Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Episode 97: Cole Smith - Games that Combine 2 Mechanisms well - Top 5 Area Control Games - A Frame Job & Good Food






Canadian board game and graphic designer, Cole Smith, joins me to talk about his current published games, games that combine 2 mechanisms well, and his favorite mechanism, area control, games.






00:00:00 Intro


00:00:21 Get to Know Cole Smith and his games

• Tanuki 
• Sauros 
• 3 Magi 

00:05:58 The Journey of Game Design


00:08:23 Cole's Favorite Mechanism or Game that inspires him


00:14:42 Games that Blend 2 Well-Known Mechanics Well

• Lost Ruins or Arnak
• Dune Imperium
• Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
• Patchwork
• Cascadia and other Flatout line of games
• Sauros
• Rumble Nation
• Radlands 
• 7 Wonders Duel
• Sagrada 
• Nokosu dice
• King of Tokyo
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick Taking Game
• Iliad
• Tag Team
• Arcs

00:33:32 Top 5 Area Control Games


00:37:57 The King is Dead: Second Edition


00:40:18 Rumble Nation


00:41:46 Waddle


00:44:35 Ankh: Gods of Egypt


00:47:25 Marrakech


00:50:50 Rumble Nation (Overlap)


00:51:09 Sunrise Lane


00:54:27 Scythe


00:58:45 Foundations of Rome


01:03:16 Root


01:07:26 Patrician


01:10:29 Honorable Mentions


01:10:40 Big Boss


01:12:59 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon


01:15:01 Ahoy


01:16:02 Moment of Positivity


01:20:09 Where can you find Cole?

• BGG Designer Page (boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/71758/cole-smith)
• Instagram @Cole_Designs_Games (instagram.com/cole_designs_games/)

01:21:24 Outro






(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)


We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026


Web: boardgamegeek.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com (mailto:podcast@boardgamegeek.com)