If you would like to donate to Drive Thru Games, you can use the "Thanks" button under the video, or please check out the Gamefound Pledge Manager - https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbhpu
Intro (00:00);
game overview (01:41);
final thoughts and review (06:20);
We're headed back to Tokyo for Tokyo Game Market Autumn / Fall 2025 and for the first time we thought we'd share our research into the games that we're most anticipating. Remember though, we haven't played these titles and even worse, we're often relying on google translate to try to understand the rulebooks (if available!)
If you are headed to TGM have a fantastic con, and please say hi if you see us!
めっちゃわくわくする!
A&M x
Here's some helpful links below. Reservation forms are below the timestamps but these do close randomly, and it's easiest to use if you are able to translate the page from your browser!
Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
#boardgames #tabletopgames #thinkerthemer ❤🏳️🌈🇦🇺
I recently talked about Kreta, a German-only Stefan Dorra game from 2005, and its recent micro-sized remake Sardegna. Well, micro-sized in packaging, but not in components! Let me explain, side-by-slide!
Board Gems highlights older board and card games that are still great games today, and deserve to not be forgotten!
In this week’s video review, Tom’s having a poke around in Vantage - one of the biggest games this year - literally! Over 1,000 cards are packed into this massive box that promises a truly open world… but does it truly deliver?
00:00 Vantage Review
15:15 Spoilers
16:35 Review Continued
Tis the season for colds and flu to run rampant, so since we can’t get together to play games, Edward figured he’d have a different kind of fun and cook w/yall!
Chili crisp/Chili Oil/Chili Crunch is delicious and shockingly expensive to buy… so we are gonna make our own!
Let us know if you enjoy this bonus-normally-Patron-Only content and maybe we do this once in a while.
Explore Lost Ruins of Arnak: Twisted Paths, the latest expansion to the award-winning board game Lost Ruins of Arnak. In this video, we take a closer look at what this expansion adds — new maps, new mechanics, and how it changes the overall gameplay experience. Whether you’re a fan of the base game or new to the series, this overview will help you decide if Twisted Paths deserves a place in your collection.
If you would like to donate to Drive Thru Games, you can use the "Thanks" button under the video, or please check out the Gamefound Pledge Manager - https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbhpu
Intro (00:00);
game overview (02:33);
final thoughts and review (23:41);
Developper Joe Dewhurst comes back on Homo Ludens to showcase the upcoming Combat Commander game about Vietnam. This Chad Jensen project has been picked up by Stephen Rangazas & Non-Breaking Space.
A tour of Montreal’s board-game convention—demos, prototypes, friendly chaos—and a tense showdown against a world champion. Drop your guess before you hit the reveal chapter!
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:30 What Is Ludicon?
04:23 Asmodee Correction: the Lego game is Brick Like This)
07:16 Randolph & Scorpion Masqué
11:32 Mystery Challenge (no spoilers)
12:25 The Match vs. a World Champion
17:57 Contact & Socials
Highlights & Notes
• Packed demo tables and a welcoming learn-to-play crews.
• Friendly tournament energy and lots of casual games all weekend.
• The match against the champion was my highlight of the con.
First-Timer Tips
• Book demos early; popular tables fill fast, but there are multiple copies of many games.
• Bring a small daypack: water bottle and protein bar or other snacks (no food or drinks are available on-site)
• Schedule “walk the floor” laps between games to discover hidden gems.
• Budget time for social games—you’ll meet great people.
Credits
• Event: Ludicon 2025 (Montreal, QC)
• Big thanks to Alain Fragman and all of the organizers, volunteers, and the designers/publishers who taught games on camera.
• World Champion: name withheld here to avoid spoilers—check the pinned comment after you’ve watched!
Filming Gear
Shot handheld on iPhone 17 Pro Max and DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with DJI Mic 3.
Work With Me
Brains On Games reviews how play builds thinking skills. For review inquiries or previews: brian@brainsongames.ca
It's been a little while since our last 10 [comma] out of 10 - we've been recording more short-form content to make sure we can post more videos... but let's be honest, we're really long-winded people 😂 So now that we're up and running with board game shelving again in our new studio / games room, we're bringing it BACK!
Thank you for watching and Happy Tuesday, or Monday, wherever you are in the world! A&M x
Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
#boardgames #tabletopgames #thinkerthemer ❤🏳️🌈🇦🇺
We review a negotiation game filled with trading opportunities! In Haggleoff, you try to get the most money by set collecting and hand management, a bit like the popular bohnanza. However, with the introduction of power cards and timed turns, there’s a lot of chaos happening! You’re essentially investing cards into diverse industries, cashing out as an action to try to get points. Cards are also multi-use with the donation pile, to make this game feel like a TCG at times. It even has a fake online tax program for bookkeeping, called Tax404! Though perhaps this tabletop game doesn’t quite have enough components, even though it could be considered party-esq? Though it may have lots of educational aspects for even middle schoolers!
#boardgames #review #spiel If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
We hope you enjoy this week's video, which is an elongated and trundling trip through MOST of the games that we played at this year's Essen! This is a chunky video in a loose, chatty format - we do hope you enjoy it as something a little bit different!
In this video, we take an in-depth look at Talisman 5th Edition, the newest version of the classic fantasy adventure board game. We break down the gameplay, components, and design updates, comparing them to earlier editions to see what’s improved and what still divides players. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Talisman, this review will help you decide if Talisman 5th Edition is worth adding to your collection—or if it still falls short.
Get ready to duel without the danger! In Let’s Hit Each Other With Fake Swords from Exploding Kittens, players grab foam swords, draw action cards, and swing for hilarious victory. It’s fast, physical, and full of laughter — the perfect party game for families and friends who don’t mind looking ridiculous.
In this quick review, I’ll show how the game plays, what makes it so funny, and why it’s one of the most absurd games Exploding Kittens has ever made.
We review the latest Ti4 expansion, after playing it four times! Well technically, we played Codex 4 3 times, then this once, but there’s a lot of crossover! This 2nd expansion for the top BGG game, Ti4 (with Pok) includes more asymmetric factions all the way to new 4x mechanics (Thunder’s edge + fracture). Explore the fracture and invest into the new legendary planets! Or play an entire new game mode with drafting, in Twilight’s Fall! There are patched cards from the codexes and cardboard pieces like the strategy cards. With the 20 galactic events, you can fix voting or even introduce RTS-isms with the Monuments to the Ages! Will this be the definitive first expansion to get, even with Prophecy of Kings already being out? How do the 6 new factions fare? What has become of the massive product Twilight Imperium, as maybe there could be a Ti5 one day?
Table of Contents
Overview - (0:00)
What’s New - (1:50)
Pros - (2:37)
Cons - (18:15)
Recommender Score - (20:36)
Alexander’s Personal Score - (26:21)
Ashton’s Personal Score - (28:42)