The Cardboard Court

Fellowship of Games

Welcome to The Cardboard Court, where board games stand trial. We review new releases, debate hot takes, and deliver final verdicts on the best games in tabletop gaming. From euro games to thematic adventures, every game gets its day in court.

Episodes

  1. Cardboard Court 007 The Buy-or-Pass Test | How We Decide Which Games Earn a Spot on Our Shelf 🎲

    1d ago

    Cardboard Court 007 The Buy-or-Pass Test | How We Decide Which Games Earn a Spot on Our Shelf 🎲

    How do you decide whether a board game is worth buying? In Episode 007 of Cardboard Court, we're pulling back the curtain on our personal decision-making process and discussing the factors that help us determine whether a game is an instant purchase, a "wait and see," or an easy pass. With thousands of new games released every year, no one can buy everything. We talk about the criteria we use to evaluate games before they ever hit our table, including theme, mechanics, player count, replayability, price, shelf space, reviews, and whether a game fills a unique role in our collection. In This Episode: 🎲 What catches our attention when a new game is announced 💰 How price and value influence our decisions 🔄 Replayability versus one-and-done experiences ⭐ How much weight we give reviews, ratings, and recommendations ✅ What turns a game into a must-buy We'll also share examples of games we bought immediately, games we regretted purchasing, and titles we were glad we skipped. Whether you're trying to build your first collection or refine an already overflowing game shelf, this episode offers insight into how we navigate the endless stream of board game releases and make purchasing decisions. How do you decide if a game deserves a place in your collection? Let us know and join the discussion! https://linktr.ee/fellowshipofgames YouTube @fellowshipofgames-sb25 TikTok @fellowship.of.gam Instagram fog.stickerb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578805919742 https://www.patreon.com/c/fellowshipofgames fellowshipofgames.com #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #FellowshipOfGames

    1 hr
  2. Cardboard Court 006 App-Driven Board Games | Innovation or Intrusion? 📱🎲

    Jun 21

    Cardboard Court 006 App-Driven Board Games | Innovation or Intrusion? 📱🎲

    In this Episode of Cardboard Court, we're diving into the world of app-driven board games and discussing whether digital companions enhance the tabletop experience—or get in the way of it. From immersive storytelling and automated game management to concerns about longevity, accessibility, and screen time at the table, we explore both the strengths and weaknesses of app-assisted gaming. We'll share our experiences with some of the hobby's most popular titles and discuss what works, what doesn't, and where we think this style of game design is headed. Games Discussed: 🎭 Mansions of Madness: Second Edition 💍 The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth 🏛️ My Father's Work 🕵️ Chronicles of Crime In This Episode: 📱 What makes a board game "app-driven" ✅ The benefits of companion apps 🎲 Enhanced storytelling and gameplay possibilities ⚠️ Concerns about app support and game longevity 👥 How apps affect the social tabletop experience 🏆 Our favorite and least favorite implementations Are app-driven games the future of tabletop gaming, or do they take away from what makes board games special? Join us as we make the case for both sides and share our thoughts from years of gaming experience. Let us know where you stand on app-assisted games and which titles you think get it right! https://linktr.ee/fellowshipofgames YouTube @fellowshipofgames-sb25 TikTok @fellowship.of.gam Instagram fog.stickerb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578805919742 https://www.patreon.com/c/fellowshipofgames fellowshipofgames.com #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #FellowshipOfGames #AppDriven

    48 min
  3. Cardboard Court 005 The End of Curse of Strahd | Our D&D Campaign Retrospective

    Jun 14

    Cardboard Court 005 The End of Curse of Strahd | Our D&D Campaign Retrospective

    After countless encounters, hard-fought battles, unexpected twists, and memorable roleplaying moments, our Curse of Strahd campaign has finally come to an end! In this episode of Cardboard Court, we look back on our journey through the dark and gothic land of Barovia. We'll discuss our favorite moments, biggest surprises, unforgettable characters, epic victories, devastating setbacks, and what it was like to bring this legendary Dungeons & Dragons campaign to its conclusion. Whether you've completed Curse of Strahd yourself, are currently adventuring through Barovia, or are simply interested in hearing about a long-running D&D campaign experience, join us as we reflect on the adventure and share the stories that made it memorable. In This Episode: 🎲 Our overall thoughts on the Curse of Strahd campaign 🦇 Favorite moments and memorable encounters ⚔️ Character highlights and party dynamics 🏰 The challenges of surviving Barovia 🎭 Lessons learned as players and storytellers 📜 What we're planning to play next Warning: This episode contains major spoilers for Curse of Strahd. Grab your favorite beverage, settle into your gaming chair, and join the court as we discuss one of D&D's most beloved adventures. https://linktr.ee/fellowshipofgames YouTube @fellowshipofgames-sb25 TikTok @fellowship.of.gam Instagram fog.stickerb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578805919742 https://www.patreon.com/c/fellowshipofgames fellowshipofgames.com #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #FellowshipOfGames #CurseofStrahd #D&D #DnD

    1 hr
  4. Cardboard Court 004 — Campaign vs Legacy Games 🎲 What’s the Difference?

    Jun 7

    Cardboard Court 004 — Campaign vs Legacy Games 🎲 What’s the Difference?

    🎙️ Welcome back to Cardboard Court — the podcast where we talk all things board games, tabletop gaming, and the experiences that keep us coming back to the table. In Episode 004, we’re diving into one of the biggest modern trends in tabletop gaming: Campaign Games vs Legacy Games. What’s the difference between the two? Why do some players absolutely LOVE permanent changes and evolving stories while others avoid them completely? And which style creates the better tabletop experience? From branching narratives and character progression to ripped cards, stickers, and permanent consequences, we break down what makes each style unique—and discuss the things we personally love and dislike about both. 🎲 In This Episode: What defines a Campaign game What makes a game “Legacy” Permanent changes vs replayability Storytelling and progression systems Our favorite mechanics from each style What frustrates us about both formats 👀 Which type we prefer for long-term gaming groups ⚔️ Topics We Discuss: Narrative immersion Replay value Resetability and game preservation Emotional investment in campaigns Group commitment challenges Why Legacy games changed the hobby 🎲 About Cardboard Court: Cardboard Court is a podcast dedicated to board games, tabletop culture, reviews, discussions, industry topics, and the stories that happen around the table. If it involves cardboard, dice, meeples, or game night debates… it belongs in the Court ⚖️ Do you prefer Campaign games or Legacy games? What’s your favorite game in either category? https://linktr.ee/fellowshipofgames YouTube @fellowshipofgames-sb25 TikTok @fellowship.of.gam Instagram fog.stickerb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578805919742 https://www.patreon.com/c/fellowshipofgames fellowshipofgames.com #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #FellowshipOfGames #CardboardCourt #LegacyGames #CampaignGames

    38 min
  5. Cardboard Court 003 Hotels, Hauls & Tabletop Chaos at BoardGame Geek Con Spring 2026

    May 27

    Cardboard Court 003 Hotels, Hauls & Tabletop Chaos at BoardGame Geek Con Spring 2026

    🎙️ Welcome back to Cardboard Court — the podcast where we talk all things board games, tabletop gaming, and the stories that happen around the table. In Episode 003, we’re sharing our full experience from BoardGameGeek Spring 2026! From travel planning and hotel experiences to nonstop gaming and unforgettable convention moments, we break down everything that made the convention such a blast. 🎲 We also talk about the pros and cons of the convention, what surprised us the most, and tips we learned that could help first-time attendees make the most of their trip. Whether you’re thinking about attending a board game convention someday or you’re already a convention veteran, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, advice, and plenty of tabletop excitement. In This Episode: Our travel experience getting to the convention Hotel tips and what we would do differently Favorite games we played during the event 🎲 The atmosphere and community experience Pros and cons of BoardGameGeek Spring 2026 Convention budgeting and planning tips Things first-time attendees should know Our funniest and most memorable moments 🎲 About Cardboard Court: Cardboard Court is a podcast dedicated to board games, tabletop culture, reviews, discussions, industry topics, and the stories that happen around the table. If it involves cardboard, dice, meeples, or game night debates… it belongs in the Court ⚖️ https://linktr.ee/fellowshipofgames YouTube @fellowshipofgames-sb25 TikTok @fellowship.of.gam Instagram fog.stickerb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578805919742 https://www.patreon.com/c/fellowshipofgames fellowshipofgames.com #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #FellowshipOfGames #CardboardCourt #BBGCon

    1h 27m

About

Welcome to The Cardboard Court, where board games stand trial. We review new releases, debate hot takes, and deliver final verdicts on the best games in tabletop gaming. From euro games to thematic adventures, every game gets its day in court.