Rephonic
Artwork for Ludology
Game Design
Board Games
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Board Game Design
Education
Aerith Magin
Dungeons and Dragons
Phantom Ink
Game Mechanics
Gen Con
Player Psychology
Tabletop Gaming
Tabletop Role Playing Games
Board Game Industry
Unpub
Emotional Intelligence
Mistwind
Child Development
Theme
Player Experience

Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the how's and why's of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, and discusses game history, game design and game players. Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes699Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureVideo GamesGames

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Artwork for Ludology

Latest Episodes

Erica is just getting back from Japan and Sen is in Montreal for FLIM, so we're going to drop an interview from last year's inaugural Festival Ludique International de Montreal in which Sen speaks with designer, Herb Stanway, about the multi award-wi... more

Sen and Erica are joined by Marc-Antoine Doyon, organizer behind the Festival Ludique International De Montreal (www.leflim.com), a free outdoor gaming festival that takes place from July 24-26 in Montreal's Latin Quarter. Marc-Antoine talks about wh... more

Sen and guest host George Drayer (formerly from Meeple Syrup) speak with Jesper Myfors, the original art director of the game that changed the face of modern nerdom, Magic: The Gathering. They talk to Jesper about his involvement with the game, his r... more

Erica and Sen speak with game designer and educator, Kathleen Mercury, about the second annual Game Design Academy that runs concurrently with Gen Con. The Game Design Academy is an official professional development and formal education track that ta... more

Key Facts

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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

Marc-Antoine Doyon
One of the organizers of FLIM (Festival Ludique International de Montréal)
FLIM (Festival Ludique International de Montréal)
Episode: Ludology 361 Joie De Vivre!
Jesper Myfors
Original art director for Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering / Wizards of the Coast
Episode: Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Kathleen Mercury
Game designer, educator, Gen Con Game Design Academy coordinator
Gen Con
Episode: Ludology 359 I'd Like To Thank The Academy
Yeonsoo Julian Kim
Narrative designer and interactive fiction author
Avatar Legends; Thirsty Sword Lesbians; Choice Of Games
Episode: Ludology 358 What's Your Story?
J. Ray Lee
Author and academic; author of Unsettling Catan
Episode: Ludology 357 Unsettling Catan
Jack Furnival
Designer/ craftsman behind Carrooka
Carrooka (Furnival partnership)
Episode: Ludology 356 Put A Little English On It
Georgina Furnival
Co-creator, seamstress, and collaborator on Carrooka
Carrooka (Furnival partnership)
Episode: Ludology 356 Put A Little English On It
Christopher Chung
Board game designer and developer known for Lanterns; designer of My Little Pony: Deck-Building Game
Renegade Game Studios / Foxtrot
Episode: Pros and Cons Ep 18
Spenser Starke
Game designer and producer, lead designer of Daggerheart
Darrington Press, Critical Role
Episode: Ludology 354 Like A Dagger In My Heart

Hosts

Erica Buiris
Host of Ludology; multiple affiliations noted across episodes
Sen Fung Lim
Co-host of Ludology; frequent collaborator with Erica Buiris

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 549 ratings
  • Always Sparks Inspiration

    I've been listening through several hosting iterations and it remains solid and thought provoking as ever

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fin Coe
    United Statesa year ago
  • Casual conversation from serious experts

    I like the episodes the best when Lim’s academic perspective and Bouyouris’s business acumen come to the fore. They approach each guest with candor and curiosity and remember to keep the fun of gaming in of the conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeff in LFP
    United States2 years ago
  • Jacob Geller

    He sent me

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jamez iz cool
    United States2 years ago
  • Really gets into the details of gaming, and understanding them. Highly recommend.

    Podchaser
    5
    George
    3 years ago
  • Turned to junk

    This uses to be a great podcast. Then it became a platform for SJW’s to promote leftist politics. But, I still listened every other week to game tech and anatomy of a board game. Now, 2023, it’s just a wank fest of jargon, pretense, and elitist self-congratulation. Their use of meaningless 50-cent words is beyond worthless and I feel more stupid for hearing it. After hearing the latest self-important mechanism mini-episode I can see it’s time for this designer to get out of here and back to the ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    horgar
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the show is regarded as insightful for game design and industry topics.
Listeners praise deep, design-focused discussions and value expert guests.
Some reviews note political discussions when present, with mixed reactions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#244
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#233
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#180
Italy/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#223
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#3
Chile/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#10
India/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Q: What's your view on the inclusion of external IPs like Spider-Man in Magic?
I think it dilutes the core experience and weaponizes licenses to boost shareholder value rather than serving players, preferring to see Magic stand on its own IP.
Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Q: Can you see a remake of Clote (Clout) or redo a classic game?
I'd be open to a computer version or a refreshed release, but space and player interaction constraints make a faithful online adaptation challenging for some titles.
Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Q: What is your personal favorite piece of Magic The Gathering art?
I don't have a single favorite; however, Elves of Deep Shadow is among my favorites for its cohesion with the set's mood, while different artists bring distinct, memorable vibes to the table.
Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Q: Would you rather have a third eye or a third arm?
I'd choose a third eye for aesthetics and practicality; a third arm can feel more unsettling and harder to integrate visually.
Ludology 360 That Old Black Magic
Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
Acrylic on birchboard, because it's durable, allows for thick application, and dries quickly, though I also appreciate the ease of color correction and adjusting on a traditional surface.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ludology

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

Analytical discussions focused on board game design, history, and player experience rather than routine news or reviews. Episodes explore how games are crafted, from abstract design principles and thematic decisions to production realities and community dynamics. Expect deep dives into game mechanics, design philosophy, and the broader cultural and educational implications of gaming, often featuring designers, researchers, and industry professionals who share practical insights, critique, and real-world stories. Notable is a willingness to blend rigorous theory with accessible storytelling, plus frequent attention to how collaboration, production, and community spaces shape what ends up on tables nationwide.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ludology?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ludology. 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 Ludology and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ludology get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ludology?

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How many subscribers and views does Ludology have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ludology 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 Ludology?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ludology:

1. The Dice Tower
2. So Very Wrong About Games
3. Shut Up & Sit Down
4. Board Game Barrage
5. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

How many episodes of Ludology are there?

Ludology launched 15 years ago and published 699 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 Ludology?

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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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ludology from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Ludology?

Recent guests on Ludology include:

1. Marc-Antoine Doyon
2. Jesper Myfors
3. Kathleen Mercury
4. Yeonsoo Julian Kim
5. J. Ray Lee
6. Jack Furnival
7. Georgina Furnival
8. Christopher Chung

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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