Hansa Teutonica; Kanban EV; Hot Streak; Via Nebula (revisited)

·15 min·1 clip

Brendan Reilly walks home from work in suburban Chicago to deliver a triple shot of board game reviews, starting with the classic Euro Hansa Teutonica.

The episode opens with Brendan Reilly walking home from work on a Friday in suburban Chicago, introducing the podcast's unique format of recording during his commute. He announces a 'board game espresso triple shot' segment where he reviews three new games and one revisited game. First, he covers Hansa Teutonica, a 2009 Euro game about medieval German merchants building trading networks, noting its balance between scoring points and upgrading actions, and sharing a personal loss due to strategic exploration. Next, he discusses Kanban EV, a worker placement game by Vital Lacerda set in an automotive factory, describing the tension from a factory manager who inspects players and the complexity of its interconnected systems. He then revisits Via Nebula, a 2016 Martin Wallace game he compares to a lighter version of Brass, emphasizing its shared resource mechanics and shorter playtime. Finally, he reviews Hot Streak, a 2025 betting game with mascot racers like a hot dog and the Queen of England, contrasting it with Ready Set Bet and highlighting its pre-race betting and chaotic fun. Throughout, Brendan provides specific details on designers, artists, publishers, and personal anecdotes from gameplay, wrapping up by inviting listeners to share their own game experiences on BoardGameGeek.

As heard by us

A brisk walking board-game catch-up led by Kanban EV's inspections and Hot Streak's rising bets.

Pick Up and Deliver turns a Friday walk home into a tidy board-game catch-up, with the board game espresso triple shot giving the episode its shape.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a walk-home board-game espresso: Hansa Teutonica's medieval merchant network, Kanban EV's electric-vehicle factory, and Hot Streak's noisy betting swings.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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