Bryan and RP are heading to the movies this week with Popcorn from IELLO, a worker placement game all about running the most successful movie theater possible. From hiring staff and upgrading theaters to screening blockbuster films, this one feels like it was made specifically for movie nerds who also happen to own too many board games.

The morons discuss whether the theme carries the experience, how the game plays, and if it is worthy of a standing ovation or deserves to be quietly dumped in the bargain bin next to the straight to DVD sequels.

Is Popcorn a blockbuster hit, an underrated indie gem, or a bloated summer sequel with too much going on? Grab the overpriced concessions and find out.

They also dive into some exciting Kickstarter talk including the upcoming Dungeon Crawler Carl game from Renegade Game Studios and Post-Heist from Happy Clappy Games, along with the usual cardboard nonsense, side tangents, and debates that somehow always happen.

So grab your tickets, silence your phones, and enjoy the feature presentation.

Another transmission has been recovered during Lost Episode Week… but this one was almost lost in deep space.

Back in the early days of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, Producer Audra believed every episode needed a little “atmosphere,” which apparently meant dropping copyrighted movie music directly into the show. After this particular episode leaned a little too heavily on the iconic score from Alien, the lawyers likely detected the signal and the episode was quickly ejected out the nearest airlock. Audra has since been removed from soundboard duty permanently.

But much like the perfect organism… this episode survived.

Now recovered from the depths of the archives, Bryan and RP return to the corridors of the USCSS Nostromo to discuss Alien: Fate of the Nostromo from Ravensburger. This cooperative survival game drops players into the tense world of Ellen Ripley and the Nostromo crew as they scramble to complete objectives while avoiding the relentless Xenomorph stalking the ship.

The Gateway Gamers break down the cooperative gameplay, discuss the tension building mechanics, and debate whether this cinematic adaptation captures the suspense of the classic sci-fi horror film, or if it gets spaced along with the rest of the crew.

Another spirit has escaped the vault during Lost Episode Week…

Back in the early days of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, Producer Audra believed the best way to enhance an episode was by blatantly using in copyrighted music. Unfortunately, the lawyers at The Walt Disney Company do not appreciate that particular brand of magic. After one too many musical “tributes,” this episode was sealed away in the podcast crypt… until now. Audra has since been permanently banned from the soundboard.

But much like the 999 happy haunts, this lost recording has finally returned to roam free.

In this resurrected episode, Bryan and RP are joined by resident Disney expert Preston to explore The Haunted Mansion: Call of the Spirits Game from Funko Games (RIP ). Inspired by the legendary Haunted Mansion, this spooky strategy game invites players to wander the eerie halls, collect ghosts, and avoid the dreaded Hitchhiking Ghosts while trying to score the most spirit points.

The crew breaks down the gameplay mechanics, discusses how well the game captures the iconic Disney ride theme, and debates whether this ghostly adventure deserves a permanent spot on your game shelf… or if it should be returned to the graveyard of forgotten licensed games.

The vault keeps opening as Lost Episode Week continues! Another long buried recording has escaped the archives after being banished years ago during our Great Copyright Purge, back when Producer Audra thought it was totally fine to drop copyrighted music straight into the podcast. Turns out… it was not. After boldly inserting Pure Imagination from the classic film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder, the episode was immediately sent to the podcast shadow realm. Audra has since been… relieved of her duties.

But like a chocolate bar hiding a shiny surprise, this episode has finally been rediscovered and re uploaded for your listening pleasure.

In this resurrected episode of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, Bryan and RP crack open The Golden Ticket Game from Buffalo Games. Inspired by the world of Wonka, this family friendly board game has players racing through a candy coated adventure in hopes of earning Wonkas favor to run the factory.

The Gateway Gamers break down the gameplay mechanics, discuss how well it captures the Wonka theme, and debate whether this sugary adaptation is a sweet treat for game night or something that should be tossed in the chocolate river.

A lost episode stomps back onto the feed!

Buried deep in the archives during our infamous Copyright purge, this recording has finally escaped the vault and is ready to wreak absolute monster sized havoc. Bryan and RP were prepared to ring in the far off year of 2022!

In this resurrected episode of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, we unleash King of Tokyo, the smash hit dice rolling monster battle game designed by Richard Garfield and published by IELLO.

We talk about why this gateway board game classic continues to dominate tables, break down the push your luck Yahtzee style dice mechanics, debate monster strategies, and ask the ultimate question:

Does King of Tokyo still rule the city… or has a new kaiju taken the crown?

A lost episode emerges from the vaults! After a long battle with the dark forces of copyright law (looking at you, Warner Bros. 👀) and a certain wizarding franchise that shall not be named, this previously banished recording has finally returned to the world of the living.

Originally recorded during Season 3, this episode vanished into the ether when our beloved producer Audra discovered the hard way that podcasts can’t just… you know… play copyrighted music whenever they want. But like a true boy who lived, the episode has survived the curse and is finally making its triumphant return.

This recording comes from the middle of our Blockbuster Summer event, where we explored board games based on movies and asked the important question: Do film adaptations actually make good games?

In this magical installment of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, Bryan and RP dive into Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle from The Op Games. We break down the cooperative deck building mechanics, discuss how well the game captures the wizarding world theme, and debate whether this fan favorite Harry Potter board game deserves a permanent spot on your shelf or should be banished to the Forbidden Forest.

We are back… but are we in control?

After a long hiatus, the morons return to the mic!

In this episode of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, we dive deep into Mindbug, the two player card battler designed by Richard Garfield (creator of Magic: The Gathering) and published by Nerdlab Games. This fast paced dueling card game has been making serious waves in the tabletop community, blending strategic depth, bluffing, and brain burning decisions into a deceptively small box.

But here’s the question: is Mindbug a must own two player game for your board game shelf… or does it get mind controlled straight into the trash pile?

And just when you think you’re free from Villainous talk, we pivot to the latest Disney Villainous news.

Stick around for a special after credits bonus segment that may or may not have been implanted into the episode without our consent.

The Mindbugs are hungry. Your shelf space is vulnerable. Press play.

This week on The Gateway Gamers Podcast, Bryan and RP dust off their magnifying glass, grab their stakes, and hop across the rooftops of foggy Victorian London as they dive into Unmatched: Cobble & Fog from Restoration Games!

They’ll debate who reigns supreme in this battle of literary legends, is it Sherlock’s clever deduction, Dracula’s charm (and bite), the Invisible Man’s sneaky tricks, or Jekyll & Hyde’s mood swings that win the day? Expect plenty of laughs, unnecessary tangents, and maybe even a few bad British accents as the guys break down what makes this expansion one of the most popular in the Unmatched series.

So put on your deerstalker cap and tune in, it’s time to see which hero (or villain) truly matches up!

The Gateway Gamers are throwing a party (don’t worry, you’re invited). This week we dive into some of the best party games to hit the table when you want laughs, chaos, and maybe a little regret the next morning. We’re talking Change My Mind, Made Up Movies, Fight Night, Connected Clues, Cast List, Arguable Truths, and I’m Kind of a Big Dill.

So grab your charcuterie board, slap on a party hat, and prepare for the ultimate guide to board games that keep the fun flowing. We’ll help you figure out which ones bring the energy, which ones bring the arguments, and which ones you’ll wish you never taught your in laws.

The battlefield of Valhalla has reopened!

In this episode of The Gateway Gamers Podcast, we cover the long awaited return of Heroscape from Renegade Game Studios. Bryan kicks things off with a 20 year history of the beloved miniatures board game, from its cult classic status in the 2000s to its sudden discontinuation, and now its highly anticipated comeback. Then Bryan and RP hit the table to play the new Heroscape: Age of Annihilation, sharing first impressions, gameplay highlights, and honest thoughts. Is this revival of the legendary tabletop wargame worth the hype, or will it fall flat? Whether you’re a longtime fan of customizable terrain and armies or new to the world of Heroscape, this episode dives into everything you need to know about its past, present, and future.