Tabletop Game Review: Brainwaves: The Brilliant Boar

Brainwaves: The Brilliant Boar

KOSMOS

1-4 Players

Playtime: 15 Minutes

Brainwaves is a series of card games developed by neuroscientists and published by KOSMOS. These neat little games are designed to help build episodic memory for children and help adults to retain theirs. With enough play, these games are intended to train brains for a healthier livelihood. The Brilliant Boar is a Brainwaves game for one to four players.

In The Brilliant Boar, there is a face-up deck of cards in the middle of the play area for players to draw from. When a player draws a card, they may look at the card, but then they need to face the card away from them, and towards the other players. Players will need to remember what is in their hands. On a player’s turn, if they believe that they have a card that matches the faceup card on the deck, the may play it. If the cards match, the player gets to take the pair and go again, choosing to either draw from the deck or play from their hand. If a player fails, their card goes into the play area, making it easier for other players to play a match since there will be more cards to choose from. 

Thanks to the short turns, The Brilliant Boar has a really nice and quick flow. Regardless of the player count, the game is enjoyable. Games can typically be played in less than 15 minutes, making this a smart filler game, or just something to be played over and over again. The Brilliant Boar can also be played as a single-player game, in which the player will work to beat their previous score. A notepad is provided so players can log games and see their memory improve over time.

The simple rules allow for players of all ages to enjoy The Brilliant Boar, which is pretty much the point. The Brilliant Boar and the other Brainwaves games are meant to help boost the player’s mental abilities. It plays like a fantastic mental exercise for young children and adults who want to keep a keen brain. Revealing your own cards to other players adds a fun spin to the game, making it feel more like a game and less like a task. Multiple difficulties do a great job at scaling for various players, truly making this a game that anyone can participate in.

The art in The Brilliant Boar is simple but effective. The dressed-up animals are instantly recognizable and might actually help the player to remember them. The plain backgrounds contrast well with characters on the cards. Going for a more sophisticated aesthetic could have had a negative impact on the player’s ability to memorize, so this is a great artistic decision.

It’s simple and easy to play, so The Brilliant Boar is a great game for all types of gamers at the table. For adults, this is a fantastic tool for improving memory and highly recommended for those who want an easy and enjoyable way to feel cognitively active. Those who want a quality thinking game should consider picking up The Brilliant Boar.