On this episode of Hidden Gems, join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, and Jason Yanchuleff as they dig into four classic re-releases from Play For Keeps Games — Reel Rivals (a re-implementation of El Caballero), Gheos, Mexica, and Bridges of Shangri La. Fair warning: these are all take-that games with a mean streak, so expect a few friendships to be tested along the way.

Check out the Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playforkeeps/bridges-of-shangri-la-gheos-reel-rivals

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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

It's May and we're finally back to report on our 2026 Annual Board Game Retreat (from back in February)! We had a great time and played tons of games, so in this episode Chris, Jason, Bill and Cameron report on what they played - the good, the bad, and the crazy!

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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

On this episode of Hidden Gems, join your hosts Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they dig into three games that were definitely not from the crew's board game weekend. What have they been up to during the recent "snowpocalypse"?

FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:25:56 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game
00:49:07 Seas of Strife
01:05:21 Puerto Banana

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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

When, what to my wondering ears should appear, but another Christmas Spectacular with the Hidden Gems team is here!

Wow, it's been a bit hasn't it? Well sit down with your warm milk and nutmeg and rejoin your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney, Cameron Lockey and Jason Yanchuleff as they reunite for another Christmas episode. We'll catch you up on where we've been and our thoughts for the future of the show.

Merry Christmas!

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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

The banter continues! There are plenty of games left to cover from the fabled board game retreat weekend. Join your hosts Chris Alley, Ken Cantrell and Jason Yanchuleff as they dive into more of the titles we got to on the trip.

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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

New year, new show format! Every so often, we'll take a break from reviewing games to just talk about more stuff we've been into lately. In this inaugural "Extended Banter" episode, your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney, and Cameron Lockey treat you with the usual personal updates and then spend some time reflecting on the games we got to play, both new and old, at our game group's annual Board Game Retreat earlier this month.

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BGG Guild #: 3874
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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

Twas the day before Christmas, and all round the world, the gamers awaited, the adults, boys, and girls. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but no brief, tiny games have yet been stuffed there. When what to my wondering ears should appear, came a new Christmas episode full of gems, joy, and cheer!

FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:30:52 Christmas Trivia
00:47:25 Tetrix (Mosaics)
01:07:42 R. Eco.
01:34:27 Roll Through the Ages

MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):
Trivia: "Everlasting Yule", Home for the Holidays; "Pizzicato Dance", Howard Harper-Barnes; "A Holly Jolly One", Arthur Benson
Tetrix: "Virtual" - AGST
R. Eco: “Absolutely Sure”, North Sphere
Roll Through the Ages: “New Civilization”, Wendel Scherer

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BGG Guild #: 3874
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Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.

"A" is for... alchemist? Another series begins! Will we ever finish it? Who knows! but this episode we start our alphabetically-themed episodes with the letter "A". Join your hosts Chris Alley, Bill Arney and Jason Yanchuleff as they dig for more gems.

FEATURED GAMES:
00:00:00 Intro & Banter
00:22:46 Abandon Ship
00:45:00 Alchemist
01:09:39 Age of Comics

MUSIC (courtesy of https://epidemicsound.com):
Abandon Ship: “Little Sailor”, Leimoti
Alchemist: “With Every Note”, Etienne Roussel
Age of Comics: “On the Bike”, Golden Age Radio

Send us Fan Mail

FOLLOW US:
Email: hiddengemsboardgamepodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/hiddengemspodcast
BGG Guild #: 3874
Discord: https://discord.gg/bakZ332pup

Hidden Gems: A Board Game Podcast is produced and edited by Chris Alley, Cameron Lockey, Jason Yanchuleff. and Bill Arney in Raleigh, NC.