501.8K
Downloads
273
Episodes
Decision Space is a board game podcast about the decisions in games.
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
Episode 270- Interview with Phil Walker-Harding
Paul sits down for a wonderfully insightful discussion with game designer Phil Walker-Harding. Last week's tier list episode should have you primed to get into this man's head! They discuss game inspiration and how to design in ways that can heal game related trauma.
Timestamps
1:45- how Phil got into design
10:35- design philosophy
25:30- balancing games
36:30- what Phil likes to play
45:00- inspiration from games
54:15- design process
1:06:00- negative experiences games
1:19:30- what's Phil working on?
Preplanners
A classic 'what we talk about' on hand management is up next!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Episode 269- Phil Walker Harding Tier List
Paul gets to rate every game in the prolific catalogue of his favorite designer: Phil Walker Harding. He's joined by Brendan and the Dice Tower's Chris Yi for this monumental task.
Timestamps
8:30- Archaeology the New Expedition
12:00- Dungeon Raiders
15:15- Pack of Heroes
19:00- Sushi Go / Sushi Go Party
28:45- Sushi Roll
34:15- Cacao
41:00- Imhotep / Imhotep the Duel
49:15- Barenpark
54:15- Gizmos
58:15- Gingerbread House
1:00:00- Llamaland
1:02:30- Silver and Gold
1:04:30- Explorers
1:06:00- Tetris
1:08:15- Monolyth
1:11:30- Scribbly Gum
1:12:15- Super Mega Lucky Box
1:14:00- Snakesss
1:15:30- Don't Fall For It
1:17:30- Planted
1:19:15- Pass the Party Food
1:20:15- Dungeons and Dragons Edge of the Realms
1:21:15- My Shelfie
1:23:15- Tanis
1:24:30- Yummy World: Party and Picnic Palace
1:25:45- Busy Beaks
1:27:30- All In Predictions
1:31:15- Tropicalia
1:33:45- Museum Suspects
1:36:15- Cities / Cities USA
1:41:15- Neoville
1:43:00- Cloud City
1:45:45- Misfit Heroes
1:47:30- Spellbook
1:50:00- Adventure Games: The Volcanic Island
1:53:00- Summer Camp
1:55:30- Wombat Poo
1:57:30- Wrath of Fire Mountain
1:59:30- Oh No, Volcano!
Preplanners
Soon we will do a tournament of the best games of the early 2010's!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Episode 268- Geekway Convention Plays 2026
Jake and Pete recap the best weekend of the year: Geekway to the West! They discuss their favorite new plays, old favorites, and also give first impressions of some hot new titles.
Timestamps
17:00- Feya's Swamp
21:50- Dark Pact
28:10- Market Fresh
34:40- I'm the Boss
38:45- Auf Teufel Komm Raus
43:00- Lowenherz
51:30- John Company Second Edition
59:00- Broom Service
1:03:30- Oath
1:09:30- Tikal
1:15:30- TRICKTAKERs, Skull Queen, Daytime Minutes
1:18:00- Indonesia
1:19:30- Guards of Atlantis II, El Grande, Big Shot
1:22:00- L'Oaf
Preplanners
We've got a tier list episode in the works!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday May 27, 2026
Wednesday May 27, 2026
Episode 267- Shared Infrastructure Games and Bus
Time to deep dive the new hotness... from 1999. In this episode we do a deep dive on Splotter's first major hit Bus and discuss other shared infrastructure games. Why are we drawn to these crowded, brutal logistics puzzles?
Timestamps
3:00- shared infrastructure games
32:00- Bus deep dive
Other Games Mentioned
Barrage, Brass Birmingham, Medina, Keyflower, Food Chain Magnate
Preplanners
Geekway to the West 2026 recap is coming soon! Also, Paul is going to take us through a tier list of his favorite designer: Phil Walker Harding!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Episode 266- Storytelling with Cole Wehrle
Big day here for Pete. In this episode he chats one on one with Cole Wehrle from Buried Giant Studios. They talk a lot about player agency, emergent storytelling, and what it's like the make and play long, heavy games.
Timestamps
1:00- how Cole thinks about making games
18:45- storytelling in games
40:00- long heavy games
49:30- agency and fairness
59:20- fun
1:04:30- learning rules
1:14:00- designing historical games
Games Mentioned
Oath, Root, Arcs, John Company
Preplanners
Next week we are doing a deep dive on Bus!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Episode 265- Euro Games
"Euro" has been used as a descriptor for decades and it is inarguable that its meaning has changed over time. On this episode, the hosts try to hash out what the word means today and how that differs from the "old school" design philosophy. Also, the episode ends with an unhinged exploration of what games in the BGG top 100 could conceivably be classified as Euros.
(also just a warning, Pete's dog wouldn't shut up during the recording of this)
Timestamps
3:00- defining Euros
12:45- modern vs old school
55:00- categorizing the BGG top 100
Preplanners
Next week we are doing a deep dive on Bus!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday May 06, 2026
Wednesday May 06, 2026
Episode 264- Top 10 Games of All Time (2026) Part 2
It's the fiiiiiiinal countdown! We gush over how much we love the games that made our top 5 favorite games! Some things have changed this year! There are brand new releases on this list! However, did the new hotness dethrone our old favorites?
Timestamps
3:30- Medina
8:15- Big Top
11:00- Indonesia
16:00- Broom Service
19:15- Isle of Skye
21:15- Unlock
26:15- Lord of the Rings Trick-Taking Games
31:30- Babylonia
34:30- Santiago
39:15- Cozy Stickerville
44:55- Old King's Crown
49:15- Root
52:45- El Grande
57:15- The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
1:02:45- Nokosu Dice
1:09:30- Tag Team
1:14:15- Tikal
1:19:30- Ra / Priests of Ra
1:24:10- Root
1:27:30- The Resistance
Preplanners
Next week we discuss what the term "Euro game" means today!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Episode 263- Top 10 Games of All Time (2026) Part 1
It's time for the annual countdown of our favorite games! In this episode we count down numbers 10-6. What has fallen from the ranks since last year? What are we hot on right now? Listen and find out!
Timestamps
8:55- Fives
12:15- Lunarchitects
16:00- Pax Renaissance
20:00- Chicago Express
23:30- Bus
26:30- Incan Gold
30:10- Modern Art
35:10- Fox in the Forest
38:20- Renature
42:20- Skyrise
46:50- Dune Imperium Uprising
51:20- El Grande
53:30- Lost Cities
58:20- Fromage / Formaggio
1:01:50- Ito
1:05:40- My City
1:09:00- Nokosu Dice
1:13:00- Heat
1:16:20- Arcs
1:21:30- Keyflower
Preplanners
Top 5 of all time is next week!
Music and Sound Credits
Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s
You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.
Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA
Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Contact
Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.
If you prefer email, then hit us up at decisionspa@gmail.com.
This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.
Byeee!