Episode Details

Episode 97: Cole Smith - Games that Combine 2 Mechanisms well - Top 5 Area Control Games - A Frame Job & Good Food

Canadian board game and graphic designer, Cole Smith, joins me to talk about his current published games, games that combine 2 mechanisms well, and his favorite mechanism, area control, games.

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:21 Get to Know Cole Smith and his games

• Tanuki 
• Sauros 
• 3 Magi 

00:05:58 The Journey of Game Design

00:08:23 Cole's Favorite Mechanism or Game that inspires him

00:14:42 Games that Blend 2 Well-Known Mechanics Well

• Lost Ruins or Arnak
• Dune Imperium
• Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
• Patchwork
• Cascadia and other Flatout line of games
• Sauros
• Rumble Nation
• Radlands 
• 7 Wonders Duel
• Sagrada 
• Nokosu dice
• King of Tokyo
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick Taking Game
• Iliad
• Tag Team
• Arcs

00:33:32 Top 5 Area Control Games

00:37:57 The King is Dead: Second Edition

00:40:18 Rumble Nation

00:41:46 Waddle

00:44:35 Ankh: Gods of Egypt

00:47:25 Marrakech

00:50:50 Rumble Nation (Overlap)

00:51:09 Sunrise Lane

00:54:27 Scythe

00:58:45 Foundations of Rome

01:03:16 Root

01:07:26 Patrician

01:10:29 Honorable Mentions

01:10:40 Big Boss

01:12:59 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon

01:15:01 Ahoy

01:16:02 Moment of Positivity

01:20:09 Where can you find Cole?

• BGG Designer Page
• Instagram @Cole_Designs_Games

01:21:24 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)

We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026

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