Dr Brian MacDonald (Brains on Games)
@brainsongames.bsky.social
The board gaming psychologist. Reviews and previews of tabletop games, on YouTube as @brainsongames.
I’m excited about the new releases from Karma Games - they made Clans of Caledonia, one of (if not the) best economic games ever. I posted a quick video about the new releases on the YouTube channel. Check out the organizer for Thiefdom!
October 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I’m excited about the new releases from Karma Games - they made Clans of Caledonia, one of (if not the) best economic games ever. I posted a quick video about the new releases on the YouTube channel. Check out the organizer for Thiefdom!
New review!
Castle Raisers Board Game Review | Tile Placement Meets Take-That
youtu.be/9KdqjgUqhJI
#boardgames #castleraisers
Castle Raisers Board Game Review | Tile Placement Meets Take-That
youtu.be/9KdqjgUqhJI
#boardgames #castleraisers
Castle Raisers Board Game Review | Tile Placement Meets Take-That
YouTube video by Brains On Games
youtu.be
July 14, 2025 at 11:13 PM
New review!
Castle Raisers Board Game Review | Tile Placement Meets Take-That
youtu.be/9KdqjgUqhJI
#boardgames #castleraisers
Castle Raisers Board Game Review | Tile Placement Meets Take-That
youtu.be/9KdqjgUqhJI
#boardgames #castleraisers
#Earth is probably the best game I’ve played so far this year, so I’m SUPER excited to preview #AnimalKingdom !
Thanks to #insideupgames I’ll be testing this out all week!
Thanks to #insideupgames I’ll be testing this out all week!
April 22, 2025 at 8:59 PM
#Earth is probably the best game I’ve played so far this year, so I’m SUPER excited to preview #AnimalKingdom !
Thanks to #insideupgames I’ll be testing this out all week!
Thanks to #insideupgames I’ll be testing this out all week!
Deep Regrets! Press your luck and maybe go insane from the creatures you catch.
Deep Regrets Board Game Review | Should You Play This Creepy Fishing Game?
youtu.be/2_ND0qE1aLI
Deep Regrets Board Game Review | Should You Play This Creepy Fishing Game?
youtu.be/2_ND0qE1aLI
Deep Regrets Board Game Review | Should You Play This Creepy Fishing Game?
YouTube video by Brains On Games
youtu.be
April 21, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Deep Regrets! Press your luck and maybe go insane from the creatures you catch.
Deep Regrets Board Game Review | Should You Play This Creepy Fishing Game?
youtu.be/2_ND0qE1aLI
Deep Regrets Board Game Review | Should You Play This Creepy Fishing Game?
youtu.be/2_ND0qE1aLI
WOW! Brains On Games is 5 years old today. Which means I’ve learned a new game almost every week for half a decade.
Tonight’s review looks at Power Plants, from KTBG. Visit the channel to get notified when it goes live, or check the link in the comments.
#boardgames #KTBG #powerplants
Tonight’s review looks at Power Plants, from KTBG. Visit the channel to get notified when it goes live, or check the link in the comments.
#boardgames #KTBG #powerplants
April 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
WOW! Brains On Games is 5 years old today. Which means I’ve learned a new game almost every week for half a decade.
Tonight’s review looks at Power Plants, from KTBG. Visit the channel to get notified when it goes live, or check the link in the comments.
#boardgames #KTBG #powerplants
Tonight’s review looks at Power Plants, from KTBG. Visit the channel to get notified when it goes live, or check the link in the comments.
#boardgames #KTBG #powerplants
Ready for my first game of #DeepRegrets - what a beauty! This is a purchase I don’t regret! #boardgames Judson Cowan at @tettix.bsky.social is an amazing artist.
April 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Ready for my first game of #DeepRegrets - what a beauty! This is a purchase I don’t regret! #boardgames Judson Cowan at @tettix.bsky.social is an amazing artist.
After playing it at #Breakout with @xopherchan.bsky.social , my copy of #StalkExchange has arrived. I pulled out an old dice bag to make the greenhouse bag a little bigger.
March 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
After playing it at #Breakout with @xopherchan.bsky.social , my copy of #StalkExchange has arrived. I pulled out an old dice bag to make the greenhouse bag a little bigger.
I WAS expecting this postal order. Two big boxes of #MontyPython paraphernalia. I played the #cocurricularmediaevalreenactmentprogramme at #Breakout and now I have the complete set. Which will not fit on my Python bookshelf. 😳
March 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I WAS expecting this postal order. Two big boxes of #MontyPython paraphernalia. I played the #cocurricularmediaevalreenactmentprogramme at #Breakout and now I have the complete set. Which will not fit on my Python bookshelf. 😳
My final interview at #Breakout was with Daryl Andrews ( @boardgame.bsky.social ) about game design, Happy Camper, and his upcoming projects!
The chat goes live tonight on YouTube!
#breakout #boardgamegeek #tabletopgaming #boardgames #brainsongames #boardgamecommunity #happycamper #DonaldDuck
The chat goes live tonight on YouTube!
#breakout #boardgamegeek #tabletopgaming #boardgames #brainsongames #boardgamecommunity #happycamper #DonaldDuck
March 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
My final interview at #Breakout was with Daryl Andrews ( @boardgame.bsky.social ) about game design, Happy Camper, and his upcoming projects!
The chat goes live tonight on YouTube!
#breakout #boardgamegeek #tabletopgaming #boardgames #brainsongames #boardgamecommunity #happycamper #DonaldDuck
The chat goes live tonight on YouTube!
#breakout #boardgamegeek #tabletopgaming #boardgames #brainsongames #boardgamecommunity #happycamper #DonaldDuck
I met up with @rockstonedice.bsky.social about #GemsOfIridescia to talk about creating a board game! #breakout
Gems of Iridescia Interview | Roberto Panetta Talks Design at Breakout 2025!
youtu.be/gAV90EwyN_M
Gems of Iridescia Interview | Roberto Panetta Talks Design at Breakout 2025!
youtu.be/gAV90EwyN_M
Gems of Iridescia Interview | Roberto Panetta Talks Design at Breakout 2025!
YouTube video by Brains On Games
youtu.be
March 15, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I met up with @rockstonedice.bsky.social about #GemsOfIridescia to talk about creating a board game! #breakout
Gems of Iridescia Interview | Roberto Panetta Talks Design at Breakout 2025!
youtu.be/gAV90EwyN_M
Gems of Iridescia Interview | Roberto Panetta Talks Design at Breakout 2025!
youtu.be/gAV90EwyN_M
Learned to play #Earth. Thanks to the #insideupgames team for teaching it!
March 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Learned to play #Earth. Thanks to the #insideupgames team for teaching it!
Doing Venn diagrams with #ThingsInRings ! @breakoutcon.bsky.social
March 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Doing Venn diagrams with #ThingsInRings ! @breakoutcon.bsky.social
They’re all set up at @breakoutcon.bsky.social ! Games are getting played!
March 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
They’re all set up at @breakoutcon.bsky.social ! Games are getting played!
I finally played #UnconsciousMind ! And I’m the proud owner of meeple versions of Freud, Jung, Adler, Hilferding, and Spielrein!
Worker placement plus engine building is a great combo, but this is heavier than my usual games.
Worker placement plus engine building is a great combo, but this is heavier than my usual games.
March 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I finally played #UnconsciousMind ! And I’m the proud owner of meeple versions of Freud, Jung, Adler, Hilferding, and Spielrein!
Worker placement plus engine building is a great combo, but this is heavier than my usual games.
Worker placement plus engine building is a great combo, but this is heavier than my usual games.
Very excited to try #UnconsciousMind - a worker placement/engine building game about the dawn of psychoanalysis. I’m the proud owner of a Freud meeple!
February 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Very excited to try #UnconsciousMind - a worker placement/engine building game about the dawn of psychoanalysis. I’m the proud owner of a Freud meeple!
Reposted by Dr Brian MacDonald (Brains on Games)
Hey! It’s me!
Had a great interview with @brainsongames.bsky.social
at a an invitational board game event a couple weekends ago.
I also recommend checking out his channel, fun and informative board game reviews!
youtu.be/elqj50TmlMg?...
Had a great interview with @brainsongames.bsky.social
at a an invitational board game event a couple weekends ago.
I also recommend checking out his channel, fun and informative board game reviews!
youtu.be/elqj50TmlMg?...
Roll’n Bump & Roll’n Bump Duel Preview | Game Design & Publishing Insights
YouTube video by Brains On Games
youtu.be
February 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Hey! It’s me!
Had a great interview with @brainsongames.bsky.social
at a an invitational board game event a couple weekends ago.
I also recommend checking out his channel, fun and informative board game reviews!
youtu.be/elqj50TmlMg?...
Had a great interview with @brainsongames.bsky.social
at a an invitational board game event a couple weekends ago.
I also recommend checking out his channel, fun and informative board game reviews!
youtu.be/elqj50TmlMg?...
Packing for the Brains on Games Invitational, and I think I need more bags!
February 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Packing for the Brains on Games Invitational, and I think I need more bags!
Just posted a first look at #TinyEpicGameOfThrones !
January 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Just posted a first look at #TinyEpicGameOfThrones !
January 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
All ready to talk about the next 3 #boardgames in my top 10!
December 21, 2024 at 2:18 PM
All ready to talk about the next 3 #boardgames in my top 10!
Wow! I just recorded the last review before starting the top 10 of 2024 series!
I ordered Illiterati during a recent sale at the Gap Closer Games site… because my son plays Boggle with his girlfriend, so I knew it would be a hit!
#boardgames #illiterati #gapclosergames
I ordered Illiterati during a recent sale at the Gap Closer Games site… because my son plays Boggle with his girlfriend, so I knew it would be a hit!
#boardgames #illiterati #gapclosergames
December 7, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Wow! I just recorded the last review before starting the top 10 of 2024 series!
I ordered Illiterati during a recent sale at the Gap Closer Games site… because my son plays Boggle with his girlfriend, so I knew it would be a hit!
#boardgames #illiterati #gapclosergames
I ordered Illiterati during a recent sale at the Gap Closer Games site… because my son plays Boggle with his girlfriend, so I knew it would be a hit!
#boardgames #illiterati #gapclosergames
We did it! #Fromage hit the table tonight and 3 players were within a point of one another. This #boardgame is an instant classic. Tonight one of our group said, “This is the best game I’ve played in a decade.”
December 5, 2024 at 3:20 AM
We did it! #Fromage hit the table tonight and 3 players were within a point of one another. This #boardgame is an instant classic. Tonight one of our group said, “This is the best game I’ve played in a decade.”
Snowstorm tomorrow, but will I still get #Fromage back to the table for game night? #boardgames
December 4, 2024 at 1:32 AM
Snowstorm tomorrow, but will I still get #Fromage back to the table for game night? #boardgames
This #boardgame surprised us. Crafting, tower defence, and manipulating the attack order made for an enjoyable game night. Tense, but lots of laughs along the way!
#surviveuntildaylight #cooperativegames #zombieapocalypse #flyos
#surviveuntildaylight #cooperativegames #zombieapocalypse #flyos
December 2, 2024 at 9:48 PM
This #boardgame surprised us. Crafting, tower defence, and manipulating the attack order made for an enjoyable game night. Tense, but lots of laughs along the way!
#surviveuntildaylight #cooperativegames #zombieapocalypse #flyos
#surviveuntildaylight #cooperativegames #zombieapocalypse #flyos
December 1, 2024 at 12:40 AM