The Fifth Meeple Board Game Podcast

Episode 98: Living the Theme: Obsession vs Rock Hard 1977

Some board games have a theme pasted on top. Others pull you completely into their world. That’s what this week is all about. Today, we’re diving into two games that don’t just give you actions to take… they give you a life to live. In Rock Hard: 1977, you’re chasing fame, sleep deprivation, and your next big gig in the gritty world of late-70s rock. In Obsession, you’re managing servants, social status, and scandal in high society England. By the end of the episode, we’ll decide which game does the better job of making players forget they’re sitting at a table… and start believing they’re living another life!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Topic of the Day!

06:32 Obsession

27:09 Obsession: Collector's Corner

29:55 Obsession: Final Thoughts

32:04 Rock Hard 1977

44:19 Rock Hard 1977: Collector's Corner

44:57 Rock Hard 1977: Final Thoughts

47:35 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 97 (Rating the Rankings): BGG 1-10

Ten games. Thousands of ratings. Endless arguments. Today, we enter the sacred list: BoardGameGeek’s top 10. Some of these are masterpieces… some might be a little overrated. Either way, we’re ranking, critiquing, and maybe stirring the pot just a bit.  Afterwards we do our first ever draft where each host picks what games they would take out of the top 10 in a snake draft as we compete to earn your votes on who drafted the best!  Thanks as always for the listens and spreading the word!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:27 BGG Top 10

37:52 The Draft

Whose draft did you like best? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] and maybe we'll give you a shout out in our next episode!  As always get those games to the table!

Episode 96: Stars, Sweets, and Heavy Euros: Galactic Cruise vs Sweet Lands

Welcome back! This week, we’ve got a showdown that pits cosmic elegance against confectionery chaos. Galactic Cruise promises five-star experiences in zero gravity, while Sweet Lands delivers a bright, candy-filled world of playful competition. We’re throwing them into the ring to see which one actually satisfies. Space luxury or sugar rush—what’s it going to be? Listen in as these 2025 Heavy Euros battle for victory!

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Topic of the Day!

06:07 Galactic Cruise

24:45 Galactic Cruise: Collector's Corner

26:09 Galact Cruise: Final Thoughts

27:46 Sweet Lands

46:04 Sweet Lands: Collector's Corner

47:48 Sweet Lands: Final Thoughts

50:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!

Special Episode 95 (Trivia): Starting Player Rules

Before the first move is made, before alliances are broken, before someone flips the table—there’s one critical question: who goes first? And apparently, board game designers have decided the answer should involve astrology, recent meals, or your proximity to a houseplant. Today’s trivia episode is all about starting player rules—the good, the bad, and the ‘why does this exist?’ Let’s find out who really deserves to go first.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Chris's 10 Trivia Questions (Starting Player Rules) Play along with us!

Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at [email protected] and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!

Episode 94: Allies or Adversaries: Kinfire Council vs Archipelago

In today's episode are friends working together… or secretly plotting against each other? This episode dives into Kinfire Council and Archipelago, two games that handle teamwork very differently. Expect laughs, tough choices, and a debate over which one creates the best game night chaos.  Only one can come out victorious as we battle them off in our Battle of the Funnest Showdown!  Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Topic of the Day!

10:30 Kinfire Council

32:04 Kinfire Council: Collector's Corner

33:40 Archipelago 

47:21 Archipelago: Collector's Corner

48:15 Archipelago: Final Thoughts

52:00 Battle of the Funnest Showdown

Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!