RDTN Episode 192: Atlantis Rising Returns and Stellar Tests Two Player Strategy

Atlantis Rising and Stellar give this episode of RDTN its clearest game table takeaways. One is a cooperative title that has returned with updated components and rule improvements; the other is a two player card game that rewards close attention to an opponent’s plans. The hosts also talk about Brainwaves, Stampede and The Shining, after spending time on music and television.

The episode takes its time getting to the games. Its opening topics include Peter Gabriel versus Phil Collins, “The Logical Song” and talking toys, followed by a move into TV shows. That broad mix is part of the show’s conversational shape: the tabletop discussion arrives after the hosts have had room to follow other interests. Listeners looking for the game coverage can jump to 18:23, with individual segments beginning at 19:49.

Brainwaves and the memory angle

Brainwaves is the first game the hosts discuss. Marty had played it with his family, and the conversation frames it around helping players exercise their memory. The hosts make a joke at their own expense about needing that help, then connect the game to the other titles they played: their recollections and assessments make up much of the episode’s remaining game talk.

The source doesn’t describe Brainwaves’ turn structure or explain exactly how its memory challenge works, so there’s no basis here for a rules breakdown. What it does establish is the context for the discussion: this was a family play, and memory is the feature that stood out to Marty. That makes the segment a useful starting point for listeners interested in how the game landed at a household table, while leaving the finer details to the episode itself.

Atlantis Rising gets another chance

Atlantis Rising first appeared in 2012 from Z-Man Games. Elf Creek Games later brought it back with enhanced components and rule improvements. The hosts recall that the earlier version had a reputation for being especially difficult, which may have kept some players from giving it a fair chance. Over time, though, it developed a following and became the sort of hard-to-find title people described as a “grail” game.

The return matters because the hosts see a strong cooperative game beneath that demanding first impression. Their recommendation is straightforward: if you get the chance, give Atlantis Rising a try. The discussion doesn’t lay out the rules changes or name specific component upgrades, so those details are best checked against the game’s current materials. Still, the episode offers a clear reason for renewed interest: a game that some players may have bounced off has stayed in the conversation long enough to find a new audience.

That history also gives the re-release a useful point of comparison. For returning players, revised rules and upgraded components can make an earlier favorite feel worth revisiting. For newcomers, they offer a fresh entry point to a cooperative game with a reputation that has grown over the years. The hosts’ enthusiasm is rooted in their experience of the game as a solid cooperative pick, rather than in a claim that every group will find its difficulty a perfect fit.

Stellar asks both players to stay alert

Stellar is the episode’s standout for head-to-head strategy. The hosts describe it as a two player card game where players need to pay attention throughout the contest. It doesn’t reward simply running through familiar motions: decisions depend on what the opponent is doing, and players need to think about both offensive and defensive play.

That balance is the interesting part of the hosts’ account. A move that advances your own plan still has to be weighed against the pressure your opponent is creating. Decisions feel tight, and a choice that hasn’t been thought through can cause trouble later. The segment suggests a game where reading the table matters as much as following your own plan, making Stellar a strong fit for players who enjoy direct strategic back and forth.

The hosts say Stellar knocked them for a loop, and their description gives that reaction some substance: they praise its strategy and the constant attention it asks of both players. The episode doesn’t provide a full account of the cards or scoring, so listeners who want to learn the rules will need more than this overview. For players deciding whether to give it a closer look, the main signal is its focused two player format and the need to respond to an opponent rather than play on autopilot.

More games and what comes next

The episode also includes Stampede and The Shining. The available description doesn’t explain how either game plays or offer a verdict, but the time guide points listeners to the relevant sections: Stampede starts at 19:49, while The Shining follows at 28:00. Atlantis Rising begins at 34:00, and Stellar at 47:50. Those timestamps make it easy to head directly to a particular title after the opening music and TV conversation.

Other signposts include Miniature Market at 27:00, The Broken Token at 46:50 and Portal Games at 1:11:49. The episode closes with a discussion of whether an expansion is needed, then wraps up at 1:05:15 before the later Portal Games segment listed in the guide. Next time, the hosts plan to bring out the brown carpet for their annual Squirrelly Awards.

For this installment, Atlantis Rising’s return and Stellar’s demanding two player decisions are the strongest reasons to tune in. One revisits a cooperative game that may have been judged too harshly early on; the other asks players to keep reading the person across the table. The timestamps let listeners choose which conversation to join first.