Podcasts · The BoardGameGeek Podcast

Episode 88: Justin Bell, Contributor with Meeple Mountain - Kitting out your Board Game Experience - Top 5 Games of 2025

13 Feb 2026 · 1 h 28 min · Episode 88

Justin Bell is back! He joins me to discuss all of the extra stuff we buy to make our board game experience better. This can be everything from upgrading bits from cardboard to wooden components to the perfect bags to always have on hand. Also, how much we love player aids. Then we discuss our top 5 games of 2025. Ending with how everyone should touch grass and bring baked goods to conventions.

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:03 Justin's Journey in the Board Game Industry

BGG Podcast Episode 30

The Five By Podcast

00:04:36 Favorite Game Mechanics and Personal Collection

00:17:20 The Art of Kitting Out: Personal Experiences and Tips

Sunrise Tornado Playmat

P’Kup

00:33:52 Player Aids: Enhancing the Gaming Experience

Every Game Needs a Player Aid Article

00:36:09 The Debate on Game Inserts

00:39:39 Upgrades for Game Night

Microfiber Bags “Size of Justin’s Hands”

Modern Meeple

Allplay

00:46:38 Top 5 Games of 2025

00:47:16 Ayar: Children of the Sun

00:50:26 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

00:53:09 Jungo / Hachi Train / Nanatoridori

00:55:56 Citizens of the Spark

00:58:21 Masters of Crime: Rapture

01:01:48 Endeavor: Deep Sea

01:06:21 Speakeasy

01:11:06 Sanctuary

01:13:30 Vantage

01:18:03 Pergola

01:21:23 Moment of Positivity

01:25:22 Where can you find Justin Bell?

Meeple Mountain

Instagram @JustinBellSays

X @JustinBellSays

01:26:41 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)

Back Stormlight: War for Roshar on Kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brotherwise/war-for-roshar

Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Links in the notes 14

• https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/12153/blogpost/154384/bgg-podcast-30-extended-fresh-plays-with-justin-be
• https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepodcast/39963/the-five-by
• https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1010581930794423&set=pb.100055278773860.-2207520000&type=3
• https://getpkup.com/
• https://www.meeplemountain.com/articles/every-game-needs-a-player-aid/
• https://boardgamegeekstore.com/products/microfiber-drawstring-bags-circular-bag?variant=32356795809852
• https://www.modernmeeple.com/
• https://www.allplay.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/justinbellsays/
• https://x.com/justinbellsays
• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brotherwise/war-for-roshar
• https://boardgamegeek.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
• https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek