Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast With Matthew Robinson And His Gaming Group

Ben, Trey, and Paul review the 2024 narrative-driven game "Tales of the Arthurian Knights."  Paul says it's not even a game. Could it possibly be good? (yes)  Also recent plays of "March of the Ants," "Indonesia 3rd Edition," and "Secret Hitler."00:00 - Intro11:08 - March of the Ants, Evolved Edition27:37 - Indonesia, 3rd Edition41:39 - 18Chesapeake43:32 - Secret Hitler1:04:44 - Tales of the Arthurian Knights review

Ben, Trey, and Jordan discuss the new action selection minigame speculation bonanza Ayar: Children of the Sun.  Plus discussion of Agent Avenue, Twilight Imperium Thunder's Edge, Silos, and A Place for All My Books.00:00 - Intro / Traitors9:20 - Silos18:46 - Agent Avenue31:36 - Pacts35:36 - A Place for All My Books44:11 - Twilight Imperium Thunder's Edge57:49 - Ayar: Children of the Sun review

Matt and Jordan review Old King's Crown, the impressive lane battling asymmetric card flipping game from first time designer Pablo Clark. 

Ben and Paul are here to save your holiday season! Need a game to buy for that special someone?  Or even that UNspecial someone? We have some ideas for you. Plus, some strategies for how to teach games to the most stubborn, unfocused, and downright difficult people of all time: your family.00:00 - Intro04:00 - Recent Plays04:12 - Food Chain Magnate17:17 - Ito22:36 - Ayar, Shinjuku, and Tag Team26:36 - The Game Brain Holiday Gifting Extravaganza!!28:36 - Games for Monopoly lovers34:17 - Games for Scrabble lovers (or Codenames or Scattergories)42:18 - Games if you don't know someone's tastes46:53 - Games you can play with someone right away48:52 - Games to inch someone towards the hobby52:22 - Party games!53:21 - Stocking stuffers55:16 - How to teach games to your family

Matty introduces you to the neat world of Kingdom Death on your compooter.Watch the pod on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q3Bf7JYMhJQCheck the game out here: https://shop.kingdomdeath.com/

Matt, Ben, Trey, Tom and Jordan travel to Dallas, Texas for BGG.CON 2025 and don't see the sun for four entire days. Many games were played, all were enjoyed. Well, almost all. 

Ben, Trey, and Paul review the new Vital Lacerda board game Speakeasy.Plus, recent plays of The Old King's Crown and Night Soil.00:00 - Intro03:55 - The Old King's Crown11:16 - Night Soil18:40 - 18Cuba19:20 - Speakeasy

It's been two years since the last Solo Mode! How did that happen? Who cares! Stop harping on it. Let's move past it with love and kindness. Anyhoo here are the 10 Best solo modes I've played since the last Solo Mode Episode. Which was two years ago. We know, Jesus, get over it.

Matt, Trey and Jordan take a look at Matt Leacock's Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, discuss multiplayer co-ops and dive into this year's Essen crop. You can also watch this whole episode live on our Youtube channel!https://youtu.be/IbkiM4ZLdNg

Ben and Paul do a deep dive review on the cozy, classic-feeling worker placement game Oranges & Lemons.  Plus, recent plays of Cargo Empire, Spicy, Fromage, Kites, Ito, and Guards of Atlantis II.00:00 Intro04:08 Kites09:35 Cargo Empire15:49 Guards of Atlantis II28:02 Spicy34:56 Fromage39:50 Ito48:19 Review game - Oranges & Lemons

Ben and Jordan check in on some recent game sessions - some short, some long, and some VERY long.  Ben has some things to say about hot new games Lightning Train and Shinjuku.  Jordan then shares some impressions about 1817 and Defense of Procyon III.  Plus, an epic breakdown of another epic Twilight Imperium session, and we wrap things up with the game that maybe made us happiest: Hot Streak.Be sure to follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/gamebrainpod00:00 Intro02:50 Lightning Train25:51 181738:07 Shinjuku49:10 Defense of Procyon III59:11 Twilight Imperium IV w/Prophecy of Kings01:31:08 Hot Streak

Ben and Paul talk about recent plays of Eclipse, Scape Goat, and 23 Knives. Plus, the two explore the question: what happens if game night becomes stale? 00:00 Intro04:50 Eclipse13:56 Land & Freedom17:28 Scape Goat32:39 Man-Eating House38:31 Gadget Trick42:15 Age of Innovation44:10 Ito47:08 23 Knives59:42 Dune / Discussion topic: how to revitalize game night

Matt is back on the pod for a very big rundown of some noteworthy game sessions: some amazing, others not so much.  Matt, Jordan, and Ben are going around the horn with a chunky board game roundup.00:00 Intro03:12 Daggerheart18:01 Fiasco21:08 Transgalactica30:03 Corps of Discovery / Manifest Destiny36:55 Oranges & Lemons45:27 Toy Battle52:56 Nusfjord01:01:10 Dune Imperium Uprising01:10:31 Innovation01:13:14 Courtisans01:14:27 Isle of Skye Big Box

Ben, Paul, and Trey discuss first impressions of two big games: Moon Colony Bloodbath and Endeavor Deep Sea. Somehow, we all got mad at each other in each game. Fun!We also chat about recent game plays of Dune Imperium and Wavelength, and extra bonus: the return of Games on the Brain!00:00 Intro00:57 Game Rooms08:05 Dune Imperium21:44 Wavelength33:49 Ito41:37 Landmarks of the Lost Atlas51:40 Oranges & Lemons53:00 Barcelona: The Rose of Fire54:06 Cargo Empire01:03:11 Moon Colony Bloodbath01:34:51 Endeavor Deep Sea

Ben, Paul, and Jordan go deep on the color-coded agony machine that is Asian Tigers.  Plus, chatter about Ito, We All Take From the River, and Elder Scrolls.00:00 Intro05:21 Elder Scrolls12:59 Ito33:13 Rail on the Hill38:19 Founders of Gloomhaven41:55 Mr. Pai Pai44:17 Gibberers53:06 We All Take From The River01:05:53 Guards of Atlantis, Land and Freedom updates01:07:33 Asian Tigers review

Ben, Trey, and Jordan review the 2025 space tourism game Galactic Cruise.  Plus initial impressions of Molly House, Gibberers, and Land and Freedom.  Jordan also gives an update on 5 v 5 Guards of Atlantis, and Trey has fresh thoughts on Dune Imperium, Keyflower, and Avalon.

Stefan Feld's epic kitchen sink game Civolution was one of the biggest releases of 2024. With an hour teach, a million mechanics, and a wild theme, does this beast crumble under its own weight or triumph in maximalist glory?  Ben, Paul, and Jordan discuss.Plus, the three weigh in on the March Meepleness Bracket and share thoughts on recent plays of Guards of Atlantis II, Galactic Cruise, and Eternal Decks.00:00 Introduction02:01 March Meepleness analysis30:50 Guards of Atlantis II37:00 Galactic Cruise40:18 Eternal Decks47:02 Shatterpoint50:29 Civolution Review

It's two episodes for the price of one.  Come join for a double header of Table Scraps.  First, Ben and Paul talk about what pity cards you can and can't play at game night:  the "bad day" card, the "I've been out of town" card, and so many more.Then we get down to the real pressing questions: if games were sushi, what sushi would they be?  Be sure to subscribe to Table Scraps on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@table-scraps00:00 Intro01:29 Playing the Pity Card: When Guilt Almost Wins—But Not Quite42:36 If board games were sushi, what sushi would they be?

Ben, Trey, and special guest Chris dive deep with the rotating space hotness SETI.  Plus, talk about a marathon session of 1817.00:00 Intro12:10 181725:09 Railways of the Lost Atlas30:50 Whistle Mountain33:04 SETI

In this episode of Game Brain, Ben and Paul dive deep into the ancient world with a full review of Men-Nefer, exploring its mechanics, strategy, and whether it’s an  classic Egyptian Euro (oxymoron?) in the making. But that’s not all—we also break down Mind MGMT, Serenissima, and DroPolter, dissecting the mind games, economic battles, and dexterity highjinks within these standout titles. Plus, we check in on The Traitors on Peacock—what does this season tell us about our gaming hobby?02:00 - Guards of Atlantis II03:32 - Galactic Cruise07:20 - Stroganov12:29 - Mind MGMT20:29 - Traitors31:56  - Serenissima42:40 - Landmarks44:42 - DroPolter49:43 - We Need To Talk51:28 - Hooky56:59 - Men-Nefer Review