Pandemic’s over, and gamers from all over the globe are ecstatic again about attending gaming conventions. Ever wondered what are the biggest gaming conventions organized? Here’s the list.
1. Gamescom
The largest gaming convention ever organized is Gamescom. In 2024, this event gathered a record-breaking number of around 335,000. Every year, it is held in Cologne, Germany. This year’s edition, which took place last August, has been successful.
Gamescom is Europe’s own version of a usual gaming expo. It showcases cutting-edge hardware and gaming engines through its wide range of exhibitions from various countries worldwide.
The organizers live stream the event on YouTube, Twitch, and its official website so those who cannot personally attend can still take part. International cosplayers, artists, and musical acts converge in the venue with hundreds of ready-to-use gaming consoles, home PCs, handhelds, and automats throughout gaming history. There’s something for every enthusiastic gamer to enjoy.
2. Taipei Game Show
With over 17 million gamers in Taiwan, the country’s capital city, Taipei, is the perfect place to host an international gaming convention, such as the Taipei Game Show. With such a futuristic city, this gaming convention always surely attracts passionate players from across the globe.
The Taipei Game Show has been held for over 20 years now, attracting thousands of business investors worldwide. While the COVID-19 pandemic was harsh to it, causing it to undergo a hiatus, it went back with a bang. The 2024 edition, held earlier this year, enlisted a whopping 360,000 attendees.
3. Brasil Game Show
From Taiwan all the way to Brazil. It might be surprising that one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world is not in Japan or the United States but in Brazil. Last year, the Brasil Game Show, held in gorgeous São Paulo, gathered 300,000 attendees, becoming the first gaming convention in the world to break that number. The event can definitely break more records in the future.
The upcoming Brasil Game Show for 2024 hasn’t been finished yet, as it is happening this October 11th to 15th. Every year, game developers network with cosplayers and other attendees in an event filled with spectacle, such as a glittering opening ceremony, a lifetime achievement awards show, an arcade game station, a meet-and-greet, talks, a PC gaming area, and even shopping opportunities. Ole, ole, ole!
4. Tokyo Game Show
Finally, a gaming convention held where gaming is praised as a god, Tokyo in Japan. In the country where most of the world’s gamers are from, there’s the Tokyo Game Show, which gathered about 270,000 attendees last year. Plus, with high-profile presenters, the event becomes memorable in each of its editions.
While the main focus of the Tokyo Game Show is on up-and-coming Japanese game titles and releases, it musters up more excitement with high-tech gaming inventions presented, such as controllers, headphones, furniture, and portable gaming devices, making this show always trending and a buzz. This year, it is happening from September 26th to 29th. So, plan your trip to Japan right now.
5. ChinaJoy
With some of the world’s biggest technology firms headquartered in China, it will be a shock if it won’t play host to a big gaming convention. ChinaJoy, held in beautiful Shanghai, gathers participants from around the world as well in an event showcasing thousands of games every year. Also known as the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, it hosts many exhibitions not just on gaming but also on art, music, and literature in such a massive venue. Great wall, great games. It also has big-time sponsors, from local Chinese companies to globally renowned firms, such as TCL and Ubisoft.
More Gaming Conventions With Massive Attendance
Here are more gaming conventions that showed strength in numbers.
G-Star
This sounds like a cosplay event, but it is a gaming convention. Another massive and remarkable gaming convention is G-Star, which is held regularly in South Korea. In 2023, the event boasted more than 200,000 attendees. First launched in 2005, it was moved from Seoul to Busan and has been held there ever since. Activities of the event include gaming promotions, cosplay awards, and related side events. South Korean gaming companies and developers also take advantage of this event as their opportunity to showcase and advertise their products. Foreign gaming developers are also here. This year’s G-Star will take place this November. What a way to spend your holiday season.
Spiel
Spiel is a gaming convention in Germany that focuses on board games rather than video games. This event features interactive and real-life products in addition to board games. Spiel revolutionizes the very concept of a gaming convention by stating that gaming isn’t just about video games but also timeless and fun board games.
IgroMir
Just like how a gaming convention is a surprise to be held in Brazil, there’s an event known as IgroMir being held in a mysterious country, Russia. Yes, Russia. However, it is interesting that this gaming event can also gather hundreds of thousands of people as well. IgroMir is a general gaming expo catering to video games across several genres. The organizers, the Game Developers Conference of Russia, have been conducting this event since 2006. Aside from gamers, cosplayers may also fly to Russia as it is also a cosplaying event. Stunning.
Gaming conventions are gatherings centered on everything gaming – role-playing, collective card, miniature war, board, and other video games. A gaming convention is like fashion week in a way that it’s held about two or three business days, or longer, at a venue that can house hundreds of thousands of attendees from all over the world. These conventions are opportunities for gamers to learn more about the industry and network with their peers who share the same vision as theirs.
