When it comes to Gen Con, the biggest tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) convention in the world, the spotlight typically shines on titles from companies like Wizards of the Coast, Cubicle 7, Evil Hat, and Monte Cook Games. But independent TTRPGs and their creators found their own place in the limelight during this year’s Gen Con.
For starters, there was a particular emphasis placed on independently-published TTRPG books. The Ennies, which had a part of the Gen Con Awards, featured a number of awards in the ‘indie’ category and many top independent titles were featured in the ‘GMs Choice’ category. It was proof that independent game designers and publishers were being taken just as seriously as the publishers with the deepest pockets.
The independent publishers also expressed themselves with panels to discuss game design and topics of interest. One panel, for example, focused on the surge of popularity for indie titles in the past couple of years. Other panels discussed the importance of including themes of diversity and inclusion in indie games and featured independent designers who had achieved success with their projects.
Not to be outdone, there were also various indie TTRPG tournaments held at Gen Con. Some of the most popular tournaments were ones promoting large-scale indie games such as Dungeon World, Blades in the Dark, Achtung! Cthulhu, and The Sprawl. It provided players with a great opportunity to experience a range of independent games and to learn more about what’s out there in TTRPG.
The popularity of independent TTRPGs was palpable all over Gen Con, and indie game designers have a lot to be proud of. Gen Con provided a great platform for indie game designers to showcase their work and be noticed by other gamers. As the indie scene continues to grow, we can expect to see even more of them at Gen Con next year.
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