2025 Gen Con Program Book

LEVEL UP YOUR PUZZLE SKILLS

What is Speed Puzzling?

Forget slow and steady—speed puzzling is all about racing the clock. In this fast-paced, timed competition, individuals, pairs, or teams go head-to-head to complete a jigsaw puzzle as quickly as possible. It’s a whirlwind of sorting, snapping, and strategizing, fueled by focus, teamwork, and pure puzzle passion. From hometown showdowns to global championships, speed puzzling is taking off—and anyone can join the race.

It’s part strategy, part adrenaline, and 100% fun.

Learn more and witness the magic at the Ravensburger Event Space in Hall E.

CONNECT, COVER, CONQUER

In this sneakily strategic card game, flip, twist, and turn your cards to align and cover your opponentsʼ shapes with matching squares, triangles, and rectangles. Analyze, strategize, and optimize because in TACTA™, every card counts.

LEARN MORE

Info

About the Cover

Artist 8

Code of Conduct 14

Gen Con Values 15

Health & Safety 16

Important Info 10

Peter’s Retirement 18

Welcome 6

Questions?

Maps

Convention Center 22

Crowne Plaza 32

Downtown Indy 26

Embassy Suites 32

Exhibit Hall 20

Hyatt Regency 34

JW 36

Marriott 38

Omni 40

Stadium 28

Union Station 41

Westin 42

Highlights

Auction 70

Block Party 48

Charity Partners 68

Entrepreneurs

Avenue 60

Guests of Honor 46

Kid Zone 64

Makers Market 66

Official Merchandise 52

Show Highlights 58

Sponsors 44

Stadium 62

Programs & Events

Art Show 114

Authors Avenue 116

wards 110

Costume Contest 120

Costume Parade 122

Diana Jones Award 112

Electronic Gaming 146

Entertainment 132

Escape Rooms 142

Event Team Thank You 151

Ad Index

Gaming

Board Games & Card Games 74

Chaosium 50th Anniversary 72

First Exposure Playtest Hall 82

Games Library 80

Live Action Roleplaying Games 92

Megagames 94

Miniatures Games 96

Miniatures Hobby Events 100

Open Gaming 78

Rolepl aying Games 88

Film Festival 124

Game Design Academy 108

Gen Con 2026 148

Join the 2026 Event Team 150

Puppetry Program 144

Streaming Live on YouTube 136

Supplemental Activities 138

Trade Day 104

Writers Symposium 118

ZED: The Isle of Misfit Events 140

Visit Booths #809, #817, and #1109 to check out our new releases and player favorites. Discounts ontitlesselect Saturday and Sunday

Welcome to Gen Con 58!

We are thrilled to unite as a vibrant community — a remarkable force of over 70,000 passionate individuals. Each of you plays a vital role in crafting this extraordinary experience, participating in more than 25,000 separate ticketed events celebrating our shared love for gaming.

As we gather here, we must reflect on our legacy and the path we are paving for the future. This year, I’m delighted to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Chaosium and the world of Glorantha and hope you can explore some of that legacy, too. We believe in the spirit of inclusion; Gen Con is not just a celebration of individual achievements but a testament to the strength found in our community. We are united, not as rugged individualists, but as a diverse tapestry woven from the contributions of all.

I am deeply grateful to Gary Gygax and Peter Adkison for their visionary leadership, which laid the foundation for what we celebrate today. Few among you likely know me, but I had the great fortune to stumble through a side door, allowing me to become part of the fabric of this community long ago. Peter welcomed me as General Counsel in the early days of Wizards of the Coast (check out their new location this year at Lucas Oil Stadium).

While at Wizards, I got to help with a bunch of amazing projects including: patenting Magic: The Gathering, negotiating Pokémon deals, saving D&D and Gen Con, and creating the Open Gaming License, which had a profoundly positive effect on our industry. After helping to sell Wizards, I formed a small law firm specializing in this industry, and I’ve assisted many publishers, artists, and game designers. I’ve been a co-owner of Gen Con for about 15 years now, and I am grateful to Peter and the other owners for allowing me this opportunity to step into the role of Chairperson. I hope I can earn your confidence as well. With deep love for our industry, I embrace our legacy and look forward to a future brimming with creativity, connection, and innovation.

Thank you all for being here and taking part in this incredible journey. Together, we continue to build a legacy we can all be proud of!

Kindly,

Brian E. Lewis Chairperson

And a special THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to Cathy Rundell (Graphic Designer) and Barbara Fisher (Art Show Coordinator) who are celebrating their retirement after the 2025 convention. We couldn’t have done these last two decades of shows without either of your incredible talents and dedication to our programs!

GEN CON STAFF

Owners

Peter Adkison, Melissa Reis, Adrian Swartout, Brian Lewis, Corey Thompson, Marianne Brand, Jon Peterson

President

David Hoppe

Chief Financial Officer

Ann Eutsler

Chief Technology Officer

Greg Heinzle

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Senior Customer Service & VIG Manager

Mike Boozer

Customer Service & Fulfillment Manager

Michael Green

EVENT MANAGEMENT

Director of Events

Derek Guder

Event Managers

Kali Anderson

Marian McBrine

JC Smith

FINANCE

Accountant

Jenna Lucero

FULFILLMENT MANAGEMENT

Lacey Guzman, Elke Hautala

MARKETING

Director of Marketing

Jackie Martin

Marketing & Community Development Manager

Dani Kennedy

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Convention Operations Manager

Dominic Lewis

Convention Operations Specialist

Ashlynn Freestone

SALES

Senior Manager, Sales & Exhibits

LeMar Mattox

Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Events

Megan Culver

Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives

Jeannette LeGault

Customer Service Representative

Emily DeLang

Event Admin Assistant

Max Worth

Event Reviewers

Jessica Ballard-Barnett

Heather Shannon

Ben Warmus, Leslie Warmus

Marketing Operations Manager

Madeline Streicher

Manager, People & Business Operations

Erika Jackson

Sales & Exhibits Coordinator

Chelsey Phillips

SOFTWARE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Program Manager

Teena Whittenhall

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Rennie Araucto, Sam Asif, Shelby Blades, Matt Elhotiby, Peter Fasula, Aurora Hampton, Tom Hunter, Scott Norris, Jonathon Roscoe, David Tveraas

Special Thanks to Our Friends & Partners

Fern Exposition, Reaction AV, John Sutton, Stacia Kirby, Cathy Rundell, Alesia Clardy, Owen Seyler, Rita Milandri and the Q-Rooms Team, Jason

Lavengood, Rob Banayote, Jordan Augustine, Amber Sherman, Tinnel Lovitt, Callie Gibson, Mandi Hutchinson, Aaron Trammell, all Gen Con Captains and Event Team, the staff of the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, Visit Indy, and Downtown Indy.

A BIG thank you to ALL who make Gen Con possible, including game manufacturers, gaming clubs, Event Organizers, and of course, Gen Con attendees! 2025 Cover Art by Megan Lara.

Gen Con would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral lands of the Myaamia (Miami), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and other Indigenous peoples.

Portrait by Gooey Cube

2025 Program Cover Artist Megan Lara

Get to know Megan Lara, the extraordinary artist behind the Gen Con program book cover art.

What inspired your work on this year’s Gen Con program book cover art?

My wife is a massive D&D and board game fan (I dabble, but it’s her thing), so she helped me brainstorm what I should create. In general, I usually draw more pop-culture-focused art nouveau work. Still, I knew that for this one, I wanted to do a more original fantasyfocused illustration that could be broadly enjoyed.

I wanted to showcase Gen Con’s mascot, Genevieve the Dragon, and include a figure who could guide an upcoming adventure that works both for D&D and Gen Con. I included D&D elements and other little references in the piece since I love it when people find little Easter eggs and things I sneak in. Genevieve and the mimic were my biggest challenges, as those sorts of things are not usually in my wheelhouse! I’m delighted with how they both turned out, though, and I’m glad I pushed myself to try something different.

What’s it like to be an exhibiting artist at Gen Con?

It’s both humbling and extremely fun. Everyone in the Art Show is fantastic, and it puts a little pep in your step to know that you were accepted into a show with such talented folks. The camaraderie between the artists is wonderful, and I’ve made so many artist friends whom I look forward to seeing every year, whether at Gen Con or other conventions.

In addition to the incredible artists, the crowd at Gen Con is easily one of my favorites. I’ve made more friends at Gen Con than at any other show, and these friendships have lasted for years.

What can attendees look forward to seeing at your booth at Gen Con this year?

I will have my usual catalogue of prints with me. Still, for Gen Con specifically, I’m also going to have some limited-edition foil prints of the piece I did for the program cover and some pins/stickers of the mimic included in that piece, since I really love how he turned out.

Important Info Gen Con Badges

Registration Policies

For on-site refunds or exchanges, please visit the Customer Service kiosks.

Badge Refunds/Exchanges

The last day to receive a badge refund was June 13, 2025. Badges are non-refundable and non-transferable after the deadline. However, badges can be exchanged at the Customer Service kiosk as per our exchange policies.

Event Ticket Refunds/Exchanges/Cancellations

Event-specific ticket refunds/exchanges must be requested at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. All refunds will be managed at the Customer Service kiosks and will be refunded to the purchaser. All ticket refunds are subject to a 5% administrative fee for the total sum of tickets refunded. A valid government-issued photo ID and a Gen Con 2025 badge are required to process any type of ticket refund or exchange. All refunds will be credited back in the original form of payment. For ticket exchanges, please present the ticket for the event you would like to exchange and provide the Game ID number for the event you wish to purchase.

If an event has been canceled, please see a nearby Event HQ for further instructions. No refunds will be given for canceled events without a stamp or signature from the area’s Event HQ. The last day to receive a ticket refund is 4 pm on the Sunday of the convention.

Generic Ticket Refunds

Generic tickets are only refunded to system credit. There is no cash or credit card refund for generic tickets. System credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, does not expire, and can be used to purchase badges or tickets for any future Gen Con. All ticket refunds are subject to a 5% administrative fee for the total sum of tickets refunded. Ticket refunds will be managed at the Customer Service kiosks and will only be refunded to the purchaser. A valid government-issued photo ID and a Gen Con 2025 badge are required to process any type of ticket refund on site. The last day to receive a generic ticket system credit refund is the Sunday of the convention, no later than 4 pm.

Lost or Misplaced Badges & Event Tickets

Gen Con cannot replace lost, stolen, or forgotten badges or event tickets. Lost, stolen, or forgotten items must be repurchased at full cost. It is recommended you check with the Gen Con Show Office in Room 112 of the convention center to see if your materials have been turned in to Lost & Found before buying new materials. Gen Con LLC assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or forgotten materials. To repurchase your items, go to the Customer Service kiosks in the Main Registration area.

If your shipment is confirmed to be lost by the USPS, Gen Con will replace your convention materials at no cost to you. Gen Con cannot replace items that have been delivered.

Why Do I need a Badge?

Everyone attending Gen Con (excluding children ages 10 and under) must wear a valid Gen Con badge at all times for identification while in the convention center and surrounding hotels and during gameplay/events. A badge will allow you admittance into the Exhibit Hall, Art Show, Anime events, seminars, and other events happening in public areas during the convention. It is also needed to purchase tickets for events. Badges must be visible at all times to assure staff and security of your eligibility to participate in the show. (Gen Con does not offer parent badges, shopper badges, or other types of limited-access, discounted badges).

Children 10 & Under

Children ages 10 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by an attending adult and must be registered in the Gen Con children’s log for security purposes. They are not required to have a badge unless they will be participating in an event that requires an event ticket. Come to the Customer Service or Badge Registration kiosks to register your child and provide us with your contact information in case you and your child are separated. You will receive a wristband that must be attached to your child’s wrist while in the convention center and surrounding areas where you are participating in Gen Con events. All children must be accompanied at all times by a Parent or Guardian with a valid badge. Children ages 11 and above are subject to standard badge pricing.

Payment

Gen Con accepts cash or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) as payment. Checks and money orders are not accepted at any time. A 10% admissions tax will be charged on all badge purchases, in compliance with Marion County laws.

Electronic Ticketing

How Does E-Ticketing Work?

E-tickets are purchased the same way as paper tickets, but they will not be shipped to you or picked up at Will Call. Instead, they are stored in your Gen Con account and associated with your Gen Con badge. Event Hosts will admit you by scanning your badge rather than taking a paper ticket. A receipt, confirmation email, or tickets that are paper are not e-tickets.

Is E-Ticketing Optional?

We are using e-ticketing with a select group of event organizers. Specific events will be designated as e-ticketed only. There will be no option to get paper tickets for these events.

Do I Need to Have a Smartphone to Use E-Ticketing?

Nope! As an attendee, all you need is your badge. Event organizers will use a smartphone or other device to scan your badge and redeem your e-tickets.

How Do I Get E-Tickets?

E-tickets are purchased the same way as paper tickets, but they will not be shipped to you or picked up at Will Call. Instead, they are stored in your Gen Con account and associated with your Gen Con badge. A receipt or confirmation email is not an e-ticket.

Registration & Customer Service

What is Registration?

Registration covers all processes associated with attending the convention, obtaining badge credentials, and purchasing event tickets. Registration offers three services: Customer Service (Including Event/Badge Registration), Accessibility Services, and Will Call. The Main Registration kiosks are located near the Maryland Street entrance in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse. There is also a remote Event Registration site in Hall C. Each service area is clearly marked for your convenience.

Event Registration

Event tickets can be purchased on site at the Customer Service kiosks located in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance or at Event Registration kiosks in Hall C and the Stadium (credit card only). See the Area Hotel Maps for specific locations. Gen Con accepts cash and all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa). Gen Con does not accept checks or money orders.

Customer Service

Refund and exchange requests, badge and event ticket purchases, or questions regarding the convention or show policies can be directed to Customer Service. These kiosks are located in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance. Refunds or exchanges will only be processed at the Customer Service kiosks. Eventspecific ticket refunds/exchanges must be requested at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. All refunds will be issued back to the purchaser of the original ticket(s).

Accessibility Services

This kiosk is located next to the Customer Service kiosk. Disabled patrons may use this kiosk for their one-stop registration needs. Will Call pickup, badge and event ticket purchases, and refunds or exchanges can all be made at this location. Customer Service will also have special stickers to alert staff and event team members that the bearer may need additional assistance (i.e., limited waiting in line, etc.). A sticker is required in order to receive special assistance. The Special Services kiosk is the only place to obtain a mask exception.

Parents may also use this kiosk if they have already purchased a badge but need to obtain a child wristband.

Will Call

If you selected Will Call as your delivery method for your badge and/or event tickets, you may obtain your items at the Will Call kiosks, located in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance. You will need to present a valid government-issued photo ID to obtain your packet. Small children with no photo ID must be accompanied by a parent or guardian with a valid ID in order to pick up their packet. Please keep in mind that Will Call lines and wait times may vary.

Items purchased online during the convention have a mandatory two hour wait time until they are available for pick up. Please go to a registration kiosk on site for faster service.

Child Registration

All children ages 10 and under must be registered at the Event/Badge Registration or Customer Service kiosks. Registering your child provides the Security Team with contact information in case you and your child become separated. Be sure to register your child and pick up a child wristband when you arrive at the show if you have not already done so.

At a Glance

Customer Service/Main Registration

Wednesday, noon – Thursday, 2 am

Opens: Thursday at 7 am

Closes: Sunday at 4 pm

Accessibility Services

Wednesday, noon – 6 pm

Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – 10 pm

Sunday, 8 am – 4 pm

Will Call

Wednesday, noon – Thursday, 2 am

Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 11 pm

Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm

Event Registration, Hall C

Thursday – Saturday, 7:30 am – midnight

Sunday, 7:30 am – 3 pm

Event Registration, Stadium

Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – midnight

Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm

Exhibit Hall

Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm

Info Booth, ICC

Wednesday, 9 am – 7 pm

Thursday, 7 am – 7 pm

Friday – Saturday, 8 am – 7 pm

Sunday, 8 am – 4 pm

Info Booth, Stadium

Thursday, 8 am – 7 pm

Friday-Saturday, 9 am – 7 pm

Sunday, 9 am - 4 pm

Show Office

Wednesday, 12 pm – 10 pm

Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 10 pm

Sunday, 7 am - 5 pm

Contact Us

If you have any inquiries regarding Registration, Customer Service, Will Call, policies, or refunds, please come to the Customer Service kiosks in the Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance of the convention center.

If you have any questions after the show, feel free to call (206) 385-1967 or email customerservice@gencon.com.

Regular Customer Service hours are

Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5 pm (Pacific).

Important Info

Show Policies

Ethics & Conduct

All of the following constitute grounds for expulsion from the convention without refund:

• Viol ating any federal, state, or local laws, facility rules, or convention policies

• Failure to comply with the instructions of Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel

• Using anything in a threatening or destructive manner against a person or property

• Endangering the safety of oneself or others

• Threatening, stealing, cheating, or harassing others

• Failure to conduct oneself in a mature and responsible manner

If you experience or witness any of the above, please seek out Gen Con Event Staff or Gen Con Security to report the incident. If you can’t locate an Event Staff member, please report the incident to Show Management in the show office located in Room 112

Anti-Harassment Policy

Gen Con: The Best Four Days in Gaming! is dedicated to providing a harassment-free event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or affiliation. Gen Con does not tolerate harassment of convention participants in any form. Convention participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled without refund at the discretion of show management.

Security

Security is provided by a professional security firm and may include off-duty law enforcement personnel, security guards, and Gen Con Event Staff. All security personnel serve to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone. Please show them the respect they deserve. Failure to comply with the directives issued by uniformed security and staff may result in immediate expulsion without refund.

Costumes & Weapons

Please note that exceptions may be made to items in bold when you are participating in the cosplay contest, but only for the period in which you are on stage.

• Costumes, cosplays, and general attire must provide the same level of body coverage expected at an all-ages public beach, but no speedos or thongs.

• Footwear is required at all times.

• Costumes should not impede the movement of yourself or others around you. They must fit through a standard American doorway.

• Costumes should not have any functional sharp edges or points that could be a risk to yourself or others.

• Costumes may not include smoke, odors, or fog.

• Cosplay may not include:

° Words, images, or symbols conveying racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise prejudiced or bigoted messages or sentiments.

° Obscene or offensive language or images including uncensored profanities and pornographic content

• Costumes should not represent or incorporate the iconography, uniform, or appearance of persons or objects associated with prejudice or bigotry (e.g., Nazi imagery).

• 20th and 21st-century uniforms may not be worn as costumes. These include any uniform that can be construed as a military uniform from any country or a uniform worn in an official capacity, such as security guard, police officer, deputy, fire marshal, paramedic, etc. Active duty military personnel are permitted to wear their government-issued uniforms.

• Costumes and cosplays may incorporate audio or lighting elements of reasonable volume or intensity. Sounds and lights must be able to be turned off quickly if they become disruptive to nearby attendees or events.

Weapons and props:

• Costumes and cosplays cannot include historical or modern weapons, nor items that could be confused for them. This includes (but is not limited to): self-defense equipment like pepper spray or tasers; recreational weapons like Airsoft, paintball, water, cap, or BB guns; sharp-edged tools like knives or scissors; or martial-arts weaponry including wooden practice weapons.

• Fantasy or sci-fi/futuristic weapons are allowed so long as they do not resemble actual historical or modern weapons and are handled with respect for the safety and personal space of other attendees.

• No live steel or weapons that can fire projectiles.

• Weapons and props must not exceed the height of a standard American doorway.

Any weapon or prop that makes noise must be able to be turned off and must not be excessively loud.

Questionable items can be brought to the Information Desk in the convention center during operating hours to be checked for compliance with this policy. Some events may provide exceptions to this policy under strict circumstances defined by that event. Items purchased in the Exhibit Hall which violate this policy must be wrapped and immediately removed from the convention premises.

Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel may inspect any item or costume or request that an attendee remove a mask at any time during the convention. Failure to comply with these policies and/or the instructions of Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel may result in immediate removal from the convention without refund.

If you have any questions about these policies, please contact Gen Con Customer Service before the convention or visit the Information Desk in the convention center during operating hours.

Advertising

There is no flyering, postering, or show billing of any kind in or around any of the convention grounds, including the hotels. If caught, you may be asked to leave the convention and have your badge revoked without a refund.

Event Spaces

Gen Con reserves the right to clear each room after an event. Attendees will not be allowed to remain in the room for the next event. Items cannot be stored in event spaces. If found, items may be moved or discarded.

Lost & Found

The Gen Con Show Office (Room 112) will serve as the center for lost and found items during the convention. Unclaimed property will be turned over to the convention center security office at the close of the convention. You can help protect your belongings by including identification tags with mobile phone numbers in wallets, purses, backpacks, and other loose items. Labeling belongings helps Gen Con staff attempt to return recovered items to their rightful owners. Gen Con LLC assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or forgotten materials.

Bag Check Services

Gen Con is pleased to announce a new partnership with The Mobile Locker Co. to provide on-site bag storage services for Gen Con badge holders. Attendees with valid badges can take advantage of storage services on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have the freedom to access your bags, wagons, or strollers throughout the day. Keep in mind that if you cannot consolidate, there will be an additional charge for new items such as additional bags, carts, luggage, etc.

The cost for storing each bag or large item (ie, strollers, wagons) is $20. To check in, you’ll need to show your valid Gen Con badge. Payments are cashless, and you will receive claim tickets through the Mobile Locker Co. system. Remember to take a picture of your claim ticket in case you misplace it.

It’s important to pick up your items by the end of each day. Any item left behind will result in an additional fee for the next day. The storage area is located on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center, in Room 231. For policies and terms of service, please visit themobilelockerco.com/policies.

Hours of Operation

• Open Daily

• Thursday – Saturday: 9 am – 7 pm

• Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm

LEGAL INFORMATION

Exhibit Hall

To maintain a safe and navigable environment inside the Exhibit Hall (Halls F–K), the use of wagons, carts, rolling luggage, dollies, hand trucks, and stroller wagons are not permitted during hall hours. Standard occupied strollers are allowed only when a child is present. Strollers may not be used to transport merchandise or serve as shopping carts.

Attendees with accessibility-related needs may request exceptions to this policy through Accessibility Services. Aisles must remain accessible at all times. Sitting on the floor or stopping for cosplay photos in the aisles is not permitted. Please use the designated cosplay photo area outside Hall H for cosplay photography.

The purchase of a Gen Con badge admits one person to all basic activities and exhibits at Gen Con (the “Event”) during regularly scheduled hours for the day(s) it is purchased. Some designated activities require pre-registration and/or payment of a separate, additional fee.

In accepting the badge and in consideration of being admitted to the Event, the holder of the badge hereby: (1) assumes full responsibility for his/her/their own safety, and accepts all known and unanticipated risks of loss, damage, and injury (including death or disability) to himself/herself/theirself and his/her/their property while attending, participating in, or becoming involved with the Event, regardless of whether or not such risks are attributable to the negligence of others; (2) releases and discharges Gen Con LLC and its employees, officers, directors, owners, sponsors, exhibitors, and contractors (collectively “Gen Con”) from any claims or liability for loss, damage, or injury (including death or disability) to his/her/their person and property arising out of or in any way connected to the Event, including but not limited to claims based on Gen Con’s own negligence; (3) consents to being recorded by audio and/or visual means, and authorizes and permits Gen Con to use and authorize the use of such recordings and his/her/their name, voice, likeness, and all reproductions thereof by any means and for any purposes, in all media now and hereafter known, worldwide in perpetuity; and (4) agrees to comply with all the rules and regulations of the Event.

Gen Con reserves the right to deny entry, or remove from the Event, any person who Gen Con considers, in its sole and absolute discretion, as behaving or threatening to behave in a disruptive manner. The Gen Con badge is non-refundable for any reason. GEN CON, the Gen Con logo, and The Best Four Days in Gaming! are trademarks of Gen Con LLC. All rights Reserved.

Code of Conduct

Here at Gen Con, we’re in the business of having fun. After all, it wouldn’t be The Best Four Days in Gaming™ if we didn’t all have a great time together! And as every gamer knows, a thorough rulebook is the key to everyone having a good time, so here are our rules for a safe and fun Gen Con.

If you have a question about a certain policy or guideline, be sure to read through all of our policies, but if that still doesn’t answer your question, email policyteam@gencon.com. Game on!

Be Safe

• Follow all show policies, venue rules, and staff directions.

• No running, jumping, throwing, or other unsafe shenanigans.

• Support each other in maintaining a safe environment.

• Report concerns to Gen Con Captains (wearing black Event Team vests).

Play Nice

• Don’t harass other attendees, staff, or vendors.

• Respect everyone’s physical and social boundaries and their personal property.

• No stealing, cheating, trolling, or griefing.

Have Fun

• Remember to eat, sleep, and shower.

• Make a friend.

• Pl ay some games.

• Explore the show.

Updated Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy

The above is an abridged version of our policy. For the full version, please visit gencon.com/attend/policies. Everyone should observe common sense rules for behavior, personal interaction, courtesy, and respect. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Gen Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership and badge of any participant not in compliance with this policy.

Harassment or unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, visual, or in any other form, is strictly prohibited.

Email us confidentially at policyteam@gencon.com if you have any questions or need to report an incident or concern.

Gen Con Values

Whether on site or online, you can help build a Gen Con spirit of cultural integration and awareness in tabletop gaming. Start by supporting underrepresented exhibitors at the convention, adding pronouns to your badge, or spreading the word of our Gen Con Participation Grants program. Thank you for your efforts to make Gen Con a better place!

Creativity

We encourage, nurture, and support the amazing people, ideas, and technologies that bring Gen Con to life, in all its creative forms.

Inclusive Community-Building

We consciously build welcoming, safer spaces to gather, forge friendships, explore shared passions, and discover new ones. We value active listening and working with our community to shape a Gen Con that is anti-discrimination, anti-racist, and free of sexism, harassment, and hate.

Continuous Growth

We are always searching for new ways to play and celebrate games together. We practice self-awareness, remain humble, and hold ourselves accountable for the things we do to improve the industry ecosystem, grow as individuals and bring our unique experience to more people across the globe.

Our Place in Gaming History

We acknowledge the history and traditions of Gen Con and its place in the world of gaming. We seek to honor the individuals and accomplishments of those who built our industry while actively working for systemic change. Gen Con is where the story of tabletop games is often written, and we accept the challenge of promoting change so that future Gen Con is grounded in equality, diversity, and borderless joy.

Towards a More Diverse & Inclusive

Gen Con (SEM25ND297221)

Sunday, 11 am, Westin: Capitol Ballroom II

Join us as members of the Gen Con Staff and DEI Advisory Committee talk about the work we’ve done and our goals for improvement. This is our report card to you in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Gen Con.

Our Mission

To create opportunities, experiences, and communities where people can share the joy of games together. We embrace progress while building on over 50 years of history to shape the spirit of Gen Con — a space where fun, empathy, play, and connection are always at the center — and carry it into the future.

Health & Safety

Practice Good Hygiene

• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water.

• Use hand sanitizer before and after events, meals, and social interactions.

• Shower daily.

Get Some Rest

• Rel ax in the Quiet Room in Room 211 at the convention center.

• Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

• Take breaks outdoors for fresh air and enjoy meals at Block Party on South Street.

Nutrition Matters

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks to maintain energy.

• Pl an meal breaks wisely to keep energy levels stable with proteins and whole foods.

• Carry healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, or protein bars.

Plan Ahead

• Wear comfortable shoes and bring an extra layer for varying temperatures inside the ICC.

• Bring a reusable water bottle and an extra mask if desired.

Be Mindful of Yourself & Others

• Prioritize health and wellness. Take breaks if needed and be mindful of signs of anxiety.

• Check in with others if they seem off. Always choose kindness and empathy during interactions.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a healthy, enjoyable experience at Gen Con!

Gen Con Celebrates Peter Adkison’s Retirement

“We were very poor and didn’t have enough money to fly, so we rented a van and a U-Haul and drove to Gen Con from Seattle, three days each way. Fourteen gamers, all guys, and no stops for showers.”

—Peter Adkison

In 1992, Gen Con 25 was held in the Milwaukee Exposition and Convention Center and Arena (MECCA). In two modest booths, a start-up company displayed its first product: The Primal Order, a roleplaying supplement detailing gods and religion. The author of that flagship title was also the founder and CEO of the company. The company was Wizards of the Coast, and its founder was Peter Adkison.

In 1992, Peter could only afford a tiny square advertisement in the Gen Con program. One year later, the half-page ad for Wizards of the Coast enticed convention-goers to its booth with the release of Magic: The

Gathering. It happened that many people came to check it out, and Magic would become the greatest gaming success story of the 1990s.

Peter’s story epitomizes the potential of Gen Con — that anyone with a great idea in gaming can bring it here, to our passionate community, and find their people.

When Magic premiered at Gen Con, the convention was owned by TSR, the publishers of Dungeons & Dragons. TSR’s founder, Gary Gygax, held the first Gen Con in his hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1968. By the mid-1990s, TSR had fallen on hard times, and it soon became clear the company could not survive the decade without help. The monumental success of Magic enabled Wizards of the Coast to buy TSR — and with it, Gen Con.

Just as Gen Con was the launching pad for Magic in 1993, it would be the place Peter would announce the upcoming third edition of Dungeons & Dragons on August 6, 1999. Peter even brought the original co-authors of D&D, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, back to Gen Con for the third edition release celebration.

Portrait of Peter Adkison by Gooey Cube.

“Every year I Iook forward to Gen Con more than any other annual event…Truly the best part of being CEO of Wizards of the Coast is all the friends I made along the way, and Gen Con is often the place I see most of them.”

—Peter Adkison

The runaway success of Magic, Pokémon, and Dungeons & Dragons made Wizards of the Coast an attractive acquisition target. Hasbro purchased Wizards in September 1999, in the largest deal in hobby games history. Peter briefly led a new hobby games division at Hasbro but chose to depart in January 2001. That could very easily have been the end of Peter’s work on Gen Con, but fate had something else in store.

“They gave me a call and said ‘We’re going to divest Gen Con, are you interested?’ ‘I said... yeah!!

I’m very

interested!’

I mean Gen Con is great. I’ve always really loved it. That’s why the tagline is: ‘The Best Four Days in Gaming.’ I believe that!”

—Peter Adkison

After taking a year off “rock climbing, lying around,” as he put it, Peter returned to the industry as the new owner of Gen Con in May of 2002. “I’ve always loved Gen Con and this is a chance to focus my creative energies on it to make it even bigger and better than before,” he said at the time. Peter’s arrival coincided with a long-planned relocation of Gen Con from Wisconsin to Indianapolis. And with it, Gen Con did indeed become bigger and better than ever.

Over the following decade, Gen Con’s attendance rose from about 20,000 in 2002 to 40,000 in 2012. By the 50th Gen Con in 2017, attendance had topped 60,000. That year, Peter showed the deep respect he holds for the history of Gen Con by staging a museum and hosting a series of panels to spotlight the many games — and gamers — that have made Gen Con into an institution.

In 2025, Peter stepped down as chairperson of the board of Gen Con LLC. After more than two decades of service, he leaves a tremendous legacy and a stronger convention than ever. Please join us in honoring Peter’s stewardship of Gen Con and his sincere love of the gaming community that convenes here.

Thank you, Peter!

“I

love Gen Con so much I bought it twice!” —Peter

Adkison

ART SHOW & AUTHORS AVENUE

CapyCat Games 1354

Game Tables 2471

Studios 2249

Game Labs 1603, 1703, 1611

Floral Frolic 1951 Flying Frog Productions 729 Foam Brain Games 2465

Fogel Pens & Creations 164

Forged Foam 1201 Forteller 3015

Free League Publishing 2449 Frenemy Games Studio 162 Friendly Skeleton 1549 Galladoria Games 1933

Game Envy 568

Game Theory

Cryptozoic Entertainment 801

Crystal Caste 903, 329, 1829

Cubicle 7 Entertainment 2221

D-Verse Publishing 1640

Dapper On Arrival 1450

Dara Studios 1449

Daria Aksenova 670

Moon Cards and Games 160 Darrington Press 2841

Dave &

Booth #3019

Convention Maps

Indiana Convention Center

Elevators Women’s Restroom

Indiana Convention Center

Second Floor

Stadium / Block Party

Street Level

Field & Street Level

Stadium

/ Block Party

Lower Suite Level

Crowne Plaza

Escape Rooms, Seminars, Workshops, RPGs, LARPs

First Floor

Crowne Plaza

Second Floor

Embassy Suites

Workshops, Escape Rooms

Fifth Floor

Hyatt Regency

Board Games, RPGs

Second Floor

Third Floor

JW Marriott

RPGs, Entertainment, Seminars, Escape Rooms, Trade Day, Megagames

First Floor

Second Floor

JW Marriott

RPGs, Entertainment, Seminars, Escape Rooms, Trade Day, Megagames

Third Floor

RPGs, Auction, Seminars, Workshops, Escape Rooms, Writers Symposium, Puppetry Program

First Floor Second Floor

Omni Severin

RPGs, LARPs, Megagames

Basement

First Floor

Second Floor

Union Station

LARPs, RPGs, Special Events, Entertainment

First Floor

Mezzanine

Second Floor

Entertainment, Film, RPGs, Workshops, Board Games

First Floor

Second Floor

Event Partners

Guests of Honor

Throughout the history of Gen Con, we have been fortunate to have the best and brightest minds in the industry as Guests of Honor at the show. This year, Gen Con welcomes Elizabeth Hargrave and Eric Lang.

Eric is hosting the following events at Gen Con:

Your Perspective, Your Voice, Your Passion (TRD25ND299065 & SEM25ND299066)

Eric Lang

Eric has been a professional game designer since 1996, and has designed, developed, or consulted for over 400 games in that time. He is best known for his epic box board games like Blood Rage and Marvel United, trading card games like Game of Thrones, Call of Cthulhu, Dice Masters, Duelyst, or countless family/ party games like Life in Reterra and Let’s Hit Each other With Fake Swords. He has done extensive work with Hasbro, Exploding Kittens, CMON, Fantasy Flight Games, WizKids, and many more. If you see him at the convention, please say hi! He rarely bites. For more information, visit ericmlang.com.

Elizabeth Hargrave

Elizabeth is an award-winning board game designer whose first game, Wingspan, won the Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2019. Since then, she has published several more titles including Tussie Mussie,The Fox Experiment, and Undergrove. She is also co-founder and Treasurer of the newly formed Tabletop Game Designers Association (TTGDA), and an advocate for underrepresented voices in gaming.

Elizabeth is hosting the following events at Gen Con:

Nature Systems Game Design (TRD25ND292195 / SEM25ND292326)

Span-Span-Span (SEM25ND298119)

Elizabeth is inspired by a love of nature and a desire to play games that break away from tried-and-true themes. When not gaming, you’ll often find her hiking, birding, or collecting mushrooms in and around Washington, DC. For more information, visit elizhargrave.com.

Block Party

Block Party is Back!

Enjoy cold beer, wine, iced coffees, burgers, pizza, food trucks, and more just south of the convention center on South Street. Grab a seat at one of the many tables in the shade of the tents or enjoy the refreshing air conditioning and free WiFi inside the stadium.

Food Truck Hours

Choose from 30 food trucks operating all weekend on South Street! Thursday – Saturday

9 am – 8 pm

am – 4 pm

Social Cantina, and their partner restaurant, The Tap, are bringing major flavor to Block Party. Visit their tent for Tap Fries — crispy, golden, and served with house-made Tap beer cheese and parmesan garlic aioli — alongside a lineup of hot and cold wraps, as well as grab–and–go favorites like chips, salsa, and guacamole.

Want more? Social Cantina and The Tap are both just a short walk from the convention center, serving tacos, burgers, hand-crafted margaritas, cold beer, and good vibes all weekend long.

Critical Hit Soda returns as our Official Mocktail Sponsor! Stop by the Critical Hit Soda truck and try any one of their exotic concoctions. With 100 unique flavors to choose from, you will find that perfect alchemical combination to complete your victory.

Stop by Harry & Izzy’s tent to refresh and feast on the official Gen Con Burger, The Burning Beast. This tasty angus steakburger patty is topped with American cheese, Flaming Hot Cheetos, and ancho chipotle sauce. Can’t take the heat? No sweat — order from their menu of cheeseburgers, crispy tater tots, and refreshing drinks, including soda and water.

Join us Wednesday evening at 5 pm on South Street for the release of Core Strategy, the Official Beer of Gen Con 2025. Core Strategy is an apple cyzer; similar to a braggot, this apple cider/beer combo is sure to be a hit!

Decades of great beers, fun games, and good times have been had with Sun King as the Official Beer Sponsor of Gen Con. To create a signature beer for the 2025 convention, Sun King turned to thirsty gamers and social media fans to choose the official beer style to be tapped at the annual Gen Con Block Party.

This past spring, thousands of Gen Con and Sun King Brewery followers voted, and with over 2,000 votes cast, the apple cyzer won in a landslide!

Sun King is excited to release Core Strategy on Wednesday, July 30, during the kickoff to the South Street Gen Con Block Party! This year’s official beer of Gen Con will be available during Sun King Beer Garden hours, in 4-packs to-go, on draft at their family-friendly downtown Indy taproom, and at select bars and restaurants throughout the city for the duration of The Best Four Days in Gaming.

Sun King will also have seltzers and non-alcoholic beers available at their tent on South Street.

Make your way to the Prime 47 tent on South Street to try their short rib tacos.

Sun King Beer Garden Hours

Wednesday Tapping Party 5 pm – 10 pm Thursday –Saturday noon – 9 pm

Sun King To–Go Attendees 21+ can purchase beer to-go from the Sun King Brewery Beer Garden on South Street. Note: To-Go purchases may not be consumed in the Beer Garden.

Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. brings the Wild West experience to South Street with their exclusive limited-edition stainless steel Gen Con souvenir mugs! Don’t miss a chance to level up your gaming experience with Wild Bill’s delicious and refreshing sodas and enjoy unlimited craft soda refills throughout the convention with any Wild Bill’s mug. Sip in style while you explore the best in gaming culture, and make sure to snap a pic with their eye-catching Wild West saloon setup.

Block Party

Visit the Daniel’s Vineyard tent to swirl, sip, and savor the smooth blends from the Official Wine Sponsor of Gen Con 2025. Making a return to South Street is Code Rosé, a refreshing chilled sweet rose with a bright flavor. And don’t forget about their wine slushies and fruit wines series.

Make sure to swing by and get your Gen Con 2025 collectible wine bottles.

Block Party Concessions

Looking for a quick bite or a convenient snack

When hunger strikes, gamers know to hit the HotBox Pizza tent on South Street to refuel! Treat your taste buds with this year’s Official Gen Con Pizza — Chili Con Carnage!

Chili Con Carnage hits your tastebuds hard with a mashup of your favorite dog and chips! It features a no-bean chili base, mozzarella cheese, sliced hot dogs, and crushed potato chips. Hot dogs on a pizza? Trust us, it’s amazing! This limited-edition pie will only be available at Gen Con 2025. So, make sure to stop by the HotBox tent on South Street and grab a slice.

This year’s official pizza was invented by contest winner Stefanie F. from Crown Point, Indiana.

Red Bull Tetris®

Fuel your quest with Helm Coffee Roasters’ ultimate iced lineup at the Block Party! From the bold depths of their Cold Brew to the silky smoothness of their Iced Lattes — and the mystical boost of their Rejuvenation Potion — you’ll be ready to conquer any campaign. Grab yours at the Helm tent before they vanish into legend!

Local Eats

Gamers! Think you’ve got Tetris skills? Red Bull Tetris® is live!

Qualify today, and you could play in Dubai under the desert sky.

Visit the Red Bull Tetris® to learn more!

Check out the delicious grub from some of Indy’s favorite eateries – they will be serving up tasty bites all weekend long!

• Island Noodles

• Jug’s

Official Merchandise

Dispel Dice

Booth #2741

2025 D20 Dice Set

CoolStuff Inc.

Booth #1501

2025 Exclusive Playmat

Genevieve, the Gen Con Dragon, explores beyond the edge of eternity in CoolStuffInc’s exclusive playmat for Gen Con 2025! Don’t miss out on your chance to get 30

Calling all dice goblins! The 2025 Dispel Dice Gen Con-exclusive D20 set is begging to be added to your collection. Sow chaos in your wake with our Brat Summerinspired green liquid core die. Follow Genevieve the Dragon as she takes to the skies in search of her dragon’s hoard on this dark red, gold-inked die. Roll for big money with our loot-inspired copper inked, black core D20. Available only at the Dispel Dice at Booth 2741! $45

Dryad Tea

Booth #1545

Scoundrel’s Mark Tea

Sure, they said they were just a bard — but now your coin purse is lighter, your heart is heavier, and you’re sipping tea, wondering where it all went wrong. Scoundrel’s Mark is a bold black and oolong tea blend layered with bright lemon and brooding spices — a contrast as captivating as the one who makes the mark. Zesty citrus notes tease the senses, while dark, smoldering spices linger beneath the surface, ready to surprise you. For the chaotic good, the charmingly shifty, and anyone who rolls Persuasion with advantage. $30

Geek Orthodox

Booth #155

Gen Con 2025 Exclusive Stained Glass Window Cling

The tradition continues into its fourth year! Our 2025 Gen Con exclusive window cling is here — featuring Genevieve in a bold new pose! This fanfavorite collectible brings the look of colorful stained glass to any window and is easy to apply and reposition. Available in two sizes. Quantities limited. 8x12: $25 | 16x24: $75

Crystal Caste

Booth #329, 903, 1829

2025 Collector’s Dice Set

An annual collector’s item! This one-of-a-kind colorful 7-piece dice tin set matches the free Gen Con D20 dice from Crystal Caste.

Fanroll by Metallic Dice Games

Booth #415, 1838, 2802

The Eye of Genevieve Liquid Core Dice Set: Unleash The Eye of Genevieve with this moving eyeball liquid core set! Handcrafted with sharp edges, this set will be the showpiece for any collection. $75

Metal d20 Blind Pack: A blind bag with a collection of metal Gen Con collectible d20s. Chase down the shiny golden metal d20 and receive a free set of The Eye of Genevieve liquid core dice ($75 value). Find the rare Antique Gold d20, and you can show it at the booth to get a free mega acrylic d20. Made from solid zinc, Gen Con metal d20s add heft to your rolls. $20

Sharp Edge Dragon Inclusion Dice Set: Gen Con dragon-inclusion dice have a detailed black dragon infused into every die. Handcrafted with sharp edges, this complete poly set is unique for any collection. $50

Black Light Dice Tray: Remember your visit to Gen Con with a 2025 folddown dice tray with black lights embedded to show off your dice! Folds down for easy storage and works with our free mini dice set with each purchase. Protect your dice and your table in style!

Exclusive Mini Gen Con Dice Set: letter of G-E-N-C-O-N-! dice with every exclusive Gen Con purchase. While supplies last.

Official Merchandise

Great American Gothic

Booth #2235

Have a drink with us! Get your officially licensed Gen Con 2025 flask featuring Genevieve soaring wide over Indianapolis’s black or rainbow skyline, available with or without dice topper; or your statesmetal tankard or goblet, available with or without dice wrap.

Tankard $100-$139

Goblet $85-$150 | Flask $45-$65

My Little Demon

Booth #666

Exclusive 2025 Limited Edition Squishy Genevieve Plush

Gen Con is excited to introduce Squishy Genevieve, the Official 2025 Limited Edition My Little Demon™ Genevieve collectible plush. Squishy Genevieve captures the joyful dragon as she returns from her vacation on Marshmallow Mountain, stuffed with sweet, fluffy goodness, ready for a soft cuddle and a nap. $45

O Christmas Geek

Booth #118

Baby Genevieve 2025 Holiday Ornament

Norse Foundry

Booth #349, 2501

Glow in the Dark Premium Metal Dice

Roll into adventure with officially licensed Gen Con metal dice. These premium metal dice don’t just deliver satisfying weight for your tabletop game; this year, they glow in the dark to keep the magic alive when the lights go down! Each set comes in a protective tin case. Whether you’re navigating dungeon crawls or epic campaigns, these luminous dice ensure your rolls shine as brightly as your victories. $50

For 2025, Baby Genny is bringing her own mistletoe and hoping for a sweet smooch under the Christmas tree. The ornament is 3” tall, made from hand-painted resin. $16

Rollacrit

Gen Con Store: Wabash Lobby, ICC Gen Con Mini Mart: Booth #3019

Official Gen Con Merch and Apparel Rollacrit is the official Gen Con merchandise and apparel partner, providing all your exclusive convention merchandise needs. Rollacrit is the place for those who explore dungeons, construct settlements, defeat monsters, and roll dice with friends. Shop tees, hoodies, drinkware, hats, bags, and more apparel and gear at the Gen Con Store in the Wabash Concourse, at the Gen Con Mini Mart in the Exhibit Hall (Booth 3019), and online all year long at rollacrit.com.

Pin Bazaar brings the excitement of collectible enamel pins to gaming, pop culture, and fandom conventions around the world!

Pin Bazaar brings the excitement of collectible enamel pins to gaming, pop culture, and fandom conventions around the world!

Pin Bazaar brings the excitement of collectible enamel pins to gaming, pop culture, and fandom conventions around the world!

Pin Bazaar brings the excitement of collectible enamel pins to gaming, pop culture, and fandom conventions around the world!

Gen Con Convention Set

2025 Gen Con Pin Bazaar Participants

2025 Gen Con Pin Bazaar Participants

2025 Gen Con Pin Bazaar Participants

2025 Gen Con Pin Bazaar Participants

2025 Gen Con Pin Trading Information

2025 Gen Con Pin Trading Information

2025 Gen Con Pin Trading Information

2025 Gen Con Pin Trading Information

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY

2:30PM @ LUCAS OIL STADIUM HORSESHOE

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

2:30PM @ LUCAS OIL STADIUM HORSESHOE

6:15PM @ CAPITOL FOOD COURT

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY

6:15PM @ CAPITOL FOOD COURT

Show Highlights

Wednesday Gaming

Stop by the historic Union Station building if you’ve arrived early and want to get some gaming in before the convention officially starts. On Wednesday, it is entirely dedicated to free and “by fans, for fans” events to get the dice rolling. Events start at 10 am and run late into the evening!

Opening Ceremonies

Kick off the Best Four Days in Gaming™ with Gen Con leadership, Matt Mercer from Critical Role, and special guests as they share highlights for the weekend. The audience will also have a chance to win prizes in a drawing. Don’t miss it!

Thursday, 9 am

ICC: 500 Ballroom

(ENT25ND297115)

BIPOC Lounge

The Gen Con BIPOC Lounge, in partnership with The Rose Gauntlet Foundation, is a dedicated space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to connect, relax, and network for career-focused endeavors. We encourage BIPOC attendees to visit the lounge to build, assist, and provide resources for the community’s growth.

Attendees can find games and artwork created by BIPOC designers, a game library, scheduled events, refreshments, and a space to connect with fellow members of the BIPOC community.

Professionals can use this space to meet with fellow industry professionals, obtain resources from companies seeking to work with and mentor BIPOC creators, sign up for one-on-one meetings, and recharge from working the show.

ICC: Room 240

Thursday – Saturday: noon – 10 pm

Sunday: 11 am – 3 pm

Tabletop Gaymers Lounge

Tabletop Gaymers are celebrating their 10th anniversary! Stop by, say hello to the crew, and join dozens of games! Pick up a Gaymer, Ally, and Pride badge ribbon and attend a Gaymer Gathering to meet other Gaymers and Allies at the convention.

ICC: Room 120

Thursday-Saturday: 8 am – noon

Sunday: 8 am – 3 pm

Gaymer Gatherings: nightly 6-8 pm

BIPOC Industry Networking Event

Gen Con is excited to offer the fourth annual BIPOC Industry Networking Event. This event allows Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to meet with gaming and hobby industry professionals, ask questions, and make connections.

Friday, 4 pm

ICC: 144-145

(ZED25ND272142)

Trinket Trading Meet-Ups

Join fellow Gen Con trinket traders at various spaces throughout the convention to exchange all types of goodies, from friendship bracelets to pins, from homemade treasures to purchased possessions!

Latine Lounge

The Latine Lounge returns to showcase the amazing games created by the talented Latine community. This space is open to everyone and is intended to share TTRPGs and adventures in an environment of joy, representation, and inclusion inspired by the cultures and experiences of Latin America. Attendees can drop by to see the showcased event organizers and creators and join games in Spanish or English hosted by members of the Latine community.

ICC: Room 124

Gen Con Dance

Dance the night away on Saturday at 9 pm during the last night of Gen Con! Enjoy DJs spinning a great mix of nerdy classics, the latest pop hits, and cash bars! The party happens at the Union Station: Grand Hall. Join us and get your groove on!

(ENT25ND297118)

Quiet Room

Need to de-stress, de-compress, and re-group? Our Quiet Room, brought to you by Incredible Dream, is just the place! A low-light, self-monitored space where you can get away from the high stimulation of the convention awaits you. Take a moment or stay a while; whatever you need.

ICC: 211

Thursday – Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm

Purchase a Gen Con 2025 Souvenir Cup Gen Con is committed to sustainability and eliminating single-use waste through reuse. This limited edition, collectible 44-oz Gen Con cup (lid included!) featuring the program book cover design by Art Show artist Megan Lara will be available at all operational concession stands throughout the convention center and Lucas Oil Stadium while supplies last. With your souvenir cup, you can enjoy $2 refills all weekend at ICC and LOS concession stands! All sales are final; there are no cup returns or exchanges. Hydrate, refill, repeat!

Community Row

Representatives from various local community organizations, charities, conventions, and gaming groups will be present to help you discover new gamer-friendly activities and raise awareness about all the awesome things they do outside of the Best Four Days in Gaming™! Tables will be staffed during Exhibit Hall hours, and attendees are welcome to learn more about local gaming, volunteering, civic, and educational opportunities available year-round.

ICC: Second Floor, Sagamore Concourse

Collective Art Project

Express your inner artist by participating in the creation of a large-scale living fantasy painting! Join artist Kathleen Hardy, who created this year’s one-of-a-kind piece, and add your talent to the canvas. The Collective Art Project is located in the Capital Concourse in the convention center.

Thursday-Saturday: noon – 7 pm

Sunday: 11 am – 2pm

Daggerheart Showcase & Live Demo: A New Era of Heroic Roleplaying

Join Matt Mercer and the Critical Role team to discover what’s next for Daggerheart! We’ll have a first look at upcoming partnerships, a live game demo that dives into the rich worlds awaiting you, special guests joining our table, and a giveaway for the audience with chances to walk away with one-of-a-kind prizes! Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or new to TTRPGs, this event will immerse you in the game’s innovative mechanics, deep storytelling possibilities, and breathtaking art. Don’t miss your chance to meet the team and be among the first to experience what’s next for Daggerheart!

ICC: 500 Ballroom

Thursday: 11 am (ENT25ND289617)

Cardhalla

Cardhalla is a free, convention-long event, and everyone can participate! Help build a city (or just about anything your imagination can dream up) out of cards. Grab a pile and start folding and stacking!

On Saturday night, help us destroy the Cardhalla structure for charity. Bring your pocket change to throw, and all proceeds will be given to our 2025 charity partners. The structure’s damage begins Saturday at 10 pm with an auction for the first throw. Total destruction occurs at 10:30 pm. Gen Con would like to thank Steven and his team for volunteering annually to host this incredible event.

Entrepreneurs Avenue

Are you looking for new exhibitors at Gen Con? Entrepreneurs Avenue is a dedicated space in the Exhibit Hall for companies exhibiting with us for the first time.

Gen Con 2025 marks the 16th anniversary of Entrepreneurs Avenue. Demo hot new games, discover up-and-coming publishers, and help us welcome the

Companies Exhibiting in Entrepreneurs Avenue

and brightest newcomers to the tabletop gaming industry!

2025 Marketing Fellowships

MOCO Games is a fast-growing indie publisher with their hit title Sabobatage: The Boba Card Game, available in major retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Target. They focus on family-friendly games, with a core focus on easy-to-learn mechanics and depths of strategy for all. Sabobatage is influenced by the popular drink, Bubble Tea. As the game suggests, friendships are made with Boba, relationships are ruined with Sabobatage. New titles include a fast slapping game called DANGER HUGS, co-designed by Game Innovator of the year, April Mitchell, and Serena Fadlun. A new title upcoming for 2025 is STARLEAP, with space frogs navigating through the stars to collect the most space bug tokens!

“Play deep and explore new horizons.” That’s not just their mantra — it’s their mission at This Way. Four years ago, two brothers from a family of game enthusiasts set out to create something different. The result is a board game studio where bold art direction and original mechanics create unforgettable adventures. With their two titles, ICE and FOUNDERS, they’ve created a unique, rich, and immersive universe where cold and snow shape the rules of play. Meet them at Gen Con and experience ICE like never before — on a giant board! Join the Guilds and their brave expeditions across the frozen expanse, and unearth mysterious artifacts crafted by the enigmatic Nuukas.

Avantris Entertainment is a group of seven best friends who play D&D, telling stories with many laughs, heavy roleplay, and wacky voices. Before embarking on eight years of playing and streaming games, they always wanted to make games. In fall 2023, they had a successful crowdfunding campaign for The Crooked Moon — a D&D 5th Edition campaign setting that brings all your favorite folk horror and Halloween inspirations to life! The project raised over $4 million, as the most funded 5E third-party Kickstarter ever! As first-time exhibitors at Gen Con, they are excited to showcase The Crooked Moon and take pre-orders before its fall release, alongside brand new Avantris merch!

Mozaic Games is an Indian company bringing India’s stories to life through beautifully crafted board games. Their flagship title, Chai Garam (Hand Management, Engine Building), puts you in charge of a chai tapri (tea stall), earning star ratings by delighting customers. Mozaic Games has other popular titles like Karigar-e-Taj (Worker Placement, Grid Movement), Indus 2500 BCE (Flip & Write), set in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization; and Vallamkali (Betting, Racing, Bidding), inspired by the vibrant boat races of Kerala. Their latest releases features a new edition of Yudhbhoomi (Action Selection, War Game with miniatures based on Indian history), Uninvited Guests at a Wedding (Social Deduction, Tableau Building), and Honey Scouts (Trick Taking, Tile Laying), where players match tiles to collect bees and battle it out!

Roll & Play Press is a London-based indie publisher creating tools and resources for tabletop roleplaying games. Whether you’re deep in a D&D campaign, running Pathfinder adventures, or exploring new systems, their products are designed to support GMs and players alike. From instant adventures to immersive worldbuilding prompts, their resources spark creativity and make game prep faster, easier, and more fun. Their bestsellers include The Game Master’s Fantasy Toolkit, One-Shot Wonders, and The Map Library. They’re also proud to be a double ENNIE award-winning team, recognized for creating content the TTRPG community loves. This year at Gen Con, they’re bringing their full lineup of fan favorites, exciting new releases, and exclusive show deals.

Salt & Pepper Games is an indie board game publisher dedicated to crafting unique and immersive gaming experiences for players of all levels. Their passion lies in creating games that spark connection, ignite creativity, and challenge the imagination. They are thrilled to showcase their latest titles: Escape from the Moon, an exciting solo game where you must restore your rocket in time and return to the mothership. Discover why Salt & Pepper Games is spicing up the board gaming world!

Stadium Events

See pages 28-31 for maps

Pin Trading

Day + Time

Thursday – Saturday

2:30 pm

North Plaza

6:15 pm

Capitol Food Court

Sunday, 2:30 pm

North Plaza

Join pin enthusiasts to trade official Pin Bazaar pins! Daily Trading will take place in the Stadium North Plaza (at the Horseshoe) and at the Capitol Food Court (near Cardhalla). Start collecting Pin Bazaar pins by visiting participating companies across the Exhibit Hall.

Blood Drive

Event Registration and Customer Service

At a Glance

Day + Time

Thursday – Saturday 7 am – 2 am

Sunday, 7 am – 4 pm

The Event HQ is on the Stadium Field, and you can both purchase event tickets and get help from Customer Service, including returning event tickets, so you don’t need to head back to Main Registration in the convention center.

The HQ is open 7 am to midnight daily (4 pm on Sunday)

Amenities

Get ready to make a difference and score big at the Gen Con Blood Drive, proudly run by the American Red Cross and the Heinlein Society! By donating blood, you make a significant difference in the lives of others, and your donation helps people in need of blood transfusions due to surgery, cancer treatment, trauma, and more. Every donor will receive a loot crate valued at over $250, packed with epic gaming stuff and exclusive digital goodies. Plus, each day, we’re giving away prizes valued at over $500! Use the QR code to sign up for a timeslot.

Looking for a break from the crowds in the Exhibit Hall, or a place to recharge and refuel with a cold drink and tasty snack? The Stadium has you covered! Enjoy free Wi-Fi, refreshing air conditioning, plenty of restrooms, a bounty of concessions, and ample seating to provide a well-deserved pause in your schedule. Food and beverages purchased at Block Party are welcome to be enjoyed in the Stadium. While you’re there, check out the Midfield Experience and snap a pic on the actual turf that the Indianapolis Colts and Indy Eleven play on, with Genevieve standing proudly next to you. Share it on social media with #gencon!

Dungeons & Dragons and Magic:

The Gathering

Roll for initiative! D&D and Magic are taking over Lucas Oil Stadium, and there’s much to behold. From taking that perfect selfie at different photo ops, slinging spells on the Edge of Eternities, or rolling nat 20s, there’s no better place to be than on the turf where heroes are made.

Kid Zone

Games, crafts, and more for kids of all ages.

Step into the Kid Zone — a playful space where your little gamers can explore new board games, get creative with crafts, and make memories with other gaming families. It’s all about fun, connection, and sparking a lifelong love of play! Located in Wabash 2 and 3 in the Indiana Convention Center (ICC).

WABASH 2

For older kids ready for structured activities

Most of the events in this area are ticketed. You’ll find kid friendly crafting events, appropriate introductory RPG events, wand making, and a variety of other activities. Search “KID” events in the online Event Catalog to see all events offered here.

WABASH 3

For younger kids

This is the place to introduce younger kids to the gaming world and all its possibilities. This side of the room has some scheduled events, but primarily has many free-form activities and a large inventory of age-appropriate board game and card game titles available for free play. Stop by any time to see what’s happening and join in the fun! This area is most appropriate for kids ages 4-9 years old; please note that kids may not be left unattended in this, or any area. A curtained off nursing space is available for use.

For the littlest of littles

There is an adjacent crawling and toddler area. This area provides a clean, carpeted, quiet area where your little ones can spend some time during the convention.

a Glance

+

– Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm

10 am – 3 pm Location Wabash 2 & 3

Many of the Events in the Room are Run or Facilitated by

Fast Flips. Big Thrills.

Are you the type of player to play it safe and bank points before you bust, or are you going to risk it all and go for the bonus points by flipping over seven in a row? Press your luck meets strategy in this addictive card game that's sure to be the greatest card game you’ve ever played!

Makers Market

Discover the treasure trove of unique local vendors at our Makers Market — a vibrant affair where gamers and makers unite to celebrate The Best Four Days in Gaming™.

More than just a place to buy your trinkets; it’s a hub for building creativity, a haven for local artisans, and a place to foster spirited conversations. Engage with the knowledgeable vendors as they share their passions and peddle their wares. Come experience the magic of our Makers Market as you add to your hoard. Roll for charisma, unleash your inner barterer, and immerse yourself in the craftsman’s world as you browse the hall.

Be on the lookout for roving entertainers, including jugglers, musicians, and perhaps even a magician will appear!

Participating Vendors

• Baird Crafted

• Arrow Dot Press

• The Flickering Lantern

• Cryptid Dicecraft

• Sunny Sponder

• NerdyNixies

• Druids Garden Tea Company

• CryTime

• Silverwood Wood Designs

• Critical Hit Collectibles

• Thor Custom Designs

• Lilystrations

• A Critical Hit Gaming Artisans

• Cloud Curio

• Pascual Productions

• Smoking Glue Guns

• One Page Rules

• The Griffon’s Nest

• mintandapple

• ArtisXan LLC

• Love Links by Rae Permanent Jewelry

At a Glance Day + Time Thursday – Saturday 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday 11 am – 4 pm

Location In the hallway tunnel connecting the ICC and Stadium

Charity Partners

Gen Con isn’t just about gaming; it’s also about giving!

During The Best Four Days in Gaming™, we’re all about giving back to our community! We’re excited to announce our partnership with two amazing organizations, Women4Change Indiana and Brown Toy Box Foundation, for our 2025 charity initiatives. Together, we can make a positive impact right here in Indianapolis and within the tabletop gaming community. Let’s come together and create some lasting change! All proceeds from participating charity events will be split evenly between our two partners.

Founded in 2017, Women4Change Indiana is a statewide nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis and dedicated to increasing positive outcomes for women and girls in health and wellness, economic mobility, and personal safety and security. They work with institutional partners and individual stakeholders across political parties to equip Hoosiers to engage in the democratic process and advance programs and policies that prioritize Hoosier women.

Women4Change provides opportunities for education, collaboration, activation, and advocacy through a wide range of programs and services. They empower women to make informed choices and organize and advance solutions that grow the economy, workforce, and quality of life of residents.

With a focus on equity and inclusion, Women4Change Indiana helps to build coalitions and develop relationships with cross-sector partners with a goal to increase voter turnout, amplify women’s voices in public spaces, and advance civic engagement opportunities for women and girls.

To learn more about Women4Change, visit women4changeindiana.org

Brown Toy Box Foundation is creating the next generation of Black innovators, leaders, and artists, one scholar at a time. Brown Toy Box collaborates with partners and individual dream catalysts to expose Black elementary school students to STEAM careers and activities through play-based learning. Brown Toy Box leverages educational toys, games, experiences, and digital offerings to confidently equip scholars to explore STEAM activities.

Brown Toy Box Foundation works with corporate and philanthropic partners to create a world where Black children are positively represented, equipped, and educated to achieve greatness through equitable opportunities.

“It is our responsibility to normalize Black excellence, create pathways to prosperous careers, and expand Black children’s ideas for the possibilities for their lives through STEAM education, purposeful play, and cultural representation.“ — Terri Nichelle Bradley, Founder and CEO.

To learn more about Brown Toy Box Foundation, visit browntoybox.com

Report for Duty! Report for Duty!

When diplomacy between nations fails and neither side wishes to back down, war is the inevitable result. From border skirmishes to large-scale invasions, conflict comes in many forms—the perfect chance for heroes to win glory! Help steer the flow of battle as a cunning commander, or defend your allies as an indomitable guardian. Augment your power with archetypes that allow you to raise a small battalion of undead soldiers or wield a personal siege weapon, a new larger-than-life ancestry, an armory of magic weapons, and rules for running combat alongside troops that you command. Golarion’s generals need you, so heed the Battlecry!

Auction

Discover Hidden Treasures at the Auction & Consignment Shop

Step into the excitement of the Gen Con Auction where thousands of tabletop treasures will find new homes! Whether you’re a collector hunting for rare gems, a budget-savvy gamer looking for great deals, or just here for the bidding wars, the Auction is your chance to score big. Expect an incredible variety and plenty of surprises. Looking to sell? Drop your games off at the Consignment Shop and let us do the work. Then, watch the action unfold from the front row. Come ready to bid, barter, and bring home something epic.

Auction Events

Charity Auction

Saturday, 7 pm

The most desirable items donated by exhibitors and collectors will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going directly to our Charity Partners — Women4Change and Brown Toy Box Foundation!

Collectibles Auction

Friday, 8 pm

The Collectibles Auction caters to rare and coveted items. Want a sneak peek? Look for Collectibles Auction items on display in the glass showcase near the auction stage.

How It Works

Buyers

Crowdfunding Auction

Thursday, 8 pm

Sail the seas of crowdfunding with us! Expect big games, big boxes, and big surprises! Pirate hats optional!

All times are approximate. Check for the updated schedule posted in the auction room.

REGISTRATION: When you arrive at the auction, simply pay $1 to be issued a card with your unique bidder number good for the entire convention.

BIDDING: When you see an item you want, hold your card high in the air with your number facing the stage and KEEP IT UP for as long as you are interested. If you hold your card up for longer than other bidders, you win! It’s that easy!

PAYMENT: You can pay for each item as you win or open a daily tab by paying $50 non-refundable fee. This money will be credited towards any purchases you make. If you open a tab, your winnings will be stored until the end of that day’s session. We accept cash and major credit cards. There is a 3% Buyers Premium added to each transaction, which is waived for cash transactions.

CONSIGNMENT STORE: Not in the mood for a bidding war, but still looking for a good bargain? Peruse and discover hidden gems amongst the thousands of items available at the Consignment Store, now in a bigger space with wider aisles. This means more items, more room for browsing, and shorter wait times to get in. Anyone with a valid Gen Con badge can enter and purchase items without needing to register with the auction. New items are added throughout the show with some prices changing daily.

Sellers

PRE-REGISTRATION: All items must be registered on the auction’s website (livegameauctions.com) before the convention.

ITEM DROP OFF TIMES

Pre-Registered Live Auction Items and Consignment Store items accepted. Wednesday, noon – 6 pm Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm

Additional Consignment Store items may be accepted depending on inventory. Friday, 10 am – 2 pm

For those dropping off for the auction, the side entrance on South Missouri Street allows for an easy drop-off, complete with a ramp and an elevator up to the auction entrance. Please refrain from using the hotel turnaround driveway to unload.

PAYOUTS: There are three options for receiving payment for your sold items:

• When your item is sold until Saturday at 5 pm

• Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm

• By check in the mail (default option if you don’t pick up your payout)

UNSOLD ITEMS: Unsold items should be picked up on Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm. Any items not collected by 2 pm will become the property of the auction.

Gen Con Celebrates 50 Years of Glorantha

The world of Glorantha burst into the gaming scene in the wake of the release of Dungeons & Dragons. Many new fantasy games appeared in 1975, from role-playing games like Tunnels & Trolls to a slew of Tolkien-based fantasy wargames. But toward the end of the year, there appeared a very different sort of board game out of the East Bay of San Francisco: White Bear and Red Moon, which provided gamers with their first glimpse of Glorantha.

Greg Stafford, designer and author of WB&RM, recalled that he invented his imaginary realm as early as 1966. Even earlier, Stafford had played the board wargames made by Avalon Hill — the games that were the primary focus of the very earliest Gen Cons. From Avalon Hill, Stafford learned system mechanics like hexagon-based maps and combat results tables. He applied those systems to the deep mixture of mythology, fiction, and personal meditation from which Glorantha had sprung. The company he founded to publish the game was called The Chaosium — chaos played no small part in the elaborate cosmology he was devising.

The evocative name White Bear and Red Moon demonstrates the way Glorantha would first reveal itself: obliquely, in brief bursts hinting at a vast and considered secondary world. Its rulebook was crammed with colorful descriptions of the many pieces in the game, which often represented individual personalities. The White Bear of the title is Harrek the Berserk, hero of the kingdom of Sartar, who fought against the Lunar Empire of the Red Moon in the crossroads known as Dragon Pass. Often in just four or five sentences, Stafford would establish vivid characters and situations whose idiosyncrasies fleshed out a living world.

Just months after the release of WB&RM, Gen Con West 1976 hosted Greg Stafford to demonstrate the game. A year later, Stafford and Chaosium would attend the final Gen Con in Lake Geneva in 1977, bringing with them the sequel to WB&RM, Nomad Gods, which detailed the tribes who roamed the Plains of Prax east of Sartar lands. It was only in that booklet, and in contemporary issues of Chaosium’s magazine Wyrm’s Footnotes, that the name Glorantha began to appear. And then in 1978, Glorantha escaped the confines of the board and leapt into the role-playing game space in its best-known instantiation: RuneQuest.

Glorantha is all about runes — it would not be unfair to say that its reality is made of runes, that its magic and religion are simply interpretations of the elements, forms, powers, and conditions that runes both represent and embody. With the space afforded by a role-playing game manual, RuneQuest could foreground this more esoteric dimension of Glorantha, staging character progression around joining rune cults and ultimately becoming a rune lord or rune priest — and perhaps even someday a god.

RuneQuest looms large over the role-playing games that followed not just for its Gloranthan setting, but for its system, one developed by Steve Perrin. In 1980, Chaosium would distill those rules down into 16 pages on Basic Roleplaying (BRP) that would become the setting-independent basis for numerous subsequent games, most notably Call of Cthulhu (1981). Sandy Peterson, the designer of CoC, previously worked on RuneQuest supplements like the Gateway Bestiary (1980).

It had become clear just how much influence the world building of Glorantha exerted on a generation of game designers. Stafford would be a guest of honor at Gen Con in 1997, and again in 2014. In 2015, the massive two-volume Guide to Glorantha, co-authored by Stafford, won the Diana Jones Award. It ushered in a time of great renewed interest in the setting.

RuneQuest was successful enough to prove an attractive property for larger industry players. In the 1980s, Avalon Hill had seen their longstanding dominance of the hobby games industry eclipsed by the monumental success of TSR and Dungeons & Dragons. After a few attempts to compete in the fantasy gaming space, Avalon Hill licensed RuneQuest from Chaosium. However, in the third edition of RuneQuest, Avalon Hill partially decoupled its setting from Glorantha, opting instead for a world more grounded in historical Europe. Browsing through the 1989 Gen Con program, Avalon Hill’s RuneQuest event descriptions then stated that “Gloranthan knowledge is not required.”

But Glorantha refused to be forgotten. Stafford, Perrin, Petersen, and others would author Gloranthan supplements for Avalon Hill RuneQuest in the early 1990s. During that decade, avid fans kept the setting alive in fanzines like Tales of the Reaching Moon, and through groups like the Glorantha Trading Association. At the turn of the millennium, this interest culminated in the release of Hero Wars: Roleplaying in Glorantha, featuring a fresh system design by Robin Laws. The computer game adaption King of Dragon Pass provided another window into Glorantha’s society.

After a particularly circuitous odyssey, the rights to Glorantha, and to RuneQuest, would return to Chaosium in the mid-2010s. Chaosium further developed the rich line of Gloranthan products internally as well as in cooperation with outside firms — for example, on the 13th Age: Glorantha sourcebook. Although Stafford passed away in 2018, he lived to see the triumph of Glorantha, and the enthusiasm of the many disciples who would carry its magic forward.

its fiftieth anniversary, Gen Con will be holding two panels on the evolution and history of the Glorantha. We also have a small museum of artifacts related to Glorantha and its rich history in products and in fandom in the second floor atrium. Please join us, and if you get the chance, play in Glorantha this Gen Con! You might drop by ICC 139, where Chaosium will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration with games galore.

Gen Con Celebrates 50 Years of Glorantha

The Early Years

Thursday, 4 pm (SEM25ND296765)

ICC: Room 144-145

Gen Con Celebrates 50 Years of Glorantha

The Later Years Thursday, 5 pm (SEM25ND296766)

ICC: Room 144-145

Explore All Glorantha Events

Board Games and Card Games

Game On: Board and Card Game Events for Everyone

Whether you’re building your first deck or gunning for gold in a tournament, board game and card game events at Gen Con offer the best seat in gaming. Expect curated experiences for every skill level — from casual play to championship showdowns — all in The Best Four Days of Gaming™. Check out the board and card game events this year to explore your possibilities. Play a new game before you buy it from the Exhibit Hall, play with new and old friends, and experience exclusive events from leaders in the gaming world.

For a full schedule of board games and card games, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.

Board Games and Card Games

Board and Card Game Groups

Bandai Japan

Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming

Erik's Curiosa

Fight in the Skies Society

Game Base 7

Ghost Galaxy

Kelly's Heroes

Gaming Collective

Kingswood Games

KTBG

Legend Story Studios

NorthStar Game Studio

Outset

Pastimes

Pine Box Entertainment

Ravensburger

Riot Games

Rising Phoenix

Gaming Club

Rogue Judges

Slugfest Games

Smirk & Dagger

Solis Game Studio

Spielcraft Games

Tabletop Gaymers

The Pokemon Company International

The Upper Deck Company

Train Gamers Association

Van Ryder Games

ICC: Hall B, Stadium: FieldDigimon Card Game, Dragonball Super Card Game, Gundam Card Came, One Piece Card Game, Union Arena

ICC: Hall A

ICC: Hall B

Carcassone Big Box, Catan: 3D, Terraforming Mars: 3D, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Party

Sorcery: Contested Realm

Stadium: Field Betrayal at the House on the Hill, Dawn Patrol, Dominion, Everdell, Night Cage, Telestrations, Wandering Towers

JW: Griffin Hall 7 Wonders, Azul, Catan, Horrified, Pandemic, Smash Up, Wingspan

ICC: Hall B

Echoes of Omens, KeyForge

JW: Grand Ballroom 1--2Flip 7, Horrified, Sentinels of the Multiverse, The Binding Of Isaac Four Souls, Trekking The World, Wingspan

ICC: Hall B Warlord: Saga of the Storm

ICC: Hall A Campfire, Lairs, River Market

ICC: Hall B

Flesh and Blood

ICC: Hall B Nature, Biomos

ICC: Hall B Ape Town, Feed the Kraken, Guildlands, One-Hit Heroes, Torres

Stadium: Field Magic: The Gathering

ICC: Hall C 7th Sea, Doomtown, Legend of the Five Rings CCG

ICC: Hall E, ICC: 130Disney's Lorcana

ICC: Hall B Riftbound

Stadium: Field 7 Wonders, Carcassonne, Cthulhu Death May Die, Dominion, Fluxx, Splendor, Ticket to Ride, What Do You Meme

Stadium: Field Diplomacy, Isle of Skye, Mansions of Madness, Root

ICC: Hall C

Positano, Tales from the Red Dragon Inn, The Red Dragon Inn

ICC: Hall D A Place for All My Books, Adventure Party, BOOM Patrol, Outfox the Fox, Tesseract

ICC: Hall A

Pocket Paragons, Six Sided Seas, Treat Please

ICC: Hall A Cretaceous Rails, Primacy

ICC: 120 HeroQuest, Mission to Planet Hexx, Sentinels of the Multiverse

ICC: Hall B

Pokemon TCG

ICC: Hall B Dungeon Draft, Neopets Battledome, Rush of Ikorr

Westin: Grand Ballroom IVBrass: Birmingham, Empire Builder, Great Western Trail, Ticket to Ride

ICC: 126

Final Girl

Bring Your Game, Make New Friends — Open Gaming is Waiting!

Open Gaming is available in the JW’s cozy yet spacious Grand Ballrooms 5 and 6! Have a game already? Find an open table to set up and play with old and new friends. Grab an orange cone to indicate that your group wants more folks to join the fun!

Looking for players?

Borrow a cone from the HQ — Please return them once your game starts, so others can use them!

Looking for Players: Orange Cone

Use an orange cone if you have a game to play but need more players!

Looking for a Teacher: Checkered Flag

Place one of these flags in your cone if you’re looking for someone who knows the game to join and teach you.

Games Library

Play the newest and hottest titles Gen Con has to offer and the most popular games from recent years!

The library is the largest destination at Gen Con for chilling out with friends and having a great time. Event tickets grant you access to thousands of titles and unlimited plays during your session! Full games are awarded as prizes all weekend long!

Children With Wristbands Play for FREE

Accompanied by a ticketed adult, children with wristbands play for free! The library also hosts miniatures painting classes, other game sessions (tickets available separately), pick-up games, and much more! Play with your group, or join others looking for players!

The Gen Con Games Library is Presented by Lending Library

Logistics Leadership: Marissa Maile, Diane & Kevin Kincaid, and Jeremy Burke

First Exposure Playtest Hall

Play New Games. Connect with Designers. Join designers and publishers as they present new prototypes in the First Exposure Playtest Hall (FEPH). Gen Con attendees can play them for FREE — the presenters pay for playtest sessions instead of the players buying tickets.

Daggerheart Core Set

First Exposure Playtest Hall

Participating Designers Include

4th Pillar Games

9 Kingdoms Publications

AbTact

Adventure Together Games

Apis Gaming

Artisan Games

Beadle & Grimm’s

Beagle & Bard

Berengar Games

BGC Games

Bicycle Games

Box of Dice Games

Brava Games

Brickly Games

Brookspun Games, LLC

Candlecraft Games

Cascadian Creations, LLC

Central Michigan University

Corporation

COTG

Crash Test Games

Crittergy

Crosscut Games, Inc.

Damhawk Matrix

Dar & Tiara Games

Dead Tree Studios

Devil May Care Games

Diamond Design Studios

Diecaster Games, LLC

Dream Bridge Games

Dreamscape Gaming

Drunken Gnome Games

Dungeon League

Eleventy Gentlemen

Elixir Board Games

Empty Keystone

Enginuity Games

Envision Games

FF Games LLC

Fleming & Hound Games Inc.

Foldable Flight

Four Wing Press

Galen’s Games

Gamesville Workshop

Gaming Honors

GG Studio

Giant Leap Games

Gnomeski Games

Golden Ticket Games

Gravitic Games

Gray Wolf Games

Grimmyth

GTBOMB

Guthmeister Games

Happy And Nutty

Hear Me Out Games

Helium Ballroom

Hex Star LLC

Hounded Games

Huitzi Games

Iceblink Games

Ivy Legacy Ent.

Leaf & Talus Games

Ligne Claire Publishing

Liontoad Games

Littlest Lantern

Luft Games

Lurks Lessons

Mark Dos Santos Art

Microcosm Games

Mike and Daws

Moonshine RPG

Narvix Incorporated

Nic James Games

Nomadik Games

Nonstick Studios LLC

Only Then Studios

Open Sesame Games, LLC

Ordinary Or Beyond

Philosopher’s Stone Games

Point 1 Games, LLC

Pointy Bits

Puff Duck Games

Puppycat Productions

Random Seed Games

Red Tail Games

Red5 Games

Refined Testing

Resurrectionist Games

Rockport Games

Rough Draft Games

Serpenthelm Studios LLC

Shattered Gems TCG

Spacemole Games

Specular Board Games

Square Fire Gaming

Sumain Games

Tanis Games

TCG Store

The Misplay

The Resilient Brain Co.

Think Adventure Games

Tiny Whaling Cats

Trabucco Games

Trey’s Game Dev

Troll Bridge Games

Twin & Blade

Vitruvian Games

Winged Sandals Games

Winsmith Games

WONDER x WORLDS

Ziegler House

…and more to come!

Roleplaying Games

A Roleplaying Game (RPG) portrays characters in a fictional world of shared imagination. Create characters, tell stories, and roll the dice. There is nothing quite like sitting at a table and building a world together. At Gen Con, RPGs are more than just games; they’re collaborative storytelling experiences powered by imagination, guided by gamemasters, and shaped by rolling the dice. You’re questing, conspiring, and creating unforgettable moments alongside fellow adventurers. Whether it’s your first campaign or your fiftieth, ask yourself where you want your imagination to take you.

For a full schedule of RPG events, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.

Roleplaying Games

RPG Groups

Baldman Games

Brotherwise Games

Catalyst Game labs

Chaosium Games

Free League Publishing

Game Base 7

Goodman Games

Gooey Cube

Infinite Imaginations, Inc.

Legends of the Shining Jewel

Limithron

Lurking Fears

Magpie Games

Meet Cute Games & Events

Mythworks

National Society of Crazed Gamers

No Rails Adventure Team

Paizo

Studio Agate

Suspense Studio

You Too Can Cthulhu

Stadium: West Club LoungeDungeons & Dragons

ICC: 133 Cosmere

ICC: 122-123

Shadowrun, The BattleTech RPG: A Time of War

ICC: 139 Call of Cthulhu, Pendragon, RuneQuest

ICC: 137, JW: White River Ballroom E

JW: Griffin Hall

Stadium: Field

Alien, Blade Runner, Dragonbane, Mork Borg, The One Ring, Vaesen

Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars,

Dungeons & Dragons, Mutant Crawl Classics, XCrawl Classics

Stadium: Meeting Rooms 3-4Dungeons & Dragons

Stadium: Meeting Rooms 5-6Dungeons & Dragons, Hero System

JW: Grand Ballroom 10Pathfinder

JW: Grand Ballroom 9

Dungeons & Dragons, Pirate Borg

JW: White River Ballroom EDreams and Machines, Fallout, Planet of the Apes, Shadowdark, Star Trek

Hyatt: Third Floor

ICC: 125

JW: 101

Stadium: Field

ICC: Hall B

ICC: Hall C, ICC: Sagamore Ballroom

Airlock, Avatar Legends, Fallen London, Rapscallion, Root: the RPG, Urban Shadows, Zombie World

Wanderhome, Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast

CBR+PNK, Forged in the Dark, Slugblaster, Wild Words

Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu

Dungeons & Dragons

Pathfinder, Starfinder

Stadium: Meeting Room 7Dungeons & Dragons, Shadows of Esteren

Stadium: Lower Suites Jubensha

Stadium: Lower Suites Call of Cthulhu

PLAYER CORE

THE GALAXY

Blast off with Starfinder Player Core! This definitive entry point for Starfinder Second Edition provides everything a player needs to learn how to play the game. Choose from 10 ancestries, six character classes, and hundreds of feats and spells to create unique characters ready to take on a ruthless galaxy awash with magic and opportunity. Starfinder Player Core brings the Starfinder RPG into its new edition and is now 100% compatible with the acclaimed Second Edition of the hit Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Along with GM Core and Alien Core, these books provide a new foundation for the future of tabletop gaming!

Starfinder Player Core and Alien Core, these books

Starfinder Player Core! This definitive entry point for Starfinder Second Edition provides everything a player needs to learn how to play the game. Choose from 10 ancestries, six character classes, and hundreds of feats and spells to create unique characters ready to take on a ruthless galaxy awash with magic and opportunity. brings the Starfinder RPG into its new edition and is now 100% compatible with the acclaimed Second Edition of the hit Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Along with GM Core provide a new foundation for the future of tabletop gaming!

Live Action Roleplaying Games

Live Action Roleplaying Games (LARPs) bring your favorite RPG elements — heroic characters, collaborative storytelling, and chance event resolution — to life through immersive, live-action play.

In a LARP, you physically portray your character, generally by moving around in real space and with more direct player-to-player interaction than in a traditional tabletop RPG. LARPers often enhance their roleplaying with costumes and props. LARP events are a great way to experience immersive roleplaying and improvisational storytelling — no previous experience is needed!

A Selection of Groups Running LARPs

Group LocationGame

The Silver Host Stadium: East Concourse Amtgard

Chicago ConLARP Marriott

City of Glass Games

Crowne Plaza, Union Station

Chicago ConLARP

Mind's Eye Theatre, Witchgates, Werewolf: The Apocalypse

BYOV Union StationBYORP

Elder Entertainment

Grimmoire Productions

Union StationCall of Cthulhu

Crowne Plaza, Union Station Grimmoire Freeform, Parlor

Infinite Decision Gameworks Omni, Union Station

WAG

Masque of the Red Death

Union StationCthulhu Live

For a full schedule of LARPs, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.

Thematic Heavy Euro Worker Placement

Galactic Cruise Booth #2858

Megagames

Megagames are just what they sound like — games, but make it mega!

Combining aspects of board games and LARPs, megagames often involve dozens of players weaving interconnected storylines through multiple stages of play. Each player is assigned a role (sometimes with a backstory, personality, or a secret goal), and as they play through multiple sub-games, the outcomes of their play drive the story of the larger game. Megagames can take the form of anything from largescale government simulations of natural disasters, to preparing for a kaiju attack, to seeing how a real-world government would react to aliens arriving on Earth!

For a full schedule of Megagames, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.

Megagame Groups

Everything Epic

Megagame Coalition

National Security Decision Making (NSDM)

Basenti Omni Mischief of Faction, Den of Wolves, Watch the Skies

OmniVampire the Masquerade, Galactic Mercenaries, Dragon Thrones

JW Marriott, Stadium Crucible of Nations, Gathering Darkness, Goblin City

MeridienNear-Future Science Fiction Crisis, Doomsday, American Revolution

Miniatures Games

Miniatures Games are some of the most visually impressive events at the convention — recreating the great battles of history, engaging in magical and fantastical combat, or waging never-ending war in the distant future — all on a tiny scale!

Minis games bring the action to life with physical models, often assembled and painted in painstaking detail. Many players also enhance tabletop play with modeled terrain pieces.

At Gen Con, minis games that depict battles and conflict from the real world are categorized as Historical Miniatures (HMN), while those played in fantasy or science fiction settings are called NonHistorical Miniatures (NMN)

For a full schedule of miniatures, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.

Miniatures Groups

Able Kompanie

AerodromeACE

Ares Games

Atomic Mass Games

Catalyst Game labs

Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming

Games Workshop

Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)

Ottawa Red Shirts

Renegade Game Studios

SWM Gamers

The SmoreySwamp

Wyrd Games

Stadium : Field Flames of War, Clash of Steel

ICC: Hall B Arerodrome

ICC: Hall C

ICC: Hall E

Quartermaster General: 1914, Sails of Glory, Wings of Glory

Marvel: Crisis Protocol, Star Wars: Legion, Star Wars: Shatterpoint

ICC: Hall A Battletech, Leviathans

ICC: Hall A Battletech, Dropfleet, Necromunda, Space Hulk

ICC: Hall C, ICC: Hall EAge of Sigmar, Blood Bowl, Horus Heresy, Kill Team

ICC: Hall C

ICC: Hall B

Ares Zombies, Formula Waaaaagh!, Gaslands Refuelled, Wings of Glory

Games of War, Battletech, Six Shooter

ICC: Hall D Heroscape: Age of Annihilation

ICC: Hall C

Imperial Assault, Star Wars Miniatures, Star Wars Pod Racing

ICC: Hall C Axis & Allies

ICC: Hall B Malifaux, The Other Side

Miniatures Hobby Events (MHE)

The beloved craft of miniatures.

Painting, sculpting, and more! Featuring events for all skill levels. Try your hand at painting miniatures for the first time, practice your skills, or compete against other painters!

Paint and Take

Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm

A free, walk-up event — you’ll be given a miniature to keep, paints and brushes to use, and friendly instruction if you need help! Note that this event does not have tickets; it is first come, first served.

Paint and Take Sponsors

Speed Painting

Battle against the clock to paint the best mini in the time limit! Event fee includes use of supplies, and you get to keep the mini you paint! Ticketed events are associated with different manufacturers, some of which have final rounds you can compete to get in. Be the best painter in your group and advance to a championship round on Sunday!

Speed Painting Sponsors

Miniatures Hobby Events (MHE)

Aces of Painting

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Watch professional speed-painters compete to paint the best mini; all competition minis are auctioned off for charity on Saturday night at the Gen Con Auction. No ticket required for this event.

Gen Con Painting Competition

Awards Ceremony

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Saturday, 7 pm

2nd Floor Serpentine

Miniatures Painting Competition

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Entry Dropoff

Thursday, noon – 5 pm

Friday, 10 am – 6 pm

Entry Pickup

Saturday, 7 pm – 9 pm Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm

Featuring a $1000 cash prize for BEST IN SHOW, ribbons, and trophies!

Check at the MHE HQ table for further competition information or scan the QR code above. Entry fee is two generic tickets.

Competition Sponsors

Aces of Painting Sponsors

Trade Day is a program for educators in the academic and corporate worlds, librarians, retailers, and health professionals.

Held on Wednesday, the program is designed to provide hands-on training, networking, and professional development opportunities with a focus on using games as tools for specific needs within the Trade Day audience.

Anyone with a 2025 Trade Day badge can attend. The Trade Day program is open to adults 18 and older.

Trade Day Events

Trade Day 2025 is hosting over 125 events by and for the Trade Day audience. Here is a small sample of the events being hosted:

• LEGO Serious Pl ay Methodology (TRD25ND288526)

• Escaping From Bad Leadership: An Escape Room Experience (TRD25ND278569)

• Boardgames And The Brain! (TRD25ND273577)

• The Accidental Gamer (TRD25ND289495)

• Brotherwise Games — New Retailer Program! (TRD25ND291598)

• Why Kids Need Superheroes (2025 edition) (TRD25ND273260)

And the list goes on. With so many incredible events, you will find some that fit your unique niche.

We also have events that provide opportunities to learn outside perspectives on a specific field. These events are a great addition to your professional development, such as:

• Building A Gaming Community (TRD25ND287732)

• Emergence: A Theoretical & Practical Approach To GamesBased Transformation (TRD25ND272959)

• Pl ay Fair — Creating Equitable Experiences (TRD25ND278259)

Use the QR code for the most up-to-date information on Trade Day events.

Key Events

No Trade Day is complete without our two annual key events!

Keynote: Games Are The Glue presented by Brian Mayer

Games serve as powerful tools for growth, social connection, and community partnerships by leveraging the strengths of the Trade Day audience while also fostering collaboration between them.

Wednesday, 9 am

JW: White River Ballroom E

Demo Night & Social Mixer (TRD25ND272051)

This culminating event, which is part showcase, part networking, and part social mixing, is a great way to end your 2025 Trade Day experience..

Wednesday, 7 – 9:30 pm

JW: Grand Ballroom 5

Sponsored by

All Trade Day events are free; you must have a 2025 Trade Day badge to attend.

Our Keynote Speaker Brian Mayer

Brian Mayer is an educational administrator, certified teacher and librarian, author, consultant, and game designer. He currently works as the Coordinator of the School Library System and Media Services for an educational state agency that supports the school libraries of 27 rural districts in Western New York.

He is the designer of the award-winning board game Freedom: The Underground Railroad (Academy Games, 2013). He was named a 2015 Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his work utilizing games and game design in education. He is the author of Create Interactive Stories in Twine (Rosen, 2019), the co-author of Libraries Got Game (ALA, 2009), along with several books in the Teaching through Games Series (Rosen, 2015).

To learn more about Brian, visit brianmayer.games

Trade Day At a Glance

Day + Time

Wednesday 9 am – 9:30 pm

Location

JW: 1st & 2nd Floors

Trade Day

Marketplace

10 am – 5 pm

JW: 1st Floor

Trade Day HQ

Wednesday 8 am – 4 pm

Located on the 2nd floor near the skywalk

Trade Day

Trade Day Marketplace

The Trade Day Marketplace is a great B2B opportunity to demo games and products that can help for your specific needs whether that be the classroom, therapeutic sessions, library, FLGS, or just for fun! It’s a great opportunity to meet and talk to the publishers about their lines and how it can work for your particular needs.

10 am – 5 pm

JW: 1st Floor

Participating Companies

Alpha Clash TCG

Arrow Dot Press

Black Oak Workshop

Central Michigan

University Press

Fanroll

Foam Brain Games

Ghost Galaxy Inc.

HABA USA

Heavy Play

Journey To Paradise Island

Legendary Realms Terrain

Marvel Multiverse

Role-Playing Game

Showcase Deck Box

Sit Down!

The Story Engine

Companies subject to change/ cancellation

You must have a 2025 Trade Day badge to access the Trade Day Marketplace.

Murder in Metal City is a premium boxed set adventure for Starfinder Second Edition. It includes six pregenerated 1st-level characters, a new playable ancestry, and everything else the players and GM need to run the adventure, from tokens and battle maps to special handouts, item cards, enemy statistics, and articles about the people, places, and faiths of Aballon. Welcome to Metal City—but beware. Danger lurks in every alley!

Welcome to the Game Design Academy!

2025 marks the inaugural launch of this groundbreaking initiative at Gen Con. The Game Design Academy brings game design from inspiration to innovation with an immersive learning experience led by game design academics and industry professionals.

Attendees can engage in hands-on workshops, insightful seminars, networking opportunities, and practical skill-building sessions designed to equip aspiring and experienced designers alike with the tools they need to pursue their game design journey.

Game Design Academy (GDA) has two tracks, based on the level of interest and commitment — the Student or Explorer. For more information about these two tracks and this exciting new program, please visit the Game Design Academy.

Events

In its inaugural year, Game Design Academy has over 70 events offering a wide breadth of information about game design. Some events are curated by Gen Con, while others are offered by individuals and/or companies in the industry. All events are guaranteed to be of interest to any level of game designer.

Discover all events being hosted for Game Design Academy:

All GDA Events Student Only Events Explorer Events

Thank you to the following companies for their generous donations to the program:

• Allplay

• Ferris State University

• Green Guardian

• Matt Paquette & Co.

• Panda Game Manufacturing

Faculty / Event Hosts

Learn more

Here is a list of game industry professionals and academics who will be hosting all the amazing events and offering their vast knowledge and expertise to this program:

Jchon Bahl II, M.S.

Erica Bouyouris

Helaina Cappel

Jay Cormier

Jason Cox, PhD

Andrew D. Devenney, PhD

Geoff Engelstein

James Ernest

Matt Fantastic

Matt Forbeck

Cory Heald

Kathleen Mercury, M.A.T, M.E.T.

Tam Myaing

Andrew Peterson, PhD

Nick Proctor, PhD

Danielle Reynolds

David Simkins, PhD

Vaarun Singireddy, MFA

David Takitaki

Jonathan Truitt, PhD

Aaron Vanek

Emily Vincent

Nate Wiseman

William Zambole

Molly Zeff

Eric Zimmerman

Game Design Academy Coordinators

Meet the Coordinators whose insight, dedication, and hard work have been instrumental in bringing this program to life:

Kathleen Mercury, M.A.T, M.E.T

An award-winning teacher and designer, Kathleen Mercury has been pushing the boundaries of using design thinking to merge game design and instruction from elementary to collegiate levels for over 20 years. Currently a Lecturer in the School of Education at California Polytechnic Humboldt teaching and works as a Games-Based Learning experience designer. Kathleen is a published tabletop game designer with Greece Lightning (2021) and upcoming title Tulip Season.

Thank you!

Andrew Peterson, PhD

Andrew is the Director of Educational Technology and Adjunct Professor of Game Design at Ferris State University. He is a passionate educator and game designer with experience in games-based learning and tabletop game design. Andrew has guided students through the creative process of designing, prototyping, and producing their own games. His expertise bridges the worlds of education and gaming, leveraging the power of games to create engaging and impactful learning experiences.

Gen Con would like to thank Kathleen and Andrew for their unwavering effort, commitment, and generosity in developing this program. This initiative simply wouldn’t exist without their vision and passion. We are profoundly grateful. And thanks to Amy for keeping us all on track!

Get Exclusive Updates on 2026 Game Design Academy

Sign up for our exclusive email newsletter to get updates right to your inbox!

Award Ceremonies

The 2025 ENNIE Awards

Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction

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Friday, 6 pm – 8 pm, Union Station Grand Hall Awards

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Friday, 8 pm –11 pm, Union Station Grand Hall

The ENNIE Awards (the “ENNIES”) are an annual fan-based celebration of excellence in tabletop roleplaying gaming.

The Dice Tower Awards

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Thursday, 7 pm – 9 pm

ICC: 500 Ballroom

The 18th Annual Dice Tower Awards will be presented live at Gen Con 2025 by the Dice Tower team and friends! Join us for a live show and congratulate the winners of fifteen different awards. Which board games have the best art, the best production, best strategy, best expansion, and more? Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer along with the Dice Tower staff will be hosting and announcing the best games of 2024, as voted on by a myriad of board game reviewers and podcasters. Come join us for skits, hilarity, and a celebration of the best games!

Gen Con Painting Competition Awards Ceremony

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Saturday, 7 pm – 9 pm

ICC: 2nd floor Serpentine Lobby

For the 25th consecutive year, the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming celebrates the best in gaming, including game systems, supplements, magazines, companies, designers, events, or conventions. The winner is announced here at Gen Con!

In the months before the convention, the Diana Jones Award Committee, composed of gaming professionals worldwide, discusses and votes on the best of the past year. Finalists are selected, and further voting determines a single winner.

Every year, winners receive the traveling Diana Jones Award trophy at a private event on Wednesday, the day before Gen Con.

Scan to learn more about the Diana Jones Award, including previous winners.

The items on this year’s shortlist are:

• Charlie Hall, a journalist and editor covering tabletop games, formerly with Polygon.

• Daybreak, a board game designed by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace, published by CMYK.

• Rascal News, a website dedicated to tabletop games, founded by Lin Codega, Rowan Zeoli, and Chase Carter.

• Rose Estes, a novelist and gamebook designer.

Special thanks to the sponsors of this year’s Diana Jones Award ceremony: Key Sponsors: Azora Law and Best Hobby

Ceremony Sponsors: Andrew Chesney, Anthony Gallela, The Corner of Story and Game, Chip Theory Games, Curtis Frye, Daniel and Laura Block, Darrington Press, David Hoppe, Free League Publishing, Gen Con, Geoff Engelstein, Heroic Signatures, Hoplite Games, Jim Kitchen, The Kraken (a Gaming Retreat), Lazy Wolf Studios, Marlowe House Games, Matt Forbeck, Mike Webb, Onyx Path Publishing, Red Writes Books, Renegade Game Studios, Ross Thompson, What Box Consulting, The Yellow Hand

We’d also like to thank our board members — Matt Forbeck, Michelle Nephew, and Camdon Wright — plus, Aaron Trammell, who coordinates the Emerging Designer Program with Camdon. A special thanks goes to retiring board member Peter Adkison for his many years of service and support.

To discover who has won the 25th annual Diana Jones Award, stop by the Gen Con Info booth or visit DianaJonesAward.org after the convention!

The Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program

The Diana Jones Award committee is excited to announce this year’s four winners and finalists for the Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program, which is in its fifth year!

Ashraf Braden

Ashraf is an African RPG designer living in Uganda’s Kampala District. He is best known for Legends of Uganda, a zine dedicated to bringing Ugandan myths and urban legends to the gaming table. Between warehouse shifts, Ashraf is working on a potential sourcebook for Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, based on his work with Legends of Uganda. This work, drawing upon the history of the Bugandan kingdom, details the clans of Buganda and delves into new, playable classes based upon local folklore.

Elliot Davis

Elliot — a.k.a. “moreblueberries” — is a Brooklyn-based game designer, publisher, podcaster, and artist who loves all things weird and wonderful about the TTRPG industry. He is known for such self-published releases as Project ECCO, Rom Com Drama Bomb, and the upcoming The Time We Have. When he’s not losing sleep over a new game idea you can hear him play, GM, produce, and host on the podcasts My First Dungeon and Talk of the Table, which he produces as a co-founder of Many Sided Media.

The committee would also like to congratulate our excellent finalists:

• Rook Feld

• Kodi Gonzaga

• Ashwin Kamath

• Tejas Oza

For more information about all our finalists, visit DianaJonesAward.org

Lyla McBeath Fujiwara

Lyla is the project lead for the Cosmere RPG, which in 2024 became the highest-funded tabletop Kickstarter ever. She coordinates a team of 20 diverse creatives working on 14 game products. She is also the book lead for the RPG’s hardcover campaign-length adventures Stonewalkers and Mistborn Legacy. As the book lead, she facilitates and directs the overall creative vision and execution of the adventures. Lyla has freelanced for Hit Point Press and Evil Hat Productions. She also helped organize Big Bad Con’s PoC Meet and Greet and co-organized Gamehole Con’s inaugural PoC Industry Dinner.

Special thanks to this year’s sponsors of the Emerging Designer Program:

Key Sponsors: Bundle of Holding and Gen Con

Additional Sponsors: Anthony Gallela, Danny and Laura Block, David Hoppe, and What Box Consulting

Marceline Leiman

Marceline is a graduate of and instructor at the prestigious NYU Gamecenter. She has designed in the board game and RPG space and has worked with North Star Games (Oceans solo mode) Underdog Games (Trekking the World second edition) and Clarkson Potter (title unannounced). Her handcrafted wood-and-fabric game, High Tide, was selected to be featured at the inaugural Indie Games Night Market and has since been signed to Underdog Games for mass production. Her bluffing microgame, Phantasmic, was recently signed to Button Shy Games.

Our Emerging Designer Program prize donors include:

• Game Manufacturers Association

• Protospiel Online

• The Game Crafter

• Atlas Games

• Evil Hat Productions

• Gameplaywright/ Pelgrane Press

• Green Ronin Publishing

• Kobold Press

• NYU Press

Art Show

Since the early 90s, the Gen Con Art Show has showcased some of the most talented and influential artists in the fantasy, sci-fi, comics, horror, and gaming genres.

At the Art Show, you can meet industry legends and upcoming new artists, find the perfect gift for the art enthusiast in your life, or just explore and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of art!

At a Glance

Day + Time

Thursday – Saturday

10 am – 6 pm

Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

Location Exhibit Hall

Attending Art Show Artists

Wade Acuff

Elisabeth Alba

Zara Alfonso

Fian Arroyo

Emerald Barkley

Mark Behm

Michael Blank

Madison Brake

Bruce Brenneise

Lauren Brown

Lindsey Burcar

Christopher Burdett

Philip Byers

Chris Casciano

NEN Chang

Shy Custis

Rain Delmar

Eric Deschamps

Laura Diehl

Meredith Dillman

Ivy Dolamore

Gerardo Dos Diaz

Malina Dowling

Steve Ellis

Matt Emmons

LIsa Falkenstern

Sarah Finnigan

Scott Fischer

Eric Fortune

Tawny Fritzinger

Quintin Gleim

Cory Godbey

Lucas Graciano

Helen Greer

Meghan Hjerpinson

Elaine Ho

Jennifer Hrabota Lesser

Kris Kehasukjaren

Andy Kehoe

Bryce Kho

Ki Kline

Michael Kucharski

Coey Kuhn

Caitlyn Kurilich

Devin Kurtz

Eelis Kyttanen

Megan Lara

Jamie Lee

Deb Lee

Amelia Leonards

Jenny Li

Rhonda Libbey

Ren Lindroos

Erik Ly

Marko Manev

Michael Matsumoto

Mike Maydak

Reiko Murakami

Scott Murphy

Sean Murray

Amy Nagi

Tran Nguyen

RJ Palmer

Dustin Panzino

Victoria Peterson

Mark Poole

RK Post

Sean Price

Omar Rayyan

Check gencon.com for updates to this list.

Rob Rey

Olena Richards

Faith Schaffer

Danny Schwartz

Dan Scott

Cynthia Sheppard

Susan Shorter

Jon Sideriadis

Kaysha Siemens

Joe Slucher

John Stanko

Melissa Sue Stanley

Crystal Sullivan

Erika Taguchi

Mark Tedin

Andrew Thompson

Tim Von Rueden

Jacob Walker

Owen Weber

Erica Williams

Kirsten Zirngibl

Featured Artists

Scott Fischer

Scott M. Fischer graduated with honors from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since then, his brush has steadily carved a path through the illustration landscape. Scott is well known in fantasy and gaming art circles, contributing to Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends. He is a conceptual character designer for companies like Microsoft and Disney, on their TRON franchise.

As an instructor, Scott is a core faculty member at the world-famous Illustration Master Class and SmArt School. Wentworth Galleries represents him. He is one of the leading Rock and Roll Artists in the country. He exhibits “Rock and Roll Fantasy” paintings at festivals like Monsters of Rock.

Tran Nguyen

Tran Nguyen is a Vietnamese freelance artist best known for her book illustrations and fine art, which focus on figurative art, nature, and the intricacies of the human condition. Her work is painted traditionally with acrylics and colored pencil on watercolor paper, and it possesses an air of fantasy and surrealism.

She has collaborated with clients such as Penguin Random House, Disney, Wizards of the Coast, Marvel Comics, and Smithsonian magazine, to bring their stories to life. More of her work can be found at mynameistran.com

Mark Tedin

Growing up in the sublime locale of Sitka, Alaska, Mark had dreams of flying saucers and epic landscapes, rarely putting his pencil down as a result.

After furthering his art studies at Gonzaga University and Washington University in St. Louis, he heard the call from a friend to do some work for Wizards of the Coast, drawing and painting an endless array of fanciful creatures and characters, both as a freelance illustrator and staff concept artist. These past 33 years it was, and still is, for him a dream come true: drawing strange creatures and environments and making a living at it.

Authors Avenue

Authors Avenue is a dedicated section of the Exhibit Hall for independent authors and small press publishers of fiction who work in the fantasy, sci-fi, horror, military, or anime genres. These chosen authors will showcase and discuss their works in historical fantasy, urban fantasy, children’s adventure, LGBTQIA+, steampunk, and much more.

Stop by to meet your favorite author or discover a new literary world to explore!

Authors

3WS Publishing

Alexander Boehme-Mason

Ben Wolf

Bookwyrm Authors

Brady J. Sadler

Chris A. Jackson

Christopher Bair

Christopher D. Schmitz

Darby Harn

Doug Bedwell

Halsbren Publishing

H. T. Brady

Intisar Khanani

Isaac Crowe

James Maxey

JW Troemner

JC Kang

K.R. Gastreich

Kimber Grey

Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Law Firms and Librarians

Lynette Bacon-Nguyen

Maxwell Alexander Drake

Mike Shel

Nathan Marchand

R. Litfin

Author Ray Wenck

Red Rose Works

Richard Fierce

S.A. McClure

The Sci-Fi Gals

Sewn Together Reflections

Tatiana Obey

TANSTAAFL Press

Virginia McClain Author

Wayne D. Kramer

Wraithmarked Creative

Check gencon.com for updates to this list.

At a Glance

Day + Time

Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

Location Exhibit Hall

Publishers

Ben Wolf

Bookwyrm Authors

Maxwell Alexander Drake Red Rose Works Wraithmarked Creative

29 Years of Celebrating Storytelling

The Writers Symposium provides a multi-day experience in which attendees can come together as an inclusive community to develop their craft and expand their creativity. Come celebrate the many facets of speculative fiction in gaming and writing with us!

At a Glance

Where

The second floor of the Downtown Marriott

When Thursday – Sunday Schedule

Full listing of events can be found through Gen Con’s event search by filtering for Writers Symposium in the Company/ Group field.

2025 Featured Panelists

Aaron Rosenberg

Arley Sorg

Brady McReynolds

Brandon O’Brien

Bryan Thao Worra

Bryan Young

C. S. E. Cooney

Cadwell Turnbull

Carlos Hernandez

Chris A. Jackson

Christopher D. Schmitz

Danian Darrell Jerry

Daniel Kraus

Daniel Myers

Danni Williams

DaVaun Sanders

David A. Rodriguez

Erik Scott de Bi

Featured Guest John Scalzi

John Scalzi is the NYT-bestselling, Hugo-winning author of Old Man’s War, Redshirts and other novels, and well as non-fiction books on astronomy, finance, and film, as well as five collections of essays originally written on his longrunning site. The former president of SFWA, Scalzi is a writer for the Emmy-winning Netflix series Love Death + Robots He lives in Ohio. Ask him about his cats.

Spotlight Saturday, 3 pm SEM25ND293529

Erin M. Evans

Erin Roberts

Errick Nunnally

Gabrielle Harbowy

Gini Koch

Gregory A. Wilson

J. B. Garner

James A. Hunter

James Lowder

Jason Sanford

Jennifer Brozek

Jeri Red Shepherd

Jerry Gordon

Johannah Simon & M. Florence

Karen Menzel née Bovenmyer

Katherine Monasterio

Kelli Fitzpatrick

Khaldoun Khelil

Signing Friday, 2 pm ZED25ND293513

Lark Morgan Lu

Matt Forbeck

Maurice Broaddus

Michael A. Stackpole

Monica Valentinelli

Morgan Wilson

Oriana Leckert

Richard Dansky

Richard Lee Byers

Rob Cameron

S.E. Lindberg

Sandra Tayler

Sean CW Korsgaard

Sheree Renée Thomas

Shveta Thakrar

Stephen Kozeniewski

Tim Waggoner

Toiya Kristen Finley

Special Guest Nilah Magruder

Nilah Magruder is based in Maryland. She is the co-author of Creaky Acres, a middle-grade graphic novel, and the author of M.F.K., a middlegrade graphic novel and winner of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity, HOW TO FIND A FOX, and WUTARYOO. She has published short stories in Fireside Magazine, FIYAH Magazine, All Out: The NoLonger-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages, and Fiery Deeps. Nilah is the first Black woman to write for Marvel Comics and created the character SpiderByte for Marvel’s Spider-Geddon event. She has illustrated children’s books for Disney-Hyperion, Scholastic, and Penguin Random House, and works as a writer and storyboard artist in television animation. She is currently making graphic novels for middle-grade and young adult readers. When she is not working, Nilah is baking, gardening, and herding her assortment of cats, dogs, and chickens.

Spotlight Saturday, 1 pm SEM25ND293527

Event Spotlight

Signing

Saturday, 11 am ZED25ND293511

Remembering Howard Andrew Jones

Join us as we honor and celebrate the life, work, and memory of Howard Andrew Jones, one of our own.

Thursday, 11 am - 12 pm

Free Event: SEM25ND293495

Meet the Pros

Join the creatives, editors, publishers, and agents of Gen Con’s Writers Symposium for a night of socializing, networking, and merch signing.

Thursday, 6 pm - 9 pm

Free Event: ZED25ND293504

Grayshade: Death of a Noble (A New Dark Fantasy 5E TTRPG—Live Session)

A live play session of “Death of a Noble,” an adventure for Alligator Alley’s new dark fantasy TTRPG Grayshade, GMed by lead designer Brandon O’Brien and featuring authors from the Writers’ Symposium! Friday, 7 pm - 11 pm ENT25ND293479

Exhibit Hall Signings

(Authors Avenue)

Thursday

2 pm C. S. E. Cooney, Richard Dansky, and Shveta Thakrar

3 pm Danni Williams and Errick Nunnally

4 pm Gregory A. Wilson and Tim Waggoner

Friday

11 am Sheree Renée Thomas, Danian Darrell Jerry, and Erin M. Evans

1 pm Christopher D. Schmitz and Sean CW Korsgaard

2 pm John Scalzi

2 pm Naomi Novik

Saturday 11 am Nil ah Magruder and Delilah S. Dawson

1 pm Erik Scott de Bie, Gini Koch, and J.B. Garner

2 pm Jon Peterson

Coffee Klatches (Downtown Marriott)

Thursday 11 am Morgan Wilson

1 pm Brady McReynolds

2 pm Diana Pho

3 pm Oriana Leckert

4 pm Matt Forbeck

5 pm Arley Sorg

Friday

10 am Pitch an Agent in the Round with Gabrielle Harbowy

11 am C. S. E. Cooney and Johannah Simon

1 pm Michael A. Stackpole

2 pm Tim Waggoner and Stephen Kozeniewski

3 pm Kelli Fitzpatrick and James A. Hunter

4 pm Sheree Renée Thomas

5 pm Richard Dansky and Brandon O’Brien

Saturday

10 am Gregory A. Wilson and Richard Lee Byers

11 am Jason Sanford and David A. Rodriguez

1 pm Shveta Thakrar and Katherine Monasterio

2 pm Monica Valentinelli and J. B. Garner

3 pm Erin Roberts

4 pm Daniel Myers and Bryan Thao Worra

5 pm Erin M. Evans and Danni Williams

Costume Contest

Join us for Gen Con’s 39th annual Costume Contest!

Whether you want to show off your cosplay skills and compete or be dazzled by the amazing creativity, the Costume Contest is a can’t-miss event at Gen Con!

You’ll find the Costume Contest on the Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom) at 4 pm on Saturday. For spectators, the Costume Contest is a free, ticketed event. Attendees without tickets may be seated if space allows, but priority is given to those with tickets. A valid Gen Con 2025 badge is required for entry.

Can’t make it to the show? No worries! The Costume Contest will be livestreamed and made available by VOD on our Gen Con Live YouTube channel at youtube.com/@GenConStream.

Sponsored By

Saturday Timetable

9 am

Deadline to drop entries at the Information Booth.

9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Costume Contest Check-In

500 Ballroom Reception

Contest entries will not be accepted after check-in has closed.

3:05 pm – 3:45 pm

Costume Parade

3:30 pm

Pre-Show Entertainment

3:45 pm

Contestants report to line up for the Costume Contest.

4 pm

Costume Contest begins!

Costume Contest Contestant Info

Registration

Registering in advance is highly recommended. The costume contest is limited to 70 entries. If any category receives 14 entries, that category will be closed. Entries will be accepted on a first come, first entered basis. When the contest reaches capacity, a waiting list will be created. Entries on the waiting list will be admitted to the contest if a registered entry drops out or does not appear at check-in.

To register, first read the rules, then print and fill out the form linked in the QR code or ask for a form at the Information Booth in the Main Concourse. This form does not register you for Gen Con — only the costume contest. A valid Gen Con badge and two generic tickets will be required when you sign in at Costume Contest Check-In.

An emcee introduction is REQUIRED! You must submit a short introduction for yourself that you would like the emcee to read as you appear on stage. Type or handwrite it (neatly) and attach it to your entry form. This is your chance to impress the judges; include a description of the construction of your costume. This description is limited to 100 words. Gen Con reserves the right to edit material.

On-site entries: If you register on site, fill out the entry form (your introduction for the emcee must be attached and typed or neatly written) and drop it in the “Costume Contest Entry” box located at the Information Booth in the Main Concourse by 9 am on Saturday. If you miss this deadline, come directly to Costume Contest CheckIn (500 Ballroom Reception) and staff will determine if there is room for you.

Contestant Check-In: All contestants must appear at Contest Check-In. Mailing or dropping an entry form reserves a space for you, but you are not officially registered until you appear at check-in. Contestants who do not appear at check-in (see Saturday timetable) are considered dropped. Check-in takes about 30 minutes. Your emcee introduction is required at check-in.

Contest Basics

Costume entries may be simple walk-onand-pivot displays or may involve a short presentation. Performances are limited to two minutes. You may perform your own speech, drama, song, or other skill, or you can simply model while our emcee narrates text that you provide. Either way, the emphasis of judging is on the costumes.

Contest Rules & Entry Form

Costume Contest

Costume Categories

Choose a category for your costume and check it on the entry form. If your costume fits multiple categories, pick the category you prefer. We will review your costume at check-in to make sure you are in the right category. Categories may be closed depending on the number of entries.

• Fantasy / Historical: Wizards, barbarians, pixies, mermaids, warriors, Renaissance citizens, etc.

• Game Characters: Video games, board games, roleplaying games, etc.

• Pop Culture: Robots, aliens, spaceship pilots, heroes, villains, etc.

• Professional: To keep the contest fair, you must enter the Professional category if you meet any of the following criteria, regardless of your age:

1. You are a past first-place winner of a Gen Con costume contest or other major costume contest TWICE within the past five years.

2. Your costume was constructed by a professional in the garment or costume industry, whether it was you or someone else.

3. Your costume was constructed by someone who earns the majority of their living in the construction of costumes or clothing.

Costume Parade

The parade is a great way to gather with fellow cosplayers and show off your cosplay creativity at Gen Con! Anyone in costume may join the parade anywhere along the route listed below. Parade participants will assemble outside Hall A at 3 pm.

Contestants: The parade is encouraged but optional; contest judging will not consider parade participation.

Parade Route

The parade begins outside Hall A. Enters Hall A traveling through the length of the Event Hall.

The parade will then exit through Hall D

The parade continues north along the Crossroads Concourse, exiting outside the doors to the Westin.

A sharp right turn on Maryland Street through the Maryland Street Motor Lobby.

Another right turn at the corner of Capitol Avenue.

The parade ends at the Georgia Street entrance

HALL B

Need a break from the crowds of the Exhibit Hall? Join filmmakers from around the world as they share their visions.

The Gen Con Film Festival presents films that are inspiring, thrilling, suspenseful, and hilarious. Grab a seat and experience a different side of Gen Con.

Feature Films

Inbetweening

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A filmmaker’s journey trying to remain afloat and healthy in the liminal space between projects... while the voices in his head steadily become louder.

Thursday, 10 am

Westin Capitol III

The Damnation

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Horror: A malignant evil begins not only destroying the environment; but feeding on the blood of locals.

Thursday, 2 pm

Westin Capitol III

Night Talkers

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Horror: A late-night radio talk show host opens the phone lines up and hears the stories straight from the residents of Marshalltown.

Thursday, 11 pm

Westin Capitol III

The Forest Through the Trees

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Horror: Chloe and her step dad, Ken, are dealing with the disappearance of Kathy. They investigate a clue that leads them on a collision course with a dangerous demonic cult.

Thursday, noon: Westin Capitol III

Time Helmet

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Comedy: Under hot pursuit for his time crimes, Don must fight his future self in a race to avoid financial ruin and win back his daughter’s love.

Thursday, 9 pm

Westin Capitol III

Shopping for Superman

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Documentary: The origin of your friendly neighborhood comic shop. We examine their cultural significance and the numerous threats they face today.

Friday, 10 am: Westin Capitol III

Feature Films

Shakespeare: The Tempest

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Sci-fi: Prospero, a betrayed spaceship captain, is marooned on a desert planet with his daughter Miranda. Using magic and science to shipwreck the crew that betrayed him.

Saturday, 3:30 pm Westin Capitol III

Igniting The SparkThe Story of Magic: The Gathering

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Documentary: Magic’s origins, its rapid growth, its enduring popularity, and its massive influence on the gaming industry and people’s lives.

Saturday, 8 pm: Westin Capitol III

Perception Check

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Perception Check follows a group of friends from Chicago experiencing Dungeons & Dragons for the first time through a very specific style of play.

Sunday, noon: Westin Capitol III

Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke

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Enjoy the latest installment of the Surge of Power indie superhero movie franchise known for having lots of celebrities from the sci-fi and superhero genres!

Sunday, 1pm: Westin Capitol III

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Fantasy: An uprising stirs when a Sheriff raises taxes and uses violence to punish those who can’t pay. The oppressed seek support from the dangerous Wood Elves.

Saturday, 6 pm: Westin Capitol III

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Horror: A century after his legendary death, Dracula’s blood sister has emerged with her own nefarious plans.

Saturday, 10:30 pm Westin Capitol III

The Gamers: Dorkness Falls - Gen Con Test Screening

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You seem trustworthy. Would you care to join us on our noble quest? Join us for a Gen Con test screening of the rough cut of Gamers 4! It’s the Gamers vs the Shadow in the final gamers movie!

Saturday, midnight Westin Capitol III

Short Films

Fantasy Short Film Block

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A selection of short fantasy films: Sweep Stake, Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting, Hovel, Natural One, God, dammit!, The Angel, Daylight, Hearts of Stone, The Pendant of Time: Magic Battle, My Own World, Chthonic, TPK.

Thursday, 5 pm Westin Capitol III

Fan Film Block

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Circle City Ghostbusters in “Christmas with the Krampus”, Stalled Trek: The Dumbsday, Machine, Star Wars : Procurement, Requiem for a Hornet, The Killer, Spider-Man Training Day.

Friday, 1 pm Westin Capitol III

Action Short Film Block

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The Humming Grows, She’s on the Run, PT, The King-Slayers, HITMAN EX.

Saturday, 11 am Westin Capitol III

Horror Comedy Short Film Block

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NO ESCAPE, Tyrannic - MMXXV, The Time Capsule, The Last Hire, @livingb3n, Baby Blues - Going Dark, Roll for Terror, Bart and Bobbi Kill Each Other, Emotional Support Demon, Slated, Jane & the Brain.

Friday, 7 pm: Westin Capitol III

Horror Short Film Block

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THE FIVE STAGES OF... Up Close, Creep Stream, The Newlyweds: Blood At the Altar, DEADRINGER, An Affair at the End of Time Home, You’re On Mute, Clock of Achlys, Post PostMortem, The Ghost That Wouldn’t Die, The Scalpel, House Rules.

Friday, 9:30 pm: Westin Capitol III

Documentary Short Film Block

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The VoltCon Force, Making Magic, Shapeshifters.

Friday, noon Westin Capitol III

Comedy Short Film Block

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Truth Detector: Regifted, Weedman, Super Villan Coffee, High Noon: The Last Draw, Fairy God Bro, Tragedy at the Wall, Croak Show.

Friday, 3 pm Westin Capitol III

Short Films

Thriller Suspense

Short Film Block

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Fool with a Gun, Whistlecatcher, Bananahead, Torments, Enter the Room, Once Upon a Time in the Apocalypse, Enter the Room.

Friday, 4:30 pm Westin Capitol III

Sci-fi Short Film Block

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Charlie Moon Landing, Timewriter, First Sight, Diminished Reality, Shepherd Moon, Missing Hearts, Atlas Falling, Another One Bites the Dust, Artifice, Recall.

Saturday, 12:30 pm Westin Capitol III

Film Panels

Find out what happens behind the camera and lights. Join our filmmakers as they share their experiences bringing the magic to the screen.

Film Pre-Production Panel

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Thursday, 2 pm

Westin Council

Film Budget and Finance Panel

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Thursday, 3:30 pm

Westin Council

Film Animation Panel

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Thursday, 5 pm

Westin Council

Filmmaker Meet & Greet

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Friday, 10 am

Westin Council

Film Script Writing Panel

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Friday, noon

Westin Council

Acting for Film Panel

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Friday, 1:30 pm

Westin Council

Life on Set, Shooting Your Film Without Getting Shot

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Friday, 3 pm: Westin Council

Directing Film Panel

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Friday, 4:30 pm: Westin Council

Titmouse Animation: Forged from the Fire of Table-Top RPGs

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Friday, 6 pm: Westin Council

Producing an Independent Film Panel

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Saturday, 10 am

Westin Council

Female Filmmakers Panel

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Saturday, 11:30 am Westin Council

Promoting Your Film

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Saturday, 1 pm Westin Council

Film Post-Production Panel

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Saturday, 2:30 pm

Westin Council

VFX Panel

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Saturday, 4 pm

Westin Council

What Film Festivals Want Panel

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Saturday, 5:30 pm

Westin Council

Independent Series

12 Sided Die, Season 2

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A romantic comedy web-series about a group of friends that play a fictionalized Dungeons & Dragons type game directed by Tim Russ (Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager).

Sunday, 10 am Westin Capitol III

Geek Knights

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Follow the progression of the six Dungeons and Dragons Adventurers as we morph back and forth from the actual D&D gaming sessions being brought to life.

Saturday, 10 am Westin Capitol III

The Party

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When a new player joins their D&D campaign under false pretenses, five friends must battle shifts in the group dynamic and navigate the perils of both the fantasy game and real life.

Sunday, 11 am Westin Capitol III

Series Block

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A selection of episodes from independent series: Illuminagents

S2: Two in the Bush, ParaGenex Season 2 Episodes 1 to 5, InCharacter.

Sunday, 2:30 pm Westin Capitol III

Draw Your Weapons

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A new series that features RPG players competing with their artistic skills, as they actually “draw” their weapons.

Thursday, 4 pm Westin Capitol III

Gen Con Film Festival Awards Ceremony

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Thursday, 8 pm: Westin Capitol III

Celebrate with our talented filmmakers! Awards for Best Feature, Ovid Award, Best Short, Best Web Series. Best Student, Best Animated, Gamer, Documentary, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Horror, Fan Film, and Comedy films.

PRE-ORDERSAvailable at Booth #2865

Stop by our booth & PRE-ORDER the 632-page folk horror tome The Crooked Moon & discover even more whimsical goodies we have in store!

Entertainment

Enjoy entertainment all weekend with a mix of concerts, live plays, comedy, and more.

Whether you’re seeking a break from the busy Exhibit Hall or looking to kick off your night with some fun, get ready for an unforgettable showcase of talent with Gen Con Entertainment.

Goater Mac’s Funhouse

Goater Mac’s Funhouse is back with a whacky combination of Filk, Folk, and Skiffle. Turning sea shanties on their heads, singing about Dungeons, Dragons, Zombies, or Cthulhu, or bringing back some of his favorite Celtic hits is just “par for the show” in the Funhouse. That and doing the Time Warp. Again. And again.

View all entertainment events

Il Troubadore

Il Troubadore is Indy’s 16th Century Rock Band performing hits from all around the world, as well as out of the world from galaxies far, far away. Everything from Klingon Opera to Wookiee dance tunes and Huttese anthems are sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Dan the Bard

Dan the Bard sings original songs about his experiences playing Dungeons & Dragons and general nerd culture. He sets his inventive lyrics to tunes from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, traditional music, and his own compositions. He has many CDs and takes song commissions about your character. Visit Dan at his booth in the Entertainer Spotlight, or even better, see him at one of his amazing shows at Gen Con!

Forward Motion

For nearly a decade in Indianapolis, Forward Motion has advocated for the creation of new works by presenting innovative performances in a variety of spaces. Forward Motion focuses on the performance of new works and free improvisation.

Forward Motion has commissioned and premiered dozens of new chamber works from composers such as Rob Funkhouser, Caroline KyungA Ahn, Eliza Brown, Jorge Muñiz, Clockwork Janz, Jared Thompson, and Gabrielle Cebervilles. The group’s core instrumentation consists of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion; its activity is fluid and involves many innovative combinations of this core instrumentation.

Indy Swords & Shimmies — Belly Dancing with an Edge!

Formed by Different Drummer Belly Dancers alum Jeana Jorgensen, Indy Swords & Shimmies makes their Gen Con debut this year! This dynamic troupe brings the mesmerizing art of belly dance to life throughout the convention, showcasing improvised and dynamic dancing with nerdy flair.

Catch their captivating performances as they weave through the halls and command the stage, culminating in a spectacular showcase before the Costume Contest. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or curious newcomer, you’re invited to celebrate movement, music, and the joy of dance.

Paolo Garbonzo

Performing for almost 30 years, Paolo has brought comedy and juggling finesse to audiences around the world.

Performing at medieval and renaissance events from California to the Czech Republic, he performs his unique comedy in 3 ½ languages. During his travels, Paolo has performed with The Flying Karamazov Brothers, gathered acclaim from the International Juggling Association, and won the International Jester Competition in England, making him a real jester of an English castle! Weaving his love of Dungeons & Dragons into his shows, Paolo’s distinct sense of humor shines through whether he’s juggling knives, medieval chainsaws, or rat traps on a stick.

Marc Gunn

Marc Gunn doesn’t just sing drinking songs — he summons them with the swagger of a bard and the soul of a storyteller. Armed with an autoharp and a rebel yell, he electrifies Celtic folk music with a blast of rock energy and rhythm and blues fire.

But this isn’t your granddad’s Celtic music. Marc blends the rich traditions of Irish and Scottish folk with the mythic worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, and Firefly. His songs aren’t just about characters — they’re about us. Love, loss, rebellion, laughter, and hope — set to tunes that demand a raised glass and a chorus of voices.

Ogham

The Irish Bard

The Irish Bard, Andrew McKee, entertains with new and exciting traditional Celtic and comedic folk music arrangements. So join the Irish Bard for Celtic folk, filk, and fun!

Ogham features multiinstrumentalists TJ Hull and Amanda Caretta. We specialize in high-energy Irish dance music on fiddle and bodhran. TJ plays jigs, reels, and other traditional favorites and more modern pieces; Amanda’s drum, the bodhran, is the heartbeat of traditional Irish music. When not touring the Renaissance Faire circuit or playing in pubs, Amanda and TJ play games, hang out with their pets, and repay their debt to society by teaching music in the public schools. Catch their captivating performances as they weave through the halls and command the stage, culminating in a spectacular showcase before the Costume Contest. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or curious newcomer, you’re invited to celebrate movement, music, and the joy of dance.

Streaming

Daggerheart Showcase & Live Demo: A New Era of Heroic Roleplaying

Join one of Critical Role’s founders, Matthew Mercer, for an exclusive showcase of Daggerheart, the newly released tabletop roleplaying game from Darrington Press!

Thursday, 11 am: Main Stage (500 Ballroom) ENT25ND289617

The Great Gooey Dungeon Game Show

Be amazed by the interactive 3D Dwarven Forge dungeon, entertained by our wonderful panel of celebrity guests, thrilled by expert game master, Alphinius Goo, AND...win your share of thousands of dollars in prizes, with a grand prize worth $200!

Guests include Ed Greenwood, Luke and Bouchra Gygax, Stefan Pokorny, Anne Carlton, Nate Taylor, Jeff Richard, Dani Kennedy, and more!

Friday, 9 am: Main Stage (500 Ballroom) ENT25ND272933

Disney Lorcana

2nd Anniversary Celebration

Join Ravensburger’s Disney Lorcana team as they discuss the future of Lorcana and celebrate the tremendous 2 years!

Thursday, 10 am: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103) ENT25ND298055

Gamers Live: Necromancing the Stones

The live improvised RPG comedy sensation is back! Join your favorite gamers as they fight [TBD] on their epic quest to [your call]. All new every year, it’s a Gen Con must-see since 2012!

Friday, 9 pm: Main Stage (500 Ballroom) ENT25ND280457, ENT25ND280453

Fiasco Live!

The classic RPG Fiasco has been adapted into a live play comedy show featuring an all-star cast of improv comedians from Los Angeles and beyond!

Saturday, 9 pm: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103) ENT25ND287611, ENT25ND298948

Starfinder 2E Live!

Starfinder 2nd Edition launches at Gen Con 2025 and nobody does Starfinder like the folks at the Glass Cannon Network. Prepare to blast off into the Vast with a gonzo adventure gamemastered by Troy Lavallee and featuring Joe O’Brien, Paula Deming, Mary Lou, and Jared Logan. Science fantasy never looks more dystopian than when the folks at the Glass Cannon insert their unique brand of edgy humor and hijinks into it.

Thursday, 2 pm: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103)

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Chill Touch:

An Improv TTRPG Comedy Extravaganza

An hour-long, completely improvised comedy show explicitly tailored to the Gen Con crowd and featuring fan favorites from Dropout and The Glass Cannon Network.

Friday, 11 am: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103)

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Tales From The Stinky Dragon LIVE @ Gen Con 2025

Join Tales from the Stinky Dragon for a LIVE one-shot where YOU shape the story!

This hit D&D podcast brings their signature blend of comedy and chaos to the stage for a once in a lifetime adventure!

Saturday, 9 am: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103)

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DesiQuest Live Play Experience

DesiQuest Live Play Experience led by GM Jasmine Bhullar featuring the cast of DesiQuest and Special Guests

Saturday, 1 pm: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103) ENT25ND292381

Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! Live Show

See the official D&D TV show LIVE with Matthew Lillard, Ify Nwadiwe, Becca Scott, and Andy Flynn! A fast, funny D&D-meets-improv comedy show where everyone dies in the end. Four intrepid 1st-level characters go up against an epic D&D monster on an unpredictable journey to meet their heroic demise. The show’s Host, live musician, and audience participation add to the fun. Come and witness this Gen Con live show of “Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!” — and leave your notions of “the heroes always win” at the door. Cast includes TTRPG luminaries Matthew Lillard (Scream, Five Nights at Freddy’s), Ify Nwadiwe (DropOut TV), Becca Scott (Good Time Society), Andy Flynn (Legends of Avantris), DM Jon Ciccolini, and Host Bill Rehor.

Saturday, 7 pm: Main Stage (500 Ballroom) ENT25ND273279, ENT25ND273280

Change My Mind Live!

Watch as some of your favorite content creators play the hit party game Change My Mind! Featuring Grant Lyon, Banzainator, TableTop Vibes, Azkadorkable Gamer, and Party Tails! Change My Mind is all about ranking the best and worst while persuading players why your opinion is right! This show will have mature humor, gut wrenching laughter, and plenty of insane moments!

Friday, 10 pm: Streaming Stage (ICC 101–103)

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The Legends Society: Liveplay

Watch some of the biggest D&D YouTube creators play in these special one-shot events featuring Ginny Di, The Dungeon Dudes, DnDShorts, PointyHat, and many more!

Friday, 5 pm: Main Stage (500 Ballroom) ENT25ND287601, ENT25ND287649

Create, Move, Explore

Events Beyond Gaming

While Gen Con is The Home of Tabletop Gaming , hundreds of events go far beyond gaming. These events engage the creative and curious spirit that make the tabletop hobby special. Events include crafting, exercise, dance, city tours, and more!

Get Creative in the Free Open Crafting Room

Looking to try a new craft or be inspired? Visit the Open Crafting room. We have plenty of space, machines, and free supplies to make what your heart desires! Crafty helpers and company representatives will periodically be in the room to help you level your crafting skills.

This is FREE for anyone with a Gen Con 2025 badge. We’ve partnered with bernette® and Pintuck & Purl again to bring sewing machines and classes to Indy! We have events like Introduction to Bag Making, Introduction to Wallet Making, Open Sewing with Bernette, and more.

Move Your Body

After long days at gaming tables, moving and stretching out your body is essential! Whether you’re into running the Orc Stomp 5K, practicing yoga, dancing, or learning sword fighting techniques, we’ve got you covered. Find these events in the SPA category in the Event Catalog.

Explore Indy

Get out and explore Indy! Brewery tours and haunted walking tours await you! Find these events by searching the SPA and “Isle of Misfits” categories for “tour” in the Event Catalog.

ZED The Isle of Misfit Events

We have all kinds of games and events at Gen Con, including those that don’t fit into standard categories. When an event is so unique it can’t be defined by one of our regular categories, we place it here.

We’ve listed just a sampling of ZED events on this page, but you’ll find all kinds of interesting events here, such as escape rooms, social deduction games, megagames, and unique events you won’t find anywhere else! Don’t overlook this category, as you never know what might turn up!

NSDM

The National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game is a fastpaced, challenging simulation of contemporary politics and eternal strategic principles. It is modeled after the simulations used by senior U.S. Government officials.

Here’s the game in a nutshell: “You players are the Legislature. You over there, you’re the Cabinet. You folks in the corner are the military leadership. This guy’s the President. The scenario is: it’s the world as you know it today. Fix it. Start now.”

NSDM will have events throughout the weekend at the Le Meridien Hotel.

Solo

RPG Library

Choose from a variety of solo RPGs and start your morning with a quiet journey into your own mind.

Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – 10 am Marriott Kentucky

Deceptively Social Gaming

Deception Alley: Play your favorite social deduction games with your friends! This year’s confirmed games include Are You A Werewolf?, Ultimate Werewolf, Witch Hunt, and Blood on the Clocktower!

Two Rooms and a Boom: Social hidden role game where one team’s bomber attempts to find the other team’s president. Hostages are exchanged between two rooms.

Thursday – Saturday, 6 pm – 2 am

ICC Wabash West Concourse

Laser Tag: Kill Team Live

New from Games Workshop: Laser tag + Warhammer 40,000! Kit up as either a Veteran Guardsman or Ork Kommando and play a mission from Kill Team!

Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm

ICC Sagamore Ballroom 6–7

Games on Demand

Do you want to play a game? Join Games on Demand, where a diverse team of enthusiastic GMs will introduce you to their favorite independent and small-press RPGs! All of these games are rules-light and easy to learn! No experience is necessary; we’ll provide everything you need and teach you how to play! Play games like Blades in the Dark, Fall of Magic, Kingdom, Thousand Year Old Vampire, and more.

Thursday-Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm Sunday, 10 am – noon Westin Grand Ballroom 3

Escape Rooms

What is an Escape Room?

An escape room is an immersive experience where you and friends use clues, wits, dexterity, and luck to solve mysteries and escape. Escape rooms vary in size: portable boxes, briefcases, and whole rooms. We focus on larger rooms, but smaller ones can be found in our listings. For room-sized events, you usually have one hour to escape. Work together quickly to solve puzzles and riddles. Grab your squad and get ready for an adrenaline rush!

CU Adventures

Critical Putt - A Miniature Golfing, Puzzle Solving, RPG Adventure

King Parthur has again summoned heroes to defend the kingdom of Parcadia! Armed with unconventional tools (that look suspiciously like a golf ball and a putter), your group sets out to defeat the encroaching evil. More than just a series of putting challenges, Critical Putt features character creation, puzzles, and performers to create an RPG-style adventure that uses minigolf to tell a fantastical story.

Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – 10 pm

Sunday, 9 am – 1 pm

Marriott: Indiana Ballrooms A–D

Co-Operatives

Players will be separated onto either side of a puzzle wall and must communicate to solve fun and challenging puzzles. With only half the information, every player is vital to your success! There’s a wide variety of puzzles and skill levels, all noted in the descriptions for each one.

Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – midnight

Sunday, 9 am – 3 pm

Stadium: East Concourse

Pop-Up

Escape Rooms

Pop Up Escape Rooms (formerly Experimental Gamer) returns to Gen Con with six escape rooms, all with more exciting props and innovative puzzles from the mind of David Welch.

Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – midnight

Sunday, 8 am – 3 pm

Crowne Plaza: Grand Central A–D

The Escape Room USA

Escape Room USA returns with its dedicated year-round multi-room space and different rooms running from early in the morning till late at night in its premium location, two blocks from the convention center! Events at their permanent location will run from Thursday through Sunday. Escape rooms happening during Gen Con hours and locations are listed below.

Thursday – Saturday, noon – 8 pm Embassy Suites: Consulate Room

Chicago

ConLARP

Thursday –Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm

Marriott: Indiana Ballroom F-G

CGE

Codenames: Heist Escape Room

Thursday –Saturday, 9 am – 8 pm

Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm

ICC: Rooms 235 – 238 (Czech Games Room)

Guardians of the Four Winds is a strategic game set in the mystical world of Quincy’s Tavern. Build a common play area and create patterns of the various Spirit Guardians before your opponents do. Block your rivals with your own Spirit Guardian and Faction Tokens as these patterns are made. Games are quick and the tables can turn even quicker!

Come meet Quincy and the Catalyst Board Games booth #1603. There you can purchase Guardians of the Four Winds and other Quincy’s Tavern Merchandise.

Puppetry Program

The Gen Con Puppetry Program returns with workshops, seminars, and performances! Puppets have been used for centuries to educate, entertain, and captivate audiences. We’re excited to explore puppetry with you! Whether you’re planning to laugh and be silly at Puppet Karaoke, learn to build in our workshops, or hit the nostalgia button in our seminars, we’re pulling out all the stops…and a few strings.

Featured Guest Michael Schupbach

Michael Schupbach is an Emmy Award-winning puppet and animatronic designer whose work has brought joy to millions.

A proud alumnus of the Jim Henson Muppet Workshop, Michael has worked on an absurd number of beloved shows in his 20+ years as a designer. Highlights include Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, Avenue Q, Johnny and the Sprites, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, I am Big Bird, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, and an upcoming character for Ms. Rachel.

He’s also known for designing animatronics and interactive creatures for theme parks, touring shows, and immersive exhibits — including many dinosaur puppets and animatronics for Jurassic World and Avatar live experiences around the globe.

Whether it’s high-tech robotics or old-school puppet magic, Michael blends hands-on craft with cutting-edge engineering to bring characters to life in unforgettable ways. He’s thrilled to share his expertise, behind-the-scenes stories, and hard-earned tricks of the trade with the guests of Gen Con.

At a Glance

Day + Time Events run through the weekend! Check the event catalog on gencon.com for the full schedule.

Location Marriott: Indiana Ballroom E Schedule

Late Night Puppet Slam

Quirky, edgy puppet shows from quirky, edgy puppeteers! Puppeteers from around the country are converging on Gen Con for The Best Four Days in Gaming™ — and puppetry! But here’s the best part: they’re saving up all of their adult material just for this puppet slam! All of those things that we can’t do in front of kids? We’re going to do in front of you. (Okay maybe not *all* — but a bit of it!) Be prepared to laugh, to cry, to think, to gasp, to laugh again, to weep, and then laugh some more. You’ll see beauty, you’ll see talent, you’ll see silliness, and you’ll see hilarity.

Friday, 10 pm

Electronic Gaming

The Sci-fi Adventure where your crew commands the bridge of a Starship! Outfit your vessel with upgrades provided by your Quartermaster to make your ship even stronger on one of multiple missions in a continuing storyline.

Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – 10 pm

Sunday, 9 am – 2 pm

Marriott: Ballroom 7 – 8

PRESENTED BY Mythric Events

Pinball Alley

Play more than 40 of the latest and greatest pinball machines from Jersey Jack Pinball, Stern, and other modern pinball manufacturers.

There will be limited-edition pinball trophies given away to the top player of each machine during Gen Con. Stop by anytime for an unforgettable pinball experience. Pinball Alley is open all Gen Con for nonstop pinball action!

Presented by

Join the Event Team in 2026!

The Gen Con Event Team is vital to the magic of the show each year! If you love Gen Con and want to dive deeper, join the Event Team and experience a whole new side of the convention — community, connection, and behind-the-scenes fun!

It takes all kinds of people to bring Gen Con to life — we welcome team members from all backgrounds, interests, and energy styles. Whether you’re energized by meeting new people or prefer helping behind the scenes, your strengths and perspective are valued on the Event Team.

Want to learn more?

Visit gencon.com or scan this QR code for program descriptions.

Thank You, Event Team!

Gen Con would like to thank our dedicated team of Captains, Deputies, and Program Coordinators. Your passion and expertise make Gen Con special, and the convention couldn’t happen without you!

Program Coordinators

Art

Barbara Fisher Auction Katie Fountaine and Team

Balloon Sculptor

Brian Getz and Banzi Balloons

BIPOC Industry

Networking Event

Rina Amaranthine

Cardhalla

Steve Wagner and Team

Collective Art Project

Mural

Kathleen Hardy

Costume Contest

Anne Brown and Team

Event Team Coordinator

Alesia Clardy

Film Festival

Chuck Budreau

Game Design Academy

Kathleen Mercury, Andrew Peterson, Amy Dorey

Games Library

Lending Library Logistics, Marissa Maile and Team

KID Program

Motely Kids and the Boersma Family

MHE

Lyn Orzech and Team

Puppetry Program

Stacey Gordon

Roving Entertainers

Bob Brinkman

Show Office Coordinator

Tiana McDaniel

Spa Open Crafting Coordinator

Rob Lambert

Streaming

Elisa Melendez and Team

Trade Day

Faith Felice, Leah Warden, and TRD Volunteers

Writers Symposium

Maurice Broaddus

And

BOOTH #2627

Come Find Our Booth to Grab Your Brand New CHEF CLASS EXPANSION for The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era!

Pickup Your BRAND NEW Chef Class at Gen Con Today!

Pickup Your BRAND NEW Chef Class at Gen Con Today!

Interested in more CTG content? Find us online and shop today!

Interested in more CTG content? Find us online and shop today!