Pick Up and Deliver

PU&D870: HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; The Big Book of Madness (revisited)Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried recently for the first time, and one game he revisited or expanded. Join us, won’t you? HeroQuest (1989) Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (2007) Apothebakery: The Culinary Alchemists (2025) Mysterium Park (2020) Mysterium (2015) The Big Book of Madness (2...

Brendan adds to his Great Designers series , talking about his experience with Stefan Feld games, and which ones he likes the best. Join us, won’t you? His four games I’ve played the most: The Castles of Burgundy (2019) Carpe Diem (2018) Trajan (2011) Bonfire (2020) Played multiple times, but not top tier Bruges (2013) Forum Trajanum (2018) AquaSphere (2014) La Isla (2014) What are your favorite S...

Brendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Night at the Zoo (2026) The Emerald Flame (2021) Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh (2018) (expansion) dnup (2025) What do you think about these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan explores his game plays in September and sets up his October plays. Join us, won’t you? September Top of the Stack New Game – Recall ✓ Top 50 game – Messina 1347 ✓ Another New Game – Outdoor Survival One More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun Shelf of Opportunity October Top of the Stack New Game – Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw & Write Top 50 game – Mosaic: A Story of Civilization Another new...

Brendan does a deep dive into one of his favorite games: Trickerion. Join us, won’t you? Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Tactical Worker Placement Dungeon Petz (2011) Very Tight Economy Agricola (2007) Interdependent Resources / Mechanisms On Mars (2020) Ark Nova (2021) Well-integrated Theme Obsession (2018) That “Just not quite enough” feeling Messina 1347 (2021) What do you think of this...

Brendan reflects on the games he dusted off in June, July, and August but didn’t have time to reflect upon. Join us, won’t you? Top 50 Dusted off Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Glory to Rome (2005) Orléans (2014) Classic bangers Carcassonne (2000) Root (2018) Splendor (2014) High Society (1995) Other Games I Played Antiquity Quest (2019) Cribbage (1630) Gin Rummy (1909) Skull (2011) Chicke...

Brendan talks a bit about what games people born under the zodiac sign Virgo might like best. Join us, won’t you? Previous Astrology Files episodes Allure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits” Farming and Wheat The Canadian Potato Museum Agricola (2007) Pick Up & Deliver 229: Duel – Agricola vs. Everdell Logical, Practical, and Systemic Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Tz...

Brendan gives his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you? The Game Makers  (2026) Fromage  (2024) Wanted Wombats  (2022) Wandering Towers  (2022) The Downfall of Pompeii  (2004) revisited What do you think of these games? Share your thoughts over on  Boardgamegeek in guild #3269 . Transcript:  PDF  or  TXT

Brendan shares his thoughts on the films he watched in May, June, and July of 2026. Join us, won’t you? The Sheep Detectives  (2026) Three Bags Full  by Leonie Swann Battle Sheep  (2010) Tipperary  (2023) Shear Panic  (2005) Swimming with Men  (2018) Castell  (2018) Raas: A Dance of Love  (2026) The Crash  (2026) Superman  (2026) Justice League: Hero Dice – Superman  (2015) Eurovision Song Contest...

Fresh off his episode about crowd pleasing beginner games, Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby’s mechanisms. Join us for this conclusion, won’t you? Introducing the Hobby  (episode 20) Introducing the Hobby, part 1 – Crowd Pleasers (episode 860) Forbidden Island  (2010) Hanabi  (2010) Kingdomino  (2016) Between Two Cities  (2015) Bärenpark  (2017) Lords of Waterdeep  ...

Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby. Join us for this first of two parts, won’t you? Introducing the Hobby  (episode 20) Wits & Wagers: It’s Vegas, Baby!  (2019) Qwixx  (2012) Las Vegas  (2026) Wavelength  (2019) Diamant  (2005) Skyjo  (2015) Time’s Up! Title Recall!  (2008) The Chameleon  (2017) What games would you add to the list of essential crowd pleasers? Sh...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Fit to Print  (2023) Tiny Towns  (2019) Galaxy Trucker  (2007) Destinies  (2021) Ticket to Ride: Europe  (2005) Hex Effects  (2025) Mantis  (2022) Unstable Unicorns  (2017) What games have you tried recently? Share your plays over on  boardgamegeek in guild #3269 . Transcript: Txt or Pdf

Brendan talks a bit about what games he played in August, and what games he wants to play in September. Join us, won’t you? August 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Night at the Zoo ✓ Top 50 game –  Messina 1347 X Another New Game –  Wandering Towers ✓ One More –  Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun X Shelf of Opportunity Expand yourShelf September 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Recall Top 50 game –  M...

Brendan revisits an old Themestorm, “Back to School,” and reflects on some ideas about it. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 259: Back to School (Board Game Sommelier) For the Love of Books Atheneum: Mystic Library  (2020) The Big Book of Madness  (2015) Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore The Library of the Unwritten Science and Learning Darwin’s Journey  (2023) Lovelace & Babbage  (2019...

Brendan shares an update on the pile of games he owns but hasn’t played yet. Join us, won’t you? My  Shelf of Opportunity Emptying The Dust Bin (reflections) Collecting to collect Fun themes Designer Pedigree Game Pedigree Only So Much Time for Crunchy Big Games that are hard to schedule 2 player games that are hard to schedule Games I got for free, cheap, or in trade Solos I haven’t solo’d yet So...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you? Everdell Emerland  (2026) Everdell  (2018) Darwin’s Journey  (2023) Thunder Road: Vendetta  (2023) (revisited) Tranquility  (2020) What do you think of these games? What games have you tried recently? Share your thoughts over on  boardgamegeek in guild #3269 .

Brendan talks about his favorite games from 1996-2000. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 827: Look Back at 2001-2004 Top 5 games from this era: Lost Cities  (1999) Ra  (1999) Through the Desert  (2017) Torres  (1999) Guillotine  (1998) Honorable Mentions: Carcassonne  (2000) Samurai  (1998) Bohnanza  (1997) Grandparent of modern games: of co-ops:  The Lord of the Rings  (2000) of asynch de...

Brendan talks a bit about teaching games, particularly the delightfully complex game Anachrony. Join us, won’t you? Teaching About Boardgames,  Part 1  and  Part 2 Help on how to introduce this to non boardgamer for a 2p game?  (boardgamegeek thread) Anachrony  (2017) Lords of Waterdeep  (2012) Worker Placement Worker Placement, Different Worker Types Contracts Turn Order: Claim Action Set Collect...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played for the first time at Gencon this year. Join us, won’t you? Trickarus  (2024) Hey Hey Relay  (2024) In a Nutshell  (2025) The Trial of the Forest  (2026) Magical Athlete  (2025) Got Five!  (2026) Cyberpunk Legends  (2026) What do you think of these games? Which do you find most interesting to try? Share your thoughts over on  boardgameg...

Brendan shares some highlights from GenCon 2026. Join us, won’t you? XYZ Game Labs Checking in with friends Azkadelia  ( All Play ) Kervin Queliza  ( For Why Games ) Flying Frog Productions Call of Cthluhu Tornado Warning at GenCon Meeting designers Ben Harkin ( Floodgate Games ) Dominic ( North Star Games ) Nick Little ( Indie Boards and Cards ) Gencon tips Book a few events, but don’t overschedu...

Brendan shares his game plays from July and his plans for August. Join us, won't you? Top of the Stack, July 2026 New Game -  Liberté Top 50 game -  Dungeon Petz ✓ I've been meaning to play this -  Fit to Print ✓ One More -  The Fox Experiment ✓ Shelf of Opportunity My Top 50 Top of the Stack, August 2026 New Game -  Night at the Zoo Top 50 game -  Messina 1347 Another New Game -  Wandering Towers...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played recently for the first time. Join us, won’t you? Bury Me in the Rift The Fox Experiment Regarding evolution: Lysenkoism Diplomacy: The Golden Blade Know Thy Enemy: Designing for Yomi in Games Sentinels of the Multiverse What games have you played for the first time recently? Share your plays over on  boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan continues his discussion of his boardgame class. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 847: Teaching About Boardgames, part 1 “Fail Faster” Playtesting for game design What do you think about this class? What should I add or remove? Join the conversation over on  Boardgamegeek in guild #3269 .

Brendan talks about his approach to teaching his class about Board Games and Community. (Well, he returns to this topic, really.) Join us, won’t you? Previous episodes about my teaching: Pick Up & Deliver 772: My Board Game Class (400 back) Pick Up & Deliver 366: My Board Game Class Games we play: Monikers  (2015) Beyond Balderdash  (1993) Point Salad  (2019) 7 Wonders  (2010) Carcassonne...

Brendan shares his thoughts about the books he read in April, May, and June of 2026. Join us, won’t you? Challenger The Kingdom of Gods Death of a Gentle Lady The Wind Through the Keyhole Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy The Wizard Hunters Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow System Collapse Platform Decay Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore Impostor The Hobbit, or There and Back Again The...