UK Games Expo 2021: Friday Live Blog

Join us at OnTableTop as we get stuck into Day One of UK Games Expo 2021 here at the NEC in Birmingham!

The team are going to be have a look at the games, companies and more that are available for you to check out.

Make sure to let us know in the comments what you’re most looking forward to!

We chat with Fantasy Flight Games about the newest take on Descent: Legends Of The Dark.

This is a fantastic new version of the game that builds it from the ground up. This new version of the game comes with amazing miniatures and a sprawling campaign.

UK Games Expo is spread over two halls this year. The main Hall contains all of the publishers, vendors, exhibitors and more as well as some of the larger spaces for you to sit down and play some games. Demos too!

There is a really nice mix of different things to see. Loads of new games but also lots of peripherals too. So, you can pick up LARP gear, accessories for roleplaying games and much more. Everyone loves a good set of dice too!

We sit down with Dream Big Games to discuss their next big project, Wardens Of Wulvengrad.

In this game you take on the role of hunters as part of a cooperative boss-battler. It is a bit of a Fantasy depature from their previous game, Wreck & Ruin, which you can check out on the link above.

I was whizzing around the hall and I couldn’t help but stop and take a look at the amazing 28mm wargaming/roleplaying terrain set ups from the folks at Battle Systems.

They have put together some stunning pieces to show off their range and we’re going to be talking to them later in the show. If you’ve not tried it before, this is sturdy and easy-to-assemble terrain that works for all manner of games.

They even have their own excellent game, Core Space!

We got a chat with Benjamin from Cerberus Studios about some of their fantastic looking 32mm miniatures AND some giant towering demonic creatures too!

There are two ranges including Mortals’ Reckoning and Celestial Affinity. Each of these is a range that can be used for roleplaying BUT are going to be developed into games of their own too.

Big thanks to the sponsors of UK Games Expo 2021! They have helped make all of this possible! Make sure to come on down and get stuck into the action!

Catan – Wayland Games

Ben talks to Hatchette Board Games about some of the games they are showing off this week alongside Funnyfox.

The games in question include a couple of lighters games AND some crunchier ones too. We have beautiful games like Iki, Almadai, Trek12 AND Dinner In Paris which have all been scratching an itch!

Headed over to Paper Boat Games, it did not take me too long to spot a wild red panda hiding amongst the convention hustle.

Players take the role of Wildlife Photographers in Snapshot, a fast and fun push-your-luck game. Utilising cards, and searching for the most prestigious wildlife.

One of the great things about UK Games Expo is that they take a pretty holistic view of the hobby. To that end, not only can you play games but you can also indulge in another wonderful experience – eating food!

The vendor trucks from previous years are still here allowing you to pick up a new game, eat some nice food and chat with perhaps some new friends?

Were joined by Bad Comet to talk about their 1-4 player game, Wild Serengeti. Gerry got to catch up with them earlier in the week!

Win by making the best documentary, use tv trickery to fake your scenes! There are also more settings planned for the future. Blue Planet perhaps?

Watch out for the Kickstarter launching 18th August!

So, we talked about getting stuck in and picking up some food alongside a new game. Well, you can also just try your hand at a game without buying it. Rent it from the Board Game Library and have a crack at it with your friends.

Hall 3 features the Board Game Library and also the Open Gaming Space. So, pick up a game, give it a go and THEN perhaps head off and find it amongst the vendors.

Free gets to chat with the folks from The Cognitive Merchant. If you’re in the mood for LARP gear then these are your folks.

As we’ve mentioned, this isn’t all board games, card games and the like. There is a real selection of different products for you to check out.

Knowing that I have not got far to travel, each stall I walk past tempts me more and more! Board Games Everywhere! Whether you are looking for a specific publisher, or want to hit up a retailer – I’d be very surprised if you won’t be able to hunt down a rare or random board game that you have been after.

Wish me luck, hopefully, I won’t need to get the train with 10,000 board games! But first, the hunt for some beautiful lilac dice.

We join the folks from Escape Plan Board Games who have moved over from planning…Escape Rooms (who would have thought, and are now putting together fun social deducation board games.

They have two to show off including Stop The Train & Hit The Silk. Both of these are perfect for those who like fun, quick, social deduction-based games of an evening.

John gets a chat with Rubicon Models about what has been going on with them and the world of Historical miniatures gaming.

The team have been working away on loads of new releases for World War II and Vietnam. As well as new miniatures there are also new rules in the works.

The open gaming area is incredibly active, with gamers of all ages trying out their newly purchased goodies on the closest tabletops they can find!

If you are anything like myself; I can never wait too long to get my board games out of the box and onto the table! So if you are around at UKGE, be sure to join the hundreds of attendees trying out their games with their friends, family and new chums which may have been made at the event.

We met up with Mantic to see what is going on at their booth, and there are some discounts and sales to keep Mantic fans happy at the event.

Whether fans are looking at Kings of War, Walking Dead, Armada and even TerrainCrate – be sure to stop by as there are some incredible sales across all Mantic products.

One of the best things about attending an event for me personally is the amounts of merch available at each booth. Whether attendees are looking for t-shirts, stuffed teddies, hair accessories or even a nerd-themed mug – you can count on finding it here!

I usually pick up an obscure t-shirt at conventions. What is your favourite bit of merch to pick up?

Justin may be afraid of vegetables, but Ben certainly isn’t! Ben had a quick chat with Bubblegum Stuff about their game, Plant-Based Riot which is currently up on Kickstarter as we speak.

The card game for 2-5 players pits vegetables against one another, as food fighting turns into gang warfare.

The KOSMOS and Devir table was filled with board games for all types of tabletop gamers. Whether you are looking for an adventure with Robin Hood and his Merry Men, or a simple game to get stuck into to keep your brain on the go solo. There is much to see over with KOSMOS and Devir. 

We took a look at a plethora of titles, including Lost Cities, The Crew, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Mazescape, a cheeky sneak peek of the upcoming EXIT Advent Calendar, and so much more.

Players can be the first to get their hands on the newest games that are still in their design phase, here at UKGE in the Playtest Zone.

Players are able to book in throughout the weekend to get their hands on a tabletop game prototype and provide their own feedback, to shape the future of the board game before it hits retail.