Love board games? Let’s talk boardgames, lots of board gaming (and a few RPGs). Tabletop Bellhop, your cardboard concierge, is here to answer your gaming and game night questions, helping you make your game nights better with tabletop game reviews and advice.
We share tips for getting people to try something new, we recap a local board game event, we share initial thoughts on Ars Magica Definitive Edition and we wrap up with reviews of three games: 12 Rivers, A Place For All My Books, and Twisted Trumpets.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 316 was recorded on October 28th, 2026. Episodes are recorded live on Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop
Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/316
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) CHECK-IN
(00:02:24) Ask The Bellhop
(00:24:41) The Bellhop’s Tabletop
(00:45:16) The Game Room – 12 Rivers Review
Pick up 12 Rivers on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B00PHAYbj
Shop other Good Games Publishing games: https://link.amazon/B0299MtaD
Visit the Good Games Publishing webpage: https://goodgamespublishing.com.au/?ref=tabletopbellhop
Check out our other Good Games Publishing content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/tag/good-games-publishing/
(01:01:31) The Game Room – A Place for all My Books Review
Pick up A Place for All My Books on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0hXwXLG6
Check out the Smirk & Dagger Amazon store: https://link.amazon/B07n6NKIl
Pick up the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition: https://barnesandnoble.sjv.io/kOY77M
Check out our other Smirk & Dagger content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/tag/smirk-and-dagger-games/
(01:17:13) The Game Room – Twisted Trumpets Review
Pick up Twisted Trumpets on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0hBo9uET
Check out our Kings Coalition review, another great Play to Z game: https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/kings-coalition-review/
Check out what’s new on the Play to Z webpage: https://www.playtozgames.com/?ref=tabletopbellhop
(01:26:31) Closing the Doors
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How do you get people to try heavier board games? We share tips on getting people to try something new, plus we share initial thoughts on Ars Magica Definitive Edition, and we wrap up with full reviews of three games: 12 Rivers, A Place For All My Books, and Twisted Trumpets.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 316 was recorded on October 28th, 2026. You can join us when we record live, usually on Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern on Twitch.
If you’d like to watch the (slightly less edited) video version of this recording you can jump to the bottom of the post.
Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. Using these links costs you nothing extra and helps us offset the cost of producing this show. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Most of the games mentioned in this podcast were provided free by publishers, designers, or distributors.
— Ask The Bellhop: Tip for Getting Folks to Try More Complex Games — [00:02:24]
Send your questions to: questions@tabletopbellhop.com
— The Bellhop’s Tabletop: Board Games We’ve Been Playing— [00:24:41]
- Horrified
- The Night Cage
- Hex Effects
- Sheepy Time
- Haunted Mouse
- Riff Raff
- BLORP!
- Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters
- String Theory
- Ars Magica Definitive Edition
— Review of 12 Rivers — [00:45:16]
Place dams along the river to collect pearls and deliver them to your villagers in this very unique game that features what’s basically a marble run.
- Pick up 12 Rivers on Amazon
- Shop other Good Games Publishing Games
- Visit the Good Games Publishing Webpage
- Check out our other Good Games Publishing Content
— Review of A Place for All My Books — [01:01:31]
A cozy game where you sit at home and rearrange your book collection completing small projects in order to build up your social battery enough to go into the village and buy more books.
- Pick up A Place for All My Books on Amazon
- Check out the Smirk & Dagger Amazon store
- Pick up the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition of a Place for All My Books
- Check out our other Smirk & Dagger Content
— Review of Twisted Trumpets — [01:17:13]
Compete to build a whimsical trumpet that takes into account the current Royal Decree and the Queen’s private requests in this straightforward tile placement game.
- Pick up Twisted Trumpets on Amazon
- Check out our Kings Coalition Review another great Play to Z game
- Check out what’s new on the Play to Z webpage
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