Episodes

This week we play PandaSaraus Game’s “Sea Salt & Paper” a nice relaxed set making game with some fantastic aquatic origami images with Sea Glass Winery’s Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc. Lately we’ve been playing some serious “take that” games like Smash Up, we take a 180 turn with Sea Salt & Paper, where you gather shells, octupi and other sea life to gather points to win. But be careful, if your opponent thinks they’ve got more points they can declare “Last Chance” and put all their (and your) p...

Welcome to episode 80! This time around we’re playing the deck-drafting game Smash Up! by Alderac Entertainment Group. This 2-4 player game pits all the teams that you’ve wanted to see fighting against each other to lay claim to bases to score 15 victory points to win. Have you ever wanted to play Zombie Truckers, Kung-Fu Sheep, or Robot 70’s Vigilantes? All possible in Smash Up! This episode we’re also not tasting a wine, but a cocktail, the Whiskey Smash (see the connection?) This simple cock...

Welcome to Meeples and Wine! Your podcast of board game reviews for couples with a drink in hand! This week we’re playing Casting Shadows from Unstable Games, maker of Unstable Unicorns and Happy Little Dinosaurs (you can find our review of that HERE!) We also have a sip of Two Brother’s Cellar Club 2018 Barrel-Aged Barley Wine! For this week’s Last Call we look at two games on the Kickstarter horizon, first is Lewd Dungeon Adventures: A Date to the Grand Ball an “RPG Dating Sim” for…two or mor...

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! For our first show of the year we taste Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend, and play Summoner Wars! This hearty red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has some intense tobacco and leather notes on the nose with a solid dark cherry flavor, some tartness and a mild tannin at the end. We also talk about our play-through of the Vanguard vs Fallen Kingdom in Summoner Wars. We’re also going to be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year! You can ...

Meeples & Wine Episode Recap: Curious Beasts and Squarriors In this week’s episode, Michael and Suzy dove into the darkly whimsical pairing of the Curious Beasts Red Blend 2021 wine and the post-apocalyptic card game Squarriors. While both offerings boast intriguing packaging, they revealed some challenges beneath the surface. Wine Highlights: The duo sampled Curious Beasts, a gothic-themed red blend with bold flavors of cherry, plum, and a hint of oak and pepper. Its standout feature? A dramat...

In this episode of “Meeples & Wine,” we review the 2023 Protea Dry Rosé from Anthonij Rupert Wyne and the board game Alice’s Garden, and talk of how freaking big a Protea can get (image below!) We also have a twofer for the Last Call, with Knitting Circle by FLATOUT GAMES and Dice Throne Outcasts + Adventures Unchained which are set to complete on Fri, December 13 2024 and Mon, November 18 2024, respectively. So get on that if you want some great new games! If you’ve got a game that you’d like...

Meeples & Wine: Buffy and the Devil’s Cellar! Welcome back to Meeples & Wine, where Michael and Suzy bring you the latest in board game reviews for couples—alongside a delicious glass of wine! In this episode, we dive into the world of both vampire slaying and Chilean wine. We’re tasting Casillero del Diablo’s Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its bold cherry and blackcurrant notes with a hint of vanilla, perfect for pairing with grilled meats and mature cheeses. With medium body and marked tannins...

Hello, Meeples and Wine listeners! This week, we sunk our teeth into The Hunger, a vampire-themed deck-builder by Richard Garfield. In the game, you play as vampires hunting humans to gain points, but there’s a catch: you need to make it back to your castle before sunrise, or you’ll burn to ash! It’s a fun push-your-luck experience where you must balance collecting points with your race against time. We paired the game with a bottle of Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, which was a solid hit with...

In this episode, we review Fire Tower and taste Toasted Head 2022 Chardonnay, along with the Last Call Kickstarter “Wild Imaginary West”. 00:00 Welcome to Meeples and Wine 00:24 Meet Your Hosts: Michael and Susie 00:47 Contacting Meeples and Wine 01:02 The Voicemail Debate 02:13 Today’s Game: Fire Tower 02:39 Wine Tasting: Toasted Head Chardonnay 08:41 Fire Tower: Game Overview 12:04 Fire Tower: Game Mechanics 16:42 Fire Tower: Strategy and Gameplay 21:04 Fire Tower: Special Cards and Roles 22:2...

Greetings! This week Michael and Suzy play Apollo: A Game Inspired by NASA Moon Missions, by Buffalo Games, and also holds our record for the longest game title to date! Choose your role as either the team of Astronauts or Mission Control as you attempt to successfully either orbit the Earth in the Gemini II mission pack or make it to the moon and back in the Apollo! This won’t be easy, as every turn you must handle systems breaking down, succeeding in your mission level goals and managing to ge...

This week we review Unexpected Games’ 3000 Scoundrels, a futuristic wild-west shootout of bluffing and misdirection! In this game you and up to three more of your friends play rival leaders vying to gather as much of the technology left behind by the mysterious “Traveler” who has just disappeared. Gather your posse together by joining the trait and transparent job cards to create new Scoundrels to hire, will you have a Corrupt Printer, Filthy Dog, or Helpful Banker? Play your poker hand to gain ...

Welcome to Meeples and Wine! This week Michael and Suzy play Flock Together from Sea Cow Games, taste La Vieille Ferme Rosé, and test out two new microphones! (Let us know how you think it sounds!) Yes, in this week’s game we take on the role of two chickens trying to survive three seasons against the elements and the predators that surround our coop, as Madame Chickovski and Cluckerberry Finn we go claw to toe against such villians as Professor Moleiarty, Chicksune and Cleopoultra! We also tas...

This week Michael and Suzy play Shadows Amsterdam, from Libellud games, an abstract clue giving game where players guide their teams across the map to discover clues, avoid the police, and find their client before their opponents do (or the timer completes!) That’s our Amazon Associates link up there, if you use it we will get some cash from it! Instead of a wine, we taste a mixed drink this week, the Phillip Marlowe Gimlet. This sweet tart drink made of Bombay Gin and Rose’s Lime Juice, with ro...

This week Michael and Suzy play the second game from their Kozz games Kickstarter, Dark Tomb: Bloodthorn Island! It’s the follow up to the first game, Crypts of Aurelian. This time around, though, it’s got a BOAT! We also taste The Supernatural Sauvignon Blanc, a 100% Sauv Blanc from New Zealand! Be sure to check out our Kickstarter Last Call, Imperial Borders, HERE! If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Fa...

This week we take a look at the first game from our recent Kickstarter purchase from Kozz games, Dark Tomb: Crypts of Aurelian, a “super portable” tabletop game (think Altoid’s tin-ish) where 1 to 5 players descend into the tombs to reclaim the Amulet of Fire to save Gorriah! It’s got all the cubes you want, and a multiple play-through setup so no two games are the same! Along with this we’re tasting Chronic Cellars Suite Petite, another suggestion from our wine department friends at our local ...

Hello and welcome back to everyone! This week Michael and Suzy are tasting a yuzu fruit sake cocktail mixing Zipang Sparkling Sake and Joto Yuzu Sake, a suggestion that we got from Susie and Tim, wine consultant and manager respectively, from our local Binny’s Beverage Depot out in Geneva, IL. Spoilers, there was nothing left by the end of the show…also, we are in no way sponsored by Binny’s (yet.) We also play Shinobi Wat-ahh! A hand management/worker placement game from Iello Games out in Fra...

We’re back and this week we’re reviewing Rocket House Games‘ Potion Panic a frantic race to become the Alchemist a la Mode by completing potion recipe’s components, smashing vials to get more cards in your hand or to deny your opponents those super valuable crystals! Ten crystals gets you the Philosopher’s Stone, which wins you the game and grants you powers beyond explanation in the next game (well, there is a card that explains them…). How does Potion Panic rate on our Fun scale? How does is r...

Welcome to another episode of Meeples and Wine! This time we’ll be discussing Fallout: The Board Game while drinking Do Epic Shit – 2021 Red Wine Blend from Browne Family Vineyards. The wine is a full-bodied Paso Robles Red Blend with notes of raspberry, cherry, black pepper, and dark chocolate. It pairs well with bold foods. Fallout: The Board Game is a post-nuclear adventure board game for one to four players. Players take on the role of survivors in a wasteland and explore, fight enemies, c...

Board Games, Wine Tasting, and Midwest Gaming Classic Adventures In this episode of Meeples and Wine, hosts Michael and Suzy return after a brief hiatus to share news of their appearance at the Midwest Gaming Classic 2024 in Milwaukee. They reminisce about their past experience at the event, interview highlights, and announce their plans for game demos, reviews, and more on the Meeples and Wine Tabletop stage. Following the event news, they dive into a wine tasting session featuring 19 Crimes M...

In this episode of Meeples and Wine, Michael dives into board games suitable for single players or those with one-player variants. He reviews Arkham Horror: Final Hour, discussing the strategy, mechanics, and overall gameplay. Michael also samples a blueberry, cinnamon and maple syrup ale from North Carolina’s Heist Brewery named ‘breakfast junkie,’ giving a detailed review of its flavor profile. The show also mentions its sponsor, Manscaped, and provides information on how listeners can connect...

Title: Reviewing “The Rocketeer” – A Perfect Pairing with A Glass of Chardonnay Hello everybody and welcome to the world of board games and fine wine, where every roll of the dice pairs perfectly with every sip of a good vintage. Today, we’re going to delve into the world of “The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future” board game while savoring a glass of the 2021 vintage Chardonnay from Bread and Butter Winery. The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future Board Game Review The link above is an Amazon Affiliate l...

Solo Game Exploration and Beer Tasting: ‘Onirim’ and Two Brothers Imperial Stout Onirim: A Dreamy Solitaire Adventure Introduction This week I’m reviewing Onirim, a solo/cooperative card game where you navigate a mysterious labyrinth as a dreamwalker. You must escape before your dream time runs out by finding the eight oneiric doors. Gameplay Onirim is a set collection and deck-building game. You have a hand of five cards and must match sets of three to unlock doors. However, there are challe...

In this episode of ‘Meeples and Wine’, hosts Michael and Suzy kick off the New Year by reviewing board game ‘Tiny Epic Dungeons’. The couple highlight the high replayability, short playtime, and high strategy of the game, despite its challenging learning curve. Michael and Suzy also mention a Kickstarter game they found interesting, ‘The Last Lighthouse’. They celebrate the return of their podcast after a hiatus and introduce their new sponsor, Manscaped. The hosts also enjoy Apothic Red wine, d...

Welcome to Meeples and Wine Na Pod Pomo 2023, hosted by Michael and Suzy, where they review board and tabletop games for couples. They explore how well games play with two players, their fun factor, complexity, and whether they might “destroy the marriage.” Each episode also includes a thematic wine, beer, or drink tasting to accompany the game. Meeples and Wine: Exploring Bluffing Mechanics and the Board Game ‘Chameleon’ Introduction: Welcome to Meeples and Wine, Now Pod Pomo 2023! Michael is ...