The Tabletop Takeaway: A Board Game Design Podcast
Ananda Guneratne, Charlie McCarron, Trevor Muller-HegelJoin game designers Ananda Guneratne, Charlie McCarron, and Trevor Muller-Hegel as they analyze published games from a game developer's perspective. Each month, they pick a new game mechanic and three games to play in that genre. Each episode is 20 minutes of pure game design nerdiness!
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 143 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | LeisureArtsDesignGames | |||
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Latest Episodes
What distinguishes melee and ranged attacks? Do persistent corpses enhance combat? Trevor, Ananda, and Charlie don their caster rings in Necromolds.
How do you make the entire map important? Does line of sight need to be complicated? Ananda, Charlie, and Trevor summon their warriors in Heroscape.
When is losing options a relief? How many cards should players be able to play per turn? Charlie, Trevor, and Ananda talk about card shedding games.
Must progression be personal? How can you customize a card? Trevor, Ananda, and Charlie craft heroes in Custom Heroes.
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Hosts
Reviews
- Great food for thought
The hosts are very likable and engaging. Each episode takes a subject and analyzes it with a wide ranging perspective. Very thought provoking if you like boardgames and especially if you want to design them.
Apple Podcasts5Annoyed123
United States7 months ago - Taken Away
I used to have so many tabletops. They came to my house and took them all away now I don’t have any.
Apple Podcasts5AMKELL23United States2 years ago - Great music, better game analysis
First off, the theme song is entirely too catchy. I find myself singing it often. Second, these guys know their stuff. This may not be the podcast for everyone, but if you’re an amateur game designer or a game enthusiast, these guys have some great insights into game mechanics. Always glad to see a new episode.
Apple Podcasts5Juggler9000United States2 years ago Loving this podcast! Short and sweet episodes with three very interesting perspectives from the hosts. It's neat to hear game design explored through games you can pick up off the shelf and play tomorrow yourself.
Podcast Addict52 years agoadamsapplegames
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #236 | United States/Leisure/Games |
Apple Podcasts | #75 |  Poland/Leisure/Games |
Apple Podcasts | #114 |  South Africa/Leisure/Games |
Apple Podcasts | #135 |  Sweden/Leisure/Games |
Apple Podcasts | #145 |  Netherlands/Leisure/Games |
Audience Metrics
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| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
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| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
| Household Income | Social Media Reach | ||||
Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A design-focused board game podcast where three regulars dissect published games through a developer's lens. Each episode centers on a specific mechanic, with three games explored in depth to highlight design choices, balance, and player experience. Listeners get practical takeaways on mechanics, pacing, and design philosophy, often comparing titles to illustrate how ideas scale from quick plays to more involved designs. The show stands out for its tight 20-minute format, enthusiastic host banter, and a consistent emphasis on tangible design lessons rather than purely review-style talk.
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Board Game Hot Takes
2. So Very Wrong About Games
3. Board Game Barrage
4. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
5. Shut Up & Sit Down
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 143 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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