This uses to be a great podcast. Then it became a platform for SJW’s to promote leftist politics. But, I still listened every other week to game tech and anatomy of a board game. Now, 2023, it’s just a wank fest of jargon, pretense, and elitist self-congratulation. Their use of meaningless 50-cent words is beyond worthless and I feel more stupid for hearing it. After hearing the latest self-important mechanism mini-episode I can see it’s time for this designer to get out of here and back to the real world.

Been on board since the oldey days and every crew shift improves it!

Mike Fitzgerald I'd a great addition to the show and I like what he brings to the table. When they focus on game design, they do a great job, especially when they have other designers on. When they talk about social issues though, unless you are an SJW, you are best to avoid it. Update: As the show has gone on, it has gotten worse. I came here for the game mechanics and actual discussion about gaming. Since Emma joined the show it seems to be less about gaming and more about how fragile people's feelings are. They also only seem to have guests that are niche within a niche hobby. When you have a host say that global warming is causing language to be lost, that's when you've lost me as a listener. I recommend the Biography of a Board Game segments as those are actually factual with interesting tidbits, and that's why I'm giving it two stars instead of one. I also recommend the shows up to the point where Geoff leaves. However, I think that Justin Gary's podcast How to be a Game Designer is a better listen now.

This is one if the most insightful and illuminating listens I have had in years. I get inspired to want to make games every time I hear a new episode. Glad to see the naysayers are only about 4% of all reviews because they are as irrelevant as the percentage suggests. Occasional political discussion is normal and welcomed. It’s never the main focus of episodes. I guess a few random comments here and there are enough to trigger the dandruff flakes of lameness in America. Well, the show goes on with great guests and great information that is quite useful. Keep up the good work.

Really not so much about games, mechanics, theory or the industry. More of a platform for Out of touch pseudo-intellectuals to pat each-other on the back for spending ten years in college and their whole lives in a bubble.

It seems even the pretend world of board games and dungeon exploration is no longer safe from the evils of political wokeness and social activism. It just means more episodes that get skipped

I expected some real deep dives into game theory and schools of design. This was ultimately just surface level stuff, and political nonsense scattered in here and there.

Nice

This show has had many, many years of greatness. Go to the back catalogue and listen for hours and hours! Jeff Engelstein is amazing. However the recent hosts are subpar. And in a world that needs escape more than ever, they are now digging into current, political issues. This means you have truly lost your way. Game over.

Ludology used to be about board games but once Gil came on as a host, it became more and more about politics. I’m ok with an occasional discussion on politics in board games and how the two interact as long as it remains respectful of both sides. While Geoff remained it was generally that way but with some bad moments none the less. Once Geoff left it feels like every episode is now politic in some way and that whatever small amount of nuance or subtlety or respect that was involved is now gone. It’s a disappointment for sure, as I used to look forward to Ludology episodes. I will still continue listening to older episodes as they cover some really interesting topics in engaging ways but newer episodes are not worth my time.

Geoff and Ryan created an amazing show with an excellent format that also teaches as much as it entertains. As the show has aged it has only gotten better!

I am a new/aspiring designer, and it's been about 6 years since I took my first wobbly steps onto the path. Ludology is one of the first sources of information I found about game design theory, and has been the core of my design education ever since. I listen religiously, and I learn something new from every episode. If I ever wind up making something professional of this design hobby, I will owe my success to Goeff, Ryan, Mike and Gil, and all of their amazing guests.

Ludology is unique amongst the multitude of gaming podcasts. The hosts consider topics about gaming design. The show is often more a philosophical discussion about why we enjoy certain things or find particular modes of compeittion appealing than a discussion about specific games. I am delighted when I find this in my feed.

As a board game designer myself, I always get tremendous value from the time I spend listening to Geoff and the various co-hosts he has had on Ludology over the years. This is a show that I almost always listen to as soon as it shows up in my feed.

Ludology is an example for all others to follow.

I'm enjoying the podcast quite a bit! Haven't delved too much into gaming ludology since college, and this podcast really explores this subject with a satisfying amount of depth.

Super informative and interesting discussion. I have gone back and listened to as many episodes as I have time for.

This is the place for board gamers who want to take a deep dive. Once a month I'll go through all the podcasts they've released. Teaches me a lot about games, how they're made, and subsequently what I could be doing better to play them. Has helped me appreciated some of my dusty games and gotten them back to the table.

Fascinating stuff. Definitely worth listening if you are interested in tabletop game design - even if, like me, you are not a serious designer. Nice rapport between the hosts. I am a Patreon supporter.

Really enjoy the talk on game design and development. Like the math that Geoff brings into the design of games and how it is working with family members. I also like that Geoff brings up war games, which most other net-casts never talk about.

The Ludology podcast provides insightful discussions about a wide variety of topics, including information about the "behind-the-scenes" details that go into board games. Always amusing, this podcast is a must-listen for all hobby board gamers.

I love listening to this podcast because it's not just a review and talk about games podcast but it's a how does it work podcast. I love the depth and detail that Geoff and Mike go into to explain how a game works. Give it a listen!

I am a huge fan of this podcast. I stumbled onto an episode somewhere in the 50's or 60's and was quickly hooked enough to make me go back to the very beginning. The hosts (one of whom has changed over time) have engaging conversations about game mechanics, game styles, game design methodology, game genres, and so forth. They have occasional guests who give their own take on games they have designed or things they wish they had done better. This is truly a study of all things table-top gaming, and it is well worth your time.

Geoff and Mike consistently deliver great content on how board games are made. From the theory of design to interviews with other designers, they cover a wide array of interesting topics on the sausage making of board games. Episodes move along without bogging down while still delivering solid content in each and every episode.

Jeff and his co-hosts are so smart! I especially like ths shorter episodes that focus on human behavior, game theory, randomness, etc. I've often been inspired by their ideas and can sometimes work references to them into my homework. :)

Mike and Geoff are always interesting and entertaining. They cover the behind-the-scenes side of the board game industry and bring a designers perspective to the topics they discuss. I you have any interest in the design of boardgames and why games work (or don’t) the way they do, this podcast is highly recommended.

this podcast is well worth your time if you are any of the following: -a design minded individual in any respect. whether your background is architecture, systems engineering, game design or anything in between i think you'll appreciate the analytic nature of ryan, geoff, mike and their guests' discussions and their approach to design challenges within the world of modern gaming. -a hobby gamer. regardless of if you ever plan to design a game, or already have, this podcast gives you a fascinating look "behind the scenes". you'll hear interviews with designers and publishers and scholars alike, and learn how games go from an idea in someone's head to a physical product on your shelf. -a philosopher? without ever taking themselves too seriously, the hosts of this podcast delve into questions such as "why do we play games?" and "what is the state of diversity within the board gaming culture, and how could this be improved?". even more abstractly, if you've ever wondered "what exactly makes a card game a card game?" there's an episode for that too! i love this podcast, in part because the content is such a perfect intersection of my various interests. but i genuinely believe it has something for everyone who's at least a little bit interested in modern board games. enjoy!

Have only been listening a few months, but this is now one of my favorite board game podcasts. Even went back a few years and started listening to episodes from the beginning. Keep up the great work!

An intelligent exploration behind the mechanics of how board games really work. Very interesting for board game players and extremely helpful for board game designers.

Ludology is an educational and entertaining take on the board gaming hobby. Geoff and Mike, with their different backgrounds in game design, bring enlightenment to various gaming topics. With the addition of guests, the show becomes an engaging round table discussion. Ludology is a necessary complement to other podcasts when you need more than just news and reviews. This is a must-listen for me.

One of the most insightful and crunchy podcasts on the dice tower lineup. Good length, doesn’t over stay its welcome.

Great podcast for the "whys" and "hows" of game design.

I love this podcast. I love the discussions about the mechanisms behind games and behind our psyches. I love the shorter gameteks, and I like hearing his contributions on the Dice Tower podcast. This is a great channel. Thanks guys!

Geoffs GameTek segments brought me here and I really enjoy the more scientific approach to gaming. How games really work!

I consume a lot of board game media and I like this podcast's view of the industry which is looking at mechanics and other aspects of gaming and game design rather than rehashing overviews of the same games.

Geoff and Mike are wonderful to listen to and are full of great design information and relevant guests within the board gaming hobby. Highly recommend!

This podcast has intelligent and experience hosts who discuss various topics around board and card games, with an emphasis on how games are designed. They've had many guests who bring even more real world experience and extra insights to the discuss. If you love playing games and want to know more about them, this is the podcast for you!

I've been a listener for a while now and I would really encourage all board gamers to keep this subscription in their feed. Geoff & Mike do an excellent job choosing a smart topic each episode and supplement it with great guests that dig deeper into it. While every episode may not be a topic I'm enamored with up front, each time I listen I'm sticking around until the end. Excellent podcast!

Thanks for not only giving great insight on games and gaming, but also for the much deeper behind the scenes info on game design and even the science/stats that ultimately make me a better gamer.

Ludology is a thoughtful look at the nuts and bolts of gaming. Geoff and Mike interview designers, discuss the impact of game mechanisms on the experience, and explore the sociological ramifications of the hobby. Plus, they have great camaraderie and good senses of humor! It's a great podcast, and there really isn't anything like it out there.

Love this show. Geoff brings his smarts to steer a very interesting podcast on board game design. Originally Ryan Sturm and now Mike, a seasoned designer make for a great team. A must-listen for anyone interested in any type of game design.

The show provides a fascinating view of the board game hobby and industry from the perspective of designers. Geoff and Mike are very engaging. I love the GameTek episodes!

Ludology really surprised me. I listened to it when it first started and wasn't the biggest fan. That's okay because not everything is for everyone. I needed something to listen to and I thought I would give Ludology another try. Boy, did I enjoy it! It was really interesting to hear perspectives from two game designers. It's not that they are taking about game design, so much, but that they discuss what it means to play games and what the player should experience. It's really interesting to look at things from that perspective. This podcast is really great and it's joining my regular rotation.

I love this podcast. It is great to hear two people discuss games crtiically and not just a standard review. I loved the GameTek Segments on the Dice Tower, and so I was excited to have that expanded into a full show. I have listened for a year and half and look forward to each new episode. Keep up the good work!

For every gamer that thinks, "I can make a board game".

Love the show guys. The insight behind the scenes and the study of why are super interesting. If you are interested in board gaming on any level, listen to this podcast. You will gain an appreciation for the games on a whole new level.

Step away from the tyipcal podcast banter and cult of the new, and join us at the fireside, for a lesson in history of board gaming. Geoff and Mike are fanstastic board game designers as well as historians and talk the mechanics and machinations of our favorite hobby. A go to podcast for something different and engaging.

Very entertaining and well produced podcast. I highly recommend every gamer give it a listen but especially those interested in game design.

a deep knowledgeable discussion about board game subjects. Thoughtful and interesting topics

I especially love the GameTek segments.