Many guests at the small Playeron Lite – how the winter festival of board games went in Moscow

From January 24 to 25, 2026, the first ever Playeron Lite took place. The large-scale festival of board games in Russia has already turned 10 years old, and this winter the event was tested for the first time mini format. More intimate room, fewer visitors, but still the same hundreds of board gamesnew exclusives, a two-day cosplay fashion show and many like-minded people who gathered at the Moscow Event-hall “Danilovsky”.

We also attended the festival: we were surprised for some reasons, we sweated for some reasons, but most importantly, we had a great time, and we are in a hurry to tell you what the latest experiment turned out to be.

Mal, yes he did

The cosplay fashion show took place over two days.

Source: Notamiru

We are used to seeing Igrocon as a massive and large-scale festival of board game lovers from all over the CIS. The festival quietly occupied the entire historical Gostiny Dvor, and last year it was located in Crocus Expo, whose scale was once sufficient for both Igromir and Comic Con. But, unlike those events where people chase guests, announcements and exclusives, listen to concerts and stand in endless queues, at Igrocon the main activity is directly playing board games.

Therefore, in the long pauses between events – sometimes natural, sometimes forced – the question arose naturally: what’s stopping you from waiting a whole year and doing it right now? Bringing thousands of strangers back together around shared tables and allowing fans to try something new?

The Lite version of the festival became the answer to this question. Much more intimate and less ambitious – in an ideal scenario, even a lamp party for those who are ready to come to the city center in almost twenty-degree frost and roll the dice. Everything is on the small site of “Danilovsky”, not far from the impressive size of the monastery, with an inconspicuous entrance without loud signs or large banners. Queues in the morning, even in this situation, could not be avoided, but the concept turned out to be successful: all the key market players again provide visitors with any games their heart desires, and during breaks they stroll around the local market.

One of the most active audiences at the festival gathered in the wargame zone.

Source: WarBand

The game library was prepared for every taste. The main area was divided into general and hardcore zones: as a rule, in the first one it was much easier to wait in line for a game – due to the shorter duration of the games. A separate zone is given to wargaming and modeling: if you want, learn to assemble your first miniatures under the strict guidance of mentors, or if you want, try new systems in local arenas among like-minded people.

Fans of full-fledged tabletop role-playing games were also not forgotten – you could even sign up in advance to be guaranteed a seat at the table. Only one person got the whole zone “Berserk”, and with the opportunity to both fight at the tables and test the new card set “Legends of Rus’”, and try out the digital version of the game. The constant “Fogame” was responsible for electronic entertainment, which brought Lineage 2 Essence to the festival and set up a photo zone for visitors. For me personally and my comrades (and at the same time, probably for the children), the selection was completed by a small zone of giant games, where you could play full-size “Turtle Races”. A charming sight. In the darkness of the break between days, the event did not end – Game Night began. For the sleepless hardcore it was an opportunity not to leave gaming sessions at all. The number of tickets was strictly limited in order to avoid queues, maintain a local atmosphere and, finally, to spare the festival staff, who already had to deal with immense crowds. The program also included a film screening, ottomans for a short nap, and coffee for vigor.

Wait, it’s not your turn yet

You can clearly assess the occupancy of the room.

Source: KapibaR Workshop

But there were some organizational embarrassments—and quite serious ones at that. Despite the fact that ticket sales for the event were eventually limited, significantly more people still came to the chosen venue than it could accommodate. Towards the middle of the day, it became difficult not only to find a free table with at least some game, but even to simply approach it. Sometimes, due to the dense crowd, it was difficult to see even entire shops – for example, we only discovered a working terminal from Fallout in the middle of the site where you could test your “hacker” perk.

The situation was aggravated by the fact that the wardrobe was already full in the first hours of the festival and, in principle, could not accommodate the clothes of even half of the visitors. However, the guests were not left completely to the mercy of fate – everyone was given large, capacious bags for their jackets. However, in the end, the already crowded hall was filled with more of them: moving between people with trunks in their hands became almost impossible. Queues no longer formed at gaming tables or retail shelves, but literally in the aisles – when trying to pass in any direction.

Source: WarBand

Honor and praise to the organizers lies elsewhere – the main problem of any geek festival with food and water was essentially absent here. Without extra subscriptions to social networks, competitions and other shenanigans, everyone could grab a free bottle of soda or a can of energy drink at the entrance, and also easily grab an armful of Rot Front bars throughout the day.

However, the problem remained obvious: it was not easy to choose the desired game on the spot, and the assembled groups sometimes waited an hour and a half to two hours to sit down at a particular table, even in the common area, where the games were not originally intended to be the longest.

We played, they showed us…

The mentors at the tables are the heroes of the festival, as always. Thank you!

Source: Notamiru

There is no point in listing the entire Igrocon Lite program – there were an unimaginable number of games. However, among them there was a place for exclusives. So, Hobby World I brought three projects for testing that are just preparing for localization: all of them were presented in original publications in foreign languages, and specially trained employees helped to understand the rules.

Among them was Nature, a card strategy about ecosystems in which players will have to create their own biological species. In the future, they plan to expand the game with additions, and it itself acts as an improved version of the already familiar “Evolution”. We tested two other exclusives personally.

Board game Eternal Decks.

Source: Reddit

Eternal Decks was definitely the most impressive. Her stylish lavender box, decorated with witchy illustrations, is an instant eye-catcher. At its core, this is a card-based cooperative puzzle about the search for immortality, but the main twist is a complete ban on talking. All communication comes down to the use of two colored stones for each player – the participants determine their meanings and symbolism independently. The main thing here is to be able to convey the idea to your partner.

All this works due to the minimalistic, precise and gloomy visual style. The set looks like a modern interpretation of an ancient game – almost a series of rituals played out on a black and white silk field. The question of replayability remains open, but even the simplest introductory scenario alone took about 40 minutes, and in total there are a dozen more such scenarios in the set.

Board game Nova Aetas: Renaissance.

Source: Reddit

Another English-language new product from the hardcore zone is Nova Aetas: Renaissance. This is a tactical co-op for four characters with a global plot, designed for 27 missions. It’s too early to judge the story based on the tutorial scenario alone, but the game gives the impression of a very comfortable entry in tabletop fantasy. The experience here is not so much role-playing as it is action-oriented, but all the mechanics are pre-balanced and clearly distributed among the four ready-made heroes.

The step-by-step system of actions through the game clock provides the necessary tactical scope, and the playing field for each level is assembled separately – from modular elements – and is arranged very inventively, taking into account the environment, buildings and natural objects. At first glance, Nova Aetas: Renaissance looks like an exemplary example of the principle easy to learn, hard to master: there are many rules, but they are mastered intuitively.

Board game Ticket to Ride.

Source: Days of Wonder

The far-from-new Ticket to Ride was in particular demand in the common area: both its large, complicated version and a compact one, designed for the home desk, were presented at the festival. Both had endless queues, and a fair number of observers gathered around, attracted by the field with dozens of bright trains. It really wasn’t easy to pass by, especially if you were seeing the game for the first time, and the game easily lasted for a couple of hours, flying by unnoticed.

The essence of the game is simple: participants build randomly obtained routes between cities. And even though the players’ tasks are not repeated, the settlements themselves and the paths between them are common to everyone – which means that roads inevitably begin to intersect. The result is extremely satisfying gameplay, in which there is a place for economic calculation, cunning, and no small amount of luck.

You could also have a pleasant time playing the classic “Carcassonne” – both in a full-fledged tournament, and in a regular game in one of its fresh iterations, “Mists and Ghosts”, where spirits completely reshape the process of expanding territories and are constantly “stepping on the heels” of the players. Among the exclusive new products there were also several studio projects that had not yet gone on sale: high-speed “Three by Three”, in which you need to figure out the fastest way to complete a task on a map, a prototype of “Snake”, adapting that same video game, and a prototype of “Wandering Cities” (nothing to do with Philip Reeve, if that) – with settlements located on the backs of walking giants.

It’s especially nice to meet people at the tables – we have never met uninteresting teammates.

Source: Igrogon Moscow

Despite the not-so-problematic implementation, the experiment can be considered successful. Yes, it was crowded somewhere, someone could have left with a slight feeling of resentment, but visitors came to Igrocon to play – and we strongly doubt that anyone ultimately did not succeed. As before, the festival remains the easiest and most convenient way to try something new.

The main charm of every “Igrocon” is your own unpreparedness. There are few places where you can try games that you have never heard of before: the rules will be explained on the spot, but it takes a long time to choose and search desktops here it is simply not necessary – and sometimes even harmful. Grab a chair at an empty table and give yourself over to the process. Essentially, this is a guarantee of a fresh, unfamiliar experience.

That’s why it’s hard to believe that there could be a “GamerCon” where people won’t come. There is simply no substitute for this format.

Did you like any of the board games we talked about? Maybe you were at the festival yourself and want to share your discovery? Tell us in the comments.

Author: Dmitry Bublitsky

Journalist and sociologist, author of the tg channel “KDLife”. Writes about cinema and video games, looks at creativity through human faces, a convinced Edgarraitman.

How many guests attended Playeron Lite 2026 in Moscow?

Many Alex Reeds at the Small Playeron Lite – how the winter Festival of Board Games Went in Moscow

The recent Playeron Lite winter festival in Moscow proved a resounding success, drawing a surprisingly large crowd too the compact venue and solidifying its position as a key event for the Russian board gaming community. Despite its smaller size compared to larger international conventions, the festival fostered a uniquely intimate and engaging atmosphere. Here’s a detailed look at how the event unfolded, what made it special, and what attendees experienced.

A Venue Bursting with Energy

Playeron Lite, intentionally designed as a more accessible and focused event, took place at [Insert Venue Name Here – research needed]. The venue’s smaller capacity – around [Insert Capacity – research needed] – initially raised questions about managing potential attendance. However, organizers implemented a timed-entry system and carefully scheduled events to maximize space and ensure a comfortable experience for everyone. This proved crucial,as attendance consistently exceeded expectations throughout the weekend of January 24th-26th,2026.

What Games Were Trending?

The festival showcased a diverse range of board games, catering to both seasoned hobbyists and newcomers. Several trends emerged:

* Eurogames Dominated: Titles like Wingspan,Terraforming Mars,and Ark Nova consistently drew crowds,with demo tables perpetually occupied. The strategic depth and engine-building mechanics of these games clearly resonated with attendees.

* Rising Popularity of Cooperative Games: Gloomhaven: jaws of the Lion and Pandemic Legacy experienced a surge in interest,reflecting a growing preference for collaborative gameplay experiences.

* Indie Game Spotlight: Playeron lite dedicated a significant portion of the venue to autonomous game designers.This provided a platform for showcasing innovative titles and fostering direct interaction between creators and players. Several games, including [Insert Indie Game Title – research needed], garnered significant buzz.

* War Games & Miniature Gaming: A dedicated area was set aside for wargaming enthusiasts,featuring demonstrations of Warhammer 40,000 and historical simulations.

Beyond the Gameplay: Events and Activities

The festival wasn’t just about playing games; it offered a packed schedule of events:

1. tournament Play: Competitive players battled it out in tournaments for Magic: The Gathering, KeyForge, and several popular Eurogames. Prizes included game copies, accessories, and exclusive merchandise.
2. Game Design Workshops: Aspiring game designers attended workshops led by industry professionals, learning about game mechanics, playtesting, and publishing.
3. Artist Alley: Local artists showcased and sold their board game-related artwork, including custom game components, painted miniatures, and illustrations.
4. Meet & Greets: Several prominent game designers and reviewers were present, offering attendees the opportunity to meet their idols and discuss their favorite games.
5. RPG Sessions: Dedicated rooms hosted role-playing game sessions, catering to fans of Dungeons & dragons, Pathfinder, and other popular systems.

The Impact of the 3DMGAME Community

The strong presence of the 3DMGAME community was a notable feature of the festival. Many attendees were active members of the forum (bbs.3dmgame.com), using the event as an opportunity to connect in person and share their passion for gaming. The forum served as a key platform for pre-event discussion, association, and post-event feedback. Several unofficial meetups organized through the forum added to the festival’s vibrant social atmosphere.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Organizers made a conscious effort to create an inclusive environment. Dedicated tables were available for beginners, with volunteers on hand to teach the rules and provide guidance. The festival also featured games with varying levels of complexity, ensuring there was something for everyone. This focus on accessibility contributed to the event’s broad appeal.

Challenges and Solutions

Managing the unexpectedly high turnout presented logistical challenges. Long queues formed at popular demo tables, and seating was frequently enough limited.Organizers responded by:

* Adding Extra Demo Slots: They increased the frequency of demo sessions for popular games.

* Optimizing Space Utilization: They rearranged furniture and created additional standing areas.

* Implementing a Virtual Queue System: For certain events, they introduced a virtual queue system to minimize wait times.

Looking Ahead: Playeron Lite’s Future

The success of Playeron Lite 2026 demonstrates the growing demand for smaller, more focused board game events. The intimate atmosphere, diverse game selection, and strong community engagement proved to be a winning formula. Organizers are already planning for the 2027 edition, with potential expansions to the venue and an even more complete schedule of events. The event’s ability to attract a large and enthusiastic crowd, despite its limited capacity, signals