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
84 episodes
Debrief: Origin Story by Stonemaier Games
We unpack how Origin Story fuses classic trick-taking with character-building powers, letting you charge abilities with stamina and choose between hero or villain scoring for sharp, thematic pivots. We weigh the balance of chaos and control acr...
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20:54
Special Ops: We Pitch Netflix's Catan Adaptations (ft. Vic from Games Y Más)
A streaming giant just picked up one of the most beloved board games on Earth, and our imaginations ran wild. We set out to answer a big question: how do you turn Catan’s trade, tension, and that pesky robber into stories worth binging? With fr...
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21:20
OTF: Jared Returns From The Crypt!
A foggy graveyard, rattling dice, and a familiar voice rising from the crypt—Jared’s back, and we’re cracking open a night of stories that blend family life, hobby joy, and the kind of plans that keep a gaming calendar buzzing. We kick off with...
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22:40
Debrief: EGO by Reiner Knizia and Bitewing Games
Bidding in space shouldn’t feel this tense, but Ego makes every card you play—or don’t—matter. We explore why this Bitewing Games re-imagining of Reiner Knizia’s Beowulf clicks: a modular journey across alien worlds, a smooth checklist of actio...
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20:57
Debrief: Money! by Reiner Knizia
We break down Money! by Reiner Knizia, a quick blind-bidding card game where scoring thresholds and trio bonuses create sharp, swingy decisions. We compare it to High Society and other Knizia auctions, talk player counts, and share who should c...
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16:32
Debrief: Madcala- A Wonderland's War Game by Druid City Games
A duel at a Wonderland tea table shouldn’t feel this sharp—but Madcala turns classic Mancala into a fast, tactical fight that rewards nerve and clean planning. We sit down with this two-player brawler from Druid City Games and unpack why the li...
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19:02
Debrief: The Old King's Crown by Eerie Idol Games
A fading crown. A table full of secrets. We’re diving into The Old King’s Crown—a heavy, heady blend of bluffing, bidding, and brutal clashes—where every season reshapes the map and every decision echoes across years. We unpack how the game’s s...
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29:00
Debrief: Solo TTRPGs for the RPG-Curious
Ever wished you could role‑play on your own terms—no scheduling headaches, no thick rulebooks, just a notebook, a deck of cards, and your imagination? We dive into the art of solo tabletop RPGs and how a few elegant systems can turn small momen...
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21:02
Debrief: Magical Athlete by CMYK Games
A single die, 30 weird racers, and more table noise than most epic euros—that’s the promise we chased and found in Magical Athlete. We open the box to screen-printed meeples that feel like pocket totems, talk through why the reprint’s art taps ...
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18:33
Debrief: Ruins by John D. Clair
We break down Ruins by John D. Clair—how card crafting, day/night flips, and a live upgrade market twist a classic shedding game into a tempo puzzle with real stakes. We share what worked, what dragged, and why the match-to-skip rule has us deb...
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17:36
Debrief: Sid Sackson's Acquire
Sid Sackson's 1963 classic board game Acquire completely surprised us as our favorite game from the World Series of Board Gaming, offering deep economic strategy that outshines Monopoly through elegant stock market manipulation and hotel chain ...
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18:27
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