Just returned from Origins Game Fair 2025. I did the full badge Wednesday through Sunday experience. I played games, went shopping, met people, and talked to authors/creators.
I used to just do one or two days at Origins and the full show at GenCon. I like GenCon and always enjoy my time in Indianapolis. Yet, I found Origins to be a fuller experience. I played way more games that I would sign up for a GenCon and did not feel the fear of missing out. The Origins show is smaller and one can see most things in the exhibit hall over the four days. I’ve yet to leave GenCon with a feeling that I have seen all the vendors and demos. I’ll get home and see something on BGG that was at GenCon and I’ll have completely missed it.
The population at Origins is sized up enough to have people to play games with but small enough to run into people a few times during the show. It was nice to see people I knew (really had just met the day before) on the next day in some other event.
I think my convention tastes might shift to Origins for the full show and maybe a couple days at GenCon.
