Podcast
Pick Up and Deliver
Hosted by Rattlebox Games- Network Feed · EN
A brief podcast about hobby board games, recorded by English professor Brendan Riley on brief 15 minute walks around town. Join us for a stroll as we discuss mechanisms, gameplay, theory, and topics of the day.
Find show notes at RattleboxGames.com
Find show notes at RattleboxGames.com
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
King of the Dice; Level 7 Escape; Gold Ahoy!; Dog Park (revisited)
3d ago00:14:22Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about three games he tried for the first time lately, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?King of the Dice (2017)Yahtzee (1956)Level 7: Escape (2012)Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (2007)Gold Ahoy! (2014)Glasgow (2020)Dog Park (2022)What do you think of these games? What games have you played lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in our guild, #3269.
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Top of the Stack, June 2026
5d ago00:22:28Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his gameplay achievements from May 2026, and looks ahead to June. Join us, won’t you?May 2025 Top of the StackNew Game – AhoyXTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of Arnak✓Old Game New to Collection – TeotihuacanXOne More – Level 7 Escape✓Shelf of OpportunityJune 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Struggle of EmpiresTop 50 game – Glory to RomeI’ve been meaning to play this – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunOne More – Bury Me In the RiftWhat did you play in May? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Books (Themestorm)
1w ago00:23:49Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about games themed around books. Join us, won’t you?Games about LibrariesEx Libris (2017)The Big Book of Madness (2015)Mythic Mischief (2022)The Great Library (2026)Fire in the Library (2019)Alexandria (2017)Atheneum: Mystic Library (2020)Games about Managing BooksA Place for All My Books (2025)My Shelfie (2022)Games about Words and BooksIlliterati (2023)Paperback (2014)Hardback (2018)Fiction (2023)Games About Book-MakingBiblios (2007)Gutenberg (2021)Other themesBooks of Time (2023)Alma Mater (2020)What games about books do you enjoy? Share them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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The ‘geek Asks 14
2w ago00:20:46Tap to summarizeBrendan examines the recent posts on boardgamegeek as though the threads are there as questions for him. Join us, won’t you?Negotiation in GamesSpiel des Jahres NomineesTrying to replace a stock image – need help8 Board Game Re-Themes I Made for FunLooking to get into more complex Euros… what is a good “step up”?New to board/card game design so using simulation to test mechanicsOn Board Games 589: TeachabilityMultiple or singular artists?Hello New ComersHow to choose the best board game ?Requesting 10 GG to start a guild for a local gaming groupWhat do you think of this format? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Postcards; Leviathan Wilds; MANTIS; Fugitive (Revisited)
3w ago00:19:57Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Postcards (2025)Leviathan Wilds (2024)Episode 027: Shadow of the LeviathanMANTIS (2022)“Why the MANTIS shrimp is my new favorite animal.”Fugitive (2017) (revisited)What games have you tried lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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The Beginning (of the Game)
3w ago00:16:49Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his thoughts about what makes for a great beginning to a game. This follows up on the previous episode about ends of games. Join us, won’t you?Happy Salmon (2016)Bruce Voge IIIPaku Paku (2017)Escape: The Curse of the Temple (2012)dude (2018)Agricola (2007)Res Arcana (2019)3 Chapters (2024)Calico (2020)Las Vegas (2012)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)A Handful of Stars (2017)Sidereal Confluence (2017)Pandemic (2008)Honorable Mentions:Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization (2015)The Resistance: Avalon (2012)Which games do you hope think have amazing openings? Share your thoughts with the guild over on boardgamegeek, #3269. See you there!
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The End (of the game)
4w ago00:19:08Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about how games end, and recommends five games with compelling endings. Join us, won’t you?Skull King (2013)Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2016)Monikers (2015)Escape! The Curse of the Temple (2012)A Study in Emerald (2013)Honorable MentionsRes Arcana (2019)The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus (2011)QE (2019)What games do you think have good endings? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Light Speed Arena; Core Worlds; Verdant; Underwater Cities - Data Era
4w ago00:17:36Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about three games he tried recently for the first time, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Light Speed: Arena (2025)Core Worlds (2011)Verdant (2022)Underwater Cities: Data Era (2025)What do you think of these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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March / April ’26 Movie Roundup
May 600:21:02Tap to summarizeBrendan shares the films he watched during March and April of 2026, and what he thought of them. Join us, won’t you?An Honest LiarTrickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015)Unmatched: Houdini vs. The Genie (2022)Birds (workaround for Listers)ListersWingspan (2019)Project Hail MaryDaybreak (2023)The Search for Planet X (2020)The Naked GunDeception: Murder in Hong Kong (2014)Poetry for Neanderthals (2020)Empire RecordsEmpire Records (themestorm)Red, White & Royal BlueFog of Love (2017)Road HouseFree With Ads podcast “Road House”Vengeance (2018)What films did you watch in March and April of 2026? Share your viewing and game recommendations over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Look Back at 2001-2004
May 400:14:39Tap to summarizeBrendan examines the games that came out between 2001 and 2004 (inclusive), and shares his view of which games are best. Join us, won’t you?Top 5 games from 2001-2004Betrayal at House on the Hill (2004)Ticket to Ride (2004)The Downfall of Pompeii (2004)Coloretto (2003)Alhambra (2003)Best Game whose revised version is great: A Game of Thrones (2003)Best Game I don’t like that much: Power Grid (2004)Best Game I haven’t played much: Puerto Rico (2002)Best Game with a BORING theme: Ingenious (2004)Best Stabby game: Lifeboat (2002)Previous Look Back episodesWhat are your favorite games from 2001-2004? Which ones should I seek out to try? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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