At the Gates of Luoyang teaches tradeoffs

Here's a secret: some of the best financial education doesn't come from books or podcasts. It comes from a board game box.

Joe Saul-Sehy welcomes Kylie Prymus, board game expert and owner of Pittsburgh's award-winning store Games Unlimited, for a conversation about the games that sneak money lessons into brilliant gameplay. These aren't boring "educational games" that make kids groan—they're genuinely fun strategy games that happen to teach supply and demand, resource management, risk assessment, and long-term planning better than most finance courses.

Kylie walks through his top picks for economic games that'll make you (and your kids, and yes, your brother-in-law) think differently about money. From deck-builders like Dominion that teach portfolio diversification to Food Chain Magnate (basically an MBA in a box, but way more entertaining), these games turn financial concepts into actual decisions with consequences you can see play out in real time.

But this isn't just about learning—it's about leveling up your holiday gatherings. Kylie shares his favorite cozy games for the season, from the absurdly cute cat-themed strategy game Boop to party games like Monikers that even Uncle Larry can't ruin. Whether you need something cooperative to bring the family together or competitive enough to settle old scores, this episode has you covered.

Plus: you'll hear why game stores like Games Unlimited curate experiences (not just inventory), and how the right game can turn a tense holiday gathering into something people actually want to repeat.

What You'll Walk Away With:

• The board games that teach money concepts like budgeting, income streams, and resource management without feeling like homework

• Why Dominion, Food Chain Magnate, and other economic games are secretly brilliant financial teachers

• Kylie's top holiday game picks—from cozy strategy games to party games that work for any crowd

• How game mechanics like deck-building and resource trading translate directly to real-world money decisions

• What to look for when choosing games that work for both newbies and strategy enthusiasts

• Why games teach financial lessons better than lectures—and how to use that with kids (or adults who need a refresh)

• The surprising ways marketing, scarcity, and community building show up in tabletop games

This Episode Is For You If:

• You want to teach your kids about money in a way that doesn't feel like a lecture

• You're looking for games that are actually fun but happen to build financial thinking

• Your family game nights need an upgrade beyond Monopoly arguments

• You're curious about board games but don't know where to start

• You believe the best learning happens when you're having too much fun to notice you're learning

What's Your Money Game?

Drop your answer in the comments: What board game taught you a real money lesson, even if it wasn't trying to? Or if your financial personality were a board game, which one would it be? The basement wants to know—and we're always looking for new game recommendations.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kylie-prymus-board-games/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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