Dr Brian MacDonald (Brains on Games)
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brainsongames.bsky.social
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
#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!
April 22, 2025 at 8:59 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
April 14, 2025 at 7:25 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.
March 21, 2025 at 4:09 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. 😳
March 19, 2025 at 8:54 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
March 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Learned to play #Earth. Thanks to the #insideupgames team for teaching it!
March 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Doing Venn diagrams with #ThingsInRings ! @breakoutcon.bsky.social
March 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
They’re all set up at @breakoutcon.bsky.social ! Games are getting played!
March 14, 2025 at 4:29 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.
March 6, 2025 at 4:37 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!
February 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Packing for the Brains on Games Invitational, and I think I need more bags!
February 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Just posted a first look at #TinyEpicGameOfThrones !
January 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
If I lose this game, will I survive? #tinyepicgameofthrones #tinyepic #gamelyn #asongoficeandfire
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
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
December 7, 2024 at 6:22 PM
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
Snowstorm tomorrow, but will I still get #Fromage back to the table for game night? #boardgames
December 4, 2024 at 1:32 AM
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
December 2, 2024 at 9:48 PM
In case of emergency:

#boardgames #tabletopgames
December 1, 2024 at 12:40 AM
Writing out a list of all the #boardgames I reviewed this year while preparing for my Top 5. I learned a lot of games!
November 30, 2024 at 6:56 PM
The #Paranoia rpg is taking over #Bluesky ! Hopefully the great Computer can root out those pesky secret societies.
November 30, 2024 at 3:10 AM
I gave ChatGPT my #TorgEternity character’s background and it created a Roll20 token and a profile pic. How do I get it to remember a character image to keep it consistent?
November 27, 2024 at 3:33 AM
Looks like it’s time to develop my spatial skills by finding a place to put this behemoth! It weighs in at 25.6 pounds!

#VampiretheMasquerade #flyos
November 26, 2024 at 9:47 PM
#Fromage was a big surprise - a cheese-themed worker placement game about running a creamery! Review link in the comments.
November 26, 2024 at 12:09 AM