What Is Shut Up & Sit Down?

Updated

Shut Up & Sit Down (shutupandsitdown.com) is a board game review site that publishes video reviews, ranked lists, and podcast episodes. It is aimed at people deciding which board games to try, and it covers both new releases and older titles. The site's own description is "Board Game Reviews, Videos & Podcasts," and its recent front page mixes all three formats.

What you'll find on the site

The homepage lists content under a few recurring formats:

  • Video reviews — a single game gets a dedicated review video and a written post. Recent examples include Yotei and Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon.
  • Ranked lists — the "Top 100 Board Games of All Time" series runs as numbered episodes, each built around a theme. Episode 9 is titled "Innovation."
  • Podcasts — numbered episodes, including short "small box" episodes focused on compact games, plus occasional bonus episodes.
  • Convention and new-game roundups — for example, "New Games for Two | Board Games Direct #7," which previews two-player games likely to appear at conventions.

Each item is a post with a video or audio embed, a short written intro, and a comments section.

How the content is organized

Format What it gives you Best for
Single-game review One game examined in depth in video form Deciding whether a specific title is worth trying
Top 100 episodes Games grouped by a theme and ranked Finding candidates when you don't have a specific game in mind
Podcast episodes Discussion of several games per episode, including small-box titles Getting a quick sense of many games at once
Roundups Brief looks at many upcoming games Scanning what's coming to conventions

What to expect from the tone

The site's writing is informal and humorous. Podcast descriptions lean on jokes and asides rather than structured summaries, and review posts use casual phrasing (the Yotei post warns the video "may contain potatoes"). Treat the posts as opinion-driven criticism from named hosts — Matt and Tom appear across the reviews, lists, and podcasts — rather than as neutral product listings.

How to use it when choosing a game

  1. Start with a specific title. If you already have a game in mind, check whether it has a dedicated review post; that gives you the fullest treatment.
  2. Browse a list episode if you're undecided. The Top 100 series groups games by theme, so you can scan for genres or mechanics you already like.
  3. Use podcast episodes to cover ground quickly. Episodes that discuss several games at once, including small-box titles, are efficient for building a shortlist.
  4. Check the roundups for upcoming releases. Convention previews show games before they are widely available, which helps if you plan purchases around events.

One practical note: the site presents reviews and discussion, not prices or purchase links. You'll need to check a retailer or publisher separately for availability and cost.