Pick Up And Deliver

Brendan shares a bit about how jargon and game design interact, and what they do for people outside the hobby. Join us, won’t you?WHAT IS THIS KIND OF GAME CALLED? (BGG thread)What experiences have you had with board game jargon? Is it useful? Frustrating? Gate-keepery? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. We’d love to have you there!

Brendan shares his first impression of three different games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you?Wilmot’s Warehouse (2024)Istanbul: The Dice Game (2017)Hanabi (2010) (revisited)Trekking the World (2020)What new games have you played lately? What do you think of the games featured in this episode? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares some of his favorite things about Boardgamegeek. Join us, won’t you?Ongoing contests or activitiesNAME….THAT….GAAAAYME!!!Out of the DustReally detailed discussions of rules questionsSanctuary – Gain a tile from the pile and use it for open space.Fan-made contentLoop inc – Solo Rules plus Additional Stretch Goal Rules, fancy formattingRecommendations forumThe Boardgamegeek DatabaseModerationGeek Citizenship RecognitionWhat do you like about Boardgamegeek? What would you change to make it better? Share your thoughts over on …. boardgamegeek in our forums, guild #3269.

Brendan talks about how five ways story and games interact. Join us, won’t you?A set narrativeSherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases (1981)Chronicles of Crime (2018)Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game (2018)A selection of narrative elementsBetrayal at House on the Hill (2004)A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game (2008)Player-generated narrativeWilmot’s Warehouse (2024)MicroscopeMechanical narrative momentsRisk (1959)Hot Streak (2025)Ready Set Bet (2022)A Study in Emerald (2013)Narrative purpose embedded in rulesDungeon Petz (2011)Anachrony (2017)What ways do you appreciate how story and narrative blend together? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

PU&D 819: Epona, Marshmallow Test, Finspan, Gizmos (revisited)Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried for the first time recently, and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you?Epona (2025)Marshmallow Test (2020)Finspan (2025)Gizmos (2018)Have you played any of these games? What games have you tried lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in Guild #3269.

Brendan shares some thoughts about the themes and ideas in the cult classic teen comedy, Empire Records. Join us, won’t you?Empire Records (1995)Running a StoreBargain Quest (2017)Epic Resort (2014)Music is LifeGWAR vs. Time! (2020)Vinyl (2019)Rock Hard: 1977 (2024)What Life Will You Lead?The Pursuit of Happiness (2015)Funny Friends (2005)Cult ClassicsA Study in Emerald (2013)Cosmic Frog (2020)Glory to Rome (2005)Needle DropsWhat’s He Building in There? (2013)“What’s He Building?”Come Together (2022)“Come Together”Do you celebrate Rex Manning day? What other movies do you think about once a year? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares some quick observations about the games that went out and came in at the Chicago Area No Ship Math Trade last weekend. Join us, won’t you?Games I got rid of:Rolling Realms (2021)Android: Infiltration (2012)BEEEEES! (2017)Sky Team (2023)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)Furnace (2020)Leaf (2023)Great Western Trail: Second Edition (2021)It’s a Wonderful World (2019)La Pâtisserie Rococo (2026)Tenpenny Parks (2022)Scape Goat (2020)The Final Flicktier (2019)Lord of the Rings: The Duel (2002)Clue Conspiracy (2023)Games I acquired:Horrified: Greek Monsters (2023)Bury Me in the Rift (2019)Horseless Carriage (2023)Istanbul: The Dice Game (2017)Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper (1998)Faiyum (2020)Tranquility (2020)Gnome Hollow (2024)Teotihuacan: City of Gods (2018)Seasons (2012)Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game (2015)Reign of Dragoness (2022)HerStory (2022)Starship Captains (2022)Valka (2024)What games would you put into a big trade event? Share your choices over on boardgamege

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played recently. Join us, won’t you?Hansa Teutonica (2009)Kanban EV (2020)Vinhos: Deluxe Edition (2016)Escape Plan (2019)Hot Streak (2025)Ready Set Bet (2022)Via Nebula (2016) (revisited)What do you think of these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan shares his thoughts on the games he played this month. Join us, won’t you?March 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Hansa TeutonicaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsShelf of OpportunityExpand yourShelfApril 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Light Speed ArenaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsWhat games did you play this month? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek Guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts about books he read in October, November, and December of 2025. Join us, won’t you?The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1Victoriana (2019)The Player of Games (Culture, #2)Civilization (1980)Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear DisasterDaybreak (2023)Mister MagicI Was a Teenage SlasherLast Friday (2016)Victorian PsychoCarpathiansToo Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota, #1)Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund FitzgeraldEmpire of Silence (The Sun Eater, #1)We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse, #1)The Lost VillageFriend of the DevilHow to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy StepsDeath Comes at ChristmasThe Titanic Story: Hard Choices, Dangerous DecisionsWhat did you read in the last part of 2025? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares some games that fit in the theme of “Adventuring in the Jungle.” Join us, won’t you?The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac (2009)The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus (2011)The Quest for El Dorado (2017)The Lost Expedition (2017)The Lost City of ZCosta Rica (2016)Incan Gold (aka Diamant) (2005)Forbidden Island (2010)Forbidden Desert (2013)Forbidden Jungle (2023)Lost Ruins of Arnak (2020)What games about adventuring and/in the jungle do you like? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Dive (2021)Civilization (1980)The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire (2017)SET (1988)What games have you been playing lately? Share your plays over on Boardgamegeek in Guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan shares his feedback on some of the books he read in August, September, and October of 2025. Join us, won’t you?The FutureCarl’s Doomsday ScenarioShards of HonourThe Titanic and the CalifornianThe Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End of the WorldHardcaseFishfliesOf Monsters and MainframesWhat books did you read last year? Share them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently, and one game he revisited. Join us, won’t you?Bonsai (2023)Crystallo (2018)Rise of Augustus (2013)Take 5! (1998) revisitedWhat games have you been playing? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan contemplates a series of game duels to compare Reiner Knizia games. Join us, won’t you?Comparative Duels:Ra (1999) vs High Society (1995)Schotten Totten (1999) vs Lost Cities (1999)Tigris & Euphrates (1997) vs Through the Desert (2017)My City (2020) vs Carcassonne: The Castle (2003)Samurai (1998) vs Ingenious (2004)Beowulf: The Legend (2005)Whale Riders (2021)Indigo (aka Butterfly Garden) (2012)Knizia Games I’ve played but didn’t mention on the show:The Quest for El Dorado (2017)The Lord of the Rings (2000)Whoowasit? (2007)Amun-Re: 20th Anniversary Edition (2023)The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (2005)Lost Cities: The Board Game (2008)Stephenson’s Rocket (1999)Equinox (2021)The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2025)What Knizia games do you enjoy? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and share the experience of revisiting one dusty game. Join us, won’t you?Carnival of Monsters (2019)Splendor Duel (2022)Lord of the Rings: The Duel (2002)Mystic Vale (2016) (revisited)Have you played any of these games? What do you think of them? Share your experiences over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about the movies he watched in the last six months that weren’t horror movies or Christmas movies. Join us, won’t you?Mickey 17 (2025)Mickey 7 discussionParanoiaThe Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)Rear Window (2022)John Candy: I Like Me (2025)Margin Call (2011)Ponzi Scheme (2015)Spotlight (2015)Watergate (2019)The Life of Chuck (2024)Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr (2018)Labyrinth (1986)Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Board Game (2016)Notting Hill (1999), Sleepless in Seattle (1993)Fog of Love (2017)Rental Family (2025)Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall (2020)The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop (2024)An Honest Liar (2014)What films did you watch in the last six months? Share your views over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently for the first time. Join us, won’t you?La Pâtisserie Rococo (2026)Rococo (2013)Endurance (2023)So Very Wrong About Board GamesAmabel HollandThe Hobbit: There and Back Again (2025)The Hobbit film by Ralph BakshiStrike (2012) (revisited)Board Game BlitzRolling Dice and Taking NamesWhat games have you been playing lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in Guild #3269.

Brendan shares his experience playing games in February of 2026. Join us, won’t you?February 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Dive✓Top 50 game – Brian Boru✓Dusty New Game – Hansa TeutonicaXOne More – Core WorldsXShelf of OpportunityMarch 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Hansa TeutonicaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsWhat did you play in February? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan finishes stampeding through games he tried in 2025 but hasn’t talked about on the podcast, yet. Join us for this first of three episodes to wrap up the year, won’t you?Part 1Part 3December– Xiangqi– 7 Wonders Dice– Landmarks– Slay the Spire– ito– The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – The Trick-taking Game– Speakeasy– Rolling America– Power Hungry Pets– Joe Name It– Cross Clues– Wandering Galaxy– Sanctuary– Cafe Baras– I DissentHave you played any of these? Share your thoughts on them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?