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Published by Game Brain
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.
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Trey, Paul, and Ben go deep on World Order, the new geopolitical simulation from the people who brought you Hegemony. We also discuss recent plays of The Staufer Dynasty, Dogs of War, and Come Together, and after that, major game news from the world of Forbidden Stars! Or should we say Old Ones Origins? 00:00 Intro 4:05 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Trick Taking Game 7:51 - The Staufer Dynasty 13:33 - Dogs of War 22:52 - Come Together 27:33 - Forbidden Stars / Old Ones Origins 32:03 - Tigris & Euphrates, Nippon: Genro, Rosalie 34:32 - Politik 40:37 - World Order
Jordan and Paul review the latest expansions for the classic game of woodland warfare.
Ben, Trey, and Paul break down recent plays of Railway Boom and Dogs of War. Then the trio launches into the discussion for this week: what does generosity look like at game night, and how do we aspire to be generous?
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 (with Matt and Jordan): https://youtu.be/0voIN8W3CrU?si=o24xvuSmpCdY69W1
Ben, Jordan, and Paul convene in their coziest garb to talk about the coziest game of a very cozy 2026: Nippon Zaibatsu! Well, cozy except for all the vicious area control and internal sobbing. We're talking about all the changes to the OG Nippon from 2015, and Jordan has a very specific and deserved beef to share. Plus, Tenby, The Treasure Ship of Zheng He, QE, and [insert spooky music] SorrRRrrcery. 00:00 Intro 03:08 - Sorcery 08:42 - Tenby 17:32 - The Treasure Ship of Zheng He 30:41 - QE + its expansion Commodities 40:03 - Inis, Keyside, Fellowship of the Ring - Trick Taking Game 44:56 - Nippon Zaibatsu review
Matt, Paul and Jordan put on their wetsuits and dive into Feya's Swamp. Do you see what I did there? Dive into. Wetsuits. That's right, it's a swamp joke, ya'll.
Ben, Trey, & Paul review the 2025 game Stupor Mundi 0:00:00 Introduction Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. Keyside The Vibe Detective Club Auf Teufel komm raus (Cabbages & Curses) Terraforming Mars 00:51:50 Game Review : Stupor Mundi Discord link: https://discord.gg/9e7QvC9S (good for only 7 days) - Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com - Game Brain Facebook Group - Instagram
Matt and Paul review the asymmetric heavy deck building game Star Trek: Captain's Chair as well as discuss the differences between CC and the Imperium series.
Ben, Trey, and Paul review the 2025 reimplementation of March of the Ants: Evolved Edition 0:00:00 Introduction 0:03:35 Stupor Mundi 0:14:31 Kingdom Crossing 0:27:47 Agricola Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die 00:35:51 Game Review : March of the Ants: Evolved Edition - Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com - Game Brain Facebook Group - Instagram
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 Terra Mystica Age of Innovation Gaia Project: The Lost Fleet - Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com - Game Brain Facebook Group - Instagram
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.
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 Hitler." 00:00 - Intro 11:08 - March of the Ants, Evolved Edition 27:37 - Indonesia, 3rd Edition 41:39 - 18Chesapeake 43:32 - Secret Hitler 1:04:44 - Tales of the Arthurian Knights review
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 9:20 - Silos 18:46 - Agent Avenue 31:36 - Pacts 35:36 - A Place for All My Books 44:11 - Twilight Imperium Thunder's Edge 57:49 - Ayar: Children of the Sun review
Matt and Jordan review Old King's Crown, the impressive lane battling asymmetric card flipping game from first time designer Pablo Clark.
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 downright difficult people of all time: your family. 00:00 - Intro 04:00 - Recent Plays 04:12 - Food Chain Magnate 17:17 - Ito 22:36 - Ayar, Shinjuku, and Tag Team 26:36 - The Game Brain Holiday Gifting Extravaganza!! 28:36 - Games for Monopoly lovers 34:17 - Games for Scrabble lovers (or Codenames or Scattergories) 42:18 - Games if you don't know someone's tastes 46:53 - Games you can play with someone right away 48:52 - Games to inch someone towards the hobby 52:22 - Party games! 53:21 - Stocking stuffers 55:16 - How to teach games to your family
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/
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.
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
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 years ago. We know, Jesus, get over it.
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://youtu.be/IbkiM4ZLdNg
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 20, 2026.
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