web02.fireside.fm Tue, 19 May 2026 13:10:41 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Play Saves the World - Episodes Tagged with “Religious Games” https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/tags/religious%20games Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. en-us episodic On games and spirituality Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. no play, gaming, game theory, work, human flourishing, the meaning of play Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor thomaskevintaylor@icloud.com Episode 34: Games with Religious Themes, with Alice Connor https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/34 76f8e4e6-4133-4d69-89d7-cd1a0b7aa3ef Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 34 Games with Religious Themes, with Alice Connor full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Alice Connor is an Episcopal priest, writer, blogger, and podcaster, and she shares her deep knowledge and interest in board games – and especially games with religious themes. What defines a good game or a religious game? 1:11:10 no <p>Alice is the author of several books. <a href="http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author</a>. She also writes for Daily Worker Placement, including a series titled “Playing at Religion”, and co-hosts the podcast "Table Talk."</p> <h3>Defining a Religiously Themed Game</h3> <p>Your definition: “One whose theme is primarily but not exclusively exploring the practice, history, or theology of any religion or spiritual tradition.”</p> <p>Some examples</p> <ol> <li> <em>The Settlers of Zarahemla</em> </li> <li><em>Ierusalem: Anno Domini</em></li> <li> <em>Ezra and Nehemiah</em> (forthcoming)</li> <li><em>Nicaea</em></li> </ol> <h3>What Makes a Great Religious-Themed Game?</h3> <ol> <li>It succeeds at what it’s trying to do.</li> <li>It explores its theme complexly and appropriately for its weight.</li> <li>It is joyous.</li> <li>It comforts the player and/or exhorts them to a higher good.</li> </ol> <p>Your hypothesis: “Games that tend to intend to convince the player of something tend to be worse than games that play in the space.”</p> <h3>What are Our Top 3 Religiously Themed Games?</h3> <p>Kevin: <em>Frostpunk</em>, <em>Freedom: The Underground Railroad</em>, <em>Sleeping Gods</em><br> Daniel: <em>Red Cathedral, Biblios, Heaven &amp; Ale</em><br> Alice: <em>Acts of the Evangelists, Nuns on the Run, Zen Tiles</em> </p> board games, game theory, religion, spirituality, Alice is the author of several books. http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author. She also writes for Daily Worker Placement, including a series titled “Playing at Religion”, and co-hosts the podcast "Table Talk."

Defining a Religiously Themed Game

Your definition: “One whose theme is primarily but not exclusively exploring the practice, history, or theology of any religion or spiritual tradition.”

Some examples

  1. The Settlers of Zarahemla
  2. Ierusalem: Anno Domini
  3. Ezra and Nehemiah (forthcoming)
  4. Nicaea

What Makes a Great Religious-Themed Game?

  1. It succeeds at what it’s trying to do.
  2. It explores its theme complexly and appropriately for its weight.
  3. It is joyous.
  4. It comforts the player and/or exhorts them to a higher good.

Your hypothesis: “Games that tend to intend to convince the player of something tend to be worse than games that play in the space.”

What are Our Top 3 Religiously Themed Games?

Kevin: Frostpunk, Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Sleeping Gods
Daniel: Red Cathedral, Biblios, Heaven & Ale
Alice: Acts of the Evangelists, Nuns on the Run, Zen Tiles

Links:

]]> Alice is the author of several books. http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author. She also writes for Daily Worker Placement, including a series titled “Playing at Religion”, and co-hosts the podcast "Table Talk."

Defining a Religiously Themed Game

Your definition: “One whose theme is primarily but not exclusively exploring the practice, history, or theology of any religion or spiritual tradition.”

Some examples

  1. The Settlers of Zarahemla
  2. Ierusalem: Anno Domini
  3. Ezra and Nehemiah (forthcoming)
  4. Nicaea

What Makes a Great Religious-Themed Game?

  1. It succeeds at what it’s trying to do.
  2. It explores its theme complexly and appropriately for its weight.
  3. It is joyous.
  4. It comforts the player and/or exhorts them to a higher good.

Your hypothesis: “Games that tend to intend to convince the player of something tend to be worse than games that play in the space.”

What are Our Top 3 Religiously Themed Games?

Kevin: Frostpunk, Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Sleeping Gods
Daniel: Red Cathedral, Biblios, Heaven & Ale
Alice: Acts of the Evangelists, Nuns on the Run, Zen Tiles

Links:

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