by Tyler Lee, content marketing manager, Gen Con

Gen Con, the largest and most attended tabletop gaming convention in North America, is taking over Indianapolis from August 3-6. Already, avid attendees both new and veteran are preparing for “The Best Four Days in Gaming.” However, with something this large and beloved, it can also be a bit intimidating to even consider making the trip. Well, in order to help with that decision, here are the top reasons you should attend Gen Con in Indianapolis.

This first one is pretty easy. If you attend Gen Con, you’re going to be surrounded by more board and tabletop games than you’ve ever seen. And these games aren’t just on display — They’re being played by thousands of attendees. There’s the Family Fun Pavilion for kids and families, demos at your favorite booths, and even full-blown RPG sessions run by a gamemaster.

Beyond just the games, there are also dozens of ways to experience today’s fastest-growing hobby. There is the Games Library, where you can come and chill while playing the latest releases, like Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, or old favorites like Carcassonne or Ticket to Ride. Meanwhile, Megagames takes your favorites and makes them, well, mega. Think board games but giant-sized with dozens of players, such as giant Catan or Oligopoly the Megagame.

Did we mention the booths? Not only are there games of every size, shape, and category, but they are brought to you by your favorite developers, designers, and distributors. Names like Funko, Ravensburger, Mattel, Hasbro, CATAN, Pokémon, Wizards of the Coast, and more will all be present and ready for you to see, play, and purchase their games, many before they even hit retailers. You will even have chances to chat with designers and get sneak peeks at upcoming releases.

Gen Con isn’t just about the games. Well, it is mostly about the games. But Gen Con also plays host to some incredibly fun and iconic events that happen throughout the convention.

First off, throwing it back to games, the First Exposure Playtest Hall is where gamers can come and playtest games that are still in development. These prototypes range from index cards and makeshift tokens all the way to games with full production value.

Gen Con also hosts a Film Festival where filmmakers from around the world can share their visions. This fan-favorite event presents films that inspire, thrill, terrify, and cause side-splitting laughter. If you like movies, or just need a break from the games, you’ll find something you like here.

If dungeons are more your thing, or perhaps dragons, then True Dungeon is just what you need. This life-size, walk-through, fantasy RPG escape room immerses attendees into the world of your favorite tabletop roleplaying game with its fantastic sets, monstrous creatures, lively non-player characters (NPCs), and special effects. You’ll feel like you’re living your D&D campaign.

Cardhalla is a free event that begins on Thursday and comes to a crashing conclusion — literally — on Saturday. Attendees come together to build a massive city out of donated cards. Stop by, grab some cards, and fold and stack them to your heart’s content. Then, on Saturday night, fellow con-goers will destroy the city of Cardhalla with a barrage of pocket change. What does Gen Con do with all of this destructive currency? It is all collected and donated to the event’s charity partners, Game Pathways and Indy Reads!

The Charity Partners Auction is another popular event. Stop by and register so you can throw up bids and try to outlast the other bidders to get your hands on awesome collectibles, rare items, limited editions, and exclusives, as well as out-of-print titles. Or, if you prefer a more low-key approach, step into the Consignment Store and discover hidden gems among the thousands of items.

Gen Con wouldn’t be complete without the amazing and fan-favorite Art Show. Every year, Gen Con showcases some of the most influential artists in fantasy, sci-fi, comics, gaming, and more. Stop by to see works of art that inspire the industry, meet the artists, and even take home a signed print.

Beyond the events mentioned above, there is a multitude of others that reach into all corners of geek culture, from gaming and movies to anime, and even live music and entertainment acts.

It wouldn’t be a convention without delicious food and drink, and it wouldn’t be Gen Con without Block Party. Throughout the interiors of the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as at the nearby hotels, food and drink options are at your fingertips. But nothing is quite like the outdoor experience of the Block Party, where a fleet of food and beverage trucks await your orders. Many favorite eateries can be found nearby, including HotBox Pizza, the Sun King Beer Garden, Wild Bill’s Soda (the official soda of Gen Con 2023), and more.

Costumes and cosplay have always been a big part of any gaming convention. But at Gen Con, it’s at a whole other level. From an annual contest where fans can show off their costumes and win cash prizes to a parade through the Indiana Convention Center —when anyone dressed up as their favorite video game, anime, movie, comic book character, or pop culture icon can strut their stuff — Gen Con is a place where you can be yourself while also being your favorite character.

One of the best parts about conventions is the community, and Gen Con has this in spades. Taking great pride in cultivating a fun and safe space for fans from all corners of gaming, Gen Con provides its attendees the opportunity to meet up with like-minded gamers and let their geek flags fly with others. Whether you are simply a fan of classic board games, a rabid RPG enthusiast, a collectible card gamer, or like to partake in many different areas of the hobby, you’ll meet others who feel the same at Gen Con.

On top of that, Gen Con offers gamers the chance to enjoy this hobby with friends who may not live close to them. For the friends who you rarely get to see due to long distance, there is no better place to plan a meet-up than at Gen Con.

With all of these options — and so much more — at your disposal, you owe it to yourself to come to Indianapolis and see just how much fun Gen Con can be. You can learn even more about the event and purchase passes now at gencon.com.

Want to attend Gen Con for free? Head over to The Pop Insider Instagram from April 24-28 and enter for your chance to win two free, four-day passes to the show!