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Brendan revisits the subject of mystery-themed games. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 242: Mystery GameRace GamesWhitehall Mystery (2017)*Fury of Dracula (Third/Fourth Edition) (2015)Scotland Yard (1983)Mysterium Park (2020)HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; Big Book of Madness (revisited)Story GamesThe Sherlock Files: Elementary Entries (2019)*Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases (1981) Time Stories (aka T.I.M.E Stories) (2015)MicroMacro: Crime City (2020)The Frank BookUndo: Cherry Blossom Festival (2019)Deduction and Clue gamesAwkward Guests: The Walton Case (2016)*Clue (1969)Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases (2023)P.I. (2012)Cryptid (2018)Descriptions with an asterix ( * ) are also used in my current mystery class.

PU&D870: HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; The Big Book of Madness (revisited)Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried recently for the first time, and one game he revisited or expanded. Join us, won’t you?HeroQuest (1989)Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (2007)Apothebakery: The Culinary Alchemists (2025)Mysterium Park (2020)Mysterium (2015)The Big Book of Madness (2015) (revisited)Pandemic (2008)Have you played these games? What do you think of them? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan adds to his Great Designers series, talking about his experience with Stefan Feld games, and which ones he likes the best. Join us, won’t you?His four games I’ve played the most:The Castles of Burgundy (2019)Carpe Diem (2018)Trajan (2011)Bonfire (2020)Played multiple times, but not top tierBruges (2013)Forum Trajanum (2018)AquaSphere (2014)La Isla (2014)What are your favorite Stefan Feld games? Share your thinking over on Boardgamegeek in our guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Night at the Zoo (2026)The Emerald Flame (2021)Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh (2018) (expansion)dnup (2025)What do you think about these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan explores his game plays in September and sets up his October plays. Join us, won’t you?September Top of the StackNew Game – Recall✓Top 50 game – Messina 1347✓Another New Game – Outdoor SurvivalOne More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunShelf of OpportunityOctober Top of the StackNew Game – Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw & WriteTop 50 game – Mosaic: A Story of CivilizationAnother new game – Too Many BonesOne More – Arkham Horror 3rd EditionWhat games will you play in October? Share your plans over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan does a deep dive into one of his favorite games: Trickerion. Join us, won’t you?Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015)Tactical Worker PlacementDungeon Petz (2011)Very Tight EconomyAgricola (2007)Interdependent Resources / MechanismsOn Mars (2020)Ark Nova (2021)Well-integrated ThemeObsession (2018)That “Just not quite enough” feelingMessina 1347 (2021)What do you think of this worker placement classic? Share your thoughts over in our guild, #3269.

Brendan reflects on the games he dusted off in June, July, and August but didn’t have time to reflect upon. Join us, won’t you? Top 50 Dusted offTrickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015)Glory to Rome (2005)Orléans (2014)Classic bangersCarcassonne (2000)Root (2018)Splendor (2014)High Society (1995)Other Games I PlayedAntiquity Quest (2019)Cribbage (1630)Gin Rummy (1909) Skull (2011)Chicken! (2023) Bunny Bunny Moose Moose (2009)What games did you dust off over the summer? Share your plays over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks a bit about what games people born under the zodiac sign Virgo might like best. Join us, won’t you?Previous Astrology Files episodesAllure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits”Farming and WheatThe Canadian Potato MuseumAgricola (2007)Pick Up & Deliver 229: Duel – Agricola vs. EverdellLogical, Practical, and SystemicTrickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015)Tzolkin: The Mayan Calendar (2012)Messina 1347 (2021)Meticulous, DeductiveSherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases (1981)Got Five! (2026)Helpful to othersThe Big Book of Madness (2015)Daybreak (2023)What other games do you think represent Virgo gamers well? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan gives his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you?The Game Makers (2026)Fromage (2024)Wanted Wombats (2022)Wandering Towers (2022)The Downfall of Pompeii (2004) revisitedWhat do you think of these games? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Transcript: PDF or TXT

Brendan shares his thoughts on the films he watched in May, June, and July of 2026. Join us, won’t you?The Sheep Detectives (2026)Three Bags Full by Leonie SwannBattle Sheep (2010)Tipperary (2023) Shear Panic (2005)Swimming with Men (2018)Castell (2018)Raas: A Dance of Love (2026)The Crash (2026)Superman (2026)Justice League: Hero Dice – Superman (2015)Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)Rock Hard: 1977 (2024)Come Together (2022)The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingThe Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingWar of the Ring: Second Edition (2011)Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar (2022)Raptor (2015)Legend (2015)The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire (2017)Speakeasy (2025)Enola Holmes 3 (2026)The Sherlock Files: Elementary Entries (2019)What films did you watch in May, June, and July of 2026? What do you think of Brendan’s take on the films he watched? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Transcript: PDF or TXT

Fresh off his episode about crowd pleasing beginner games, Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby’s mechanisms. Join us for this conclusion, won’t you?Introducing the Hobby (episode 20)Introducing the Hobby, part 1 – Crowd Pleasers (episode 860)Forbidden Island (2010)Hanabi (2010)Kingdomino (2016)Between Two Cities (2015)Bärenpark (2017)Lords of Waterdeep (2012)Demon Worker (2016)Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game (2012)Dominion (2008)Star Realms (2014)QE (2019)High Society (1995)Canvas (2021)Royals (2014)Through the Desert (2017)Guillotine (1998)What games would you add to the list of mechanism boot camp? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby. Join us for this first of two parts, won’t you? Introducing the Hobby (episode 20)Wits & Wagers: It’s Vegas, Baby! (2019)Qwixx (2012)Las Vegas (2026)Wavelength (2019)Diamant (2005)Skyjo (2015)Time’s Up! Title Recall! (2008)The Chameleon (2017)What games would you add to the list of essential crowd pleasers? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Fit to Print (2023)Tiny Towns (2019)Galaxy Trucker (2007)Destinies (2021)Ticket to Ride: Europe (2005)Hex Effects (2025)Mantis (2022)Unstable Unicorns (2017)What games have you tried recently? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Transcript: Txt or Pdf

Brendan talks a bit about what games he played in August, and what games he wants to play in September. Join us, won’t you?August 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Night at the Zoo✓Top 50 game – Messina 1347XAnother New Game – Wandering Towers✓One More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunXShelf of OpportunityExpand yourShelfSeptember 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – RecallTop 50 game – Messina 1347Another New Game – Outdoor SurvivalOne More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunWhat games did you play in August? Share your game plays over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Transcript: Txt or PDF

Brendan revisits an old Themestorm, “Back to School,” and reflects on some ideas about it. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 259: Back to School (Board Game Sommelier)For the Love of BooksAtheneum: Mystic Library (2020)The Big Book of Madness (2015)Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour BookstoreThe Library of the UnwrittenScience and LearningDarwin’s Journey (2023)Lovelace & Babbage (2019)The Imitation Game (2014)Unconscious Mind (2024)School LifeArgent: The Consortium (2015)Alma Mater (2020)Trickerion: Dahlgaard’s Academy (2019)Survival of the Witless (1997)MOO by Jane SmileyWhite Noise (2022)What games did I miss? Which ones would you add to the conversation? Share your thinking over in our guild, #3269, on boardgamegeek.