Meet the artist behind our new Crit, the latest GM Perks updates, vote on 2027 merch, and celebrate Game Store Day across the country!

✅ GM Perks Request Form Is Now Live!

The GM Perks Request Form is officially live! The GM Perks Program recognizes and rewards eligible Game Masters for their approved participation in Origins events. Check out the GM Perks Request Form and the 2027 Origins Game Fair Event Policies (https://www.originsgamefair.com/gm-how-to), and be sure to submit your events and your GM Perks requests by the published deadlines!

A quick reminder for Event Organizers (EOs): EOs are responsible for submitting one complete request on behalf of their entire group. Before submitting, be sure to review the GM Perks calculation guidelines, calculate each eligible GM's earned perks based on approved event hours, and verify that all information is accurate and complete. You should not submit a GM Perks Request Form until all of your events have been approved.

GM Perks Request Form

🛍️ Help Shape Origins Game Fair 2027 Merch!

We've got another merch question for you, gamers! What would you choose?

💨 Neck Fan - Keep your cool while exploring the convention, hopping between games, and making your way through all the adventures Origins has to offer!

🎟️ Badge Holder - Keep your Origins badge close, secure, and ready to show off as you meet new friends and find your next favorite game.

✨ Collectible Specialty Pin - Show off your love of the convention with a fun pin worth trading, displaying, or keeping as a souvenir.

Head over to our social media posts or join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to cast your vote!

Vote on Discord

🎨 Meet the Artist Behind Crit - Nate Lovett!

Meet Nate Lovett, the talented artist behind the latest iteration of Crit, Origins' lovable mascot! Nate first began working with GAMA on Crit's artwork in 2022, helping transform our once rather crazed-looking kobold into the cute and lovable character we know today.

Over the years, Nate has created plenty of memorable Crit designs, including Dragon Crit, Crit wearing Crit, and last year's Cyberpunk Crit. While those are some of his favorites, Temple Crit from the D&D recreation takes the top spot!

Now Nate is turning his attention to a whole new adventure: Infinite Worlds! For Origins Game Fair 2027, he's excited to create a variety of unique worlds for our portals, explore different artistic styles, and take on some new creative challenges.

A big thank you to Nate for bringing Crit to life and helping make Origins a little more colorful every year.

Nate Lovett Art

🎨 Hobby Spotlight - Metalhead Minis!

Meet Lyn Orzech of Metalhead Minis, one of the talented people helping organize Origins Game Fair's Paint & Take area and host miniature painting classes during the show! Officially established in 2009, Metalhead Minis works with tabletop gamers, collectors, and companies across the miniature gaming industry. Teaching is a big part of the journey! Be sure to connect with Lyn at Origins in 2027!

More from Metalhead Minis

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Oddwillow's Game Haven!

For Game Store Day 2026, Oddwillow's in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, is partnering with the Mukwonago Community Library to offer a day full of creativity, games, and family friendly fun, including a button making station from the library's makerspace, MetaSpace 511. Guests can enjoy miniature painting, game demos, gift basket drawings, and learn more about the Halfling Adventurer's Guild (HAG), Oddwillow's in-house children's Dungeons & Dragons organized play program. Younger guests will have the chance to meet Princess Belle!

Join Oddwillow's on November 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oddwillow's Game Haven

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Gamescape SF!

Located at 333 Divisadero in San Francisco, Gamescape SF is planning a day packed with in store game demos, plus their regularly scheduled Pokémon League. And when the in store festivities wrap up, Gamescape SF will be taking the fun out into the neighborhood with a game night at Madrone's Art Bar!

Gamescape SF

🚀 Explore Infinite Worlds on Discord!

Join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to connect with fellow gamers, share your latest hobby projects, and stay up to date as we prepare for Origins Game Fair 2027. Your project might even make a guest appearance in a future Origins newsletter!

Find Your Next Adventure

Event submissions open October 26th! Plus, vote on 2027 merch, hobby and game store spotlights, and watch Cyberpunk RED Live!

The next chapter of Origins Game Fair 2027 is taking shape, and there are plenty of exciting things happening across our tabletop community. Our Infinite Worlds journey is just getting started, so dive in, explore what's new, and get inspired for the adventures ahead!

🎲 2027 Event Submissions Open October 26!

The portal to your next great adventure is almost open! Event submissions for Origins Game Fair 2027 officially open October 26, and we can't wait to see what kinds of adventures you'll bring to life! From epic TTRPG sessions, Miniature Painting, exciting tournaments, and everything in between, your events help make Origins a place where countless worlds of imagination come together.

Planning to submit an event? Be sure to check out the new 2027 Origins Game Fair Events Policies, which will be available on the Origins website by the end of this week. Take some time to review the updated policies before submissions open so you're ready to bring your ideas through the portal!

🛍️ Help Shape Origins Game Fair 2027 Merch!

We're exploring new merchandise for Origins Game Fair 2027, and we'd love to know what you'd be most excited to see. What would you like to see in the Origins merch lineup?

🔋 Power Bank - Keep your devices charged and ready for wherever the adventure takes you.

🔑 Keychain - Take a little piece of Origins with you wherever you go!

🎲 Portable Dice Tray - Roll for initiative wherever your gaming adventures lead!

Head over to our social media posts or join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to cast your vote!

Vote on Discord

🤝 GAMA at SPIEL Essen!

This week, GAMA is at SPIEL Essen, bringing together members of the tabletop gaming industry for opportunities to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the community that makes our industry so special. Stop by Booth H4J110 to learn more about GAMA membership, meet fellow industry professionals, and discover how you can become part of the game!

Join us for GAMA's annual reception on October 22, 2026, from 7–9 p.m. for an evening of conversation, connection, and community during SPIEL!

🎨 Hobby Spotlight - Steven Condon

Meet Steven Condon, one of the talented artists bringing Paint & Take to life at Origins Game Fair! Steven has been painting miniatures for 17 years and streaming on Twitch for 10 years. Known for his airbrushing techniques, bright color schemes, and large-scale figures, Steven loves exploring creative ways to make every project stand out. Steven makes and wears his own cosplay, especially during his synthwave color class. When he's not painting or crafting costumes, Steven and his wife run a farm where they host educational events and raise chickens and peafowl.

Classes with Steven Condon

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - The Geek Room Hobbies & Games

The Geek Room Hobbies & Games in Omaha, Nebraska, is gearing up for another exciting Game Store Day! Visitors can enjoy demos of some of their most popular war games, skirmish games, and board games. The Geek Room will also host one-shot RPG adventures. Plus, be sure to check out their painting contest and cast your vote for your favorite entry!

The Geek Room Hobbies & Games

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Digital Heroes

Located at 120 East Alder St., Digital Heroes has been Walla Walla's ultimate pop-culture shop since the '90s, offering everything from tabletop games and sports cards to comic books. For Game Store Day 2027, Digital Heroes is planning storewide discounts on tabletop games and accessories, free giveaways, and promotional prizes with purchases. They'll also be hosting free gaming events and demos in their game space, featuring board games, card games, miniature games, and roleplaying games!

Digital Heroes

🍿 Watch Now: Cyberpunk RED Live from Origins 2026!

Night City is calling! Missed the action at Origins Game Fair 2026? Now's your chance to experience a special live tabletop adventure featuring Mike Pondsmith, creator of Cyberpunk! In this non-canon adventure, Mike leads familiar faces Rebecca (Alex Cazares), Maine (William Christopher Stephens), and Dorio (Marie Westbrook) through their first steps into a new story, performed live in front of an Origins audience, using Cyberpunk RED and the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit.

Cyberpunk RED Live

💬 Keep the Adventure Going on Discord!

Join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to connect with fellow gamers, share your latest hobby projects, and stay in the loop as we prepare for Origins Game Fair 2027. Your project might even be featured in a future Origins newsletter!

Find Your Next Adventure

Badges are on sale for Origins 2027! Plus, Game Store Day spotlights and community highlights.

We're celebrating the people and places that make the tabletop community special. Meet the artists and hobby leaders helping bring Origins to life and discover Game Store Day participants bringing gamers together in their local communities.

🎟️ Origins 2027 Badge Registration Is Open!

The portal is open, the dice are ready, and an infinite number of adventures are waiting!

Badge registration for Origins Game Fair 2027 is officially open! Join us in Columbus, Ohio, for four incredible days of tabletop gaming, creativity, discovery, and community as we step into a year of Infinite Worlds.

Explore worlds shaped by magic, technology, history, imagination, and everything in between. Gather your party, choose your path, and get ready to make Origins your own.

Register Now!

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Dice & Dine: Branson Board Game Cafe

Sometimes the best adventures happen around a table with good friends, great games, and something delicious to eat!

We're excited to welcome Dice & Dine: Branson Board Game Cafe to Game Store Day! Located at 103 S Business 65, Branson, MO, they'll be celebrating with a full day of gaming, including game demos, giveaways, discounts on games, and special food deals.

Dice & Dine: Branson Board Game Cafe

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Lookin' For Games

Every great game store has a story, and we're excited to welcome Lookin' For Games to their very first Game Store Day!

Located at 4354 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA, Lookin' For Games is celebrating with a full day of game demos and a special edition of Blood on the Clocktower. They're also combining the event with their fundraising for Extra Life, taking on 24 hours of gaming to raise money for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Lookin' For Games

🎲 Celebrate Game Store Day with Your Friendly Local Game Stores

Every great tabletop adventure starts with a place to play, discover, and connect!

Game Store Day is a chance to celebrate the Friendly Local Game Stores (FLGSs) that keep the tabletop community thriving year-round. From weekly game nights and tournaments to teaching new games and welcoming first time players, FLGSs are where new adventures begin. Know a game store that deserves to be part of the celebration? Share this with your favorite FLGS and encourage them to get involved!

Retailers: October 8 is the deadline to purchase Publisher Boxes, and stores that register by October 22 receive the full Game Store Day Retail Tool Kit.

Game Store Day 2027

🎨 Hobby Spotlight - Neil "ImpendingDuff" Duffey

For the past several years you've found Neil "ImpendingDuff" Duffey in the Paint & Take area and Miniature Painting Classrooms at Origins Game Fair, helping painters learn, create, and have fun!

Neil is a miniature artist, educator, and content creator who has been painting since 2017 and working full-time in the hobby industry since 2018. He's the organizer behind Origins' Paint & Take, and his own painting has earned honors including a Resin Beast win in 2022 and Best Chibi Miniature at Gen Con in 2024 and 2025.

At Origins 2027, you'll once again have the chance to meet Duff and pick up a brush at Paint & Take. Whether you're a seasoned painter or have never painted a miniature before, stop by, grab a mini, and see what you can create!

Tutorials and Lessons with Duff

✨ Community Spotlight - Pride Gamers of Columbus

Pride Gamers of Columbus is helping make sure everyone has a place at the table!

Pride Gamers of Columbus organizes welcoming events where LGBTQ+ gamers can have fun, make friends, and give back while building a diverse and inclusive gaming community. At Origins Game Fair, their members run tabletop games, RPGs, oversized King of Tokyo, and Drag Murder Mysteries. Their events also raise funds for the community they call home. In 2026, the group donated $4,000 to the TransOhio Emergency Fund!

Check out their upcoming events -

🏳️‍🌈 October 10 - Columbus Community Pride

🎲 October 14 - Recurring Board Game Meetup

🪄 October 24 - Tabletop Gaming with PRIDE: Wizards & Wands Festival

🎲 October 25 - Recurring Board Game Meetup

Pride Gamers of Columbus

💬 Join the Origins Community on Discord!

The adventure doesn't have to wait until Origins!

Join the Origins Game Fair Discord to connect with fellow gamers, share your hobby projects, discover what's happening at Origins, and be part of the conversation all year long. Your project could even be featured in a future Origins Game Fair newsletter spotlight.

Origins Discord

Discover the Origins 2027 theme, celebrate Game Store Day, relive Cyberpunk at Origins 2026, and first community spotlight!

In 2027, Origins Game Fair invites you to step through the portal and explore Infinite Worlds. Worlds of magic, dystopian futures, post-apocalyptic adventures, epic battles, and everything your imagination can dream up are waiting to be discovered. The next adventure is yours to explore. Where will you go?

🌌 Origins 2027 Theme - Infinite Worlds

Time is a suggestion. Destination is a choice. Infinite Worlds are yours to explore.

Every year at Origins Game Fair, we invite you to step through the doors and leave the ordinary world behind. But in 2027, we're taking that idea even further. Our 2027 theme celebrates one of the greatest things about tabletop gaming, the freedom to imagine a world and then step inside it. Welcome to Infinite Worlds!

Step through the portal and wander the irradiated ruins of a world reshaped by catastrophe. Jack into the neon lit streets of a dystopian future, where danger waits around every corner. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with your fellow warriors on a battlefield in the grim darkness of the far future. Or gather your party, roll the dice, and become a hero in a world where dragons, magic, and adventure await.

At Origins Game Fair, stories don't have to follow the rules of our world. Time can bend. History can change. Magic can be real. The future can look completely different. And the person you become at the table is entirely up to you.

Step Through to 2027

⭐ GSD Spotlight - Star Knight Games

Every adventurer needs a place to gather, and in Saint Robert, Missouri, Star Knight Games is that place! As part of Game Store Day, we're excited to shine a spotlight on a FLGS where tabletop adventures of all kinds come together. Expect to roll dice in a TTRPG, build the perfect board game strategy, battle across the tabletop, and collect and play your favorite card games when you stop by Star Knight Games. Their store also has plenty of geeky and nerdy treasures to fuel your hobbies and show off your fandom, from paints and dice to T-shirts, Gundams, and more!

Located at 151 St. Robert Blvd., Ste. #5, Saint Robert, MO 65584.

Star Knight Games

🎲 Celebrate Game Store Day with Your Friendly Local Game Stores

Game Store Day is a chance to celebrate the Friendly Local Game Stores that keep the tabletop community thriving year round. Know a game store that deserves to be part of the celebration? Share this with your favorite FLGS and encourage them to get involved!

Game Store Day

😎 Cyberpunk Across Media

Cyberpunk has become one of tabletop gaming's most iconic settings, inspiring games across multiple formats. At Origins Game Fair 2026, we brought together three iconic creators who have each helped bring Cyberpunk to the table in their own unique way.

Mike Pondsmith of R. Talsorian Games, James Portnow of Night Crew Games, and John Kovaleski of Monster Fight Club sat down during Origins 2026 to talk about what it's like to create a TTRPG, miniatures wargame, and card game set in the world of Cyberpunk. Hear them discuss their creative processes, the challenges of adapting a setting across different game formats, and answer questions from the Origins community!

Watch Cyberpunk Across Media

🎨 Community Spotlight - Show Us Your Miniatures

At Origins Game Fair, creativity is everywhere and we want to help put YOU in the spotlight! This week, we're excited to introduce a new feature - Show Us Your Miniatures, a community spotlight celebrating the incredible miniature painters and terrain builders in our community. For our first showcase, we're highlighting the work of Dr. Pretorius, Shiner, Wen'resson, and Rosk. Each artist brings their own style, creativity, and attention to detail to the hobby, and we're thrilled to share their painted minis with you all.

Want to Be Our Next Spotlight? Share photos of your miniature painting and terrain building in the Miniatures Pictures channel on the Origins Game Fair Discord server. So break out the brushes, snap a few photos, and show us your best work!

Origins Discord

Get ready for the Origins 2027 theme reveal, discover a Game Store Day exclusive, celebrate 30 years of SGG, and show us your miniatures!

Something different is coming. The neon glow of Origins 2026 may have faded, but something new is beginning to emerge. New games, new stories, new creations, and new possibilities are waiting just beyond the horizon. One adventure ends, and the next one is just beginning!

🌌 A New Adventure Begins at Origins 2027

"Ultimately, your theme will find you. You don't have to go looking for it." - Richard Russo

We had an incredible time bringing the world of Cyberpunk to life at Origins Game Fair 2026. From neon lights and futuristic adventures with our Exhibitors and Event Organizers, to the incredible creativity of our attendees, it was so much fun seeing everyone embrace the theme and make it their own! But now, it's time to look ahead…

The next Origins adventure is already taking shape, and we can't wait to share what's coming. In our next newsletter, we'll officially reveal the theme for Origins Game Fair 2027!

🐦 Woo - A Game Store Day Exclusive

This year, Allplay (https://www.allplay.com/) is offering special Game Store Day bundles featuring games from Allplay and their publishing partners, with a very special game leading the lineup: Woo!

Woo is a fast, clever 2 or 4 player partner shedding game where teams play as birds of paradise competing for a mate. Build melds, outplay your opponents with increasingly elaborate moves, and be the first team to have a player shed their hand twice to claim victory! Only 50 copies of Woo have ever been released to the public, making its Game Store Day release a pretty special one.

Woo will be available exclusively through participating Friendly Local Game Stores beginning September 28 at Allplay's wholesale store.

Allplay's GSD Offers

🥳 Celebrate Game Store Day with Your Friendly Local Game Store!

Every great tabletop adventure has to begin somewhere! Game Store Day is a celebration of the Friendly Local Game Stores that bring players together and help make the tabletop community what it is. They host weekly game nights and tournaments, teach new games and introduce players to their next favorite hobby.

Know a game store that should be part of the celebration? Share this with your favorite FLGS and encourage them to get involved! The more stores that participate, the bigger the adventure for everyone!

Game Store Day

🎟️ Your 2027 Origins Adventure Starts Here

The 2026 pricing window may have closed, but it's never too early to start planning your next Origins adventure! Origins Game Fair 2027 badges are on sale now, so you can secure your spot for another year of games, friends, shopping, events, and unforgettable memories.

Want to make your Origins experience even more special? Check out the Premier Full Show badge, which includes early access to the Exhibit Hall, exclusive Origins merchandise and swag, plus special sponsored goodies from some of our partners!

Get Your 2027 Badge

🎲 30 Years of Gaming with Strategic Gaming Group

For three decades, Strategic Gaming Group (SGG) has been bringing miniature gaming, creativity, and incredible scenery to Origins Game Fair! Led by Event Organizer Doug Houseman, SGG has been a familiar part of the Origins community for the past 30 years. At Origins Game Fair 2026, SGG hosted more than 100 events in the Game Hall, giving gamers plenty of opportunities to roll some dice, learn something new, and join the fun!

We caught up with Doug to hear more about SGG, their history at Origins, and what keeps them coming back year after year.

30 Years of SGG at Origins

🎨 Show Us Your Miniatures

We want to showcase your creativity! Do you have a miniature you're especially proud of? Maybe you've spent hours painting a favorite army, brought a character to life with an incredible paint job, or built a piece of terrain that deserves its own spotlight. We want to see it!

Share photos of your miniature painting and terrain building in the Miniatures Pictures channel on the Origins Game Fair Discord server for a chance for your masterpiece to be our next community spotlight!

Share Your Creations on Discord