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

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

Ben and Paul talk about punctuality and game night: what do you do when you're running late?  When is it okay to run late?  What do we owe those who are late?  And what about showing up too early?  It's all about timing and game night.

Matt, Paul, Trey, Tom, Jordan, and Ben convene to discuss their top games of the year.  Plus, awards in categories such as "Best New To Me Game," "Biggest Disappointment," and "Best Expansion."We had a variety of audio issues in this episode; so apologies in advance for the not amazing sound quality. Drew Conley Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-drew-dcon-rebuild-after-eaton-fire-loss

Ben and Paul discuss their favorite gaming sessions of 2024. Then, in advance of  a future Game Brain top 10 episode (or something in that mold), Ben shares his favorite non-top 10 games of last year, specifically #25-#11.  This list will make some listeners angry, and Ben apologizes in advance.Please help our friend Drew recover from the devastating wild fires here in Los Angeles. Find his GoFundMe here:  https://gofund.me/bce5bc67  Every little bit helps.00:00:00 Intro00:09:46 Best gaming experiences of 202400:34:24  Ben's 2024 10x5 challenge00:38:19  Ben's top games of 2024: #25-#11

Welcome to Table Scraps, a new board game chat show here at Game Brain.  We'll be posting these eps from time to time, and if the tech gods are kind to us, there will even be a video component.Today Ben and Paul chat about the sort of games Anna Scott (not a real person), Barack Obama, and Erin Brockovitch would enjoy, and then they explore how to get someone like Jennifer Lawrence to play Catan. Because it could happen!

The new hotness has flooded the marketplace, and Ben and Jordan are here to make sense of it. Which new releases live up to the hype, exceed it, and fall short of it? We cover a lot of ground; so buckle up!00:00 Introduction11:22 Kraftwagen: Age of Engineering13:00 Stress Botics14:48 Unconscious Mind16:47 Landmarks18:08 Shackleton Base21:00 Gaia Project: The Lost Fleet25:44 Harmonies31:19 Age of Rail: South Africa40:51 The Yellow House45:07 Pariahs48:45 Asian Tigers52:08 Fromage58:47 Middle Ages1:03:41 Men-Nefer1:10:35 Red Dust Rebellion1:14:48 Saltfjord1:21:29 Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game1:27:14 Lord of the Rings Duel1:29:06 Endeavor Deep Sea1:36:02 SETI1:41:14 Civolution

Ben and Paul deep dive the new area control, tableau-building, moon-exploiting, corporation-pleasing game "Shackleton Base."  They also discuss new hotness Civolution as well as Fromage and Men-Nefer.  Ben also offers up some family game suggestions for the holidays - all while attempting labored "Wicked" puns.

Matt and Jordan return to the world of miniature wargaming to get you up to speed on all of their recent adventures. 

Ben, Trey, and Paul go deep on The Lost Fleet, a hot new expansion for Gaia Project.Plus, initial impressions from fresh Essen releases SETI, Asian Tigers, and Shackleton Base.0:00:00 Introduction0:09:45 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence0:30:15 Asian Tigers0:44:50 La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War0:46:15 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon1:03:05 Captain Flip1:03:35 The Gang1:18:15 Gadget Trick1:21:10 Gaia Project: The Lost Fleet2:13:20 Outro-  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com-  Game Brain Facebook Group-  Instagram

Join Matt and Jordan for the first episode of "Sprue'd Up!", an occasional Game Brain offshoot about two euro gamers taking their first steps into the world of miniature wargaming. Star Wars: ShatterpointWarhammer 40,000: Kill Team