Pick Up And Deliver

PU&D 819: Epona, Marshmallow Test, Finspan, Gizmos (revisited)Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried for the first time recently, and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you?Epona (2025)Marshmallow Test (2020)Finspan (2025)Gizmos (2018)Have you played any of these games? What games have you tried lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in Guild #3269.

Brendan shares some thoughts about the themes and ideas in the cult classic teen comedy, Empire Records. Join us, won’t you?Empire Records (1995)Running a StoreBargain Quest (2017)Epic Resort (2014)Music is LifeGWAR vs. Time! (2020)Vinyl (2019)Rock Hard: 1977 (2024)What Life Will You Lead?The Pursuit of Happiness (2015)Funny Friends (2005)Cult ClassicsA Study in Emerald (2013)Cosmic Frog (2020)Glory to Rome (2005)Needle DropsWhat’s He Building in There? (2013)“What’s He Building?”Come Together (2022)“Come Together”Do you celebrate Rex Manning day? What other movies do you think about once a year? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares some quick observations about the games that went out and came in at the Chicago Area No Ship Math Trade last weekend. Join us, won’t you?Games I got rid of:Rolling Realms (2021)Android: Infiltration (2012)BEEEEES! (2017)Sky Team (2023)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)Furnace (2020)Leaf (2023)Great Western Trail: Second Edition (2021)It’s a Wonderful World (2019)La Pâtisserie Rococo (2026)Tenpenny Parks (2022)Scape Goat (2020)The Final Flicktier (2019)Lord of the Rings: The Duel (2002)Clue Conspiracy (2023)Games I acquired:Horrified: Greek Monsters (2023)Bury Me in the Rift (2019)Horseless Carriage (2023)Istanbul: The Dice Game (2017)Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper (1998)Faiyum (2020)Tranquility (2020)Gnome Hollow (2024)Teotihuacan: City of Gods (2018)Seasons (2012)Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game (2015)Reign of Dragoness (2022)HerStory (2022)Starship Captains (2022)Valka (2024)What games would you put into a big trade event? Share your choices over on boardgamege

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played recently. Join us, won’t you?Hansa Teutonica (2009)Kanban EV (2020)Vinhos: Deluxe Edition (2016)Escape Plan (2019)Hot Streak (2025)Ready Set Bet (2022)Via Nebula (2016) (revisited)What do you think of these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan shares his thoughts on the games he played this month. Join us, won’t you?March 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Hansa TeutonicaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsShelf of OpportunityExpand yourShelfApril 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Light Speed ArenaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsWhat games did you play this month? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek Guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts about books he read in October, November, and December of 2025. Join us, won’t you?The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1Victoriana (2019)The Player of Games (Culture, #2)Civilization (1980)Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear DisasterDaybreak (2023)Mister MagicI Was a Teenage SlasherLast Friday (2016)Victorian PsychoCarpathiansToo Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota, #1)Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund FitzgeraldEmpire of Silence (The Sun Eater, #1)We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse, #1)The Lost VillageFriend of the DevilHow to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy StepsDeath Comes at ChristmasThe Titanic Story: Hard Choices, Dangerous DecisionsWhat did you read in the last part of 2025? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares some games that fit in the theme of “Adventuring in the Jungle.” Join us, won’t you?The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac (2009)The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus (2011)The Quest for El Dorado (2017)The Lost Expedition (2017)The Lost City of ZCosta Rica (2016)Incan Gold (aka Diamant) (2005)Forbidden Island (2010)Forbidden Desert (2013)Forbidden Jungle (2023)Lost Ruins of Arnak (2020)What games about adventuring and/in the jungle do you like? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Dive (2021)Civilization (1980)The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire (2017)SET (1988)What games have you been playing lately? Share your plays over on Boardgamegeek in Guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan shares his feedback on some of the books he read in August, September, and October of 2025. Join us, won’t you?The FutureCarl’s Doomsday ScenarioShards of HonourThe Titanic and the CalifornianThe Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End of the WorldHardcaseFishfliesOf Monsters and MainframesWhat books did you read last year? Share them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently, and one game he revisited. Join us, won’t you?Bonsai (2023)Crystallo (2018)Rise of Augustus (2013)Take 5! (1998) revisitedWhat games have you been playing? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan contemplates a series of game duels to compare Reiner Knizia games. Join us, won’t you?Comparative Duels:Ra (1999) vs High Society (1995)Schotten Totten (1999) vs Lost Cities (1999)Tigris & Euphrates (1997) vs Through the Desert (2017)My City (2020) vs Carcassonne: The Castle (2003)Samurai (1998) vs Ingenious (2004)Beowulf: The Legend (2005)Whale Riders (2021)Indigo (aka Butterfly Garden) (2012)Knizia Games I’ve played but didn’t mention on the show:The Quest for El Dorado (2017)The Lord of the Rings (2000)Whoowasit? (2007)Amun-Re: 20th Anniversary Edition (2023)The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (2005)Lost Cities: The Board Game (2008)Stephenson’s Rocket (1999)Equinox (2021)The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2025)What Knizia games do you enjoy? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and share the experience of revisiting one dusty game. Join us, won’t you?Carnival of Monsters (2019)Splendor Duel (2022)Lord of the Rings: The Duel (2002)Mystic Vale (2016) (revisited)Have you played any of these games? What do you think of them? Share your experiences over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about the movies he watched in the last six months that weren’t horror movies or Christmas movies. Join us, won’t you?Mickey 17 (2025)Mickey 7 discussionParanoiaThe Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)Rear Window (2022)John Candy: I Like Me (2025)Margin Call (2011)Ponzi Scheme (2015)Spotlight (2015)Watergate (2019)The Life of Chuck (2024)Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr (2018)Labyrinth (1986)Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Board Game (2016)Notting Hill (1999), Sleepless in Seattle (1993)Fog of Love (2017)Rental Family (2025)Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall (2020)The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop (2024)An Honest Liar (2014)What films did you watch in the last six months? Share your views over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently for the first time. Join us, won’t you?La Pâtisserie Rococo (2026)Rococo (2013)Endurance (2023)So Very Wrong About Board GamesAmabel HollandThe Hobbit: There and Back Again (2025)The Hobbit film by Ralph BakshiStrike (2012) (revisited)Board Game BlitzRolling Dice and Taking NamesWhat games have you been playing lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in Guild #3269.

Brendan shares his experience playing games in February of 2026. Join us, won’t you?February 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Dive✓Top 50 game – Brian Boru✓Dusty New Game – Hansa TeutonicaXOne More – Core WorldsXShelf of OpportunityMarch 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Hansa TeutonicaTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of ArnakOld Game New to Collection – RootOne More – Core WorldsWhat did you play in February? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan finishes stampeding through games he tried in 2025 but hasn’t talked about on the podcast, yet. Join us for this first of three episodes to wrap up the year, won’t you?Part 1Part 3December– Xiangqi– 7 Wonders Dice– Landmarks– Slay the Spire– ito– The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – The Trick-taking Game– Speakeasy– Rolling America– Power Hungry Pets– Joe Name It– Cross Clues– Wandering Galaxy– Sanctuary– Cafe Baras– I DissentHave you played any of these? Share your thoughts on them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan shares his favorite 2024 games, and some superlatives. Join us, won’t you?Top 5 Games of 2024Unconscious Mind (2024)Kinfire DelveResafa (2024)Wondrous Creatures (2024)The Gang (2024)Best weird game: Arcs (2024)Best adaptation: Slay the Spire: The Board Game (2024), Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game (2024)Best fun theme: Fromage (2024), Undergrove (2024)Best Little Snack: 3 Chapters (2024), Up or Down? (2024)Best Art: River Valley Glassworks (2024)Honorable Mentions:Endeavor: Deep Sea (2024)Bomb Busters (2024)Harmonies (2024)Saltfjord (2024)Inventions: Evolution of Ideas (2024)Castle Combo (2024)Civolution (2024)Cities (2024)Wrath of Fire Mountain (2024)Umbrella (2024)2024 Games I played and recommendWyrmspan (2024)AQUA: Biodiversity in the Oceans (2024)A Gest of Robin Hood (2024)Café Baras (2024)Landmarks (2024)Survive The Island (2024)Nocturne (2024)Dorfromantik: Sakura (2024)Power Hungry Pets (2024)Ziggurat (2024)Let’s Go! To Japan (2024)Chroma Mix (2024)Flip 7 (2024)Tree Society (2024)What games from

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Take Time (2025)Moa (2018)1902 Méliès (2023)Space Base (2018) (revisited)Do you enjoy these games? What games have you been playing lately? Share your game plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his game plays from January, and talks about his plans for February. Join us, won’t you?Top of the Stack, January 2026New Game – La Patisserie RococoTop 50 game – Praga Caput RegniDusty New Game – Duel or DealOne More – The Hobbit: There and Back AgainShelf of OpportunityExpand yourShelfTop of the Stack, February 2026New Game – DiveTop 50 game – Brian BoruDusty New Game – Hansa TeutonicaOne More – Core WorldsWhat did you play in January of 2026? Share your journey over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269 in this thread.

Brendan reflects on Season 8 and his plans. Join us, won’t you?More intentional game designPlan more gamesStruggle of Empires (2004)Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition (2017)Campaign games with my familyPainting things!Top 5 anticipated gamesGalactic Cruise (2025)Luthier (2025)Hot Streak (2025)Recall (2025)Epona (2025)Ep 700: Season 7 FinaleWhat were your favorite episodes of the season? Share them in our guild over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.