Kinfire Council Review: Strategy, Suspicion & Standout Gameplay
Mindful Games Lab
Kinfire Council: When Saving the City Means Watching Your Back Din’Lux is hanging by a thread — and the greatest threat might be sitting right across the table from you. Join Clay as he dives into Kinfire Council, the gorgeous worker placement game where players must rebuild magical lighthouses to protect the last surviving city… all while silently questioning whether their fellow council members are secretly helping the cult trying to destroy it. In this episode, we explore: How cooperation quickly turns into suspicion The unforgettable gameplay moments where everything falls apart...
info_outline
Nature Board Game – Survival Tips, Best Traits, and Hunting Strategies
Mindful Games Lab
In Nature from North Star Game Studio, survival isn’t about brute strength—it’s about clever adaptation. Join Clay from Mindful Games Lab as he dives into this fast-paced, beautifully illustrated board game where every round is an evolutionary arms race. Discover the game’s origin story, learn the best traits to dominate your ecosystem, and explore the high-stakes choice every player faces: to hunt, or not to hunt. You’ll get beginner strategies, insider tips, and a breakdown of the game’s replay value—plus a few laugh-out-loud moments from Clay’s own plays. Whether you’re a...
info_outline
Exploring Vantage – An Open-World Storytelling Adventure
Mindful Games Lab
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Vantage, the epic new open-world board game from Stonemaier Games and designer Jamie Stegmaier. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, Vantage offers a rich, narrative-driven experience filled with exploration, choice, and surprise. You'll learn how the game works, what sets it apart from other storytelling games, and why the first-person perspective and artwork matter more than ever. We’ll cover missions, destinies, dice mechanics, cooperative elements, and replayability — plus, I share some of my own favorite moments from the game. If you...
info_outline
So, You Find Yourself at Gen Con… Now What?
Mindful Games Lab
for a blog post about Gen Con.
info_outline
Almoravid: Medieval Warfare, Strategy, and the Legend of El Cid
Mindful Games Lab
In this episode, Clay dives deep into Almoravid, the second entry in Volko Ruhnke’s celebrated Levy & Campaign series from GMT Games. Set in the gritty landscape of 11th-century Iberia during the Spanish Reconquista, Almoravid is a game of feudal logistics, political tension, and brutal siege warfare. We unpack the game’s most compelling systems: How you command lords—not armies—and what it means to manage medieval loyalty The dual-role of El Cid, the legendary knight who might fight for either side The tactical weight behind every card, siege attempt, and ravage action Why...
info_outline
Ironwood – A Clash of Industry and Nature
Mindful Games Lab
Mindful Games Lab Podcast with Clay In this episode, Clay dives deep into Ironwood, the highly thematic two-player strategy game from Mindclash Games. Discover the core conflict between the industrial Ironclad and the mystical Woodwalkers, as they battle for control over the powerful Larimor Crystals in the Iron Forge Mountains. Clay explores the game’s rich lore, stunning components, and clever asymmetric mechanics that bring the clash between metal and nature to life. You’ll learn how the unique card-driven system fuels both tactical combat and strategic planning, and hear firsthand...
info_outline
Meeples On The Ground with Sarah Trager
Mindful Games Lab
Clay visits with Sarah Trager from Meeples On The Ground. We talk about some amazing games for you to check out and important game convention advice that is not easy to follow.
info_outline
Gift of Tulips with Carla Kopp
Mindful Games Lab
Clay visits with Carla Kopp from Weird Giraffe Games. We talk about Gift of Tulips and the amazing team of women who worked on it. We dive into what to do if you’re stuck on a game design and what you must know if you want to pitch a design to a publisher.
info_outline
Electric Orchard
Mindful Games Lab
Clay talks with Ryan Schneider from Saint Paul Games about Electric Orchard. Find out the most important skill you need to go from idea to Kickstarter launch.
info_outline
Dune Imperium
Mindful Games Lab
Clay talks about the board game Dune Imperium by Dire Wolf. Find out what it's like to play and get some strategy tips to give you an edge.
info_outlineIn this episode, we take a deep dive into Vantage, the epic new open-world board game from Stonemaier Games and designer Jamie Stegmaier. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, Vantage offers a rich, narrative-driven experience filled with exploration, choice, and surprise.
You'll learn how the game works, what sets it apart from other storytelling games, and why the first-person perspective and artwork matter more than ever. We’ll cover missions, destinies, dice mechanics, cooperative elements, and replayability — plus, I share some of my own favorite moments from the game.
If you love immersive board games with big stories and endless discovery, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Get the free Vantage player aid and more at mindfulgameslab.com