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Artwork for Decision Space
Board Games
Game Design
Games
Ticket To Ride
El Grande
Cascadia
Planet Unknown
Root
Game Mechanics
Board Game Arena
Magic: the Gathering
Trick-Taking Games
Bunny Kingdom
Deckbuilding
Keyforge
Castles Of Burgundy
Dominion
Stefan Feld
Quantum
Seven Wonders

Decision Space is a board game podcast about the decisions in games.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes290Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesHobbiesLeisure

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Artwork for Decision Space

Latest Episodes

Episode 287- Playing OGs Together

All four hosts are together for a discussion of the Old School games they played together during Brendan's visit to St. Louis.  That Stefan Dorra... so hot right now...

Time Stamps

4:50- BattleCON: War of Indines more

Episode 286- Cole Wehrle on Economic Games and An Infamous Traffic

Pete chats with Cole Wehrle about his history with economic games like Container and how these nasty designs inspired An Infamous Traffic, which currently has a second edition in dev... more

Episode 285- Stonemaier Design Day 2026

All four hosts are together to share their experiences of hanging out together IN PERSON for Stonemaier Design Day.  Paul talks about games he's working on for GameHead and Pete, Jake, and Brendan discuss the ... more

Episode 284- Schotten Totten and Lane Battlers

Pete and Brendan explore the card game genre known as lane battlers and deep dive the 1999 Knizia Classic Schotten Totten that gave birth to these dueling games.

Time Stamps

5:15- what is a lane battl... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Taylor Reiner
YouTuber (Taylor's Trick-Taking Table) and deck-building game designer
Independent designer
Episode: Deckbuilding 301: How Slay the Spire Expands Tabletop Design
Cardner Babakitis
Game designer and Buried Giant Studios employee
Buried Giant Studios
Episode: An Infamous Traffic, Virgin Queen, John Company Megagame and More: Report from a Historical Game Convention
Kai Kajino
Designer of Scout and Den Up
Kai Kajino (designer)
Episode: dnup, Scout, and Iterative Game Design
Phil Walker-Harding
Hall of Fame designer from Board Game Overboard/Meeple Overboard
Adventureland Games / various publishers
Episode: The Beauty of Balance: An Interview with Phil Walker-Harding
Chris Yi
Guest from the Dice Tower
Dice Tower
Episode: The Definitive Phil Walker Harding Tier List with Chris Yi
Jon Perry
Board game and video game designer
Independent designer (reappearance on show)
Episode: What Makes Games Deep? A Conversation About Complexity, Luck, and Skill with Jon Perry
Analog Arnie
YouTube celebrity, first-time guest on Decision Space
YouTube (Analog Arnie)
Episode: Arcs Strikes Back: Exploring the Blighted Reach with Analog Arnie and Jared Ingersoll
C. Thi Nguyen
Philosopher, professor of philosophy and games at the University of Utah
University of Utah
Episode: Is Art a Game? C. Thi Nguyen Answers Our Questions About Philosophy, Process, and Play
Andy Nealen
Professor of games at University of Southern California and co-host on a gaming podcast.
University of Southern California
Episode: Historical Games and Pax Renaissance with Andy Nealen

Hosts

Paul Solomon
Host of Decision Space
Jake Friedman
Co-host of Decision Space
Brendan Hansen
Co-host of Decision Space
Pete Wissinger
Host of Decision Space

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 420 ratings
  • Change the way you understand your love of gaming!

    I love board games, but I didn't really understand the reasons I have the gaming tastes that I do until I started listening to Decision Space. In a sea of internet content consisting of chatter about "new hotness" and surface-level how-did-you-like-it reviews, Decision Space wipes the Vaseline off the lens and digs deeper into the core elements of gaming itself. Why do we like the games that we do? What decisions are afforded us, and how do we wrestle with them? When thinking about games in this... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rat Bastard Dan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Interesting discussions

    Loved hearing from Thi Nguyen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FloorCake
    United Statesa month ago
  • Nice chaps, nice chat

    Great pod but wth is donkey space?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nicuronoum
    Australia3 months ago
  • A deep dive into boardgaming

    I like how these guys analyze games and boardgaming itself.

    I would say they amplify the point that boardgames are an art form that is worth dedicating ones life to. Boardgaming is coming together and expressing oneself in an environment that is shaped by rules to make that expression worthwhile.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mischraum
    Germany3 months ago
  • My favourite podcast

    The word that comes to mind when listening to Decision Space is "considered". Every episode Jake, Brendan, Paul, and Pete feel like they've done their homework and come to the conversation ready to share what they've learned, their reflections, and their love for the hobby. As someone with a very narrow taste in games (90's and early 2000's Knizia and Dorra), I've especially enjoyed the changes implemented making episodes more general as I can use what I’ve learned and apply it to the games that... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kniziathon
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows understanding of classic and modern designs with clear takeaways
Very thoughtful analyses and approachable banter
Engaging deep-dive into game design, not just reviews
Discord community is active and welcoming
Thoughtful, rigorous, and great for designers

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#42
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#155
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#101
Italy/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#112
Australia/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Beauty of Balance: An Interview with Phil Walker-Harding
Q: How has your process evolved over the years?
Early on I would work through ideas by prototyping and iterating with a broad audience; now I prune ideas earlier and push toward a clear design brief, focusing on getting to a playable version quickly and refining it with targeted playtests.
The Beauty of Balance: An Interview with Phil Walker-Harding
Q: What is your design philosophy when creating games that are accessible yet offer depth?
I aim for easy-to-teach mechanics with clear value, ensuring every choice feels meaningful and that players can grasp core incentives quickly, while still enabling advanced players to explore strategic depths.
The Beauty of Balance: An Interview with Phil Walker-Harding
Q: How did you get started in game design and what drove you to publish your first game?
I started as a maker right away, translating the games I loved into prototypes and then testing them publicly, which taught me that getting a game out there, even in print-and-play form, is crucial for learning and improvement.
Agency, Storytelling, and Play: A Conversation with Cole Wehrle
Q: How do you approach teaching and accessibility without sacrificing the complexity of your games?
Focus on strong teach with hooks, design for emergent understanding during play, and balance complexity with accessible introductory experiences; use tools like table talk guidelines and clear front-loading of concepts to bring new players along without diluting the design.
Agency, Storytelling, and Play: A Conversation with Cole Wehrle
Q: Why do you prefer heavy, long games over lighter, quicker ones?
Heavy games offer deeper emotional arcs, richer decision spaces, and the opportunity for players to invest time and agency, leading to more meaningful experiences and a lasting impression beyond immediate tactical wins.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Decision Space

What is Decision Space about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful board-game podcast that explores design decisions, player agency, and the underlying systems that shape play. Episodes frequently dive into mechanics like sandbox objectives, deck-building, hand management, and the social aspects of large-group and historical games, with expert guests and rigorous analysis. The show is known for its deep-dive discussions, clear design language, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, making it a strong resource for designers, teachers, publishers, and serious hobbyists who want to understand what makes games tick and how decisions at the table influence outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Decision Space?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Decision Space. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Decision Space and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Decision Space get?

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What are the audience demographics for Decision Space?

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How many subscribers and views does Decision Space have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Decision Space has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Decision Space?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Decision Space:

1. So Very Wrong About Games
2. Board Game Hot Takes
3. Board Game Barrage
4. Shut Up & Sit Down
5. Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast About Our Gaming Group

How many episodes of Decision Space are there?

Decision Space launched 6 years ago and published 290 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Decision Space?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Decision Space?

Recent guests on Decision Space include:

1. Taylor Reiner
2. Cardner Babakitis
3. Kai Kajino
4. Phil Walker-Harding
5. Chris Yi
6. Jon Perry
7. Analog Arnie
8. C. Thi Nguyen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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