Pick Up and Deliver

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 Store Bargain Quest  (2017) Epic Resort  (2014) Music is Life GWAR vs. Time!  (2020) Vinyl  (2019) Rock Hard: 1977  (2024) What Life Will You Lead? The Pursuit of Happiness  (2015) Funny Friends  (2005) Cult Classics A Study in Emerald  (2013...

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...

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...

Brendan shares his thoughts on the games he played this month. Join us, won’t you? March 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Hansa Teutonica Top 50 game –  Lost Ruins of Arnak Old Game New to Collection –  Root One More –  Core Worlds Shelf of Opportunity Expand yourShelf April 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Light Speed Arena Top 50 game –  Lost Ruins of Arnak Old Game New to Collection –  Root O...

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. 1 Victoriana  (2019) The Player of Games (Culture, #2) Civilization  (1980) Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster Daybreak  (2023) Mister Magic I Was a Teenage Slasher Last Friday  (2016) Victorian Psy...

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 Z Costa Rica  (2016) Incan Gold  (aka Diamant) (2005) Forbidden Island  (2010) Forbidden Desert  (2013) Forbidden Jungle  (2023) Lost...

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 Future Carl’s Doomsday Scenario Shards of Honour The Titanic and the Californian The Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End of the World Hardcase Fishflies Of Monsters and Mainframes What 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) revisited What 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)...

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 discussion Paranoia The 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 Bi...

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 Games Amabel Holland The Hobbit: There and Back Again  (2025) The Hobbit film by Ralph Bakshi Strike  (2012) (revisited) Board Game Blitz Rolling Dice and Taking Names What games have you been playing l...

Brendan shares his experience playing games in February of 2026. Join us, won’t you? February 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Dive ✓ Top 50 game –  Brian Boru ✓ Dusty New Game –  Hansa Teutonica X One More –  Core Worlds X Shelf of Opportunity March 2026 Top of the Stack New Game –  Hansa Teutonica Top 50 game –  Lost Ruins of Arnak Old Game New to Collection –  Root One More –  Core Worlds What...

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 1 Part 3 December –  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 – ...

Brendan shares his favorite 2024 games, and some superlatives. Join us, won’t you? Top 5 Games of 2024 Unconscious Mind (2024) Kinfire Delve Resafa (2024) Wondrous Creatures (2024) The Gang (2024) Best weird game: Arcs (2024) Best adaptation: Slay the Spire: The Board Game (2024), Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game (2024) Best fun theme: Fromage (2024), Undergrove (2024) Best Little Snack: 3 Chapters...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Take Time  (2025) Moa  (2018) 1902 Méliès  (2023) Space Base  (2018) (revisited) Do you enjoy these games? What games have you been playing lately? Share your game plays over on  boardgamegeek in guild #3269 .

Brendan shares his game plays from January, and talks about his plans for February. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, January 2026 New Game –  La Patisserie Rococo Top 50 game –  Praga Caput Regni Dusty New Game –  Duel or Deal One More –  The Hobbit: There and Back Again Shelf of Opportunity Expand yourShelf Top of the Stack, February 2026 New Game –  Dive Top 50 game –  Brian Boru Dusty New...

Brendan reflects on Season 8 and his plans. Join us, won’t you? More intentional game design Plan more games Struggle of Empires  (2004) Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition  (2017) Campaign games with my family Painting things! Top 5 anticipated games Galactic Cruise  (2025) Luthier  (2025) Hot Streak  (2025) Recall  (2025) Epona  (2025) Ep 700: Season 7 Finale What were your favorite episodes of th...

Brendan talks about his game plays in December of 2025, and his plans for 2026. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, December 2025 NEW GAME –  1902 Méliès (2023) Dusty New game –  The Cattlemen Dusty New game –  Moa Dusty New game –  Five Points: Gangs of New York Shelf of Opportunity Expand yourShelf Top of the Stack, January 2026 New Game –  La Patisserie Rococo Top 50 game –  Praga Caput Regni...

Brendan continues his hellride through games he tried this year 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 1 July –  Tacta –  Skull King   –  Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship –  The Great Zimbabwe –  The Game –  Qwirkle Flex August –  Oh Hell! –  First-class Letters –  Apollo XIII –  Indiana Jones Cryptic –  G...

Brendan blasts through games he tried this year 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 1July Tacta Skull King   Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship The Great Zimbabwe The Game Qwirkle Flex August Oh Hell! First-class Letters Apollo XIII Indiana Jones Cryptic Go Nuts for Donuts Join us soon for parts 2 and thr...

Brendan talks about three games he tried recently for the first time, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Fromage  (2024) Cities  (2024) Machi Koro  (2012) revisited The Scarlet Pimpernel  (2019) Flip the Table: Transformers What have you been playing recently? Join the discussion over on  boardgamegeek in guild #3269 .

Brendan reflects on the second half of the spooky movies he watched during the spooky season of 2025. Join us, won’t you? (See also:  Part 1 ) PG: Psycho Goreman  (2020) When a Stranger Calls  (1979) A Cure for Wellness  (2016) Evil Dead Rise  (2023) The Babysitter  (2017) The Mortuary Collection  (2019) Death Becomes Her  (1992) Sissy  (2022) House of the Long Shadows  (1983) Rubber  (2010) Ernes...

Brendan reflects on half of the spooky movies he watched during the spooky season of 2025. Join us, won’t you? 28 Years Later Pet Sematary Final Destination Bloodlines Smile 2 It’s What’s Inside The Ritual Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project Frankenstein General Hospital Wolf Man Last Shift The Hallow Beetlejuice Beetlejuice This Is the End Freaks of Nature Have you seen any of thes...