Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples

Michael & Suzanne Teske
  • 3.7 (3)
  • GAMES

Looking for tabletop game to play with your spouse that’s both fun and won’t wind up with one of you sleeping on the couch? Join Michael and Suzy as they discover new games each week, while tasting a new wine, beer or spirit!

  1. MAR 9

    Noxford and Clad & Cordon Cab Sauv

    We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you! This time around, we’re tasting the Clad & Cordon Cab Sauv from Clad & Cordon Winery (check them out at https://www.cladandcordon.com/). It’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon hailing from Creal Springs, IL, near Marion and the Shawnee area. Expect flavors like blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, and cassis, with maybe some green bell pepper or mint vibes, plus oak notes of vanilla, cedar, or tobacco. Illinois’ cooler climate gives it brighter acidity and less ripe fruit than your typical California Cab. Fun fact: We tried their Blueberry wine back in the Hive episode—peep that at https://www.meeplesandwine.fun/hive. Now, onto the game: Noxford (2016), a sneaky little title you can scope out on BoardGameGeek at https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206448/noxford. It’s all about leading a crime syndicate in a steampunk city that’s always building itself up. You place cards to control rich districts using area majority, hand management, and tile placement mechanics. Designed by Henri Kermarrec (known for stuff like Ekö and Penny Papers Adventures—his BGG page is https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/10777/henri-kermarrec), with art by Maud Chalmel (she did Take Time too, check https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameartist/83279/maud-chalmel). Published by Capsicum Games and Quick Simple Fun Games, it plays 2-4 people, rates a 6.1/10 on BGG with low complexity (1.77/5). Setup’s straightforward: Each player gets 10 Syndicate cards (Master at rank 4, Lieutenants at 3, etc.), lay your Master face-up, shuffle and draw 3. Neutral deck has Rich Districts and Barracks. Start with two cards in the center, L-shaped. On your turn, either place a card adjacent to at least two others (corners aligned, no overhangs) or cover a lower-rank Syndicate with a higher one. Masters count double for control, and gear icons let you relocate cards. Game ends when the last Syndicate’s played—Barracks flip touching Syndicates, then score districts based on majority (1 VP per symbol +2 bonus for your fave). Ties? Nobody wins that district. Most VPs takes it, or most districts in a tie. It’s simple, spatial, and a bit cutthroat—perfect for a quick session! No expansions for this one. Playing with two? We both gave it a fun score of 6/10—solid but not mind-blowing. On the relationship wrecker scale (couch score 1-5), Michael says 1 (chill), Suzy says 2 (a tad sneaky). Learning curve? Time sink 1—easy, just one or two games to get it, no need for endless YouTube tutorials. Wrapping up with our Last Call, we spotlight cool Kickstarter games! This episode, it’s Botany: Floral Dragons at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/duxsomnium/botany-floral-dragons. Learn how to play via https://youtu.be/N0uncjp38Dc. Shoutout to artist Kin Wald for those awesome illustrations and linocuts—visit https://www.kintheartist.com/ and https://www.kintheartist.com/character-design. Tiers include: Botany Floral Dragons at $49: Standard Edition + Bountiful Blossoms Mini Expansion Botany Floral Dragons & Expansions at $85: Standard + Fantastic Festival Exp + Furious Fungus Exp + Bountiful Blossoms Mini Botany Floral Dragons Jewelry Box at $199: Jewelry Box Edition + Bountiful Blossoms Gilded Mini Botany Floral Dragons Devotee at $329: Jewelry Box + Gilded Exps/Mini + Little Botany + Puzzles Botany Floral Dragons Grand Expedition at $599: All the above + full original Botany ecosystem If you dig the show, share it with a friend! Next up: Print & Play games. Catch you next time on Meeples and Wine—buh-bye!

    44 min

  2. FEB 21

    Book of Dungeon and 93 Octane German Chocolate Cake Cream Ale

    Hey folks, it’s Michael here from Meeples & Wine, your go-to podcast for board game reviews for couples, where we dive into fun tabletop adventures with a tasty drink in hand! If you’re into solo board games, fantasy puzzle books, or just chilling with some craft beer pairings, this episode is for you. I’m cracking open a brew and exploring the epic “Book of Dungeon” – think dungeon crawling, monster slaying, and treasure hunting all in one handy book. Perfect for board game enthusiasts looking for easy-to-learn solo games or couple-friendly activities that won’t wreck the vibe. (*BTW, Suzy is out this episode due to health issues, she’ll be back!) We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you! Now, onto the drink of the day: We’re tasting the Clown Car – German Chocolate Cake from 93 Octane Brewery in Elmhurst, IL. This cream ale with a German Chocolate Cake twist brings all the sweetness, creamy mouthfeel, and hints of chocolate and coconut. Shifting to the main event: What game are we playing? It’s “Book of Dungeon,” the puzzle book “spin-off” from the popular “Bag of Dungeon” board game. Rated 8.3/10 on BoardGameGeek, this solo fantasy adventure is all about drawing your path through 100 deadly dungeons. Slay monsters, dodge traps, and hunt for treasure – all you need is a pencil, dice, and some courage! Designed by Russ Law, Tim Sharville, and Paul Sharville, with art by Tim Sharville, and published by Gunpowder Studios. It’s a drawing game with grid movement mechanics, perfect for solo gamers or couples dipping into quick tabletop sessions. How to play? Roll up your character from 11 fantasy types like elves, wizards, dwarves, ogres, fairies, minotaurs, halflings, and more. Assign stats and a special ability from a simple chart, then dive into the dungeons. Roll dice to lay paths, draw them out, face monsters or traps, grab items, and quest for the Ring before battling the Red Dragon at the exit. Every dungeon is a self-contained puzzle – survive, make brave choices, and escape with your life! No expansions listed yet, but this one’s got replayability for days in the solo board game category. We chat about how it plays with two players (spoiler: it’s mainly solo, but we adapt for couples), our fun scores (on a 1-10 scale – mine’s TBD, Suzy’s too), and the couch score for relationship wrecking potential (1-5, low drama here). Learning the rules? It’s a time sink of 1 – no problem after one or two games, no need for endless YouTube tutorials. Wrapping up with the Final Sip: How’s the wine (er, beer) evolved since opening? And our Last Call: We scout Kickstarter and Gamefound for the coolest upcoming games, like “Fighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain” from Ulisses Spiele. Board game crowdfunding fans, check these out for more fantasy adventure goodness! If you dig our board game reviews for couples, beer tastings, and solo game spotlights, share the show with a friend. See you next time on Meeples & Wine – Buh-Bye! Book of Dungeon on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/458915/book-of-dungeon Russ Law on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/122662/russ-law Tim Sharville on BoardGameGeek (Designer): https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/110449/tim-sharville Paul Sharville on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/150725/paul-sharville Gunpowder Studios: https://www.gunpowderstudios.co.uk Fighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/ulisses-spiele/ffq_warlock Ulisses Spiele on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/creators/ulisses-spiele

    30 min

  3. JAN 25

    Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay

    Here are the show notes for the episode Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay from Meeples & Wine—your podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand! Hosts: Michael & Suzy Wine We’re Tasting Today: Freakshow Chardonnay 2024 by Michael David Winery Location: Lodi Appellation Profile: Golden straw color with aromas of apricot, citrus, and herbaceous notes. Flavors of Asian pear, honeydew, and juicy peach pie, finished with a lasting oak-inspired touch. Details: 50% aged in new French oak for 4 months, 50% stainless steel (no oak), 99% malolactic fermentation (softens that tart malic acid into smoother lactic acid). Pairings ideas: Buttery dishes, rich cream pastas, broiled fish with butter, steak with garlic butter, buttered rolls. Winery site: https://michaeldavidwinery.com/ Game We’re Playing: Bosworth (1998) A chaotic 2-4 player chess variant where pieces are cards drawn randomly from your personal pile. Same classic chess pieces (pawns, knights, rooks, bishops, queen, king), but with twists: pawns move/capture sideways too, kings can capture their own pieces to escape check, and it’s all about multiplayer mayhem on a 6×6 board with blocked corners and face-down covers. Goal? Checkmate everyone else’s kings—last king standing wins! BGG page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/645/bosworth Designer: Mark Alan Osterhaus (also Apples to Apples, Shipwrecked) Artist: John Kovalic (Munchkin, Cash ‘n Guns, etc.) Publisher: Out of the Box Publishing (defunct since 2015) Rating: 5.8/10 | Weight: 2.1/5 | Players: 2-4 Historical nod: Named after the Battle of Bosworth Field — https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Bosworth-Field How It Plays with Two Players & Our Takes Super fun with two—keeps the random draws and tension without too much ganging up. Fun Score (1-10): Michael: 8 | Suzy: 7 Couch Score (will it wreck the relationship? 1-5): Michael: 3 | Suzy: 2 (mild trash talk potential, but mostly laughs) Time Sink to Learn Rules (1-5): 1 — Pick it up in one or two games, no heavy YouTube needed. Expansions? None. Final Sip How’s the Freakshow Chardonnay evolved since opening? (We chat about it in the episode!) Last Call – Kickstarter/Gamefound Spotlight Boktor: A Cooperative Dungeon Quest by Fox Troll Games Fast-paced dungeon crawler for 1-6 players—explore modular dungeons, evolve your heroes, battle Tyrants, and stop the Vortex. Quick setup, intuitive rules, real strategy, all in ~60 minutes. Check it out: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/fox-troll-games/boktor-a-cooperative-dungeon-quest Contact Us! Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 Or leave a message via Speakpipe (link in episode) If you enjoyed the show, share it with a friend! See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-bye! 🍷🎲

    56 min

  4. JAN 11

    Beer & Bread & Butter

    🎙️ Episode 97: Beer & Bread & Butter Welcome to Meeples & Wine, the podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand! I’m Michael and I’m joined by Suzy. Today we are balancing our pallets and our game boards with a “harmonious” pairing. 🍷 The Wine: Bread & Butter California Red Blend We aren’t overthinking it today! Our pick is the Bread & Butter California Red Blend, a classic everyday red that’s all about relaxed vibes. The Vibe: An affordable crowd-pleaser, usually found for $14–$17 per bottle. Style: A plush, velvety, medium-to-full-bodied blend often heavy on Cab and Petite Sirah. Tasting Notes: We’re getting juicy black plum, dark cherry, and blackberry with smooth layers of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. Stats: It holds a steady 3.9/5 on Vivino as of 2026. Pairing Tip: Perfect for burgers, pizza, or a cozy movie night. Check it out here: Bread & Butter Wines 🍞 The Game: Beer & Bread This week we’re hitting the fields with Beer & Bread, a multi-use card game designed for exactly two players. The Premise You represent rival villages sharing a monastery’s fruitful lands. Over six years (alternating between “fruitful” and “dry”), you’ll harvest resources, brew beer, bake bread, and upgrade your facilities. The “Twist” 🥨 Balance is key! At the end of the sixth year, you only score the coins from the category (beer or bread) where you earned the least. If you go all-in on beer and ignore your bread, you’re going to have a bad time. Quick Stats: Designer: Scott Almes (The Tiny Epic guy!) Artist: Michael Menzel (Catan, Dominion) Publisher: Deep Print Games Complexity: 2.36/5 on BGG Links: BGG Game Page | Our Tiny Epic Dungeons Episode Our Ratings: Michael’s Fun Score: 8/10 22 Suzy’s Fun Score: 9.5/10 23 Couch Score: 2/5 (Won’t wreck your relationship!) 🚀 What Else is Brewing? Kickstarter Spotlight: We’re keeping an eye on Grassfed: A Farm to Tabletop Game from the Ascension team. Check it out on Gamefound. MGC 2026: We will be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year (April 25–27)! 📬 Contact Us! What everyday reds are you reaching for this winter? We’d love to hear from you! 27 Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com Socials: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

    51 min

  5. 12/15/2025

    Gluntz Holiday Glögg and the 2025 Wrap-up!

    Hello everyone! We are Michael & Suzy, and welcome to Meeples & Wine—your podcast of board game reviews for couples, always with a drink in hand! ​What we’re drinking ​We love exploring different bottles, so what wine are we tasting today? ​We are sampling the Vin Glogg from the Glunz Family Winery, located in Paso Robles, CA. ​According to their profile, their Glögg recipe is fairly traditional. They start with a base of high-quality California port and red wine. To this, they have blended oils of citrus fruits, nuts, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a couple of secret ingredients. ​For pairings and serving, they recommend serving it gently heated. It’s great if you add a cinnamon stick, cloves, or a twist of lemon or orange rind. Later in the show, during our “Final Sip” segment, we discuss how the wine has changed since opening. ​What we’re playing ​We covered a lot of ground in this episode, mentioning a huge list of board games that we have played over the last year! We’ve got the links added to each title linking to where you can purchase it! (If you use our Amazon link, we do get a little scratch back) ​Here is a rundown of the games discussed in this episode: ​Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles ​The Mix ​Arkham Horror: The Card Game ​Terror Below ​Pixel Tactics ​Kiri-ai: The Duel ​ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo ​Targi Board Game ​Dice Throne: Season One ReRolled – Pyromancer v. Shadow Thief ​Radlands ​Hive ​Genius Square ​Azul Duel ​Bunny Boom ​Sea Salt & Paper ​Smash Up ​Casting Shadows ​Summoner Wars ​We also asked the big question: What’s your #1 Game for 2025? ​If you like the show be sure to share it with a friend! ​Contact us at meeplesandwine@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ​Have something to say? Leave us a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 or use our Speakpipe link. ​See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

    1h 18m

  6. 11/24/2025

    Miniature Adventures and 14 Hands Merlot!

    Goblins, Dice, and 14 Hands Merlot: Episode 96 Recap Welcome back to Meeples & Wine! It’s Michael and Suzy here, bringing you another board game review for couples—always with a drink in hand. In this episode, we are diving into a portable RPG adventure and sipping on a wine that pairs perfectly with a backyard cookout. Let’s get into the notes! 🍷 What We’re Drinking: 14 Hands Merlot Today’s bottle comes from 14 Hands Winery, located in the Columbia Valley of Washington state. The Profile: This vintage offers rich flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, cherry, and mocha. The Pairings: If you’re hungry, this red goes great with BBQ ribs, grilled tri-tip, burgers, or even spaghetti with meatballs. 🎲 What We’re Playing: Miniature Adventures We are tackling Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles. Published by Lowtek Games LLC and designed by Jon Lowman, this is an exciting co-op card game inspired by old-school 16-bit RPGs. The Premise: The Kingdom of Delriah is having some serious goblin issues, and they need an adventuring party to help! You choose a Hero and a class, then work together to overcome four levels of challenges: Misty Forest Mountain Path Goblin Fortress Goblin Throne How it Plays: It plays 1–4 players and relies on dice rolling mechanisms. You slot your rolled dice into your character card to determine your Initiative (speed), Power, and Actions. You have to survive various Encounters, including Mobs (enemies) and Challenges (perils), to win. 🏆 The Scores Is it fun? Will it wreck your relationship? Here is our final verdict: Fun Score: We both loved it! Michael: 8/10 Suzy: 8/10 The Couch Score: (Will it wreck the relationship? 1 = Safe, 5 = Danger) Since it’s co-op, it’s pretty safe! Michael: 2/5 Suzy: 1/5 Time Sink: We rated this a 1 (No Problem)—you can learn it in one or two games without needing hours of tutorials. 🔦 Kickstarter Spotlight We love checking Kickstarter for the coolest new games. This week we shouted out Maiden of the Dark, a Game Boy game by TigerChainsaw. 📞 Connect with Us! If you liked the show, be sure to share it with a friend! Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 Socials: Find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

    46 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    The Mix and the Mezcalita

    Shaking Things Up with ‘The Mix’ and a Mescalita Hey, and welcome back to Meeples & Wine! We’re Michael and Suzy, and this is your favorite spot for board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand. This week, we went fully thematic. We’re reviewing a cocktail-making board game, so naturally, we had to skip the wine and mix up a cocktail! 🍹 This Week’s “Wine”: The Mescalita We’re sipping on a Mescalita, and it’s a fantastic smoky, citrusy, and spicy combo. If you want to make one at home while you listen, here’s the recipe! What You’ll Need: For the Rim: Tajín Clásico Seasoning (or make your own with 2 parts kosher salt and 1 part chili powder). For the Drink: Lime wedges (for the rim and garnish) 1.5 oz mild mezcal (we recommend Del Maguey Vida) 2 oz fresh orange juice 1 oz fresh lime juice Optional Add-ins: 3 dashes of orange bitters (for an extra orange kick) 1 to 3 bar spoons of sweetener (like agave nectar, simple syrup, or orange liqueur) The notes for this drink suggest pairing it with smoked meats, cheese, chocolate, tropical fruits, or even spicy curries. 🎲 This Week’s “Meeples”: The Mix The game on our table this week is The Mix by Ruse Games. You play as a brand-new recruit at the famous Foxtrot Bar, and your goal is to become the top mixologist. You’ll be honing your skills, learning new recipes, and serving customers to earn the most Victory Points (VP). It’s a strategic, cocktail-themed game that blends engine building, resource management, and worker placement. Here are the quick stats: Statistic Details Players 1-4 (It has a solo mode against an automated “Fox” opponent!) Time 25+ minutes Age 14+ Designer/Artist Guime (Guillaume Boudreau) Publisher Ruse Games Key Mechanics Worker Placement, Engine Building, Resource Management, Set Collection How It Plays The game is all about efficiently using your “Mixologist” workers. On your turn, you take actions like: Taking a Clients Card (an order you need to fill) Grabbing ingredients from the supply Acquiring new Technique Cards to get better at mixing Getting more Shakers (which expand your capacity) Preparing Cocktails to complete your orders The “engine building” part really kicks in during the Setup phase at the end of your round. This is when you get bonuses from your Setup Track, your unique Mixologist Card, and your Technique cards. The game end is triggered once 15 total Clients have been completed. You tally up your VP from completed orders, set collection bonuses, and remaining money, and the highest score wins! A quick note: The rulebook we saw was still marked as a “Work in Progress,” so some final rules might change. 🚀 Where to Find It We look for the coolest games coming out on crowdfunding sites, and this one is heading to Gamefound! You can back it HERE! 📣 Last Call That’s all for this week! What do you think of the Mescalita recipe? Are you planning on backing The Mix? We want to hear from you! Email Us: meeplesandwine[at]gmail[dot]com Leave a Voicemail: (707) 572-5282 Find Us on Socials: We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you loved the show, the best thing you can do is share it with a friend. See you next time on Meeples and Wine!

    56 min

  8. 10/26/2025

    Lovecraftian Mystery & Madness: Is Arkham Horror: The Card Game a Good 2-Player Board Game?

    Unraveling the Mythos with Meeples & Wine Hey board game lovers! Welcome back to Meeples & Wine, your podcast for couples’ board game reviews with a drink in hand. We’re your hosts, Michael & Suzy, and this episode we’re diving deep into a world of Lovecraftian mystery, monsters, and madness! 🍷 What We’re Sipping Today, we’re getting cozy with a glass of Witches Brew Mulled Wine from Leelanau Cellars in Northport, Michigan. The Vibe: It’s got those warming holiday spices—think cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Best Served: We enjoyed it warm/hot! Pairings: We didn’t have any specific pairings listed, so let us know what snack you’d pair with this spiced wine! 🎲 The Game of the Episode We jumped into the horrifying, yet captivating, world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game. Title: Arkham Horror: The Card Game The Gist: It’s a cooperative Living Card Game where you and your partner take on the roles of Investigators trying to solve a scenario’s mystery before the forces of the Mythos overwhelm you. You’ll be using Action Points to move, play cards, and test your skills (Willpower, Intellect, Combat, Agility) against a random Chaos Token drawn from the bag. Get those clues, progress the Act deck, and try to survive! BGG Rating & Weight: It holds an impressive 8.1/10 on BoardGameGeek and is definitely a thinker at a 3.56/5 complexity. Designers: Nate French and MJ Newman (who also worked on Marvel Champions: TCG and LOTR:TCG). Awards: This game is well-loved, having won the Dice Tower’s Best 2 Player and Best Co-Op Game in 2016, plus several BGG Golden Geek Awards! Learn More: You can find the game’s page on BGG right here: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205637/arkham-horror-the-card-game Expansions: There are TONS of expansions, including scenario boxes, investigator decks, playmats, and more, if you’re looking to expand your Arkham experience! Our Ratings Fun Score (1-10): We both gave it a super high 9! This is a great co-op experience. Will it Wreck the Relationship? (Couch Score 1-5): A low-stress 1 from both of us. It’s a great game to play with your partner! 🎙️ Last Call We always take a peek at the latest and greatest coming to crowdfunding, and this week we checked out Joyride: Full Throttle by Rebellion Unplugged. The Game: This is a high-octane racing game for 2–6 players where you choose your racing line, trade paint on corners, and smash opponents! This new edition includes an expanded team mode, portals, and new cars, items, and maps. Find it Here: You can check out the campaign on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/projects/rebellion-unplugged/joyride-full-throttle BGG Page: Read more about it on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/380728/joyride-survival-fastest 👋 Meet-Ups & Contact See Us In Person! We’ll be at Lodge Con on November 1st at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone, IL. The halls are open from 10 am – 5 pm, but gaming is open from 8 am till midnight. Stop by and say hi! Email Us: meeplesandwine@gmail.com Socials: Find us everywhere—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn—by searching Meeples & Wine! Voicemail: Leave us a message or ask a question at (707) 572-5282 or use our Speakpipe link. If you liked the show, please be sure to share it with a friend! See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

    51 min
See All (118)

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Looking for tabletop game to play with your spouse that’s both fun and won’t wind up with one of you sleeping on the couch? Join Michael and Suzy as they discover new games each week, while tasting a new wine, beer or spirit!

Information