Gen Con 2023 Highlights and Recap

Check out highlights and an overview of Gen Con 2023! Gen Con set a record for attendance this year, and there were plenty of hot games, demos, food, and other fun to check out along the way. Did you go to Gen Con? What were your highlights? Let us know! Check out our previous PAX videos, and we'll see you there next. Also, visit the Dice Tower on KZbin for fantastic board game content, reviews, and their own Gen Con coverage. See the full awards show at • The 16th Annual Dice T...
Join us each week for new videos including travel to places big and small, wonderful and weird. We also visit amusement parks, cruise, and sci-fi/gaming conventions. We also share stories about working at Disney, and behind the scenes info.

[@foglight11]

Just watching this to get myself hyped for this year. This video was really fun! I hope you make another this year :)

[@Dr.Quarex]

Thank you for actually going to Wizards of the Cones; I had not seen any pictures or video of anyone actually eating their ice cream until today!

[@decaf4me2]

That was delightful! Thank you for doing that. Gave me a great sense of the atmosphere and environs of the convention. Cheers!

[@mrcoaster1]

Thank you so much! That's what I hope to do with the videos I make at the gaming cons. Give you a sense and taste of being there. Thanks for watching!

[@PsychoPyro813]

Wow, I was there for the first time this year and I didn’t even know about the Hot Games room! Can't wait to head back next year.

[@mrcoaster1]

Hot Games was across the street. You definitely had to be on the hunt for it to know where to go. It was busy, and required an event ticket ($4 for a 2 hr session?). They had all the hot/unreleased games though!

[@Dr.Quarex]

You will be learning about stuff for years. I just found out after attending since 1997 that there are off-site vendors in the mall every year.

[@TheNerdShelves]

Wow, that looks crazy, that's a lot of people. Thank you so much for sharing this. Our "Gen Can't" gaming day just cannot compare LOL.

[@mrcoaster1]

It was crazy, at times chaotic, but a whole lot of fun! I need to bring a bigger second bag. Thanks for watching!

[@TheNerdShelves]

@@mrcoaster1 bwahaha, and I water proof one too 😉

[@windmark8040]

That's A LOT of folks!

[@mrcoaster1]

It really was crazy at times. It spread out over time, but those exhibit hall entries in the morning were just a sea of people.

[@denisereeder3966]

This was the first video I've seen of yours, I'm sold, and subscribed :) You and I have the same strategy for crowded events, yeah I'm not waiting in line for that!

[@denisereeder3966]

ok and same food tastes.....should have watched the whole video before commenting

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks for watching! Appreciate the sub. Been a bit sporadic lately with lots of stuff going on, but PAX Unplugged is on the horizon in December.

[@blizzyblake]

I think this is the best summary and showcase of GenCon, what it is whats there, and more. When anyone asks me "what is GenCon?" I'm sending them this video

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks so much for the compliment! That's what I was aiming for - to give a general overview of what it's like to be there.

[@matthewmelissamakak2615]

It was so great meeting you!!! And I'm so happy we got the chance to take a picture 😊

[@mrcoaster1]

Same here! Loved getting to meet you, too. Was great to catch up for that pic. Massive con, but we found each other again. Great weekend!

[@CarmenandBrian]

This was a really great recap thanks! I've watched a lot of day by day GenCon videos but they are from people on the "working" side so this was great to see from a attendees perspective.

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks so much! Like you said, I've seen a few from the vendor/working side of things, so glad I help fill the bill from the attendee side. Fascinating event, and there's way too much going on to do everything there in four days.

[@DiscovertheMeeple]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing! Really got a good snapshot of GenCon from it

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks so much! Exactly what I hope to share - Gen Con is a blast, and love everything at the board game cons.

[@TheLobbyOfHobbies]

Looked like a blast. Glad you got to get some gaming in but thanks for taking us around to get a good look of what was available. Some really interesting games. Genotype has always intrigued me. I’ve gotta make it a point to demo I at the next con.

[@mrcoaster1]

Genotype is also on my list to try sometime. Supposed to be so good. Wish I’d played more, but that’s always the case. Cool to demo and check out as many games as I did. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesbrazeal3847]

Thanks for the highlights and recap my friend 😊

[@mrcoaster1]

Thank you! It’s a busy event, but tons of fun.

[@AManoftheMeeple]

Really wish I could have gone this year!!!!

[@mrcoaster1]

Such a fun, crazy event. Exhausting, but a blast. Hopefully will see you at PAX U in a couple of months?

[@carla8478]

Thanks for giving us a glimpse of Undergrove!

[@mrcoaster1]

Sure thing. Can't wait to see more of it. Thanks for watching!

[@jacobjslee]

Thank you for sharing this! I rely on other people recording their experiences for me to get a glimpse of what it's like there and you did a fantastic job! I also appreciate the food section. I'm always curious about what the local food is like for wherever a con is being held. Unless I missed it, I was hoping to see Last Light covered and what the atmosphere was like around that table. Did you see it played?

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks so much for the compliment and watching. Definitely felt showing off some of the food trucks was needed - it was part of the action. There's also a ton of local restaurants nearby, but I decided to keep the coverage to the on-site food trucks. I DID see Last Light being played, and can't believe I didn't get any of that in the video. Not sure why I didn't, but they sold a limited number of the deluxe versions of the game, and it did get played here and there. Demo set up at the booth.

[@henryi9738]

This was great , thank you ! 😃👍

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a lot of fun, even with all the crowds.

[@youvelookedbetter]

Great video :)

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks!

[@adriang6259]

That was nice. Now there's more games to explore. Bugger.

[@mrcoaster1]

Way too many games to explore! Thanks for watching!

[@adriang6259]

I just got home from Essen. That was ridiculous. Gen Con looks a little more friendly in terms of crowds, is that accurate?

[@n20games52]

What an amazing event. Thanks for sharing all the footage, food trucks, games and great photos! Looks like you had a great time. It was wild to see all the games being played at the football stadium. I have to mention that I love cinnamon ice cream. Coldstone Creamery used to make it but I don't even know if there are any Coldstone Creameries remaining. Of course, I don't do ice cream anymore but just sayin'. I would also walk 500 miles and 500 more.... (that was a great song choice!!)

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks for watching! It really was a lot of fun, and a bit crazy, too!

[@DTChrisYi]

You did a great job showing off a lot of the con! Thanks for highlighting the Dice Tower booth and awards show of course, but extra thanks for coveri gthe food trucks. I didnt visitthose this year so I'll need to fix that next time!

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks Chris! Means a lot. Always try to give a taste of the con, and what it's like to be there. Love sharing just a couple of snippets for the awards - just enough to give a taste, but not step on your toes and content. Since I don't focus my vids strictly on board games, I hope to expose other people to what's out there. BTW - we chatted at the booth, I was the guy on the cruise w/the camera you ribbed. We chatted at the booth this weekend. Great to chat with you, and keep up your own great content. My wife was locked in to it all weekend.

[@youtmeme]

awesome

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks! Great con!

[@Debxter]

Looks like you had a great time! I can't wait to get my hands on that Cascadia expansion.

[@mrcoaster1]

Landmarks is really good, and you can add some or all of it in, and it's not complicating things that much more. Can't wait to grab it as well. Thanks for watching. Great con!

[@JosheVelox]

That lady managing the SkyTeam line Friday morning was pretty intense and unpleasant...lol The other workers were much more pleasant though which makes the process less stressful. I never did get my copy of Skyteam though. I was always a minute too late. Otherwise, the rest of the Con was a lot of fun! I just wanna wack the short haired Skyteam lady with a newspaper and say "be nicer and have a nice day!" 😅

[@mrcoaster1]

Those morning queues for certain games definitely got intense. Acquiring Sky Team was a bit of a challenge, but it will be out soon enough. Yeah - Friday for Sky Team was crazy. At least that day, they did count off the copies they had, and I didn't waste a lot of time waiting for the game when they knew it would be sold out by where I was in line

[@hwbtafrsca]

Any idea what the game at 3:40 is?

[@mrcoaster1]

Yes - that's Lord of the Rings: Adventure to Mount Doom (2023 release from KOSMOS). It launched at Gen Con, and should be available very soon, if not now.

[@seanmulroy6897]

Thanks for the vid , we have nothing like this in OZ , may i ask as i'm a big wargame fan only, was there wargames happening ?

[@mrcoaster1]

Thanks for watching! There was a lot going on at this con. There was definitely some wargaming happening in different places in the con. Some scheduled events, as well as some open gaming, which took place in multiple hotels and Lucas Oil Field.

[@SuperTophie]

What game was after weirdwood manor

[@mrcoaster1]

That was Age Of Wonders: Planetfall, from Arcane Wonders. It was for sale at the con, but I believe they said it would be officially released in January.

[@brentfavre1101]

So they dont do RPGs? anymore? My first Gen Con was in Wi. and played RIFTS RPG... (30 years ago but still...)

[@VengerSatanis]

Go to a good gaming convention... VENGER CON III tickets available by Lovecraft's birthday! *CHA'ALT*

[@jfm.d5180]

BiPoc lounge seems like woke nonsense