Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast About Our Gaming Group
- Episodes
- 274
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 3, 2026
About the podcast
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 274
#265: Greenwood
Matt and Jordan review Greenwood, Capstone's big box Essen release of 2026, as well as dive into some other recent Essen plays.
#264 Bier Pioniere
Ben, Trey, & Paul review the 2023 worker placement game Bier Pioniere.00:00:00 Introduction00:02:07 Ostia00:24:00 Railways of the Lost Atlas00:31:40 Twilight Imperium IV00:39:55 Green Gold00:41:31 An Infamous …
Show notes
Ben, Trey, & Paul review the 2023 worker placement game Bier Pioniere.
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:07 Ostia
- 00:24:00 Railways of the Lost Atlas
- 00:31:40 Twilight Imperium IV
- 00:39:55 Green Gold
- 00:41:31 An Infamous Traffic
- 00:45:50 Game Review: Bier Pioniere
- https://www.youtube.com/@GameBrainPod- 00:00:00 Introduction
#263 Essen Preview '26
Matthew, Ben and Jordan discuss the games they're most excited about releasing at Spiel Essen in the year of our lord 2026.
#262 Greylune
Ben, Trey, & Jordan review the 2026 game Greylune by William Attia.00:00:00 Introduction00:04:43 Daggerheart00:06:38 Stonetop00:12:38 Kingdom Crossing00:17:22 Kraftwagen00:22:20 Come Together00:30:42 Twilight …
Show notes
Ben, Trey, & Jordan review the 2026 game Greylune by William Attia.
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:04:43 Daggerheart
- 00:06:38 Stonetop
- 00:12:38 Kingdom Crossing
- 00:17:22 Kraftwagen
- 00:22:20 Come Together
- 00:30:42 Twilight Imperium IV
- 00:36:33 Pagan: the Fate of Roanoke
- 00:37:58 Game Review: Greylune
Discord link: https://discord.gg/W3KNryUWT (good for 30 days)
- https://www.youtube.com/@GameBrainPod- 00:00:00 Introduction
#261 Gen Con '26 Report!
Jordan traveled to the distant lands of Indiana to play games, make friends, and speedwalk towards some very cool purchases. He shares his experiences at Gen Con 2026 with Matt, Trey, and Ben. Plus, the guys …
Show notes
Jordan traveled to the distant lands of Indiana to play games, make friends, and speedwalk towards some very cool purchases. He shares his experiences at Gen Con 2026 with Matt, Trey, and Ben. Plus, the guys share recent plays of Sweet Lands, Greylune, and Stonetop, among others.
Gather 'round and listen to tales of gaming!
- 00:00:00 Intro
- 00:03:25 Jordan GenCon report
- 00:25:00 Recent plays
- Sweet Lands - Ben
- Greylune - Trey
- Riftbound - Matt
- Twilight Imperium IV - Ben/Paul
- Stonetop - Jordan
#260: World Order
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 …
Show notes
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
#259: Root: The Homeland Expansion
Jordan and Paul review the latest expansions for the classic game of woodland warfare.
#258 - Generosity at the Table
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?
#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? …
Show notes
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
#256 Nippon Zaibatsu
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 …
Show notes
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
#255: Feya's Swamp
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.
#254 Stupor Mundi
Ben, Trey, & Paul review the 2025 game Stupor Mundi0:00:00 IntroductionShackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. KeysideThe VibeDetective ClubAuf Teufel komm raus (Cabbages & Curses)Terraforming Mars00:51:50 Game …
Show notes
Ben, Trey, & Paul review the 2025 game Stupor Mundi
- 0:00:00 Introduction
- 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#253 Star Trek: Captain's Chair
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.
#252 March of the Ants
Ben, Trey, and Paul review the 2025 reimplementation of March of the Ants: Evolved Edition0:00:00 Introduction0:03:35 Stupor Mundi0:14:31 Kingdom Crossing0:27:47 AgricolaGood Luck, Have Fun, Don't …
Show notes
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- 0:00:00 Introduction
#251 Clans of Caledonia: Industria
Trey, Tom, and Jordan review the 2025 expansion Clans of Caledonia: Industria.0:00:00 IntroductionYear of the SerpentGood Luck, Have Fun, Don't DieYoutube - Play it Again channel00:08:22 Game Review: Clans …
Show notes
Trey, Tom, and Jordan review the 2025 expansion Clans of Caledonia: Industria.
- 0:00:00 Introduction
- 00:08:22 Game Review: Clans of Caledonia: Industria
- Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com
- Game Brain Facebook Group
- Instagram#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," …
Show notes
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
#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 …
Show notes
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
#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 …
Show notes
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
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/q3Bf7JYMhJQCheck 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 - Intro03:55 - The Old King's Crown11:16 - Night Soil18:40 …
Show notes
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 - SpeakeasySolo 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 …
Show notes
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.#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 …
Show notes
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
#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 Intro04:08 …
Show notes
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
15:49 Guards of Atlantis II
28:02 Spicy
34:56 Fromage
39:50 Ito
48:19 Review game - Oranges & Lemons
#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 …
Show notes
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 Procyon III. Plus, an epic breakdown of another epic Twilight Imperium session, and we wrap things up with the game that maybe made us happiest: Hot Streak.
Be sure to follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/gamebrainpod
00:00 Intro
02:50 Lightning Train
25:51 1817
38:07 Shinjuku
49:10 Defense of Procyon III
59:11 Twilight Imperium IV w/Prophecy of Kings
01:31:08 Hot Streak
#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 Intro04:50 Eclipse13:56 Land & Freedom17:28 Scape …
Show notes
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 House
38:31 Gadget Trick
42:15 Age of Innovation
44:10 Ito
47:08 23 Knives
59:42 Dune / Discussion topic: how to revitalize game night
#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 …
Show notes
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
21:08 Transgalactica
30:03 Corps of Discovery / Manifest Destiny
36:55 Oranges & Lemons
45:27 Toy Battle
52:56 Nusfjord
01:01:10 Dune Imperium Uprising
01:10:31 Innovation
01:13:14 Courtisans
01:14:27 Isle of Skye Big Box
#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 …
Show notes
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 extra bonus: the return of Games on the Brain!
00:00 Intro
00:57 Game Rooms
08:05 Dune Imperium
21:44 Wavelength
33:49 Ito
41:37 Landmarks of the Lost Atlas
51:40 Oranges & Lemons
53:00 Barcelona: The Rose of Fire
54:06 Cargo Empire
01:03:11 Moon Colony Bloodbath
01:34:51 Endeavor Deep Sea
These are the latest 40 of 274 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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