ThinkerThemer 2020 Wrap: FAQ, Our Top 5 Board Games of 2020 & Our Channel Journey (So Far!)

Thanks for stopping by to watch our impromptu (very long, very informal) chitchat about 2020, including the games we loved and what we've learned as we journey into content creation. PLUS we answer some of the questions that we get asked a lot....! It's a long one so settle in or.... feel free to use the timestamps below lol...

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:42 FAQ
15:56 Top 5 Board Games of 2020
16:40 #5
18:53 #4
21:06 #3
23:26 #2
25:10 #1
28:40 Learnings from the Channel

We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
Are you #teamthinker or #teamthemer? ❤🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺

[WatchItPlayed]

Another fun video. Enjoyed hearing your answers to various questions and hearing about your experience on the channel. And hey. I don’t blame you for being terrified about live streaming. It’s often a technical mess, but I’m sure when you’re ready for it, you’ll be aces at it!

[paulsalomon]

Thank you so much for the kind words about Honey Buzz. And I am so glad to see your channel thriving!!! Cant wait to see your top 10s

[johntotten]

You guys are one of my top 4 board game videos that I watch almost every day. I'm 78 years old and got into the hobby seriously about 12 years ago. Your open casual banter and great descriptions keep me coming back. The other 3 are Rahdo, The Dyslexic Gamer Blog and the 2024 US Math Trade.

[kathleenstanford]

I was just thinking this morning "I wish there was an Australian boardgaming channel I could follow so I'd have half a chance of the wonderful games I'm hearing about actually being available to buy", and lo and behold YouTube finds this video. Looking forward to watching your back catalogue and following you in 2021.
PS love the logo.... I'd buy a shirt👍

[paulastoria]

I saw you review about OBSESSION and bought a copy with all expansions directly from publisher for a small fortune. Because of you two I wont have any money to celebrate new years! lol

[TrntyNZ]

I love your ‘rambling’. Keep just being yourselves, you’re both naturals at this!

[ematorose]

Thank you for such a nice FAQ and top 5. I watch all of your videos and love the angle of ThinkerThemer. Also it's so nice to see another couple AND into board games!!! :-) My partner (35+ years -- yes, we're old!) isn't really a gamer. I have given up trying and only buy games that have a solo mode now. She does love - LOVE Wingspan and will play it anytime and of course we have all the expansions. Actually she recently agreed to try Isle of Cats (I told her it was similar to Wingspan) and what do you know? She said she liked it! [faint] That makes 4 now that she will play (Viticulture and Herbaceous the other two).

Anyway, thankyou for your work with the videos, always anxious for the next one. Happy Holidays!

[pauls]

As an Australian, it is refreshing to hear some local content. Thank you for creating your channel. I wish you all the best in 2021.

[xandermichael]

HELLO!!! I found your channel thanks to Before You Play and I'm so glad that I started off with this video because it really let me get to know you two better before watching your videos! I think I am a mix between thinker and themes (though slightly more thinker) so I look forward to seeing more from you. Tekhenu was my #1 for this year so we are pretty similar there and Calico was also in my top 10. Maggie, if you love solo gaming, check out Under Falling Stars. It's a solo only game and I became obsessed this year with it. Also Black Sonata is another incredible solo game, though a bit older.

I would love to see a video about the games that you cull. It's such a hard thing to do because while you might not be playing a game there is a nostalgia attached to some of them. Like I could never part with Puerto Rico because it's the game that got me into the hobby (and I still really like it). I have a "cull box" of games that are away from my main collection, but I'm always looking for new perspectives on how to decide what to add to my cull box. I've got close to 200 games (not including expansions of course!) and I think I could get that down to 150 games if I just Mari Kondo'ed my collection. Then maybe they'd all get to see the table more often.

I managed to complete my 10x10 challenge this year for the first time since starting in 2018 so my next challenge is a two year challenge of playing all of my games at least once. After that I think I'll have an even better idea about what to cull.

Anyway I'll stop rambling now! Looking forward to more videos from you two - did you put one out for Obsession? I have a friend obsessed with the Victorian era and I'd love to know more about that one.

[sarahchapman]

Whatever videos you decide to do, I'm here for it!!!

[leaalien]

I love the long ramble-- just as much as your succinct and well-thought-out reviews. Keep them coming in any style you feel like! Happy that you have felt welcome, I love to see the increase in diverse voices in gaming!!

[GrayHateborn]

I know I am a bit late to the party here, but I only just found the channel. I had to pop in and say that I enjoyed the video and was moved by your story at the end. Also a little proud of my fellow gamers for making you feel safe to share and be you.

[zoeboone]

Absolutely love watching your videos. Heard about you from Monique and Naveen (love them!). It's really cool to see such a different take on reviewing board games. I live in LA, which is quite scary right now and honestly, board games have kind of saved me. I have 2 kids doing online school at home and I needed to find something we could all have fun doing together that would help get them to focus on something besides how awful things were. Totally worked! They are so excited to try all the new games I can't stop buying and I'm having a blast trying to teach them. You two are fabulous! Keep it up! Looking forward to seeing what's next. xx

[thegreatdane]

I'm late to this video I know but I really connect with what Maggie was saying about using board games as a way to be more introspective about your feelings, where they come from and how to discuss them. Since getting more into board games it feels like I am definitely developing that skill as I go. Each time my wife and I talk about what we thought about a game, and really try to figure out what about the game made us feel a certain way makes it so much easier to do that with other things in life. Improving life skills by playing games, a dream come true!
Love watching you guys have fun together! Keep up the great work!

[chuckfletcher]

What a great channel and video, I was sent here by Before You Play. Keep up the good work!

[Sebastian-rtqf]

Very surprising top 5 (on a standard 2020 year listing), but after seeing some of your videos on a trot, the top 5 is crystal clear. Nice to suddenly see brand new shelves behind you two looks great and nice to hear the Spanglish extra on the end. 2020 was a showcase of our community to make something fulfilling in year with so much sorrow. Still can look back at it with a smile.

[truelifetales]

Terrific video! For so many reasons. Among them: Learning Maggie is from South America (ending the debates the man-spouse and I have had regarding her accent), hearing you articulate the reservations (and understandable fear) about putting yourself online as an out gay couple (and good on you for forging ahead despite those fears), keeping it real by not taking payment for your reviews, and just hearing more about your process and approach to games (and the hobby) in general. I've yet to do a major cull of my collection and have been more seriously in the hobby since 2014 (correction: 2006!) ... draw your own conclusions! Lastly, FWIW, I share Maggie's obsession with Obsession - the expansion is like a cherry on top of a perfect sundae.

[brianfoley]

You two are fantastic and need to continue the channel!

[StephenGrubb]

The best word I can use to describe you two is delightful! If I could change one thing it would be for you to both move to South Florida so that my husband and I could join you for gaming sessions! Please keep up the outstanding work.

[niteshmg]

I accidentally found your channel.... but wow love your content and concept... Love your views and authenticity... It keeps you different which is your usp so double down on your uniqueness... I would love to see a video of your games collection and a video of what considerations you take while filling your games. Love the concept and wishing you guys a large fan base...