Contrary to popular opinion, I have a life outside of videogames. I know, shocking, right? Probably not contrary to popular opinion, I am a massive nerd and quite proud of it. With this being said, I went on a little adventure recently, and I thought I’d come and gloat. I mean, I’ll tell you lot how I got on at one of the biggest board gaming expos out there. It was the appropriately named UK Games Expo 2025, and I got to see firsthand what all of the nonsense was about.
Held at the NEC in Birmingham, England, at the beginning of June each year, the UK Games Expo brings out the brightest and best in the board game development world. Everyone shows off their wares and gives us a bit of a sneak peek into a bunch of stuff that isn’t even out yet. If you’ve been to a videogame expo, think similar but with lots of gaming tables, and you’re sort of there. Aside from this, you can find merch galore, so if you want sexy new ways to level up your gaming experience, this is the place to be. Somehow, I made it through the weekend without needing to remortgage my house. If you like what you see here and decide to go next year, I strongly advise having money to burn; you’ll absolutely need it.
The UK Games Expo is massive and broken up over two major sites. The NEC is where the main body of the event is situated. A good place to start is the Buy, Sell, and Swap tent. Here you’ll find shelves of never-played or not really loved items at very good prices. You have to remember that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and this is a great way to boost your collection without completely breaking the bank. I came away with three bags full of awesome new additions and could have spent a lot longer than I did in there, but when time is of the essence, it’s ownard and upward.
My Saturday wasn’t spent for the most part at the NEC. After doing a bit of shopping, I went over to the other site where the Expo is held, the nearby Hilton Hotel. The rest of my Saturday consisted of a bunch of great live shows where comedians battled it out in hilarious style for Werewolf Live and Blood on the Clocktower Live. I also experienced a live version of a gem from my childhood with Knightmare Live. I could (and actually might) tell you all about Knightmare in a separate article, as it was doing things within the FMV space before we ever saw it used on our computer or console screens. For our non-UK readers, this is a show that can probably be found in its eight-season entirety on the interwebs, but be warned, it’s very dated and very 80s, so don’t expect miracles. It’s still worth a watch if you want to experience something a bit different, though.
After several hours of live shenanigans, I settled myself down for the rest of the night in one of the Hilton’s open gaming halls and cracked into some of my new finds over a few beers. Seeing so many people, many of whom had never met before, all having a blast together over a shared love was really heartwarming. The Hilton also had a game library available for anyone who wanted to get involved but didn’t have their own games to play. This is a brilliant idea and something I think every town and city should have as a free service to the public. There were halls dedicated to the roleplaying fans, too, so everyone could have a great time doing the thing that made them happy.
Sunday was spent back at the NEC in the main Expo hall, and I honestly wish I’d had more time. To say that this thing is massive is a complete understatement. Anyone and everyone worth their salt seemed to be set up with their own stall, with over eight hundred companies present. Everywhere I looked, there was something to draw the eye, and many of the titles were playable there and then. As I mentioned, there were also loads to pick up concerning accessories. From funky dice sets to full-blown gaming tables, nothing seemed to have been forgotten. There was also space to meet some of your favourite authors and artists if the aesthetic side of things was more for you.
A word to the wise. If you think this is up your alley and you’re planning on going, the tickets for the event release around Christmas time, but you might find that local hotels will start filling up straight away. If you’re thinking of attending, I’d start looking around sharpish for the best deals. You don’t want to be caught napping because turnout is insane.
This is an absolute must go to for those of you who want to explore the world of board games further or really just make friends and have fun doing something a little bit different. I’ll be back again next year and won’t be making the mistake of only doing two days. If you think this might be your speed, I strongly recommend looking into it now and making sure you go for the entire weekend. The event kicks off on Fridays, so be certain to make the most of it. For those of you who aren’t here in the UK, I’m pretty certain this event moves around the world, so you might well find it, or a rendition of it, closer to home. If you like this sort of thing, I can only recommend that you have a look.
