This one was a fun video, watching Jesse actually cringe and hug his games. And then you argumenting why the games are on the list. Very entertaining content. Please do more!
Yes it is, truly masterpiece of art even more than simply a boardgame. I've never thought I would be able to experience something like this until I played This War Of Mine. But need to respect that this game is not for everyone, many peole can feel distracted from this game and it's okay. But I am glad there are also many fans of this game too. I am proud of Awaken Realms, creator of this game Michał Oracz, that their boardgame found a way in to many boardgamers shelves hehe, cause I am Pole too
This World of Mine is such a great engrossing experience. It’s one of a kind. It’s not about the winning it’s about the story along the way. If you ever heard about the anime movie - Graves of the Fireflies, it’s in the same vein. Why do we play it? Well I don’t most of the time because it takes a toll out of you, but maybe every extended holiday, I’ll make a day out of it experience the story again. The story is never the same btw.
I so want to see a playthrough of Dale of Merchants, Alex vs Jesse, on either channel. I feel like Alex just wants to win while Jesse actually wants to have fun.
@@BoardGameCo So here's an interesting question: if you know that the other player(s) aren't playing "to win", do you feel like you're not getting the challenge you want? Curious, because my brother in-law and I play head to head all the time and he plays to win while I play to see how the other players play/think.
Sorry @boardgameco I’m still a fan of This War of Mine. All my solo games are so intense and immersive, its like no other game experience I have experienced. It’s as hard as Robinson Crusoe which I also love but it’s a different feeling you get with This War of Mine. You just have to try it, it’s really hard to explain. You don’t have to own it but you have to try it at least once. I’m sure @quackalope will let you borrow it. Excellent video as always. Hope you can do this series again next year. The roasting and banter is awesome! Keep it up guys!! Quack!!!
I own Root, but couldn't play it since I got it... with Alex explaining why this game is so "horrible" I've never wanted to play it more! Can't wait for the time we can gather with friends inside again, this will be the first game on the table!
When I was in highschool I read wuthering heights and had the epiphany that amazing works of art could exist and I could see the value in them and still hate them. I think TWOM falls into that camp. Depressing deep stories where everyone dies may bring a sense of catharsis to some but to others no amount of design or ability to deliver a solid experience will make it an experience they will wish to have.
Some people walk away from heavy emotionally draining stories feeling cleansed and euphoric. Others just feel depressed and gross. It's a personal preference that cannot be easily shifted.
Putting This war of mine in a "worst games" list is so wrong. Such a great experience playing it. I can't wait to find the time to start playing the campain of Days of Seige expansion.
I mean Wuthering Heights and The Watchmen are on my most hated book lists. I can recognize technical expertise in a field that excels at delivering an experience and still not want to have that experience. I'm with Alex. Doesn't matter how well put together the game is. If it's depressing I just don't want it. I think some people experience catharsis from consuming negative experience in media and other people just feel depressed.
Having played the computer game, the board game for This War of Mine is such a lovely thought-provoking game. I think that's the main reason I enjoy it - it's less emotionally punishing than the original and has enough emotional engagement that I feel that it's a puzzle you get close to solving, if not for a few unlucky rolls. Much like other co-operative games (like Pandemic, Arkham Horror and spin-offs) there's a great deal of "we'll do it next time!" draw - though the play-time gets it to the table less often.
This War of Mine is just a masterpiece man. Taste is subjective obviously and by the way, I thought Zombicide should have had a good spot on this video 😄 dice throwing destiny control 😉. Keep on the great content and thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Ok of the two "Worst Games in Quackalope's Collection" videos that came out today, this one was surprisingly less controversial, and better thought out/explained. Root makes sense, I still like it, but holy crap it took a long time for my group to play this correctly, and get to a point where people felt like they actually had a chance. we played it a lot at first, and then it fell more out of favor, for other games like Terraforming Mars & Scythe.
Thanks :) And I do love Root...but genuinely complain about aspects of it.
Před 3 lety+7
I feel like saying to someone "This is the worst game that you have and by the way I also have it and played it last week." is more of a compliment to how good that person's board games collection is than a roast. 😉
Agree with Jessie on This War of Mine. I find Robinson Crusoe a lot more punishing. Enjoyed seeing the two of you filming together. Congrats to both of you for reaching over 25K.
Dale of Merchants sits on my shelf, proudly, as a unique deckbuilder, different compared to any other one I own. I put it next to Core Worlds as being fun and unique. Dale is best played by those who understand the economy of the cards and then being able to swiftly pivot from playing cards for cool effects, to doing the math to get your stalls out. Sure some folks would prefer to be doing the cool card combo stuff for effects, but being able to balance that with getting the cards for the stalls, is where the fun for me is. I hear what you are saying, but having played this at 3 and 4 players, it is a different experience.
So, Alex . . . sometimes when life sucks, it's therapeutic for some of us to see worse things. When I'm throwing hours into Darkest Dungeon, my peeps know I'm in a bad spot. I don't play grimdark games so much when life is good.
This War of Mine isn't post-apocalyptic. It's about living in a country that is besieged by war. We see those pictures of countries that are in ruins, but what is it like for the citizens who are living there? How do they survive? What horror is their daily life? Haven't played the board game, but played the video game, and it's depressing as hell. It really makes you think and feel for those who live in countries going through war.
Whhhaaattttt nooooo this video 😂This war of mine is hands down my favourite game...I'm with Quackalope on this one, it's a masterpiece in storytelling! Edit: I've just got to root...and now I'm agreeing with you again!
This war of mine, just art of a game that makes you really think in a situation totally away from what you know and are comfortable. Awesome art of a game.
@@BoardGameCo although I do agree with most of the things you say. it is punishing and can be frustrating and cruel - but then I ask the question; does a game have to be fun to be great? if we don't compare TWOM with our fun and lighthearted games, but look at games as part of the broader entertainment sector and then compare it with like-minded creations, it shines in a whole new light. Schindlers List for example is definitely not a fun movie to watch, but that does not take away from the experience of watching it. and with the theme of TWOM, I feel that a more fun approach would take away from the experience...
Love this crossover content! Being new to this hobby, its good to see coverage of awesome boardgames that I was not around for as they were initially released.
Everytime I see someone who can objectively separate "quality" from "personal taste" I want to give this person an Oscar for "Best People of the Year". Seriously, this is a LOST SKILL!!!
This War of Mine is what Me got into boardgames! I love this game! My favorite! Solo game Yeah, we Play 2 people! Always a great story. But yeah, you loose often, but this is war. :p I love the fact that you can make plans to survive and within a second everything is different. This motivated me for Robinson Crusoe (very excited about) Massive Darkness... how dare you.. but correct in all points.
OMG exactly same here, This War Of Mine was my first boardgame 😁. Crazy that we had started it from game like this. But it was totally worthed every cent
Be warned. Robinson Crusoe is very different from TWoM. I love TWoM, but hate RC. In RC, the randomness is extremely frustrating and punishing with no viable way to mitigate it. And the narrative is way too weak to make up for these shortcomings. It is also way more complex and fiddly (as far as the rules go) than TWoM.
This War of Mine looks good for me, then again it's the setting and having a challenge where winning is very satisfying... But then again I also backup Frostpunk (which will probably replace one of these games in your future review ;)
OK Alex, you apologise right now. 😛 This War of Mine and Dale of Merchants are two amazing games! ✌️ The other 8 though, you can have those, I'll be on your side all the way. And that includes Russian Railroads which is OK, but only if you add German Railroads and even then, it's such a bone dry experience! 😉
This War of Mine I can't fight too strongly...haven't played it. And I do still own Dale....but it's not about the powers! That ruins an otherwise awesome game!
@@npckse8508 Yeah I mean the powers make the game. Someone playing the numbers game vs anyone who can work those flying squirrels for example, good luck! 😁
Ishtar is a wonderful "advanced" family game that flows very well. The way your "garden" builds up progressively in front of your eyes is very cool and the game has some great mechanisms, notably the "upgrade tree" where you can strategize your own path to victory. It has a lot of depth with just a few rules. Moreover, I feel it's kind of unfair to reproach to the game its "weight". Nothing surprising about it... After all, it's a Iello game made by Bruno Cathala. Both the publisher and the designer are reknown for their family games (although Cathala has also shown its brilliance with some heavier stuff such as Five Tribes, Yamatai, Cyclades or Imaginarium) and Ishtar was never expected to be a heavy beast of a game.
Fascinating video! Great job guys the making of both points and counterpoints. I have a few useful take aways. I look forward to more collaboration videos like this where there may be differing opinions, but civility is maintained.
Looked extensively into it to get it...but decided against due to the reasons mentioned....that said,.I respect your point....I said so as much in the video :)
This War of Mine is great. It's like saying that Schindler's List is not a good movie because the theme is heavy and because it's long. Come on Root is overrated, I agree.
I’m definitely not on board with This War of Mine being on this list! It’s a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. I’ve never won, and also never been disappointed in the time I’ve spent with it. It’s a fantastic work of art in the board game space. Also, I literally just bought the Dale of Merchants Collection a few days ago based on one play through with Jesse a few months ago. I thought it was a delightful experience that I’ll get to the table easier than some of my other heavy games. Love the video though! I enjoy these fun-filled uploads!
I totally agree with Jesse that this War of Mine shouldn't be on the list. But I can definitely understand why some people do not like this game because of its dark theme.
Na, the theme I'm ok with....but having a goal I'm supposed to achieve and then having a win rate that makes it exceedingly rare, that's my issue with it.
I understand youre issue with this game and agree with the point you have made. For me personally this is probably the only game I don't mind losing. Don't get me wrong I rather win. But I do like the overall experience during play the unique feel and story that this game gives you even tough its dark and depressing. I think the part in which this game excels are the storybits and the choices you are given during play wich make you feel like you are actually trying to survive during war. But to be honest if this game would have a better win/lose ratio it would probably hit the table more often then it does now.
@@BoardGameCo Yeah, it's my favourite boardgame too. I wrote longer comment seperately, but Alex I respect your opinion , that it's not cause it's bad game but because it's not for you, you don't want to be punished so hard by a game like this 😁. Fully understood.
This was a lot of fun! I was *so* hoping that KDM would be your #10. :-) You could have used the same argument that you did for TWOM (that the game is unfairly punishing).
@@BoardGameCo I've played it three times and enjoyed it once and I completely agree. The end of the game was, "Well, you needed to stop the Otters early in the game." How would I have known that!?!?! There is nothing intuitive.
I don't agree with all choices, but I do feel you did your job well to substantiate those choices. Made a very enjoyable video. With Jesse's help in emotional value ;-)
Hah! Ok, when you included Root I now know you are intentionally trying to 'throw' the list so Quack gets some redemption for his list! LMAO. This War of Mine ..., you are a nut my friend! Agreed on the rest of them, all junk! Good Vid guys!
Totally agree with Root, the amount of time you have to invest to kinda play the game is horrible! You have to watch so many videos to play and explanations of what is everyone has to do is exausting, it feels like you are studying for a test! That barrier is huge!!!
Here I am scrolling through a list of games I want to order, Alex on one shoulder and the Quackalope on the other... Thank you both for the back and forth, it is so much fun to see and think about games from different perspectives!
I can tell U as Ukrainian, that This war of Mine are actually describing all the war situatioun in cities like Mariupol, Irpin or Bucha. I have this game before the war. But I exactly have the same feeling now at war that I felt during the TWOM Board Game. It's masterpiece game.
TWOM is not post-apocaliptic. It's depiction of Sarajevo siege in 1992-1996. TWOM is a story that shows how fucked up it is to be a civilian during a war. Very difficult to win, very educative and educational. Stays in my collection forever.
This War of Mine is an achievement and should be praised for doing so many things differently than other games. But I know you're saying that it's not for you, more than you're saying it's a bad game.
This War of Mine is a masterclass in what a board game could be. Beautifully-designed, and with a message. We have movies, books, and even video games with heavy subject matter. Why are there so few board games that tackle these subjects? The whole purpose of this game (and the video game, for that matter) is to show that in war, there are no winners. You may survive, but at what cost? I personally don't feel like board games can achieve the level of immersion that other mediums can, due to the fact that there's always a degree of separation between you and the board you're looking at. But This War of Mine is the closest I've ever found to achieving that goal. You feel the weight of every decision. You regularly have to decide between doing what is "right" and doing what you have to just to survive. It gives people a look into what some people live through every single day, in a way that most of us will never experience. It is BRUTALLY hard, yes. But it has to be. If it was easy to win, the whole purpose of the game falls flat on its face. The civil war in the game is loosely based on Sarajevo during the Bosnian War from '92-'95, and it succeeds on every level. In that war, over 100,000 people died, and 2.2 million people were forcibly displaced. So an easy win does not fit the heart of the game. A win needs to feel hard-won. Impossible, even. Even when I have managed to win, I don't feel relief. I don't feel good. I don't feel happy. Because throughout the experience, I had to do some messed up stuff. I felt helpless, alone. I felt like I barely made it so many times. In a weird way, this is the BEST outcome for this game. It is a somber reminder of the horrors endured by people throughout history. They did not shy away from the subject matter, but rather embraced it. Most games of this type would give you a giant brick wall of a man and a full armory of guns and you'd be gunning down swathes of bland, nameless NPCs, but TWOM's approach is different. Sure, you may have weapons. Sure, you can gun down everyone in the room. But you're weak. The people you can fight have personalities. You don't want to fight them, and they don't want to fight you. But sometimes, you don't have a choice. And that's where this game soars. As I said before, this game didn't just set out to make a fun experience. They wanted to tell a story and teach a lesson. I think every gamer should play this game. I think it should be played in history classes. To sum up, play the game. Even if you don't like it, it is an experience like no other in board games. I really hope we get more games like this in the future.
Man, Alex is SO wrong about TWoM. One of the best narrative, story-driven games I've ever played. The punishing difficulty makes those moments of victory so good and memorable. It COULD NOT be the same if it wasn't so brutal, and I would argue it would be worse for it. And keep in mind, I don't even like games that are difficult just for the sake of being difficult. It's just... different. And that's good.
He complains about This War of Mine being too punishing and that Dale of Merchants economy is not punishing enough. Is not real life economy punishing enough?
I think the main reason people enjoy stuff like this war of mine theme is because its easier to watch some characters suffer and try to help them then it is to be in their shoes granted I have never played the game.
Gotta say that I agree about Root on this list. Love to play it, but one really need to know and play the factions a certain way to succeed. But still fun though😅
Never played Root before but it sounds like one of those RTS games where an experienced player will crush a noob who gets his build order wrong. When experienced players play together, everyone will know what the others are going to do. End of the day its up to the roll of the dice.
On the other hand-- watching Jesse suffer (watching him defend himself is awesome and fun) . . . watching him suffer when he's really wanting a game to be good and genuinely suspects it's gonna be lame is heartbreaking. We've all been there. It hurts.
This War of Mine is an amazing game and experience and I'm personally offended. For real though, play this one solo to enjoy it. It's not a sit around the table and laugh with your friends game, its like playing The Last of Us, or watching Eternal Sunshine. It's a rewarding way to spend your time, but it's not exactly a game you're going to play with a 12 pack and your buds. Root can piss off though I don't get people's fascination other than the great art and production.
I absolutely love Reichbusters, but I get your points of frustration. Let's hope the errata pack fixes that for you... And they also just teased Season 2🤗.
@@BoardGameCo Leo showed a new miniature in the latest Q&A. And yes, let's see what they have in store. Hopefully proofreading will be better this time.
I partly agree with Root. I love that game, but it does often feel like a game of checks and balances, where if one player fails to do their job properly at certain important points, another player will win and there's nothing you can really do to stop them. In many games I saw myself finally climbing out of the rut, getting my groove, actually thinking I might even have a chance to win... and then suddenly losing because noone bothered to stop a scrappy racoon from building himself a teapot. :(
Alex, be greatful that it is a nice week and Jesse is one of your closes friends that supports your channel on CZcams. Maybe one day he might be your brother in law or something like an uncle to your sons. QUACK!
I just got Root in the mail, and I am looking forward to playing it often despite you lol. I think the points you've made are fair as well as Quackalope's. It's like a love/hate relationship it seems. I honestly think the deep puzzles, strategies, and shenanigans are why I may play this very often.
I agree with root. It is impossible to get to the table since you cannot find 4 people willing to play and learn a complicated game like this ever. It sits on my shelf and collects dust.
This one was a fun video, watching Jesse actually cringe and hug his games. And then you argumenting why the games are on the list. Very entertaining content. Please do more!
Thanks :)
I agree!!!
Agreed, very genuine responses made it fun and interesting, so much so I'm considering dyeing my beard red :P
This War of Mine is amazing
Yes! I like it better than the video game!
Depressing themes just aren't for everyone
he just hates it because hes jewish
Yes it is, truly masterpiece of art even more than simply a boardgame. I've never thought I would be able to experience something like this until I played This War Of Mine.
But need to respect that this game is not for everyone, many peole can feel distracted from this game and it's okay.
But I am glad there are also many fans of this game too.
I am proud of Awaken Realms, creator of this game Michał Oracz, that their boardgame found a way in to many boardgamers shelves hehe, cause I am Pole too
This war of mine. Jesus what a game. One of my top 5's.
This World of Mine is such a great engrossing experience. It’s one of a kind. It’s not about the winning it’s about the story along the way. If you ever heard about the anime movie - Graves of the Fireflies, it’s in the same vein. Why do we play it? Well I don’t most of the time because it takes a toll out of you, but maybe every extended holiday, I’ll make a day out of it experience the story again. The story is never the same btw.
This War of Mine was my gaming group's favourite game for a while until King's Dilemma hit the table. :)
This War of Mine is a wonderful game... sad... but amazing! Go play it Alex! Quack 🦆
I so want to see a playthrough of Dale of Merchants, Alex vs Jesse, on either channel. I feel like Alex just wants to win while Jesse actually wants to have fun.
Watched the Root segment and I am totally convinced that Alex plays "to win".
Oh I absolutely play to win :) I'm totally fine not winning, but yes, it's the driving force.
@@BoardGameCo So here's an interesting question: if you know that the other player(s) aren't playing "to win", do you feel like you're not getting the challenge you want? Curious, because my brother in-law and I play head to head all the time and he plays to win while I play to see how the other players play/think.
How about a live playthrough that goes on both channels at the same time?!?
At this point, I don't even know where I am.
Confusing, I know :)
Ah yes my favorite kind of activity - Going to a friend's house to roast his board game collection :P
Hey, I'd do it more often if I could :)
@@BoardGameCo I was so looking forward to your #10 being KDM ;-)
That should be a thing, like /roastme, but roast my collection.
"Is real life not enough for any of you?" 😆😂
And I mean it :)
I mean, he’s got a point there
@@BoardGameCo lol
Sorry @boardgameco I’m still a fan of This War of Mine. All my solo games are so intense and immersive, its like no other game experience I have experienced. It’s as hard as Robinson Crusoe which I also love but it’s a different feeling you get with This War of Mine. You just have to try it, it’s really hard to explain. You don’t have to own it but you have to try it at least once. I’m sure @quackalope will let you borrow it.
Excellent video as always. Hope you can do this series again next year. The roasting and banter is awesome! Keep it up guys!! Quack!!!
@@BoardGameCo gluttons for punishment
I agree with Jesse. Why is "This War of Mine" in this video?
I said why :)
Alex literally pulls out Root and compliments it for like 10 minutes 😂
I own Root, but couldn't play it since I got it... with Alex explaining why this game is so "horrible" I've never wanted to play it more! Can't wait for the time we can gather with friends inside again, this will be the first game on the table!
@@eaidem1239 If you're not adverse to playing games online, there is a root discord with lots of active players playing on TTS
@@eaidem1239 also, you have the app on Steam, really good, it has been expanded now with the Riverfolk expansion
I actually really want to play This War of Mine. I love unique experiences, and I'm more experienced in that than winning.
It's definitely going to be unique :)
You need to sit down and play TWOM Alex, it's a very solid experience
When I was in highschool I read wuthering heights and had the epiphany that amazing works of art could exist and I could see the value in them and still hate them. I think TWOM falls into that camp. Depressing deep stories where everyone dies may bring a sense of catharsis to some but to others no amount of design or ability to deliver a solid experience will make it an experience they will wish to have.
This War of Mine and Root? Alex you're insane
Well one of those I still like and own :)
Root is really not that good.
Root is amazing!!
@@michaelrosado2203 Too many flaws
@@michaelrosado2203 possibly the worst game experience as a first game ever.....
This War of Mine is an awesome game.
It is not THAT difficult to 'win'
This war of mine is amazing. Alex is buggin lol
Some people walk away from heavy emotionally draining stories feeling cleansed and euphoric. Others just feel depressed and gross. It's a personal preference that cannot be easily shifted.
I know I am quite randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to watch new tv shows online ?
@Isaias Joe I would suggest FlixZone. You can find it by googling :)
This video should be called, Alex trolls Quackalope. Hilarious
I do enjoy talking to him :)
Putting This war of mine in a "worst games" list is so wrong. Such a great experience playing it. I can't wait to find the time to start playing the campain of Days of Seige expansion.
I mean Wuthering Heights and The Watchmen are on my most hated book lists. I can recognize technical expertise in a field that excels at delivering an experience and still not want to have that experience. I'm with Alex. Doesn't matter how well put together the game is. If it's depressing I just don't want it.
I think some people experience catharsis from consuming negative experience in media and other people just feel depressed.
... And Jesse's actual physical protection of Dale of Merchants by hugging it was too funny!
Made laugh out loud.
I thought I was the only one alive that felt the same way about Dale of Merchants! hope we can see a playthrough with you two soon!
Jesse....you and I need to do this apparently :)
Having played the computer game, the board game for This War of Mine is such a lovely thought-provoking game. I think that's the main reason I enjoy it - it's less emotionally punishing than the original and has enough emotional engagement that I feel that it's a puzzle you get close to solving, if not for a few unlucky rolls. Much like other co-operative games (like Pandemic, Arkham Horror and spin-offs) there's a great deal of "we'll do it next time!" draw - though the play-time gets it to the table less often.
Fantastic vid, Alex you were having way too much fun making Jessie squirm.
Maybe :)
This War of Mine is just a masterpiece man. Taste is subjective obviously and by the way, I thought Zombicide should have had a good spot on this video 😄 dice throwing destiny control 😉. Keep on the great content and thanks for sharing 👍🏻
So when is The Dale match going to b broadcast?
Lol no idea ..will let you know.
Ok of the two "Worst Games in Quackalope's Collection" videos that came out today, this one was surprisingly less controversial, and better thought out/explained.
Root makes sense, I still like it, but holy crap it took a long time for my group to play this correctly, and get to a point where people felt like they actually had a chance. we played it a lot at first, and then it fell more out of favor, for other games like Terraforming Mars & Scythe.
Thanks :) And I do love Root...but genuinely complain about aspects of it.
I feel like saying to someone "This is the worst game that you have and by the way I also have it and played it last week." is more of a compliment to how good that person's board games collection is than a roast. 😉
Root is amazing despite it's issues, yes :)
I like how they both wear hats indoors. Hey, you never know when the roof may start to leak... ;)
Lol, mine is religious, his is personal preference :)
Agree with Jessie on This War of Mine. I find Robinson Crusoe a lot more punishing. Enjoyed seeing the two of you filming together. Congrats to both of you for reaching over 25K.
Thank you :) And Robinson I do want to at least try.
@@BoardGameCo It's not as good as its reputation.
Dale of Merchants sits on my shelf, proudly, as a unique deckbuilder, different compared to any other one I own. I put it next to Core Worlds as being fun and unique. Dale is best played by those who understand the economy of the cards and then being able to swiftly pivot from playing cards for cool effects, to doing the math to get your stalls out. Sure some folks would prefer to be doing the cool card combo stuff for effects, but being able to balance that with getting the cards for the stalls, is where the fun for me is. I hear what you are saying, but having played this at 3 and 4 players, it is a different experience.
Can we have a quackalope top 10 whiskey? High noon is on my regular rotation.
He's probably down :)
So, Alex . . . sometimes when life sucks, it's therapeutic for some of us to see worse things. When I'm throwing hours into Darkest Dungeon, my peeps know I'm in a bad spot. I don't play grimdark games so much when life is good.
That's a fascinating take. Love it....not that life sucks of course, but the explanation.
The look on Jessie's face with a few of those games was comedy gold
This War of Mine isn't post-apocalyptic. It's about living in a country that is besieged by war. We see those pictures of countries that are in ruins, but what is it like for the citizens who are living there? How do they survive? What horror is their daily life?
Haven't played the board game, but played the video game, and it's depressing as hell. It really makes you think and feel for those who live in countries going through war.
Whhhaaattttt nooooo this video 😂This war of mine is hands down my favourite game...I'm with Quackalope on this one, it's a masterpiece in storytelling! Edit: I've just got to root...and now I'm agreeing with you again!
Same here. I am glad that this boardgame has many fans too
"I hate that I don't think you're wrong..."
That and the sigh from Jesse was gold.
(dungeonlogy still in shrink)
This war of mine, just art of a game that makes you really think in a situation totally away from what you know and are comfortable. Awesome art of a game.
Alex, I like This War of Mine :-)
I only have this war of mine of the list and absolutely love it.The other
games I don’t know…great video guys like always..
Thanks :)
Gotta love the flourishing bromance between these two :)
a great debate between two passionate and knowledgeable players.
Thank you Tom.
I'm sorry Alex, but This War of Mine is an awesome game in the way that it expands what board games can do!
So I keep hearing :)
@@BoardGameCo although I do agree with most of the things you say. it is punishing and can be frustrating and cruel - but then I ask the question; does a game have to be fun to be great?
if we don't compare TWOM with our fun and lighthearted games, but look at games as part of the broader entertainment sector and then compare it with like-minded creations, it shines in a whole new light. Schindlers List for example is definitely not a fun movie to watch, but that does not take away from the experience of watching it. and with the theme of TWOM, I feel that a more fun approach would take away from the experience...
Gosh how much I love these video with you two interacting in such a great way! :D
Love this crossover content! Being new to this hobby, its good to see coverage of awesome boardgames that I was not around for as they were initially released.
Everytime I see someone who can objectively separate "quality" from "personal taste" I want to give this person an Oscar for "Best People of the Year". Seriously, this is a LOST SKILL!!!
This War of Mine is what Me got into boardgames! I love this game! My favorite! Solo game Yeah, we Play 2 people!
Always a great story. But yeah, you loose often, but this is war. :p I love the fact that you can make plans to survive and within a second everything is different. This motivated me for Robinson Crusoe (very excited about)
Massive Darkness... how dare you.. but correct in all points.
OMG exactly same here, This War Of Mine was my first boardgame 😁. Crazy that we had started it from game like this.
But it was totally worthed every cent
Be warned. Robinson Crusoe is very different from TWoM. I love TWoM, but hate RC. In RC, the randomness is extremely frustrating and punishing with no viable way to mitigate it. And the narrative is way too weak to make up for these shortcomings. It is also way more complex and fiddly (as far as the rules go) than TWoM.
This War of Mine looks good for me, then again it's the setting and having a challenge where winning is very satisfying... But then again I also backup Frostpunk (which will probably replace one of these games in your future review ;)
OK Alex, you apologise right now. 😛 This War of Mine and Dale of Merchants are two amazing games! ✌️
The other 8 though, you can have those, I'll be on your side all the way. And that includes Russian Railroads which is OK, but only if you add German Railroads and even then, it's such a bone dry experience! 😉
This War of Mine I can't fight too strongly...haven't played it. And I do still own Dale....but it's not about the powers! That ruins an otherwise awesome game!
@@BoardGameCo Alex, ignoring the powers and playing only the numbers will result in a quick loss to a player that knows what they are doing.
@@npckse8508 Yeah I mean the powers make the game. Someone playing the numbers game vs anyone who can work those flying squirrels for example, good luck! 😁
Ishtar is a wonderful "advanced" family game that flows very well. The way your "garden" builds up progressively in front of your eyes is very cool and the game has some great mechanisms, notably the "upgrade tree" where you can strategize your own path to victory. It has a lot of depth with just a few rules.
Moreover, I feel it's kind of unfair to reproach to the game its "weight". Nothing surprising about it... After all, it's a Iello game made by Bruno Cathala. Both the publisher and the designer are reknown for their family games (although Cathala has also shown its brilliance with some heavier stuff such as Five Tribes, Yamatai, Cyclades or Imaginarium) and Ishtar was never expected to be a heavy beast of a game.
Obviously everything is subjective, but personally speaking I like a lot of lighter games, Ishtar just didn't work for me.
Fascinating video! Great job guys the making of both points and counterpoints. I have a few useful take aways. I look forward to more collaboration videos like this where there may be differing opinions, but civility is maintained.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed :-)
He pulls out Russian Railroads with feudeum in the back I’m crying.
Agreed :) But I haven't played Feudum (at least with This War of Mine I looked into it heavily to decide if I should get it or not).
Alex, all due respect, but not having played a game, (TWOM) and still saying its one of the Worst Games in a Collection? Head scratcher.
Looked extensively into it to get it...but decided against due to the reasons mentioned....that said,.I respect your point....I said so as much in the video :)
This War of Mine is a fantastic thematic game that I just love
I've since played it...better than I expected but still not for me.
This War of Mine is great. It's like saying that Schindler's List is not a good movie because the theme is heavy and because it's long. Come on
Root is overrated, I agree.
I don't like the premise of a game that gives you an objective, and then makes it incredibly hard and random to achieve said objective.
I’m definitely not on board with This War of Mine being on this list! It’s a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. I’ve never won, and also never been disappointed in the time I’ve spent with it. It’s a fantastic work of art in the board game space.
Also, I literally just bought the Dale of Merchants Collection a few days ago based on one play through with Jesse a few months ago. I thought it was a delightful experience that I’ll get to the table easier than some of my other heavy games.
Love the video though! I enjoy these fun-filled uploads!
Awesome. I was so waiting for Alex to pull out KDM. Just to get a reaction.
Na, I can't pure clickbait :)
High energy great video!! 😂🔥🥳 Love it guys
I totally agree with Jesse that this War of Mine shouldn't be on the list. But I can definitely understand why some people do not like this game because of its dark theme.
It's like saying that Schindler's List is bad movie because of it's theme
Na, the theme I'm ok with....but having a goal I'm supposed to achieve and then having a win rate that makes it exceedingly rare, that's my issue with it.
I understand youre issue with this game and agree with the point you have made. For me personally this is probably the only game I don't mind losing. Don't get me wrong I rather win. But I do like the overall experience during play the unique feel and story that this game gives you even tough its dark and depressing. I think the part in which this game excels are the storybits and the choices you are given during play wich make you feel like you are actually trying to survive during war. But to be honest if this game would have a better win/lose ratio it would probably hit the table more often then it does now.
This war is mine is incredible! one of the best game for solo mode! I do love this game. Uncredible experience. So real.
The amount of love for the game her is great :)
@@BoardGameCo Yeah, it's my favourite boardgame too. I wrote longer comment seperately, but Alex I respect your opinion , that it's not cause it's bad game but because it's not for you, you don't want to be punished so hard by a game like this 😁. Fully understood.
This was a lot of fun! I was *so* hoping that KDM would be your #10. :-) You could have used the same argument that you did for TWOM (that the game is unfairly punishing).
As a fan of Root I totally get where you're coming from!
I'm a fan as well...despite myself :)
@@BoardGameCo I've played it three times and enjoyed it once and I completely agree. The end of the game was, "Well, you needed to stop the Otters early in the game." How would I have known that!?!?! There is nothing intuitive.
That said... I'd play it again :)
@@cdubthebabyshooter You know by playing it often.
I liked Ishtar:/ I don't have it because it wasn't loved by my group. It is one of a handful of games I've parted with that I'm sad about.
I love this war of mine...but that just might be because I like getting my but kicked... it is so hard though lol
I don't agree with all choices, but I do feel you did your job well to substantiate those choices. Made a very enjoyable video. With Jesse's help in emotional value ;-)
Thanks :) And I love wounded Jesse :)
Loved this! Such smart and enjoyable back and forth!
Hah! Ok, when you included Root I now know you are intentionally trying to 'throw' the list so Quack gets some redemption for his list! LMAO. This War of Mine ..., you are a nut my friend! Agreed on the rest of them, all junk! Good Vid guys!
Totally agree with Root, the amount of time you have to invest to kinda play the game is horrible! You have to watch so many videos to play and explanations of what is everyone has to do is exausting, it feels like you are studying for a test! That barrier is huge!!!
Here I am scrolling through a list of games I want to order, Alex on one shoulder and the Quackalope on the other... Thank you both for the back and forth, it is so much fun to see and think about games from different perspectives!
I can tell U as Ukrainian, that This war of Mine are actually describing all the war situatioun in cities like Mariupol, Irpin or Bucha.
I have this game before the war. But I exactly have the same feeling now at war that I felt during the TWOM Board Game. It's masterpiece game.
Yes, i will also say it! This War of Mine is an excellent board game and you should definitely try it :)
I hope to eventually :)
TWOM is not post-apocaliptic. It's depiction of Sarajevo siege in 1992-1996. TWOM is a story that shows how fucked up it is to be a civilian during a war. Very difficult to win, very educative and educational. Stays in my collection forever.
Oops, if I said post apocalyptic I misspoke.
This War of Mine is an achievement and should be praised for doing so many things differently than other games. But I know you're saying that it's not for you, more than you're saying it's a bad game.
This War of Mine is a masterclass in what a board game could be. Beautifully-designed, and with a message. We have movies, books, and even video games with heavy subject matter. Why are there so few board games that tackle these subjects? The whole purpose of this game (and the video game, for that matter) is to show that in war, there are no winners. You may survive, but at what cost? I personally don't feel like board games can achieve the level of immersion that other mediums can, due to the fact that there's always a degree of separation between you and the board you're looking at. But This War of Mine is the closest I've ever found to achieving that goal. You feel the weight of every decision. You regularly have to decide between doing what is "right" and doing what you have to just to survive. It gives people a look into what some people live through every single day, in a way that most of us will never experience.
It is BRUTALLY hard, yes. But it has to be. If it was easy to win, the whole purpose of the game falls flat on its face. The civil war in the game is loosely based on Sarajevo during the Bosnian War from '92-'95, and it succeeds on every level. In that war, over 100,000 people died, and 2.2 million people were forcibly displaced. So an easy win does not fit the heart of the game. A win needs to feel hard-won. Impossible, even. Even when I have managed to win, I don't feel relief. I don't feel good. I don't feel happy. Because throughout the experience, I had to do some messed up stuff. I felt helpless, alone. I felt like I barely made it so many times. In a weird way, this is the BEST outcome for this game. It is a somber reminder of the horrors endured by people throughout history. They did not shy away from the subject matter, but rather embraced it. Most games of this type would give you a giant brick wall of a man and a full armory of guns and you'd be gunning down swathes of bland, nameless NPCs, but TWOM's approach is different. Sure, you may have weapons. Sure, you can gun down everyone in the room. But you're weak. The people you can fight have personalities. You don't want to fight them, and they don't want to fight you. But sometimes, you don't have a choice. And that's where this game soars. As I said before, this game didn't just set out to make a fun experience. They wanted to tell a story and teach a lesson. I think every gamer should play this game. I think it should be played in history classes.
To sum up, play the game. Even if you don't like it, it is an experience like no other in board games. I really hope we get more games like this in the future.
Alex, bud, I could handle everything you were saying right up until This War of Mine.
DALE OF MERCHANTS??? To quote Quackalope…how dare you…
ROOT???? 😑
Lol, despite my complaints, from those three... I still own two and the other one I haven't played.
Love the video and great seeing you guys together!!!
Man, Alex is SO wrong about TWoM. One of the best narrative, story-driven games I've ever played. The punishing difficulty makes those moments of victory so good and memorable. It COULD NOT be the same if it wasn't so brutal, and I would argue it would be worse for it. And keep in mind, I don't even like games that are difficult just for the sake of being difficult. It's just... different. And that's good.
I may well be wrong :) I didn't play it after all :)
WOW ROOOT?? THANK YOU MAN :D I love you man!!!! trash that came totally :D This list are so insanly awsome! BoardGameCo
Please stop saying This War of Mine is post apocalyptic. It’s based on real-life war events. That makes it even more gut-wrenching
You're right, that was a misspeak. I'm aware of when it takes place, just speaking instinctively since games like this usually are post-apocalyptic
Dale of Merchants Showdown!
He complains about This War of Mine being too punishing and that Dale of Merchants economy is not punishing enough. Is not real life economy punishing enough?
Sad to see Alchemists there
Sorry :( wasn't for us...still might be a great game for you.
This War Of Mine is incredible!!! I love that game. It should not be on this list.
I think the main reason people enjoy stuff like this war of mine theme is because its easier to watch some characters suffer and try to help them then it is to be in their shoes granted I have never played the game.
Gotta say that I agree about Root on this list. Love to play it, but one really need to know and play the factions a certain way to succeed. But still fun though😅
Yep...still own it....but very situational.
Well that's kind of the point of Root.^^
You're a monster Alex - driving Jesse further into his bottle !
Lol yep :)
Life is hard, and that's OK. Great one. Alex is wrong on TWOM on every level, and Quack gets it so much. Life is hard, and that's OK.
I'd play This War of Mine with you Jesse.
Based on the comment section I should probably play this war of mine :)
Never played Root before but it sounds like one of those RTS games where an experienced player will crush a noob who gets his build order wrong.
When experienced players play together, everyone will know what the others are going to do. End of the day its up to the roll of the dice.
To a degree it has that, I don't know if our group ever plays anything enough to get that kind of knowledge from it.
this war of mine is one of the most amazing games i own, he's a fool
I was sure what the "worst" game would be before I clicked the video, you don't disappoint. :)
:)
I look forward to one of my future games published to be on one of your lists!
Lol hopefully not this one
On the other hand-- watching Jesse suffer (watching him defend himself is awesome and fun) . . . watching him suffer when he's really wanting a game to be good and genuinely suspects it's gonna be lame is heartbreaking. We've all been there. It hurts.
Lol this was a fun video :)
I love this, two perspectives with great analogies!!!
Thanks :)
Alchemists is fantastic and it’s not as hard as people make it out to be because it follows the theme so well.
This War of Mine is an amazing game and experience and I'm personally offended.
For real though, play this one solo to enjoy it. It's not a sit around the table and laugh with your friends game, its like playing The Last of Us, or watching Eternal Sunshine. It's a rewarding way to spend your time, but it's not exactly a game you're going to play with a 12 pack and your buds.
Root can piss off though I don't get people's fascination other than the great art and production.
I absolutely love Reichbusters, but I get your points of frustration. Let's hope the errata pack fixes that for you... And they also just teased Season 2🤗.
Oh did they....that's not safe for me....I liked the premise of the game, let's see what they do.
@@BoardGameCo Leo showed a new miniature in the latest Q&A. And yes, let's see what they have in store. Hopefully proofreading will be better this time.
That face screaming a million quaks from jesee was so worth top moment from all your moments
I partly agree with Root. I love that game, but it does often feel like a game of checks and balances, where if one player fails to do their job properly at certain important points, another player will win and there's nothing you can really do to stop them.
In many games I saw myself finally climbing out of the rut, getting my groove, actually thinking I might even have a chance to win... and then suddenly losing because noone bothered to stop a scrappy racoon from building himself a teapot. :(
Yup. Love it...but also love to complain about it.
Alex, be greatful that it is a nice week and Jesse is one of your closes friends that supports your channel on CZcams. Maybe one day he might be your brother in law or something like an uncle to your sons. QUACK!
I just got Root in the mail, and I am looking forward to playing it often despite you lol. I think the points you've made are fair as well as Quackalope's. It's like a love/hate relationship it seems. I honestly think the deep puzzles, strategies, and shenanigans are why I may play this very often.
The banter the 2 of you have together is great.
You guys should do a radio like program together. When you argue it’s great.
I agree with root. It is impossible to get to the table since you cannot find 4 people willing to play and learn a complicated game like this ever. It sits on my shelf and collects dust.