PAX Unplugged 2025 Countdown
9 Days Until Playtime!
I’m starting to organize my schedule for the weekend and one of the events I always like to track are the Learn & Play programs. These usually feature brand new games and everyone learns to play together as a group. My first PAX Unplugged, I actually won a game and got it signed by the designer!
This year, they have added a Learn & Play Lounge! Reading the description, this might be my default hangout location when everyone else is busy. A chance to learn games on demand? Yes please!
There are specific session all weekend, but the ones I have marked down are:
Learn & Play: Emberheart - The box art is a girl and her dragon! Drawn by Andrew Bosley! What more do you need to know? Hopefully not much else, because that is all I know and I am SOLD! Plus, Laura from ObsessedwithBoardGames is hosting and she’s just a lovely human so I am looking forward to her running the session. But also DRAGONS!
Learn & Play: Tend - I went back and forth on backing this epic roll and flip and write on Kickstarter. IV Studio always goes hard on their productions but this was new territory for them and I felt like it was best to sit back and wait for some reviews. Of course, now the FOMO is setting in as I watch people flash those brand new pens (why are stationary supplies so attractive to me?) and show the sheets of paper you can color and check and track as the game progresses. Oh it looks like Hadrian’s Wall took psychedelics and I am here for it. And, again, one of my Instagram friends is teaching it, BoardGaymerGirl, so I gotta go support. Check out Tend here.
Learn & Play: The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game: I expect this one will be SLAMMED. This is the second in the series and Fellowship of the Ring was the surprise trick-taking co-op hit of last year’s PAX. The artwork was gorgeous and the game play was engaging as you had to work together to make tricks play out as directed by the story card. Zeshawn from Board and Shield will be leading this one and we’ve chatted online a few times so I want to say hello. But I am really there for the preciousssss.
Learn & Play: Panda Royale - I don’t know much about this game but there are Pandas on the box and that box is full of dice. AND it plays 2-10 people which is quite the stretch, so I am curious to make sure it’s not just a pretty (furry) face.
Learn & Play: A Place for All My Books - Another game that I keep eyeing up at the game store, the production value is definitely 10/10. The little books, all stacked on the player board always makes me stop and stare. But I know nothing about the actual game play so I want to try it out! And what better time than at PAX!
Learn & Play: Vantage - Okay, I actually own Vantage already and have played solo. But I would like to try it with people and perhaps double check I am not playing it completely wrong! It’s a game that is both complex and rules light. This is on my “maybe” list for Sunday night since it wraps up the show, so not sure if I will attend, but highly recommend it to everyone else!
What games are you hoping to find in the Learn & Play Lounge? There are several other Learn & Play events I didn’t mention here - are you going to attend those? Let me know in the comments or link me to your post!
Sounds really good as a plan! I am considering attending my first board gaming event in Bologna next year, Play (as formerly known as Modena Play when it was set in that other town). I am still on the fence due to a bit of social anxiety and budgeting (traveling from Sicily is a pain in the arse). We’ll see…
Oh i think the Learn and Play lounge is just the Mox Boarding House room. I think this is the same setup as its been in the past. Where they'll do a big group teach and play, and then the extra games goto the boarding house to find and play. Maybe the people working can help teach on the fly, but that's typically how i used the room in the past.