For gamers, it’s easy to see why these events hold such an allure. Not only is there the chance to play new games, but also the possibility of seeing first-hand what’s being released. Whether it’s something we’ve been looking forward to or a new game that’s ready to blow our minds, video game conventions have become a cornerstone of the video game community.
However, The majority of gaming conventions around the world don’t have video game announcements as their primary focus. Conventions like MAGFest focus more on the artistry and creativity behind video games, while events like Spiel are oriented around an entirely different genre of gaming.
Updated on November 24, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: The concept of what exactly the definition of a video game convention is has changed a lot in the past few years. The image of big video game-centric trade fairs that include large gatherings of people, like E3 or GamesCom, has changed in the post-COVID world. Many gaming conventions planned for the future include both in-person and virtual options for attending, which means even more gamers, fans, and other interested parties can experience these unique events.
Note: Attendee numbers are based on available data from the most recent events.
16 QuakeCon - 10,000 Attendees
Although this gaming convention started as a way for id Software developers and fans to network, and it still takes the name of that company’s flagship series, its popularity now extends well beyond both. QuakeCon dates from 1996, the same time the titular game was developed, making it one of the oldest gaming conferences as the public now knows them.
Other big video game companies like Bethesda also help organize the event and the BYOC LAN party that was part of the original schedule in the 1990s is still a thing. The events of 2021 and 2022 were held entirely online, but the company and organizers expect to return to their usual venue of Dallas the following year.
15 Game Developers Conference (GDC) - 17,000 Attendees
Like many other gaming conventions that took place during the days of COVID, the GDC was a mix of online and in-person events in 2021 and 2022. The GDC Virtual Platform was designed specifically to increase accessibility to the event and of all the people that attended, 12,000 of them came in person while about 5000 attended using virtual means.
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The yearly program of GDC is always a virtual list of what’s hottest in the gaming industry and covers an impressive array of genres. The last conference featured big recent hits like Wordle, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clash of Clans.
14 MAGFest – 20,000 Attendees
MAGFest, which is short for the Music and Gaming Festival, happens every year in Washington DC, specifically in National Harbor. It’s a convention that is wholly dedicated to the “appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community.” The gaming convention hosts panels of animators, musicians, and gaming personalities alike at the beginning of each year.
While it’s not the largest gaming convention in the world by any means, it’s one of the most intimate. Chances are, if someone goes to MAGFest, they’ll have plenty of chances to talk one-on-one with the presenters and hosts of the convention. Plus, it’s one of the few festivals that run 24 hours a day, meaning attendees can theoretically spend all four days in the convention center.
13 BlizzCon – 40,000 Attendees
The only reason BlizzCon isn’t much higher on the list is that it mostly caters to Blizzard fans, which isn’t to say that this video gaming convention isn’t huge in its own right. It usually takes place at the beginning of November in Anaheim, California, attracting many fans nationwide as well as worldwide.
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Gamers come together with devs to talk about Diablo, WoW, Overwatch, and Starcraft, as well as to find out what’s new for the upcoming year and discuss what they’d like to see in the future.
12 E3 – 65,000 Attendees
E3 has gained momentum over the last few years until recently when Sony announced they would no longer be attending. While we’re still waiting to see how this plays out, E3 has finally opened up its expo doors to the general public. This has raised its attendance significantly, making it one of the largest continually growing expos in the world.
It’s E3, along with Tokyo Game Show, that many turn to when they want to find out top-secret deets about what’s soon to be released.
11 Pax (Penny Arcade Expo) – 70,000 Attendees
Believe it or not, Pax started as a small gaming event with little more than 3,000 attendees in its first year. As word on the street spread and gamers as well as developers became interested, it has since grown into a worldwide event. Pax occurs in four different locations throughout the course of a year: Boston, Australia, Seattle, and San Antonio.
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These gaming conventions combined bring in roughly 70,000 attendees each year, although the exact number has yet to be counted. As a space for indie games, new developers, and popular game developers alike, Pax has managed to make the ranks as one of the largest gaming conventions of the year.
10 EGX (Eurogamer Expo) – 80,000 Attendees
The Eurogamer Expo takes place in London and it’s the biggest in the UK, making it the go-to gaming event of the year for Europe. Similar to Pax and E3, the Eurogamer Expo has something for everyone.
Fans will have the chance to try new games and get the hands-on experience many know and love, as well as catering to those who feature creative cosplays. It brings together gamers from all genres, catering to just about everyone in the fandom community.
9 DreamHack – 100,000 Attendees
DreamHack is based in several different places worldwide but one of the largest is in Sweden. While it is a gaming convention, it does cater particularly to esports, something that has a huge following in its own right.
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In addition to all things esports, from gaming news to competitive tourneys, DreamHack offers much in the way of new games and cosplay as well. Not surprisingly, DreamHack also made it to the Guinness Book for throwing the largest LAN party in the world.
8 San Diego Comic-Con – 130,000 Attendees
When one thinks of the biggest video game conventions, the San Diego Comic-Con isn’t the first convention to spring to mind for most. However, as time goes on, the San Diego Comic-Con has opened up its scope and had more and more of a video game presence each year. In fact, several games get announced at SDCC every year, though it’s not dedicated to gaming.
The San Diego Comic-Con is the biggest of its kind in the world, and it was originally dedicated solely to comics and related media. Nowadays, gamers find themselves completely at home in the gigantic convention halls of this hallowed event, though it’s only one part of the greater Comic-Con whole.
7 IgroMir – 150,000 Attendees
Although IgroMir isn’t a gaming expo that’s super well-known around the world, they still manage to see roughly 157,000 attendees each year. This gaming expo, very much like E3 and Gamescom, is a general expo that caters to all games and genres.
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It’s held every year by the Game Developers Conference of Russia and has been going on since 2006, so this is not an expo that’s new on the gaming scene. This expo also caters to cosplay, which many take advantage of, as it’s not only one of the few big gaming conventions in Russia but also one of the only events of its kind there.
6 Spiel – 200,000+ Attendees
Spiel is not a typical gaming convention, in fact, video games have hardly any presence at this Germany-based event. Spiel is more oriented around board games and similar interactive, real-life products. While there is a small amount of video game presence here, it’s mostly in the form of video game versions of existing board games.
It’s not a convention to miss, though, if someone’s idea of “gaming” isn’t limited to video games. Board games have existed far longer than any video game, and this long-running convention is proof that real-life games are as timeless as they are fun.
5 ChinaJoy – 270,000+ Attendees
ChinaJoy sees roughly 100,000 more attendees each year than an event like IgroMir, which isn’t surprising considering how many huge game developers are based throughout Asia. With an attendance rating of at least 270,000, ChinaJoy also goes by the name of the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, but ChinaJoy is shorter and easier.
Attendance for this gaming convention usually sees visitors from at least 30 different countries and showcases over 3,500 games per year.
4 Tokyo Game Show – 270,000+ Attendees
The Toyko Game Show is one that many know and love, especially those of us who are constantly rooting for Square Enix – or those of us who are tortured by their delayed releases, anyway. With just over 270,000 attendees, the Tokyo Game Show is, indeed, one of the biggest in the world.
It’s the go-to event for those who want news on upcoming game titles, as they’re known for announcing release dates and games that are currently in production. If fans haven’t heard something at E3, then chances are it’ll be announced during the Tokyo Game Show later in the year.
3 Brasil Game Show – 300,000 Attendees
Finally, the Brasil Game Show is the first gaming convention in the world to break the 300,000 mark. With roughly 300,000 attendees, this expo offers opportunities for everyone.
From gamers to cosplayers, to developers and Kickstarters, this expo encourages the co-mingling of game developers, particularly those who are new to the industry. However, entertainment at the Brasil Game Show also bolsters a decent amount of its attendee’s reasons for being there.
2 Taipei Game Show - 320,000 Attendees
The impressive number of people who visited the last Taipei Game Show didn’t even include the number of exhibitors, journalists, and industry professionals who were also present at the event. The 2021 conference was held entirely online because of COVID and the event this year was a hybrid convention that had a mix of online and in-person programs. Entertainment includes a gaming hall, a vast array of exhibitions, and a trade show.
As the name suggests, this convention is focused on gaming, and it’s the only one of its kind that takes place in Taiwan. The Taipei Game Show is also home to the Asia Pacific Game Summit, which was founded by the Taipei Computer Association in 2014 to promote the Taiwanese gaming industry.
1 Gamescom – 370,000 Attendees
Gamescom happens in Germany every year and just as there is E3 in the US, Gamescom is Europe’s version of a general gaming expo. If fans are looking for big names and important info, the announcements made at Gamescom are some of the biggest and best.
They cater to many well-known game devs and for their 10th anniversary, the expo saw upwards of 370,000 attendees, making it undoubtedly one of the biggest video game conventions in the world. This expo is always open to the general public and with so much to see and hear, it’s no wonder people travel from all over the world to attend it.
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