UK Games Expo


UK Games Expo is a tabletop gaming expo and Hobby Games Convention held annually at the NEC and the NEC Hilton Metropole Birmingham, during the last weekend of May or first weekend of June. UK Games Expo is the premier event in the UK where all aspects of the gaming hobby are represented. In 2019 the show had 400+ booths manned by 435 exhibitors and co-exhibitors including publishers, retailers, independent designers and artists.
The show is host to a schedule of seminars by industry leaders, several hundred role-playing game sessions and many board and wargame tournaments, including several national tournaments such as the UK Settlers of Catan Finals, the UK Agricola Championship and the UK Carcassonne Championship and the Fantasy Flight European Championship and a Grand Kotei as well as the a British Historical Gaming Society Championship. Role-playing events included the UK Cthulhu masters, the D&D Open Championships and the D&D Adventurers League Epic. Other gaming-related entertainment in 2019 included performances from John Robertson, Paul Flannery Jollyboat and Tom Crosbie. The 2019 major sponsors were Wayland Games, Games Workshop and Catan with additional associate sponsorship from Paizo Inc, Cubicle 7, CMON, Greater than Games and ITB. The Family Zone was sponsored by HABA.
Unlike most other large shows, UK Games Expo is notable for offering both large areas of free open gaming space and a charity bring and buy. In 2019 over £18000 was taken in commission on sales and other donations and was donated to three charities.

History

The first UK Games Expo was held at the Clarendon Suites in Birmingham in 2007. The show took place at this venue six times before relocating to the Hilton NEC Metropole in 2013. Continued growth in attendance has meant that from 2016 UK Games Expo has expanded to include a Trade Hall and a separate tournament hall in the NEC as well as maintaining activities in the Hilton.
In 2016 and 2017, the UK Games Expo Trade Hall occupied Hall 1 of the NEC, with the 2017 Expo also taking up Hall 3a exclusively for tournaments. Expo 2018 took place in Hall 1 and Hall 2 of the NEC
The plans for 2020 included all of Halls 1 to 3 and was expected to be the largest Expo so far. However in March 2020 the organisers first postponed the event to August 2020 and then cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which ld to cancellation of all the worlds large Hobby Games conventions in 2020 including Gencon, Origins and Essen Spiel. A online edition of the convention called Virtually Expo will run 21st to 23rd August.
The Major Sponsors in 2019 were Warcradle Studios, Games Workshop and Catan Studios. The associate sponsors in 2019 were CMON, Cubicle 7, Paizo, ITB and Greater than Games.
Previous sponsors have included Fantasy Flight Games, Mayfair Games, Mage Company and Coiledspring Games.
In 2008 the UK Games Expo was the venue for the official launch of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition in the UK.
Notable guests of the show in recent years have included Martin Wallace, Colin Baker, Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone, Chris Barrie, Monte Cook, John Robertson, Tom Vasel and John Kovalic.

Attendance

Attendance figures released by the organizers are published each year in their exhibitor pack.
2018 Exhibitor pack: http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/downloads/2018UKGEExhibitorsGuide.pdf
Year2007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Uniques9001200180020002455287935385805716212636165002169825704
Attendance120020002500280035854046573499191397125149310003910645097

2018 unique attendance makes UK Games Expo the largest show of its kind in the UK.
It is also one of the largest events of its kind in the World.

UK Games Expo Awards

The UK Games Expo Awards are a series of awards announced usually on the last day of the UK Games Expo, which are voted on by attendees of the convention as well as a panel of judges. These awards are highly sought after by publishers as they usually precipitate significant increases in sales figures, and retail takeup across the world.

Eligibility

Below are the main eligibility criteria directly taken from the UK Games Expo website for products entered into the UK Games Expo Awards.
1.Game products on show at UK Games Expo and which had been released in the UK in the preceding 12 months, or are released at UK Games Expo will be eligible for entry into the Awards.
Additionally, if a game is a new reprint or version of a game published prior to UKGE 2007 we will consider it. If the game was released between 2007 and the current show BUT is on sale or distribution in the UK for the first time in the current award year we will also consider it.
2. The Games must be on sale at UK Games Expo.
3.Manufacturers and publishers may suggest which category, other than the Special Achievement Award, in which to enter their products, however the Expo judges will make the final decision. Only ONE category per product is permissible. A Game may only be entered for the awards in ONE year. Sometimes a given category will NOT be used one year in which case we will fit the game in the nearest category.
4. The awards are only for products from games companies who are exhibiting at Expo and they are not open to others.
5. For all categories games must be original designs and not just new editions unless there is significant change in the design or gameplay between editions.
Judging
The winner in each category wil be determined by a combined system of a public vote and the opinion of a Panel of Judges.
Firstly all games are rates by a panel of judges chosen by UK Games Expo. For 2018 UK Games Expo introduced short lists of the top games in each category where there are more than 3 entries. The short lists will be selected according to the judge's ratings and published on mid May each year.
One of the short listed games will be declared the Judges award winner at the convention.
At the show there is an opportunity for the public to vote on the short listed games using the convention app. This will select the popular choice award winner.
The Awards will be announced on the Sunday of UK Games Expo at 3pm.

Award Categories

Best New Boardgame Generally feature a prominent theme, encourage direct conflict between players and have a significant degree of luck. American-style games often have longer playtimes and have mechanics designed to suit the theme. Sometimes referred to as Ameritrash.
Best New Boardgame Generally these games will have less direct player interaction, limited elements of luck and less conflict. Sometimes called a Eurogame or German-style board game.
Best New Boardgame These are games which involve tactical and strategic game play, involve direct player interaction, often involve elements of competition, conflict and sometimes military themes. MIniatures may be involved or tokens representing characters or units
Best New Card or Dice Game Generally these games will not involve a board, but dice or cards will be the predominant feature.
Best Role-playing Game
Best Miniatures Range
Best Party Game
Best Children's Game
Best Family Game
Best Abstract Game
Best New Expansion
'''Best New Accessory

Previous years results

Winners 2019

Judges' Award: Who Did It? – Blue Orange Games
People's Choice: Zombie Kidz Evolution – Scorpion Masque
Judges' Award: Honga – HABA
People's Choice: Ticket to Ride: New York – Days of Wonder
Judges' Award: Maki Stack – Blue Orange Games
People's Choice: Decrypto – Scorpion Masque
Judges' Award: Architects of the West Kingdom – Renegade Games Studios
People's Choice: Quacks of Quedlinburg – Schmidt Spiele
Judges' Award: Dice Hospital – Alley Cat Games
People's Choice: Dice Hospital – Alley Cat Games
Judges' Award: The Mind – Coiledspring Games
People's Choice: The Mind – Coiledspring Games
Judges' Award: Ruthless – Alley Cat Games Ltd.
People's Choice: Arboretum – Renegade Game Studios
Judges' Award: Battlestar Galactica Starship Battles-Spaceship Packs – Ares Games
People's Choice: Battlestar Galactica Starship Battles-Spaceship Packs – Ares Games
Judges' Award: Rebels and Patriots: Wargaming Rules for North America – Osprey Games
People's Choice: Battlestar Galactica Starship Battles-Starter Set – Ares Games
Judges' Award: Azul – Plan B Games
People's Choice: Azul – Plan B Games
Judges Award: Giant Book of Battle Mats – Loke Battlemats
People's Choice: Giant Book of Battle Mats – Loke Battlemats
Judges' Award: Forbidden Sky – Gamewright
People's Choice: Chronicles of Crime – Lucky Duck Games
Judges' Award: The Cthulhu Hack: Valkyrie Nine – All Rolled Up
People's Choice: The Cthulhu Hack: Valkyrie Nine – All Rolled Up
Judges' Award: Adventures in Middle-earth Bree-land Region Guide – Cubicle 7 Games
People's Choice: Adventures in Middle-earth Bree-land Region Guide – Cubicle 7 Games
Judges' Award: Forbidden Lands – Free League Publishing
People's Choice: Forbidden Lands – Free League Publishing
Judges' Award: Root: A Game of Woodland Might & Right – Leder Games
People's Choice: Root: A Game of Woodland Might & Right – Leder Games

Winners 2018

Best Children's Game
Judges Award: Brain Box People at Work – The Green Board Game Company
People's Choice: Rhino Hero – Super Battle – The Habermaass Gmbh
Best Family Game
Judges Award: Untold: Adventures Await – Hub Games
People's Choice: Untold: Adventures Await – Hub Games
Best Party Game
Judges Award: When I Dream – Repos
People's Choice: When I Dream – Repos
Best Board Game
Judges Award: Great Western Trail – Stronghold
People's Choice: Photosynthesis – Blue Orange
Best Card Game or Dice Game
Judges Award: Pikoko – Brain Games
People's Choice: Legend of the Five Rings – Fantasy Flight Games
Best Miniatures Range
Judges Award: Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium – Games Workshop
People's Choice: Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium – Games Workshop
Best Miniatures Rules
Judges Award: Gaslands – Osprey Game
People's Choice: Gaslands – Osprey Game
Best Abstract Game
Judges Award: Thieves – Merlin Games
People's Choice: Thieves – Merlin Games
Best Expansion
Judges Award: QueenDomino – Blue Orange Games
People's Choice: Cities of Splendor – Space Cowboys
Best Accessory
Judges Award: DMB Games Resin Dungeon Tile Core Set
People's Choice: Big Book of Battle Mats – Loke Battle Mats
Best Board Game
Judges Award: Rising Sun – CMON
People's Choice: Rising Sun – CMON
Best Role-Playing Adventure
Judges Award: Two Headed Serpent – Chaosium Inc.
People's Choice: The Cthulhu Hack: Three Faces of the Wendigo – All Rolled Up
Best Role-Playing Expansion
Judges Award: Down Darker Train – Chaosium In.
People's Choice: Leagues of Cthulhu – Triple Ace Games
Best Role-Playing Game
Judges Award: Adventures in an Age Undreamed of – Modiphius Entertainment Ltd.
People's Choice: SINS – The Roleplaying Game – First Falling Leaf Limited
Best Board Game
Judges Award: Civilisation – Gibsons
People's Choice: Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire – Games Workshop

Winners 2017