Here is what you can expect if you go to a board game convention

Going to conventions can sometimes be intimidating. There are a lot of people with strong personalities at these types of events. I've gone to some without knowing much before I went. Between not knowing folks and the format, it really can be a doozy.

Here is a guide to the kinds of things you can expect to find at a board game convention.

How to get there

I've relied on public transit or carpooling to get to conventions. It's been a big help as parking at these big events can be both expensive and emotionally taxing.

If you're heading to a convention, I highly recommend that you take advantage of any public transit or carpool option that you can. It will help save the planet, your money and a lot of potential headaches.

But if the venue is not easily accessible or you're bringing a whole trunk full of games, driving in early will also make a big difference . Many conventions have limited parking. If you get there too late, you might find yourself circling around in search of someone leaving or having to find another alternative that may cost more.

The plus side is that if you can find parking, the convention may validate it. Make sure to ask if you're not sure. The worst they can do is say no!

The convention I attended last weekend ( Strategicon ) was fortunately located near a parking garage and offered validation, you just had to ask at registration before heading out It saved me a big chunk of money as parking at the hotel without validation would have cost over $60.

How to register

Many conventions have pre-registration online in addition to on-site. When you get to the convention, you'll first want to make your way to the registration to get your badge. Do this early so you can have it to participate in special events and move around the site with ease.

Note: you may also be able to sign up for events or tournaments in advance with your badge number. While that can help you secure a spot at the most popular events, don't worry if you didn't do it right as most will also allow you to register as you navigate.

How to navigate a convention

After you get your badge, it's good to wander around the site and get the lay of the land. You might end up finding something that you didn't expect.

If you are unfamiliar with the layout of the convention, you're going to want to see what is where. This can help if you have a plan for any events, demos, or tournaments. It can also help you find places to spend your coins, artisan products or favorite games.

Gaming library

Don't have many games in your collection? That's ok too! If you're looking to play something that you don't own, sometimes you'll find a copy in the convention library.  Gaming conventions often have ones where you can look through and pick games that you might be interested in playing during the event.

Staff members in the gaming library rooms are often happy to answer questions. They can give you tips or feedback on where to find people to play with.

Game demos

Game conventions often have opportunities to try new or upcoming games before they're released. Conventions offer indie and other game developers and consumers a way to try out and give feedback about several games before they're released.

I've had a chance to do this a couple of times with games that I later ended up buying for myself. I've also tried games that, while fun, were not for me. They did, however, give me a chance to see how friends or other people in my life might enjoy them.

Gaming conventions give everyone the chance to play things ahead of time, which is something that is otherwise often a thing that only journalists or influencers get to do first. Go to a convention and test some yet-to-be-released products out for yourself.

Free play

Gaming conventions often have spaces where people are freely playing games. There will be staff members at a main table when you enter that can help other areas or provide signage to help you with finding other players.

People either bring their own games or play with random strangers. Bring a game that you've been wanting to play and find an open table with friends or random folks. People are very friendly at these cons and will be happy to either join you or have you join for their games.

Are you someone who is new to the hobby? Don't worry! There will still be plenty of folks happy to play games with you! While I play a spectrum of games from heavier to light, there was not a single time where I found it difficult to find other players to join me.

The first time I went to one of these conventions, it was a little intimidating and scary to approach random people. Over time, it became easier. When you go to more conventions, you'll also see several of the same people and will end up playing with folks regularly.

Roleplaying and social deduction games

Roleplaying and social deduction games are often in a separate are of the convention. If you wanted to, you could spend your whole convention playing only there.

Some of the most popular games include Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and Vampire. Don't worry about not being an expert player. You'll find games with experienced players and ones that are more geared toward beginners.

And then there are the storytelling games. At the last couple of conventions, I played an accessible storytelling type deck called For the Queen . It's a roleplaying experience that skips the stats, character paperwork and dice rolls often involved with traditional role-playing games.

Social deduction games are also often great to play at conventions. If you don't have a big enough group, these types of games can be difficult to get to a table with just a few people. That's why it can be harder to find a large enough group outside of a convention setting for some . As strangers are less familiar with your facial expressions or mannerisms to clue into your next move, social deduction games are among my favorite to play at conventions.

What can I buy at a gaming convention?

If you're looking to buy something that you've played at the convention, chances are that there may be a vendor selling it at a connected market. Most will have a room for sellers as well as a hallway area with artisan vendors.

Look closely and carefully to find the best deals; you can often find some great ones and end up overspending anyway. (I know this to the detriment of my pocketbook.)

Sometimes connections will also have a connected auction. Auctions will give you a chance to bid on games for what is often a cheaper rate than retail or score rare collectibles that you would not find anywhere else.

While winning gives many a rush, auctions can also be a blast to watch even if you don't win anything.

Tournaments

Last but certainly not least are the tournaments. If you want to try your hand at competitive gaming, a convention is definitely the place to try it. Winning one of these will often get you a ribbon as well as dealer dollars taht can be used towards purchasing games or other items at the market.

I've won several ribbons for different games playing in tournaments. They have tournaments for people who play heavy to light games as well as anything in between.

Whether you're someone who likes to win or feel like the fun of playing is the main accomplishment, I highly encourage you to try out a tournament or three. Go have fun and get ribbons or dealer bucks to brag about… or just have fun regardless of how the dice falls.

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This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Sep 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.