The Family Gamers Podcast

Our yearly show with Engaged Family Gaming, where we talk about what video games might be on your kids’ wishlists.

00:00 Fact for 412

412 is the area code for Pittsburgh (and they seem really proud of it).

The most people washing dishes simultaneously is 412 and was achieved by Henkel (Algeria) and Pril-Isis, in Algiers, Algeria, on 16 June 2017.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/112306-most-people-washing-dishes-simultaneously

Sponsor Message

If you want some help finding solid footing underneath you, or help finding the right step to leap to the next level, head to fi...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – PAX Unplugged is when we get to catch up with friends in the boardgame industry, see new games, and meet some of YOU!

00:00 Fact for 411

If you’re a Millenial, you know that 411 was (is) a phone number to call for general information. Did you know there are other X11 codes?

https://www.networkworld.com/article/956606/beyond-911-other-n-1-1-codes-you-should-know.html

Sponsor Message

How do you know if you’re ready to retire? There’s the financial aspect, but don’t forget abo...

It’s that time again – we recommend games for everyone on your gift list.

00:00 Fact for 410

10-4 is one of many ten-codes, used for clarity and brevity in Morse code & voice communications. 10-4 means “received” or “acknowledged”.

Sponsor Message

We talk about the sunk cost fallacy. Just because you’ve already invested resources into something doesn’t tell us if it’s worth that next bit of resources to see it through.

If you need a sounding board for your life’s financial decisions, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and set up a time to...

Let’s talk about card games!

00:00 Fact for 409

A little about Formula 409®.

Sponsor Message

How do you maintain your budget during the holiday season, with gift giving, big family meals, decorations, increased travel, seasonal activities?

If you want to talk through other ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

0:04:30 What We’ve Been Playing

Finished My City – ultimate winner: Anitra, but it was really close at the...

Weather’s getting colder, time for something cozy!

00:00 Fact for 408

The Haslam All-Sky Radio Continuum Survey used the 408 MHz radio spectrum to map the galactic sky around 1985. This map is still used today. It gets super technical, but if you’re interested in astronomy, check this out. Basically any time scientists want to measure anything outside the Milky Way, they use the Haslam survey to remove foreground distortion.

https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2009/22/aa12161-09/aa12161-09.html

Sponsor Message

First Move reminds us that we can...

We’ve been looking forward to making this episode for a little while. Sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to play games – so let’s talk about our family favorites that play in 15 minutes or less.

00:00 Fact for 407

This one is for Zach. on 15 November 2012 a new world record was set. The most people flapping simultaneously is 407, achieved by Saint Joseph’s University (USA), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Sponsor Message

A successful financial life isn’t complex, but it does require discipline. The basics: create a budget; build an emergency...

Andrew just had a birthday! Let’s talk about his favorite games from this year.

0:00:00 Fact for 406

Ted Williams had the best season batting average of anyone in the MLB: .406 in the 1941 season. Listen for the story of how he got there.

Sponsor Message

If you want to see if working with a financial advisor can help your situation set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

0:05:00 What We’ve Been Playing

Mr. Postmouse’s Picnic (so much losing!)
My...

Is game theme important? Is theme more than just the art?

0:00:00 Fact for 405

I-405 in California, heavily traveled by both commuters and freight haulers along its entire length, is the busiest and most congested freeway in the United States.

Sponsor Message

We learn about “spear phishing”. If you’d like to talk to someone about how you can protect your financial assets, remember you can book a free meeting with First Move at firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

0:04:20 What We’ve Been Playing

Spots [Editor’s note: “The Hundred and One Dalm...

We talk a lot about playing games with your kids. But boardgames aren’t the only way to connect – and they aren’t always the BEST way, either.

0:00:00 Fact for 404

404 BC: Sparta finally defeated Athens, ending the second Peloponnesian War.
404 AD: The last gladiatorial games are held in Rome.

Sponsor Message

The most popular scam right now is any variation of the authority scam. No bank, police officer, or any other legitimate entity will ever ask for your private data when they call you on the phone.

If you’d...

We love the board game community, but it can lead to pressure to play MORE or HARDER games, to keep up with the newest games. What can we do to dial it back down and make games FUN again?

0:00:00 Fact for 403

403 is the code on the internet for NO. If you want to go to a website, but you don’t have access, 403. Technically the word is “FORBIDDEN”, but really it means no.

Here’s actual standards document. But it’s really, really boring. https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7235

Sponsor Me...

Duration: 01:02:56

00:00 Fact for 402

“The Kids from Room 402” – a kids’ TV show from 1999-2001.

So our fact this week is a direct callout to basically anybody in their mid to late thirties who grew up in the US or Canada. In the late 90’s and early aughts, there was a kids’ TV show that came out called “The Kids from Room 402”. Do you remember that Anitra?
This was an animated show based on the book “Gracie Graves and the Kids from Room 402”. It was basically a sitcom with all sorts of goofy school-based adventures the kids were going...

Family evergreen games? Evergreen family games? Let’s discuss.

00:00 Fact for 401

The term “401(k)” comes from the section of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that established this retirement savings plan.

Sponsor Message

Did you know, that if your child is working they can be saving money into a Roth IRA?

If you need help finding some unique ways to look at income and saving, visit firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a time to talk to First Move – for free!

05:10 What We’ve Been Playing

Santa’s Wo...

Isn’t The Family Gamers Podcast always about families? Yes, but we’re doing a special focus on different ages this week, as a sort of retrospective over the last ten years.

00:00 Fact for 400

Factopia! Follow the Trail of 400 Facts
https://shop.merriam-webster.com/products/factopia

Sponsor Message

First Move has been our sponsor since episode 175! We really appreciate their partnering with us.

If you need help finding some “bonus points” and seeing which areas of your personal finance you should be focusing on, visit firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to sched...

We talked about older games last week like checkers and chess. This week we’re moving on to modern abstract games (within the last 20 years). We recommend three that grow in complexity – and add a few of our other favorites.

0:00:00 Fact for 399

www.399film.com

Sponsor Message

First Move Financial is not a credit counseling company, but they’d be happy to spend a few minutes talking to you to help you find a reputable credit counselor. Go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to set up a quick chat and start taking steps...

I bet you played checkers or chess with your relatives when you were a kid. We talk about newer games all the time on this podcast, but we think old games are great and you should play those, too! We recommend three that facilitate learning strategies.

0:00:00 Fact for 398

In the Dewey Decimal filing system, 398 is the category for folklore (and 398.2 is fairy tales!)

Sponsor Message

Have you heard of the fun ratio? This idea comes from The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber.

If you want to talk about...

Welcome to The Family Gamers podcast! Last week, we attended PAX East 2025, a huge convention that’s practically in our backyard. What are the coolest things we saw there?

0:00:00 Fact for 397

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/11/theres-not-many-downsides-man-with-the-worlds-longest-tongue-727048

Sponsor Message

If you’d like to have a free conversation to help you understand how to do some due diligence on a charity before making a donation, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and schedule a 15 minute phone call.

What We’ve Been Playing

Flip 7 (review coming soon)
Smug Owls...

We’ve been reviewing board games for almost ten years. And sometimes, we run across ones that REALLY surprise us. Let’s talk about a few this week.

0:00:00 Fact for 396

This week we’ve got an “at the same time” trend going.

Do you know what a “eurogame” is? Could you explain it to someone who hasn’t played a lot of boardgames? What are some other jargon terms we use that are unfriendly to new players?

0:00 Fact for 395

We talk about our local Interstate 395, and the much more beautiful Route 395 in California.

https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/cant-miss-stops-along-californias-highway-395/

Sponsor Message

If you want help looking at your 401(k)s to make sure you’re not overpaying go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to set up a time to chat, for free!

04:0...

Duration: 00:59:42

0:00 We’re out of town this weekend. A perfect time to talk about our favorite party games.

394 fact

Tony Gwynn is recognized as having the highest single season batting average in the modern era – He hit .394 for the San Diego Padres in 1994.

If you’re not a sports person, here’s a dumb record for you.

The most spins of a Guinness World Records book on the finger in one minute is 394, and was achieved by Arun Kumar Mahanta (India) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, on 11 August 2022.

03:11 Sponsor message

Who is...

It’s been a long time since we defined some board game terms. Let’s do that again!

0:00 Fact for 393

The TV show Star Trek: Voyager uses the phrase “some kind of” 393 times over the seven seasons. There’s a fan-made video that documents them ALL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZiezIxCVU

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk to an expert about prioritizing your goals and saving for the future go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to set up a time FOR FREE to see if they can help you make your...

We’re currently having false spring here in New England. But after a cold dreary winter, we are ready for green, growing things. Let’s talk about games with flowers and plants – games that make us think spring.

0:00 Fact for 392

It’s been a while since we’ve done a car fact: The SRT 392 is a high-performance version of the Dodge Charger and Challenger models.

Sponsor Message

Check the FTC’s website for information about credit counseling and debt management plans for anyone wanting to learn more.

Remember, you can always sch...

Following on from last week’s topic, let’s talk about cooperative games that can you can play with your children as they grow!

0:00:00 Fact for 391

The deepest hand-dug well was 391m (1285 ft) deep. It took almost 6 years to hit water! Find out more: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/761162-deepest-hand-dug-well

Sponsor Message

If this primer on investments already has you overwhelmed, you may want to get help with managing your investments. First Move is here to help. Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to set up a time FOR FREE to see if t...

This week, we’re talking about cooperative games – what they are, what makes them a good fit for families, and we explore the breadth of games that can be considered “cooperative”.

0:00:00 Fact for 390

While the exact number fluctuates, there are around 390 known species of sharks in the world, from tiny lantern sharks to massive whale sharks.

The average weight of a full-grown jaguar can reach up to 390 pounds, making it the largest cat in the Americas.

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk through your specific situation and how to achie...

Sometimes intentionally, sometimes by accident, we find games that disconnect us from the stresses and worries of every day life. Andrew and Anitra discover that they have different ideas of what helps them step away from the real world – but there’s some overlap, too.

0:00 Fact for 389

When diving (“stooping”), the peregrine falcon can reach speeds of 389kph.

Sponsor Message

Owning a home isn’t for everyone, but if you want help talking through whether it makes sense for you to buy or rent, set up a free phone call by going to f...

It’s the first podcast of 2025, so we’re going to go back over our favorite games from 2024.

0:00:00 Fact for 388

The National Guard observed its 388th birthday on December 13th, continuing a tradition that began long before the nation’s founding in 1776.

Sponsor Message

First Move doesn’t sell insurance, but they can help point you in the right direction and help you interpret the policies you currently have. To schedule a call with First Move, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

0:05:06 What We’ve Been Playing

Combo (review com...

0:0:00 This week: our PAX Unplugged 2024 highlights and interviews.

Fact for 387

The 387 Houses of Peter Fritz – so many tiny model houses! https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/04/the-387-houses-of-peter-fritz.html

Sponsor Message

If you want to ask First Move your questions, schedule a free meeting with them by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

0:06:20 What We’ve Been Playing

Obelus from Phase Shift Games

Circus Flohcati – check the SNAP review!

0:08:20 PAX Unplugged Highlights

Butterfly Garden – Capstone
Tightrope & Ziggurat – Mindware
Chip Theory games for kids!
c...

0:00 Hello and welcome!

This week we’re going to spend the second half of the show with some wonderful people running a wonderfully magical place over in North Carolina. It is, of course, The Tabletop Inn, run by Grace Kendall and Mike Belsole.

Fact for 386

Moana 2 pulled in 386 million dollars on its opening weekend – the new record for the top opening weekend for an animated film. (It beats out Super Mario Brothers at $377m and Frozen II at $358m.)

Sponsor Message

If you need to talk about other ideas to g...

0:0:00 Hello and welcome! This week we’ve invited video game hype man Stephen Duetzmann (from Engaged Family Gaming) to go over his video game holiday gift guide.

Fact for 385

The largest gathering of people dressed as elephants is 385, achieved by 2 Wish Upon A Star (UK), in Cardiff, UK, on 13 August 2016.

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk through financial ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays, set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

0:04:30 What We’ve Been...

Duration: 01:20:06

0:0:00 Hello and welcome! This week we’ll be going over our holiday gift list of board games.

Fact for 384

384 is the sum of six consecutive primes (53 + 59 + 61 + 67 + 71 + 73)

Sponsor Message

If you need help figuring out how to get your engine started, First Move Financial might be able to help. Head over to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers to see how First Move Financial can kick start your financial engine today.

0:02:15 What We’ve Been Playing

Just two this week, that we’ll be reviewing soon.

Santa’s Workshop
Super...

0:00 Hello and welcome!

Our holiday list is not ready, so we will be doing another podcast NEXT WEEK! Today’s podcast is just a smorgasbord of stuff.

Fact for 383

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/75367-most-strikeouts-in-a-major-league-baseball-season

Sponsor Message

Have you ever heard the term “it takes money to make money”?

Well, it’s not the only way to make money, but it is a true statement. Income, however it looks, is like an engine. It can start slow, but as you build your resource pool, it often becomes easier t...

0:00 It’s the end of October, which means it’s time for Halloween-themed games!

382 Fact

Patent class 382 is the generic class for the automated analysis of an image or recognition of a pattern.

(What is this? All that AI that Google brags about with identifying people, or things to then shop for, all of that falls under patent class 382).

Find out more: https://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/uspc382/defs382.htm

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk to someone about your money history or personality then...

0:00 Hello and welcome! This week, we’re talking about beautiful games – ones you would leave out on a coffee table – that are great for families to play.

Fact for 381

We’re back to the Guinness Book of World Records, friends.

The largest hand-held video game console party was on 12 October 2007, at the Parramatta mall in Sydney Australia, where 381 people gathered together, each one brandishing their own Nintendo DS.

Sponsor Message

Did you know that according to a recent poll sponsored by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling only 18% of American...

0:00:00 Intro – We usually talk about kids on this show. But our children aren’t little children anymore – so what about games for teenagers?

380 Fact

The Ukraine country code for international calling is: 380.

Sponsor Message

To set up either a 15 minute phone call or a 90 minute meeting, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers.

0:04:45 What We’ve Been Playing

Clash of Magic Schools (review coming soon)
Trio (our review)
Skull King (review from One Board Family)
Little Alchemists
Floating Floors (review coming soon)

0:18:30 Welcome Communit...

Duration: 01:02:07

Let’s talk about playing board games online!

379 Fact

The Peterbilt 379, in production from 1992-2007, is still popular. And it was the model used for Optimus Prime in the Transformers movies.

https://blog.ritchiebros.com/the-classic-peterbilt-379-a-semi-truck-that-carries-its-value

Sponsor Message

Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers. There, you can set up a quick, free phone call to see if First Move is a good fit for you.

What We’ve Been Playing

Star Trek: Chrono-Trek – Every time we set it up, we play it a bunch of times...

This week the kids go back to school. You know what that means? The return of Date Breakfast and “date night” games!

378 Fact

Did you know about the London Overground? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_378

Sponsor Message

If you’ve got questions about home ownership, investment, or any other financial question, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers. There, you can set up a quick (free) phone call to see if First Move is a good fit for you.

What We’ve Been Playing

Hero Kids (we inter...

We waited an extra week for this podcast so we could bring you all the Gen Con goodies with Nick.

377 Fact

The most people wearing aviator sunglasses is 377, achieved by ProofPilot (USA) in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 7 February 2023.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/727771-most-people-wearing-aviator-sunglasses

Sponsor Message

If you’ve got questions about home ownership, debt, or any other financial question, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers. There, you can set up a quick (free) phone call to see if First Move is a good fit for you.

What We...

Duration: 01:05:57

Wow. We’re… Back? It’s been a very busy two weeks, and we’re already halfway through the summer. Let’s look forward to the start of school and talk about board game clubs!

376 Fact

Space facts are always cool. Let’s talk about the HS-376 – a popular type of satellite, and the first launched by the Space Shuttle!

Sponsor Message

If you have (student) loans forgiven, the US counts that as taxable income.

This has been specifically changed to not include student loans that are forgiven until the end of 202...

Welcome Stephanie Nye this week, to talk about the games we’ve been playing lately and the Origins Game Fair.

375 Fact

A fact about gold

Sponsor Message

First Move Financial gives us tips about repayment plans and student loan debt.

Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers to set up a free call.

What We’ve Been Playing

In the Footsteps of Darwin – Spiel des Jahres nominee!
Captain Flip – another nominee!
Lords of Waterdeep – a classic worker placement game. Should we try Champions of Midgard?
Sequoia...

What are some games we can play to keep our kids’ skills fresh over the summer?

374 Fact

374 years ago on June 9, 1650, the Harvard Corporation is established as the first legal corporation in the American colonies.

Sponsor Message

To get help moving towards your financial goals, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers and set up a free call with First Move today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Super Snipers
Donuts
Compile (our review)
Tournament of Towers (our review)
Pyramidice
Captain Flip – a nominee for Spiel...

It’s June, kicking off “convention season” for a lot of people. So, we’re sharing our best tips for navigating conventions with your family.

373 Fact

Apparently, 373 is a “sexy prime“. (It’s 6 away from another prime number.)

Sponsor Message

If you want to see an estimate of what your fee would be to work with First Move Financial, you can go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers: there’s a fee calculator on that page, as well as a way to set up a quick (free) phone call to see if they’re a good fit for...

We chose five games from 2023 (and the first half of 2024) that come in small boxes but pack a big punch!

372 Fact

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/372/schotten-totten

Sponsor Message

Did you know that you can talk to our sponsor First Move Financial for free?

If you’re curious what it would cost to get help, visit firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and scroll down, there’s a calculator there where you enter your income and net worth and it will tell you your estimated monthly fee.

What We’ve Been Playin...

Duration: 01:08:37

It’s been six years since we devoted a podcast to this topic. So let’s revisit: Why should you play games with your kids?

Why do we (still) play games with our kids?

371 fact

Frank Rubio – 371 consecutive days in space!

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk about ways to teach your children to manage their personal finances, set up a time to talk by going to firstmovefinancial.com / familygamers.

What We’ve Been Playing

Unmatched: Slings and Arrows – Hamlet doesn’t feel great.
Ultimatch...

We’re excited to welcome back our friend Marc Specter! We’ll talk about his current Kickstarter and lots of other games coming soon.

370 fact – Abell 370

See images here: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2017/20/4024-Image.html

Sponsor message

Did you know there’s a U.S. Law that allows every American to check their credit reports with each of the three major credit bureaus each year, for free? You don’t have to sign up for a service or pay a monthly fee, just go to annualcreditreport.com.

It’s impor...

This week, we’re talking “slider games”. These are bite-sized, ultra-fast games that you can play in 10 minutes or less!

369 Fact

Nikolai Tesla’s obsession with the numbers 3,6,9!

Did you know that all multiples of 3 add to 3, 6, or 9 if you add the digits together?

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk to First Move about other habits you can build to take that next step toward your goals, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a call.

What We’ve Been Playing

Kiri-ai: The Duel
Sherloc...

We are no longer restricting our interviews to just odd-numbered episodes. We couldn’t wait any longer to have Ken Franklin on the show again!

368 Fact

We learn about Studio 368, doing very cool stuff for creators and media (like Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham, and the Safdie brothers).

Sponsor Message

Are you doing your taxes? Some states offer a tax break for residents who invest in their state’s 529 college savings plan. If you want help planning for your kid’s college education you can go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers. There’s a link t...

Andrew is back home from GAMA Expo! GAMA was kind enough to select The Family Gamers as Hosted Media for this year’s Expo, and we thank them for their support! GAMA is a growing and changing organization and we commend them for their hard work!

367 Fact

We learn about the Model 367 Bipod hybrid flying car. https://newatlas.com/bipod-hybrid-flying-car/19258/

Sponsor Message

To schedule a time to talk to First Move about other ways to take control of your finances, head over to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to set up an initial 15 mi...

Lunar New Year was not to long ago, and now we are in the year of the dragon! Sounds like a perfect excuse to give you our top 5 dragon-themed games.

366 Fact

There were 366 Episodes of the anime BLEACH (not counting the “Thousand-Year Blood War” arc which came after the main series).

366 is also the world record for most lemmings saved in a single playthrough of the arcade game Lemmings.

Sponsor Message

For expert help applying some of the same principles that help you take down your friends in Agricola, head...

Welcome to Jeremy Pike, staff writer! We’ll talk about how he joined our team, and what he did at Tantrum Con 2024.

365 fact

Why is a year 365 days? Because that’s how many times the Earth spins on its axis while making a complete trip around the sun. And, of course, it’s not exactly 365 either. It’s closer to 365.25, which is why we have an extra day every four years. But it’s a smidgeon less than 365.25, so we skip the leap year every century, except we have one every multiple of 400 years as another sl...

We often talk about new games. But let’s look back a little bit. We were excited for a lot of new games at the beginning of 2023 – how did they fare? Were all of them as great as we hoped?

364 fact

Guinness World Record: 364 people simultaneously playing Rock-Paper-Scissors online.

Sponsor message

Have you heard of the fun ratio? This idea comes from The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber, if you want to talk about other ways to equip your children for their future, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a ti...

Episode 363
Happy Camper Games
with Jason Schneider

This week, we are joined by the “Head Camper” at Happy Camper Games – Jason Schneider!

363 Fact

Do you like Wingspan? The largest wingspan for a bird species is 3.63 meters, measured on a Wandering Albatross.

Sponsor message

How do you know if you’re ready to retire?

If you want help reviewing the financial part of preparing for retirement set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Pl...

Duration: 00:54:42

362 Fact

According to WikiFanona, there are currently 362 episodes of the incredibly popular television show NCIS. (But it’s still in production, so there will be more.)

Sponsor Message

Learn about the sunk cost fallacy with our sponsor, First Move Financial. If you need a sounding board for your life’s financial decisions, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and set up a time to talk to First Move Financial.

What We’ve Been Playing

Seven Bridges – a roll-and-write that feels different from any other.
Tesseract (our review)
Smug Owls (re...

We’re back, with a bonus episode, featuring the rest of our PAX interviews.

361 Fact

Chinese submarine 361, nicknamed “The Great Wall”, is infamous for killing all members on board in 2003.

Sponsor Message

How do you help your kids understand that Christmas isn’t just a “get me more stuff” holiday? Listen to our sponsor message – and make sure you are modeling the behavior you want to be teaching your children. If you’d like to talk about other ideas to help pass on your values to your children schedule a time to talk to First...

This is part one of a two-podcast series covering just a fraction of what the Family Gamers team saw at this year’s PAX Unplugged.

360 fact

The American woodcock can see 360° around itself (horizontally) – https://birdprotectionquebec.org/coolest-bird-of-the-week10-facts-about-the-american-woodcock/

Sponsor message

How do you dig out of debt? Well the honest answer is slowly and painfully. There is no quick magic solution, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something.

First Move Financial is not a credit counseling company, but they’d be happy to spend a few minutes talking...

It’s gift giving season! Every year, we have Stephen Duetzmann from Engaged Family Gaming to tell us about their video game gift guide. What video games are the best picks for your family this year?

359 Facts:

“Island 359” – a VR game available on Steam

and “The Battle of Wolf 359” from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space 9.

Sponsor Message

If you need help figuring out where to place your little “dollar workers” in the worker placement game of life, reach out to First Move Financial. You can find them at...

Welcome to the month of November! That means it’s time for our holiday board game gift guide.

358 Fact

3-5-8, also known as Sergeant Major, is a trick-taking card game for 3 players, using a standard 52 card deck.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Major_(card_game)

Sponsor Message

If you need help seeing which areas of your personal finance you should be focusing on visit firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a time to talk to First Move Financial.

What We’ve Been Playing

CDSK (review b...

Today, we’re talking with the newest writer to join The Family Gamers, Stephanie Nye!

357 Fact – we learn about the 357 Magnum.

Sponsor Message – Budgeting can help you avoid holiday stress. If you want to talk through other ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters (a TFG favorite)

Ra (which we reviewed 2 weeks ago)

Escape room/mystery games!

Episode 356

Top 10 Games for Kids 7-10

We took a break for a while from our age-segregated lists. But now we’re back at it!

(Don’t care about the podcast? Skip straight to the list.)

Fact

The Porsche 356 was retired in 1965. It was replaced by the much better-known Porsche 911.

But also! Montana State Code (Title 61, Chapter 8, Part 356) is also about cars – and how any car left for 48 hours on public property can be considered “abandoned”.

Sponsor Message

Remember, small steps today lead to big financ...

Castle Panic has been a part of our lives longer than The Family Gamers has existed, and this week we talk to its creators: Justin & Anne-Marie De Witt!

355 Fact

Hellenic Air Force Squadron 355, which fights wildfires and makes us think of Justin’s game Hotshots!

Sponsored by First Move Financial

While First Move believes with enough time and the right knowledge everyone can manage their own finances, there are benefits to working with a professional. If you want to see if working with a financial advisor can help your situation, set up...

Let’s make history! Or maybe just talk about some of our favorite history-inspired board games.

354 fact

The oldest Babylonian calendar had 354 days.

Sponsor message

One of the benefits a client gets out of working with a professional advisor is in using that person as a financial coach.

For financial accountability or financial advice, set up a free call with First Move Financial at https://FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers.

What We’ve Been Playing

August Monthly Report

Anitra: 31 unique games, 62 total plays. H-index: 3. Most play...

Welcome Danielle! Danielle Reynolds is a project manager, game designer, podcast host, and general tabletop games volunteer.

353 Fact

The country code to call Ireland!

Sponsor Message

Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers and set up a free call to see how First Move Financial can help you with your finances.

What We’ve Been Playing

Dune Imperium
Robot Quest Arena
Pan Am (our review)
Ticket to Ride: UK
Blob Party (our review)
Mission to Planet Hexx
Cape May

SNAP Review – Nerd...

Duration: 01:02:41

We are NOT at GenCon this week. Instead, let’s talk about simultaneous play. What are our favorite games where everyone plays at the same time?

Skip straight to the topic.

352 fact

“Citizen scientists” discovered two planets around a star that is 352 light-years away from earth.

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk through your specific situation and how to achieve your goals, set up a time to talk at firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Bonsai (our review)
Fika
Nerd Wor...

Episode 351 – SAHM Reviews
Scott & Nicole Brady

Today we are joined by Scott and Nicole Brady of SAHM Reviews.

351 Facts!

Sponsor Message

If this or any of the other questions we’ve talked about sound familiar, head over to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to set up a time to chat and ask your questions directly.

What We’ve Been Playing

Space Base
Frosthaven
Running Out...

It’s a milestone episode! This time we’re talking about getting your game collection to the right size. How much is too much? Do you have too many games, too few, or just right?

350 Fact

The real d’Artagnan (later immortalized in The Three Musketeers) died 350 years ago.

Sponsor Message

If you’ve got a financial question, schedule a free call by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

What We’ve Been Playing

Mandala
Avant Carde – review out today. Avant Carde is coming to Kickstarter NEXT WEEK!
Pan...

This week we’re talking to Clarence Simpson, designer of one of our family’s favorite games!

349 Fact

Pepsi Number Fever… also known as “the 349 Incident”. Story Time!

Sponor: First Move Financial

If you’d like some advice about your student loans, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers and set up a free call.

Games We’ve Been Playing

Diatoms (coming soon to Kickstarter)
Dice Hunters of Therion
Andrew’s prototype
Avant Carde (coming soon to Kickstarter!)
Shipwreck Arcana
Big Top
Beer & Bread

Let’s talk about our favorite games with a magical theme!

348 Fact

The largest exposed sandstone monolith (exposed rock mountain) is Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), rising 348m above its surrounding plain.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/66599-largest-sandstone-monolith

Sponsor Message

Set up a free phone call with First Move Financial at FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers.

What We’ve Been Playing

Avant Carde
Miller Zoo
Qwingo
Merchants of Magick (our review)
Troke
Andrew’s prototype game!
Dice Hunters of Therion

Welcome...

Duration: 00:40:48

Welcome to Heather, the Board Gaming Mama!

347 Fact

There’s evidence oil wells going back to 347 AD! Chinese drills made of bamboo got to over 200 meters deep.

Sponsor

One of the first concerns from prospective clients is whether they can afford to work with us. If you want to see an estimate of what your fee would be to work with First Move Financial, go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers and scroll down a bit. There’s a fee calculator on that page, as well as a way to set up a free...

Word games are great! But not everyone can play Scrabble. We tackle a few word games that can grow with your family.

346 Fact

A sad one about the 737 Max plane crashes.

Sponsor Message

First Move Financial is a financial services firm started by Donnie Carpenter, and his focus is to help normal families work with their finances. This isn’t just investing, it can include investing, but also spending every dollar wisely, knowing when to transition from debt payments to making other important purchases. But mostly, it’s about intelligently navigating the...

This week we talk to Emma Larkins, designer of Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and more.

345 fact

We learn about two stars: Wolf 345 and Kepler 345.

Sponsor message

If you’d like to have a free conversation to help you understand how to do some due diligence on a charity before making a donation go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and schedule a 15 minute phone call.

What We’ve Been Playing

Tranquility (our review / play on Board Game Arena)
Starry Night Sky (our review)
Space Craft
6...

Episode 344

Top Games for 6 Years Old

344 fact

344 people worked together to lift and move a barn 115 feet in Bruno Nebraska, 1988.

Sponsor message

If you want to talk to someone about your natural money instinct – and what that means for your investments – reach out to First Move Financial by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and schedule a time to talk.

What We’ve Been Playing

Math Rush (Genius Games)
Illiterati (Gap Closer Games)
Metro X (Gamewright) – our review
Save Patient Zero (Helvetiq) – our review. We...

343 is practically synonymous with Halo. But where did 343 come from? 343 Guilty Spark was the Monitor that you meet in Halo 1. 343 Industries, Microsoft Game Studios‘ internal-build team tasked with managing the Halo franchise, is named in reference to 343 Guilty Spark. Also, 343 is equal to 73

Sponsored by First Move Financial: If you want help looking at your 401(k)s to make sure you’re not overpaying go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to set up a time to chat.

What We’ve Been Playing

Isofarian Guard (Sky Kingdom Games – solo game or 2 player co-op)
Hickory Dickory (Pl...

We’ve done three year olds and four year olds, let’s recommend some games for the five year olds in your life!

342 Facts

Happy Birthday, Pennsylvania!

Charlie Chaplin’s 342 takes.

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk to an expert about prioritizing your goals and saving for the future go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers to set up a meeting.

What We’ve Been Playing

Galaxy Trucker (working on review for the expansion)
Starry Night Sky
Roll to the Top
Numbsters & GROVE
Roll...

Thanks so much to Matt Faulisi for coming on the podcast! We talk about what we’ve been playing and upcoming games from Skybound.

341 Fact

Edmund Halley is best known for charting a comet, but he also discovered 341 stars only visible in southern hemisphere!

Sponsor Message

First Move Financial offers financial planning for all stages of life, and they ask, “What’s Your First Move?”. You can go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers and set up a free 15 minute call, today.

Travel

First, GAMA – which is a retailer & distributo...

Continuing our lists for specific ages with games for four year olds!

340 Fact

There are only 340 right whales left in the world (estimated).

Sponsor Message

Check the FTC’s website for information about credit counseling and debt management plans. Remember, you can always schedule a short phone call by going to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers – even if they aren’t the right fit to help you, they can point you in the right direction.

What We’ve Been Playing

Castle Panic (Big Box)
Home Sweet Home (or not) – r...

Welcome our favorite guest “on the 39s”, James Hudson! We talk with James about what makes a great game and what else is coming for Druid City Games.

339 Fact – in the most recent summer Olympics (Tokyo 2021), there were 339 medal events across 33 sports.

Sponsor Message – First Move Financial helps us understand how you can test your budget to determine if you can afford to buy a house. If you want to talk through your specific situation and how to achieve your goals, set up a time to talk at FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers today.

What We’ve Be...

Duration: 01:02:43

Our first installment of a new series – top ten lists grouped by age. This week: our top picks for 3 year olds!

(Don’t care about the podcast? Here’s the Top Ten list with pictures and links.)

338 Fact

Acadia National Park is a premier bird watching location with 338 recorded species of birds.

Let’s turn off more lights at night (especially along the coastline) to be kind to the birds.

Sponsor Message

Another listener question this week, is it always better to buy a house than rent?

Th...

This week, we’ve got interviews from PAX East 2023, “For Science” and our March monthly report.

337 Facts

337CE is the year that Constantine died. His sons split up the Roman empire into three parts later that year.

Ten artists and three Imagineers worked full-time for 18 months to create the 337 animal carvings on The Tree of Life. Sculptors had between five to eight hours to create each finished animal image before the plaster hardened.

Sponsor Message

First Move doesn’t sell insurance, but they can help point you in the right di...

Episode 336
Most Played Board Games

In our Family Gamers Community chat, we’ve been asked to make some lists for the podcast. So this week will be the board games that we play the most.

336 Fact

Alexander the Great became the leader of Macedonia in 336 BCE.

Sponsor Message

First Move Financial answers a listener question about insuring board games. If you want to ask First Move your questions, schedule a free meeting with them by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

What We’ve Been Playing

Di...

Mark and Janelle McGee have a cool card game on Kickstarter now (Tether) and it’s almost as cool as their company name: How to Steam Broccoli.

335 Fact

The STS-335 was the last stand-by mission for the Space Shuttle.

Sponsor Message

If you need help figuring out how to get that engine started, First Move Financial might be able to help. Head over to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers and see how First Move Financial can kick start your financial engine today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Stationfall (by ION...

Episode 334 – Noisy Games:

Extra Fun or Parents’ Nightmare?

This week’s topic is polarizing! Every parent has some LOUD game that their kids love. Do you buy into the fun factor of noisy games, or do they drive you crazy? Maybe you just barely tolerate them…

334 Facts! On February 16, 2023, Family Gamers Community member Stephanie had to tell her 7 year old to put her dirty socks in the hamper 334 times before that task actually happened.

But seriously, there are 334 million people in the United States, according to https://www.census.gov/popclock/

Sp...

Board Game Cruises, Cons, and More
with Monica Rasso

333 Fact – We talk about the 3-3-3 rule for adopting a rescue dog.

Sponsor Message – If you need to talk about other ideas to get started budgeting, set up a call with First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Furnace
Splendor Duel… and a quick digression in to reading rulebooks (or novels) vs watching videos (or listening to audiobooks)
Fruition
HEAT: Pedal to the Metal
Sauscharf – as anticipated in episode 327!
HerStor...

This week, we tackle YOUR questions!

332 Fact

The Tuskeegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. The name refers to the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, as well as all the support personnel associated with both groups.

Sponsor Message

If you want to talk to someone about your money personality, 15 minutes will just scratch the surface, but First Move can give you some resources to point you in the right direction, set up a time to talk...

Mike runs the CuseCon convention in Syracuse, is one of the co-hosts of The Full 42, and much more!

331 Fact – Speed of sound at 0*C or 32*F (in dry air) is about 331 m/s.

Sponsor message – If you want to talk about how to set up a budget set up a time to talk to First Move Financial by going to Firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Blue Banana (sort of) which makes us think of Stroop
Ecosystem: Coral Reef
Lords of Waterdeep – Mike recommends Asking for Trobils<...

Does it make sense to split up the family into groups on game night? It can solve arguments, but it also creates some unique challenges.

330 Fact (provided by a show listener): Rickenbacker 330 electric guitar.

Sponsored by First Move Financial. If you want help planning for your kid’s college education you can go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers. There’s a link there to set up a 15-minute call to see if First Move can help you.

What We’ve Been Playing

Unmatched: Houdini vs. The Genie
Featherlight
KuZOOka – it feels li...

329 Fact! Another double whammy, this time it’s naked heads and naked feet.

Sponsor – We learn about Sequence of Return risk, and how it can affect your retirement savings.

Regardless of whether you’re trying to figure out how to start saving for your future, or trying to decide if you can still afford to retire, First Move can help you. To set up either a 15 minute phone call or a 90 minute meeting go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Crokinole
Star Trek: Super Skill Pinball (note: it...

So you love dungeon crawl games like Gloomhaven, but aren’t sure where to start in introducing the genre? We’ve got three (or four) dungeon crawl games that are great for kids. Each one introduces a bit more complexity than the one before.

328 Fact! According to SeaWorld, there are 328 different species of parrots.

Sponsored by First Move Financial, who reminds you that you should regularly check your credit at AnnualCreditReport.com. Find more tips from First Move about how to read your credit report. And you can set up a free 15-minute phone call at F...

We’ve been looking back at 2022, but this week we look ahead to 2023, with Family Gamer extraordinaire, Nick Martinelli!

327 fact

Supernatural TV Show – 327 episodes

Loopin Louie – is game 327 on Board Game Geek

Sponsor message

It’s almost Tax Season! Did you know most people pay down debt, pay for mid-sized goals, or save their tax refunds? If you want to talk to First Move abou habits you can build to take that next step toward your goals, go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a call.

What We’ve Be...

Duration: 00:58:18

We’re celebrating Anitra’s birthday this week! What games does she really want to play?

326 Fact

The fastest speed in a wingsuit (male, FAI-approved) is 326.8 km/h (203 mph), achieved by Chris Geiler (USA, b. Australia) at the 2021 USPA National Championships of Wingsuit Flying in Eloy, Arizona, USA, on 26 October 2021.

Sponsor

Sponsor message – How do you teach your kids about finances? It’s always good to have open honest discussions with your kids, especially if there are lessons you want them to learn. But in addition to that, your kids need the oppo...

Our topic this week is board game trends – for good and bad. We’ll talk about why during the second half of the show.

So who better for this kind of conversation than Ross Thompson, who has held positions all across the board game industry.

Ross is an incredible ambassador for gaming and we’re delighted to have him on the show.

325 Fact

The Fury 325 is a very tall steel roller coaster with a 6,602 foot long track. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_325

Sponsor Message

Did you know t...

This week, we’ll talk about our top games of 2022. Ones that were new to us this year; our favorites and games that really surprised us. And we ask each of the kids for their favorite game of the year, too.

324 Fact

The highest earning Super Smash Brothers competitor in the world has earned about 324 thousand dollars playing that game.

Don’t tell our kids!

Sponsored by First Move Financial

The best time to start planning for your holiday spending is right now! To schedule a time to talk to F...

323 Fact! There are 323 international land boundaries in the world (in 2022).

Sponsored by First Move Financial. If you aren’t sure about retirement, you’re not alone. If you want to talk to a professional to see if you are on track to achieve your goals go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a quick phone call and see if First Move is the right fit for you.

What We’ve Been Playing

Splendor Duel
Lacrimosa
Block and Key
Once Upon a Line (prototype)
Furnace
Gift of Tulips
HEAT...

322 Fact! What to Skull and Bones, ancient German secret societies, and the Georgia Guidestones have in common? March 22.

Sponsor: Start making plans now to keep your holiday budget under control for next year. Maybe you can do a Secret Santa gift exchange or only give gifts to the children in the family… If you want to talk through other ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays, set up a time to talk to First Move Financial by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Quarto
S...

Anitra went to PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia last week. What’s the latest and greatest we can expect to see in the coming year?

Fact: 321 makes us think of the old educational TV show 3-2-1 Contact!

Sponsor: If you want to talk through other ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays set up a time to talk to First Move by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today.

What We’ve Been Playing

Sprawlopolis
Green Team Wins (our review) – fun even when we “broke” the game with more...

Episode 320
Room to Grow: Legacy Games

Fact – This week on the show we talk about the A320 (the most popular aircraft family in the world).

Sponsor – Visit FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a quick phone and see if First Move is the right fit for you.

What We’ve Been Playing

Mada (review coming soon)
Fox in the Forest Duet
Framework (Dave’s review)
Winter (review soon)
Kabuto Sumo (review soon)
Sobek: 2 Players (review soon)
On Tour
Colorful
Oh My Brain (review soon) Duration: 01:00:07

This week’s guest is Diandra Asbaty, a professional bowler.

319 Fact: The world’s largest sweet potato pie! 319kg, 200cm (over 6ft) in diameter! https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/445565-largest-pie-sweet-potato

Sponsor message: For expert help applying some of the same principles that help you take down your friends in Agricola, head over to FirstMoveFinancial.com/FamilyGamers and schedule a call, today!

Games We’ve Been Playing

Green Team Wins (our review)
Draftosaurus (our review)
Super Mega Lucky Box (our review) – it was a little harder for Bingo-loving grandma than we expec...

Episode 318
Board Game Terms
Draft, Dexterity, Roll-and-Write

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about board game words and what they mean. Let’s do it again!

318 Facts: Most consecutive catches of a returning “paper aircraft”; Largest commercially available hot dog; and… there are an estimated 318 species of turtles! Who knew?

From our Sponsor: How do you help your kids understand that Christmas isn’t just a “get me more stuff” holiday?

Welcome Derek Bruff to the podcast! Derek is active in our Family Gamers Community and also hosts his own podcast, First Player Token.

317 fact: There is only one currently sold LEGO set with 317 pieces: The Ice Cream Truck Police Chase (https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/ice-cream-truck-police-chase-60314 )

Sponsor message: If you have student loans (and live in the USA), you should go to StudentAid.gov and fill out the application for student loan forgiveness (if possible). You might not qualify, but the application only takes a minute. If you would like to talk to someone...

This week, we’ll review our board game gift guide. But first…

316 Fact: Marine-grade stainless steel is called type 316. (Type 304 is food-grade, type 316 has better corrosion-resistance and heat-resistance.) Find out more: https://www.thoughtco.com/type-316-and-316l-stainless-steel-2340262

Sponsor: First Move Financial wants everyone to know you can apply for Student Loan Debt Relief at: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application. If you made less than $125,000 ($250,000 for Married Filing Jointly) in 2020 OR in 2021, you can apply for $10,000 of student loan forgiveness.

What We’ve Been Playing

Green Team Wins (our review)
Turtle...

It’s that time of year again. We are joined by the “unmitigated hype monster”, Stephen Duetzmann from Engaged Family Gaming, to learn about recommendations for (mostly) family-friendly video games this holiday season.

315 fact(s)

Andrew shares facts with the co-hosts this week:

Anitra: The record for the most instruments (unique) used in a piece of music is… 315 unique instruments. See a video of clips of the music!

Stephen: SNL has been nominated for 315 prime time Emmy awards!

Andrew: A man named Muhammad Rashid crushed 315 walnuts in a minute – with his e...

Episode 314
Top (Dozen or so) Games under $20

This week, we talk about some of our favorite “cheap” games… that is, games you can find under $20 just about everywhere.

314 fact

314 is like 3.14… or the mathematical concept of π.

The symbol for Pi was introduced by William Jones in 1706 and made popular by the mathematician Leonhard Euler.

The record for reciting the most number of decimal places of Pi was achieved by Rajveer Meena at VIT University, Vellore, India on 21 March 2015. He was able to recite 70,000 decimal places.

And π has a conne...

It’s an odd numbered show and Andrew is our guest (hah!) We’re going to talk about his very first Essen Spiel experience.

313 fact – Eris is one of the largest dwarf planets in the solar system, slightly larger than Pluto, but farther away. It was originally designated 2003 UB313.

The Monthly Report: September

Andrew: 26 plays of 19 unique games, H-index 2, with Jekyll vs. Hyde, Delicious, Disney Sorcerer’s Arena Epic Alliances, Get on Board, Onitama, Royal Visit all played at least twice.

Anitra: 33 plays of 18 distinct games, H-index 4: Get on Board, Delicious, Jekyll v...