The Board Game BBQ Podcast

Join Conor as he welcomes two of Australia's most celebrated board game designers — Matt Dunstan and Phil Walker-Harding — for the first episode from Oceania Month in 2026! Matt is best known for games like Next Station London, Elysium, and the Adventure Games series, while Phil is the mind behind Sushi Go!, Imhotep, Bärenpark, and Gizmos. Together they give us a sneak peek at the upcoming Designer Day event at Play Con — an exciti...

Join Banana, Conor and Joe as they discuss what has been hitting the table. Joe is mixing Tinder and board games in an effort to get through his shelf of shame.  Conor is living his best life in Sydney with his brother from another mother and building arrays in Civolution. Banana is more fascinated by Joe’s love life than any games, although she’s excited about getting another fix of Ark Nova vibes in Sanctuary.  There’s lots of ga...

On the back of Jules’ wedding, join Conor and Banana as they discuss what has been hitting their tables. Conor has been gaming like crazy after the new move to Sydney.  He’s particularly enamoured with hoarding dates and slippers in Marrakesh.  Meanwhile, Banana is obsessed with ‘Huge Baby’ and his ability to throw his weight around in Magical Athlete!  All this and much more, so enjoy the listen!

Sizzling Games:

Magical Athlete ...

Join Lauren, Adrian and Jules as they discuss what has been hitting their tables. The whiting is on the wall - Jules is hooked on trick taking, with Fishing. Lauren has been trying out less fishing and more fission, snipping wires in Bomb Busters. Adrian is grabbing his windbreaker and doing his best Al Capone impression in Chicago 1875: City of the Big Shoulders. To top it off we look forward in our question of the ...

Join Conor, Lauren and Adrian as they ring in the new year with a whole lot of new games. Adrian recalls his experience with the Exit Advent Calendar - the experience really opened some doors for him. Conor really embraces the theme of Crusaders as he focuses on expansion, giving a Devine take with Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done - Divine Influence. Lauren is playing a delightfully simple game that makes her want to gabber on, nay, sin...

Join the team as we round out our top 5-1 games of all time for 2025! There might be some old favourites, new surprises and some rule breaking. We would love to hear what games have made the top of your lists this year. Timestamps: Adrian’s 5 [0:02:21] Conor’s 5 [0:05:52 Joe’s 5 [0:09:08] Jules’ 5 [0:11:42] Lauren’s 5 [0:13:43] Dana’s 5 [0:15:59] Adrian’s 4 [0:19:50] Conor’s 4 [0:21:09] Joe’s 4 [0:23:13] Jules’ 4 [0:24:25] Lauren’...

This week, join the whole gang as we wrap up our top 10 games of all time! In this part 1, we'll be going through games 10-6. Part 2 of the top 5-1 will follow in the next pod. Join us to find out what we think are some of the greatest games ever made. We'd also love to hear what games you have on your top 10. 

Timestamps: Adrian's 10 [0:13:23] Joe's 10 [0:15:30] Dana's 10 [0:16:58] Jules' 10 [0:20:55] Lauren's 10 [0:22:01] Conor's...

Join Conor, Jules and Adrian in this “all-aussie” pod as Adrian celebrates his citizenship.  No longer a Brit, but an Aussie through and through … as if he wasn’t already!

Adrian has been revisiting an old favourite and curing himself of the plague in Bristol 1350.  Jules has been wooed by a game about picnicking on plaid with ants in the new Bitewing Games title, Gingham. Coincidentally, Conor is also corralling six-legged insects...

Join Dana, Lauren, Joe and the ghosts that haunt Dana's house as they chat about all the games hitting their tables. Joe has been checking out some small games to see whether they measure up, in Panda Panda and Vivo. Lauren thinks this one is so delightful, but that might be a knee-jerk reaction, with Soda Jerk. Dana engages in some nautical nonsense, breaking her back carrying all that loot in Pirates of Maracaibo.  We also have ...

This week join Jules, Adrian and Conor as they chat about what they've been getting played. Jules has been watching sumos slam in Slambo. Conor has been scaling colossi in Leviathan Wilds. Adrian shares the tale of losing at Riftbound to a literal child - because nothing says humble like being demolished by someone who still needs to be put to bed at night!

This plus our Question of the Pod recap and finally ending with what has us...

Tune in for our PAX Australia 2025 special! This year, Joe, Adrian, Conor, Jules, and special guest Finn are live on the showroom floor bringing you exclusive hands-on impressions and interviews with some of Australia's most exciting up-and-coming game designers. We dive deep into their latest prototype projects, and share our takes on some standout established titles we got to experience at...

This week, join Jules, Dana and Adrian as they chat about the games hitting their table. Dana has been surviving the harsh desert conditions in Desperate Oasis. Jules has been journeying through the mystical landscapes of Faraway. Adrian continues to rabbit on about Barrage and its expansions - because apparently one dam episode wasn't enough!

This pl...

This week, join Lauren, Conor and Jules as they chat about the games hitting their table. Jules is used to laying waste to his opponents, and now he can literally leave them - in Ruins. Conor is hot for this game but she's cold for him, in the expansion Aquatica: Cold Waters. Lauren has been playing some small little card games but is mostly just along for the ride. 

This plus our Question of the Pod recap and finally ending with w...

In this episode Banana, Adrian and Joe are chatting about what’s been hitting the table.

Adrian, has been exploring Etherstone but can’t stop talking about another game entirely.  Banana is still wondering how to make a zombie look enthusiastic in Caution Signs.  Meanwhile Joe is finding joy in creating amphibian high-rises in Frog Tower.

All this and a few laughs, so enjoy!

Sizzling Games:

Frog Tower: [37:12]

Endeavor: Deep Sea:...

In this episode the three bearded folk - Conor, Jules and Joe are getting into mischief.  Joe has got a thing for sexy horses in Snowcrest. Meanwhile, Conor has had some dentistry issues, or a toothache, or something like that, with Gloomhaven: Digital Edition.  Jules is living his best life exploring a planet, and thankfully doing more than just ‘aimlessly engaging with things’ in Vantage. 

All this and more, so you’d better have ...

Episode 341 – Post-Play Con Catch-up: Gen Con, Ladies’ Gaming Weekend & Mic Chaos

In a post-Play Con world, the BBQ crew is back behind the mics — well, most of the mics. Jules shares tales from his big trip to Gen Con, Dana recounts her epic ladies’ weekend away full of board games, and Adrian… well, let’s just say his microphone wasn’t having a good day. Blame him for any dodgy audio — we sure are.

This week’s sizzling games:

We apologise for some minor sound quality issues this week. We hope you enjoy the pod all the same!

This week join Conor, Lauren and Dana as they discuss their Play Con 2025 highlights, including TTRPGs, big group games and some hot new releases. Conor has been throwing it back playing a game painted so beautifully that all other games are ruined for him, with Foundations of Rome. Lauren is casting aside life, youth, and rest, in...

Episode 339 - Wellycon Adventures!

Joe and Adrian are back from an incredible trip to New Zealand where they hit up Wellycon, the biggest board gaming event in NZ! They talk about all the amazing games they played, the wonderful people they met, and the awesome Kiwi gaming community.

A massive shout out to the team at Garphill Games for being absolute legends and making them feel so welcome — and for showing off some seriously cool...

Join Conor, Joe and Lauren and they discuss what has been hitting their tables and screens. Conor has gone absolutely rogue venturing off the table and into the digital space with Monster Train 2. Lauren enlightens the guys on her recent solo tower defence adventure with The Last Lighthouse. Joe has been playing a fun party game, no wait a really fun party game, no wait a game that dances and teaches itself and gives everyone free ...