Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Amazon Music | RSS | More

Hey folks, it’s Michael here from Meeples & Wine, your go-to podcast for board game reviews for couples, where we dive into fun tabletop adventures with a tasty drink in hand! If you’re into solo board games, fantasy puzzle books, or just chilling with some craft beer pairings, this episode is for you. I’m cracking open a brew and exploring the epic “Book of Dungeon” – think dungeon crawling, monster slaying, and treasure hunting all in one handy book. Perfect for board game enthusiasts looking for easy-to-learn solo games or couple-friendly activities that won’t wreck the vibe. (*BTW, Suzy is out this episode due to health issues, she’ll be back!)

We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you!

Now, onto the drink of the day: We’re tasting the Clown Car – German Chocolate Cake from 93 Octane Brewery in Elmhurst, IL. This cream ale with a German Chocolate Cake twist brings all the sweetness, creamy mouthfeel, and hints of chocolate and coconut.

Shifting to the main event: What game are we playing? It’s “Book of Dungeon,” the puzzle book “spin-off” from the popular “Bag of Dungeon” board game. Rated 8.3/10 on BoardGameGeek, this solo fantasy adventure is all about drawing your path through 100 deadly dungeons. Slay monsters, dodge traps, and hunt for treasure – all you need is a pencil, dice, and some courage!

Designed by Russ Law, Tim Sharville, and Paul Sharville, with art by Tim Sharville, and published by Gunpowder Studios. It’s a drawing game with grid movement mechanics, perfect for solo gamers or couples dipping into quick tabletop sessions.

How to play? Roll up your character from 11 fantasy types like elves, wizards, dwarves, ogres, fairies, minotaurs, halflings, and more. Assign stats and a special ability from a simple chart, then dive into the dungeons. Roll dice to lay paths, draw them out, face monsters or traps, grab items, and quest for the Ring before battling the Red Dragon at the exit. Every dungeon is a self-contained puzzle – survive, make brave choices, and escape with your life! No expansions listed yet, but this one’s got replayability for days in the solo board game category.

We chat about how it plays with two players (spoiler: it’s mainly solo, but we adapt for couples), our fun scores (on a 1-10 scale – mine’s TBD, Suzy’s too), and the couch score for relationship wrecking potential (1-5, low drama here). Learning the rules? It’s a time sink of 1 – no problem after one or two games, no need for endless YouTube tutorials.

Wrapping up with the Final Sip: How’s the wine (er, beer) evolved since opening? And our Last Call: We scout Kickstarter and Gamefound for the coolest upcoming games, like “Fighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain” from Ulisses Spiele. Board game crowdfunding fans, check these out for more fantasy adventure goodness!

If you dig our board game reviews for couples, beer tastings, and solo game spotlights, share the show with a friend. See you next time on Meeples & Wine – Buh-Bye!

• Book of Dungeon on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/458915/book-of-dungeon
• Russ Law on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/122662/russ-law
• Tim Sharville on BoardGameGeek (Designer): https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/110449/tim-sharville
• Paul Sharville on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/150725/paul-sharville
• Gunpowder Studios: https://www.gunpowderstudios.co.uk
• Fighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/ulisses-spiele/ffq_warlock
• Ulisses Spiele on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/creators/ulisses-spiele