The Offline Gamer

Matt, Karen and Rai are back together to look back on an unforgettable weekend at UK Games Expo 2026. With record-breaking attendance at the NEC, they discuss the show's layout, the ever-growing scale of the event, and whether UKGE may soon need to expand even further. The team share their favourite games and discoveries from the convention floor, and expect convention stories, behind-the-scen...

In this special UK Games Expo 2026 preview episode, Matt and Karen break down everything attendees need to know before heading to the NEC for the biggest UKGE ever. From survival tips for the summer heat and navigating the expanded five-hall layout, to food, parking, shopping, and Bring & Buy advice, they cover the practical side of the show before diving into the hottest upcoming games. Using...

Episode 113 of The Offline Gamer is packed with recent plays, convention finds, crowdfunding picks, and community chat. Matt and Karen return to a more traditional format after a busy few months of conventions and travel, diving into everything they’ve been playing since Christmas. This episode features first impressions of Flamecraft Duals, Coffee Rush: Piece of Cake, Earth, Skyrise, Crumbs, Darw...

In this episode of The Offline Gamer, Matt and Karen are joined by Jay from Bucket List Board Gamers to share their full AireCon 2026 experience. From venue layout and food trucks to security quirks and standout meals, the trio dive into everything that made the weekend memorable. They explore the new Yokocho indie area spotlighting small creators, discuss demos and discoveries including War of th...

Matt and Karen are back with their AireCon 2026 preview — and yes, it was supposed to be a short one. Recorded just one week before the show, they walk through everything you need to know ahead of the Harrogate Convention Centre's biggest tabletop weekend of the year. Expect a full rundown of opening times, hall layouts, and the all-new Yokocho indie publisher zone, plus a deep dive into the e...

In this episode, Matt and Karen take a deep dive into Tabletop Gaming Live 2026, the two-day tabletop games celebration held at Doncaster Racecourse, South Yorkshire on 14–15 February 2026. Hosted by Tabletop Gaming Magazine, the event brought together board gamers, RPG fans, miniatures enthusiasts, and hobbyists of all stripes for open gaming, hands-on demos, exclusive previews, special talks, an...

It’s our Christmas episode! Matt and Karen settle in for a festive catch-up, chatting about the board games they’ve been playing over the last few weeks — from games enjoyed at AireCon West to sessions around the table with friends. They dive into a wide mix of titles, covering everything from deck-building and roll-and-writes to tile-laying city builders, cozy card games, and deeper strategy expe...

In this episode, Matt and Karen welcome long-time listener-turned-friend Gareth to talk about his first ever trip to Spiel in Essen . Gareth shares what it was like navigating the world’s biggest board-gaming convention — from travel challenges, sold-out hot releases, and massive crowds to the thrill of discovering new favourites.

This Halloween special features a thrilling departure from our usual format! Adam from the Die Rollin YouTube channel takes over as Game Master for an atmospheric session of Shiver, the horror RPG from Parable Games. Join Matt, Lizzie (Board Gaming With My Family), and Doddy (Summoned Games) as they portray three unlikely heroes in the Old West: Carmine the snake oil salesman, Missy Dubois the hor...

In this episode, Matt and Karen are joined by friends from the Instagram board gaming community for a special recording at the Double Six Board Game Café in Moseley, Birmingham. Guests include Emzie from @nerdygirlgaming, Lucy and Carl from @short.stuff.boardgames, and plenty of lively chat about games, gaming spaces, and the café’s fantastic food. The group share their first impressions of the ve...

In this episode of The Offline Gamer, Matt and Karen step into the immersive audio-driven world of Sound Realms for a playthrough of the dark and dramatic Fortress of Death . Guided by narration, sound effects, and a whole lot of dice rolls, they navigate traps, solve puzzles, and fight for survival—all in real time. It’s part dungeon crawl, part radio drama, and fully chaotic. Can they escape the...

Matt and Karen are back with part two of their UK Games Expo 2025 round-up! This time, they chat about even more games they played and picked up—including relaxing pattern builders, clever two-player showdowns, and some truly unique indie gems. They also reflect on the general atmosphere of the show, the creativity on display, and whether the event still delivers the spark that keeps them coming b...

In this episode of The Offline Gamer, Matt and Karen return from UK Games Expo 2025 and dive into part one of their two-part wrap-up! Sadly, Rai couldn't join them this year due to illness, so it's just the two of them sharing first impressions, con highlights, and a few mild grumbles (spoiler: air conditioning is important). They discuss how the new hall layout at the NEC added space and...

The UK Games Expo 2025 is nearly here, and Matt, Karen, and Rai are back with their annual mega-preview! In this episode, the team covers everything you need to know for UKGE 2025 – from the new hall layout and bring & buy changes, to Chow Street’s food truck lineup and their top tips for surviving the weekend. They also each highlight five games they’re excited to see at the show, including u...

In Episode 101, Matt and Karen return for a slightly shorter show ahead of their big UKGE preview. They share highlights from recent game days with friends, discussing a mix of new and favourite titles, including Rebirth, Restless Spirits, Trio, Castle Combo, Explorers of Navoria, and more. Matt also interviews the team behind Minor Disaster Games, creators of the upcoming Kickstarter for Trouble...

To celebrate 100 episodes and 10 years of The Offline Gamer, we brought together a fantastic group of board game creators, friends, and fellow enthusiasts for a chaotic, laughter-filled quiz live at AireCon 2025! Hosted by Matt, this special episode features guest teams including Adam from Die Rollin’, Will the Board Game Wizard, Chris from Unfringed, Lee from Molinarius Games, Mike from Huff No M...

In Episode 99, Matt and Karen recount their jam-packed weekend at AireCon 2025 in Harrogate. From the ups and downs of the Bring & Buy to an epic quest for food through the convention’s labyrinthine layout, they dive into the highlights, including games played, exhibitors visited, and surprise finds. They also preview exciting upcoming releases, share some fun raffle moments, and thank everyon...

Join Matt and Karen in Episode 98 of The Offline Gamer as they dive into all things Airecon 2025! They discuss what makes this Harrogate-based board game convention a must-visit, covering the exhibitor lineup, open gaming spaces, event highlights, and even a sneak peek at upcoming releases. Whether you're a seasoned attendee or a first-timer, get ready for a fun and informative guide to this r...

In this episode, Matt, Karen, and Rai take a deep dive into their gaming highlights of 2024, reflecting on favourite titles, standout events, and exciting moments shared with friends and listeners. They also discuss their gaming plans for 2025, including conventions and anticipated releases. Rai returns as a guest co-host. The team shares updates on various Kickstarter projects, discusses upcoming...

In this festive episode of The Offline Gamer, Matt and Karen share their Christmas gaming plans, discuss family-friendly titles like Wuzzled and Rolling Ranch, and reflect on recent plays, including Balatro, Tape to Tape, and The Spill. They recount highlights from the Meeple People Weekender, featuring games like Century: Golem Edition and Yukon Salon, and dive into their latest arrivals, includi...

In this special Halloween episode, Adam from the Die Rollin' YouTube channel helms a thrilling three-hour journey through The Lost Ship , a bone-chilling adventure from the SHIVER RPG. Set in the icy Arctic Circle, this story follows a military team investigating a lost vessel, only to discover terrifying secrets lurking below deck. With SHIVER’s unique system for horror-inspired tales, prepare fo...

In this episode of The Offline Gamer , Matt and Karen are live from ACWest at the Telford International Center, sharing their experiences at this vibrant convention. From exploring the exhibitor hall and checking out unique accessories to trying out new board games, they’ve packed in plenty of gaming action. Tune in for their thoughts on games like Chemistry Fluxx , Dawn of Peacemakers , Kavango ,...

In this episode, Matt is joined by special guest Mill from Dissent Games. Mill shares the journey of creating board games with her co-designer Jess, including their successful Kickstarter campaign for Library Labyrinth and the upcoming Loose in the Library. Mill talks about her background in board gaming, starting with Small World and jumping into Twilight Imperium, and how the COVID-19 pandemic h...

Matt celebrates his birthday with Karen as they catch up on the latest in board games, video games, and crowdfunding. They discuss their recent gaming adventures, including highlights like Vampire Survivors, Slay the Spire, Calico, and the newly announced Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos board game. Plus, they dive into a Reddit thread of the month and spotlight some exciting Kickstarter campaign...

In this episode, hosts Matt and Karen dive into their experiences at the recent UK Games Expo. They share highlights from their interactions with other gaming enthusiasts, exhibitors, and designers, and reflect on the community spirit that makes such events special. Join them as they recount memorable moments, offer insights on the latest trends in the board game industry, and provide a glimpse in...