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Artwork for Five Games for Doomsday

Five Games for Doomsday

Ben Maddox
Board Games
Game Design
Euro Games
Board Game Design
Essen
Pandemic
Essen Spiel
Spiel Des Jahres
Twilight Struggle
The Temple Of Elemental Evil
Cabincon
Carcassonne
War Games
Gloomhaven
Christmas
Uwe Rosenberg
Call Of Cthulhu
War Of the Ring
Board Game Industry
Tabletop Games

Five games for Doomsday is a show in which people are thrust into a cabin in the woods but can only take five of their games with them. Which will they choose?Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com/podcast/five-games-for-doomsday--5631121/support.

PublishesDailyEpisodes877Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGamesHobbies

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Artwork for Five Games for Doomsday

Latest Episodes

These are the best games ever made. Someone on Youtube called this an "old man list". Fucking right!

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Ben and Uli talk about the joy of gaming.

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Ben speaks to bassist, lawyer and game designer, Jackie Fox.

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Ben speaks to Yuval Grinspun on hos new game Viridia.

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Thorsten Gimmler
Board game designer and editor with Ravensburger; former editor/inventor relations at Schmidt Spiele; notable designer of No Thanks, Skull King, Odin's Ravens, Arc Nova, Castles of Burgundy, among others.
Ravensburger; formerly Schmidt Spiele
Episode: Thorsten Gimmler
Mark Herman
War game designer and historian
Mark Herman (independent designer)
Episode: The Spielworxx Bulletin - Live at Leiria Con
C. Thi Nguyen
Author of The Score; philosopher of games
University of Utah
Episode: The Score with C Thi Nguyen - 5G4D News Flash
Richard Launius
Game designer; noted Lovecraftian designer and Arkham Horror co-creator
Episode: 5G4D Classics - Richard Launius
Hanno Gerke
Head of Lookout Games
Lookout Games
Episode: Cd Hunter's Game of the Century - Semi Finals
Francesco Nepitello
Designer of War of the Ring
War of the Ring (publisher involvement discussed)
Episode: Cd Hunter's Game of the Century - Semi Finals
Petra Murmak
Head of CGE's Codenames development
Czech Games Edition
Episode: Cd Hunter's Game of the Century - Semi Finals
JJ Neville
Game designer of Mycelia.
Episode: Battle Report - Mycelia(Sample of Patreon Content)
Malachi Ray Rempen
Owner of Keen Bean Studios and designer of board games
Keen Bean Studios
Episode: Malachi Ray Rempen on Almighty

Hosts

Ben Maddox
Primary host and interviewer; involved in designing, publishing, and discussing board games; known for deep-dive questions and wide-ranging conversations.
Steve
Co-host who contributes banter, topic framing, and industry perspectives; focuses on interviews, news segments, and analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Hands down the best board game podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Markus Shepherd
    2 years ago
  • 5G4D can’t be beaten.

    I’ve been listening to Ben since the earlier days of his previous podcasting venture, and over the years he has just gotten better and better. I don’t always agree with his opinions, but I never tire of his hard work and dedication to delivering excellent interviews and commentary. He and Steve have developed a comfortable rapport, and the show always delivers some laughs as well as really interesting content. Ben’s game reviews break away from the tired format of “sort of teach the game, just e... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Up Late Again
    United States3 years ago
  • Low brow humour, highbrow content

    Simply the best board game podcast on the net. Thoughtful interviews are the core of the podcast, but it’s fearless treatment of philosophical issues is excellent. Ben, Steven and guest may not always be right, but they are always thoughtful and challenging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cdhunter-gladiator
    New Zealand3 years ago
  • In this podcast you'll get everything. The best serious interview series in board gaming and at the same time the silliest game plays (battle report) but also some fine acting on the solo RPG shows.

    Podcast Addict
    axllxa
    3 years ago
  • I would like to be stuck on an island with Ben

    I really like both the quick fire well thought out reviews and the bigger moain episodes where you really get under the skin of the guests. A really interesting podcast. Brilliant stuff

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    We're Not Wizards
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently delivers thoughtful, provocative discussions that challenge the status quo in board gaming.
Thoughtful interviews with designers and publishers, plus sharp game insights.
Energetic, witty hosting with deep knowledge of the hobby, though occasional commercial breaks can disrupt pacing.
High-quality long-form conversations, with entertaining banter.
Great balance of design, business, and hobby topics; some guests push into political territory.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#33
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#246
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#56
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#93
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#211
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#29
Australia/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Thorsten Gimmler
Q: Why did you leave Schmidt Spiele for Ravensburger, and how did that transition shape your publishing work?
The guest explains the move was motivated by a desire for a new role and improved working flexibility (including working from home). At Ravensburger, he shifted to scouting and refining new ideas rather than handling the full end-to-end development process, which changed how new games are brought to market and how he collaborates with inventors.
Thorsten Gimmler
Q: Which specific games were those, and why those choices?
The guest mentions Dog as an example of a favorite, plus No Thanks and Skull King as standout picks for their design, accessibility, and lasting appeal; he explains that these games stood out through personal experience, publishing history, and the ongoing excitement they generate among players.
Thorsten Gimmler
Q: What criteria did you use when selecting the five games to take to the cabin?
The guest emphasizes choosing games that are highly replayable and enjoyable after many plays, focusing on titles the host personally plays most often and believes will stay fun across multiple sessions rather than just during initial impressions.
Live at Leiria with Friedemann Friese
Q: So, what's your attitude toward testing here at Leiria Con, and how is it different from Essen?
The focus is less on testing rules and more on acceptance—seeing if people enjoy the flow and feel of the game, and whether it resonates enough to publish.
The Score with C Thi Nguyen - 5G4D News Flash
Q: I want to ask a question about philosophy now. There feels like an impulse to give a name to a concept, a vocal shorthand. To what degree is philosophy about taxonomy and to what degree is it about defintion?
Naming helps carve up concepts, but the book argues for deeper purpose than labels; it's about carving up the world to illuminate relationships between ideas like gamification, value capture, and the ethics of information; the terms evolve as the ideas evolve.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Five Games for Doomsday

What is Five Games for Doomsday about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, design-forward board game podcast that pairs deep-dive interviews with concise game reviews and industry analysis. Episodes frequently center on high-profile designers and publishers, exploring design decisions, development tensions, and the broader impact of games like Agricola, Pandemic, War of the Ring, and Codenames. The show also uses a recurring “five games for doomsday” premise to frame personal histories, creative processes, and business insights, making it valuable for listeners who want both tactical game critiques and candid creator stories. A standout trait is the host's willingness to push provocative questions while staying entertaining, often weaving cultural and political threads into discussions about games and the... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Five Games for Doomsday?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Five Games for Doomsday:

1. So Very Wrong About Games
2. Board Game Barrage
3. Board Game Hot Takes
4. The Dice Tower
5. Sporadically Board with Mike and Dan

How many episodes of Five Games for Doomsday are there?

Five Games for Doomsday launched 8 years ago and published 877 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Five Games for Doomsday?

Recent guests on Five Games for Doomsday include:

1. Thorsten Gimmler
2. Mark Herman
3. C. Thi Nguyen
4. Richard Launius
5. Hanno Gerke
6. Francesco Nepitello
7. Petra Murmak
8. JJ Neville

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