The coolest stuff we saw at Gen Con 2026

Gen Con 2026 may be over, but we can't stop talking about it.

The big picture: The biggest tabletop gaming convention was a feast for the eyes, even before a massive roof leak sent rain pouring onto the exhibit hall floor.

• Our experience covering the event proved there's something new and exciting to be found for everyone, from first-timer to veteran attendee.

🤯 Arika's thought bubble: Well, my mind is blown. Even before the doors opened to the exhibit hall on Day 1, I was floored by the sheer size of the spectacle.

• It took a minute to gain my footing in the absolute flood of gamers geeking out over all the new releases and old favorites making an appearance at the con, but it wasn't long before that excitement turned contagious and I was buying too many games to be considered responsible.

🤓 Justin's thought bubble: As an old nerd who has been covering and attending Gen Con for the past 13 years, the best part is always seeing first-timers' eyes light up when they hit the show floor.

• So checking out all the sights with Arika during her first outing was an absolute, 10-out-of-10 joy.

Yes, but: For me, Gen Con is all about meeting the makers. And the talent in the room this year was staggering.

• A highlight was my time chatting with Jerry Pesce, an artist who spent years doing lighting for rock concerts before realizing he had a gift worth sharing with the world.
• "I've been drawing for 40 years," Pesce said. "One day I was just drawing before a concert and someone said, 'Hey, man, you should sell your art.' But I didn't really think anyone would want to buy it."
• "Thirteen years later, here I am at Gen Con."

Here are more of the coolest things we saw at Gen Con 2026.

❤️ Approximately 1,000 different takes on "Dungeon Crawler Carl" characters. To say people are ready for the book series' new RPG that got its con debut.

🏈 Lucas Oil Stadium transformed into a giant gaming floor for Gen Con. It served as a hub for Magic players, hosted the convention's game library, and even had a life-size starship bridge simulator.

• Plus: The hallways served as breakout spaces for all kinds of events — like a kids workshop that started training the next generation of LARPers with foam shields and pool noodle swords. It doesn't get much cuter, folks.

🧙 The creativity! All the handmade costumes were legitimately stunning. Makers, your time and passion were evident, and we are in awe of you.

⚔️ Something for literally everyone, from a quiet open crafting room and miniature painting stations to massive strategy games and some very intense LARPing.

🎲 Gaming tables, with removable tops to reveal a gaming surface so you never need to pack up a game or sacrifice your dining table.

🃏 Cardhalla, a weekend-long house-of-cards build unlike anything you've ever seen. It gets built over days and then torn down for charity.

🪪 Floor-dragging badge beards. IYKYK.

🐲 A D&D-themed drone show that lit up the night.