The Fifth Meeple Crew
A board games podcast featuring a group of diverse friends who offer their takes on the latest and greatest board games to hit their table and face them off 1v1 in the “Battle of the Funnest” Showdown.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Episode 98: Living the Theme: Obsession vs Rock Hard 1977
Some board games have a theme pasted on top. Others pull you completely into their world. That’s what this week is all about. Today, we’re diving into two games that don’t just give you actions to take… they give you a life to live. In Rock Hard: 1977, you’re chasing fame, sleep deprivation, and your next big gig in the gritty world of late-70s rock. In Obsession, you’re managing servants, social status, and scandal in high society England. By the end of the episode, we’ll decide which game does the better job of making players forget they’re sitting at a table… and start believing they’re living another life!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Topic of the Day!
06:32 Obsession
27:09 Obsession: Collector's Corner
29:55 Obsession: Final Thoughts
32:04 Rock Hard 1977
44:19 Rock Hard 1977: Collector's Corner
44:57 Rock Hard 1977: Final Thoughts
47:35 Battle of the Funnest Showdown
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
Thursday May 07, 2026
Thursday May 07, 2026
Special Episode 97 (Rating the Rankings): BGG 1-10
Ten games. Thousands of ratings. Endless arguments. Today, we enter the sacred list: BoardGameGeek’s top 10. Some of these are masterpieces… some might be a little overrated. Either way, we’re ranking, critiquing, and maybe stirring the pot just a bit. Afterwards we do our first ever draft where each host picks what games they would take out of the top 10 in a snake draft as we compete to earn your votes on who drafted the best! Thanks as always for the listens and spreading the word!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:27 BGG Top 10
37:52 The Draft
Whose draft did you like best? Let us know by emailing us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll give you a shout out in our next episode! As always get those games to the table!
Thursday Apr 30, 2026
Thursday Apr 30, 2026
Episode 96: Stars, Sweets, and Heavy Euros: Galactic Cruise vs Sweet Lands
Welcome back! This week, we’ve got a showdown that pits cosmic elegance against confectionery chaos. Galactic Cruise promises five-star experiences in zero gravity, while Sweet Lands delivers a bright, candy-filled world of playful competition. We’re throwing them into the ring to see which one actually satisfies. Space luxury or sugar rush—what’s it going to be? Listen in as these 2025 Heavy Euros battle for victory!
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Topic of the Day!
06:07 Galactic Cruise
24:45 Galactic Cruise: Collector's Corner
26:09 Galact Cruise: Final Thoughts
27:46 Sweet Lands
46:04 Sweet Lands: Collector's Corner
47:48 Sweet Lands: Final Thoughts
50:02 Battle of the Funnest Showdown
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Special Episode 95 (Trivia): Starting Player Rules
Before the first move is made, before alliances are broken, before someone flips the table—there’s one critical question: who goes first? And apparently, board game designers have decided the answer should involve astrology, recent meals, or your proximity to a houseplant. Today’s trivia episode is all about starting player rules—the good, the bad, and the ‘why does this exist?’ Let’s find out who really deserves to go first.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Chris's 10 Trivia Questions (Starting Player Rules) Play along with us!
Have any great trivia questions for us? Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com and maybe we'll put your trivia up on our podcast in the future (10 questions minimum| 15 questions max) as always play more board games!
Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Episode 94: Allies or Adversaries: Kinfire Council vs Archipelago
In today's episode are friends working together… or secretly plotting against each other? This episode dives into Kinfire Council and Archipelago, two games that handle teamwork very differently. Expect laughs, tough choices, and a debate over which one creates the best game night chaos. Only one can come out victorious as we battle them off in our Battle of the Funnest Showdown! Enjoy!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Topic of the Day!
10:30 Kinfire Council
32:04 Kinfire Council: Collector's Corner
33:40 Archipelago
47:21 Archipelago: Collector's Corner
48:15 Archipelago: Final Thoughts
52:00 Battle of the Funnest Showdown
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Episode 93 (Mini): First in Flight
Today we’re taking to the skies with First in Flight, a game all about pushing the limits of early aviation. It’s fast, it’s clever, and it might just surprise you with how tense those first few seconds off the ground can feel. Let’s see if this one soars… or stalls on the runway.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:03 First in Flight
02:36 First in Flight: The Good
06:50 First in Flight: The Bad
12:16 First in Flight: Final Scores
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
Thursday Apr 02, 2026
Thursday Apr 02, 2026
Episode 92: Forever and Ever-dell: Everdell vs Everdell Silverfrost
In today's episode we’re heading deep into the forest—but don’t forget your coat, because things are about to get cold. That’s right, we’re putting Everdell head-to-head with its frosty counterpart, Everdell: Silverfrost.
This one’s more than just vibes—it’s a true test of design. We’re comparing the cozy, streamlined engine-building of the original against the expanded systems and icy twists Silverfrost brings to the table. Does the classic still deliver the tightest, most satisfying experience, or has the new contender evolved the formula into something even better?
Only one game earns the win—let’s find out into today's battle of the funnest showdown!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Topic of the Day!
10:20 Everdell Silverfrost
21:54 Everdell Silverfrost: Collector's Corner
23:47 Everdell Silverfrost: Final Thoughts
25:53 Battle of the Funnest Showdown
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
Thursday Mar 26, 2026
Thursday Mar 26, 2026
Episode 91: Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament (Part 2)
We crown a champ! It's part 2 of our epic Meeple Madness Tournament with the Final 8 teams battling it out to see who shall come out on top! Enjoy!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:06 Meeple Madness 2026 Tournament - Final 8 Games
Thanks for listening! Want to keep the conversation going? Reach out to us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com—we’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and hot takes. And as always… play more board games!
The Fifth Meeple
We are a diverse group of friends offering our takes on the latest and hottest titles to hit our table. Between the Collector, the Intellectual Introvert, the Goofy Noob and the Deluxifier, chances are that one of us has a background or approach to games that you can align with!
In each episode, we talk about two games that have a common link to each other, touching on best moments, frustrations, components, cost considerations, and anything else that tickles our fancy. We often (but not always) play with higher player counts, so we also touch on how the number of players impacts the gaming experience. And then, because we just can't help ourselves, we pit both games against each other in the ultimate showdown.
Tune in each episode to find out which game comes out on top in the "Battle of the Funnest Showdown"
Chris C. ~ The Intellectual Introvert
Generation X
Shy by nature, I’m almost always the quietest one at the table, but my competitive side likely has me silently scheming on how to pull out a win. A chemical engineer by trade, I love math, science, and finding better ways to do things. As a result, I love games that present an ever-changing puzzle, incorporating some luck but also a means by which to mitigate it. As the resident “old man” of the group, I’ve built an appreciation for the joy of the overall gaming experience and can take as much satisfaction from an epic loss as I can from a well-earned win.
Much of my adult gaming history has been playing solo, representing multiple players at the same time. I love the mental challenge and it’s a great way for me to explore several strategies simultaneously. When playing with this group, however, the player interaction and verbal banter really shine, and I feel like I still come out of my shell just a little more each time we play together.
Daniella N. ~ The Goofy Noob
Millennial Generation
I honestly have no clue how I got here or why David invited me to start playing games, but here I am! Growing up I played all the classics: Mouse Trap, Life, KerPlunk, Hungry Hungry Hippos, etc… Fast Forward to my middle/high school years and you’d find a very sore loser who was too competitive and hated defeat, therefore I stayed away from board games. Now in the back half of my 30’s, I’ve matured a bit and try to keep the sore losing ‘tude to a minimum.
In December of 2022, David invited me to be a part of a few game nights where I first met Emily and Emerson. They tricked me into some easier games like Azul and Quacks where winning was more luck-based and I had a few victories. Now, we’ve gained Chris and these clowns are teaching me games I need a PhD for. But, I come to game night ready, willing and able to learn and grow. I have not been on a victorious streak in a while but I'm slowly growing my knowledge and coming up with strategies. I consider myself the “goofy noob” because I like to cut the tension in the room with comments, jokes and laughter.
David G. ~ The Collector
Millennial Generation
500, 632, 750…Where did all these games come from? As someone who loves the artwork and the theme of board games, I just can’t help myself when I see a good bargain! Collecting is fun, but playing is better! If you’re looking for the type of gamer who loves the competitive aspect of our hobby and tries to outthink and outsmart his opponents, you’ll enjoy what I have to say about most games. My favorite part of the hobby is seeking out new mechanisms and discovering how they work. Because I love to study game design, unique gems like these keep me coming back to look for both new and old games to play.
When I’m not out competing, I love bringing new gamers into the hobby and showing them how amazing a modern board game can be. This passion has led me to create many different playgroups one of which has now become the Fifth Meeple. I never thought I would be a podcaster, but I feel that this diverse group of five has something unique to offer the board gaming community. I am excited for the adventure. I’m also hoping listeners will be able to connect with each one of us given that we come from various backgrounds, ages, game experience, and game interests. In the meantime, you can catch me hanging out with my new baby girl, teaching youth group at church, playing co-ops with the wife (we are too competitive to play against each other, lol), chasing our 6 cats around our small family flower farm, and last but not least, trying to “get some games to the table!”
Pete M. ~ The Deluxifier
Generation X
I’ve been playing games in one form or another all my life. As GenX'ers, it was up to us to entertain ourselves. During the day we played outdoor games like kickball, ghost in the graveyard, SPUD, or one of the many other schoolyard games. When the streetlights came on or it was too bad outside, we were playing board or card games!
In the 70’s and 80’s I played countless hours of many of the popular games of the time. I discovered more complex game titles and I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons while in Jr. High School. My other pastime was the video arcade. My love of the arcade launched me into a computer career along with computer gaming. In the mid 90’s started playing Magic the Gathering with friends but we still played other popular games such as Settlers of Catan, Formula De and others.
My wife Eryn and I married and started our family in the mid 2000’s. Raising a family consumed much of my time, however I still did continue to play Magic the Gathering regularly when our boys were young. As our two boys grew, I found myself playing more board games with them and as a family. The past 10 years, I’ve been primarily playing board games and jumped back into the hobby 100%.
Looking to connect?
Email us at thefifthmeeple@gmail.com