Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast About Our Gaming Group

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...

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...

Ben, Trey, and special guest Chris dive deep with the rotating space hotness SETI.  Plus, talk about a marathon session of 1817. 00:00 Intro 12:10 1817 25:09 Railways of the Lost Atlas 30:50 Whistle Mountain 33:04 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...

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-...

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 GoFun...

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 C...

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 Introduction 11:22 Kraftwagen: Age of Engineering 13:00 Stress Botics 14:48 Unconscious Mind 16:47 Landmarks 18:08 Shackleton Base 21:00 Gaia Project: The Lost Fleet 25:44 Harmonies 31:19...

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 Introduction 0:09:45 SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 0:30:15 Asian Tigers 0:44:50 La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War 0:46:15 Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon 1:03:05 Captain Flip 1:03:35 The Gang...

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: Shatterpoint Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team

Ben, Trey, and Paul explore the importance of enthusiasm at the game table.  Plus, recent plays of KCaloria, Zoo Tycoon, and Trey's first ever game of Twilight Imperium 4th Ed.... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:04:27 kCaloria First Impressions We All Take From the River 0:16:20 Zoo Tycoon First Impressions 0:38:50 Further Twilight Imperium 4th Ed. discussion  3 of a Kind 1:22:35 Episode Topic: Enthus...

Matt, Jordan, and Trey track the rise and fall of Jordan's relationship with Paul. We also review Rise and Fall! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:03:50 True Confessions: Mini Painting CoraQuest Heroscape Warhammer: Kill Team Star Wars: Shatterpoint 0:14:05 Matt's Essen Most Wanted Asian Tigers Civolution Black Forest Joyride Andromeda's Edge Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon Saltfjord Ph...

Ben, Tom, and Paul do a deep dive on the midweight, gear-turning Euro Windmill Valley.  Plus, early impressions of Rise & Fall, some hot takes on Distilled, and flop sessions of Lost Atlas and Things in Rings. 00:00 - Intro 09:19 - Distilled 23:08 - Rise & Fall 44:03 - Railways of the Lost Atlas 56:16 - 18RoyalGorge 58:59 - Kutna Hora 01:01:42 - Things in Rings 01:05:55 - Windmill Valley

Ben and Paul talk about recent plays of Windmill Valley, Blades in the Dark, and Fields of Arle.  Plus, a gaming weekend in Palm Springs leads to hot takes on Things in Rings, Wilmot's Warehouse, Hollywood 1947, Forrest Shuffle, and Plantagenet, among others.  Oh, and Covid too, but that's a minor wrinkle. 00:07:31 - Windmill Valley 00:21:36 - Fields of Arle 00:29:56 - Blades in the Dark...

Ben, Trey, and Paul deep dive the new 18xx innovator "Railways of the Lost Atlas." Also, the three discuss recent plays of "Terraforming Mars: Prelude 2,” "Pampero,” and “Twilight Imperium, 4th Edition.” 0:00:00 Introduction 0:04:08 Terraforming Mars: Prelude 2 0:16:12 Twilight Imperium 4th Ed 0:36:50 Pampero 0:53:05 Concordia: Balearica 1:01:00 Age of Innovation 1:11:45 Game R...

Matt and Jordan are joined by friend-of-the-pod Drew Conley to review inarguably the biggest board game release thus far of 2024: ARCS by Cole Wehrle and Leder Games.  0:00:00 Introduction Cascadero Slay the Spire 0:28:30 Game Review: Arcs Wehrlegig Games Find Drew at https://www.drewconleycomposer.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@theboardgamecomposer Find more Jordan at https://www.youtube.com/@...

Ben, Trey, and Paul talk about catching the game wave.  What happens when you ride it, what happens when you miss it, and what happens when you try to start your own.  Plus, plays of Arcs, 1930: The Golden Age of Airlines, and Nucleum: Australia.

Tom, Trey, and Elder review El Burro.  0:00:00 Introduction Jenny Nicholson's video Star Wars Unlimited Expansion Shadows of the Galaxy Guards of Atlantis II Blood on the Clocktower  Concordia 0:31:50 Game Review: El Burro: A La Granja Game Planta Nubo La Granja Agra Cooper Island Troyes -  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com -  Game Brain Facebook Group -  Instagram

Ben and Trey go deep into  Salton Sea  and also share initial impressions of Pax Penning and El Burro.  Plus, the two revisit Heaven & Ale and chat about what they want out of a game store.

Ben and Paul chat about some recent plays, including Salton Sea, and then Ben shamelessly attempts to communicate to Queen Games about his missing Marrakesh expansion.  Afterwards, the two explore the importance of enthusiasm at a game table and the dangers of becoming the dreaded FUN SPONGE.

The 2024 Golden Geek Award nominations have just been revealed, and we're  choosing faves, making endorsements, and offering sweeping predictions on which games will win.  Oh and by the way, thanks to everyone who voted and nabbed us a nom! Don't worry, we're focused on the games, not shameless self-promotion (well, maybe just a little self-promotion). Plus, Ben, Jordan, and Paul ta...