Big Group Games and 5 Games that Surprised Us

A 34-person game retreat, a human-sized round of Codenames, and a marble “Kentucky Derby” set the stage for a conversation about games that surprise us—in the best ways. Jamey recaps three creative big-group “room party” games, while Mitchell shares five titles that defied expectations:Shifting Stones, Number Drop, QE, Fantasy Realms, and One Deck Dungeon. Plus: light banter, a concert detour, family game night picks, and a handy Just One table tip. 00:00 Cold open, smiles you can “hear” 00:xx Show format & quick banter (concert, high-school fame) 00:xx Family game night picks & Just One tip 00:xx Room-party #1: Stardew fishing → communal punch 00:xx Room-party #2: Human Codenames 00:xx Room-party #3: Marble “Derby” racing 00:xx Mitchell’s list: 5 games that surprised him 00:xx Design chat: why QE and Fantasy Realms feel “magical” 00:xx One Deck Dungeon → design inspiration 00:xx Listener questions & wrap board games, party games, big group games, Codenames, Human Codenames, marble racing, Shifting Stones, Number Drop, QE, Fantasy Realms, One Deck Dungeon, family game night, tabletop, Stonemaier, Vantage, game collection culling, how to curate board games, positive game cull, Stonemaier Games updates, Jamey Stegmaier, Mitchell Whitfield, campaign games keep or sell, Tokaido Duo solo mode, Smitten 2, Worm Span Dragon Academy, Bamboo board game, Board Game Ramblings keeper cull, gifting and donating board games, nostalgia in board games, components and production values,