UK Games Expo 2022: Friday Live Blog

It has been a big day but we’ve had some fun! What from our live videos did you enjoy? Are you going to be diving in and checking out more from us tomorrow?

Let us know in the comments and we’ll dive in to more amazing content tomorrow.

It’s not all cooperating and teamwork for tabletop games here at UKGE, the Organised Play Events station pulls together a whole host of competitive titles. Including miniatures games, card games and board games.

If you do want to try your hand at getting competitive during the event – be sure to stop by to the registration, where they have prepared a schedule for the weekend for all attendees to get stuck into.

Just made his way over to Prometheus Game Labs to check out a tiny title which sits inside an envelope with Micro Dojo. Plus the new expansions making way to the title.

If you are attending this week – be sure to challenge those behind the stall; as you can get the game for free if you win!

However, if you are not at the event, we have been provided three copies for those who are keen on playing at home. Be sure to comment below for your chance to win.

Think you have what it takes to handle the Micro Dojo?

You may want somewhere to peacefully give your board game library check-out a go. Or you can’t simply wait to give your new and shiny purchase a go. The Open Play Area is a fantastic place to settle down and get some games on the go. Decked out with rows, special tables and some UKGE branded gaming mats.

The atmosphere is buzzing, surrounded by hundreds of tabletop gamers giving their new purchases (and potential purchases a go!).

There are some great Labyrinth-style board games for you to dive into when it comes to the River Horse collection. We go through a few of them with the team!

They have Ready Steady Worm!, Labyrinth Chess, a fantastic Labyrinth puzzle and then we delve into The Dark Crystal! Are you tempted by these?

In this video, we’re talking with Peculiarity who have a couple of really fun games to have a go at. The first of these is Sumo Gnomes which is a dice rolling affair – bring on the dexterity. The second of their games is Summoner’s Isle where we switch to Area Control games!

The Board Game Library is fully stocked out! So if you wanted to try out some games before committing to purchase throughout the event; if you are over 16, you can set yourself up and try out a whole host of different tabletop titles by checking in to the library.

From Euro Games to Party Games – if you have had your eye on something but would like to trail your own playtest during the event – be sure to check out the Board Game Library – rules and conditions apply.

Some fun games for you to dive into and check out with a little bit of an Indie streak. There are some great games coming from Next Dimension Games including Go Head Punk! and Spell Out!

Both of these games are going to be coming to crowdfunding later in the year, allowing you to dive in and try something new from the ground up!

Calling all magpie-eyed individuals! The Thornless Rose was shimmering at Free across Hall 1! As they are showcasing a wide range of accessories to accompany your tabletop ventures. Whether you are after dice, notebooks or pouches – there’s plenty to see and across the wide scope of colours!

Gerry has been intrigued by the option to sift through dreams! He stopped over at Cheatwell Games to inspect the premise of PsychoBabble, bringing players a chance to make sense of the subconscious in an unconscious state by putting players in the seat of a trained Psychotherapist.

Think you have what it takes to decrypt in PsychoBabble?

Don’t forget about party games! Asmodee has practically set up their own living room in Hall 1! As they have placed many different party game across their floor for all attendees to get involved in some fast-paced, devious and social antics on the tabletop.

Some fun stuff from the folks at Ares Games as they have dived into a whole bunch of ace games from different spheres and genres over the last while.

We have Ian Brody’s Quartermaster General 1914 swinging in there alongside The Thing, Diabolik, Sword & Sorcery and Masters Of The Night.

You won’t be attending an event if you aren’t grabbing some swag to take home! There are tons of different types of merch for players to get their hands on. Including a ton of different unique pop culture themed tees over in Hall 1!

Steamforged Games are in attendance this year at UKGE, bringing together their top tabletop titles for players of all ages to get involved in.

Whether you are after a new miniatures title, a family-friendly roleplaying game, or the chance to dip into some fierce strategy. Ben sat down with the guys at Steamgforged to talk through everything that is happening over at Steamforged Games stand, Stand 1-126,  this weekend.

Has anything caught your eye from Steamforged Games for the weekend?

Whether you like your CATAN classic or want to take a journey through the stars, there are several different versions of CATAN to sink your teeth into. Even the new 3D version has made an appearance. They will be running demos all weekend, so if you are looking to expand your horizons with CATAN, be sure to stop by their stand this weekend.

The Lost Ruins of Arnak has stayed up the top of Free’s favourite tabletop titles for a while now! If you haven’t been tempted to pick it up through standing on the Hot List over on Board Game Geek, or want to see more on the if you are attending UKGE – you can stop by the Czech Games Edition Booth to gauge your own opinion on the deck-building, worker placement title.

Combining many a mechanic including resource management and exploration, players will be heading out to discover the untouched and unfound territory. Exploring the open water and facing guardians across the island to uncover the embedded and buried secrets!

A few months ago, Free found Be Like A Crow on Kickstarter – a solo RPG experience where players take the role of their favourite corvid. So she was certainly over the moon to see them here and present for UKGE! Now that the Kickstarter is over, they will be highlighting their solo experience here at the event, even talking about taking the role of ravens at the Tower of London!

What crow would you feel suited to?

Wonderbook from DV Games was released last year, and Free is so thrilled to see DV Games present showcasing the pop-up cooperative board game experience.

They are running playthroughs and demos over on the DV Games Stall, bringing 1-4 players a chance to cooperate in a fantastical adventure. Wonder Book is a pop-up game for 1-4 players in which each player takes the role of a teenage kid in a group of adventurous friends through six different scenarios.

Think you have what it takes to fight evil in 3D?

Free could not contain her excitement spotting the red panda plush over at Paperboat Games! If the red panda is here – that means so is Snapshot! We take a look at snapshot post-Kickstarter and took a sneaky peek into their next title – which brings a bit more brutality – Cloud Foxes.

What do you think of the games over at Paperboat Games?

The Children’s Roleplaying Zone here at UKGE is right behind our studio here! We have seen players come and go, for kids to test out some Roleplaying titles. Including D&D, Animal Adventures and a sneaky peak at Adventures in Academia post Kickstarter.

We have a chat with Leyline Press. They are creating a selection of awesome zines and FULL roleplaying games that embrace that old school feeling.

They do some ace stuff for properly old Dungeons & Dragons adventures whilst also working on roleplaying games like that epic mech battler. Who wouldn’t want to play that?

Whether you want to sit down and try out some contrast paints or get stuck into some event miniatures! There is plenty to do over at Warhammer this weekend.

With boxed sets, individual minis, tools, paints and accessories – if you have been after a particular model or want to indulge in the whole haul of Warhammer – be sure to head over to their stall.

What do you think of their huge setup this year at UKGE?

Wherever you want to head off for an adventure: whether it be the Weirding Woods, Dracodeer Dungeon, or simply in the dark and mystifying Transylvania. The StoryMaster’s Tales will bring forth a wonderful storytelling journey for groups and families. Where all you need is the book to play!

What do you think of The StoryMaster’s Tales?

We have a chat with Annie from Bad Squiddo Games. This is their first official year here but they have been exhibiting and creating miniatures for ages.

It is well worth heading over to their stand to pick up some really awesome Female miniatures for Historical, Fantasy and Sci-Fi wargaming.