GEN CON Envie 2026 – Top Games To Demo

And now we come to the final pre-GENCON list of envie games. Not every game on the BGG 2026 preview for GEN CON 2026 is available to bring home, unfortunately. Each year, publishers take the opportunity to put some beautiful almost-ready-for-sale games on those GameToppersLLC tables for players to demo. It creates some hype for the games that get a lot of playing time, and it also gives players a chance to see if the game is really something they want to take home. 

I have a short list of a doze or so games that I would have run to the booths to demo if I were going this year. I don’t have a lot of description this time, just some quick hits for each one. Frankly, a lot of these games do not have a lot of public information. 

1. My number one game to try is War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time (Dire Wolf, #2402). I loved The Dragon Reborn book series, and a lot of the characters after thirteen books or so and thirty years of reading are very familiar to me. I’d love to see what Ryan Schoon and his co-designer have done with this. 

2. A lot of the Horrible Guild games stay on my shelf forever. I still play The Great Split and Steam Park and Potion Explosion to this day. The Amazing Journey looks like the next Hjalmar Hach / Lorenzo Silva game that would have some staying power. (Horrible Guild, #2136)

3. Class of ’89 and Ringyo are both games that are on my list from Paverson Games. First, Dave Beck’s company has been producing games that look amazing on the table. But beyond that, both have captivating themes. I was in school in the 80s, so Class of ’89 hits all the nostalgia buttons. And the idea of a gorgeous game about reforesting Japan sounds different and cool, and Charlie McCarron is an up-and-coming designer. (Paverson Games, #1755)

4. I’ve got Diables on this list, published by Salt & Pepper Games for three reasons. I like Dani Garcia’s designs. The theme has me juiced up. And Salt & Pepper keeps putting out games that have rock solid mechanics and unusual themes. (Salt & Pepper Games, #2666)

5. Who hasn’t salivated over The Lord of the Rings: King’s Gambit from Restoration Games? It was the talk of the internet when Restoration announced it. I would definitely have swung by the booth for a chance to see what it’s like. (Restoration Games, #1735).

6. Bluffing and bidding? A weird but cute theme? Sign me up — Zosimos from 3WS Games and designer Christian Strain looks awesome. (3WS, #231). 

7. I liked the sound of Prague Unseen, and Dan Patriss from the Geek All Stars was all over this one, too. Both of us got some Lords of Waterdeep vibes, but set in Europe instead of a fantasy realm. (Albi, #2564).

8. It wouldn’t be GEN CON without a John D Clair release, and the next one, Electrify from AEG, has a really cool theme. I am expecting combos galore. (AEG, #403). 

9. I’m going to put a dragon game on this list somewhere, and Garden Dragons not only comes from a young company that has had an auspicious start with Cult of the Deep and Forges of Ravenshire, but the gameplay itself looks like something my family would enjoy. (BA Games, #3030). 

10. I have introduced games by Totsuca Chuo to so many people down here on the Gulf Coast. And now they are becoming much more available. Case in pint: Ostia Mariner is getting a gorgeous stateside release from Crafty Games. I would certainly have checked that one out, even though I’ve already played the original game. (Crafty Games, #155).

11. I spent a wonderful week hanging out with Justin and Ann-Marie, owners of Fireside Games, about ten years ago demoing Hotshots and Kaiju Crush. Hotshots is back in a new edition, and if you like tough, thematic cooperative games, Hotshots: Inferno should be on your list. (Fireside Games, #2228). 

12. I’ve got Raas: A Dance of Love here from designer Mihir Shah and published by Arcane Wonders, only because I am not sure if they will be selling it at GEN CON or not. Do yourself a favor and go check out this clever game. (Arcane Wonders, #629).

And one last one for some lagniappe: 

I’ve never played any of Gilles Turbide‘s designs, but this new one called Kalypso from Inside Up Games looks right up my alley. (I love supporting QC designers anyway). It’s got a lot of player interactivity, as gamers are trying to survive massive storms around the globe on floating settlements, which is a hallmark of Inside Up’s retinue. And it looks gorgeous, to boot. (Inside Up Games, #1842). 

Did I miss any games that you’ve will be demoed (but not sold) at the con? I’ve got friends heading up there looking for suggestions. 

Until next time, laissez les bon temps rouler!
— BJ from Board Game Gumbo