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

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

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

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

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 Gloomhaven

41:55 Mr. Pai Pai

44:17 Gibberers

53:06 We All Take From The River

01:05:53 Guards of Atlantis, Land and Freedom updates

01:07:33 Asian Tigers review

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 Eternal Decks.

00:00 Introduction

02:01 March Meepleness analysis

30:50 Guards of Atlantis II

37:00 Galactic Cruise

40:18 Eternal Decks

47:02 Shatterpoint

50:29 Civolution Review

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 to Table Scraps on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@table-scraps

00:00 Intro

01:29 Playing the Pity Card: When Guilt Almost Wins—But Not Quite

42:36 If board games were sushi, what sushi would they be?

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, we check in on The Traitors on Peacock—what does this season tell us about our gaming hobby?

02:00 - Guards of Atlantis II

03:32 - Galactic Cruise

07:20 - Stroganov

12:29 - Mind MGMT

20:29 - Traitors

31:56  - Serenissima

42:40 - Landmarks

44:42 - DroPolter

49:43 - We Need To Talk

51:28 - Hooky

56:59 - Men-Nefer Review