Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast

This episode we have a discussion about cheating at the game table and what you can do if you think someone is cheating. We also share first thoughts on Robotech Reconstruction from Strange Machine Games and Cats Knocking Things off Ledges from The Op, and wrap up with two featured reviews: Castle Raisers from Wonderful World Board Games, and Tesseract from Smirk and Dagger Games.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 295 was recorded on February 11th, 2026. Episodes are usually recorded Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep295/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) Checking In

(00:02:17) Announcements

GAMA Expo https://www.gama.org/page/gama-expo

BreakoutCon https://breakoutcon.com/

Upcoming Windsor Events https://tabletopbellhop.com/local/

(00:03:26) Ask The Bellhop - Cheaters at the Table

(00:33:06) The Bellhop's Tabletop

(00:47:11) The Game Room - Castle Raisers

Pick up the WWBG version of Castle Raisers on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rPzZ6X

Grab the Revised Castle Raisers Rulebook on BGG https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/307619/castle-raisers-revised-rulebook

Check out our Lone Wolves review on Tabletop For Two, Tabletop Bellhop Ep 276 https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep276/

(01:10:11) The Game Room - Tesseract

Pick up Tesseract on Amazon: https://amzn.to/46O11TU

Visit the Smirk & Dagger Amazon store: https://amzn.to/4rOPY5a

Check out our other Smirk & Dagger content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=smirk

(01:27:26) Closing the Doors

Send feedback to [email protected] [email protected] or [email protected]

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Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

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This episode we share our favourite long and really long board games. We also talk about what we’ve been playing including first thoughts on Scurry Up from Up Games, and wrap up with two featured reviews, How to Save A World from Burnt Island Games and Metro Runner from Thunderworks Games.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 294 was recorded on February 4th, 2026. These episodes are recorded Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

We usually try to record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/294

(00:00:00) Checking In

(00:02:36) Ask the Bellhop - Great longer board games

(00:41:51) The Bellhop's Tabletop

(01:14:44) The Game Room - How To Save A World

Pre-order How to Save A World direct from Burnt Island: https://www.burntislandgames.com/how-to-save-a-world?ref=tabletopbellhop

Check out our review of Endeavor on A Grand Time, Episode 258: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep258/

Learn about other great games published in Canada on Elbows Up! Episode 282: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep282/

(01:43:47) The Game Room - Metrorunner

Pick up Metrorunner on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZWJTHK

Show for other games from Thunderworks: https://amzn.to/4akBvHb

Our other Thunderworks Games content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=thunderworks

(02:02:09) Closing the Doors

Send feedback to [email protected] [email protected] or [email protected]

TIP THE BELLHOP:

Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch

Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:

Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com

Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

This episode we share a rather large list of games we think are great for large groups, groups of seven or more players, and that’s not just a bunch of party games.

We also share what we’ve been playing and wrap up with three featured reviews: 3-2-1 Countdown from Grandpa Beck’s Games, Brick Like This! from Asmodee, and Hand Games 21 a book by Don Eskridge.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 293 was recorded on January 21st, 2026. We usually record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep293/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) CHECK-IN

(00:01:59) Announcements

February 2026 Events:
Feb 8th - Board Game Bazaar
Feb 22nd - Pop Up Board Game Cafe
Feb 26th - Brews & Board Games
Our event calendar: https://tabletopbellhop.com/local/

(00:02:56) Ask the Bellhop - Great games for seven or more players

(00:37:31) The Bellhop’s Tabletop

(00:51:15) The Game Room - 3-2-1 Countdown

Pick up 3-2-1 Countdown on Amazon, https://amzn.to/4k4hB7O

Or better yet order it direct from Grandpa Beck’s where you can use BELLHOP to save 15%, https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/products/3-2-1-countdown?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX

Check out our Skull King review on Ep 263 https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep263/

And our Reign of Dragoness review on Ep 283 https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep283/

(00:58:20) The Game Room - Brick Like This

Pick up Brick Like This! on Amazon, https://amzn.to/4rbxwDm

You may also dig Monkey Palace another newer LEGO Game, https://amzn.to/3NMVjep

Learn about more of our favourite party games on ep 166 https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep166/

(01:11:57) The Game Room - 21 Hand Games

Pick up Hand Games 21 on Amazon, https://amzn.to/4sXsuMB
Check out Don’s hit social deduction games The Resistance https://amzn.to/4pYNfoi and/or Avalon https://amzn.to/3O3pgHd

An apology: During the review of Hand Games 21 we say Dan Eskridge instead of Don, sorry about that Don.

(01:37:27) Closing the Doors

TIP THE BELLHOP:
Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch

Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:

Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com

Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

We share the best new to us games that we played in 2025, five from each of us, for fifteen total. We also talk about all of the games we played over the holidays (which was a lot!). Then we wrap up with a review of SETI from CGE.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 292 was recorded on January 14th, 2026. We usually record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep292/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) CHECK-IN

(00:02:01) Announcements

We renewed our GAMA membership https://www.gama.org/

We will be at GAMA Expo https://www.gama.org/page/gama-expo

Learn more about GAMA and the Expo: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep236/

Upcoming Events:
Jan 22nd - Brews & Board Games at the Walkerville Brewery

Jan 25th - Board Game Mixer at Hidden Trail

Our event calendar: https://tabletopbellhop.com/local/

(00:03:41) Ask the Bellhop

(00:32:36) The Bellhop’s Tabletop

(01:37:51) The Game Room - SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Pick up SETI at B&N, https://barnesandnoble.sjv.io/jex6DM

Check out our other CGE content, https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=CGE

Visit https://www.czechgames.com

(02:08:42) Closing the Doors

TIP THE BELLHOP:

Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch

Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:

Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com

Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

We answer a question from one of our awesome Patreon patrons who asked what we think publishers can do to better set expectations for their board games. We also share the games we’ve been playing lately, including Grandpa Beck’s latest game, Whoa There Cowboy! Plus we dive into detailed reviews of two games where we got exactly what we expected, Alhambra Family & Friends Edition from Queen Games, and Beer & Bread from Capstone Games.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 291 was recorded on December 17th, 2025. We usually record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep291/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) CHECK-IN

(00:02:23) Announcements

Upcoming Events:

Dec 28th - Pop up Board Game Cafe at Hidden Trail

https://tabletopbellhop.com/hidden

Jan 6th - ProtoWIN Game Designer Night at Hidden Trail

https://tabletopbellhop.com/protowin/

Jan 22nd - Brews & Board Games at the Walkerville Brewery

https://tabletopbellhop.com/local/

(00:03:39) Ask the Bellhop

(00:59:01) The Bellhop’s Tabletop

(01:11:08) The Game Room - Beer & Bread

Beer & Bread: https://amzn.to/4qfdsQ2

Check out the Capstone Games Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/4qlf7n5

27 Quick & Fun Easy to Learn Two Player Board Games https://tabletopbellhop.com/gaming-advice/quick-and-easy-two-player-board-games/

24 More of the Best Two Player Board Games for Date Night https://tabletopbellhop.com/gaming-advice/date-night-board-games/

(01:28:34) The Game Room - Alhambra Family & Friends Edition

Pick up Alhambra Compact Edition: https://amzn.to/4sg7j8f

Check out the Queen Games Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/4pcGE9v

Our other Queen Games coverage: https://tabletopbellhop.com/tag/queen-games/

(01:45:26) Closing the Doors

TIP THE BELLHOP:
Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch

Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:

Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com

Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop