During these hot summer months people are beating the heat in a myriad of ways. Some people go to the lake or the beach and cool off while relaxing with friends. Others choose to visit a destination where they can go on exciting rides and get thrills that are available nowhere else. However, this year legions of people have descended on the city of Indianapolis for only one reason.
They want to experience the best that the gaming world has to offer.
From traditional board games, collectible card games, roleplaying games and more there are events for everyone from eight to eighty. On an early Friday morning I had gotten up and gotten ready to head out and hit downtown Indy at around 8am.
Only to find that the parking garage that was attached to the convention center was completely full.
Cursing inwardly I had to circle around and obtain a parking space without breaking my budget. With the aid of the internet I found such a place however, the only problem with that is it was at least a mile away from the convention center. Making my trek back towards downtown I finally made it to GenCon and found out something that had not happened in the history of the convention.
It was completely sold out.
Luckily I had gotten a press pass a few months earlier and it was waiting for me as I went into Hall A as everything else would not be open until 10am. Hall A stretches to B, C and D and there are tons of companies that are demoing the latest games. Walking up and down the aisles I found more than a few remarkable companies from the biggest ones like Hasbro Games and Warhammer to smaller ones that either had been around for years or had just gotten started.
The first group I had encountered was a company called the Conquest of Fates as they were releasing an all new TCG. The difference between this and the other card games is that you can print out the decks right from your computer and start playing either with friends or even in tournaments! Another thing that makes this game unique and awesome is it can be played with any number of people as they boasted they had a hundred people playing the same game. And their limited edition cards are truly stunning as they use holofoil on those cards making them well as they are also sturdier than any of the other games out there. If you love TCG games and want to experience a new game for free, definitely check them out. 
As I was exploring this massive hall I also stumbled across another company called Dragon Dawn Productions who have been creating games since 2008! Their latest game is called Beasts of Diplomacy as you are trying to capture beasts so you can sell them to traders as you are trying to keep your diplomats satisfied and you only have three days to get this all done! They also have games based on Verdun and another game coming to Kickstarter later this year called Tricky Seasons: Finland.
Before long people were starting to line up to get into the Exhibit Hall where there were a lot of companies debuting some of the best games around. Mantic Games have been releasing a lot of miniature war-games based on some amazing properties and their latest one was based on the Halo universe. There was an announcement of not just their core set but their latest expansion The Rise of the Banished. But that’s not all as they had gotten the license to one of the hottest video-games out there as they are coming out with a board-game based off of Assassin’s Creed! This will be released to Kickstarter in the next few weeks so be on the lookout for it!
Next I made my way to my friends over at Trick or Treat Studios and they had a few amazing games that were available. Based on the same name as the movie House of a Thousand Corpses puts you in control of members of the Firefly family as you are trying to round up a number of victims to satisfy the needs of Dr. Satan. They also had a game called Antique Ghost Show as you are trying to sell items that are in this mansion however, there’s a problem. All of the items are haunted and you are trying to get out with the least haunted set of loot. The last game they had on display was a game called Camp Grizzly which seems like a straightforward slasher type game. However, this is the second printing of this game as the first printing was made and distributed by two animators over at Pixar! You play as a camp counselor as you are trying to escape a maniac by the name of Otis who stalks his prey in a bear mask. This will be coming to Kickstarter soon so be on the watch for this!
One of the most iconic role playing game companies has to be Green Ronin Games as they have created some amazing games from the superhero RPG Mutants and Masterminds to the AGE system that can be played in fantasy and modern ages to one based off of the Expanse universe and even their version of a Cthulhu RPG. However, recently they have been plagued with problems due to the Diamond Distributors bankruptcy as they are holding onto tons of products that they did not pay for and they are trying to sell off. They have hired a lawyer to help this and other small companies to recoup some of the costs and you can donate to their gofundme over here
Some of the best games are not from the United States but from abroad and the folks over at Need Games are making some unique games based on some amazing concepts. Their core books are Fabula Ultima which are a cross between a standard fantasy role playing game but with some Japanese influence. There are a few core books that will allow you to play the game that you want and there’s going to be a hardcover version of the core rules illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano who did the art for Final Fantasy! They also have an Attack on Titan RPG in the works and they have other games such as Breach, Piaga 1348 and Terror Target Gemini! 
The folks over at Palladium Books have been making some great games for years and it is all compatible with one another. From horror games such as Beyond the Supernatural and their zombie survival RPG Dead Reign to their Fantasy RPG and the ever popular Rifts these are some of the greatest games ever published. Everyone was waiting with baited breath to see if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle role playing game was to surface at GenCon however, it did not come to pass. However, we did not walk away empty handed as they had a few prototypes to show off and if you were excited for this release before you need to get even more excited now. These books are gorgeous as they have the original illustrations from the older books but they are now in color and look simply amazing. These hardbound tomes along with the dice and miniatures should be available by the end of the year so be on the lookout for them!
I checked out some smaller companies as well during this convention and one of them was Possumcreek Games. They take the traditional role playing games and turn them on their head with a game that can either be played with or without a GM. This game is called Wanderhome and doesn’t focus on combat but rather the journey that goes on ahead and a full session can be played within 3-4 hours. They have some other great titles that you should check out as well including Sleepaway where you are counselors trying to protect queer youth from a cryptid.
Most people have not heard of the game Ward and that is a shame because this game is fun to play! This is a TCG that is unlike any other as you duel with another player head to head and your objective is to have 300 or more health points in your opponents graveyard. You do this by summoning creatures as some can be put into play right away while others need sacrifices made in order to put them into play. This brings an additional layer of strategy to the game as are you willing to sacrifice that creature in order to put it into play or use one of your lower level creatures and buff them with spells.
Restoration Games has been known for their Undefeated line of card games as well as Thunder Road and Return to Dark Tower. Now they are developing a new line called Battle Monsters and this game looks amazing! In this game you will take control of iconic monsters such as Godzilla or King Kong as you battle it out with your opponents forces. Your monster might be big however, you will need the help of support units like tanks and helicopters to gain the upper hand on the battlefield. Battle Monsters is going to be shipping later this year but you can preorder it now!
When you think of Cyberpunk you usually think of the crew over at R. Talsorian Games and they have been releasing not just their new stuff like Cyberpunk Red and the Witcher but older products like Cyberpunk 2020 and Mekton. But there’s also the folks over at Monster Fight Club who not only make Cyberpunk Combat Zone but a complete line of terrain as well as a Borderlands table top miniatures game. And last but not least there is a TCG game in the works by the people over at Night Crew Games no other information is available other than it is going to be a narrative TCG and we cannot wait for it!
Not to be outdone the people over at Catalyst Game Labs have held the rights to the other cyberpunk RPG called Shadowrun as well as Battletech and they had both new products at the show. Battletech had gotten a whole new line with Battletech Gothic. This is an alternate universe where some things are the same but some are very different! There are biological monstrosities that prowl the battlefield as your mechs can be configured to your house. For Shadowrun they had two books there which are Risks and Rewards, a campaign book and Shadowrun: Deus ex Arcana: Core Advanced Magical Rulebook. There was also an announcement of a Kung Fu Panda role playing game as you can play in the world of the dragon warrior either making up your own characters or playing as ones from the movie!
There were a lot of small press developers at this show ranging from Blackout Games who had a Monster Wrangler RPG which is sort of like Pokemon but a lot better and there are a ton of supplements for this game so you need to check it out. If you love horror they also have a game called Lockwood’s Asylum and a roleplaying game set in the same location called Madhouse. Each of these have great art and a unique style that needs to be seen. Pudkat Games also had two games to show as they were showing off Davey Jones Locker which is a pirate game as you do battle with a monstrous Kraken. But they were also showing off ZeroDay.exe which is a cyberpunk rogue lite dungeon crawler that looks absolutely amazing! Coming from across the pond we have Leyline Press and they had more than a few great offerings the biggest one being Salvage Union. This takes place in a post apocalyptic universe as you are trying to look for scrap in order to supply your community. However, you will have to contend with bandits and various other obstacles to keep your people alive. Gehenna Gaming was also showing off their latest release which is called Eldritch Automata and it is basically giant robots against otherworldly horrors. There was also another announcement of another RPG called Trashumanism as you will step into the role of a resistance fighter set deep in the heart of Capital City as you look to overthrow your corporate masters one overlord at a time.
If you have heard of tabletop miniatures gaming one of the companies you should recognize is Modiphus as they have created both amazing role playing games and tabletop miniature wargames. Their latest kickstarter called Hardwar was already announced before the show as this game is a 6mm wargame that allows you to put various units on the battlefield. There was also an announcement of a Doom: Dark Ages wargame as you will be able to control either the Doom Slayer or the hordes of demons that chase him. Look for this game to be released either later this year or early next year. Not to be outdone Free League Publishing had re-released their latest game called Coriolis The Great Dark. This game is centered on exploration as you will be in control of a group of adventures going on dangerous expeditions. They also had released miniatures for their new RPG called Dragonbane and they looked amazing. But the biggest surprise were not only the Lord of the Rings and The One Ring starter sets but another one called Twilight Sword. This game took inspiration from anime style RPG’s such as Ni No Kuni and Final Fantasy as you will try and save the kingdom of Radia.
As I was wandering the exhibit hall I stumbled across three studios I had never heard of before. The first was Magpie Games as they have a lot of unique offerings to satisfy every type of player. From the card driven Zombie World that has expansions for both a farm and a mall to trying to control a city that is filled with both mortals and monsters in Urban Shadows. There is also an RPG that will be released soon based on the Root boardgame and that looks amazing as well! Another studio that has games that are heartwarming and simply amazing is Snowbright Studios and they have a wide variety of games to tickle your fancy. From adventures in the spirit world with Ink to travel back in time as cats in Time Tails. They even make some amazing board games as well! If you ever wanted to be your own superhero then look no further than Matchplay Games as they have a hardcover offering called Legends: The Superhero Role Playing Game. You can create the hero that you want to be also with a detailed setting of New Olympus as there are over 650 abilities to choose from!
Glass Cannon Unplugged may not be a name that you are familiar with but you soon will be as they are making some amazing content based off some of the hottest videogames around. From games such as Frostpunk and Don’t Starve to their latest release of Apex: Legends as a board game along with creating a role playing game set in the Diablo Universe. Arcane Wonders stunned us as they finally released their Call of Duty boardgame. This amazing game will have two versions as you can be Captain Price or Ghost as you square off iconic villains in the franchise. They also are releasing a Freedom Five board game based on the Sentinel Comics universe and it looks amazing! Will you be able to protect your city against the evil Baron Blade and his minions? And speaking of miniatures the folks over Bandai dropped a bomb as a new game is going to be released in 2026. Gundam Assemble will allow you to assemble miniaturized versions of various mecha from the RX-78 and the Tallgeese as you will battle against your foes for superiority on the battlefield. 
As I was about done with this convention and about to make the long trek back to my car I noticed a giant skeleton rising above the crowd. However, this was a Friendly Skeleton and they have games with good bones! From the cute and fast paced Trash Talk to the heavily strategic game of Sovereign Skies this company has games that can be played right out of the box. And joining this happy family is one that murders others as the Immediate Murder Professionals (or I.M.P. as they are known on Helluva Boss) are getting their own board game! Yes! You will be able to murder your way to victory as you can play as the crew from I.M.P. and it looks amazing and fun to play!
As my feet were sore I limped back out from the convention center over to where I parked my car and made the long trek back home. There are a lot of great games that are going to be released but what are some of your favorites from this year’s GenCon? Let us know as we love hearing from you!
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