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We’re back with another recap of our very own board game podcast. Bush’s Board Game Thing sees Andy Bush celebrating the wonderful world of board games and the experience of gaming with friends Jess Temby and Brian Murphy. Each week, expect passion, enthusiasm, and multiple trips through gaming wormholes. This podcast is powered by Zatu Games – we’re making sure the board game cogs keep on turning. Every week, I bring you the best bits of each episode right here on the Zatu blog and let you shop the podcast! Today, for Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8, we’re talking card games.
Last week’s episode was a proper treat, with a guest appearance from Hollywood’s own Keala Settle, star of The Greatest Showman. If you missed it, you can catch up on the podcast on any streaming service or read our recap right here. This week, while we might not have any movie stars joining us, we’ve certainly got some A-List card games to share with you in Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8.
Play Your Cards Right
This week’s topic is card games. Lots of us have fond memories of playing card games as kids – one simple pack of playing cards could hold hours of fun. Nowadays, on the other hand, there are so many different card games to choose from. We’ve seen loads of new card games appearing in the last few years alone. One of the most popular has to be Love Letter.
Love Letter
Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 players – one of the two games that Bush and co. played for Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8. Your goal is to get your love letters to the Princess while deflecting letters from your rival suitors. Once again, our trio of hosts used Board Game Arena to enjoy this game online. Jess liked the ‘snakey’ aspects of the game, which let you try to eliminate your opponents each round. However, Brian was eventually able to knock Jess out of the game by guessing that she was holding the Baron card. It was then down to Brian and Bush to see who would win the chance to court the princess. In the end, Brian claimed the victory. By his own admission, Brian doesn’t even understand the rules half the time! Yet he still manages to blunder his way to the top!
Although our trio played Love Letter virtually, the physical version is definitely worth checking out. It’s perfectly portable – ideal for taking with you on holiday or playing on the train, for example. What’s more, it comes with a luxurious red velvet bag for storage, entirely in keeping with the game’s regal themes.
Leaders of the Pack
As we’ve already mentioned, there are tons of cracking card games available today. Next, let’s take a look at some of the honourable mentions from Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8. There’s Gloom of Kilforth and 1066 Tears to Many Mothers, both by British designer Tristan Hall. There’s also The Grizzled, a World War 1 game where you play as a soldier in the trenches trying to hold onto morale. Finally, we have High Society by Osprey Games, another British publisher. The game features beautiful art-deco cards and the opportunity to bid for life’s luxuries. Just make sure you don’t go broke! It simply won’t do to be seen among the paupers.
Get in Touch on Instagram @boardgamething
We think artwork can really make or break a card game. As Brian puts it: when the cards are beautiful to look at, you’re more likely to want to play the game again. This week, the team asked Instagram followers what card games they used to play with their grandparents.
Neil got in touch and said he used to play rummy with his gran every morning before primary school. Now that’s dedication!
We also had messages about sevens, chase the ace and solitaire. Who else remembers playing solitaire on the computer in the noughties? We also had loads of responses that mentioned a game called Newmarket, which Brian and Jess had never even heard of! If you can explain the game to them, head over to @boardgamething on Instagram and you could get a shout-out in the next episode of Bush’s Board Game Thing.
Sushi Go!
The second card game that Bush, Brian, and Jess have been playing online is a real family favourite. Sushi Go! is all about collecting sets of sushi cards – imagine the sushi going around on a conveyor belt, like in a restaurant. (Remember restaurants?) This set-collection game for 2-5 players is a great way to introduce people to the world of card games/board games, whether they’re young children or adult beginners. Sushi Go! is simple to learn and easy to play, but you can still employ some strategy in your gameplay. Or, if you’re Brian, you can just choose the sushi cards that look the yummiest, with no regard for their point values. Needless to say, Brian didn’t win this game and victory went to Jess.
Brian’s Board Game Fact of the Week
As always, Brian is here with another brilliant board game fact of the week. As Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8 is all about card games, we’re talking playing cards. Do you know who the kings in a standard pack of playing cards represent? According to Brian, the King of Hearts is Charlemagne, the King of Diamonds is Julius Caesar, the King of Clubs is Alexander the Great, and the King of Spades is the biblical King David.
As if that wasn’t enough, Brian has also provided a bonus fact! During the Vietnam War, American soldiers believe that the ace of spades was a superstitious symbol for the Viet Cong, symbolizing bad luck. As a result, some American troops tucked aces of spades into their helmets and left them on the battlefield. The US military even printed packs of cards containing only the ace of spades to give to soldiers. However, after the war, they discovered that the ace of spades didn’t actually hold any significance at all to the Viet Cong – although it had seemed to boost morale among US soldiers. So there you have it. Every day is a school day with Bush’s Board Game Thing!
Our Favourite Card Games
Before we go, let’s share some more cracking card games to round off Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8.
Firstly, we have Boss Monster, inspired by old-school video games. Players compete to build the best side-scrolling dungeon packed with treasures.
Next up is Marvel Champions. This is a cooperative living card game where you play as the iconic Marvel heroes. You’ll need to put a stop to the villains’ evil schemes in order to emerge as champions.
For something a little different, try The Mind – an incredibly simple but fiendishly challenging card game. Every player is dealt a card numbered between 1 and 100. The challenge is to lay the cards down in ascending order. The twist is that you cannot communicate with your fellow players in any way. Put your intuition to the test!
Last but not least, we have Dobble. Dobble is a perfect game for families because it puts the kids on a level playing field, giving them a good chance to win. What’s more, its fast pace means it won’t bore the grown-ups either. It’s a win-win! There is a version of Dobble for everybody, from Harry Potter to Disney Princesses, and even a waterproof version designed for the beach.
See You Next Time
That’s all for Bush’s Board Game Thing Episode 8. We’d like to say a special thanks to everyone who took part in Bush’s live Q&A over on Instagram. Keep your eyes peeled for another Instagram Live coming up soon, featuring the whole Board Game Thing team. Until then, happy gaming!