All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking about the importance of budgeting for a summer of gaming conventions in 2027. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can attend five of the seven G7 conventions, to say nothing of the many larger US conventions during that period... including a new entrance that is holding its first convention in late June 2027!And if you want to see where the tea is spilt, join our Discord server!

Are there too many conventions! Hardly, even if our convention roundups are routinely our longest episodes! Conventions in September (after Labor Day) are plentiful and include: Strong Tower Con Council Con Tabletop Central CuseCon Justacon Dice Tower Retreat GAMEMasonHawkland Gaming Festival Southern Front SkålCon  Barrage BR&WL-CON Cap Con 2026 SIBcon Atlanta Game FestMegaMooseCon Pro or Con Shirecon The Ettin Geekway Micro Camp Wagoncon Conventions in October include: Virtual Greyhawk Con Pittsburgh Gaming ExpoCon on the Cob FriendCon Arnecon Congress of Gamers Fall Session Gamehole Con Carnage Asheville Scarefest Board Game Academics Conference MañanaConGeek Girl YouMaCon Spiel Essen  Conventions in November include:  Metatopia Mystic Con MetagameNortheast Wisconsin GameapaloozaSan Diego Historical Games Summit (SDHistcon) Game Con Junction  CarConPA Meeple-a-thon KublaCon Fall Acadecon  EuroQuest Mepacon  BGG.CON  Philcon  Chaosium Con New Zealand Bakaretsu Con HanuCon Effing Con Dragonmeet December conventions include:   PAX Unplugged Krampusnacht Gaming Shorehammer Yamacon Play Test Play Fest Everwinter CNY RPG Game Day Nerdronomicon Gorgoncon NoriKonDid we miss a convention? Tell us all about it on our Discord!

On this episode, Quarex and Ben award our Games of the Convention for the 2025-26 Gen Con Ludinal Year!Whether the games are freshly released, a little older, awaiting crowdfunding or just about to be released... these are our favorite games we discovered over the last 12 months. Featuring nominations from our friends and contributors: Ben T. Barackus, Yonit, David Havelka, and artificer of the pod Shawn!

On this episode, Quarex and Ben review the drama at Gen Con 2026... from the big stuffed owlbears at the D&D Carnival to the tornado touchdown that didn't involve the Colts to everything in the exhibit hall. Listen in because you won't want to miss it.Reminder: if this is you're first time listening in, our podcast offers almost exclusively positive coverage for most conventions—we generally want to accentuate the positive. After doing 90 episodes in the last 12 months and twenty episodes about Gen Con 2026 in the last six weeks, we think we've earned the right to focus on the drama for thirty minutes.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk about everything that wasn't gaming or drama at the best four to eight days in gaming. Video evidence that Ben attended the Block Party (go to 6:50)!Video evidence that Ben and Quarex were in the same aisle in the exhibit hall at the same time but Quarex ignored Ben (go to 15:30)!

On this episode, we're focusing on the most important part of the Best Four to Arguably Eight Days in Gaming... the games! Listen in to hear about: The new board games! The new RPGs! The announcements from WOTC! The announcements from NOTC! The awards shows! You won't want to miss it.

Have you gotten your badge for PAGE 4 yet? This amazing convention in the Philly suburbs of Oaks, PA is held from January 14-17, 2027, and it's one of the fastest growing, most fun RPG convention that started in the last decade! Need another excuse? If you don't have your badge, you can't register for all the great events... including those we're talking about on this episode. SO GET ON IT!!!... and check out their Facebook group, which is a great hub for all info PAGE 4!

On this episode, Quarex and Ben have just gotten back from Gen Con, and they're already covering the next one? You wouldn't expect any less from the premier podcast for gaming convention coverage, would you? It's only 366 days, baby!

For the third year running, we're coming to you live from Elf Con at Elf N Moon in Indianapolis, IN. Listen in to get our hot takes from Gen Con that are fresh out of the oven that is the ICC!