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The Board Game Criticism Day took place for the third time on March 9th and 10th, 2024, this time in Mannheim. 75 game critics came. And they were all there not just to look at games for once. But to share their own texts, podcasts and videos in working groups, panel discussions and discussion forums. "Anyone who speaks critically about games must also be aware that they are being received like a journalist - and it doesn't matter whether they see themselves as one or not," said Game of the Year Managing Director Guido Heinecke in his introductory speech. Nowadays, every media professional - whether journalist, influencer or podcaster - should be aware of this responsibility. And thus, even as an initial layman, be interested in improving your own craft.” At the same time, Heinecke called for more discourse among board game critics: “Anyone who wants to do real games journalism should know what their colleagues are saying and judging – and should also be allowed to exercise the intramedia control function that every media professional is entitled to to some extent.” In his keynote speech, Efka Bladukas, who runs the renowned English YouTube channel “No Pun Included”, added: “We have to become experts in board game criticism.” He advocated seeing the board game as a cultural asset – and in board game criticism also exploring where and how the game should be classified culturally.