This is a really cool format that I hope we get to see more of! Shorter videos that showcase an interesting mechanical or thematic piece of a board game and engaging with it on a deeper level than just a review of good vs bad. Less "Is this fun?" and more "This is interesting."
In case you tried to pause on the review portion: Defenders of the Wild is a lovely co-op, that's surprisingly difficult considering its cutesy woodland theme. Presentationally it's excellent; a striking palette contrasted with chrome machinery. The defender cards you'll be playing each turn have a huge punch of personality and detail - and each one being entirely unique underlines the huge amount of work put into creating such a cohesive box. Mechanically, it's not tilling any entirely new fields, but it has enough spark to keep players well versed in co-op games happy. Establishing camps across the board can be an interesting logistics puzzle, predicting the movements of the robots is deeply satisfying when done right, and the limited communication throws enough spanners into the works to make things tricky without being punitive. There's modular difficulty that lends longevity to its $50-ish price point - though the attention to detail in the production and the incredibly svelte form factor goes a long way to justify that price already. It scales very well at different player counts, especially considering turns are very short and snappy. It's a very good game, though I anticipate many will have similar games knocking about already - your mileage may vary on how much life this injects into your shelves. Sorry this writing is super mid I just tapped it out on the day of release after realizing I had to fill this spot.
This is exactly why I didn't decide to back this game. Both in visual and mechanical terms it felt like something that is very similar to games I already have, without standing out enough to warrant having 'another one of those' games on my shelf, let alone replacing one of them.
@@0megaD What games does it feel similar to? I only own a few co-ops and none have really "sparked" with me. I'd be happy with "similar but really engaging"!
@@DerekHohls That's a hard question to answer without more information. Which games have you owned / tried already? What games did you 'spark' with & why? Are you visually - table presence - or mechanics oriented? If so, which mechanics? Light/heavy games? What interests you in this game? Are you sure you enjoy *this* type of co-op game? (Threat management/mitigation) The two games most commonly referenced when comparing to Defenders of the Wild are Root (mostly visually, partially mechanically) and Spirit Island (mostly mechanically, partially thematically.) This game shares that 'threat / disaster / flood management' mechanic that a lot of coop games have. Here's a small list of some co-ops you can look up to see if they're interesting, I've tried to sort them based on a combination of personal score & similarity a bit so I would check them from top to bottom: * Spirit Island (My favorite thinky game, medium-heavy, AP prone, kick colonizers off your island with the help of indigenous spirit worshippers) * Oltree (My favorite visuals wise, lightweight, deal with disasters/events around your castle with a unique 'story' mechanic, beat the final 'challenge' and save the day!) * Big Book of Madness (Mechanics-adjacent, deckbuilder where you try to mitigate curses pouring out of a grimoire, and use spells to manipulate resources / turn order / threats / etc.) * Peacekeepers: Horrors of War (Visually similar, mechanics-adjacent, two warring armies and you are trying to keep them pacified until they make peace without killing/removing anything. A slight twist on the usual mechanic.) * Pandemic / Wrath of the Lich King / Flash Point / The Loop / Tiny Epic Defenders ("Traditional" threat mitigation games, bad stuff is generated at semi-random locations, and you try to remove the threat while dealing with slightly different objectives in each game. The last one of this list is very portable) * Subterra 2 (Mechanics-adjacent, Indiana Jones with constant threat generation, grab the artifact and escape the flooding temple!) * Atlantis Rising (Visually impressive, mechanics-adjacent, race to complete a magical portal before the island is swallowed by the ocean) * Zombicide (Light, dicechucker with story objectives while an ever-growing horde of zombies attacks) Two honorable mentions: * Horrified (Very light, Pick up & Delivery game where you are being chased by a historical monster while trying to destroy them. very 'Family-friendly' co-op. Each monster has their own unique 'puzzle' to beat them.) * Weirdwood Manor (You're in a manor with rotating rooms, trying to mitigate threats while attempting to grow strong enough to beat up a monster within a certain time limit. Utilizes dice.) If you can provide more info on your past experiences I could provide more in-depth info or more specific recommendations.
I genuinely love this format and "deeper" form of media critique. It's why some of you guys'ses work hits so much harder and better than some other review channel. It's not just analysis about the mechnics but also the message and theming. I had my eye on this for a few days and I'm definitely going to pick this up.
Thank you for promoting this game the way you did. Their previous game Bloc By Bloc is kind of doing the same thing, but much more overtly. It's literally 4 city factions rioting against the cops and the mechanics aren't identical, but the narrative is similar. I think Defenders was made so they could soften the gritty reality a bit more and place it in an anthropomorphic animal fantasy setting. Having played both games, I think it was a good idea. Losing Bloc By Bloc in the year of our lord, 2024 is very depressing. Losing Defenders because my brother used all his breaches and didn't realize he can't use mine was not as brutal. (He couldn't get into the last factory to rewild it and win the game after telling me he's got things covered and it was okay for me to leave.) Thrilling! Fun! Way better than losing to a bunch of faceless authoritarians.
The art style and theme obviously reminds of Root, which is interesting because Root's own aesthetics have the same purpose. It intends to bring the crunchy asymetric political wargames of GMT's COIN series to a wider audience, and using cute fantasy animals makes it more engaging and fun, compared to a COIN game like A Distant Plain where the factions are imperialists, kleptocrats, terrorists and drug lords, all of whom responsible for death and tragedy in the real world to this day. It's a great move both from a gameplay perspective, allowing immersion without concern, and a messaging one, as it disarms the player from pre-conceived ideas they may have towards heavy subjects like anarchism and anti-imperialism. As a huge Root and COIN fan I am very excited to try this game.
I like it; take this ball and run. Been kinda missing Quinns and Paul (ya, been watching/listening for a while, that long, ha), and this pulls right into that. I'm here for it. One of my favorite SU&SD moments is at the end of Undaunted where Quinns doesn't just shy away but proactively talks about the unspoken context and unrecognized forces of the era those games pull from. He didn't have to, but he does and it's appreciated. As is this. Keep it up.
I'd def like to play this based on the review. But that aside, I'm really liking the visual design - at the very least I'd love to LOOK through the game
Bloc by Bloc Uprising is an amazing coop game that no one talks about, so seeing T.L Simons in the spotlight with this game is a joy to me. I love how his games put politics, theme and game play into a coherent and enjoyable package. I feel like they did a great job blending together the looks and feel of familiar games like root and catan into something new and exciting. The card system and limitations will hopefully help with the quarterbacking that many coop games suffer from.
I loved this video, truly. Great format and really, really nice to get to see you wax poetic on a game with a strong theme. It's great to hear a more nuanced and personal take on games rather than the standard review format of "is this good, should you buy it." That's still important of course, as reviewers you have a distinctive voice and consistent approach to how you rate games that is very useful for consumers who don't have the money to try out all these games ourselves. But to branch out a bit and examine a game in a different way is very refreshing
This game is very fun, I really enjoy how difficult it is and I like the card play. I do feel like there is something missing for this game to take it to the next level for me. I feel like it needs more asymmetry for the characters of each faction or a recruitment deck with different animals and abilities that you can have join the cause (something similar to the major/minor powers in Spirit Island). Idk I’m no game designer just feel like it needs something.
Single session campaigns (this, Leviathan Wilds) and replayable short campaigns (Slay the Spire, Arcs, Heat) are by far my preferred way of playing campaigns now. Long form campaigns eventually become a chore.
You aren’t required to build your last camp until you’re ready- so just wait for the others to catch up and help them get their own camps built. It’s a coop game after all! My husband and I love this game at 2players. It’s genuinely excellent and the replayability is undeniable.
4:27 the decision to leave is not forced on you, the player decides. I received my KS copy this week. Surprised, pleased and very interested to see this review as I attempt to learn the game.
Thank you for sharing the art that us interesting and intriguing to you. It gives me new things to consider and think about, and reminds me how wonderful games can be!
this was lovely, part of me wished poeticlythat you had 3 other contributersat at the start and lost them throughout the review only to give the ending alone but still a lovley not review
RUclips search is ridiculous. If there is an old video that never got many views, but i want to watch it, I basically can't ever find it. Even if I know the exact title. I search the exact title and it just won't come up. Enshittification is a harsh mistress.
I recently found the channel, and one particular thing that makes me smile is that gig poster with Liquid Liquid. It makes me always wait for Tom's videos, and then there are videos like this with invitation to think what viewpoints games can offer. And that makes me smile too.
I will admit that contrary to many of the comments here, I didn't entirely get this video. Well, I got it, for sure, I love the deep dive into this one evocative mechanic and it's parallels with the real world. What I didn't get is why that couldn't then be followed by a full review. This mechanic is really cool and evocative, is that enough to merit buying the game? Does it fall flat outside of it and is it's arts best contemplated rather than experienced? I understand that nobody reviews a Van Gogh painting, but those aren't being mass produced for commercial sale. I think movies are art and those are subject to review more often than they are merely appreciated for what they are (in my opinion, but living your life by IMDB ratings is a separate rant). What lingers with me is a feeling that this didn't quite fit the review format *because* you couldn't recommend it past this incredible idea. That if you could have whole-heartedly recommended this game, you would have. And I am very much aware that that is the wrong takeaway and wasn't at all the intention of breaking from the review format. Especially because I went back to look at the little text blurb and that isn't true! So yeah, I love this exposition, I especially loved the John Company video, but I didn't really get why this couldn't be a full review.
I found myself wondering toward the end, "if you think this kind of uniqueness precludes reviewing something, how do you think movie or book reviewers manage it?"
I find myself leaning away from SUSD "reviews"/videos in recent times. It's like they can't make a standard review or even talking point anymore without injecting their own moral biases and/or politics into it. I just want to know about the game, what works and what doesn't, and if it is good by your standards. We don't need a random lecture on intersectionality midway through a board game review. I think this isn't for me anymore.
Exactly, its very sad, as I've been a fan for years. And the morals are always of the same 'safely liberal, mock anything that isn't in the heterodoxy' kind, never a surprise, a different take, something that feels authentic. Its even boring to be honest, to hear the same crap coming from every single place. And its also wrong, in this case. Queers for Gaza are being mocked because they are a living paradox.
I love your reviews, and your thoughts are always interesting and thought provoking. But, please, be serious - queers and Palestinians do not have a common oppressor. If anything, the latter oppresses the former. You really lost me when you chose THAT particular example for intersectionality.
Am I correctly understanding your "intersectionality" tangent? It looks like you're saying that, similar to overcoming the evil in this boardgame you're reviewing, all diverse groups like Palestinians and queers will benefit when the common oppressor Israel is dismantled. Do you really think that only by destroying the one Jewish state can "the collective truly win"?
This piece is brilliant-a rich examination of a system within a board game, which, in turn, explores the medium of board gaming on a deeper level. I love this deep dive into the narrative and the meaning behind what a game aims to portray. While we can continue to view games as just 'games,' we can also begin to understand them as a medium capable of being literary, similar to how we view books, movies, and now video games. It’s an exciting time as games evolve in this way, and I'm thrilled to see Shut Up & Sit Down remain at the forefront of critique and analysis.
This was one I was really excited for, but now sits as my top disappointment of the year. I just didn't find it compelling. The cards are boring, the factions are meh, the design is drab. The only thing I liked was the factory programming was walls came out. Very mid game.
Hey Tom, I'm really excited to see this shift from the normal review structure. As you say, I think board games can be such evocative works of art that express big ideas in a digestible format, and that can be a totally separate conversation from "value for the money". I think videos like this or the John Company video really bring a side of board gaming to the forefront that I think a lot of people miss. Love the content and I'm glad to see you guys exploring the medium in a new way and I hope you keep it up.
It is nice to see someone giving a little critical analysis of a game (in other words, a review) without trying to get me to buy anything, or not, or treating me primarily as a consumer.
Love your approach on this one. Diving right in and conveying some key points quickly. Big fan of all your work, but this was particularly appreciated 😊
I want to play the game because he says..... (Mind you I really hate co-ops and refuse to play them.) You have cards but you're not allowed to tell people what you're going to do.
This video is so succinct and well made, it's one of my favourites immediately! And it might not be a review but i definitely want to play this game now lol
Just want to say that I agree with other comments saying that politics is out of place in board games reviews. The same goes for board and video games.
6:00 How can support for LGBTQ+ rights align with advocacy for Palestinian rights when these two causes are at odds? From an LGBTQ+ perspective, supporting Israel-where there are strong legal protections, social acceptance, and a thriving LGBTQ+ community-makes more sense than backing Palestinian territories, where LGBTQ+ rights are severely restricted, and discrimination is widespread. While the suffering in Palestinian territories is undeniable, aligning with Israel offers more tangible benefits for those prioritizing LGBTQ+ rights. With ongoing conflict complicating the path to peace, supporting a country that actively upholds LGBTQ+ freedoms is a pragmatic approach. In contrast, LGBTQ+ individuals face severe legal penalties and social rejection in many parts of Palestine, making it difficult to effectively advocate for LGBTQ+ rights there. Supporting LGBTQ+ rights should not involve backing groups that actively oppose you. Advocating for a government like Afghanistan’s-which severely oppresses women-would be counterproductive. Similarly, supporting those who would deny your basic rights does not advance the cause. Prioritizing allies who already promote these freedoms strengthens the overall movement. Lastly, political discussions shouldn’t be part of this video, as this is a board game review channel. Let’s keep the focus where it belongs, Tom.
Ironically, Tom here kinda pointed out the exact problems with intersectionality when taken in these ways. It boils down the nuance of difference conflicts to a "with us or against us" mentality, and has groups even contradicting their own self-interests in the process at times. In other cases it'll often have groups deny some of their most powerful potential allies because of that mentality.
@@sylinmino He raised the issue at a surface level, but it falls apart under closer scrutiny. Tom's point was essentially that groups should unite against a common enemy, as in the "defenders of the wild vs. industrialization" analogy. However, the issue is not always that clear-cut. While industrialization clearly threatens the wild, applying this kind of thinking universally oversimplifies complex conflicts. Let’s take the example of women in Afghanistan. Here, we had three groups: women, the USA, and Afghanistan. The USA waged a devastating war in Afghanistan that caused immense suffering, but at the same time, it promoted women’s rights. A women's rights group faces two options: support the removal of the USA from Afghanistan, which would end the war, or advocate for its continued presence, which helps uphold women's rights. Which option should a women’s rights group advocate for? Removing or supporting the USA’s presence? During the occupation, women in Afghanistan had more rights and freedoms. In contrast, after the withdrawal, those rights have been severely curtailed, with women now banned from public life in many ways. The group’s focus should remain on what best advances the cause of women, rather than the broader conflict. Turning to Palestine, the question becomes: what is the main goal of an LGBTQ+ advocacy group? Is it saving Palestine from alleged genocide or protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people? Individuals can prioritize either, but for an advocacy group focused on LGBTQ+ rights, the answer should be clear. Shouldn't the group focus on defending LGBTQ+ rights rather than aligning with a conflict where LGBTQ+ individuals are often persecuted? Additionally, if the focus shifts to human rights, why prioritize Palestine over Uyghurs in China, Rohingya in Myanmar, or the Tigrayans in Ethiopia? Why not concentrate efforts on supporting countries that actively promote LGBTQ+ rights rather than engaging with groups that fundamentally oppose those rights? Can you name a single way LGBTQ+ rights would improve if Israel withdrew from Palestine? And what tangible benefits for the LGBTQ+ community would arise if Palestine were to conquer Israel? In contrast, doesn’t Israel’s continued presence as a regional power offer clear advantages for LGBTQ+ individuals, given its protections and progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights? To me, the analogy of a "defenders of the wild" alliance should position LGBTQ+ advocates and Israel against Palestine, not the other way around, assuming LGBTQ+ rights are the uniting factor.
You are so deeply wrong. Every single LGBTQ+ person I know have been very vocal about their support for Palestine. It might be worth it to take a look at the who the publishers, designers and writers are, before moaning about "political discussions" on this channel. There are so many other game review sites you can go where they'll accept your opinions with open arms. smh.
@@abruwer08 anecdotally knowing others who also know little about the conflict doesn't say much in the slightest, and doesn't refute their points at all
I love this format and think you should do more of these. I would, however, advise on being a little more careful with your comparisons, or at least who you put in your crosshairs in them. I get the comparison you're making with Queers for Palestine, and it's a decent point, though not really nailing it on the head. (They're not both oppressed by the same group, but they are both oppressed groups.) However, the real problem is that you call out everyone who disagrees with the concept a conservative and strongly elude to them being essentially bigots. There are a lot of people on the left, including some in the LGBTQ community, who are baffled by the Queers for Palestine movement; and they don't deserve to be put in the same category as alt-right people. Doing so only serves to turn some people off who are mostly on your side. To be clear about my own feelings, I think it's admirable that LGBTQ people are trying to stand up for a nation which has treated their own group so poorly. Hopefully it will come back around, and if/when Palestine is free, they will change their policies toward gay people, (and not imprison them for up to 10 years, which is the current status.) It's reaching out a hand of love to hopefully get some back in the future. However, I understand that there are reasonable minds which differ on that belief, and that doesn't make them bigots, conservative extremists, anti-gay, or even anti-Palestine.
I am confused (non native speaker). What is meant that all prostesters are removing brick from the same wall? What is meant that all defenceders will leave one behind? I guess it has something to do with winning conditions. I know it is not supposed to be game review but only thing I cought was that it is a good coop game :-D Ironically I am The game's backer who loved the art and simple mechanics. So now it doesnt matter to watch reviews until I play it :-)
With Cop Cities popping up all around the world, art and media like this is so deeply important. We have to band together and use our collective powers to stop the machines in this real world. DotW does an amazing job showcasing the diversity of tactics and abilities and labor required for revolution by everyday people fueled by love.
Just wanted to jump in to say I want more of this type of criticism! Please keep at it, I would love more cultural criticism of individual board games over “good/not good” (not that there’s anything wrong with straightforward reviews - I get it, games are expensive!)
Great video, Tom. While it’s good and fun to see board game content as previews/reviews for toys, I’m super appreciative for your analysis of games as cultural/political artifacts and even teaching tools. If I’m honest, I’d previously bounced off this one pretty hard on first sight. However, after hearing your thoughts, I’ll be giving it another look. So at least in this case, you did both of your jobs well.
More like this, please! Loved this video. I did a similar exploration of the board game The Grizzled a while back, and I think a lot of tabletop games could do with this kind of analysis.
5:55 Except you supporting a group that wants you dead also. That's a very important detail but sure... down with the institution I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As long as we have something else to blame
There's a difference between a political group/movement with specific views and goals, which you can support for those reasons, and a broader population/culture, which will have all sorts of views and issues not directly relevant to whether to care for their fate. I don't support a bigot in their bigotry, but I believe in their right to life and freedom regardless, especially against a hateful force that does not.
Nice video...until you inadvertently highlight the problem with that rhetoric of intersectionality. Conflating opposing groups as the same institution removes important context and distinctions in conflicts, and results in a dangerous soup of "with us or against us" mentality. And it becomes especially ironic when a group starts supporting a cause that would ultimately see them more oppressed than where they currently reside, protesting against the powers that actually support them. EDIT: HOWEVER, Tom, I generally really like your stuff and I actually do like this short form of video, and I'd love to see more of them. Just because I don't like a piece of it doesn't mean I don't enjoy your stuff generally.
@@AlexBloggFilm in the video he literally says that they're fighting against and dismantling the same oppressor. The issue with intersectionality is not as much the theory as it is the practice (sometimes. Oftentimes I think it's important). In theory it does not conflate groups and instead seeks to find overlaps of discrimination and adversity in groups that face it. In practice, however, it results in situations like this, equating the struggles of different groups and then advocating for causes with zero actual overlap and a misunderstanding of the different struggles in the process. I would argue that the problem isn't intersectionality itself--it's how the theory is exploited and twisted.
@@sylinmino My friend, you are right and you are nearly there. Dismantaling the same oppressor happens at the same time as understanding differences between groups. For the specific example at hand, Queer groups can support Palestine because war oppresses everyone, women, children, gay people, men. Intersectionality allows this as it recognises separate, unique identities and their levels of understanding of inclusion. Once people in a warzone are no longer oppressed it does not end there, it continues with every social injustice. This will be fighting for women and gay people's rights in Palestine, sure. It also includes persecuted groups in Israel. It also includes soldiers in the military, and so on. The practice of intersectionality doesn't ignore or misunderstand differences. It sees and recognises those differences and provides solidarity regardless.
@@Laudable88 it's not even "bogged down" in commentary, the only obvious political element is that the players are called comrades. I am indeed awful and terrible, a sight to behold and never forgotten however.
I'm often sad that so much of game/tv/book "criticism" under capitalism boils down to, "should I buy/consume this product?" It's very cool to see you pushing back with a review that isn't really about that, and does something much more thoughtful instead.
Wow, that was fast. Removing my comment. I'm sure you'll remove this one too but if you can't take a simple crticicem it really puts everything you do here in a new light. I'm a huge fan of this channel and have been for years, but this....
Came to hear some opinion about the game..left with some wierd opinion about world politics... I know that you are quit left on the spectrum and I am fine with this. But I come here for board games and not propaganda. There are better channels for politics with more facts and nuances and less opinion.
@@mnm1273 Since civilized conversation doesn't seem to be your thing, I'll keep it simple. This is a board game channel. The title of the video is not "here's a game about environmental destruction and how the animals defend themselves against it...and I'll tell you now what that has to do with Palestine and LGBTQ+."
@@sebastianh.9440 Because that'd be a rubbish title. It'd massively oversell the short political segment, you've got your knickers in a twist over. The video present the sharp edges of the game. It starts off saying it's not a review. And you're offended that it's not a board game review and has some sharp edges. PS: your initial comment uses repeated inflammatory language. Don't then complain about "civilized conversation"
Guy, keep politics out of it. Your are far too deep into contemporary idiosyncrasies. This short sighted narrow mindedness also ruined the otherwise great review of John Company.
This is a really cool format that I hope we get to see more of! Shorter videos that showcase an interesting mechanical or thematic piece of a board game and engaging with it on a deeper level than just a review of good vs bad. Less "Is this fun?" and more "This is interesting."
💯 great format and content
In case you tried to pause on the review portion:
Defenders of the Wild is a lovely co-op, that's surprisingly difficult considering its cutesy woodland theme. Presentationally it's excellent; a striking palette contrasted with chrome machinery. The defender cards you'll be playing each turn have a huge punch of personality and detail - and each one being entirely unique underlines the huge amount of work put into creating such a cohesive box. Mechanically, it's not tilling any entirely new fields, but it has enough spark to keep players well versed in co-op games happy. Establishing camps across the board can be an interesting logistics puzzle, predicting the movements of the robots is deeply satisfying when done right, and the limited communication throws enough spanners into the works to make things tricky without being punitive. There's modular difficulty that lends longevity to its $50-ish price point - though the attention to detail in the production and the incredibly svelte form factor goes a long way to justify that price already. It scales very well at different player counts, especially considering turns are very short and snappy. It's a very good game, though I anticipate many will have similar games knocking about already - your mileage may vary on how much life this injects into your shelves. Sorry this writing is super mid I just tapped it out on the day of release after realizing I had to fill this spot.
This is exactly why I didn't decide to back this game. Both in visual and mechanical terms it felt like something that is very similar to games I already have, without standing out enough to warrant having 'another one of those' games on my shelf, let alone replacing one of them.
@@0megaD What games does it feel similar to? I only own a few co-ops and none have really "sparked" with me. I'd be happy with "similar but really engaging"!
@@DerekHohls
That's a hard question to answer without more information. Which games have you owned / tried already? What games did you 'spark' with & why? Are you visually - table presence - or mechanics oriented? If so, which mechanics? Light/heavy games? What interests you in this game? Are you sure you enjoy *this* type of co-op game? (Threat management/mitigation)
The two games most commonly referenced when comparing to Defenders of the Wild are Root (mostly visually, partially mechanically) and Spirit Island (mostly mechanically, partially thematically.) This game shares that 'threat / disaster / flood management' mechanic that a lot of coop games have.
Here's a small list of some co-ops you can look up to see if they're interesting, I've tried to sort them based on a combination of personal score & similarity a bit so I would check them from top to bottom:
* Spirit Island (My favorite thinky game, medium-heavy, AP prone, kick colonizers off your island with the help of indigenous spirit worshippers)
* Oltree (My favorite visuals wise, lightweight, deal with disasters/events around your castle with a unique 'story' mechanic, beat the final 'challenge' and save the day!)
* Big Book of Madness (Mechanics-adjacent, deckbuilder where you try to mitigate curses pouring out of a grimoire, and use spells to manipulate resources / turn order / threats / etc.)
* Peacekeepers: Horrors of War (Visually similar, mechanics-adjacent, two warring armies and you are trying to keep them pacified until they make peace without killing/removing anything. A slight twist on the usual mechanic.)
* Pandemic / Wrath of the Lich King / Flash Point / The Loop / Tiny Epic Defenders ("Traditional" threat mitigation games, bad stuff is generated at semi-random locations, and you try to remove the threat while dealing with slightly different objectives in each game. The last one of this list is very portable)
* Subterra 2 (Mechanics-adjacent, Indiana Jones with constant threat generation, grab the artifact and escape the flooding temple!)
* Atlantis Rising (Visually impressive, mechanics-adjacent, race to complete a magical portal before the island is swallowed by the ocean)
* Zombicide (Light, dicechucker with story objectives while an ever-growing horde of zombies attacks)
Two honorable mentions:
* Horrified (Very light, Pick up & Delivery game where you are being chased by a historical monster while trying to destroy them. very 'Family-friendly' co-op. Each monster has their own unique 'puzzle' to beat them.)
* Weirdwood Manor (You're in a manor with rotating rooms, trying to mitigate threats while attempting to grow strong enough to beat up a monster within a certain time limit. Utilizes dice.)
If you can provide more info on your past experiences I could provide more in-depth info or more specific recommendations.
@@0megaD Thanks for that list! I own and like several of those and will now check out some of the others!
@@arnonym9746 Hope you enjoy whichever ones you end up trying. :) And definitely hope I won't make you buy a dud haha.
We all get out or nobody wins. Nice idea.
I genuinely love this format and "deeper" form of media critique. It's why some of you guys'ses work hits so much harder and better than some other review channel. It's not just analysis about the mechnics but also the message and theming. I had my eye on this for a few days and I'm definitely going to pick this up.
Thank you for promoting this game the way you did. Their previous game Bloc By Bloc is kind of doing the same thing, but much more overtly. It's literally 4 city factions rioting against the cops and the mechanics aren't identical, but the narrative is similar. I think Defenders was made so they could soften the gritty reality a bit more and place it in an anthropomorphic animal fantasy setting. Having played both games, I think it was a good idea. Losing Bloc By Bloc in the year of our lord, 2024 is very depressing. Losing Defenders because my brother used all his breaches and didn't realize he can't use mine was not as brutal. (He couldn't get into the last factory to rewild it and win the game after telling me he's got things covered and it was okay for me to leave.) Thrilling! Fun! Way better than losing to a bunch of faceless authoritarians.
The art style and theme obviously reminds of Root, which is interesting because Root's own aesthetics have the same purpose. It intends to bring the crunchy asymetric political wargames of GMT's COIN series to a wider audience, and using cute fantasy animals makes it more engaging and fun, compared to a COIN game like A Distant Plain where the factions are imperialists, kleptocrats, terrorists and drug lords, all of whom responsible for death and tragedy in the real world to this day. It's a great move both from a gameplay perspective, allowing immersion without concern, and a messaging one, as it disarms the player from pre-conceived ideas they may have towards heavy subjects like anarchism and anti-imperialism. As a huge Root and COIN fan I am very excited to try this game.
I like it; take this ball and run.
Been kinda missing Quinns and Paul (ya, been watching/listening for a while, that long, ha), and this pulls right into that. I'm here for it. One of my favorite SU&SD moments is at the end of Undaunted where Quinns doesn't just shy away but proactively talks about the unspoken context and unrecognized forces of the era those games pull from. He didn't have to, but he does and it's appreciated.
As is this.
Keep it up.
I'd def like to play this based on the review. But that aside, I'm really liking the visual design - at the very least I'd love to LOOK through the game
Bloc by Bloc Uprising is an amazing coop game that no one talks about, so seeing T.L Simons in the spotlight with this game is a joy to me. I love how his games put politics, theme and game play into a coherent and enjoyable package. I feel like they did a great job blending together the looks and feel of familiar games like root and catan into something new and exciting. The card system and limitations will hopefully help with the quarterbacking that many coop games suffer from.
I was thinking this really reminded me of Bloc by Bloc.
@@marcelocoronado7805 it's made by the same crew!
Is it just me or you can't get bloc by bloc anywhere?
@@giladkay3761 it’s definitely hard to get, these are short print runs
This game is a skip for me then. My group and I didn't enjoy Bloc by Bloc enough to keep it.
I loved this video, truly. Great format and really, really nice to get to see you wax poetic on a game with a strong theme. It's great to hear a more nuanced and personal take on games rather than the standard review format of "is this good, should you buy it." That's still important of course, as reviewers you have a distinctive voice and consistent approach to how you rate games that is very useful for consumers who don't have the money to try out all these games ourselves. But to branch out a bit and examine a game in a different way is very refreshing
This game is very fun, I really enjoy how difficult it is and I like the card play. I do feel like there is something missing for this game to take it to the next level for me. I feel like it needs more asymmetry for the characters of each faction or a recruitment deck with different animals and abilities that you can have join the cause (something similar to the major/minor powers in Spirit Island). Idk I’m no game designer just feel like it needs something.
This was really excellent! Thank you for taking the time to express this thoughtfully. I would love to see more of this kind of thing.
the beanny with a lizardcult face!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!
you call it an easter egg but that beanie has been in the background of every video filmed in toms house for yonks
Sounds interesting. I will keep an eye on it. Thanks for the review. I like that you highlighted the art aspect of boardgames.
Great preview. Been interested in this one for a while, and now I’m inspired to actually bring it to the table.
Single session campaigns (this, Leviathan Wilds) and replayable short campaigns (Slay the Spire, Arcs, Heat) are by far my preferred way of playing campaigns now.
Long form campaigns eventually become a chore.
You aren’t required to build your last camp until you’re ready- so just wait for the others to catch up and help them get their own camps built. It’s a coop game after all! My husband and I love this game at 2players. It’s genuinely excellent and the replayability is undeniable.
Thanks for specifying the format is not so much of a review as it is an overview, or showcase. It makes sense and the look at it it beautifully done.
4:27 the decision to leave is not forced on you, the player decides. I received my KS copy this week. Surprised, pleased and very interested to see this review as I attempt to learn the game.
However, there is no mechanism for drawing additional cards after placing your last camp, so you will run out eventually.
@@camipco Not quite. You'll play cards off the top of your deck, sight unseen. So you'll play, you just won't know what.
@@yarrula Missed that, good to know, ty
Thank you for sharing the art that us interesting and intriguing to you. It gives me new things to consider and think about, and reminds me how wonderful games can be!
this was lovely, part of me wished poeticlythat you had 3 other contributersat at the start and lost them throughout the review only to give the ending alone but still a lovley not review
RUclips search is ridiculous. If there is an old video that never got many views, but i want to watch it, I basically can't ever find it. Even if I know the exact title. I search the exact title and it just won't come up. Enshittification is a harsh mistress.
sorting by recency uses a different search algo
I watched this drunk. I thoroughly enjoyed the “review” but it made me realise what boardgames sound like to people outside the hobby.
Every hobby sounds weird to outsiders
And they sound good, right?!
Raise your hand if you paused at 7:54
Nope, didn't care. I paused at 7:26 and am disappointed that it is not what you are referring to.
Tom is showing some hubris, here. SUSD was never normal. 😂
Thank you for this video!
Really enjoyed this meander and looking forward to seeing more like it on the channel.
I recently found the channel, and one particular thing that makes me smile is that gig poster with Liquid Liquid. It makes me always wait for Tom's videos, and then there are videos like this with invitation to think what viewpoints games can offer. And that makes me smile too.
Very interesting! definitely gonna recommend to my group
Always glad to see new content from u 😉
I will admit that contrary to many of the comments here, I didn't entirely get this video. Well, I got it, for sure, I love the deep dive into this one evocative mechanic and it's parallels with the real world. What I didn't get is why that couldn't then be followed by a full review. This mechanic is really cool and evocative, is that enough to merit buying the game? Does it fall flat outside of it and is it's arts best contemplated rather than experienced? I understand that nobody reviews a Van Gogh painting, but those aren't being mass produced for commercial sale. I think movies are art and those are subject to review more often than they are merely appreciated for what they are (in my opinion, but living your life by IMDB ratings is a separate rant).
What lingers with me is a feeling that this didn't quite fit the review format *because* you couldn't recommend it past this incredible idea. That if you could have whole-heartedly recommended this game, you would have. And I am very much aware that that is the wrong takeaway and wasn't at all the intention of breaking from the review format. Especially because I went back to look at the little text blurb and that isn't true!
So yeah, I love this exposition, I especially loved the John Company video, but I didn't really get why this couldn't be a full review.
I found myself wondering toward the end, "if you think this kind of uniqueness precludes reviewing something, how do you think movie or book reviewers manage it?"
Can you elaborate how in your view LGBTQI+ and Palestinians have the same oppressor?
I was like wtf is he talking about, it really didnt made any sence
Agreed, this was extremely disappointing out of SUSD.
I find myself leaning away from SUSD "reviews"/videos in recent times. It's like they can't make a standard review or even talking point anymore without injecting their own moral biases and/or politics into it. I just want to know about the game, what works and what doesn't, and if it is good by your standards. We don't need a random lecture on intersectionality midway through a board game review. I think this isn't for me anymore.
Exactly, its very sad, as I've been a fan for years. And the morals are always of the same 'safely liberal, mock anything that isn't in the heterodoxy' kind, never a surprise, a different take, something that feels authentic. Its even boring to be honest, to hear the same crap coming from every single place. And its also wrong, in this case. Queers for Gaza are being mocked because they are a living paradox.
As soon as he mentions intersectionality as a game mechanic... you just know things are going to get awkward.
same. time to unsubscribe.
I love your reviews, and your thoughts are always interesting and thought provoking.
But, please, be serious - queers and Palestinians do not have a common oppressor. If anything, the latter oppresses the former.
You really lost me when you chose THAT particular example for intersectionality.
A lovely vlog entry from Tom... and, an. AudiTion. ToBe the next. Kirk? ;-)
Thank you for that thoughtful and interesting video. I really appreciate this kind of work where it's not just about a standard style review.
Am I correctly understanding your "intersectionality" tangent? It looks like you're saying that, similar to overcoming the evil in this boardgame you're reviewing, all diverse groups like Palestinians and queers will benefit when the common oppressor Israel is dismantled. Do you really think that only by destroying the one Jewish state can "the collective truly win"?
It could be capitalism, or patriarchat or any other leftwing buzzword
This piece is brilliant-a rich examination of a system within a board game, which, in turn, explores the medium of board gaming on a deeper level. I love this deep dive into the narrative and the meaning behind what a game aims to portray. While we can continue to view games as just 'games,' we can also begin to understand them as a medium capable of being literary, similar to how we view books, movies, and now video games. It’s an exciting time as games evolve in this way, and I'm thrilled to see Shut Up & Sit Down remain at the forefront of critique and analysis.
This was one I was really excited for, but now sits as my top disappointment of the year. I just didn't find it compelling. The cards are boring, the factions are meh, the design is drab. The only thing I liked was the factory programming was walls came out. Very mid game.
Hey Tom,
I'm really excited to see this shift from the normal review structure. As you say, I think board games can be such evocative works of art that express big ideas in a digestible format, and that can be a totally separate conversation from "value for the money". I think videos like this or the John Company video really bring a side of board gaming to the forefront that I think a lot of people miss. Love the content and I'm glad to see you guys exploring the medium in a new way and I hope you keep it up.
Interesting. Thank you.
It is nice to see someone giving a little critical analysis of a game (in other words, a review) without trying to get me to buy anything, or not, or treating me primarily as a consumer.
Love this. All of it. Well done!
Love your approach on this one. Diving right in and conveying some key points quickly. Big fan of all your work, but this was particularly appreciated 😊
I want to play the game because he says..... (Mind you I really hate co-ops and refuse to play them.) You have cards but you're not allowed to tell people what you're going to do.
This video is so succinct and well made, it's one of my favourites immediately! And it might not be a review but i definitely want to play this game now lol
Just want to say that I agree with other comments saying that politics is out of place in board games reviews. The same goes for board and video games.
6:00
How can support for LGBTQ+ rights align with advocacy for Palestinian rights when these two causes are at odds? From an LGBTQ+ perspective, supporting Israel-where there are strong legal protections, social acceptance, and a thriving LGBTQ+ community-makes more sense than backing Palestinian territories, where LGBTQ+ rights are severely restricted, and discrimination is widespread.
While the suffering in Palestinian territories is undeniable, aligning with Israel offers more tangible benefits for those prioritizing LGBTQ+ rights. With ongoing conflict complicating the path to peace, supporting a country that actively upholds LGBTQ+ freedoms is a pragmatic approach. In contrast, LGBTQ+ individuals face severe legal penalties and social rejection in many parts of Palestine, making it difficult to effectively advocate for LGBTQ+ rights there.
Supporting LGBTQ+ rights should not involve backing groups that actively oppose you. Advocating for a government like Afghanistan’s-which severely oppresses women-would be counterproductive. Similarly, supporting those who would deny your basic rights does not advance the cause. Prioritizing allies who already promote these freedoms strengthens the overall movement.
Lastly, political discussions shouldn’t be part of this video, as this is a board game review channel. Let’s keep the focus where it belongs, Tom.
Ironically, Tom here kinda pointed out the exact problems with intersectionality when taken in these ways. It boils down the nuance of difference conflicts to a "with us or against us" mentality, and has groups even contradicting their own self-interests in the process at times. In other cases it'll often have groups deny some of their most powerful potential allies because of that mentality.
I'm really excited about these two groups getting together. I think it would create some exciting results
@@sylinmino He raised the issue at a surface level, but it falls apart under closer scrutiny. Tom's point was essentially that groups should unite against a common enemy, as in the "defenders of the wild vs. industrialization" analogy. However, the issue is not always that clear-cut. While industrialization clearly threatens the wild, applying this kind of thinking universally oversimplifies complex conflicts.
Let’s take the example of women in Afghanistan. Here, we had three groups: women, the USA, and Afghanistan. The USA waged a devastating war in Afghanistan that caused immense suffering, but at the same time, it promoted women’s rights. A women's rights group faces two options: support the removal of the USA from Afghanistan, which would end the war, or advocate for its continued presence, which helps uphold women's rights.
Which option should a women’s rights group advocate for? Removing or supporting the USA’s presence? During the occupation, women in Afghanistan had more rights and freedoms. In contrast, after the withdrawal, those rights have been severely curtailed, with women now banned from public life in many ways. The group’s focus should remain on what best advances the cause of women, rather than the broader conflict.
Turning to Palestine, the question becomes: what is the main goal of an LGBTQ+ advocacy group? Is it saving Palestine from alleged genocide or protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people? Individuals can prioritize either, but for an advocacy group focused on LGBTQ+ rights, the answer should be clear. Shouldn't the group focus on defending LGBTQ+ rights rather than aligning with a conflict where LGBTQ+ individuals are often persecuted? Additionally, if the focus shifts to human rights, why prioritize Palestine over Uyghurs in China, Rohingya in Myanmar, or the Tigrayans in Ethiopia? Why not concentrate efforts on supporting countries that actively promote LGBTQ+ rights rather than engaging with groups that fundamentally oppose those rights?
Can you name a single way LGBTQ+ rights would improve if Israel withdrew from Palestine? And what tangible benefits for the LGBTQ+ community would arise if Palestine were to conquer Israel? In contrast, doesn’t Israel’s continued presence as a regional power offer clear advantages for LGBTQ+ individuals, given its protections and progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights? To me, the analogy of a "defenders of the wild" alliance should position LGBTQ+ advocates and Israel against Palestine, not the other way around, assuming LGBTQ+ rights are the uniting factor.
You are so deeply wrong. Every single LGBTQ+ person I know have been very vocal about their support for Palestine. It might be worth it to take a look at the who the publishers, designers and writers are, before moaning about "political discussions" on this channel. There are so many other game review sites you can go where they'll accept your opinions with open arms. smh.
@@abruwer08 anecdotally knowing others who also know little about the conflict doesn't say much in the slightest, and doesn't refute their points at all
I love this format and think you should do more of these. I would, however, advise on being a little more careful with your comparisons, or at least who you put in your crosshairs in them. I get the comparison you're making with Queers for Palestine, and it's a decent point, though not really nailing it on the head. (They're not both oppressed by the same group, but they are both oppressed groups.) However, the real problem is that you call out everyone who disagrees with the concept a conservative and strongly elude to them being essentially bigots. There are a lot of people on the left, including some in the LGBTQ community, who are baffled by the Queers for Palestine movement; and they don't deserve to be put in the same category as alt-right people. Doing so only serves to turn some people off who are mostly on your side. To be clear about my own feelings, I think it's admirable that LGBTQ people are trying to stand up for a nation which has treated their own group so poorly. Hopefully it will come back around, and if/when Palestine is free, they will change their policies toward gay people, (and not imprison them for up to 10 years, which is the current status.) It's reaching out a hand of love to hopefully get some back in the future. However, I understand that there are reasonable minds which differ on that belief, and that doesn't make them bigots, conservative extremists, anti-gay, or even anti-Palestine.
A great, short meditation of a video 😊
I am confused (non native speaker). What is meant that all prostesters are removing brick from the same wall? What is meant that all defenceders will leave one behind? I guess it has something to do with winning conditions. I know it is not supposed to be game review but only thing I cought was that it is a good coop game :-D
Ironically I am The game's backer who loved the art and simple mechanics. So now it doesnt matter to watch reviews until I play it :-)
Right but if one of those groups are looking to rebuild those walls once they get what they want, then there is still a wall, and you helped build it.
Raise your hand if you shed a tear for that brave little squirrel.
❤😢❤
With Cop Cities popping up all around the world, art and media like this is so deeply important. We have to band together and use our collective powers to stop the machines in this real world. DotW does an amazing job showcasing the diversity of tactics and abilities and labor required for revolution by everyday people fueled by love.
Common oppressor? I didnt have antisemitism from SUSD on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. Goodbye SUSD.
my goodness, I thought the youtube search results were bad enough for general use, I hadn't even considered how bad it'd be for political topics
This non-review is a fantastic review. ❤
Why is this set in a closing shop?
Just wanted to jump in to say I want more of this type of criticism! Please keep at it, I would love more cultural criticism of individual board games over “good/not good” (not that there’s anything wrong with straightforward reviews - I get it, games are expensive!)
Well the disclaimer at the beginning makes sense because this isn't a review, it's propaganda
Willy
Settlers of Root
This
SpiRoot Island
Great video, Tom. While it’s good and fun to see board game content as previews/reviews for toys, I’m super appreciative for your analysis of games as cultural/political artifacts and even teaching tools.
If I’m honest, I’d previously bounced off this one pretty hard on first sight. However, after hearing your thoughts, I’ll be giving it another look. So at least in this case, you did both of your jobs well.
What a cringey, one sided lesson in critical theory
More like this, please! Loved this video. I did a similar exploration of the board game The Grizzled a while back, and I think a lot of tabletop games could do with this kind of analysis.
Looks interesting, but not fun...maybe that's the point?
It's intended to be fun!
@@henryaudubon I hope it is for those that play it, but that didn't come across to me from this (admittedly) singular viewpoint
Oh man I loved Bloc by Bloc. It’s DNA is super noticeable
I’m a simple person who loves games. I see Tom, I click play.
Love the first 1:40 which we’re then told are NOT relevant to this game #slowclap #offtopic 😂
Really seems like a fascinating game! Quite deep :) thank you so much for sharing
5:55 Except you supporting a group that wants you dead also. That's a very important detail but sure... down with the institution I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As long as we have something else to blame
There's a difference between a political group/movement with specific views and goals, which you can support for those reasons, and a broader population/culture, which will have all sorts of views and issues not directly relevant to whether to care for their fate.
I don't support a bigot in their bigotry, but I believe in their right to life and freedom regardless, especially against a hateful force that does not.
@@tychoclavius4818except you are defining that group by their religion, which is an ideology (in this case one of bigotry)
Super nice format and entirely correct political takes, as always from SU&SD
great vid, thanks!
Lovely format
Please more funny stuff, less PhD defense talk
This seems to highlight an element of any movement which is that if the people protesting get what they want, you don't have a movement anymore.
Nice video...until you inadvertently highlight the problem with that rhetoric of intersectionality. Conflating opposing groups as the same institution removes important context and distinctions in conflicts, and results in a dangerous soup of "with us or against us" mentality. And it becomes especially ironic when a group starts supporting a cause that would ultimately see them more oppressed than where they currently reside, protesting against the powers that actually support them.
EDIT: HOWEVER, Tom, I generally really like your stuff and I actually do like this short form of video, and I'd love to see more of them. Just because I don't like a piece of it doesn't mean I don't enjoy your stuff generally.
If you think intersectionality conflates different groups as one then I'm sorry but you have not understood intersectionality.
@@AlexBloggFilm in the video he literally says that they're fighting against and dismantling the same oppressor. The issue with intersectionality is not as much the theory as it is the practice (sometimes. Oftentimes I think it's important). In theory it does not conflate groups and instead seeks to find overlaps of discrimination and adversity in groups that face it. In practice, however, it results in situations like this, equating the struggles of different groups and then advocating for causes with zero actual overlap and a misunderstanding of the different struggles in the process.
I would argue that the problem isn't intersectionality itself--it's how the theory is exploited and twisted.
@@sylinmino My friend, you are right and you are nearly there. Dismantaling the same oppressor happens at the same time as understanding differences between groups.
For the specific example at hand, Queer groups can support Palestine because war oppresses everyone, women, children, gay people, men.
Intersectionality allows this as it recognises separate, unique identities and their levels of understanding of inclusion.
Once people in a warzone are no longer oppressed it does not end there, it continues with every social injustice. This will be fighting for women and gay people's rights in Palestine, sure. It also includes persecuted groups in Israel. It also includes soldiers in the military, and so on.
The practice of intersectionality doesn't ignore or misunderstand differences. It sees and recognises those differences and provides solidarity regardless.
Thanks. Very much.
A video that doesn't claim to be a review... but still hints that the game isn't the best.
I got that message too, but Tom likes the politics, so he couldn't just come right out and say it.
@@jonathanw3457 this happens a lot. The message becomes more important than the product itself
Oh, hey. It's Sonic the Hedgehog: the Board Game.
Not going to get sucked in to commenting on Queers for Palestine on a board gaming channel.
yes you are, and yes you did
Didn't quite get why he stuck that in the middle of the video but whatever
Keep your politics to yourself, Tom, that’s not what people watch board game videos for.
Loved this!
Too political for me. Not everything has to be "important". For me I just want to move some wooden blocks around.
what a sad mind
It's not saying that "everything" has to be important, just that this game clearly is
@@Laudable88 turning your brain off doesn't give you a soul
@@Laudable88 it's not even "bogged down" in commentary, the only obvious political element is that the players are called comrades. I am indeed awful and terrible, a sight to behold and never forgotten however.
@@Laudable88 that's a LOT of yap and I'm not clicking "read more" for it kid
wow
That was a poor example from real life😞
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HELL YEAH!?!?!
Brilliant video! Would love seeing more in this format!
I'm often sad that so much of game/tv/book "criticism" under capitalism boils down to, "should I buy/consume this product?" It's very cool to see you pushing back with a review that isn't really about that, and does something much more thoughtful instead.
Sorry, a glass of water so dangerously close to the board game components prevented me from concentrating on the rules.
catan but nature fights back
Wow, that was fast.
Removing my comment.
I'm sure you'll remove this one too but if you can't take a simple crticicem it really puts everything you do here in a new light.
I'm a huge fan of this channel and have been for years, but this....
I cannot believe you used queers for Palestine as your example of intersectionality. Is thinking too hard for you do you live on earth.
... this is now my new root campaign setting. I hope my library gets this in
Your library has board games?
This video was beautiful, thank you
More of this please.
Some of these comments are shit. Everything is political. Don't let anyone stifle your voice, Tom.
Came to hear some opinion about the game..left with some wierd opinion about world politics... I know that you are quit left on the spectrum and I am fine with this. But I come here for board games and not propaganda. There are better channels for politics with more facts and nuances and less opinion.
Cry me a river, they said it wasn't a review at the very start. Your issue isn't about "nuance" it's about hearing an opinion you don't like.
@@mnm1273
Since civilized conversation doesn't seem to be your thing, I'll keep it simple. This is a board game channel. The title of the video is not "here's a game about environmental destruction and how the animals defend themselves against it...and I'll tell you now what that has to do with Palestine and LGBTQ+."
@@sebastianh.9440 Because that'd be a rubbish title. It'd massively oversell the short political segment, you've got your knickers in a twist over.
The video present the sharp edges of the game. It starts off saying it's not a review. And you're offended that it's not a board game review and has some sharp edges.
PS: your initial comment uses repeated inflammatory language. Don't then complain about "civilized conversation"
Guy, keep politics out of it. Your are far too deep into contemporary idiosyncrasies. This short sighted narrow mindedness also ruined the otherwise great review of John Company.
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