game brain

Ben and Paul catch up on the games they played over the 2023 holiday break.  Afterwards they reflect on their favorite play sessions and new-to-them games.  Strangely enough, they seem to gravitate towards their favorite meltdowns, which is a commentary on something, not sure what.

Games discussed include Marrakesh, Dude, K2, Age of Steam, and Manhattan Project 2: Minutes to Midnight.

Timestamps to come...

Ben, Trey, and Jordan discuss the city-building, dynamic economy game Kutná Hora: The City of Silver.  Plus recent plays of Horseless Carriage, Nucleum, and more.

Ben and Paul discuss recent plays of Oathsworn, Here I Stand, and Tortuga 1667.  Then we go deeper with the 2023 English release of The Rich and the Good (formerly Hab & Gut).

00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:23 - Oathsworn
00:26:56 - Tortuga 1667
00:35:16 - Age of Innovation update
00:45:31 - Magnate: The First City
00:56:14 - Lorenzo il Magnifico: The Pazzi Conspiracy
01:05:06 - Here I Stand
01:17:58 - The Rich and the Good

Ben and Paul talk about Lords of Vegas as well as fairness and games and the new reality series "The Traitors."

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:55 - The Traitors

00:17:47 - Fairness + Winning Discussion

00:47:41 - Vast: The Mysterious Manor

00:53:56 - Weather Machine 

01:01:19 - 18Mag

01:11:41 - Mind MGMT

01:15:44 - Lords of Vegas

Ben, Trey, and Dmitry discuss the 2022 game, Autobahn.  Plus, recent plays of Deal with the Devil, Lacrimosa, and Atiwa.  Plus, they discuss a recent piece in the New York Times about strategy games.

Ben, Tom, and Paul chat about recent plays of Atiwa, Tiletum, Fracis Drake, and Maria.  Plus, recommendations for good games to play at Thanksgiving.

All four hosts are here this week to talk about a whole mess of hot Essen releases, as well as a deep dive on one of the season's biggest games, Revive. 

• 00:05:30 Ready Set Bet
• 00:10:30 Oak
• 00:19:50 Autobahn
• 00:30:30 Tiletum
• 00:57:30 Revive

Matt, Tom, Ben and Dmitry discuss the 2022 release "Skymines" (aka Moon-basa) as well as preview their most anticipated games of Essen 2022 and give four Essen games a brief "rulebook review". 

Tom, Trey, Paul, and Ben discuss the 2019 release "Western Empires" as well as "On Mars," "Ticket to Ride," "Viticulture," and "Food Chain Magnate."

Ben and Matt revisit Grand Austria Hotel with the Let's Waltz expansion before doing a deep dive with their initial impressions of the 2022 release John Company, Second Edition by Cole Wehrle.  Afterwards, they discuss the expectations they carry — perhaps unfairly — into a game night.

Now that we've finally notched some in-person plays The Transcontinental and Carnegie, we share our thoughts about what's changed in person versus online.  Plus, we talk about the modular game boards that pique our interest and recent plays of Tzolkin, Fresh Fish, and Ethnos.

Ben, Candice, and Paul review "1848: Australia" and then discuss how to demystify the 18xx genre.

0:00;00 - Introduction: Welcome Ben, Omnigamer Candice and Gamebreaker Paul: Railways of Australia, 1848, 18xx, Avalon, Tank Duel, TI4, Die Macher, Tribune

0:09:07 - This Week’s Game Night: Eclipse; Eclipse: Second Dawn; (TI) Tzolk’in (Tribes expansion) Pax Pamir 2nd ed, The Climbers, (Santiago) Railways of the World Async on BGA (Eastern America Map) Pictomania, 2nd ed, (Through the Ages, Pictionary) Telestrations after Dark, Top Ten, Destinies, (Sagrada, Clank, Clank: Legacy) 18 Ireland, 1817,

0:41:41 - Game News: Village Big Box, Stonewall Uprising,(Twilight Struggle)

0:46:37 - Games on the Brain: Hegemony, Stonewall Uprising, 1979: The Iranian Revolution, Free at Last, 1941: The Race to Moscow,  Black Orchestra, Labyrinth: The War on Terror, Wings for the Baron, Wonderland Tour (Quacks of Quedlinburg Heaven and Ale) 

1;07:42 - Review of 1848 Australia:  1822 PNW, 1846, 1830, 1889, 1817, 18 Chesapeake

2:02:22 - Falling in love with 18xx: Agricola, Ticket to Ride, 18 Ireland, 18 Chesapeake,
18 Los Angeles, 1822, Railways of the World, Brass, 1846, 1817, Age of Steam, 1882, 1840, Vienna, 1829, 1889, 1849, 1862, 1872, 18xx.games

2;48:22 - Sign Off: Taking a Break

Ben, Candice, and Dmitry review "Civilization: A New Dawn" with the "Terra Incognita" expansion and then discuss "Ferrari Games."

0:00:00 - Intro: Welcome Candice, the Omni Gamer and Dmitry, the Philosophical Gamer
0:04:48 - This Week’s Game Night: Ark Nova, Messina 1347, So Clover, Just One, Code Names, Decrypto, Avalon, Burn Cycle, Der Spiegelstadt, (Jorgen) Nicea, Barrage, (The Great Zimbabwe) Hegemony, Terraforming Mars Prelude, 1848 Australia, Ark Nova
0:43:24 - This Week’s Game News: Red Flag over Paris, Rear Window (Jaws), Voices in my Head, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, High Treason: The Trial of Louis Real, Memphis Falls, Houston We Have a Dolphin, Shinkansen Zero K, SHASN, Tales from the Loop
0:57:36 - Games on the Brain: Tichu on BGA, Enemy Action: Arden, Arkwright, Arkwright the Card Game, Gingkopolis, Fortress of Steel
1:07:24 - Review of Civilizations: A New Dawn: Tapestry, Nations, Through the Ages
2:15:00 - Ferrari Games: (Food Chain Magnet) Anachrony, (Cerebrea) Eclipse, (Forbidden Stars,) Railways of the World, CloudSpire, Tzolkin, Praga Kaput Regni, Underwater Cities, Lisboa, Indonesia, Grasp the Ring, Menora, Pulsar 2849, Yokohama, Hanse Teutonica, Pax Pamir 2nd Ed, Ankh
Everdell, Wingspan, Stroganof
2:40:09 - Sign Off