In Episode 176 of the Polyhedron Collider Cast, the lads tackle a monster lineup of games covering curses, canals, castles, and cyberpunk chaos. From deep Euros to dicey duels and dystopian roleplay, it's a feast of cardboard, neon and noodles.

Hot from our painting challenge, we start with dark rituals and wicked words of Malediction in this spell-slinging game of grimdark miniature combat. Then it's onto Wroth, the latest offering from Chip Theory games; a dice pool area control game that full of neon colours.

Things calm down (sort of) with the charming card game Canal Houses, all about building along the waterways of Amsterdam. Beautifully thematic, deeply puzzly, and wetter than a typical UK summer.

Next up, we turn the dials and stoke the engines in Steam Power, a game that puts logistics and efficiency at the heart of its design—perfect for anyone who loves their cubes neatly aligned. But we can't help feel we've played it before.

And in The White Castle Duel, Two players enter the castle, one player leaves (hopefully with honour intact). We test the head-to-head version of The White Castle and see if it captures the elegance and crunch of the original.

Finally, we step into the neon rain for the Blade Runner RPG withe the second case file Fiery Angels, diving into a world of mystery, moral choices, and melancholy monologues. Expect less shooting, more brooding.

And don't forget—you can join the discussion over on our [Discord server]!

Podcast Contents

00:07:15 Malediction

00:14:15 Wroth

00:25:00 Canal Houses

00:30:12 Steam Power

00:40:52 Terra Mystica

00:43:15 The White Castle Duel

00:51:45 Blade Runner RPG: Case File 02 - Fiery Angels

For a 10% discount at Tabletop Dominion (the amazing makers of the dice cubes), go to tabletopdominion.com/POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER or use the code POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER at checkout

⭐Show Sponsor: Kienda

When you sign up to an account with Kienda use this link to bag yourself a wee discount and help support the show. Let's face it, you were going to buy a board game anyway 😉

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Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We may have already put out a Spiel Essen preview list, but in this episode we talk about some games coming to Essen that we have actually played, including a hot of the press review of Ayar: Children of the Sun, the latest euro board game from Fabio Lopiano and Mandela Fernandez-Grandon. We also work as struggling artists in Bohemiums, race across space and try not to get blown up in Galaxy Trucker: Do What?!, and solve ancient maths puzzles in cutesy family game Kingdom Crossing.

But wait, there's more, we also attempt to rule Rome in Æterna, discover the stars in Galileo Galilei, and recreate the one of the most awesome battle scenes in Star Wars Battle for Hoth.

And don't forget—you can join the discussion over on our [Discord server]!

Podcast Contents

00:11:12 Galaxy Trucker: Do What?!

00:14:46 Kingdom Crossing

00:19:04 Ayar: Children of the Sun

00:40:17 Æterna (Aeturna)

00:50:47 Galileo Galilei

01:01:45 Battle for Hoth

For a 10% discount at Tabletop Dominion (the amazing makers of the dice cubes), go to tabletopdominion.com/POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER or use the code POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER at checkout

⭐Show Sponsor: Kienda

When you sign up to an account with Kienda use this link to bag yourself a wee discount and help support the show. Let's face it, you were going to buy a board game anyway 😉

👥Follow Us on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolyhedronCollider

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polyhedroncollider

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@polyhedroncollider

🎧The latest episode is available to listen on the following pod-cast services:

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-polyhedron-collider-cast/id1087398150

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1rAPFNc5rE6JURNYakNzA3

Amazon - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/eba45bc5-0a1d-493c-bbbd-024fe5714147/the-polyhedron-collider-cast

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@polyhedroncollider

Player FM - https://player.fm/series/the-polyhedron-collider-cast

Podbay - http://podbay.fm/show/1087398150

Or you can add the http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Polyhedron Collider Cast RSS feed to your favourite podcast player

Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Spiel Essen 2025 is just two weeks away, so Andy and Steve take us through their top picks for the show, picking out the best board games that have tickled our fancy and that we hope to play in the near future.

Don't forget to join us on our Discord Server https://discord.gg/RtC25Vf2qA

Games Mentioned

00:03:57 SETI: Space Agencies
00:07:44 Trickerion: Anniversary Edition and Revenant
00:08:46 Manhattan Project: Energy Empire
00:12:34 Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock
00:14:52 Breaking Moon
00:18:20 The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth – Allies
00:20:08 The White Castle Duel
00:23:17 Miskatonic Tales: Journey to Innsmouth
00:25:41 Era of Atlantis
00:31:02 Tianxia and Thebai
00:38:30 Ayar: Children of the Sun
00:43:06 Ada's Dream, Baghdad: The City of Peace, and Barbecubes

For a 10% discount at Tabletop Dominion (the amazing makers of the dice cubes), go to tabletopdominion.com/POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER or use the code POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER at checkout

⭐Show Sponsor: Kienda

When you sign up to an account with Kienda use this link to bag yourself a wee discount and help support the show. Let's face it, you were going to buy a board game anyway 😉

👥Follow Us on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolyhedronCollider

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polyhedroncollider

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@polyhedroncollider

🎧The latest episode is available to listen on the following pod-cast services:

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-polyhedron-collider-cast/id1087398150

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1rAPFNc5rE6JURNYakNzA3

Amazon - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/eba45bc5-0a1d-493c-bbbd-024fe5714147/the-polyhedron-collider-cast

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@polyhedroncollider

Player FM - https://player.fm/series/the-polyhedron-collider-cast

Podbay - http://podbay.fm/show/1087398150

Or you can add the http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Polyhedron Collider Cast RSS feed to your favourite podcast player

Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/