Hey Now! Our yearly fundraiser is afoot! Next week we'll be launching our campaign to fund over 100 hours of gaming podcasts in 2026. Also The Secret Cabal Zine will return with Vol 2 including even more articles, artwork, comics, and more irreverent nonsense! www.kickstarter.com/projects/sec...

Happy Happy Halloween Halloween, Cabalists! youtu.be/zbeYwGANtWM

This Halloween week, The Cabal beckons you to re-experience Tales From Beyond the Grave! In vol. 1 your favorite board game podcasters tell true paranormal tales and vol. 2 and 3 bring you full-cast audio dramas of classic Lovecraft stories! Tune in at thesecretcabal.com/halloween if you dare!

Today we present Mysteries of the Unknown in which we dives into the eerie tale of the Van Meter Visitor! Was it a skulking monster? An interdimensional being? Or something ancient that refused to die? Join us as we explore this true tale of American horror! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

Welcome Ye Gods of War! The vox crackles with a call to arms - Adeptus Titanicus! Together we Filthy Casuals debate the might, majesty, and madness of this massively complex, ruinously expensive, and gloriously indulgent game of Titan warfare. For the Omnissiah! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

Hey Now! I joined Kyle, Kenny & Max on Board Game Box Office to geek out over Halloween flicks! My picks for review: Weapons and the Halloween III: Season of the Witch! Similar themes but very different films. Had an awesome time - check out the episode here! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Inspired by Divir’s recent announcement of a new version, we pulled Claustrophobia 1643 down off the shelf! This game never disappoints. The tactics are far more advanced than you would suspect for a relatively simple set of rules. Really great game design!

It's time for the annual Secret Cabal Halloween celebration! Today, the Founders revisit a spooky classic, Betrayal at House on the Hill and discuss role-playing and storytelling in board games. Enjoy! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

Our wonderful Sponsor Restoration Games is back in action on Kickstarter with an expansion to the great Return to Dark Tower! In this one you'll be sending your heroes on expeditions to distant lands. Plus there new heroes, gear, and virtues. It's lookin pretty rad! Check it out.

Wow - what a great mail day! @thesecretcabal.bsky.social

The Cabalist - The official Secret Cabal Zine is finally making it into the hands of the listeners! I'm SO happy with how this little book came out and I hope the Cabalists will enjoy digging in. It's got articles, comic strips, horoscopes, artwork, photos, and puzzles all jammed in there. Huzzah!

Tomáš Holek is on a hot streak with SETI and Galileo Galilei and now we’re digging into Tea Garden as well! Dude is on fire because this one is excellent as well. It’s a very relaxing mid-weight euro. Stay tuned for this week’s episode where you’ll hear all about it from Don, Chris and I.

Starting Halloween gaming a little early with some Mansions of Madness! Almost 10 years old now and this sucker is still a top tier game. It’s unique, exciting, always has a great story, and every scenario is clever and different. It’s a crying shame FFG doesn’t make games like this anymore.

For years, I’ve spouted about my hatred of apes wielding firearms. Yet despite my disdain for primates meddling with things they shouldn’t, I’ve done the unthinkable - I’m now painting Apes with Guns. This is a gorilla grunt of the Simian Star Kingdom as part of the minis game Star Schlock.

"Dr. Finn's Book of Solo Strategy and Word Games" Eight Roll & Write style games that will make you think and sometimes kick you around. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpxB...

Good morning, my dear Cabalists! Today the gang features the absolutely beautiful Luthier from Paverson Games and discusses our hot topic of the moment increasing complexity in board game design. Dig in and enjoy! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

Well, doesn't this just make ya wanna vomit? www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...

The wonders of AI art continue to amaze. This card game clearly involves casting magic spells to make ducklings explode. And mommy is so proud of her little psychopath.

Sept 8th is Star Trek Day! Star Trek has been, and always shall be, the most important creative work in my life. It has brought me so much joy. I took 10 mins to re-watch 765874 Unification and it hit me just as powerfully as the first time. Happy Star Trek Day everyone! youtu.be/mgOZFny7F50?...

Hey Now Cabalists! It's Wednesday again and with it comes another jam-packed episode! Today we feature the out-of-this-world Vantage from Stonemaier Games, Stevie S helms the news again, and we take a a couple of questions from listeners. Dig in! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

We kicked off the start of a Call of Cthulhu adventure tonight! The adventure was led and created by our fantastic Keeper, Jamie from @thesecretcabal.bsky.social who packed in 2 hours of hair-raising fun. I don’t play RPGs often, but this reminded me why I want to do more. @chaosium.bsky.social

Hey Now! We got a great show for you today including a feature review of Shackleton Base by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone and a discussion on the vital connection between theme and mechanisms in board games. Hope you all dig it! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

EMERGENCY GAMETEK POST open.substack.com/pub/gametek/...

Let’s go! Ribbit, ribbit! @thesecretcabal.bsky.social

"Hot Streak" The illusion of control, but a certainty of fun. www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Ft...

BTW, got my @thesecretcabal.bsky.social Kickstarter gear, and this hat looks great. Easily my favorite podcast crew. Highly recommend if you are into #boardgames, #ttrpgs and just all around fun. thesecretcabal.com

@thesecretcabal.bsky.social #cabaliststilldeath

I’m on holiday this week so won’t be able to share as much board game news as usual, but I’m delighted to report I WILL be able to share photos of me feeding a fox

We were recently made aware of disturbing and offensive artwork in the new game Ace of Spades by Devir. We have contacted Devir regarding this matter. Fellow hobbyists: we must strive to be better humans. We can’t simply “look the other way” when an issue doesn’t affect us directly.

On this fine Wednesday morning the Founders dive into Fate of the Fellowship - the new co-op adventure from Matt Leacock. Then we wrangle some listener questions on gimmicks and innovation, lame design trends, and irritating gamer behavior. dig in and enjoy! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/epi...

Hey Now, Cabalists! In this week’s Express episode, Don, Chris, & Jamie dive into the end game - goals, objectives, and victory in board games. They talk competitiveness, process-oriented players, win/loss streaks, and what it really means to feel like you’ve won. thesecretcabal.com/episodes/exp...

It's been since 2019 that we've made it to Gen Con - 6 years is a long time and I'm really feeling a tickle of regret at this moment.

I wanted to share a few thoughts recent discussions around CGE’s decision to partner with JKR for their upcoming @codenamesgame.bsky.social game have prompted. Thankful to those who spoke early to this issue (Marceline, Tiffany, @nopunincluded.com et al) for helping this get the needed attention.

For the past 6 months CGE has been a sponsor of The Cabal and it's been great. I love their games and the people I've worked with have been awesome but in light of their recent bullshit, I can't in good conscience continue our relationship and chose not to renew our contract.

What worries me about (quote)AI(unquote) isn't that it will do a better job... it's that it will do a worse job and corporations (and audiences) will see that as "close enough". I'm holding out hope that most of us want better than that in our books, music, movies, tv, and yes, tutorial videos too.

TIL that "Living Whist" was a popular event in the late 19th/early 20th c. People would dress up as playing cards and, well, shuffle.

Hey Now! Today Don and Jamie put together all of the games that they're frothing at the mouth and jumping outta their pants to get at from Gen Con 2025 coming up in a few weeks. thesecretcabal.com/episodes/exp...

How does this IMPOSSIBLE card-lifting tool work? #boardgames

At Origins this year, we had the pleasure of meeting Ryan Guerra, who has partnered with the Game Boy Geek. Ryan is a talented guy who does amazing video work. Today, he released his Top 9 Origins experiences - and guess what made #2? You'll have to click to find out! youtu.be/2lyj0xPiEps

Another Origins Game Fair is in the history books. Once again, our extended family of friends has grown. I always struggle to express just how profoundly uplifting these trips are. Reconnecting with far-flung friends and forming new bonds in such meaningful ways is something we deeply treasure.

An old school Ancients game at the club today using Tactica rules #wargaming #miniatureswargaming #ancientsminiatures #ancientswargaming #ancientsminiatureswargaming

Join us on Friday June 20th, 7-10pm at the Whistle & Keg during Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio! We'll be hanging out with Cabalists, giving away games and Wee-boys, and celebrating great friends and the board game hobby! Hope to see you there!

Celebrate Pride with some new TTRPGS! Check out the Pride Games bundle at Bundle of Holding! bundleofholding.com/presents/Pri... #Pride #TTRPGs

I haven’t been this excited for a convention trip since 2019. Origins is going to be great this year.

Curious to try an Unmatched tournament? Join us next week at Origins Game Fair! Participants will get a free foil promo card. Sign up to grab your spot here: restoration.games/OriginsTournament

I. Can't. Wait.

Hey Now, Cabalists! Origins Game Fair is just 2 weeks away and we’re fired up! Join us for our annual Cabal meetup at the Whistle & Keg, just a short walk from the convention hall, on Friday, June 20th from 7–10pm. Swing by and hang with the gang - it’s gonna be a great party! whistlekeg.com

"Fellowship of the Ring: Trick Taking" Arguably a best in class trick taking game. One of the few that does more than it rightly should. www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2sP...

Hey Now Cabalists! Today Tony, Chris, Don, and I dive into the concept of the "masterpiece" in regards to game design - what qualifies, who creates them, and what it takes to become a true master of their craft. Join us for this artistic exploration of game design! thesecretcabal.com/episodes/exp...