One of my favourite things at PAX Aus is exploring the tabletop area after the main expo hall has closed. Being able to discover a wide variety of board and card games in the late hours of the night with friends is something that makes PAX special. So I was super keen to hear that this year, PAX Aus is promising to have the biggest tabletop offering ever! This means even more fun and unique games for me to try out, including the new Disney card game Lorcana! Let’s go over all the big names coming down under to make this PAX Aus tabletop area one to remember.
Lorcana is Making Waves in the TCG Space
Disney, but anime. (Disney)
Last year, Disney released its own card game, Lorcana. This game features Disney characters from across all its franchises and has become a rising competitor in the trading card game (TCG) space. This year, Disney is bringing this new game to PAX Aus 2024. People will get the opportunity to try out the game and learn about the history and lore behind the Lorcana world. I’m interested in trying this game out for myself due to its focus on gaining points to win instead or lowering your opponents to zero. I’m also keen because I’ve only seen the card art and haven’t had the opportunity to give the game a proper crack. Aside from Lorcana, other TCGs such as Magic: the Gathering, One Piece, Star Wars: Unlimited, and Digimon will also be present, meaning there will be something for every flavour of TCG lovers. Now I just need Cardfight!! Vanguard to be attending as well, and I’ll be one happy camper.
It’s Not All TCG
All the board games. (PAX)
If you’re not as big a fan of TCG’s, there’s no need to worry; PAX also has you covered. Dungeons & Dragons is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will have exclusive merch and first-time hands-on demos of upcoming games’ releases. ‘Paint and Take’ will also be returning this year and promises miniature fans a new painting experience this time around (I’ll probs skip this because I have the dexterity of a goldfish). You also have the mainstays of PAX Aus in Exploding Kittens Studios, Big Potato Games, and CATAN, all showing their newest creations. And it wouldn’t be PAX without a spotlight on indie games, and this year, six tabletop games are part of the PAX Aus Indie Showcase! These games will be in the PAX Rising area and are something I’ll definitely be checking out over the weekend.
Time to learn. (PAX)
Besides all of these games, there will be even more for tabletop gamers to sink their teeth into during PAX Aus. The new dedicated tabletop theatre will have a TTRPG One-Shot played across the weekend for those needing a TTRPG fix. There’s bound to be more exciting news and announcements as PAX Aus 2024 gets closer, so keep it locked to Couch Soup for all the juicy PAX content to feed your hungry nerd soul.
Are you excited about the new tabletop games at PAX Aus? Do you hope to be there? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments, where we can talk all things tabletop.
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Self-proclaimed anime trash from Melbourne, Australia, Thomas has always been obsessed with everything pop culture. From games such as Pokémon and Jak and Daxter to the MCU and everything in between. When he isn’t hyper-fixated on some new shiny release or feeding his manga buying disease, Tom is always trying to create new things that can bring a smile to anyone's face.
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