Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast About Our Gaming Group
Society & Culture
About
A podcast about Board Games and friendship, and a real life board game group! Join us every week for an in-depth look at the board gaming hobby, including board game news, reviews and much, much more.
Episodes
- #257 Sorcery: Contested Realm
Matt and Jordan are joined by David and Corluka to discuss the indie TCG, Sorcery: Contested Realm. Is it the greatest thing to happen to TCG's since early MTG? Or is it just another (VERY) pretty face? How To Play Sorcery: Contested Realm…
- #256 Nippon Zaibatsu
Episode 256 of Game Brain features Ben, Jordan, and Paul discussing Nippon Zaibatsu, a 2026 board game featuring area control. They also cover changes from the 2015 version and briefly touch on Sorcery, Tenby, The Treasure Ship of Zheng He…
- #255: Feya's Swamp
This episode features Matt, Paul and Jordan discussing Feya
- #254 Stupor Mundi
Game Brain podcast hosts Ben, Trey, and Paul review the 2025 game Stupor Mundi. The episode also discusses Shackleton Base, The Vibe Detective Club, and Terraforming Mars.
- #253 Star Trek: Captain's Chair
This episode reviews the deck building game Star Trek: Captain
- #252 March of the Ants
The Game Brain podcast features Ben, Trey, and Paul reviewing the 2025 reimplementation of March of the Ants: Evolved Edition. The discussion also touches upon other games including Stupor Mundi, Kingdom Crossing, and Agricola Good Luck, H…
- #251 Clans of Caledonia: Industria
Trey, Tom, and Jordan review the 2025 expansion Clans of Caledonia: Industria. 0:00:00 Introduction Year of the Serpent Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Youtube - Play it Again channel 00:08:22 Game Review : Clans of Caledonia: Industria Ter…
- #250 Top 10 Board Games of 2025
On a very special episode of Game Brain, Matthew, Ben, Trey, Paul and Jordan come together to take you through their Top Ten board games of 2025.
- #249 Tales of the Arthurian Knights
Ben, Trey, and Paul review the 2024 narrative-driven game "Tales of the Arthurian Knights." Paul says it's not even a game. Could it possibly be good? (yes) Also recent plays of "March of the Ants," "Indonesia 3rd Edition," and "Secret Hit…
- #248: Ayar: Children of the Sun
Ben, Trey, and Jordan discuss the new action selection minigame speculation bonanza Ayar: Children of the Sun. Plus discussion of Agent Avenue, Twilight Imperium Thunder's Edge, Silos, and A Place for All My Books. 00:00 - Intro / Traitors…
- #247: Old King's Crown
Matt and Jordan review Old King's Crown, the impressive lane battling asymmetric card flipping game from first time designer Pablo Clark.
- #246: Game Brain Holiday Gift Extravaganza
Ben and Paul are here to save your holiday season! Need a game to buy for that special someone? Or even that UNspecial someone? We have some ideas for you. Plus, some strategies for how to teach games to the most stubborn, unfocused, and d…
- Solo Mode #10: Kingdom Death Simulator
Matty introduces you to the neat world of Kingdom Death on your compooter. Watch the pod on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q3Bf7JYMhJQ Check the game out here: https://shop.kingdomdeath.com/
- #245 BGG.CON 2025
Matt, Ben, Trey, Tom and Jordan travel to Dallas, Texas for BGG.CON 2025 and don't see the sun for four entire days. Many games were played, all were enjoyed. Well, almost all.
- #244 Speakeasy
Ben, Trey, and Paul review the new Vital Lacerda board game Speakeasy. Plus, recent plays of The Old King's Crown and Night Soil. 00:00 - Intro 03:55 - The Old King's Crown 11:16 - Night Soil 18:40 - 18Cuba 19:20 - Speakeasy
- Solo Mode #9: 10 Favorite Solo Modes Since the Last Solo Mode
It's been two years since the last Solo Mode! How did that happen? Who cares! Stop harping on it. Let's move past it with love and kindness. Anyhoo here are the 10 Best solo modes I've played since the last Solo Mode Episode. Which was two…
- #243: Fate of the Fellowship
Matt, Trey and Jordan take a look at Matt Leacock's Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, discuss multiplayer co-ops and dive into this year's Essen crop. You can also watch this whole episode live on our Youtube channel! https://yout…
- #242: Oranges & Lemons
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 Intro 04:08 Kites 09:35 Cargo Empire 1…
- #241: Trains + Mascots
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 P…
- #240: Revitalizing Game Night
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 Intro 04:50 Eclipse 13:56 Land & Freedom 17:28 Scape Goat 32:39 Man-Eating Hous…
- #239: Transgalactic Fails, Battles, and Uprisings
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 Intro 03:12 Daggerheart 18:01 Fiasco…
- #238: Moon Colony Bloodbath + Endeavor Deep Sea
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…
- #237 Asian Tigers
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 Intro 05:21 Elder Scrolls 12:59 Ito 33:13 Rail on the Hill 38:19 Founders of…
- #236 Galactic Cruise
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 Dun…
- #235 Civolution
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…
- Table Scraps 03: Playing the Pity Card and The Truth About Sushi
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 m…
- #233 SETI
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
- #232: Men-Nefer
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 a…
- Table Scraps 02: What If I'm Late For Game Night?
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.
- #230: Best of 2024
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 episo…
- #229 2024 Navel-Gazing
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 ma…
- Table Scraps 01: How to Get a Famous Lady to Play Games With You
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 game…
- #227 Living Up To The Hype
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 Kraftwa…
- #226 Shackleton Base
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 sug…
- #225: Sprue'd Up! #2
Matt and Jordan return to the world of miniature wargaming to get you up to speed on all of their recent adventures.
- #224 Gaia Project: The Lost Fleet
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 Extraterrestria…
- #223: Sprue'd Up! #1
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
- #222 Dazed and Enthused
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 A…
- #221: Rise & Fall
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…
- #220: Windmill Valley
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 - Distille…
- #219: Gamechella 2024
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 Plantag…
- #218: Railways of the Lost Atlas
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 Terraf…
- #217: ARCS
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…
- #216: Catching The Wave
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: Austr…
- #215: El Burro
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…
- #214: Salton Sea
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.
- #213: Beware the Fun Sponge
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 tabl…
- #212: 2024 Golden Geek Predictions
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!…
- #211 Space Games!!
Ben and Jordan talk about recent plays of Inventions, Galactic Cruise, Twilight Imperium, Arcs, and Resist. Plus, discussion about space games — what does the concept of space bring to a game, and what makes a game a SPACE GAME (as opposed…
- #210: Finger Etiquette and Games
Ben and Paul talk about recent plays of Inventions, Terraforming Mars, and City of the Big Shoulders. Then they do a deep dive about finger etiquette and games: why does it bother us, how do we address bad behavior, and what are the most c…