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 | 133 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | DesignArtsLeisureGames | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Does phase order matter? How do you reward bookkeeping? Ananda, Charlie, and Trevor pick up some flashy tricks in The Cones of Dunshire.
What can you do if you want to make a TCG? What makes a good resource system? Charlie, Trevor, and Ananda talk about Trading Card Games.
What limits should there be on deck construction? Should all cards be usable as resources? The Force is with Trevor, Ananda, and Charlie in Star Wars: Unlimited.
Should mechanics call out specific cards by name? Why would a player use a weaker attack instead of a stronger one? Ananda, Charlie, and Trevor gotta catch 'em all in the Pokémon TCG.
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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 States5 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 | #229 | United States/Leisure/Games |
Apple Podcasts | #184 |  Sweden/Leisure/Games |
Audience Metrics
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| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
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| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
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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 that analyzes published titles through the lens of game development. Episodes consistently explore mechanics, pacing, resource systems, and player interaction across genres such as engine-building, set collection, and auction-style design. Hosts share design philosophies, critique balance and accessibility, and often reference real-world publishing considerations, making it especially useful for aspiring designers, publishers, and enthusiasts who want practical insights. A notable strength is the deep-dive style delivered in concise episodes, with frequent emphasis on how mechanics drive emergent strategy and player engagement.
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Decision Space
2. So Very Wrong About Games
3. Fun Problems
4. Shut Up & Sit Down
5. Ludology
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 133 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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