Every August, thousands of board gamers descend on Indianapolis for Gen Con—four days of demos, reveals, and unfiltered tabletop hype. If you’ve never been, it’s like Christmas morning for board game fans. If you have been, then you already know it’s the place where some of the most exciting new releases are playable for the very first time.
I’ve been combing through announcements, sneak peeks, and my own personal wishlist to spotlight four exciting new titles you won’t want to miss this year — especially if you love bluffing, bag-building, co-op adventures, or clever trivia.
These aren’t reprints or expansions — they’re new standalone games launching or getting their first public demos at Gen Con 2025. Let’s take a look at what I’ll be lining up for.
1. Lightning Train
Designer: Paul Dennen
Publisher: Dire Wolf
Why It’s Hot:
Lightning Train is the latest title from Paul Dennen, designer of Clank!, Dune: Imperium, and Wild Tiled West — and it might be his most exciting mashup yet. This upcoming bag-building meets route-building game brings together elements from fan favorites like The Quacks of Quedlinburg and Ticket to Ride in a high-speed, strategy-driven race across North America.
Players customize a bag of chips representing their railway resources, then draw to build tracks, deliver goods, and trigger powerful Lightning Train surges that can give you a strategic edge. It’s a colorful, fast-paced, and competitive twist on train games with a blend of resource optimization, area control, and delivery mechanics.
Why I’m Watching It:
As a big fan of bag-builders, this one jumped straight to the top of my Gen Con wishlist. The combo of chip draws and route expansion feels fresh, and with Dire Wolf’s polished production standards, it’s a game I expect to see all over convention tables.
Gen Con Details:
Dire Wolf will offer limited early copies and learn-to-play demos throughout Gen Con 2025. A wider release is expected after Labor Day, with pre-orders opening in the summer. Expect to see more previews during the Dice Tower’s Summer Spectacular as well.
2. The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
Designer: Matt Leacock
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Why It’s Hot:
From Pandemic designer Matt Leacock, Fate of the Fellowship is the next evolution of the beloved Pandemic System, set in Tolkien’s iconic world. This fully cooperative game for 1–5 players casts you as members of the Fellowship — and the allies who rise to support them — on a desperate quest to deliver the One Ring to Mount Doom.
Each player controls two characters with distinct abilities, working together to guide Frodo, hold off the Nazgûl, and survive Sauron’s spreading shadow. The game includes 24 different objectives, 14 events, and 13 playable characters, creating a modular and highly replayable experience — and a dedicated solo mode makes it even easier to bring it to the table.
Why I’m Watching It:
The Pandemic engine has proven itself time and again, but what excites me here is how it’s been adapted to tell such a story-rich narrative. If you love the tension of creeping doom and clever co-op puzzling, this one is shaping up to be a must-play. And just look at that dice tower:
Gen Con Details:
Expect Fate of the Fellowship to be one of the big demo draws at the Z-Man booth. With Matt Leacock’s name attached and the weight of Middle-earth behind it, it’s likely to move fast.
3. Vegas Strip
Publisher: Allplay
Players: 2–6
Mechanics: Bluffing · Hidden Information · Area Majority
Why It’s Hot:
Every Gen Con, I make a point to check out Allplay’s small box game line, and Vegas Strip is the one I’m most hyped about this year. It’s a clever, fast-paced bluffing game with a unique twist on bidding and hidden information.
Each player knows one of the casinos is corrupt, and that knowledge shapes how you play your limited hand of money tokens — two 2s, two 4s, a 5, a 6, and a 7 — onto various casinos. In corrupt casinos, only the highest bidder scores. But in non-corrupt casinos, the highest bidder loses and everyone else scores their bid. Bluffing, baiting, and outthinking your friends is the name of the game.
You’re limited to placing no more than two tokens at each casino, and you can’t play your highest bid at the casino you know is corrupt. And with 20 unique casino powers, no two games play the same.
Why I’m Watching It:
Allplay consistently puts out some of the best filler-length strategy games on the market, and Vegas Strip looks like a spicy mix of bluffing and risk-taking. If you’re into games like QE or Skull, this is one to keep on your radar.
Gen Con Details:
Expect Vegas Strip to demo fast and frequently at the Allplay booth. With its quick playtime and deep mind games, it’s the kind of game that’s easy to fall in love with after just one round.
4. CDSK Travel
Publisher: Randolph
Players: 2–8
Mechanics: Trivia · Push Your Luck
Why It’s Hot:
If you’ve played the original CDSK, you already know — it’s one of the best trivia games out there because it’s not about knowing everything… it’s about knowing how well you know it.
This new Travel Edition keeps the same core gameplay but makes it easier than ever to bring on trips, to game night, or to the bar. The setup is quick, the box is compact, and the fun ramps up fast.
The premise is simple: each turn, you pick how confident you are in a category, draw a matching question, and move forward only if you’re right. The higher your confidence, the more you can potentially move… but guess too boldly and you’ll stall.
Why I’m Watching It:
I’ve played the base game so much that I’m just hungry for more cards, more laughs, and more “ugh I knew that” moments. If CDSK Travel brings a fresh set of questions with the same clever design, I’m all in. It’s perfect for long car rides, airport downtime, or those awkward “we have 20 minutes before the next game starts” windows.
Gen Con Details:
CDSK Travel will be probably be debuting at the Hachette booth like CDSK did before, with demo copies and (hopefully) stock for sale. If you’ve got space for only one trivia game in your backpack this year, this might be it.
The original CDSK made my Top 10 Party Games list.
Whether you’re looking for a sprawling co-op epic, a fresh twist on trivia, or a tense little bluffing game you can teach in five minutes, Gen Con 2025 is delivering. From the high-speed engine-building of Lightning Train to the familiar-yet-fresh Fate of the Fellowship, there’s something here for every kind of gamer.
Honorable Mention: Ichor and Iliad
Two new small box 2-player games from Reiner Knizia — compact, clever, and worth watching if you like head-to-head showdowns. These were a Kickstarter but I’m hoping there will be copies available.
Which of these games are on your radar?
Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow the blog on Facebook and Instagram for more Gen Con coverage, first impressions, and gameplay recaps as the convention unfolds!
Played it? Loved it? Hated it? Let’s hear it!