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.
Tonight we’re talking about how to compare games that are similar and pick a favorite.
As well, we’ve got reviews of Ham Helsing and First Class Mail along with plenty of talk about the games we’ve played lately including first thoughts on Flamecraft Duals, more plays of 3 Witches, and more, even including some digital game plays.
Note: Moe’s audio gets significantly better after the intro segment. We are still experimenting with our new mics.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 301 was recorded on May 12th 29th, 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/podcast/ep301/
Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.
(00:00:15) Checking in
(00:02:21) Announcements
Our 300th episode giveaway is live!
Head to https://tabletopbellhop.com/giveaway to enter!
(00:02:59) Ask The Bellhop
(00:20:46) The Bellhop’s Tabletop
(00:58:34) The Game Room – Ham Helsing
Pick Up Ham Helsing on Amazon https://amzn.to/4tCiozZ
Check out the Ham Helsing Graphic Novel https://amzn.to/49Finnp
Check out our Castle Panic Big Box Review https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/castle-panic-big-box-review/
(01:20:56) The Game Room – First Class Letters
Pick up First Class Letters https://amzn.to/42wirlO
Check out all of our word game content (there’s a lot) https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=word
Check out the GameHead website to see what else they have to offer: https://gamehead.com/
(01:30:58) Closing the Doors
Send feedback to moe@tabletopbellhop.comdeanna@tabletopbellhop.com or sean@tabletopbellhop.com
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
Tonight we’re talking about how to compare board games that are similar and pick a favorite.
As well, we’ve got reviews of Ham Helsing and First Class Mail along with plenty of talk about the games we’ve played lately including first thoughts on Flamecraft Duals, more plays of 3 Witches, and more, even including some digital game plays.
A quick note: Moe’s audio gets significantly better after the intro segment. We are still experimenting with our new mics.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 301 was recorded on May 12th, 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. Some of the games mentioned in this podcast were provided free by publishers, designers, or distributors.
— Announcements — [00:02:21]
Our 300th episode giveaway is live! It’s huge. So many publishers taking part. 32 people will win games!
Head to https://tabletopbellhop.com/giveaway to enter!
— Ask The Bellhop: Comparing Similar Games — [00:02:59]
- We talked about eighty-five games on our 300th episode!
- A talk about bias on Episode 254 Being Critical
- Talk about keeping games for other people on Episode 204 A Collection of Compromises
- Check our review of the new edition of Sagraga on Episode 299 Pure and Simple
- Why set up and take down matters on Episode 252 Game Time
- More discussion on choosing between games on Episode 283 Don’t Make Me Choose
- Share your thoughts on our discord!
Send your questions to: questions@tabletopbellhop.com
— The Bellhop’s Tabletop: What we’ve been playing — [00:20:46]
- Qwirkle
- Flora Funga
- Feed The Kraken
- 5 Minute Dungeon
- Karak
- Cat Earth
- Strike!
- Flamecraft Duals
- 3 Witches
- Sanctuary
- Perch
- Thrive
- 20 Strong
- Super Mastermind
- Star Realms App
- Patchwork App
— Review of Ham Helsing — [00:58:34]
Take on the role of reluctant vampire hunter Ham Helsing and his friends, fight through waves of spider minions and save Mud City from a host of villains in this cooperative card crafting game.
- Pick Up Ham Helsing on Amazon
- Check out the Ham Helsing Graphic Novel
- Check out our Castle Panic Big Box Review
— Review of First Class Letters — [01:20:56]
A very clever word game where you come up with words using three random letters, while avoiding another. Get points for each time you use the key letters and score double for using all three.
- Pick up First Class Letters
- Check out all of our word game content (there’s a lot)
- Check out the GameHead website to see what else they have to offer
—Support our efforts—
If you enjoy our content
- Join the Bellhop Discord.
- Check out our Patreon.
- Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch.
- Buy us a coffee.
Find us all over the web: Facebook | Instagram | Blue Sky | BoardGameGeek | YouTube | Twitch
