Operation: Game Night
Travis Smith, Jared Erickson, and Clay Gable get together to discuss the latest and greatest in board games in this weekly podcast. What's hot, what's hitting the table, featured discussions about board games and the board gaming culture, and the primary mission objective- to play more board games!
Episodes
60 episodes
OTF: Night Routines, Glass Jobs, and Our New WWE Obsession
The dynamic duo of Operation Game Night is back as Travis welcomes Clayton for a catch-up session that ventures far beyond their typical board gaming territory. What starts as a humorous defense of Clayton's "Scrooge-like" bedtime routine—a car...
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19:58
Debrief: Party Panda Pirates has Mini Games Galore!
Party Panda Pirates tries to bring Mario Party to the tabletop with mixed success, featuring 24 mini-games and adorable panda characters in a pirate-themed package.• Game includes four phases: dropping pandas to select islands, predicti...
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18:20
OTF: Moving, Metro Riding, and the Magic of Free Board Games
We reunite with co-host Jared Erickson as he settles into life after his PCS move to the DC area, discussing the challenges of unpacking and establishing a new home while exploring local attractions.• Living in "Box City" during the tra...
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20:27
Special Ops: Gen Con 25 Preview
We excitedly explore Gen Con 2025's most anticipated tabletop releases despite not attending the convention in Indianapolis this year. Our distance from the board gaming event of the year doesn't diminish our enthusiasm for the impressive lineu...
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30:08
Debrief: Vantage (ft Mike from @BearwynPlaysGames)
The Operation Game Night podcast welcomes Mike from @BearwynPlaysGames to discuss Stonemaier Games' ambitious new release Vantage, a solo/co-op adventure game eight years in the making.• Vantage's premise: You crash-land on a mysterious...
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32:17
Debrief: Pure, Simple, & Mean- El Grande Stands the Test of Time
Dive into the enduring brilliance of El Grande, the 1995 area control masterpiece that revolutionized board gaming and continues to captivate players nearly three decades later. Despite its unassuming appearance, this Spiel des Jahres winner de...
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29:15
Debrief: Gladiator Glory in Hoplomachus: Victorum
Travis, Clayton, and Jared explore Hoplomachus: Victorum, a solo gladiatorial combat game from Chip Theory Games with exceptional production quality and an immersive campaign system.• Players choose from multiple champions with unique a...
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25:38
OTF: Clay's in his Icarus Era (Ft. Vic from Games Y Más)
The hosts of Operation Game Night welcome Vic from Games Y Más podcast to discuss their non-gaming interests, adventures, and misadventures in a special "Over the Fence" episode.• Vic shares his love for Universal Studios and why their ...
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38:17
Special Ops: Our Favorite Production Choices (ft. Vic from Games y Más)
We explore how production quality can elevate board games from good to unforgettable, joined by special guest Vic from Games Y Más Podcast.• Game organizers that make setup and storage a delight, from Betrayal Legacy's intuitive system ...
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45:17
Debrief: Racing, Betting, & Mascot Mayhem in Hot Streak!
Board gaming meets mascot racing mayhem in Hot Streak, the latest sensation from CMYK Games that's turning heads and sparking laughter at game tables everywhere. Designer John Perry has crafted what might just be the perfect betting game—one th...
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21:03
OTF: Whoopie Pies and Civil War Lessons
The OGN crew catches up on a Friday night, sharing stories about family visits, temporary housing situations, movie disappointments, and finding unexpected wisdom in history books.• Clay recounts his weekend at Grandma Fleagle's, featur...
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26:15
Special Ops: Three Friends Hunt for Players in New Cities
Relocating to a new city comes with many challenges, but for passionate board gamers, one of the most significant hurdles is rebuilding a gaming community from scratch. In this heartfelt and humor-filled episode, we explore the emotional journe...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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28:39
Debrief: Trash Pandas & Top Hats- Raccoon Tycoon
Dive into the charming yet strategically rich world of Raccoon Tycoon, a market manipulation and auction game that offers surprising depth beneath its Victorian-era animal artwork. The OGN crew explores this hidden gem from Forbidden Games that...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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20:45
OTF: Reunited and it Feels SO Good!
After taking a much-needed June hiatus, Travis, Jared, and Clay reunite for an episode that feels like catching up with old friends over the fence. Their natural chemistry immediately reignites as they share significant life changes and persona...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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29:11
Special Ops: Inside the World Series of Board Gaming
Operation Game Night returns with a deep dive into the World Series of Board Gaming as co-host Jared prepares to compete in the Las Vegas tournament this September.• The tournament structure allows competitors to select specific games r...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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26:11
Joint Ops June: Have A Seat With Amanda Lee (ft. Clay from OGN)
Our final episode of Joint Ops June comes from our good friend Amanda Lee and her Have A Seat With Amanda Lee Podcast! Clay Gable joins Amanda to discuss his journey from jock to board game podcaster and content creator, sharing ins...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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39:06
Joint Ops June: Games Y Más - Board Games This-or-That w/OGN
This edition of Joint Ops June comes from the Games Y Mas Podcast with our good friend Vic! Through a series of "This or That" questions, we explore the fundamental divides in gaming preferences that shape how we play.• Dice...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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1:19:15
Joint Ops June: Games Y Más - Castles of Burgundy...Top Shelf or Yard Sale?
This edition of Joint Ops June comes from the Games Y Mas Podcast with our good friend Vic (@gamesymaspod)! Dice, duchies, and heated debate! In this episode, we try to determine whether Castles of Burgundy deserves a coveted spot on your gamin...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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1:16:31
Joint Ops June: Have A Seat With Amanda Lee (ft. Travis from OGN)!
Welcome to our first episode of Joint Ops June!Travis Smith from Operation Game Night podcast joins Have A Seat With Amanda Lee to share how three Air Force officers created a board game podcast to stay connected when stationed across th...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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38:56
OGN Ep 41: Changing the Playbook - The Future of Operation Game Night
We're transforming Operation Game Night to better serve our listeners, with exciting changes to our format and schedule coming after a month-long hiatus featuring collaborations with other podcasts.• Jared reviews Terraforming Mars: The...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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1:07:35
OGN Ep 40: The Game's Called Risk, Not Safe...Press Your Luck Games!
We delve into the fascinating world of push your luck games, examining the psychology behind why these gambling mechanics create some of gaming's most memorable moments.• How push your luck games level the playing field between experien...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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1:17:09
OGN Ep 39: Unpacking the Golden Geek Awards, Cities, and Rebirth
This week Clay and Jared lament the fact that OGN wasn't nominated for a golden geek award. However they put their hurt feelings aside to provide some color commentary the winners and runners up from the 2024 Golden Geek awards. Clay also talks...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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1:13:09
OGN Ep 38: Lost Ruins of Arnak Strategy, Foundations of Rome and Skull King
This week we diving into the mind of a Lost Ruins of Arnak addict and picking Jared's brain about all the hot tips for breaking 100 points in the game. We also do a Kickstarter Preview for Fight for Inheritance, talk about one of our favorite t...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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1:19:28
OGN Ep 37: Inside Scoop on Friendly Local Game Stores (ft. Cam from Petrie's Family Games)
Step behind the counter of a thriving local game store as we sit down with Cam, the heart and soul behind Petrie's Family Games in Colorado Springs. In this candid conversation, Cam reveals how a childhood obsession with Talisman evolved into a...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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1:35:36
OGN Ep 36: Game Recommendations by Player Count
How do you choose the perfect board game for your group size? While many games claim to support various player counts, most have a specific sweet spot where they truly shine. In this intimate, co-host episode, Clay and Travis break down their f...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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1:00:47