Insightful commentary, a good mix of personalities, and a nice free-wheeling, conversational tone. Game Brain would probably be my favorite board gaming podcast if the team was more focused and considerate of their audience. They’re listed as a weekly podcast but commonly skip posting without a word of warning to listeners. They also go on for far too long at times about off-topic items. One episode included more than a half hour of discussion about a little known reality tv show. Even when they are discussing board games, they wear me out with talk of pet favorites of theirs like Avalon. As I mentioned, I really want to speak more highly of this show. But it’s hard to do when I’m fast forwarding through half of it, or left wondering if there will even be an episode this week.

Appreciate their insight on games and they are very good at writing and articulating their thoughts in an interesting manner. I don’t feel they talk about politics too much. Anyone who feels the podcast is too political can just grow up or shut up.

Love when these three are on the pod. More please!

Out of desperate boredom and panic I purchased a board game called Carcassone in April of 2020. Within months I was on the prowl for more games, dreaming of a future when I could be in a room with people, moving cardboard, plastic and wood around and engaging in mental and social exercise. I searched for content all over, often cringing at the lack of thought and care in the presentation of content creators in the board game world. Then I found Game Brain. The first thing I noticed was the elegant theme song. A board game pod cast that doesn’t start with a horribly corny rock song, a big band tv intro style theme or some 90s third wave ska nonsense? My ears perked up. I was taken into the world of gamers who focus on what is to be learned and experienced from gaming, from the philosophical to the social, the creative to the political. This was my first game group before I could actually game with others. I love these long episodes that let me listen over the course of a few evening walks. I love the scope of this podcast, and how many things we can learn and discuss through these gaming interactions. Check it out!

Enjoying a board game is not just determined by the quality of the games themselves, but the players you play with. By rotating the hosts, the show adds a Rashomon-like quality to game reviews, player perspectives and the stories told about what happened behind the scenes (even if they are filthy self-serving lies.) Highly Recommended!

Here’s the thing. I used to really love this show. I still think that the board game chat and info is great. I backed Transcontinental because of these guys. Barrage is my #1 game of all time because of these guys. The thing is, I just can’t handle Tom anymore. It started with his infamous show with Jennifer where he talked over her for 2 hours. Outside of that, he’s just always come off as smug and, frankly, annoying. I feel bad saying it, truly. But then I started listening to the Brian Boru podcast this week and just had to turn it off after the first 90 seconds of Toms terrible Irish accent that he says he is entitled to do because of his Irish heritage. When I realized it wasn’t stopping after the first 2 minutes, I had to call it. I’m sorry, I hope I’m not being unfair. I love board games and I really used to love this podcast. I love Trey and Matt and Dmitry and the gang, and Tom is very knowledgeable, but he’s the Karen of boardgaming, and I just can’t anymore. Sorry :/ Update: I came back to give these guys another shot, cause it has the potential to be a really great podcast. Trey and others seem to be taking the helm more often, which is a breath of fresh air. When they focus on boardgames and boardgame-adjacent topics, this podcast is an easy 5 star. Dmitry’s philosophizing is worth it alone. Everything in the Libertalia episode was great! Except for Tom whinging about why he didn’t win at Avalon for 10 minutes, and correcting other people every time they say anything. About anything. Which annoyed me for all the same reasons quoted above ^^^. Upgrading my rating to 3 stars. Cut out the Avalon whining and it’s 5 stars.

Love listening to the podcast, always feel energized to play the games they talk about. However, when I try to engage with the discord, I feel like I don’t belong. Wish the community was more friendly.

Removing a star for each new episode with horrible accents. Seriously it’s so cringey and needs to stop. (We started at 4 stars). Have to say up front I love this podcast for the variety of opinions, backgrounds, and interesting discussion topics among all the various participants. Dmitri and Jennifer provide some of my favorite episodes but all of the members of the group bring something unique to the table. I also appreciate how they address and discuss important issues in gaming and topics that many other podcasts simply won’t touch. Where it can really fall flat for me sometimes is with the hosts. Both are very enthusiastic which can result in talking over the other members, cutting them off before they were done speaking or finishing thoughts for them, or in general monopolizing the conversation rather than guiding it and letting the other members have their moment. So many times I find myself screaming something along the lines of “LET THEM TALK!!!” or “Let THEM answer the question!!” because I am truly interested and invested in what they are saying and want to hear more from THEIR perspective on the topic. Especially because most (all?) of the special topics are selected by the participants not the host. There was a particularly painful episode of this behavior (which was addressed and apologized for) and I will say that it has gotten a little better since then. It still could use some work though and I truly feel this podcast can be even better than it is now with a little bit more restraint and patience on the part of the hosts. Hope that wasn’t too harsh and I’ll gladly revisit my review in the future, hopefully to report an upgrade from 4 to 5 stars :) update: nope. The accents just keep coming and it really drags the show down.

If you want to listen to a bunch of dudes wallow in their white guilt, then this virtue-signaling podcast is definitely for you. Every discussion inevitably veers into hand wringing over how “problematic” the theme is, or how the racial makeup of the characters are not “representative” enough, or - if you’re lucky - a formulaic apology over something they said that might have offended someone, somewhere. Just listening to these guys will make you feel superior to all your dirty, capitalist friends. I mean, unless you actually want to hear talk about games, then I’d go somewhere else.

A great boardgames-and-more type of podcast. So many contributors with differing backgrounds, this is the first podcast I’ve really enjoyed for going beyond the topic of games. Whether it’s politics, social issues, literature, history, scriptwriting(!!), family dynamics, etc—this has become a must listen. Great job everyone!

Great podcast on board gaming. Each of the hosts bring a unique perspective. Highly recommend.

They always have good insights. The only weak point is the host/cohost which changes weekly can really determine how good the discussion is. (Demetri is terrible and Tom is a weaker main host but oh well).

One of my top board game podcasts. This and SVWAG are my top 2.

Lots of different personalities and tastes. Great insights from everyone. Love it.

Couldn’t seem to interact in their Facebook group without some other member (or host/admin) jumping me. I appreciate the work they put into the podcast but it and the Facebook group don’t feel, “welcoming” to me. It all seemed very much, “this is what we think and you should feel honored to hear it.” I lived in SoCal for a number of years and I had enough of that, then.

Keep your politics out of the show; or dont and lose subscribers.

The Games on the Brain song is now listenable. Thanks for changing it. Solid podcast. I love listening. I skip some, but the majority really are a pleasure.

Podcast often veers into left-leaning political commentary that is openly hostile toward more moderate or conservative listeners. Board game commentary is good, but the political commentary is entirely unnecessary and alienating.

Matthew Robinson, Tom Donnelly and their gaming group produce an AMAZINGLY fun and enjoyable podcast! I’ve listened to EVERY single episode! Each one more entertaining than the last! The podcast is so incredibly thought out with different segments including Game News, Games on the Brain, Game Night, Game Review, and Board Game Sommelier! Each of the podcast members represent such diverse kinds of gamers! The group is so responsive on their Facebook group and Sommelier! I look forward to their podcast every week!

This is my new go-to podcast for heavier games. The hosts are very enjoyable to listen too and I love how they feature different members of their gaming group each episode which gives the viewer several different perspectives.

Enjoyable, and they play the heavier games I enjoy the most.

This is my favorite board game podcast.

I couldn’t make it more than 5 minutes into an episode. The sound quality is awful and the banter is boring and just inside jokes.

One of my favorite board game podcasts. Besides the production, there is real emotion being conveyed for the games and each other. You can tell these folks are knowledgeable and give their real opinions. I cannot recommend these guys enough.

I tried 4 episodes - 2 early ones, 2 later ones. Just 100 minutes of rambling.

Obvious that this isnt their first rodeo/podcast. Sound quality is excellent, episodes are well organized and hosts are well spoken. This podcast gives you a reason to keep going back to it.

I have become interested in some games that are in this podcast.

If you are a fan of board games, this is the podcast for you! Well planned out and truly a ton of fun. On top of being a massive board game fan I truly enjoy the hosts. You can tell they love gaming and have a passion for it. Please subscribe and listen if you want to have fun!

Love the format of the pod, it gives great insight to various games and their strengths and weaknesses, which is awesome to a casual gamer who can’t afford to spend much trying out many games. I have preordered and purchased a couple games based on reviews and have not been disappointed. Keep up the great work.

Very nice job! Keep up the great works guys coming from a casual gamer I like got you include that in your repertoire. Will be a long time listener

I am a board game dummy. The way Matt Robinson & co. talk about and contextualize these games make it much easier to enjoy them and to curate a board game night of my own. Also Dmitri is a nut and is incredibly interesting to listen to.

It’s awesome to see Matty boom back on the ones and the twos.

Matt’s passion for board games is contagious on this podcast. My bank account is less happy he’s back, but my body is ready. The pod is a perfect companion for a glass of ice-less water or any desert that isn’t halo top. Get up on these 1’s and 2’s immediately.

This podcast is a jacket smasher!

If you thought that Get Up On This didn't have enough time dedicated to the board game ramblings of Matty, this is the podcast for you. As someone that got into the hobby from the Dead of Winter recommendation, I'm now in the board game deep end and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I think someone new to the hobby may have a little difficulty following along depending on the guest each week, but they're great about giving brief explanations any time the conversation goes too "inside baseball". Can't wait for more!

Really nice to have the reason I have a board game hobby back podcasting talking about something we all love.

This podcast is great and Matt is great.