Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2023

Portsmouth Guildhall

Games Fest 2023

Back for 2023!

Serious gamer, casual console player or just looking for something fun to do with friends or family on a cold winter day? Look no further than Guildhall Games Fest which returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2023!

Featuring the best in modern, board and retro gaming across 3 sessions and 2 floors of the Guildhall, new features for 2023 include Tudor gaming and an exciting showcase into the world of e-sports.

BOARD GAMING ZONE

Returning with the ever-popular Board Gaming Zone and their library of over 100 popular games to play and demonstrations of the newest games to hit the market is Dice Board Game Lounge. Pick a game, pull up a chair to play and participate in the competitions and tournaments that will be running over the weekend. A fully stocked shop of essentials will also be available to buy and continue gaming at home.  

RETRO GAMING ZONE

Also returning to the stage with a dream set up for every retro arcade enthusiast is Game Over. Relive your youth and introduce the younger generations to the classics of Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and much more!

Also introducing the most retro of games will be the Mary Rose Museum. Marking the 40th anniversary of the raising of King Henry VIII’s Tudor warship, Mary Rose, you will be able to try your hand at Tudor games and also see genuine artefacts from the ship!

INNOVATION ZONE

Experience the latest in innovation in the University of Portsmouth’s Innovation Zone with an assortment of game demos created by the students and staff of the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries. St Vincent College will also provide a selection of PC games including Overwatch and League of Legends, Fruit Ninja VR Headsets and a Formula 1 Sim Racer, there is a wealth of entertainment to be found!

INDIE GAMING ZONE

Returning this year is the chance to experience brand new games from our guest Indie Game developers! Here’s a preview of what you could find:

Achroma is a beautifully illustrated fantasy card game for 2-6 players. Choose a faction and deploy your cards to gain, drain and steal your way to victory.

Egglien is a speedy action platformer with a look taking you back to the past.

All’s Well That Ends is a fantasy adventure game for 1 to 4 players, weaving together gripping narrative and nailbiting card-driven tactical combat.

Meteor Heroes is a competitive game using area control, strategy and push your luck elements at its core.

Trapped is a 2D Challenging Platformer. The game will test your will and determination. Can you make it back to the top?

BLOOD BOWL TOURNAMENT

Dice Board Gaming Lounge will be hosting their first ever Blood Bowl Tournament on the Saturday of Guildhall Games Fest.

Head to the website for a link to Game Rules and to purchase a separate tournament/event ticket: https://diceboardgamelounge.com/vault/guildhall-games-fest-blood-bowl-ticket/

ROLE PLAYING GAMES

At 2023’s Portsmouth’s Guildhall Games Festival there will be three tables dedicated to introducing would-be adventurers gently (but not too gently!) into the realms of Tabletop Role Playing Games. On offer will be Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu and the Stranger Things-inspired Kids on Bikes!

Run by The Three Dungeoneers, the adventures offered range from short ‘family friendly’ adventures to longer, more elaborate quests. Spaces will be limited so find us early to ensure a place at the table!

INTERACTIVE TRAIL

Seekers Create in a brand-new interactive trail. With some of the answers to the puzzle hidden in the arcade games, the trail will take you across the whole of Games Fest. Seek out Merlin for the final part of the puzzle and your chance to win a magical prize!

TRADERS & community partners

Portsmouth Comic Con

Portsmouth Comic Con is an event set up by The Guildhall Trust, who also put together Big Mouth Comedy Festival and of course Guildhall Games Fest! Get your exclusive merch for these events here, not available from anywhere else!

GoGeek Events CIC

An experienced, dedicated and uniquely “Geeky” events team supporting anti-Bullying, Equality and Diversity!

Tailored and focused events to provide a safe and friendly environment for everyone, to feel positive and empowered. 

Portsmouth Pokémon League

Portsmouth Pokémon League is one of the UK’s largest officially-sanctioned competitive Pokémon event organisers. Each week, players of all ages attend our casual sessions to play and battle with the Pokémon Trading Card Game and video games. Some come along just to chat and make friends!

Naomi House

Naomi House & Jacksplace are hospices for children & young adults with life-limiting conditions. Naomi House & Jacksplace are so excited to be joining Games Fest 2022 and cannot wait to show how a child or young adult would game using an adapted controller. You can have a go yourself so come and say hi!

Lawn of the Dead

Lawn of the Dead UK is the home of sculptor James Waterfields ghoulish creations. Lawn of the Dead garden ornaments are made from cast concrete and varnished with yacht varnish to be weatherproof.

SuperDenney Brothers

We are based in the UK and we produce a number of resin Miniatures and other nerdy items. We also provide 3D printing services

Props and Replicas.co.uk

Props and Replicas.co.uk is a UK based supplier of high quality props and replicas from Film, TV, Anime & Video Games. We also offer a range of Cosplay & LARP equipment & Replica weaponry from Film, TV, Anime & Video Games.

Focus Toys

Focus Toys is a used and new toy trader, collecting and selling a mix of the best a rarest collectables you can find.

Bowman Board Games

A small online company based in Havant specializing in miniatures for RPG games such as D & D or Pathfinder. They are developing their own range of wooden products such as dice towers and have a small range of RPG accessories on offer.

Tickets

Price per session (Saturday sessions: 11am – 4pm, 5pm – 9pm. Sunday session: 11am – 4pm)

frequently asked questions

We are now able to take applications for traders. Either email [email protected] directly or use the adjacent form.

Portsmouth Guildhall’s Square Kitchen will be open throughout the event, serving up it’s famous pizzas. Bars will also be open throughout the day serving both alcoholic and non-alcohol drinks.

Dice Portsmouth and Game Over Portsmouth will be bringing their full catalogue of games, with hundreds and hundreds of games to choose from spanning across many generations. You will not be stuck for choice that’s for sure

As with all events at Portsmouth Guildhall the venue and event is fully accessible to people of all needs. Should you have any concerns about accessibility at the venue please contact: 023 93870 200. Free carer tickets are also available to this event.

We are welcoming sponsorship to this event, should you wish to get on board please contact [email protected]

The event will be focused in Portsmouth Guildhall’s main auditorium, first floor and basement with board games and retro gaming taking over the whole of the area.

The capacity for the event is capped at 2000, so we recommend buying your tickets sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment. At Portsmouth Comic Con we sadly had to turn people away due to selling out during the course of the days events.

We are welcoming press applications to this event, should you wish to get on board please contact [email protected]

As with Portsmouth Comic Con we not only welcome but encourage cosplayers to our event!

GALLERY

Photography by Vernon Nash

GET IN TOUCH

Do you still have questions or comments? Please contact us on the email below!

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important information

Children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18+
Bag searches may be applicable
No externally bought food/drinks/liquids are allowed
Attendees will have to comply with the Guildhall’s current Covid-19 Restrictions

 Don’t forget about our food options:

Portsmouth Guildhall’s Square Kitchen will be open throughout the event, serving up its famous pizzas. Bars will also be open throughout the day serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.