Gaming
Freeplay Gaming
The Gaming Freeplay space is open for anyone who is interested in walking in and playing! Bring your friends or meet new people! We have a wide selection of games, including an expanded arcade cabinet offering provided by our friends over at ARC Stage!
Tournament Gaming
Welcome to Animethon’s Gaming area, where we are hosting a variety of Tournaments for both Casual and Competitive players. Pre-registration opens on August 24, 2027 and will continue until the start of the event.
- Guilty Gear Strive
- Puyo Puto Tetris
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Overcooked 2
- Tekken 8
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
In addition to our traditional tournaments, we are also hosting Speedrun and Score Challenges.
Games List:
- Slay the Spire
- Hades
- Neon White
Be sure to stop by and see how you stack up against all contenders!
EBC x Animethon Beyblade X
Powered by the Edmonton Beyblade Club, it’s time to Let it Rip!
Found in the Hall C Gaming area, EBC is ready to share the exciting world of Beyblade X! With a collection from the history of Beyblade, showcases, hands on experiences, and a Tournament taking place over the Animethon weekend!
So build your Bey, enter the dome, and battle it out!
Tabletop Gaming Freeplay
The Tabletop Gaming Freeplay space is open for anyone who is interested in walking in and playing! Bring your friends or meet new people! The space includes a wide selection of games, and will be open throughout the convention.
Our board game library will be available for anyone interested in trying something new!
Learn to Play
New to trading card games and want to get into them? Throughout the convention, Tabletop Gaming is hosting opportunities to learn multiple different trading card games for free! Attendees will sign up, be matched with a volunteer teacher, and get to learn their new obsession!
Mini-Tournaments:
Compete with friends or others in a short tournament to see who’s the best at TCG battles at Animethon! The tabletop freeplay space will be hosting small-scale mini-tournaments for various popular trading card games, including Gundam Card Game, Weiss Schwarz, One Piece Card Game, Union Arena, and Grand Archive.
Tournaments will use the standard competitive rulesets for their game and will be in single-elimination format, with prizes available to the winner. Slots are limited, so make sure to be quick with your registration. (Decks will not be provided, you must supply your own deck to participate).
Tabletop Gaming Programming
Do you want to learn a new trading card game? Or prove yourself in a tournament against other players? Or maybe you want to meet new people and hang out!
Come on down to the Tabletop Gaming Programming space, where you will find plenty of events for your enjoyment. Located right next to the freeplay room, speak to a member of our staff if you’re interested in participating in any of our events.
Learn to Play
Trading card games are massive right now. From One Piece, to Pokemon, to Riftbound, and even the new upcoming Naruto TCG, it can seem daunting to know where to start.
Alongside our Learn to Play system in the Tabletop Gaming Freeplay room, we are also hosting dedicated Learn to Play sessions, run by our community members, to help you get a head start! At these Learn to Play sessions, they’ll provide you with hands-on tutorials to get you started in whatever game tickles your fancy!
Magic: The Gathering Drafts
After the success of our Magic: the Gathering draft last year, we are excited to announce that we are running two separate drafts this year, once again hosted by our friends at Red Claw Games.
Avatar The Last Air Bender
Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air: the elements are in your hands… Literally! Can you prove your mastery over the elements?
Spots are limited, so make sure you pre-register, and check-in with our Tabletop Gaming Staff!
Secrets of Strixhaven
Are you prepared for your final exam? Show us what you learned at our Second Magic: the Gathering draft: Secrets of Strixhaven. Mystify your foes with your mastery over the arcane and prove your college stands above all else.
Spots are limited, so make sure you pre-register, and check-in with our Tabletop Gaming Staff!
Blood on the Clocktower
In a sleepy town, evil stirs. A chilling murder mystery awaits you in Blood on the Clocktower. If you love social deduction games like Mafia, Coup, or Town of Sale, Blood on the Clocktower is for you! We at Animethon are happy to bring back this game that is quickly turning into one of our favourites. Will the good people of Ravenswood Bluff survive, or are they doomed to fall to the Evil lurking behind the scenes?
Charity Anime Card Game Tournaments
Hosted by our friends at Hard Brick Games, Animethon is proud to offer 5 Anime Card Game Tournaments, with all proceeds going to Extra Life Edmonton, supporting the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Riftbound
Step into a world where reality fractures and chaos reigns! Riftbound is a high-stakes collectible card game where every decision can tear the fabric of existence apart, or forge new paths to victory. Will you harness the power of ancient runes, outwit rival players, or reshape the battlefield with your own unique strategies? The Rifts are open, and the stakes are higher than ever. Pre-register now and prove you’re ready to bend the rules of reality!
Weiß Schwarz
Lights, camera, action! Your turn to shine! Weiss Schwarz is a fast-paced, anime-inspired card game where every duel is a showdown of skill, strategy, and showmanship. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, this is your chance to battle with characters from your favorite anime, unleash their ultimate abilities, and claim victory in a burst of dazzling flair. Don’t miss your chance to join the action, spots are limited!
Grand Archive
Uncover secrets, rewrite history, and reshape the future in Grand Archive, the groundbreaking collectible card game where every card tells a story. With its unique blend of strategy, storytelling, and immersive mechanics, Grand Archive is a fresh take on TCGs that’s perfect for players who love diving into rich, narrative-driven gameplay. Will you become a master archivist or a game-changer? The past is waiting, pre-register today!
Gundam Card Game
When the Earth Federation meets the Zeon, only the strongest survive! The Gundam Card Game is a battle of wits and will, where iconic mobile suits clash in epic duels. Whether you’re piloting a Zaku, a Gundam, or a custom mecha, every match is a chance to prove your tactical prowess and dominate the battlefield. For fans of mechs, strategy, and the spirit of Gundam, this is your moment to shine. Pre-register and get ready to fight for victory!
One Piece Card Game
Set sail on the Grand Line and join the greatest adventure of all time! The One Piece Card Game is a thrilling, character-driven TCG where every duel is a clash of wills, strategies, and the spirit of the Straw Hat Pirates. Will you command the power of Luffy, Zoro, or Nami? Or will you rise as a new legend? With its vibrant art, deep mechanics, and beloved characters, this is the perfect way to experience the world of One Piece… on the battlefield. Don’t miss your chance to join the crew!
Pre-Registration
If you are interested in any of our events, be sure to visit our Pre-registration, opening on July 24, 2026.
Payment for paid events due at Check-in prior to the event start time. All participants require a valid Animethon pass to attend, which can be purchased at the door or at https://animethon.org/tickets/ in limited quantities. Unpaid pre-registrants who do not check-in will be removed from the registration 15 minutes before the event start time, and empty seats will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis at the desk.