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Artwork for The Ascent of Board Games

The Ascent of Board Games

The Ascent of Board Games
Trick-Taking Games
Magic the Gathering
Sandbox Games
Antoine Bauza
Richard Garfield
The Seventh Continent
Sleeping Gods
Aeon's Trespass Odyssey
Seven Wonders
Wizards Of the Coast
Seventh Citadel
Tales Of the Arabian Nights
Tales Of the Aetherian Knights
Hanabi

A monthly podcast dedicated to the history, evolution, present state, and future potential of our favorite board games.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

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Artwork for The Ascent of Board Games

Latest Episodes

Hi folks! We're back (yes, even including Jayson!) with an episode that's a little different than our usual - do let us know what you think!

This month and next month, we're doing a different kind of deep dive. Rather than specifically looking at a ... more

Episode 80 - who'da thunk it? Thank you so much for sticking with us over (gulp) almost eight years of our nonsense. (Don't do the math - lots of two-part episodes have ruined that.)

This month, we take a deep dive into the game designs of Antoine B... more

We're back to wrap up our discussion on "sandbox games," and this part stretches the definition a bit; there's at least one game here where it's not the map that's bigger than you can explore in one game, but the rule set itself. (Yes, it's a Frank s... more

This month, we're here to talk about what we're calling "sandbox games" - games that have bigger maps and/or more content than you can possibly explore in a single game, but which aren't built as long campaign or legacy games. Thus, you need to take ... more

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Recent Guests

Amir Salamati
Creator, Ruma's Games
Ruma's Games
Episode: Episode 75 Part 2 - Computer Games to Board Games

Host

Frank
Host of The Ascent of Board Games

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Deeper history and knowledge of games

    Goes a lot further into each of their board game topics. The hosts have a fantastic grasp of not just what recent games there are out there, but the history of different genres (trick taking, auction style, message driven) going back decades.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mercaptanatl
    United States10 months ago
  • Qualified and Unique

    This quickly became my favorite board game pod. Gamers taking games that have enough experience their perspectives matter. Sprinkled with history and crunch and we have a winner. Great content!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hofzinsers
    United States5 years ago
  • Top notch podcast

    I’m a big of fan of the board game content that the Ascent of Boardgames panel produces on a regular basis.

    The format is currently a history of x genre of game. What I find fascinating is this groups’ ability to find random games that you’ve probably never heard of relating to the current topic.

    Vastly superior to other board gaming podcasts that I listen to.

    Definitely worth your time, and a must check out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cstaufer
    United States6 years ago
  • Great podcast with extremely intelligent insight

    AoB is my go-to to get a really deep understanding of what makes games work (or not!) The content is very approachable and covers a wide variety of types of games. It helps me understand the underpinnings of the games I love, and has suggestions for more I'd like to try.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paleitman
    United States7 years ago
  • Very deep podcast about the history of the hobby

    These guys are avid gamers who each have an independent and interesting POV. Each episode covers a narrow slice of the hobby and cover both the styles of games and a detailed history of releases ( having come of age in the 70s, I am often left with a touch of nostalgia) up to the current year and they have play experience with most of them.

    The show is edited better than a lot of professional podcasts with excellent sound mixing, no dead air and almost no cross talk.

    The only negative is it ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeff Kahrs
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality production with clear, well-edited discussions.
Great for listeners who want to discover obscure, under-the-radar titles.
Thoughtful, in-depth takes on game design and history.
Insightful analyses that connect mechanics to play experiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#12
Austria/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#67
Russia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#83
Ukraine/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#105
Austria/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#153
South Korea/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#169
New Zealand/Leisure/Games

Audience Metrics

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

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InterestsProfessionsAge Range
Household IncomeSocial Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Ascent of Board Games

What is The Ascent of Board Games about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-docused board game podcast that frequently explores design history, genre evolution, and the practicalities of publishing and playing. Recent episodes revolve around profiles of influential designers, deep-dives into specific game families (co-ops, sandbox adventures, trick-taking hybrids), and thoughtful discussions on how mechanics, accessibility, and thematic integration shape play. The show blends archival context, design critique, and anecdotal memories from play sessions, often highlighting the hobby's shifts toward IP collaborations, app-assisted experiences, and evolving campaign structures. Listeners who want historical context, design insight, and nuanced opinions on what makes tabletop experiences engaging will likely find... more

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How many listeners does The Ascent of Board Games get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Ascent of Board Games have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Ascent of Board Games?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Ascent of Board Games:

1. Decision Space
2. Board Game Hot Takes

How many episodes of The Ascent of Board Games are there?

The Ascent of Board Games launched 8 years ago and published 100 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 The Ascent of Board Games?

Recent guests on The Ascent of Board Games include:

1. Amir Salamati

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