Meeple Mountain has now attended GAMA Expo for a 3rd time, and while there were some hiccups, it continues to be a wonderful place to meet other people in the industry, learn about upcoming games, and generally immerse yourself in board games.

This year Meeple Mountain Editor in Chief Andy Matthews was joined by new contributor Kevin Brantley, and together they walked the halls of the Kentucky International Convention Center, renewed acquaintances, started new friendships, and found out everything they could about the board game industry, and this year’s upcoming titles.

So without further ado…

Andy Matthews

Full disclosure, I apparently can’t read.

Through a combination of my not paying attention to the GAMA Expo schedule, and a mishap with delays at the Kentucky Convention Center in Louisville, I was not able to walk through the vendor hall at all. And that’s such a huge disappointment because it meant that I only got to experience about 60% of what there is to see at this event. But next year I’ll know! And unfortunately, due to a lack of time off from my full time job, I only really got to attend Expo for 2 days.

Now on to your regularly scheduled programming.

While I don’t attend as many industry events as other people on the team—I’m looking at you Justin Bell—I’ve decided that I’m going to be a GAMA Expo lifer. Most board game conventions focus on the games: waiting in long lines at booths to buy games, looking for a table in the open play area to sit down and play new games, etc. But for me board game events are primarily about the people. I play games a decent amount at home, and I read about games relentlessly. But the only time you get to see the faces of the people behind the scenes is in person.

And GAMA Expo is special in that regard because while games are the focus, you only get to hang with people while you’re doing it. That’s because GAMA Expo is a trade show; an industry event that isn’t open to the general public. And that means every single person you see in the halls has something to do with designing, publishing, manufacturing, selling, or reporting on board games. It means you can skip a lot of the chit chat and jump straight to the meaty questions like: “what games are you publishing this year?”, or “What titles are selling the best at your store?”, or “I hear you’re designing a new game…tell me about it.”.

Humor me for a moment and let me introduce you to some amazing industry professionals.

The People

Meeple Mountain turns ten this year, and in that time I’ve met some pretty awesome people. The board game industry is full of passionate folks who love board games, and are doing their best to make a living; turning their side hustle into a full time job. Some of them have poured years of their life into a single game and just want to tell you about it. While others have been in the industry for decades, but still feel youthful and exuberant because they love what they do. There’s not too many industries where “play” is part of the job description, but board games are definitely one of them.

One of my favorite “people” memories this year was seeing the dissonance of the GAMA Expo attendees (with multitudes of tattoos, rainbow colored hair, and snarky t-shirts), mixed with the suit and tie wearing attendees of the “Brick Forum” (a literal convention about bricks).

Here’s a quick gallery of some amazing people I got to meet at this year’s Expo.

The Games

As I already mentioned, I wasn’t able to walk the vendor hall this year, so my exposure to games was limited compared to previous events. That said, I still had the opportunity to check out some really exciting games. Every evening of GAMA Expo, the staff open up one of the halls for an official “Game Night”. This is a chance for publishers and designers to demo games for the attendees. Companies like Asmodee, Hachette, and KOSMOS, have multiple tables, while individual designers might only have one. But it’s all about table presence. How can you attract the walkers to your table. Here’s a quick pick from the doorway of Monday’s Game Night. Easily over a thousand people, all of whom are either looking for that next board game hit, or trying to convince attendees they’ve got the next hit.

Some of the things which most caught my eye were the first proofs of the upcoming PARKS Second Edition, literally opened hours before I took the picture. Our reviews of PARKS have garnered tens of thousands of views, both our video review of PARKS, and our written review of PARKS. Keymaster Games has completely redone the artwork, and made many improvements to components and rules. While it’s still the same game you love, it’s more than just a facelift.

We also got a demo of Enthrone from Smirk & Dagger. While it’s got an over the top presentation, complete with 4” tall statues, the gameplay presents as an aggressive multi-player abstract game in which each player attempts to win by deftly maneuvering said statues into various game-winning configurations.

We also caught a glimpse of Manny Vega’s (Flamecraft, Sparkle Kitty) new game coming from TheOp: Tea Witches. Solidly in that “cozy games” universe, this one looks both adorable and strategic, with a 60 minute playtime that should be perfect for families.

And finally the only game I was able to play through completely: 3 Chapters, from Amigo Games. The 3 distinct parts of the game were described as “7 Wonders draft, trick-taking game play, and Fantasy Realms scoring.” And that’s pretty much exactly what it was. ~50 distinctly different cards, all based around fantasy and folklore stories: Pinocchio, Dracula, Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, and so on. In the first chapter, players draft cards which will earn them points in the second chapter (the trick taking phase), but can also earn them points when combined with other cards in their hand in the third and final chapter. I initially thought it was just okay, but then I realized I’d misunderstood the rules and the strategy really unfolded before my eyes. As a big fan of light card games, this one is definitely going on my radar.

My Presentation

I’m a software engineer, and I used to present at technical conferences many times over the years. But for the first time in my “board game career” I gave a presentation at an industry event. Titled “Build an Audience by Building a Team”, it walked through how Meeple Mountain got started, how we’ve attracted nearly 80 contributors to our team, and what tools we use to help make things easier for our team members.

Kevin Brantley

As someone who just dipped his toes into the industry, I was a tad nervous about attending an “industry-only” event. While I was reassured that I’d be fine, seeing everyone already know each other made me feel a bit behind. However, that feeling quickly faded from my very first interactions with folks. I absolutely loved GAMA and had so many incredible conversations that I left Louisville feeling a bit saddened. The excitement I shared with my wife nearly dominated our conversations in the days that followed.

The laughter and stories exchanged created instant connections with people from all walks of the gaming industry. I met lawyers, distributors, retailers, designers, producers, and even someone who exclusively makes game boxes. I walked away feeling like I had gained a bunch of new friends, and I’m excited to collaborate with them further (and see them at future shows!). As a member of the media, I heard some incredible stories that I can’t wait to put down on paper.

The People

One of the first things I told Andy was how excited I was to see “behind the scenes.” It’s amazing to witness the journey of a game—from an idea to sitting on a store shelf. This process involves many different people whose hard work pushes each project across the finish line. Everyone I met had an interesting background, and while their work may not have directly benefited mine, it was still worth hearing about.

I even had a chance to “cross-pollinate” (word of the week!) among peers. Wearing a second hat at GAMA, I helped out at APE Games’ booth and introduced an unpublished designer to them. Fingers crossed that magic happens and we see their game in a future APE Games catalog!

I met these lovely ladies who drove seven hours from Iowa to debut their card game. This heartfelt story started as an idea shared with their grandkids at family gatherings. Fast-forward to GAMA, and Burum was officially unveiled during Game Night—a fast, fun, card-shedding game with a sweeping mechanic. I was as charmed by the story as I was by the game.

The hotel was the common hangout in the evenings, filled with drinks and networking. One night, a mutual friend introduced me to Peter C. Heyward, and we bonded over his game Things in Rings. I was flattered that he had read (and enjoyed!) my review. His vibrant personality, paired with his distinct suit, exuded the same fun energy as his game. Peter also has his hands in many other projects, including the upcoming Critter Kitchen from Lucky Duck Games.

The beauty of GAMA is that everyone is friendly, and there’s always an instant connection because—well—games. Nerding out about games all day long is the magic that brings everyone together. I also had the chance to meet some incredible people from small and indie publishers. It’s amazing to hear how great games can come from super small teams—some even run by just one person. The world of small publishing may be small, but it’s mighty. Just because they aren’t big names doesn’t mean their passion is any smaller. Some truly incredible games are coming out of the indie sector, and I sincerely hope the gaming world gets a chance to experience them.

The Games

Echoing some of Andy’s statements, the second edition of PARKS is incredible. I had the chance to play through the new edition over breakfast with the folks at Keymaster Games. This rendition incorporates expansions from the base game along with ideas from Trails. The game feels meatier yet still streamlined, and the new modular mechanics keep it accessible while offering the option for deeper gameplay. The artwork is even more stunning, now featuring all sixty-three National Parks—including a few added since the first edition.

Ghost Galaxy was demoing Lord of the Rings: Confrontation, and the table presence immediately caught my eye. This upcoming Q4 release is a remake of the original game from the early 2000s. The gameplay is a snappy chess/Stratego-like duel where each side moves a piece forward into enemy territory. If two pieces land on the same space, a battle ensues based on unit values (which remain hidden from the opponent). Each unit has a unique ability, and players can play additional cards to shift the tide of battle. The game ends when all pieces are eliminated or when a specified number reaches the enemy base. This was probably my favorite game of GAMA, and it will be on GameFound soon.

I had a chance to check out Nanatoridori from Burnt Island Games. This beautifully designed game is making its way to the U.S. from Japan and serves as an “intro” to card-shedding mechanics. Its unique twist allows players to play higher-numbered sets, and if no one can top it, the active player gets to choose whether to discard or take the played cards. In a card-shedding game, this seems counterintuitive, but picking up sets can be advantageous for future rounds.

Crokinole! My latest obsession. It might not be a board game, but this dexterity bar game was a huge draw in the hotel lobby, with games going late into the night. This game can be played 1v1 or 2v2 and is similar to shuffleboard but played on a circular wooden board. The idea is to flick a metal disc into the center hole to score points. However, the hole is surrounded by pegs that bounce discs outward. If an opponent’s disc is on the board, you must actively try to hit it. Leaning is allowed, but one “cheek” must remain on your seat at all times! I guess it’s more common in the South, as I had never heard of it up here in Chicago.

Lastly, we have Pergola. Odd name, great game. I had the opportunity for a full playthrough of this Asmodee title. The gardening theme looks cute on the surface, but underneath lies a surprising amount of depth. Players draft a resource spade and take actions based on its location. Pieces can be put anywhere and in any way, creating a beautiful, personalized garden. The game becomes a fun puzzle, as all plants and insects must be arranged in specific configurations to score at the end. The best part? The spent spades fit neatly into a player’s bucket—very aesthetically pleasing.

As a first-timer at GAMA, I was blown away by the amount of collaboration and brainstorming that filled the halls. Between the social mixers and developmental seminars, there’s something here for everyone in the industry. The gaming world is experiencing rapid growth (GAMA alone had its highest attendance this year), and this growth is driven by passion and hard work. I didn’t feel a sense of “competition,” as everyone I met was focused on pushing the industry forward. These are the dreammakers who bring dreams to life, but it’s the rising tide that lifts all ships.