A podcast takeover with heart, dice, and a little chaos: we hijacked Games Y Mas to say thanks and to build your holiday game bag with confidence. We start by unpacking the three mechanics that made our year brighter—deck building for agency and momentum, push your luck for laughs and energy, and RPG-style progression for that sweet feeling of earned growth—then connect them to real games that work at actual tables with actual families.
Jared makes a spirited case for deck building, from Arnak fandom to a Vegas detour that reminded us why fine-tuning a deck feels like gambling with better odds. Clayton champions push-your-luck designs such as MLEM and Incan Gold, pointing to the big reveals and instant stories that keep everyone engaged after the turkey coma. Travis shares his dive into RPG and legacy mechanics through Hoplomachus: Victorum and solo frameworks, highlighting how leveling up powers re-frames each challenge and rewards persistence.
We each bring two titles we’re grateful for, and the range is intentional: Acquire proves a 1960s classic still hits with stock merges and clean tension, while Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game blends fast turns with theme you can teach to cousins on the fly. Hot Streak and Magical Athlete deliver glorious table chaos; Harvest offers cozy farm-building that scratches a Stardew-like itch without the rules weight. Then we assemble a Thanksgiving-ready shortlist you can actually run with: Wavelength for social calibration and big laughs, Flip 7 for instant push-your-luck tension, and Ready Set Bet for living-room horse races that turn spectators into shouty bettors in minutes. Round it out with travel-friendly sleepers like Strike, Don’t L.L.A.M.A., Spots, and Jurassic Parts when suitcase space is tight.
If you’re staring at shelves wondering what works for grandparents, teens, and board game skeptics, we’ve got you. Hit play, steal our picks, and make the kind of holiday memories people ask to repeat. If you had to pack just one game for family night, what’s your go-to? Subscribe, share with a friend who hosts game night, and leave a review to help more people find the fun.

We want to hear from our listeners! Send us a text with recommendations, weigh in on discussions, or just say hi!

Support the show

As always, come interact with us online, let us know if you have any feedback, and leave us a review/comment anywhere you get your favorite podcasts!

https://www.instagram.com/operation_game_night_podcast/

Show your support for the OGN Crew by contributing to the OGN War Chest:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396881/support