Don't Make Me Choose! Why is it so hard to pick a favorite board game? Tabletop Bellhop Episode 283

Published: Tue 30th Sep

This week we've got a question about choosing favourites and why it's so hard to pick a favourite game. We share first thoughts on Tea Witches from The Op and review two games, Reign of Dragoness from Grandpa Beck's Games and Ahau: Rulers of Yucatan from Grand Gamers Guild.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 283, was recorded on September 24th, 2025. We record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop.

Find full, detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep283/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

00:00:00 - Checking In

00:01:51 - Announcement

We messed up, The Shackleton Series from Escape Mail contains up to 720 minutes of play not over 700 hours as we said last episode.
Either way you can still save 10% off with our code BELLHOP
https://collabs.shop/sbvg4b

00:02:31 - Ask the Bellhop - Discussing how and why a board game becomes one of our favourites

Jonathan S. asks:
What makes a game your favorite? Is it the feeling you get from playing it? The artwork? The mechanics? The theme? Something else? AND… why is it so hard to answer “What is your favorite game?”

Previous episodes that we reference:
Picking the Perfect Board Game: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep251/
Being Critical, What we've learned about board game criticism: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep254/

Send your questions to: Questions@tabletopbellhop.com

00:38:29 - The Bellhop's Tabletop

00:47:08 - The Game Room - Reign of Dragoness Review
Check out all of Grandpa Beck's Games. Use BELLHOP to save 15%:
https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/collections/all?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX
Pick up Reign of Dragoness:
https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/products/reign-of-dragoness?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX
Check out our Skull King Review on Tabletop Bellhop Ep 263: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep263/
Pick up Skull King:
https://www.grandpabecksgames.com/products/copy-of-skull-king%C2%AE?sca_ref=9131133.6jeLXLbaBX

01:06:20 - The Game Room - Ahau: Rulers of Yucatán Review
Check out our Ahau unboxing video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7ouO67lHtP8?si=a6DQtRRxxAcukp3w
Pick up Ahau on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4my6fZa
Or direct from Grand Gamers Guild: https://grandgamersguild.com/products/ahau
Check out our other Grand Gamers Guild Content (there's lots): https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=Grand%20Gamers%20Guild

TIP THE BELLHOP:
Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop
Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch
Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:
Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com
Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Watch Now