We’re in the middle of August, but summer — or winter, if you’re living in the Southern Hemisphere — isn’t over! The best of it is yet to come, and gamers, you’ll probably love it the most. It has to do with this year’s Gamescom, which will be held from 23-27 August!
Thought your summer (or winter) trips were over, ha? We hope not because it’s an event worth visiting! In fact, we’re writing this blog post in its honor. It’s one of the biggest gaming events in the world, so we wanted to give you a brief overview of it and introduce you to other large events of this type. Enjoy!
1. Gamescom
One of the top gaming conventions, Gamescom, is the August fever gamers pledge allegiance to for a fun 4-5-day stretch. The show is held in Germany but is open to international audiences. And boy, is it worth visiting. From cutting-edge hardware and gaming engines to games that reinvent genres, the con celebrates the finest aspects of tech.
With over 1,000 exhibitions crafted by industry giants, the show is a magnet for 370,000+ gaming enthusiasts. And if, for some reason, you can’t attend it, you can still indulge in hours of techy madness: the event is live-streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and its official website! Plus, if you like cosplaying, you’re in for a big, juicy, costume-y treat — the game show welcomes dedicated cosplayers!
2. Mid-Season Invitational
Can you feel LoL overtaking the pixelated world of epic team-based plays? We certainly can, and Mid-Season intensifies our MOBA thrill! This international tournament is a real happening in Asia. Of course, with a minimum prize pool of $250,000, you can go home big IF you can masterfully eradicate the opponent’s base. The cheering crowds are pretty intense, too; the atmosphere — electrifying.
The event is also the favorite of aspiring players who want to improve their at-home League of Legends performance. If that’s you, you can polish your Calibrum and Severum skills and root for your number-one competitor by watching the show online. You can be a part of a super large viewer base of over 127,000 million adventure-thirsty LoL-ers digitally supporting champions!
3. ChinaJoy
Standing on top of the bigger gaming industry events list, ChinaJoy is where Chinese game developers exhibit their latest achievements. Fun fact: lots of mega-companies in the field are based in China. So, if there’s a place to cast yourself into the wonders of the Chinese gaming culture, this is undoubtedly it. And you won’t be the only one to do that — count on 270,000+ other peeps going the same path!
If you’re a fan of Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox (who isn’t?), you must hit CJ. And guess what you should do if you’re a gentle, artistic soul who likes to slay a few enemies with a Leviathan Axe! Hit CJ, of course! The event hosts many exhibitions related to literature, art, and music!
4. QuakeCon
Here’s an old kid on the gameshow block — QuakeCon. Xennials and Millenials have had a blast at this con, and nowadays, Zoomers can’t have enough of it! It’s not a humongous nook for a super-sized audience (it usually has about 10,000 attendees). However, it has a history that even some of the biggest global gaming expos envy.
The event first took place in 1996, starting as a promising LAN, bring-your-own-computer party. Its name comes from that of id Software’s game Quake, a shooter game probably as old as you. This name is nowadays a relic of the past of ZeniMax, the owner of id Software, and a trademark that’s part of the promotion of many of the company’s franchises.
5. Tokyo Game Show
Back to the biggest gaming events, the Tokyo Game Show sure is one to impress you. This Japanese event annually hosts around 270,000 folks! That’s not surprising, considering that hundreds of companies choose to introduce their creations to the gaming population at this show. Can you imagine many high-tech gaming inventions surrounding you as you accidentally bump into fellow players? It’s an Alice-in-Techland-like experience!
If you plan to fly off to Japan and attend the show in person, be ready to walk your miles around superb releases. The event lasts for four long September days! However, it’s closed to the general audience during days one and two — that’s when industry professionals get to “gossip” about what is in and dated in the VG world. Still, pack your best pair of sneakers because the space you’ll be strolling around is hyu-gi-oh (especially the General Exhibition area)!
6. E3
E3 is undoubtedly one of the most notable gaming expos. It’s been running for as long as 26 years, giving LA the extra gaming flair it needs. And it’s a mid-size event by concept, with 60,000+ folks stepping by to explore the cream of VG gadgets. Once an invitation-only experience, this fast-growing expo has been open to everyone who has joystick buttons collapsing under their command since 2018.
E3 mainly exists to commemorate the efforts of developers, manufacturers, and publishers. However, its creators like to pet the visiting crowds on the back. That said, the event always ends with a conference where gamers get to understand what’s cooking in the industry. It’s not the conventional convention, so if you want to run away from the typical, go for it.
7. Pax
Another unique gaming con you should tippytoe to is Pax. The whole thing started as the Penny Arcade Expo. However, it later bloomed into a con that showcases fantastic arcades, independents, and tabletops. If you’ve been fine and slaying with your one-and-only gaming keyboard for ages but want a new pastime game, this is your event. The show has little to do with promoting big console games and top-notch tech. The 2024 and 2025 schedules of the PAX East and the PAX West are definitely worth checking out, though.
So, you want to check out this convention if mainstream developments give you a 360-degree eye-roll. But you can also give it a chance because of the Omegathon. During this event, attendees get randomly selected to join a gaming tournament. If you get picked out, you can compete even in high-grossing games like Tetris for a nice prize!
8. Brasil Games Show
It isn’t big — it’s absolutely, ridonculously enormous! With over 300,000 attendees each year, the Brasil Games Show is a giant gaming convention. It even claims there isn’t a bigger game show in the world! We believe these claims — the con’s diverse schedule supports them. Anyone can get something out of it, even if they have a gaming project to kickstart!
Well, especially if they’re a promising kickstarter. The convention focuses on the exhibition of developers dipping their toes in the waters of this industry. Therefore, if your goal is to get a foot in the door in this field, the foot, the door, and the gaming world are yours! All you need to do is show up with a catchy product to woo the masses.
9. SPIEL
Mm-hmm, board games are always in. But in Germany, they’re the thing! Video games, sorry, but you aren’t mahjong-ing the SPIEL way; you’re too cheesy, not chees-y. At least, that’s what the creators of this gaming event might be thinking. So, if you’re into pawns — we are, too — but no apps and electronics, you’ve found the best event to try the Queen’s Gambit.
Interestingly, despite its unconventional nature, the convention has an impressive attendance. This fact proves that the board game niche is a fierce competitor to the VG one. And that’s fantastic! If anything can drive innovation in both of these branches of gaming, it’s competition! And so far, both sides are doing more than okay and growing fast!
10. DreamHack
Once a year, DreamHack fills the entire world with joy. It’s held everywhere, with the main thing happening in Sweden. It’s the perfect eSports event for those with a strong sporting spirit in a digital era. However, this is not all the event has to offer. If you decide to attend it, you will find Ubisoft and Nintendo products scattered around the event area.
Moreover, DreamHack has the largest PC festival and LNA party with the fastest internet speeds on the planet. If this isn’t how you nurture the competitive spirit among gamers willing to bust the butts of fellow players in all sorts of games — even those available to us for free — we don’t know what is! There are even digital arts competitions for those who see art in each pixel.
11. BlizzCon
Well, well, well, look at you, Blizzard fans! Each year, at the beginning of November, Anaheim is entirely yours! It’s a pity the convention doesn’t really cater much to fans out of other developers, but knowing that you’re sitting next to someone who is either of the WoW or Overwatch clan is super soothing, cozy, and a game-on situation.
And it’s super cool that gamers can bro up with the devs to talk about their fave digital creations. Of course, Blizzard buffs are super lucky if they get an update/spoiler on a next-year release and see if they can have a say in the final product. All is literally fun and games, and it’s good that Blizzcon is back to hosting in-person events after a year of good and bad surprises.
12. Paris Games Week
October isn’t just cold and spooky — it’s also a oui to Paris and the PGW! That is precisely the perfect place to chit-chat with your favorite streamers and tell them what keeps that game set flashing all day long. Plus, you get to enjoy fantastic tours where the best players will compete against each other, some even to be a World Champion.
A shooting games fan? Welcome to this event! Sports, indie, or strategy games occupy your days? Pay them some tribute at the PGW, one of the biggest gaming conventions out there! Walk this event’s aisles and breathe its atmosphere in! You’ll find the thing you click with among the hundreds of booths and shiny little spectacles hosted just for you.
13. Eurogamer Expo (EGX)
Next on our list of biggest gaming conventions is the London-based Eurogamer Expo. It’s the biggest event of the kind in the UK, so all the Europeans know where to spend part of their October. The EGX is as versatile as the masses, offering a bit of everything for everyone. It’s the go-to happening for gamers, anime heads, and comic book readers alike.
If you’re stoked about clicking through new games or love the art of cosplay, you know where to find your crowd. This really is the best social gathering for gamers of every genre, especially if the gloomy London weather is your favorite power-up. Of course, there will be tournaments to boost the excitement and the spirit of the event.
14. The Game Awards
This year, you should applaud the entire gaming industry for always keeping you on the ‘wow’ end of things. If that’s the case, The Game Awards is the ceremony to go to. Hosted by the legendary Geoff Keighley, the event will feed you all the new info from the world of games. That is, apart from honoring the most significant achievements in it.
The Los Angeles Peacock Theater will continue to light up for the best games released on a specific date in November. Winners are selected by a voting journey, but here’s the catch — fans can also vote! Therefore, if your opinions on platformers and arcades are stronger and louder than ever, you could voice them at the right place!
15. Game Developers Conference
Game design, programming, and design is a fun craft to master. Still, it is one to master and one that allows for expansion and growth as a creative individual inspired by the digital universe. If you are a game developer looking to connect with your fellow creative soulmates, you must visit the Game Developers Conference held in San Francisco, CA.
Gaming conventions aren’t just a fiesta of lights and sounds. They are also educational and can be a way to get a foot in the gaming door. So, join the large developers’ tribe of 28,000 peers across the globe and learn how to pursue a career in the field. There will also be a fiesta of lights and sounds you won’t want to miss, so don’t!
16. MAGFest
Straight from the capital of the USA, Washington DC, the Music and Gaming Festival is inviting you to an unforgettable, intimate experience. If you were looking for gaming conventions that foster one-on-one connection building, you’ve found the right one. And lovely, personal chats can happen between fans, hosts, and presenters, so here’s your chance to dive deeper into the gaming knowledge.
The convention celebrates the beauty of video game music and exists to uplift the gaming community. It also runs 24 hours a day, in case you want to seize the day and night of game talk at the National Harbor. You can expect lots of musicians, animators, and gaming personalities to share your enthusiasm with you.
17. Electronic Game Show
EGS has been sprucing up the lives of gamers for 22 years now. Its initial premise was to support the gaming companies of the Mexican landscape and bring the international to the locals. However, like other video game conventions, this one, too, evolved as the years went by. It’s now open to both fans and professionals, bringing together the best of the two worlds.
The tradition that sells the event is the tournament play on flagship games. However, if you prefer your spot in the audience, there are also panel discussions, cosplay, and demonstrations. If you want to take a piece of the vibe home, there’s also merchandise, and networking is always an option for professionals. And the show is also open to kids, with activities suitable for their age.
18. TwitchCon
TwitchCon is not like regular gaming conventions; it’s there to shape the experience of Twitch users and not highlight the ins and outs of games. It also happens two times a year, so you have a backup plan whenever you need an extra day to talk about games with others. And thanks to the concept of the event, you can attend it in different cities and even continents.
Other video game conventions run the show with celebrities and invite fans to join panel discussions. This one has all of that, the difference being that it celebrates a live-streaming service that primarily focuses on streaming video games. So, if you’re into showing respect to a service that shows gams respect, go for it.
19. The Calgary Expo Comics And Entertainment Convention
Now, that’s a name that could pack two gaming conventions! But instead, it’s just one that was first hosted in 2005. Back then, it was an event dedicated to comic books, but it’s become one of Canada’s largest events of this kind. And it’s made quite a statement by organizing classy events, the reuniting of the Start Trek: TNG cast being one of them.
The CE is also famous for the workshops and panels it offers. You get to learn from gifted creators and artists and interact with inside professionals, which is fantastic if you’re a dedicated game connoisseur. The atmosphere is family-friendly, with a chance for you to snatch a rare collectible always there. Or, it could be you showcasing your artistic prowess at the event’s bubbly marketplace!
20. San Diego Comic-Con
Okay, the San Diego Comic-Con isn’t precisely the game-liest of convention; its name says it all. However, over the years, the event has grown to become more versatile and open for different content, including video games. Although it’s still not officially dedicated to gaming, the convention regularly supports the announcement of multiple games each time it’s organized.
The SDCC is the largest of its kind, however, so game devs have a solid platform for their products to get advertised. They often compare it to the Academy Awards; as many would agree, it’s its equivalent when it comes to comic books. So, if you have a combined interest in comics and games, this is the event to let your loves merge harmoniously!
Be a Proud Mario — Collect Your Coins!
A lot of it is fun and games, isn’t it? If you believe so, as we do, celebrate life and its joys by going to some of the biggest gaming events in the world. However, you might want to make some money before you do that! Tickets exist, after all!
Whether you have some salary money to spare or not, extra cash is always good. If you still agree with us, we recommend you give Pawns.app a shot. Our side income application lets you earn by completing online surveys and sharing your unused bandwidth. Dollars are worth installing it, don’t you agree? Finally, enjoy exploring different gaming conferences!
