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Artwork for Five Games for Doomsday

Five Games for Doomsday

Ben Maddox
Board Games
Spiel Des Jahres
Game Design
Euro Games
Essen
Essen Spiel
Pandemic
Game Mechanics
Board Game Design
Tabletop Games
Spielworxx
Germany
Here I Stand
Essen Spiel 2025
Horrible Guild
Twilight Struggle
Arkwright
Leiria Con
Age Of Steam
Agricola

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes948Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesHobbiesLeisure

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Artwork for Five Games for Doomsday

Latest Episodes

To listen to the rest of the show, go to patreon.com/5g4d and give your support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com/podcast/five-games-for-doomsday--5631121/support.

Support the show here

Ben sits down to talk to Sam Gullman about his Victorian horror game, The Presence.

Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com/podcast/five-games-for-doomsday--5631121/support.

Support the show here

In this episode of the news show, Ben and Steve answer your questions, Rob Daviau talks The King's Gambit, and Mark Cooke reflects on becoming UK Games Expo's new COO.

Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com/podcast/five-games-... more

This week's guest is the designer of Blood Bowl and Age of Sigmar, Jervis Johnson. We talk about getting in at the ground floor and being a legend...but which games did he choose?

Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com/podcast/... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jervis Johnson
Legendary tabletop game designer, former Games Workshop designer
Perry Miniatures / Factory Fortress
Episode: Jervis Johnson
Kenneth Minder
Designer of Timespan
Timespan project / Unannounced publisher
Episode: 5G4D News - The Return!
Christian Amundsen-Östby
Designer of Timespan (Civ game)
Timespan project / Unannounced publisher
Episode: 5G4D News - The Return!
Mike Didymus-True
Journalist, founder of Board Game Wire, board game media professional
Board Game Wire
Episode: Mike Didymus-True
Matt Green
Game designer, entomologist by training, former Wizards of the Coast employee
Rent-a-Kill initial PLC (current)
Episode: Matt Green
Uli Blenerman
Guts of the German board game industry; founder of Spielworxx
Spielworxx
Episode: The Spielworxx Bulletin - The Construction Episode
Richard Breeze
One of the most storied game designers in the hobby
UK game design community
Episode: Reef Encounter - Sample
Chris Bissette
Designer of the game The Wretched
Chris Bissette (designer)
Episode: The Wretched - Episode 3 - Discoveries and Regrets
Chris Bissett
Maker of the game being discussed and interviewed in this episode
Episode: The Wretched - Episode 2 - A Conscious Hate

Host

Ben Maddox
Host and creator with multiple aliases; central figure behind the show's journaling/actual-play formats.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 199 ratings
  • Best interview show out there

    “Five Games For Doomsday” is one of the best podcasts in the board game scene, if not the best. Ben Maddox is an incredibly skilled interviewer and consistently produces high-quality content that both entertains and informs. There are no segments here along the lines of “Which games have you played this week?”. The discussions about board games offer insights into the lives, thoughts and actions of board game designers, artists and publishers.

    The connections Ben Maddox has within the industry ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jmvolckmann
    Germany9 days ago
  • 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

Listeners Say

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

Fans highlight the host's interview craft and ability to challenge guests with sharp, well-prepared questions.
Audiences note high production quality and engaging guests.
Listeners praise the thoughtful interview style and deep design insight.
Many appreciate the unique cabin-in-the-woods premise as a framework for meaningful industry discussions.
Some listeners critique long ads and commercial breaks but still regard content as valuable.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#217
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#224
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#127
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#237
Germany/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#32
South Korea/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#35
Israel/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

5G4D News - The Return!
Q: How did the design partnership between Christian Amundsen-Östby and Kenneth Minder come about?
They met on a ferry to Essen about 20 years ago, built a friendship, and gradually started designing games together with a shared emphasis on making games that are fun and innovative.
Mike Didymus-True
Q: So my first question is then, is how difficult was it for you to pick the five games to take to the cabin?
He explains the process: he started from a place of not overthinking, considered genres and some family suitability, but ultimately picked five games he loved, focusing on depth, theme, and personal fit rather than a systematic engineering approach.
5G4D News Flash - Final Titan with Christian Kudahl
Q: What was the design philosophy behind including 100 titans and the ultimate attacks?
The goal was to push for maximum fun and a wild, cinematic feel, even if it meant a heavier, more complex product; the bigger roster allowed for varied matchups and memorable moments, guided by Brave experimentation rather than strict minimalism.
5G4D News Flash - Final Titan with Christian Kudahl
Q: How did the collaboration with Richard Garfield come about for Final Titan?
We started from a shared excitement for a crazy, spectacle-driven game and iterated through early prototypes and discussions with Garfield, eventually handing the project to him for months to explore characters and mechanics deeply before deciding to publish with Nerd Lab.
Jeroen Doumen
Q: So my first question is, how difficult was it for you to pick the five games to take to the cabin?
It was tough because narrowing down to five requires balancing personal favorites with games that best represent what you'd want to explore in a cabin-like setting, and also considering how the games' design space could influence the conversation.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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?

This show blends thoughtful interviews with game design deep-dives and practical industry context, anchored by a host who guides conversations through the lens of five-game-for-doomsday scenarios. Listeners can expect conversations with designers, publishers, and industry figures, plus crisp game reviews and meta-commentary on production, distribution, and the hobby's culture. Notable strengths include rigorous design insight, a willingness to challenge conventions, and a cadence that mixes sharp questions with lively, often humorous, banter. The format often threads personal storytelling and career perspectives into discussions about how games are made, marketed, and enjoyed by communities around the world.

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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. Shut Up & Sit Down
5. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

How many episodes of Five Games for Doomsday are there?

Five Games for Doomsday launched 9 years ago and published 948 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 Five Games for Doomsday?

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What guests have appeared on Five Games for Doomsday?

Recent guests on Five Games for Doomsday include:

1. Jervis Johnson
2. Kenneth Minder
3. Christian Amundsen-Östby
4. Mike Didymus-True
5. Matt Green
6. Uli Blenerman
7. Richard Breeze
8. Chris Bissette

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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