Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast About Our Gaming Group

#211 Space Games!!

Ben and Jordan talk about recent plays of Inventions, Galactic Cruise, Twilight Imperium, Arcs, and Resist.  Plus, discussion about space games — what does the concept of space bring to a game, and what makes a game a SPACE GAME (as opposed to a game set in space). Notations to come.

#210: Finger Etiquette and Games

Ben and Paul talk about recent plays of Inventions, Terraforming Mars, and City of the Big Shoulders.  Then they do a deep dive about finger etiquette and games: why does it bother us, how do we address bad behavior, and what are the most common mistakes.  Shots will be fired.  Takes will be hot. 00:00 - Intro 02:33 - Inventions 14:47 - Western Empires / Mega Empires 23:25 - Terraforming Mars 29:37 - 1830 33:07 - City of the Big Shoulders 35:47 - Finger etiquette for board games

#209: Second Wind Games

Tom, Jordan, and Ben discuss games they had shrugged off but later came to love.  Plus, recent plays of Imperium Horizons, Legacies, and El Grande. 00:00 - Intro 00:06 - Legacies 26:11 - Avalon 29:14 - El Grande 34:14 - Franchise 39:31 - Second Wind Games 41:51 - Modern Art 46:26 - Imperium Horizons 54:37 - Dune Imperium: Uprising 01:02:22 - Android: Netrunner 01:08:42 - Black Angel 01:14:26 - A Feat for Odin 01:17:49 - Gold West 01:19:55 - Boonlake 01:22:06 - Great Western Trail: Argentina...

#208: Let's Go To Japan

Trey, Ben, and Dmitry review the 2024 release Let's Go To Japan. 0:00:00 Introduction Watch What Crappens wins Best Pop Culture Podcast The Traitors 0:08:48 Games on the Brain Baseball Highlights 2045 on Gamefound Star Wars: Unlimited Try online at Force Table Netrunner at Nullsignal.games Knarr Marrakesh Cuzco 00:51:30 Game Review: Let's Go to Japan Stationfall Santa Monica -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Instagram

#207: Exploring Root, Agonizing in Cuzco

Ben, Matt, and Paul sit down to talk about games they're going deep with (Root), and games that are brutalizing them (Cuzco).  And everything in between. 00:08:04 - Traitors & Avalon 00:14:10 - Root 00:39:34 - Franchise 00:50:36 - Netrunner 01:07:10 - Cuzco 01:25:00 - Dinosaur Gauge 01:29:49 - Legacies 01:36:52 - Lunar 01:38:00 - Tournament at Avalon, Mino Dice 01:40:00 - Boon Lake: Artifacts 01:43:45 - Shikoku 1889

#206 Thunder Road: Vendetta

Special guest Jennifer Schlickbernd joins Trey to review Thunder Road: Vendetta and discuss starter modes in boardgames. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:35 Recent Plays Merkator Arborea Pirates of Maricaibo 20 Strong kCaloria launches on Kickstarter 0:27:10 Game Review: Thunder Road: Vendetta Car Wars (1981) Thunder Road (1986) The White Castle (2023) 0:56:45 Discussion - Learning Modes in Games Evacuation ThinkerThemer's review Revive Voidfall -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  ...

#205: How to Choose a Game for Game Night

Ben and Paul discuss recent plays of Bloodstones, Bruxelles 1893, and Apiary. Then they try to figure out what's the best way for a group to select a game to play. Is it a democratic process?  A dictatorial one? Or maybe just a roll of the dice. 15:47 - Apiary 19:22 - Horseless Carriage 23:20 - Bruxelles 1893: The Belle Epoque 36:03 - Bloodstones 51:55 - How to choose a game?

The Best Boardgames of 2023!

Hosts Matt, Tom, Trey, and Ben unite for our list of the best boardgames of 2023! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:10 Contest Results Sol: Last Days of a Star 0:18:35 Game Brain's Top Boardgames of 2023 0:20:04 T16 Great Western Trail: New Zealand 0:25:20 T16 Inferno Guelphs and Ghibellines Vie for Tuscany, 1259-1261 0:27:30 T13 Bloodstones 0:29:00 T13 Scholars of the South Tigris 0:32:00 T13 Thunder Road: Vendetta 0:34:35 12 Apiary 0:37:10 11 Horseless Carriage 0:43:15 10 Rats of Wista...

#203 Dude, Where's My Keshi?

Ben and Paul catch up on the games they played over the 2023 holiday break.  Afterwards they reflect on their favorite play sessions and new-to-them games.  Strangely enough, they seem to gravitate towards their favorite meltdowns, which is a commentary on something, not sure what. Games discussed include Marrakesh, Dude, K2, Age of Steam, and Manhattan Project 2: Minutes to Midnight. Timestamps to come...

#202: Evacuation

Trey, Tom,  and Ben review Evacuation as we evacuate 2023. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:22 Recent Plays Agricola Forbidden Stars Bloodstones Manhattan Project 2: Minutes to Midnight Daybreak Enter the contest to win a copy of Sol:Last Days of a Star email us at [email protected] 0:51:10 Game Review: Evacuation The games of Vladimir Suchý -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#201: Kutna Hora: The City of Silver

Ben, Trey, and Jordan discuss the city-building, dynamic economy game Kutná Hora: The City of Silver.  Plus recent plays of Horseless Carriage, Nucleum, and more.

#200 Our 200th Episode Extravaganza!

Hosts Matt, Tom, Trey, and Ben unite for our 200th episode and revisit our favorite games from our time on the podcast. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:45 BGGCon Report Sol: Last Days of a Star Tabletop Network Daimyo: Battle for Japan Rats of Wistar Kutná Hora: The City of Silver Apiary Space BEES! Evacuation White Castle kCaloria 0:58:00 Other Plays Ur: 1830 BC Septima Evenfall 1:16:05 Our Favorite Games of the Podcast Ben #3 - Red Cathedral Matt #3 - Ark Nova Trey #3 - Imperi...

Solo Mode #8: Earthborne Rangers and the Co-Op LCG Renaissance

A new Solo Mode has arrived, just in time for Matt to take you down the rabbit hole of Earthborne Rangers and the current LCG renaissance. 

#199: Chatting with Ken Kuhn of GMT Games

Ben catches up with Ken Kuhn of GMT Games, who talks about his company, what's coming down the pipeline, and of course 18XX (and war games too!).  They also chat about recent plays of Sky Team, Evacuation, 535, Kutná Hora, The Plum Island Horror, Arborea, and 1880. Time codes to come!

#198: The White Castle

Tom and Trey review The White Castle, discuss what makes a game "elegant," and they each give their top 10 Elegant Games.  0:00:00 Introduction Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle BGGCon Tabletop Network Rats of Wistar 0:16:50 Quick Discussion of  Elegance The Gallerist Thunder Road: Vendetta 0:25:45 Game Review: The White Castle 0:56:30 Our Top 10 Elegant Games -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#197 First Look at Nucleum

Tom and Elder talk about their early play(s) of Nucleum, and other recent games of note. 

#196: Direct Aggression

Ben and Trey discuss direct aggression: how does it make them feel, when does it work, and how should it be managed.  Plus, discussions of Coffee Traders, Voodoo Prince, and Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:35 Games on the Brain Coffee Traders Here I Stand Voodoo Prince Great Western Trail New Zealand Lorenzo il Magnifico: The Pazzi Conspiracy Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem Thunder Road: Vendetta 0:48:00 Design Topic: Directed Aggression Terraforming Mars ...

#195: Voidfall Preview

Ben, Candice, and Jordan discuss some early initial impressions of Voidfall, the new game from Mindclash.  This is not a review - just some thoughts :)  Plus, some chat about recent plays and playtests! 00:02:27 - Trajan 00:10:57 - Age of Innovation & Gaia Project 00:15:06 - Skymines 00:20:48 - Great Western Trail NZ 00:27:11 - 18EUS 00:33:50 - Voidfall 01:19:45 - Here I Stand

#194 The Rich and The Good

Ben and Paul discuss recent plays of Oathsworn, Here I Stand, and Tortuga 1667.  Then we go deeper with the 2023 English release of The Rich and the Good (formerly Hab & Gut). 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:23 - Oathsworn 00:26:56 - Tortuga 1667 00:35:16 - Age of Innovation update 00:45:31 - Magnate: The First City 00:56:14 - Lorenzo il Magnifico: The Pazzi Conspiracy 01:05:06 - Here I Stand 01:17:58 - The Rich and the Good

#193 Great Western Trail: New Zealand

Tom and Trey talk about lots of newer plays, their Strategicon weekend, and review the new Great Western Trail game: New Zealand! 0:00:00 Introduction Strategicon Review Crisis MCDM RPG Ninja Star Games Reputation Anachrony Age of Innovation 0:27:00 Tom's Essen Preview Among Cultists The White Castle Evacuation Reworld Shipyard 2nd Ed. 0:40:30 Review: Great Western Trail New Zealand 1:21:05 First Thoughts - Ark Nova: Marine Worlds -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Bra...

#192 Aegean Sea

Tom, Matt, and Trey go on an epic journey to the Aegean Sea. 0:00:00 Introduction Dune Imperium 0:11:27 Voidfall 0:29:57 Review: Aegean Sea Innovation Glory to Rome -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#191 Matt's Back, and He's Excited

Matt Robinson is back from his summer travels, and he's psyched to discuss his first play of Great Western Trail New Zealand.  Ben follows up with revised thoughts about Skymines. Matt then previews Voidfall, and the two share their initial thoughts on Age of Innovation. Plus:  CoraQuest, Lowlands, and The Rich and the Good. Timestamps to come.

#190 Age of Innovation: A First Look

Trey, Tom, and Jordan take a first look at Age of Innovation. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:00 Games on the Brain The Crew 10 Days in the USA Dead Last The Barracks Emperors Savage Bowl Le Plateau Tichu (again!) Iocane Productions on Facebook Disney Lorcana Last Light Imperium: The Contention Reacting to the Past 0:51:05 First Impressions: The Age of Innovation Terra Mystica Gaia Project Terra Nova Clans of Caledonia -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Gro...

#189: Amsterdam

#188 Big Games, Bigger Feelings

Solo Mode #7: The Greatest Solo Mode I've Ever Played

#187 THE TRICK TAKING EPISODE

Matt, Jordan, and Dmitry are joined by our friend David to do a deep dive on trick-taking card games. 0:00:00 Introduction Intro to David 0:07:10 Defining terms and the genre Trick-takers Shedders and Climbers 0:13:00 Our history with card games Hearts Bullshit Bridge 0:21:45  The game that made us love card games Nokosu Dice Schadenfreude Cat In The Box The Crew Mü 0:41:30 Our top trick-takers Euchre Scout 9 Lives Durak  Bug Council of Backyardia TRICKTAKERs  Inside J...

#186 War of the Ring: The Card Game

Matt and Trey are joined by the newest member to our podcast, Jordan Sayyah, to review The War of the Ring: The Card Game 0:03:00 Intro to Jordan JSaysYeah on Discord 0:08:00  Games we played this week Age of Steam Nana Startups Inside Job 0:30:00 Review:  War of the Ring: The Card Game War of the Ring Quartermaster General Race for the Galaxy Roll for the Galaxy -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#185 Games On Our Brains, May 2023

Tom, Trey, and Ben talk about everything from the Spiel des Jahres, to gaming in Japan, to all their recent discoveries. Iki 1880: China  Bug Council of Backyardia Nokosu Dice Voodoo Prince Orleans: Trade & Intrigue Tortuga 1667  Findorff Future Review:  War of the Ring: The Card Game -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#185 Games On Our Brains

#184 Wayfarers of the South Tigris

Trey and Elder review Wayfarers of the South Tigris. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:13 Games on the Brain Galactic Starcuiser closes Woodcraft Genotype  0:20:45 Review: Wayfarers of the South Tigris Scholars of the South Tigris -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#183 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory

Tom and Ben talk about our recent Golden Geek Nomination and deconstruct the special sauce that makes Hegemony so great!

#182 Tragedy Looper

Tom, Ben, and Trey circle back to the review the new edition of Tragedy Looper. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:04:00 Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition 0:12:10 Hegemony The Cost 0:38:00 Great Western Trail: Agentina 0:49:20 Fast Sloths 0:59:05 Foundations of Rome Ra 1:09:10 Tragedy Looper: New Tragedies BGG First Edition Whiz Kids Pre-order -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Twitter -  Instagram

#181: Games Vs. Puzzles

Tom, Ben, and Dmitry discuss game night drama, whether or not they'll ever receive Hegemony, and the difference between games and puzzles.

#180: Our TOP Board Games of 2022!

Tom, Matt, Trey and Ben gather to reveal their Top 5 Games of 2022! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:40 Games we played this week Red Cathedral Stationfall Barrage: The Nile Affair Boonlake Black Angel 0:32:20 Top Games of 2022 Lacrimosa Deal with the Devil Guards of Atlantis II Ready Set Bet 56:30 Weather Machine Mosaic: A Story of Civilization Autobahn 1:22:30 Blood on the Clocktower Ben's #1: Carnegie Trey's #1: The Transcontinental Tom's #1: Tiletum Matt's #1: John Company, ...

#179 The Red Cathedral + Contractors

Ben, Trey, Elder, and Paul discuss the 2020 game The Red Cathedral and its 2022 expansion The Red Cathedral: Contractors. 00:02:40 - Ramen Fury 00:07:01 - Scholars of the South Tigris 00:13:30 - Hegemony 00:19:27 - Tzolkin 00:20:26 - Robotech Reconstruction 00:38:23 - Woodcraft 00:43:40 - Imperial Steam 00:59:34 - Red Cathedral + Contractors

#178 A First Look At Stationfall

#177 The Blanket Episode

Ben lost power in the great LA blizzard of 2023, but just because his house was dark didn't mean the podcast had to be.  And so Ben and Paul bravely wrapped themselves in blankets and churned out an episode in a heatless house,  sharing their gaming stories of the past two weeks:  Mosaic, Deal with the Devil, Crisis, Red Cathedral and several others. Time codes: Mosaic:  05:54 Santiago 18:14 Wiz War:  25:53 Glory to Rome, Import/Export: 31:35 Deal with the Devil: 34:38 Tragedy Looper:...

#176: Mosaic A Story of Civilization

Ben, Tom, and Trey deep dive Mosaic: A Story of Civilization and discuss what makes a civ game... a civ game?  Plus, recent plays of Dune and Cosmic Frog.

#175 Horseless Carriage First Impressions

Trey gets it in gear with Tom and Dmitry and their first impressions of Splotter's Horseless Carriage.  0:00:00 Introduction 0:06:45 Traitors Talk 0:21:10 Games on the Brain Dmitry's 5x5 List: Tichu, Barrage, Indonesia, Panamax, Autobahn Mosaic Western Empires Through the Ages Nations  Trey's 5x5 List: Mosaic, Autobahn, Imperial Steam, On Mars, Horseless Carriage Trickerion 0:45:20 Endurance 0:46:45 Tragedy Looper 0:47:50 WizWar Kickstarter 0:55:10 Heat: Pedal to the Metal 0:5...

#174 The Joy of Splotter

Talking about our favorite Splotter games in anticipation of "Horseless Carriage."  Plus, The Traitors, which blends social deduction party games with reality TV.

#173 Lords of Vegas

Ben and Paul talk about Lords of Vegas as well as fairness and games and the new reality series "The Traitors." 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:55 - The Traitors 00:17:47 - Fairness + Winning Discussion 00:47:41 - Vast: The Mysterious Manor 00:53:56 - Weather Machine  01:01:19 - 18Mag 01:11:41 - Mind MGMT 01:15:44 - Lords of Vegas

#172 Back from Break!

We're back from a busy holiday season, and we have games to talk about:  Woodcraft, Imperial Steam, Wayfarers of the South Tigris, and Matt's first ever game of Twilight Imperium!

#171: Tiletum

Tom, Candice, and Ben talk about Tiletum.  Plus, Candice tells us all about the games she played and people she met from five back-to-back conventions!

#170: Autobahn

Ben, Trey, and Dmitry discuss the 2022 game, Autobahn.  Plus, recent plays of Deal with the Devil, Lacrimosa, and Atiwa.  Plus, they discuss a recent piece in the New York Times about strategy games.

Solo Mode #6: The State of Solo Modes in 2022

Matt discusses the state of the solo mode in 2022 by looking at the solo modes from this season's top Essen games. 

Bats and Turkeys

Ben, Tom, and Paul chat about recent plays of Atiwa, Tiletum, Fracis Drake, and Maria.  Plus, recommendations for good games to play at Thanksgiving.

Revive

All four hosts are here this week to talk about a whole mess of hot Essen releases, as well as a deep dive on one of the season's biggest games, Revive.  00:05:30 Ready Set Bet 00:10:30 Oak 00:19:50 Autobahn 00:30:30 Tiletum 00:57:30 Revive

#166: Games, Games, Games

00:00:00 Introduction 00:09:15 Maricaibo: The Uprising Francis Drake 00:23:00 Let's Go! To Japan Note: Josh Wood is NOT the designer of Isle of Cats - that's Frank West Josh Wood's best known games are Cat Lady and Santa Monica 00:32:30 Ready, Set, Bet 00:45:45 Autobahn 01:01:45 Oak 01:08:50 Revive 01:15:40 Federation 01:35:15 Discussion: Narrative and the move toward Baroque design 02:03:10 Thank you and outro

#165: Space Station Phoenix

Tom, Paul, and Elder talk about recent plays of "Food Chain Magnate" and "Space Station Phoenix" and then games they would play for the rest of their lives.  Plus, Tom has more news from Essen.