PAX Aus Brings More Tabletop Than Ever Before
Having missed PAX Aus last year in favour of a Kumano Kodo hike, I’m chomping at the bit to fly down south and hang out with my fellow Player2 legends and check out the gaming goodness that awaits. As it has done for many years now, PAX is promising 2026 is going to be larger than ever for tabletop fans, and they aren’t kidding – the exhibitor list reads like a who’s who of the hottest TCG’s and tabletop titles.
Sponsor eBay is going live – eBay Live, that is – while Let’s Play Games, Modern Brands, asmodee, Wizards of the Coast, Bandai, Riot Games and many more publishers and designers will be present to make this an unmissable event for board and card gamers Australia wide.
Wizards of the Coast are back, repping both Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. With the launch of MTG‘s Reality Fracture wave happening the same week, Wizards are running a Learn to Play area, special play events, a Magic: The Gathering shop, guest artists, meet & greets and a must-see live Commander Showdown on Sat, Oct 10, in the Main Theatre featuring international and Australian MTG creators.
DnD fans looking for their next adventure can explore a dedicated branded retail experience, showcasing the latest products, accessories, all in collaboration with Aussie distributor Let’s Play Games.
Riftbound, the League of Legends themed TCG returns for its second year with hands-on learning sessions from experienced staff for those keen to check out one of the hottest new games in the space. Set in the LoL universe and featuring iconic champions and regions from Runeterra, Riftbound is a must-try for League fans and TCG players alike – make sure to check out our coverage of previous sets!
Megapublisher asmodee’s expansive lineup will feature major tabletop titles and new releases including Star Wars™: Unlimited – Homeworlds, Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Hunted, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game (or TLotR:TTT: TtG for short), Citadels Duel, absolute Japanese trick-taking banger Schadenfreude from Z-Man Games and the latest releases from Exploding Kittens. Attendees can also enjoy hands-on demos of LEGO® NINJAGO®, K-Pop Demon Hunters: Battle for the Spotlight and new horror themed TCG Hellbreak, with scheduled tournaments for Hellbreak and SWU giving players the chance to compete.
Bandai Card Games is dominating the anime-themed TCG space with guided learn and play sessions for One Piece Card Game, Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World, Digimon Card Game and Gundam Card Game running all weekend, alongside organised play events and tournaments for more experienced competitors. If that’s not enough competitive TCG energy for you, then Flesh and Blood is also appearing… in the flesh, running new players through introductory sessions as well as scheduled tournaments to test the mettle of veterans.
Oh and what about Cyberpunk TCG, only one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns for a Trading Card Game ever? Whether visitors are completely new to Night City or already familiar with the Cyberpunk universe, learn-to-play sessions and organised tournaments are running across all three days of PAX Aus and I for one can’t wait to check it out!
Modern Brands will again bring the magic of Disney to PAX Aus with Ravensburger’s Disney Lorcana which will launch the next co-op focused standalone box Illumineer’s Quest: The Great Hunny Rescue just days before the show, with the anticipated Coco themed Hyperia City wave launching the week after PAX Aus – if only they’d return my calls *cue heartfelt rendition of Somebody That I Used To Know*.
Fans can also meet Australian game designers Jay Bendixen, Ryan Boucher, Natalie Delaney-John and Cam Jasson during special designer sessions for Gretchen’s Garden and That Dicey Word Game. As always, I expect the Indie Showcase and PAX Rising sections for tabletop to be some of the most exciting places to drop by, so make sure to put some effort into supporting indie designers by trying their titles and buying the ones you like!
PAX Aus returns once more to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) across 9–11 October. For more information, updates and to purchase badges, check out the official PAX Aus website or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Discord and Tiktok.
