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 answer a couple of questions from folks who are looking for games that don’t require any reading. Games that are great for younger kids as well as adults who struggle with words or people who don’t know, or are just learning, English.
In addition to that, we share the games we’ve personally been playing lately, talking about our latest local events, then wrapping up with reviews of three games with no reading needed: Beacon Patrol, BLORP! and, Ice and Idols.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 313 was recorded on September 23rd, 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/313
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
(00:02:10) Ask The Bellhop
(00:22:50) The Bellhop’s Tabletop
(00:40:40) The Game Room – Beacon Patrol Review
Pick up Beacon Patrol on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rxzb7B
Check out the Pandasaurus Games Store On Amazon: https://amzn.to/4z1lMrd
Check out our other Pandasaurus content:https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=pandasaurus
(00:52:28) The Game Room – BLORP! Review
Pick up BLORP! on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4yRobo6
Visit the Smirk & Dagger Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/4iIThcR
Check out our other Smirk & Dagger/Smirk & Laughter Content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=smirk%20%26%20Dagger
(01:01:28) The Game Room – Ice and Idols Review
Pick up Ice and Idols on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4z1UCk0
Check out other games from Canadian publisher Inside Up Games: https://insideupgames.com/
Listen to our review of Earth, their most popular game on Episode 275: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep275/
(01:18:03) Closing the Doors
Send feedback to moe@tabletopbellhop.comdeanna@tabletopbellhop.com or sean@tabletopbellhop.com
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We answer a couple of questions from folks who are looking for board games that don’t require any reading. We end up giving a long list of tabletop games that are great for folks who are dyslexic, adults who struggle with reading for whatever reason, people who don’t know or are just learning English, and younger kids who are prereaders.
In addition to that we share the games we’ve personally been playing lately, talking about our latest local events and then wrapping up with reviews of three games with no reading required: Beacon Patrol, BLORP! and, Ice and Idols
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 313 was recorded on September 23rd, 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: Board Games With No Reading Required— [00:02:10]
No Reading Games Great for Kids:
- HABA
- Go Cuckoo
- My First Carcassonne
- Catan Junior
- Bugs in the Kitchen
- Outfoxed
- Viva Mouse!
- Magician’s Kitchen
- The Magic Labyrinth
- Magic Mountain
- Mysterium Kids
- Magic Keys
- Cherry on the Cake
- Logic Labyrinth
- Monster Factory
- BLORP!
- Kingdomino
- Queendomino
- Qwirkle
- Ingenious
- Aqualin
- Qwale
- Zensu
- Splendor
- Hey That’s My Fish
- KTBG
- Drop It
- Catch the Moon
- Maki Stack
- Cat’s Knocking Things off Ledges
- Ice Cool
- Pitchcar
- Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters
- Reef
- Survive The Island
- Grandpa Beck’s Games (save 15% off with BELLHOP)
- Flip 7
- Dnup
- The Game
- Hanabi
- Boop
- Boop Shuffle
- Cat Earth
- Cats Vs Cucumbers
- MLEM
More Strategic Games with No Reading:
- Vivo
- Trickarus
- Sandbag
- Torchlit
- Cat in the Box
- Point Salad
- Please Don’t Burn My Village
- Ultimatch
- Bohananza
- Mind Up
- Arboretum
- The Crooked Crown
- Codenames Pictures
- Dixit
- MonsDRAWsity
- Hues And Cues
- Qorridor
- Floristry
- Hive
- Azul
- Cascadia
- Harmonies
- Flamecraft Duals
- Onitama
- Land Vs Sea
- Flora Funga
- Patchwork
- Gorinto
- Ticket to Ride
- Carcassonne
- 7 Wonders
- 7 Wonders Duel
- The Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth
- Ra
- Lanterns
- Takenoko
- Ice and Idols
- Block and Key
- Picture Perfect
- That’s Pretty Clever
- Alhambra
- Star Explorer
- Moonlight Market
- Pschyobabble
- Curses and Covens
- Feed the Kraken
- Architects of Amytis
- Gnome Hollow
- Kokeshi
- The Night Cage
- House of Fado
- Power Grid
- On Mars
Wordless Games from our Fans:
- Gigamic
- Chess
- Go
- Stratego
- Sports Dice Collection
- Sluth
- Zooloretteo
- Stonespine Architects
- Pass The Pigs
- 9 Lives
- Zombie Dice
- Operation
Send your questions to: questions@tabletopbellhop.com
— The Bellhop’s Tabletop: Board Games We’ve Been Playing— [00:22:50]
- Confusing Lands Icebound Isles (Preorder)
- Our Confusing Lands Review
- Boop Shuffle
- Revive
- My City
- Endeavor Deep Sea
- 12 Rivers
- Rebirth
- 5 Minute Dungeon
- Cat in the Box
— Review of Beacon Patrol — [00:40:40]
Work together to explore the North Coast in this cooperative tile laying game that plays great solo. We had mixed thoughts on this one.
- Pick up Beacon Patrol on Amazon
- Check out the Pandasaurus Games Store On Amazon
- Check out our other Pandasaurus content
— Review of BLORP! — [00:52:28]
It’s BLORP!, It’s BLORP!. It’s Strange, it’s thinky, Its’ good! It’s BLORP!, it’s BLORP. If you haven’t tried it you should!
- Pick up BLORP! on Amazon:
- Visit the Smirk & Dagger Amazon Store:
- Check out our other Smirk & Dagger/Smirk & Laughter content
— Review of Ice and Idols — [01:01:28]
Explore an ice temple trying to collect idols and place them into alters to unlock abilities and conduct research in this shifting, spinning, maze game.
- Pick up Ice and Idols on Amazon
- Check out other games from Canadian publisher Inside Up Games:
- Listen to our review of Earth, their most popular game on Episode 275
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