PAX Unplugged 2025

PAX Unplugged is a three-day convention focusing on tabletop gaming. Board games, card games, role-playing games, and all the surrounding peripherals can be found. Penny Arcade Expo, or PAX, was created by the creators of the Penny Arcade webcomic, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. The conventions are centered around gaming culture with the Unplugged version, first run in 2017, being entirely based on tabletop gaming. PAXU 2025 was held at the earlier than normal the weekend before Thanksgiving in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, as it always is. The folks at Penny Arcade first came to Philly in 2017 and apart from 2020 (you know why) have been back every year. This is the third year I’ve attended as a “Content Creator” for all three days and every year, I go home amazed, exhausted, and excited about the board gaming hobby.

You know that feeling when you have an event planned, like a concert or a day trip, and you honestly just want it to be cancelled so you don't have to be bothered and can be lazy? I never have that feeling when PAX Unplugged is that planned event. I always look forward to it. It's an escape and immersion into a hobby that I love. Most importantly it's the people. Attending with friends and meeting up with people that I have only made friends with because of this event becomes a highlight of the year. Meeting with publishers and designers never leaves me feeling like I was an idiot or unappreciated or someone not worth talking to. Some even recognize and remember me from previous years.

My third year returning as a "Content Creator" and I'm back with my partner-in-cardboard, Chrissy. She missed Thursday night hotel gaming and it took her a while to get there Friday, but she made it!

We tried a few games in the First Look room including Garden Lake, a tiling laying game, and Gingham, at the request of my youngest daughter. Of course we hit up the Zombie Princess demo and will most likely be picking that up through Kickstarter. We also hit up the Lord of the Rings room and completed the tasks to earn a great looking pin.

Also Chef Beth's Kitchen at Reading Terminal Market came through with a gluten free roll for their killer sandwiches.

One of the designers that I make sure to visit every year is Josh Norris. Josh is the designer of CATastrophe: A Game of 9 Lives. A delightful game that was surprising hilarious and a hit with not only my gaming circle but families as well. It's great to see Josh's both every year and to see it so busy. We chatted about how the con has been for him and what he's got in the works. Not sure how much I'm allowed to say, but it sounds like another great one in the works. Check out a review of CATastrophe from one of your favorite hosts of the Cryptid Creator Corner, Jimmy Gaspero.

There are a lot of ways to find out about the board games you love, just bought, or coming out in the future. One of them is of course here at the Comic Book Yeti, but another is through YouTube and podcasts.

The TableTop Express and the people I have met through their community are the people I spend the nights in the hotel lobby with. Through their discord, we talk everything from games, to sports, to parenting, to Whamageddon. Their live call in show on YouTube is great way to spend a night whether just watching, participating in the chat or even calling in. Check them out!

Origin Story, Stonemaier Games, was one of the games played. A trick taking game where you build a super hero from their beginnings with backstory, gadgets, powers and allies. Play each round as the hero or the villain with different win conditions for both.

The Level Up Board Game Podcast is a great listen and approaching their 200 episode! Their 8 Bit Breakdowns of games is a phenomenal....well, breakdown of a game and is fair in both praise and criticism. Through a mutual contact (Thanks Squirrel!) a game of Concordia on Board Game Arena, was setup and I got to play with two of the hosts Just Patrick, pictured below, and King Scott. Early Friday I walked past the Game Toppers booth and sure enough ran into Patrick. We then bothered both Scott and Lana as they prepared to sell Game Toppers Game Tables and Play Mats. We talked games, who we were meeting with and plans for future games. He also ran the Philly Marathon. Dude is a beast!!!!

Saturday night is for the Dandies! Who are the Dandies? Well that is our D&D (and other games) group that started a campaign back in 2017. A combination of the party has gone to most every PAXU since it's inception. Here my brother and I take a quick pic in between rounds of Last Will. One of the games we got to play after the Expo Hall closed.

Well enough of the sentimental stuff about family and friends. Next article we will get into the thick of it and see what publishers I met with and what games I got to preview and demo!