PODCAST · leisure
Pick Up and Deliver
by Rattlebox Games- Network Feed
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
Episodes
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Mystery games redux (themestorm)
Brendan revisits the subject of mystery-themed games. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 242: Mystery Game Race Games Whitehall Mystery (2017)* Fury of Dracula (Third/Fourth Edition) (2015) Scotland Yard (1983) Mysterium Park (2020) HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; Big Book of Madness...
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HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; The Big Book of Madness (revisited)
PU&D870: HeroQuest; Apothebakery; Mysterium Park; The Big Book of Madness (revisited)Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried recently for the first time, and one game he revisited or expanded. Join us, won’t you? HeroQuest (1989) Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (2007)…
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Stefan Feld (Great Designers)
Brendan adds to his Great Designers series, talking about his experience with Stefan Feld games, and which ones he likes the best. Join us, won’t you?His four games I’ve played the most: The Castles of Burgundy (2019) Carpe Diem (2018) Trajan (2011) Bonfire (2020) Played multiple times, but not…
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Night at the Zoo; The Emerald Flame; Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh (expansion)
Brendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Night at the Zoo (2026) The Emerald Flame (2021) Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh (2018) (expansion) dnup (2025) What do you think about these games? What have you been playing lately? Share your thoughts...
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Top of the Stack, October 2026
Brendan explores his game plays in September and sets up his October plays. Join us, won’t you? September Top of the Stack New Game – Recall✓ Top 50 game – Messina 1347✓ Another New Game – Outdoor Survival One More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun Shelf of Opportunity October Top of the Stack New…
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5 Things I Like About Trickerion (Message from the Deep)
Brendan does a deep dive into one of his favorite games: Trickerion. Join us, won’t you? Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Tactical Worker Placement Dungeon Petz (2011) Very Tight Economy Agricola (2007) Interdependent Resources / Mechanisms On Mars (2020) Ark Nova (2021) Well-integrated…
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Emptying the Dust Bin – June – August 2026
Brendan reflects on the games he dusted off in June, July, and August but didn’t have time to reflect upon. Join us, won’t you? Top 50 Dusted off Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Glory to Rome (2005) Orléans (2014) Classic bangers Carcassonne (2000) Root (2018) Splendor (2014) High Society...
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Virgo gamers (Astrology files)
Brendan talks a bit about what games people born under the zodiac sign Virgo might like best. Join us, won’t you? Previous Astrology Files episodes Allure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits” Farming and Wheat The Canadian Potato Museum Agricola (2007) Pick Up & Deliver 229: Duel…
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The Game Makers; Wanted Wombats; Wandering Towers; The Downfall of Pompei (revisited)
Brendan gives his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you? The Game Makers (2026) Fromage (2024) Wanted Wombats (2022) Wandering Towers (2022) The Downfall of Pompeii (2004) revisited What do you think of these games? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in…
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May, June, July ’26 Movie Roundup
Brendan shares his thoughts on the films he watched in May, June, and July of 2026. Join us, won’t you? The Sheep Detectives (2026) Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Battle Sheep (2010) Tipperary (2023) Shear Panic (2005) Swimming with Men (2018) Castell (2018) Raas: A Dance of Love (2026) The…
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Introducing the Hobby, part 2 – Mechanism Boot Camp
Fresh off his episode about crowd pleasing beginner games, Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby’s mechanisms. Join us for this conclusion, won’t you? Introducing the Hobby (episode 20) Introducing the Hobby, part 1 – Crowd Pleasers (episode 860) Forbidden Island…
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Pick Up & Deliver 860: Introducing the Hobby, part 1 – Crowd Pleasers
Brendan shares insights into how to introduce people to the hobby. Join us for this first of two parts, won’t you? Introducing the Hobby (episode 20) Wits & Wagers: It’s Vegas, Baby! (2019) Qwixx (2012) Las Vegas (2026) Wavelength (2019) Diamant (2005) Skyjo (2015) Time’s Up! Title Recall! (2008)...
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Fit to Print; Destinies; Hex Effects; TTR Europe (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Fit to Print (2023) Tiny Towns (2019) Galaxy Trucker (2007) Destinies (2021) Ticket to Ride: Europe (2005) Hex Effects (2025) Mantis (2022) Unstable Unicorns (2017) What games have you...
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Top of the Stack, Sept '26
Brendan talks a bit about what games he played in August, and what games he wants to play in September. Join us, won’t you? August 2026 Top of the Stack New Game – Night at the Zoo✓ Top 50 game – Messina 1347X Another New Game – Wandering Towers✓ One More – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunX Shelf of...
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Back to School (Themestorm Redux)
Brendan revisits an old Themestorm, “Back to School,” and reflects on some ideas about it. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 259: Back to School (Board Game Sommelier) For the Love of Books Atheneum: Mystic Library (2020) The Big Book of Madness (2015) Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore The...
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Shelf of Opportunity Update
Brendan shares an update on the pile of games he owns but hasn’t played yet. Join us, won’t you? My Shelf of Opportunity Emptying The Dust Bin (reflections) Collecting to collect Fun themes Designer Pedigree Game Pedigree Only So Much Time for Crunchy Big Games that are hard to schedule 2 player...
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Everdell: Emerland; Darwin’s Journey; Tranquility; Thunder Road: Vendetta (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you? Everdell Emerland (2026) Everdell (2018) Darwin’s Journey (2023) Thunder Road: Vendetta (2023) (revisited) Tranquility (2020) What do you think of these games? What games have you…
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Look Back at 1996-2000
Brendan talks about his favorite games from 1996-2000. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 827: Look Back at 2001-2004Top 5 games from this era: Lost Cities (1999) Ra (1999) Through the Desert (2017) Torres (1999) Guillotine (1998) Honorable Mentions: Carcassonne (2000) Samurai (1998) Bohnanza...
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Teaching Anachrony
Brendan talks a bit about teaching games, particularly the delightfully complex game Anachrony. Join us, won’t you? Teaching About Boardgames, Part 1 and Part 2 Help on how to introduce this to non boardgamer for a 2p game? (boardgamegeek thread) Anachrony (2017) Lords of Waterdeep (2012) Worker...
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GenCon 2026 Games (BG Espresso Flight)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played for the first time at Gencon this year. Join us, won’t you? Trickarus (2024) Hey Hey Relay (2024) In a Nutshell (2025) The Trial of the Forest (2026) Magical Athlete (2025) Got Five! (2026) Cyberpunk Legends (2026) What do you think of...
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GenCon 2026 Wrap up
Brendan shares some highlights from GenCon 2026. Join us, won’t you? XYZ Game Labs Checking in with friends Azkadelia (All Play) Kervin Queliza (For Why Games) Flying Frog Productions Call of Cthluhu Tornado Warning at GenCon Meeting designers Ben Harkin (Floodgate Games) Dominic (North Star…
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Top of the Stack, August 2026
Brendan shares his game plays from July and his plans for August. Join us, won't you? Top of the Stack, July 2026 New Game - Liberté Top 50 game - Dungeon Petz✓ I've been meaning to play this - Fit to Print✓ One More - The Fox Experiment✓ Shelf of Opportunity My Top 50 Top of the Stack, August…
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Bury Me in the Rift; The Fox Experiment; Diplomacy: The Golden Blade; Sentinels of the Multiverse (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played recently for the first time. Join us, won’t you? Bury Me in the Rift The Fox Experiment Regarding evolution: Lysenkoism Diplomacy: The Golden Blade Know Thy Enemy: Designing for Yomi in Games Sentinels of the Multiverse What games have...
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Teaching About Boardgames, part 2
Brendan continues his discussion of his boardgame class. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 847: Teaching About Boardgames, part 1 “Fail Faster” Playtesting for game design What do you think about this class? What should I add or remove? Join the conversation over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Teaching About Boardgames, part 1
Brendan talks about his approach to teaching his class about Board Games and Community. (Well, he returns to this topic, really.) Join us, won’t you? Previous episodes about my teaching: Pick Up & Deliver 772: My Board Game Class (400 back) Pick Up & Deliver 366: My Board Game Class Games we…
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Reading Roundup, Q2 2026
Brendan shares his thoughts about the books he read in April, May, and June of 2026. Join us, won’t you? Challenger The Kingdom of Gods Death of a Gentle Lady The Wind Through the Keyhole Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy The Wizard Hunters Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow System...
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Haunted Mansion; Nestlings; Velonimo; Camel (C)up (revisited)
Brendan discusses three games he played for the first time recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Disney: The Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits Game (2020) Jaws (2019) Nestlings (2024) The Gardens (2022) Camel Up (2014) (6 years, 4 months, 13 days dusty) Ready Set Bet (2022) Hot...
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Emptying the Dust Bin, Mar-May 2026
Brendan talks about the games he got out of the dust in the last couple months but did talk about in the podcast. Join us, won’t you? March 2026 Axis & Allies: Guadalcanal (2 years, 5 months, 25 days dusty) Quest for El Dorado (1 year, 9 months, 11 days dusty) Hues and Cues (1 year, 1 month, 19...
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Adaptations
Brendan talks about board games that have been adapted from published sources. Join us, won’t you? Previous episodes about this subject: Established Creative Worlds Comic Book IPs Game Play by Paul Booth Flip the Table Feels like the text Jaws (2019) Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle (2016) Buffy the...
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Top of the Stack, July 2026
Brendan shares his gameplay achievements from June 2026, and looks ahead to July. Join us, won’t you? June 2026 Top of the Stack New Game – Struggle of Empires ✓ Top 50 game – Glory to Rome ✓ I’ve been meaning to play this – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun X One More – Bury Me In the Rift ✓ Shelf of...
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Vacation Games
Brendan shares some tales of his vacation to the Maritime provinces of Canada, shares the games he played there, and talks about what games the events he went to reminded him of. Games we played on the trip: Qwixx (2012) Lost Cities (1999) Cribbage (1630) Gin Rummy (1909) Game Stores Board Room...
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Bogencon ’26 – Dune; Struggle of Empires (BG Espresso special)
Brendan shares his experience at a home-con he attends yearly, Bogencon. Join us, won’t you? The Board Game Show Regular games for me: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game (2025) Dice Miner (2021) Strike (2012) The Gang (2024) Games I dusted off: Chicken! (2023)...
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Reading Roundup, Q1 2026
Brendan shares his thoughts about the books he read in the first three months of 2026. Join us, won’t you? The Death of the Necromancer (Ile-Rien, #2) The Element of Fire (Ile-Rien #1) The Courage of Birds: And the Often Surprising Ways They Survive Winter Seven Surrenders (Terra Ignota, #2) For…
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Gemini gamers (Astrology files)
Brendan talks a bit about what games people born under the zodiac sign Gemini might like best. Join us, won’t you? Previous Astrology Files episodes Allure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits” Guiding Change and Transformation Seasons (2012) Revive (2022) Ark Nova (2021) Very...
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King of the Dice; Level 7 Escape; Gold Ahoy!; Dog Park (revisited)
Brendan 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...
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Top of the Stack, June 2026
Brendan shares his gameplay achievements from May 2026, and looks ahead to June. Join us, won’t you? May 2025 Top of the Stack New Game – AhoyX Top 50 game – Lost Ruins of Arnak✓ Old Game New to Collection – TeotihuacanX One More – Level 7 Escape✓ Shelf of Opportunity June 2026 Top of the Stack…
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Books (Themestorm)
Brendan talks about games themed around books. Join us, won’t you? Games about Libraries Ex 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 Books A Place...
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The ‘geek Asks 14
Brendan examines the recent posts on boardgamegeek as though the threads are there as questions for him. Join us, won’t you? Negotiation in Games Spiel des Jahres Nominees Trying to replace a stock image – need help 8 Board Game Re-Themes I Made for Fun Looking to get into more complex Euros……
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Postcards; Leviathan Wilds; MANTIS; Fugitive (Revisited)
Brendan 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 Leviathan MANTIS (2022) “Why the MANTIS shrimp is my new favorite animal.” Fugitive (2017) (revisited) What games have you tried lately?...
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The Beginning (of the Game)
Brendan 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 III Paku Paku (2017) Escape: The Curse of the Temple (2012) dude (2018) Agricola (2007) Res Arcana (2019) 3...
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The End (of the game)
Brendan 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 Mentions Res Arcana (2019) The Adventurers…
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Light Speed Arena; Core Worlds; Verdant; Underwater Cities - Data Era
Brendan 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...
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March / April ’26 Movie Roundup
Brendan shares the films he watched during March and April of 2026, and what he thought of them. Join us, won’t you? An Honest Liar Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Unmatched: Houdini vs. The Genie (2022) Birds (workaround for Listers) Listers Wingspan (2019) Project Hail Mary Daybreak…
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Look Back at 2001-2004
Brendan 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 2001-2004 Betrayal at House on the Hill (2004) Ticket to Ride (2004) The Downfall of Pompeii (2004) Coloretto (2003) Alhambra (2003) Best...
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Top of the Stack, May 2026
Brendan shares his gameplay stats and experiences from April of 2026, and his plans for May. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, April 2026 New Game – Light Speed Arena✓ Top 50 game – Lost Ruins of Arnak Old Game New to Collection – Root One More – Core Worlds✓ Shelf of Opportunity My Top 50…
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Gnome Hollow; Horrified: Greek Monsters; Awkward Guests 2; Seasons (revisited)
Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Gnome Hollow (2024) Horrified: Greek Monsters (2023) Horrified (2019) Horrified: American Monsters (2021) Horrified: World of Monsters (2024) Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases (2023) Clue (1949)...
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Earth Day (Themestorm)
Brendan talks a bit about Earth Day and games that reflect on the topics related to it. Environmental Activism Endeavor: Deep Sea (2024) Endangered (2020) Daybreak (2023) Animals and Nature Wingspan (2019) Wild: Serengeti (2022) Cascadia (2021) Undergrove (2024) Earth (2023) Environmental Balance...
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Jargon and Named Mechanisms in Game Design
Brendan shares a bit about how jargon and game design interact, and what they do for people outside the hobby. Join us, won’t you? WHAT IS THIS KIND OF GAME CALLED? (BGG thread) What experiences have you had with board game jargon? Is it useful? Frustrating? Gate-keepery? Share your thoughts over...
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Wilmot’s Warehouse; Istanbul – The Dice Game; Hanabi (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impression of three different games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you? Wilmot’s Warehouse (2024) Istanbul: The Dice Game (2017) Hanabi (2010) (revisited) Trekking the World (2020) What new games have you played lately? What do you think of the games featured in this...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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
HOSTED BY
Rattlebox Games- Network Feed
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Pick Up and Deliver have?
Pick Up and Deliver currently has 867 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Pick Up and Deliver about?
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
How often does Pick Up and Deliver release new episodes?
Pick Up and Deliver releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 867 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Pick Up and Deliver?
You can listen to Pick Up and Deliver on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Pick Up and Deliver?
Pick Up and Deliver is created and hosted by Rattlebox Games- Network Feed.
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