Decision Space

To preface: I don’t like podcasts. But people suggesting podcasts never wanted to hear that. They were SO SURE I’m the type of person who should enjoy this media, or a specific podcast would be THE ONE™️. For 15 years I’ve tried this, that, & the other; but no matter how interesting the topic or talented the caster/s, the spoken word soon devolved to Charlie Brown teacher talk in my ears. I am writing this review because Decision Space podcast is THE ONE™️. Start at the beginning with Jake and Brendan’s What We Talk About episodes and you will be ENTHRALLED with the topics they explore the terms they define. Now take this shared language and jump into their game deep dives because you will find yourself ENRAPTURED with the conversations. Soon you’ll be considering the points they make and evaluating your preferences across many aspects of gameplay. Listening to Decision Space will level up your engagement with board games mentally and emotionally, and it’s darn tooting entertaining. Heartfelt thanks to the creators Jake & Brendan for the time they dedicated to enrich this hobby. Special shout out to the new hosts Paul & Pete who are already proliferating the unique voice of the show while still exemplifying the lovingly curated spirit of Decision Space. The Discord is hopping, the YouTube uploads are fantastic, and there are years of weekly episodes ready to turn anyone who loves games into a Decision Space fan. 10/10 you’ll listen again and again.

I never review anything. That’s how much I enjoy this show. Decision Space is doing something different than any other board game podcast I have listened to. They’re thoughtful and entertaining, and digging into the truly fascinating aspects of game playing and game design. Passing on this show would be like going to sleep early on July 21, 1969.

Thank you Jake and Brendan for sharing your thoughts and knowledge about board games through Decision Space. I am about 3 years into my own game design journey and I credit your podcast as one that has helped me become better at communicating with other designers and gamers about the craft. I just spent much of my past weekend in the Unpub Room at BGG Con where I playtested several designer’s games. I was able to clarify my feedback more effectively because of the terms and concepts I learned as a DS listener. For those same reason I was also able to explain my own prototype better. Until a month ago I had not heard the term sweet spot mechanic but that was the perfect descriptor for the betting mechanic in my latest game design. If I had more time I would relisten to all the past episodes in order to identify DS vocabulary words for the purpose of compiling them into a Decision Space lexicon spreadsheet. Perhaps this list already exists? If so, it would be a valuable resource to share with others who are interested in deepening their knowledge. I look forward to listening to the next few hundred Decision Space episodes and to the vocabulary words and concepts I will learn from you both about board games. Cheers, Heather

You’re listening to this podcast on your commute. You pull into your parking space. You should make dinner. You should greet your family. You should change into some PJs. You have lots of ‘you shoulds,’ but you stay in your vehicle, listening. That’s the NPR effect and Decision Space has me full on addicted, NPR-effecting every time Iisten. Decision Space features dynamic and well-spoken hosts who aren’t merely game enthusiasts — though their enthusiasm for games shines in the podcast — they are players who understand games from the perspective of a game’s mechanisms, as designers themselves, and as highly analytical players who don’t simply analyze their next turn, but the game itself. Decision Space has many different episode types, which mixes things up nicely. Some of my favorites are the art awards, designer features, and single game deep dives. I listened to both their Feld feature episode and their Bonfire episode after acquiring Bonfire. (I even re-listened to the Bonfire episode after playing it!) The episodes got me hyped up to play the game, but also helped me to feel like I was connecting with others through a shared experience of this game — since Brendan and I both ‘broke’ the game by running out of actions before the game ended. I love that Jake and Brendan are not afraid to disagree with each other, nor are they bullheaded know-it-alls; each of them are open to revising their claims throughout their discussion in light of new information and points of view. They have the minds and attitudes of philosophers. Their intellectual stature might suggest they are ‘untouchables’ of the gaming community, but after joining their off-pod discussion group, I was welcomed warmly by Jake himself. All that’s left is to coin a new phrase for endlessly analyzing every nuanced aspect of board games: The Decision Space Effect.