For many of us in the board gaming community, May signals more than just warmer weather—it means one thing: the United Kingdom Games Expo (UKGE) is back at the NEC in Birmingham. Running from 30 May to 1 June 2025, this year’s UKGE promises to be bigger, busier, and better than ever.

And for me personally, UKGE 2025 brings not just one, but two firsts

From Demonstrator to Visitor (Mostly)

For the first time in years, I’m not heading to the NEC armed with rulebooks and demo copies. In previous editions, I had the pleasure of “working” (if one can call it that!) with Pegasus Spiele, the well-known German distributor, teaching attendees the ins and outs of their latest games. A couple of highlights I demoed included the ever-charming First Rat and the delightfully chaotic Raccoon Robbers—both titles that always drew curious passers-by and left many with wide grins.

But this year, I’m taking a step back. Ticket in hand, camera at the ready, and most importantly: family in tow.

That said, I won’t be entirely alone in spirit—two or three members of our regular board game group are back on demo duty this year, working for Pegasus and Czech Games Edition (CGE). And it looks like the majority of the Taunton board gaming crew will be there too, which will be great. With so many people and so much going on, UKGE can be a little overwhelming—so having some familiar faces in the crowd will be a welcome comfort, especially for my wife and our son. It’s always nice to run into someone you know amidst the whirlwind of game boxes, cosplay, and demo tables.

Family Firsts: My Wife and Son Join the Fun

I’ve somehow managed to convince my wife—a woman of endless patience but not always equal enthusiasm for meeples—to join us this year. To her credit, it didn’t take too much arm-twisting. We’re already returning from the Lake District that Friday, and Birmingham is conveniently en route. A perfect excuse, really.

Our son was far easier to convince. At 7, he’s become something of a mini-gamer in his own right. While he enjoys lighter titles like Ticket to Ride: First Journey, Rhino Hero, and Kingdomino, he also dives into more thoughtful games like Sagrada, NMBR 9, Dixit, and even Thurn und Taxis—a nod to his German board gaming roots.

And with free entry for under-10s, there was no downside. He’s buzzing with excitement already.

My wife, on the other hand, prefers quality over quantity. Her favourites? Dominion—which she plays with quiet, strategic menace—and Quadropolis, a city builder that hits her sweet spot for planning and balance. If there’s a Dominion tournament at UKGE, I may need to sign her up…

A Growing Giant: UKGE by the Numbers

UKGE’s rise over the past decade has been nothing short of phenomenal. From its humble beginnings in hotel conference rooms, it’s now Europe’s third-largest board game convention, attracting:

• Over 45,000 visitors in 2024 (up from 39,000 in 2023)
• 500+ exhibitors from across the gaming world
• Massive exhibition halls filled with demo tables, play zones, shops, and more

It’s the kind of place where new releases debut, hidden gems are discovered, and friendships are formed over a shared love of cardboard.

The Shadow of Covid—and the Bounce Back

Like many events, UKGE faced a major pause during the 2020–21 pandemic. The 2020 edition went digital, but for all its innovation, there’s simply no substitute for the tactile joy of face-to-face gaming. The cautious 2022 reboot paved the way, and by 2023 and 2024, the magic was fully restored.

Now in 2025, UKGE is more than recovered—it’s booming.

Bring-and-Buy: Cardboard Treasure Hunting

One of the highlights of any UKGE weekend has to be the Bring-and-Buy section. It’s a glorious mix of attic clear-outs, cult classics, and rare out-of-print finds. The atmosphere is chaotic but electric, and there’s a thrill in spotting that copy of a game you missed years ago—just waiting for a new shelf to call home.

Pro tip: get there early. And bring a sturdy bag.

Tournaments and Tabletop Glory

UKGE is also home to a wealth of competitive events. Whether it’s Catan, Terraforming Mars, Carcassonne, or Magic: The Gathering, there’s a tournament for every taste—and many of them feed into national and international qualifiers.

This year, I’ll likely just be spectating. But who knows—maybe next time, I’ll nudge my wife toward the Dominion tables and see how she fares against the pros…

UKGE vs. The Global Convention Scene: How Does It Compare?

While UKGE has grown into the UK’s flagship tabletop event, how does it compare to the heavyweights of the global gaming calendar?

• SPIEL (Essen, Germany) – Often described as the mecca of board gaming, SPIEL boasts over 1,000 exhibitors and close to 200,000 attendees. It’s a trade show at heart—packed with new releases, prototype previews, and deep eurogame energy. It’s fast-paced and commercial, with a strong focus on retail and distribution.
• GenCon (Indianapolis, USA) – GenCon leans more heavily into roleplaying games, miniature gaming, and pop culture. With over 70,000 attendees, it’s North America’s biggest tabletop gaming event. GenCon is a festival in spirit—events, cosplay, panels, live shows—making it a broad entertainment experience.
• UKGE stands somewhere in between. It blends the family-friendly accessibility of a festival with the retail and demo focus of SPIEL, but in a distinctly British way. It’s easy to navigate, less overwhelming than its continental cousins, and increasingly professional. It may not be the biggest yet, but it’s rapidly becoming one of the most welcoming and balanced events for gamers of all types.

What I’m Looking Forward To

Aside from soaking in the atmosphere, there are a few things I’m personally excited about:

• Discovering new releases and testing upcoming prototypes in the Playtest Zone
• Browsing the exhibitor booths for additions to our collection
• Watching our son get swept up in giant-sized games and live demos
• Reuniting with old friends and fellow gamers from past expos
• And yes enjoying those overpriced but oddly satisfying convention snacks

And of course, there’s shopping. Since UKGE always lands the week before my birthday, it has conveniently become a tradition to treat myself to something new for the shelf. This year, I’ll be on the lookout for a copy of Kutná Hora and/or the sprawling zoo-builder Ark Nova.

For our son, I’m hoping to track down a copy of Little Alchemists—a game I think he’ll really enjoy given his love for whimsical mechanics and creative thinking.

A Final Thought

This year’s UKGE feels like a real turning point—not just for me personally, but maybe even for our family’s gaming journey. I suspect once my son sees the scale of the event, it’ll be him asking me to go back next year. And maybe, just maybe, my wife will leave with a newfound love for a hidden gem I’ve yet to discover myself.

Either way, UKGE 2025 is shaping up to be one for the books.