Board Game Club is one of the main series on the No Rolls Barred YouTube channel, in which the cast play various board games as a group. The series was originally hosted via Zoom, then in person at Draughts London, then finally in Trident's studio space.
- "What is Board Game Club if not a significantly longer and growing series of required reading for every single episode?"
Board Game Club is the longest running series on the channel, with the most episodes by far. Notable events during the series include its ten-hour livestreams and the spawning of what went onto be the No Rolls Barred Plays Blood On The Clocktower series. Until November 2024, the No Rolls Barred Patreon featured uncut versions of most public episodes, and extra episodes filmed over Zoom. In October 2024 it was announced that uncut episodes were to be discontinued, and Patreon-specific episodes would now be filmed in studio. The final Patreon-specific uncut episode was Let's Play BACK TO THE FUTURE: BACK IN TIME, released on 5 November 2024.
Episode structure[]
While the show's presentation has changed over time, its general structure is still very similar to its first iteration. Episodes have generally increased in duration over the years, beginning at around 45 minutes to an hour in 2020 and increasing to around 50 minutes to 2 and a half hours for some episodes.
Typically, each BGC episode begins with an intro that has changed in style several times. Adam, or later other cast members, then gives a full introduction featuring a "first rule of Board Game Club" that ranges from the silly to the ridiculous to the profound, and a demonstration of the key game elements and rules. Then, the cast members are introduced in the hellos and the game begins.
Until June 2023, public (non Patreon-exclusive) in-person episodes usually included talking heads intercut into gameplay, picking up on the running jokes for the session, speaking in character, discussing tactics and so on. These have been expanded to the uncut Patreon-specific versions following the channel's departure from Draughts. Sometimes, episodes include one or more Jokes of the Day, a title strongly fought for.
Episodes usually end with a declaration of the winner, formerly paired with a passing of the Board Game Club Champion title or marking of Adam's chalkboard. The game for the next episode is then announced.
History[]
The original logo for the Zoom era of Board Game Club, still used for Patreon episodes
The logo for the Draughts era of Board Game Club, from September 2021 to June 2023
The short-lived theater logo, from June to September 2023
The current logo from September 2023
The first episode of the series was Let's Play CODENAMES, released on 20 November 2020 and featuring the core members of No Rolls Barred. It was filmed over Zoom as a result of the pandemic; episodes would continue to be recorded in this way for just under a year. February 2021 saw the release of Let's Play BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER, an episode that would later be renamed as A Stud In Scarlet when the spin-off series No Rolls Barred Plays Blood On The Clocktower became a popular mainstay on the channel. In May 2021, No Rolls Barred hit fifty thousand subscribers and a 10 Hour Board Game Club Marathon For 50K Subs!!! was livestreamed - still via Zoom.
From September 2021, with the release of Let's Play COSMIC ENCOUNTER, a new era of the series began in person at Draughts London on a set designed by Rosie Nicholls. This was accompanied by the start of release of new uncut versions of the in person episodes through the newly-launched Patreon. During 2022, Adam's chalkboard was updated at the end of each episode, noting his win/loss record in accordance with his resolution for the year to win 22 games of Board Game Club, or play Monopoly five times in a row as forfeit. The channel hit 100 thousand subscribers in September 2022, prompting another ten-hour livestream, this time in person and for the charity Mind. Adam achieved his resolution by the end of 2022, and a further charity livestream event took place in February 2023 to celebrate the end of the challenge.
In June 2023, as part of NRB moving to a new studio away from Draughts, BGC episodes were given a new CGI introduction and were now filmed in a slightly more spacious room with lovely curtains. This began with Let's Play PICTURES. A further update to the opening titles appeared in August 2023 and another in September 2023 after the departure of Adam from the channel.
In mid 2024, the channel began experimenting with themed series of BGC episodes - REPLAY month in August, spooky month in October and a dedicated strand of competitive games, Board Game League in November.
In October 2024,the channel announced a revision to the tiers and pricing of the Patreon. Among other things, it was explained that offering the uncut Patreon episodes was negatively affecting the YouTube algorithm and splitting viewing figures for Board Game Club episodes, so uncut versions would be ending in November. The 5 November episode, Let's Play BACK TO THE FUTURE: BACK IN TIME was confirmed on release to be the last uncut episode to be published. In the same announcement, the channel also explained that there would be a one-month season break in Board Game Club episodes, in January 2025, to allow for scheduling and a reset.
After the season break, the schedule resumed with a Patreon-exclusive episode Let's Play CAN'T STOP II on 28 January 2025. This was the first of the new strand of in-person Patreon-exclusive Board Game Clubs, now rebranded as Board Game Club Extra. With the restart, the opening titles were changed and now feature only silhouettes of the cast appearing in the specific episode.
Episodes[]
A playlist of all free episodes can be found here.
Please note that many episode titles have been standardised for better wiki navigation. Roman numerals denote repeated plays - not necessarily different game versions.
2025[]
There have been 11 public episodes of Board Game Club to 5 April 2025.
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
2024[]
There were 46 public episodes of Board Game Club in 2024.
Episodes after 12 November are included in the Board Game League series and are not counted here.
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
2023[]
There were 51 public episodes of Board Game Club in 2023.
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
2022[]
There were 55 public episodes of Board Game Club in 2022.
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
2021[]
There were 52 public episodes of Board Game Club in 2021.
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
2020[]
There were 6 public episodes of Board Game Club in 2020.
| Release date | Episode | Cast | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Nov 2020 | Let's Play CODENAMES | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Isaac, Laurie, Luke, Oli, Tom | YouTube |
| 27 Nov 2020 | Let's Play SPYFALL | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Isaac, Laurie, Luke, Oli, Tom | YouTube |
| 4 Dec 2020 | Let's Play JUST ONE | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Isaac, Laurie, Luke, Oli, Tom | YouTube |
| 11 Dec 2020 | Let's Play WITS & WAGERS | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Jon, Laurie, Oli | YouTube |
| 18 Dec 2020 | Let's Play WAVELENGTH | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Jon, Laurie, Oli | YouTube |
| 25 Dec 2020 | Let's Play SECRET HITLER | Adam, Blair, Elliott, Jon, Laurie, Oli | YouTube |
- To see this year as its own page, click here.
Livestreams[]
There have been 3 livestreams up to 6 February 2023.
| Date | Name | Cast | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2021 | 10 Hour Board Game Club Marathon For 50K Subs!!! | Adam, Blair, Brooke, Carley, Dom, Elliott, Isaac, Jon, Laurie, Luke, Oli, Pete, Rosie, Sullivan, Tom | YouTube |
| 15 Sep 2022 | 100k Subs NRB Charity Marathon For Mind!!! | Adam, Blair, Brooke, Dom, Holly, Jon, Ken, Laurie, Rosie, Sullivan, Tilly, Tom | YouTube |
| 6 Feb 2023 | NRB Wish Charity Livestream!! | Adam, Blair, Brooke, Dom, Holly, Jon, Ken, Laurie, Luke, Rosie, Sullivan, Teri, Tom | YouTube |
- To see this as its own page, click here.
Patreon Exclusive[]
There were 32 Patreon exclusive episodes of Board Game Club up to 12 October 2024. (Patreon exclusive episodes in November and December 2024 were Board Game League and are not counted here).
In January 2025, after the season break, the Patreon-exclusive Board Game Club episodes returned rebadged as Board Game Club Extra. This relaunched series is listed separately.
- To see this as its own page, click here.
Board Game Club Extra[]
In January 2025, after a season break, Patreon-exclusive Board Game Club episodes returned rebadged as Board Game Club Extra. These are Patreon-exclusive episodes, recorded in-person.
| Release date | Episode | Cast | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 2025 | Let's Play CAN'T STOP II | Blair, Dom, Jon, Laurie | Patreon |
| 26 Feb 20205 | Let's Play STARTUPS | Chris, Jon, Rosie, Sullivan | Patreon |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Let's Play BRISTOL 1350... AGAIN | Emily, Holly, Jenny, Jon, Laurie, Sullivan | Patreon |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Let's Play CODENAMES (Patreon Exclusive II) | Emily, Holly, Jon, Laurie, Sullivan | Patreon |
- To see this as its own page, click here.
Soundtrack[]
- AGST - "Reality" (intro, 2020 - 2021)
- Jules Gaia - "Life O' The Lavish" (intro, 2021 - present)