Shows / Operation Game Night
Operation Game Night
Travis Smith, Jared Erickson, and Clayton 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
- Operation Game Night
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth from Days of Wonder
We put Star Wars: Battle of Hoth on the table, compare it to Memoir ’44, and test how well the Hoth theme holds up under fast, card-driven tactics. Quick…
- Operation Game Night
Regicide Legacy by Badgers From Mars
A classic card battler grows fangs when you turn it into a legacy campaign. We unpack how Regicide Legacy transforms a tight solo-friendly system into twelve…
- Operation Game Night
Do Stats Make Games Better?
We break down a year of board gaming through data, stories, and the people who make play matter. From family tables to BGA marathons, we share what 564 plays…
- Operation Game Night
We Bought Too Many Games & a Pizza Oven...No Regrets
Holiday chaos meets game night comfort, and it turns out that’s the perfect combo. We swap stories from six Christmases, a last-minute MC gig, and a road trip…
- Operation Game Night
Why We Keep Playing Board Games
Ever wonder why some hobbies fade while others become part of your identity? We open the door to our game closets and our calendars to unpack why board gaming…
Operation Game NightThe Best Reiner Knizia Game for Every Table (Chosen by Knizia)
What if you could choose the perfect board game for any table, every time? We sit down with Dr. Reiner Knizia and put his legendary catalog to the…
- Operation Game Night
OTF: Holiday Fun with Mike & Tiff
The plan was simple: hop the fence and talk about life beyond the table. What followed was a tour of real projects, real rest, and the stories that keep us…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: Holiday Grab Bag of Games!
Looking for fresh games that actually hit the table? We dig into a stack of recent plays that span fast fillers, tight two-player duels, a chewy co-op, a…
- Operation Game Night
Debrief: Tag Team from Scorpion Masqué
A duel that teaches itself, bites fast, and still makes you sweat—Tag Team brings auto-battler energy to the tabletop without the bloat. We break down how two…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: Publishers On A Hot Streak
What makes a board game leap off the shelf and onto the table, again and again? We dig into the publishers whose choices—production quality, component feel…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: 2025's Noteworthy "New-to-Us" Games (ft. Tiff from @Tiffs.Board.Games)
We swap stories with Tiffany from Tiffs Board Games and share the best “new to us” plays that defined our year, from gentle family co-ops to solo epics and…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: The Knizia Mount Rushmore (ft. Nick Murray from Bitewing Games)
What if you had to carve Reiner Knizia’s legacy into stone—just four games to represent a career that spans genres, decades, and thousands of tables? We are…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: A Rookie’s Ride Through PAX Unplugged
A first-timer’s crash course at PAX Unplugged turns from chaos to clarity after a late badge pickup, an impulse buying spree, and an anchor meetup with…
- Operation Game Night
OTF: Talkin' Turkey and Texts to the Void
We roast the perfect smoked turkey, rescue a podcast from broken texts, and marathon board games until the table begs for mercy. Retro hardware meets Switch…
- Operation Game Night
Joint Ops: OGN Takes Over Games Y Mas for Thanksgiving
A podcast takeover with heart, dice, and a little chaos: we hijacked Games Y Mas to say thanks and to build your holiday game bag with confidence. We start by…
- Operation Game Night
Debrief: We Played Dungeons and Dragons!
The road was quiet, the horses were not, and our dice had other plans. We jumped into Dungeons & Dragons 5e with a veteran DM guiding us through a one-shot…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: Jerry’s Board Game Comeback
Jerry returns with stories of a surprise Azul date night, a rediscovered $100 Vegas mini-game, and fresh takes on gateway games that can coax non-gamers into…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: Civilization Board Game Draft...Ants Are Cool!
We draft two original civilization board games with only $30 and 10 rounds, forcing bold choices on theme, mechanics, designer, art, publisher, box size…
- Operation Game Night
OTF: Game Night Off The Rails
We pivot from a planned board game origin to a candid catch-up on leadership growth, masculine archetypes, stadium joy, and sobering screen stories. Between a…
- Operation Game Night
Debrief: The Hobbit: There And Back Again, A Roll-And-Write By Reiner Knizia
We share first impressions of The Hobbit: There and Back Again, a roll-and-write that blends dice drafting with a story you can feel across eight evolving…
- Operation Game Night
Debrief: Falcons- the US Air Force Academy Board Game
We debrief Falcons, the U.S. Air Force Academy board game, walking through how it plays, where it shines, and who will love it most. Theme and art carry a…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: From Heat to Acquire - Our WSBG Power Rankings and Why They Surprised Us
Send us Fan Mail Support the show As always, come interact with us online, let us know if you have any feedback, and leave us a review/comment anywhere you get…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
Debrief: Plunder - A Pirate's Life...Ship Happens
Send us Fan Mail Support the show As always, come interact with us online, let us know if you have any feedback, and leave us a review/comment anywhere you get…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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. •…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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. •…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
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…
- Operation Game Night
OTF: Reunited and it Feels SO Good!
After taking a much-needed June hiatus, Travis, Jared, and Clay reunite for an episode that feels like catching up with old friends over the fence. Their…
- Operation Game Night
Special Ops: Inside the World Series of Board Gaming
Operation Game Night returns with a deep dive into the World Series of Board Gaming as co-host Jared prepares to compete in the Las Vegas tournament this…