Operation: Game Night
Travis Smith, Jared Erickson, and Clay Gable get together to discuss the latest and greatest in board games in this weekly podcast. What's hot, what's hitting the table, featured discussions about board games and the board gaming culture, and the primary mission objective- to play more board games!
Episodes
72 episodes
Special Ops: Live from the World Series of Board Gaming!
The Operation Game Night crew reunites in person for the first time at the World Series of Board Gaming in Las Vegas, diving into an epic weekend of non-stop gaming and competition. From late-night Tapestry sessions to birthday celebrations wit...
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23:31
Debrief: Star Wars Deckbuilding Game: Clone Wars Edition
The Operation Game Night crew finally reunites to dive into the latest Star Wars tabletop offering that's taking the deck-building world by storm. Fantasy Flight Games has delivered a knockout with Star Wars: The Deck Building Game - Clone Wars...
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22:26
Debrief: Imhotep - Strategic Boats and Blocks in Ancient Egypt
A deceptively simple game of ancient Egyptian construction becomes a masterclass in tactical timing and player interaction. Travis introduces Clay to Imhotep, the 2016 Phil Walker-Harding design that's earned a permanent place in board game col...
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19:32
Debrief: Ace of Spades by Devir - Shuffling through Trouble
Operation Game Night discusses Devir Games' controversial release Ace of Spades, examining both its problematic representation issues and its innovative poker-based combat mechanics. Travis and Clayton analyze why the game's depictions of chara...
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23:31
OTF: Fishing Rods, Glass Doors, and K-Pop Demon Hunters
Let's go Over the Fence! Discussions range from wrestling history and work relationships to fishing adventures with children and critical movie reviews.• Clayton gives a heartfelt shoutout to his former high school wrestling teammate tu...
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25:20
Special Ops: Drafting the Ultimate Farming Board Game
Clay, and Jared compete in a board game draft challenge to create the ultimate farming game, each with only $30 to spend across 10 rounds of selections ranging from mechanics to designers to components.Let us know in the comments which ...
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29:49
OTF: Madden, Chiropractors, and D&D
Gaming nostalgia takes center stage as we rediscover PS5 Madden after 15 years away, marvel at Spider-Man's detailed New York City playground, and share heartwarming stories of family D&D adventures that captivated both kids and adults alik...
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25:15
Special Ops: 1-Year Anniversary Honorable Mentions and Memories
The one-year anniversary episode of Operation Game Night serves up a delightful mix of reflection, gaming enthusiasm, and genuine appreciation as Travis, Clay, and Jared look back on their podcasting journey. The trio dives into the games that ...
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30:11
1 Year of OGN: Our Top 10 Game (Part 2)
We reveal our top 5 board games of all time as part of our one-year anniversary celebration. This countdown showcases the games that captivate us through their unique mechanics, replayability, and pure fun factor.• Root secures a spot f...
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52:58
1 Year of OGN: Our Top 10 Games (Part 1)
Our first anniversary episode celebrates a major milestone as we revisit and revise our top ten favorite board games, starting with positions 10 through 6.• Only 20% of podcasts make it to the one-year mark, and we're excited to have re...
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49:23
Debrief: Silos...Cows, Aliens, and Mind Control
Aliens have landed, and they're hunting the most intelligent species on Earth—cows! Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of Silos, where Bitewing Games has transformed Reiner Knizia's overlooked Municipium into a delightfully quirky strategic...
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24:06
OTF: Night Routines, Glass Jobs, and Our New WWE Obsession
The dynamic duo of Operation Game Night is back as Travis welcomes Clayton for a catch-up session that ventures far beyond their typical board gaming territory. What starts as a humorous defense of Clayton's "Scrooge-like" bedtime routine—a car...
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19:58
Debrief: Party Panda Pirates has Mini Games Galore!
Party Panda Pirates tries to bring Mario Party to the tabletop with mixed success, featuring 24 mini-games and adorable panda characters in a pirate-themed package.• Game includes four phases: dropping pandas to select islands, predicti...
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18:20
OTF: Moving, Metro Riding, and the Magic of Free Board Games
We reunite with co-host Jared Erickson as he settles into life after his PCS move to the DC area, discussing the challenges of unpacking and establishing a new home while exploring local attractions.• Living in "Box City" during the tra...
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20:27
Special Ops: Gen Con 25 Preview
We excitedly explore Gen Con 2025's most anticipated tabletop releases despite not attending the convention in Indianapolis this year. Our distance from the board gaming event of the year doesn't diminish our enthusiasm for the impressive lineu...
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30:08
Debrief: Vantage (ft Mike from @BearwynPlaysGames)
The Operation Game Night podcast welcomes Mike from @BearwynPlaysGames to discuss Stonemaier Games' ambitious new release Vantage, a solo/co-op adventure game eight years in the making.• Vantage's premise: You crash-land on a mysterious...
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32:17
Debrief: Pure, Simple, & Mean- El Grande Stands the Test of Time
Dive into the enduring brilliance of El Grande, the 1995 area control masterpiece that revolutionized board gaming and continues to captivate players nearly three decades later. Despite its unassuming appearance, this Spiel des Jahres winner de...
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29:15
Debrief: Gladiator Glory in Hoplomachus: Victorum
Travis, Clayton, and Jared explore Hoplomachus: Victorum, a solo gladiatorial combat game from Chip Theory Games with exceptional production quality and an immersive campaign system.• Players choose from multiple champions with unique a...
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25:38
OTF: Clay's in his Icarus Era (Ft. Vic from Games Y Más)
The hosts of Operation Game Night welcome Vic from Games Y Más podcast to discuss their non-gaming interests, adventures, and misadventures in a special "Over the Fence" episode.• Vic shares his love for Universal Studios and why their ...
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38:17
Special Ops: Our Favorite Production Choices (ft. Vic from Games y Más)
We explore how production quality can elevate board games from good to unforgettable, joined by special guest Vic from Games Y Más Podcast.• Game organizers that make setup and storage a delight, from Betrayal Legacy's intuitive system ...
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45:17
Debrief: Racing, Betting, & Mascot Mayhem in Hot Streak!
Board gaming meets mascot racing mayhem in Hot Streak, the latest sensation from CMYK Games that's turning heads and sparking laughter at game tables everywhere. Designer John Perry has crafted what might just be the perfect betting game—one th...
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21:03
OTF: Whoopie Pies and Civil War Lessons
The OGN crew catches up on a Friday night, sharing stories about family visits, temporary housing situations, movie disappointments, and finding unexpected wisdom in history books.• Clay recounts his weekend at Grandma Fleagle's, featur...
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26:15
Special Ops: Three Friends Hunt for Players in New Cities
Relocating to a new city comes with many challenges, but for passionate board gamers, one of the most significant hurdles is rebuilding a gaming community from scratch. In this heartfelt and humor-filled episode, we explore the emotional journe...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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28:39
Debrief: Trash Pandas & Top Hats- Raccoon Tycoon
Dive into the charming yet strategically rich world of Raccoon Tycoon, a market manipulation and auction game that offers surprising depth beneath its Victorian-era animal artwork. The OGN crew explores this hidden gem from Forbidden Games that...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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20:45