Gen Con 2025: Exhibitor Spotlight

Location: Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

Dates: July 31st - August 3rd, 2025

Attendance & Vendors

Gen Con 2025 once again lived up to its title as The Best Four Days in Gaming™, breaking records with nearly 72,000 attendees and more than 595 exhibitors filling the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. Everywhere you looked, there were gamers rolling dice, demoing new releases, and making new friends over shared tables. The energy on the show floor was electric—equal parts excitement, discovery, and celebration of everything tabletop.

As always, the Exhibit Hall was the heart of the convention. From industry giants to indie up-and-comers, the booths were packed with games, accessories, and creative surprises. While every corner of the hall had something to offer, a handful of companies stood out for their creativity, passion, and the sheer fun they brought to Gen Con 2025.

In no particular order, here were some of the awesome vendors that drew crowds to their booths by standing out, being different, and breaking the mold:

Phase Shift Games

Phase Shift brought innovation to the floor with their Widget’s Workshop, showcased at Booth 271. Attendees could experience the game firsthand—or pick up their preorders—and the company’s booth layout was designed to spotlight all eight of their titles, including Widget’s Workshop, Flutter, Tavern Tales, Obelus, Dungeon Drops, and Drop Drive. Phase Shift Game’s owner, Jason “Grand Geek Admiral” Miceli, said that Drop Dive and Dungeon Drops were his favorite games as well as the games that put Phase Shift Games on the map!

Jason started designing games back in 2012 and only created Phase Shift Games in 2018. He enjoys the ability to have a team of designers to make the games that he can then publish, rather than having to create, design, and publish the games all on his own. He says that it is much more natural and makes life easier to have such a great team behind him. 

While at the booth, I was able to demo a couple of the fun games Phase Shift Games had to offer and so make sure to check back soon for the upcoming reviews!

Rollacrit

As the official merchandise partner, Rollacrit offered exclusive Gen Con gear, including apparel, accessories, and collectibles featuring artwork by Hydro74. At Booth #3019, they launched the Booze Ooze Invasion expansion for Heroes of Barcadia, complete with fun bonuses and demo tables hosted alongside Double Exposure.

This booth was always buzzing throughout the convention. I met both the lead designer of Heroes of Barcadia, Maddy O’Neil, and the CEO/Owner of Rollacrit, Erin Zipperle.

I got to meet the CEO of Rollacrit, Erin Zipperle!

Erin is not just the CEO of Rollacrit, though; he also has an amazing backstory about his journey in creating this fantastic company from the ground up. Erin grew up around gaming, and after working other jobs first, accepted a marketing position at ThinkGeek in 2011. He began a consulting company in 2015, focusing on sharing his knowledge of the gaming industry with multiple companies, as well as his passion. 

Erin formed the concept of Rollacrit by wanting to have a hub for those who shared his passion, love, and need for gaming. He wanted a place where people could go to unwind, unplug, and escape social responsibilities, while having fun.

Since its creation in 2020, Rollacrit has grown exponentially each year to become a mega player in the gaming community. Erin has brought in most of his old colleagues from ThinkGeek after its tragic end in 2019, and he even says, “It's like still working at ThinkGeek, the biggest difference is now we are doing it right, and we are making the right decisions for our customers, not just for profits.”Rollacrit has many things to offer any gamer, and most of it was on show at Gen Con 2025. I felt the love and passion that each employee had for the company, their products, and for each person they spoke with. Every single attendee felt seen, cared for, and appreciated when walking away from this Rollacrit’s booth!

Weird Giraffe Games

Weird Giraffe Games attracted attention with Logic & Lore, a deduction game where players race to align their cards numerically by asking pre-made questions. Each turn is both intense and simple, as each player cannot look at their own cards, only seeing their opponent’s cards as well as answering the questions asked about their opponent’s cards. Its blend of puzzly strategy and accessible play quickly resonated with both casual gamers and puzzle fans.

I spoke with Nick Kopp, who guided me through a demo and highlighted how each round builds tension while rewarding clever reasoning. His enthusiasm and clarity made the game feel approachable, even for newcomers.

Beyond Logic & Lore, Weird Giraffe has built a reputation for inventive, lightweight strategy titles like Stellar Leap, Dreams of Tomorrow, and Big Easy Busking. Together, these games showcase the studio’s hallmark style—clever mechanics paired with imaginative themes that encourage both thought and connection.

Weird Giraffe Games brought a brainy challenge with their Logic & Lore game—an engaging, deduction-based experience where players race to align hidden stars using cunning strategies.

Steve Jackson Games

Few booths at Gen Con 2025 had the history and energy of Steve Jackson Games, a company whose titles like Munchkin have become staples of gaming culture. This year, the booth featured demos of recent releases like Last Shot and Possum Creek, plus early buzz around the not-yet-released Perfect Potions, which already has fans eager for its launch. Also on display was the limited edition Munchkin Big Box, which was a crowdfunded campaign item that seemed to have a following but due to the vast amount of items in it, was also discontinued after orders were filled. The company ended up only making about 300 sets after fulfilling their crowdfunding obligations before they called it quits on the Big Box. For those that want to know, yes, I bought one, and it was the most expensive Munchkin item I have ever bought, coming in at $135 plus taxes! When I decide to open it, I will let you know if it was worth it. 

I spoke with Randy Scheunmann, a veteran and longtime member of the Steve Jackson Games team. He shared that his personal favorite is Revolution!—a title that unfortunately didn’t find its audience—but his second favorite, Deadly Doodles, continues to hold a special place for him thanks to its blend of charm and tactical depth. His passion for the company’s catalog and the players who support it was clear throughout the whole conversation.

While much of the booth focused on fan-favorite games and community demos, Randy hinted that the company also has some “hush-hush stuff” in the works—projects not yet ready to be revealed, but certain to excite players when the time comes.

Steve Jackson Games remains a fixture at Gen Con, balancing nostalgic classics with new ideas that keep fans guessing what’s next. I always enjoy seeing them at conventions, because there is always something old, something new, and something that they are excited to talk about that is coming out soon! 

Kess Games

Kess Games brought big energy to Gen Con 2025—literally—with a massive dice tower where attendees rolled a giant foam 20-sided die to win prizes. The spectacle drew crowds all weekend, with cheers erupting every time someone landed a critical roll. I tried my luck, rolled a natural 20, and walked away with a copy of One Piece: Bento Panic. Had I rolled another 20, I could have chosen anything in the booth for free, including their impressive $120 foam dice set.

I had the chance to speak with Kess Games’s marketing manager, Court Flint, and CEO Alex Kessler, who shared the philosophy behind the company. For Kessler, the joy comes from bringing games he loves to fans who will love them just as much. He emphasized that Kess Games is built on a “fans first” vision—allowing the community to help shape what the company creates.

Court shared that she had a love for the One Piece game and that Zoro was her favorite character. She also mentioned that this year they were debuting Tamagachi Collections, a 2-4 player game where each player rolls dice to feed, play with, and care for their new Tamagotchi, ensuring these pets stay happy to score points.

The booth spotlighted their best-selling hit, One Piece: Bento Panic, alongside the criminally underrated Mega Man Adventures: The Board Game. Both titles showed the company’s commitment to blending beloved licenses with engaging gameplay.

With their bold presence and fan-driven philosophy, Kess Games stood out as a company eager not just to sell games, but to celebrate them with the players who make it all possible.

Mindware

Mindware made a strong showing at Gen Con 2025 with three standout titles: Qwirkle Flex, Ringer, and Stabbits. Their booth quickly became a hub of activity, with constant demos and fans eager to get hands-on with the new games.

I had the chance to meet with Justin Jenson, who walked me through each of the titles. His enthusiasm and clear teaching style made the demos approachable and fun. I tried all three, and while Qwirkle Flex lived up to the hype and quickly sold out, the one that stole my heart was Stabbits—a fast, quirky, and undeniably adorable game that I’d call the cutest title of the convention. 

Stabbits pits players against each other in a strategy of movements to get behind your opponent to stab them in the back with your carrot. The little figures were so cute, but had a menacing look about them as well!

Ringer also brought something fresh, giving players a clever, skill-based experience that rounded out Mindware’s offerings this year. With such variety, their booth appealed to both families and seasoned gamers.

I’ll have more thoughts on Qwirkle Flex in the near future—keep an eye out for a full review coming soon.

Loke Battle Mats

For game masters looking to bring their RPG sessions to life, Loke Battle Mats once again impressed at Gen Con 2025 with their ever-growing line of Books of Battle Mats. Each book is designed to lay flat for easy use, with richly detailed artwork covering dungeons, shrines, sewers, and city streets. What I especially loved is that no matter which book you buy, they all work in tandem with one another—letting GMs mix and match for endless combinations. Combined with their sturdy build and high-quality finish, these books are made to last through countless game nights.

Beyond the books, Loke also showcased some lighter, party-friendly titles like Dumb Dares & Silly Side Quests, Dungeon Deck Designer, and the cheeky Deck of Many Insults. These games gave attendees a chance to break away from traditional RPG sessions and enjoy quick, hilarious fun that kept people laughing at the booth.

The combination of utility and creativity is what makes Loke stand out. Their maps give GMs the tools to create immersive worlds on the fly, while their card games add a layer of levity perfect for convention play. For me, their booth was a reminder of how versatile and innovative tabletop tools can be when built with both quality and imagination.

Returning Favorites:

Wise Wizard Games

Wise Wizard Games returned to Gen Con 2025 with a robust lineup that showed why they remain a standout in the tabletop community. I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with them and writing about their games in previous years, and it’s always a treat to see what new creations they bring.

This year, they showcased several small-format releases, including Seeker Chronicle, Elemystic, and Sherlock Solitaire, each offering a compact but engaging experience perfect for both solo and multiplayer play.

For fans of their flagship deck-building series, Star Realms: Rise of Empire expansion and the Star Trek Star Realms: Borg expansion brought exciting new twists and strategic depth.

Wise Wizard also teased upcoming projects, including a Kickstarter for the Deluxe Frontier Collection and new digital and physical cards, hinting at even more ways for players to expand their collections. I loved revisiting some of their older favorites alongside these new releases and can’t wait to see what fresh games they unveil over the next year.

Dead Alive Games

Dead Alive Games made a lively return to Gen Con 2025, and I was thrilled to reconnect with a company whose previous games I’ve enjoyed immensely, called Lunar Rush and Cyber Pet Quest. This year, they highlighted a series of fun and engaging titles, including Lunar Skyline, Cat Rescue, and Kittens in Space. Each game combines charming themes with approachable mechanics, making them enjoyable for a wide range of players.

They also teased a puppy-themed game coming soon, which promises to bring even more heart and whimsy to their catalog. I had a blast demoing their new games and seeing how they expand on their catalog with more creativity and fun, as well as shifting genres of games, too. Like Wise Wizard, Dead Alive Games continues to impress with fresh ideas while staying true to the playful, inventive spirit that drew me to them in the first place. I’m excited to see what new games they release in the coming year.

Wrapping Up and Looking to the Future!

Gen Con 2025 was everything I hoped for and more—four incredible days packed with demos, laughter, and conversations with passionate creators. From rolling giant dice at Kess Games to discovering new favorites like Stabbits at Mindware, I left the convention with a backpack full of games and a head full of inspiration.

What stood out most was the passion of the people behind the booths. Every designer, staffer, and volunteer I met cared deeply about the games they were sharing and the fans experiencing them. That passion is what makes Gen Con special.

I’m already looking forward to next year, and in the meantime, I’ll be reviewing as many of these titles as possible. If Gen Con 2025 is any indication, the future of tabletop gaming is brighter—and more fun—than ever.