Gen Con Events: Tips, Tricks and What to Know

Gen Con event registration can be frustrating for new attendees and veterans alike. Here are some tips and recommendations to help everyone find something to play and do at Gen Con.

What to know about Gen Con event registration

Here are some of the basics of Gen Con event registration.

• Do not overpack your schedule. Back-to-back events probably should be avoided unless they are in the same hall. Keep time for the little things, like meals. Gen Con offers a ton of demos and other fun activities that do not require a ticket. Save some time to explore.
• Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) and live action RPGs (LARP) will fill up quickly. If you have a number of these items you are interested in playing, add them to the top of your queue.
• It is okay to add multiple games to one time slot in your wish list. Events sell out, so if there are a couple you are debating between, add them. When the queue processes, the highest priority event remaining at that time will be added to your cart.   
• Likewise, try multiple time slots for games you really want to play. If your first slot is sold out, maybe you can get in at a different time.
• Priority matters. Prioritize your wish list based on which games you most want to play at Gen Con. If you have multiple events that are at the same time, the system will give you the highest priority event first (assuming it is available), and pass on the ones further down your list.
• Be ready to go at noon Eastern Time. Events sell out quickly. If you can, be in front of your computer when ticket sales go live.
• Need some game suggestions? Many of our most anticipated games of Gen Con 2024 are available to play this year. Find the ones that excite you the most and sign up!

Try something new

There likely are plenty of games you want to play while at Gen Con. But if you are left with some holes in your schedule, here are some options to check out.

• Try a game you normally would not. A few years ago, a friend missed event registration. As he filled out his schedule, he chose a game that sounded ridiculous. However, after playing Consumption: Food and Choices, it was his favorite game of the convention. You never know until you try.
• Try a new system. This recommendation came from subscriber Josh Geurink. “I always make a point of trying at least one new system I haven't played before. It's a spectacular place for trying something new! A roleplaying game that uses tarot cards as its primary mechanic? Heck yes. Dresden Files as a 5E D&D game? Absolutely. A sci-fi Call of Cthulhu LARP? Sign me up!”
• Sign up for a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. It is fun to play on the same field as the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, the games you play might be slightly different, but it is still a unique experience.
• Jump on a brewery tour bus. If you enjoy craft beer, check out the Top Shelf Brewery Tour bus. The bus travels to three local establishments, and has multiple start times throughout the duration of Gen Con. Find one that fits in your timeline.
• Run a 5K. If you need to get in your miles while in Indy, sign up for the Orc Stomp 5K Fun Run. The race takes place early on Friday morning, so it should not interfere with your gaming time.
• Watch a movie. Need a break from gaming? Check out one of the movies at the Gen Con Film Festival, which according to the website is a “cinematic adventure that brings together storytellers from around the globe.”
• Save a day for the vendors. The exhibitor hall is a monstrous area dedicated to consumption. But, even if you are not buying games, there are plenty of demos to easily fill any holes in your schedule. The exhibitor hall is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday – Saturday, but closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

So, you didn’t get everything you wanted, what now?

You likely will not get your entire wish list. Even if you are somehow the first in the queue, you are competing with 60,000 other players for tickets to your favorite games. Be prepared to get about half of your wish list.

• Keep your top items on your wish list. Occasionally people will add multiple times for an event to make sure they get in at least once. After processing the items you did get, come back to your wish list and see if any tickets are now available.
• Check back a few days later. People may need to cancel their trip to Gen Con for various reasons. Again, keep your top items on your wish list and check back.
• Check for new events. New events will be added between registration day and the first day of Gen Con.  There are websites that track changes to the catalogue each day. Maybe you will find something new and exciting.

Have you attended Gen Con in the past? What other advice would give? Let us know in the comments.