17:11 - LLAMA (2019, Reiner Knizia, AMIGO)   100 games before you die: 20:32 - Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated (2019, Andy Clautice & Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf) https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100   Topic: 24:32 - Resolutions Tom's 2026 resolution bingo https://imgur.com/a/3EE56xE 48:38 - The Pantry https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/350266/shelf-stable-the-pantry The Pantry is always accesible from the Shelf Stable website in the "About" section. The "About" also includes a searchable list of all the "games we played" segments with episode numbers, an FAQ covering our editorial policy, and a glossary of our most scuffed bits. https://shelfstablecast.com/about   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 3m

  8. 12/30/2025

    #73 Year in Review v25

    It feels good to move these old bones. Let us rejoice by consuming and expelling media in the only way we know how: listicles. Listicles everywhere. Spilling the final blood of a year that we are ready to kick into the past like a horse that does not wish to be ridden.   Year In Review v25 7:22 - Top games we played 18:35 - Bottom games we played 22:08 - Unexpected and got rid of 32:25 - Lookback at 2020 49:33 - Outside the scope 55:13 - Predictions 2025   Songs: 100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

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A podcast celebrating board games that have stood the test of time. https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

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