Gathering of Gamers: Dungeons & Dragons and Other Games Through Gen Con

by Matt Shoemaker

Gen Con is the largest and oldest continuously running convention that is focused on analog games. It has been an important fixture in the development of modern tabletop games not just for role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, but also boardgames, collectible card games, miniature games, live action role-playing games, and others. Each year over 70,000 people make a pilgrimage to Indianapolis, Indiana to celebrate and play these games. Gathering of Gamers explores the convention through a year-by-year history from 1967 through 2022. The book not only discusses the prominent games at each annual convention, it also examines the major milestones in tabletop game development over the years, how gamer culture and the perception of gamers in society has evolved, how technology has impacted conventions and the games we play, and the relationship between game conventions and the cities and other entities that host them.

526 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and mostly academic look at the history of Gen Con and the surrounding gaming industry that it directly influenced. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the best four days of gaming.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A treasure trove of facts about dates, trends & attendance; less compelling when it comes to telling the story of how the con has evolved over the years beyond shifts in what percentage of attendees plays what.