25th & 26th
january 2025

WHITE ROCK THEATRE

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new for 2025!

Calling serious gamers, casual console players and anyone in search of something fun to do with family and friends! Games Fest is coming to The White Rock Theatre on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2025, offering three sessions of pure gaming glee.

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retro gaming

with

Providing a dream set up for every retro arcade enthusiast is Game Over. Relive the magic of your youth and introduce the younger generations to classics such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Ninja Turtles, Mario Bros, Street Fighter and more! Also enjoy gaming projected onto a giant screen.

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board gaming

with

Bringing a library of over 100 of the most popular board games around and giving demonstrations of some the newest releases to hit the market will be returning partner, Dice Board Game Lounge. Pick a game, take your place at the table and participate in the competitions and tournaments that will be running across the weekend before perusing a fully stocked shop so you can buy and continue playing your new-found favourites at home.

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esports gaming

with

East Sussex College and their resident Esports teams will take centre stage at The White Rock Games Fest, bringing an array of Esport activities and entertainment. Their various teams will be competing in matches in Overwatch 2, Valorant and Rocket League. You can also battle against their F1 Williams 2024 winner in a fastest lap event a racing simulator.

Attendees will also get the chance to speak to students to discover what the esports industry is like, and how it developed rapidly over the years, as well as try out some of the games available to our students and those who compete in the British Esports Student Championships.

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dabbblezone

DABBBLEZONE is an event space for young people aged 16-25 ready to dabbble in worktaster activities relating to games. Brought to Hastings Games Fest by Adventures + Wisdom Institute.

Benefits of getting involved:

  • Build personal and professional confidence
  • Make valuable connections
  • Great experience for portfolio, CV and UCAS applications
  • Digital badges
  • Free event entry
LEARN MORE HERE

indie gaming

Demo some exciting new games from up-and-coming game designers and show your support to the indie gaming community!

More indie gamers to be announced soon…

BALANCE OF KINGDOMS

Balance of Kingdoms is about building, balancing and battling, combining elements of strategy and physics. Players must build a kingdom balanced on top of a beam while trying to defeat their opponent. Dare ye take a chance?
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Go! Go! Grapple Staff

The Meddling "Grapple Wizard", once a meagre wizard, now blessed with the knowledge of the deathly-efficient and recently outlawed Grapple Staff, geared up with their pointy hat is able to tear through anyone (or anything) that stands in their way. Mischief, chaos and high speeds are the aims of the game in the Grapple Wizards mission to ascend the peak of the Wizard Council - who banished the Grapple Wizard for their use of the Grapple Staff.
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grove

Grove is an easy-to-learn tactical card game that inspires exciting combinations with a variety of unique cards!
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REALITY DRIFT

Andrew Gillett has been working as a game developer for 25 years, having previously worked as a programmer at Frontier on games such as Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, Thrillville, LostWinds 2 and Kinectimals. He's now an indie developer working on a game called Reality Drift. It's a roguelike racing game where your choices matter. You drive through a series of strange worlds to deliver packages to godlike creatures.
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NINE ROUNDS RAPID

A fast paced, super stylized, roguelike, twin stick shooter. Nine levels of hand painted and procedurally generated, punchy and punky fast mayhem in a uniquely stunning attitude filled world. Dare ye take a chance?
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Proverbs

Proverbs is digital cross-stitch. A meditative game about completing a single enormous 54,000+ piece grid puzzle.
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Logic Town

Logic Town is a relaxing coffee-break puzzle game based on Einstein Puzzles (AKA Zebra Puzzles). In each puzzle you must follow the clues to carefully eliminate answers until you've found the truth!
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Dungeonfell

A tactical team-based Roguelite where you lead a group of heroes into ever-changing dungeons. Battle against hordes of Monsters and uncover the corruption lurking deep within the dungeon’s heart.
Learn More

We’re looking for more up-and-coming indie gaming developers to demo their games at 2025’s Games Fest. Whether your game is fully developed or still in development, we’d love to showcase it at our event! Get in touch to enquire about booking a table by clicking the button below.

get in touch

+ more to be announced!

early bird ticket prices

Available at these prices until 30th of November 2024.

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FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions Coming Soon!

Can I exhibit/trade at this event?

We are now able to take applications for traders. Email [email protected]

Will there be food and drinks available at this event?

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.

What board games and retro games will be available to play?

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

Will there be tickets available on the door?

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.

Will there be cosplay?

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

Is this event wheelchair accessible?

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.

How can I join this event as a sponsor?

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

In which areas of the Guildhall will this event be taking place?

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.

Can I apply for a press-pass for this event?

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

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

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