SummerSlam Plans, Star Wars Porg Armies, and Why My Top 10 Board Games List Might Surprise You
It’s been a bit since my last podcast episode, but life’s been busy, as always. Between live streams, work, and keeping track of what day it actually is (Sundays sneak up on me), I’ve missed a few episodes. But we’re back now, and I’ve got some exciting updates to share.
SummerSlam: Our First Live WWE Event
The big news is that Novels and I are officially going to SummerSlam this year! We’re going for both nights, which I’m especially pumped about because we’ll get to see John Cena’s farewell tour. This will actually be the first time either of us has ever been to a live WWE event, let alone a premium live event (PLE). Needless to say, we’re counting down the days.
Board Games: Why My Top 10 List Raised Eyebrows
Over on the board game front, things are rolling along. We finally got the new Star Wars: Legends of the Force set, which looks incredible. Fun fact: you can apparently build a Porg deck. Yes, a Porg army. With lightsabers. And you better believe I’m going to try to make that happen—because honestly, why not?
I also recently posted a video sharing my Top 10 Board Games of All Time, and, as expected, people had opinions. A lot of folks pointed out that Final Girl didn’t make the list, which surprised some. Truthfully, I love Final Girl. It’s a fantastic solo game. But because it takes time to set up and tear down—and I typically only play it on stream—it slipped my mind when making the list. If a game isn’t in rotation for me, it tends to fade from top-of-mind.
Similarly, other great games got left off simply because I don’t have as much time as I’d like to play everything. Most of what you see me stream is about 80% of my total playtime these days. Quick solo games like A Gentle Rain, Neon Rain, and For Northwood are my usual picks during short breaks, just because they’re easy to set up and pack away.
Novels and I did recently play Lost Ruins of Arnak again—an absolutely phenomenal game, even if setup takes half an hour. Teaching the game? Five minutes. Setting it up? That’s another story. It’s worth it though, even if there’s sometimes a runaway leader issue if you mess up your engine early on. Still, one of the best games I’ve played.
That said, setup time matters these days. With both of us busy and only having a couple nights to hang out, quick-to-the-table games like Star Wars Unlimited tend to win out. Pre-built decks, fast gameplay, and low prep time make it easy to jump in and start playing.
And yes, I’m painfully aware that my copy of Teotihuacan is still sitting unplayed after my recent pledge upgrades. It’s all organized and ready… but finding time is the trick.
What I’m Playing: Clair Obscur Is My Game of the Year (and Maybe the Decade)
When I’m not at the table, I’ve been deep in Clair Obscur, and I’m near the end. I’m intentionally slowing down, exploring the world more, because I don’t want it to end. This game will go down as one of my favorites of all time. The story, music, voice acting, character expressions—it’s all top-tier. If it were a movie or TV show, it would rank in my personal top 20, maybe top 50 even with a bad ending.
And the pacing? Perfect. Truly. Every time I felt like I was getting close to being bored with an area, the game moved me along. The flow is just expertly balanced, something even big-name RPGs struggle with.
Clair Obscur reminds me of a mix of classic and modern Final Fantasy titles but with tighter pacing and a more emotional story. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth full price: honestly, yes. But even if you grab it on sale, you’re getting a steal.
I’ve loved Baldur’s Gate 3, I’ve enjoyed Cyberpunk (post-patch), and Elden Ring had its moments—but Clair Obscurbeats them all for me. And that’s coming from someone who prefers a little guidance in their games rather than wandering endlessly in open sandboxes. Clair Obscur strikes that perfect balance between freedom and structure.
If you’re only going to take one game recommendation from me this year, let it be this one.
