Play & Wins

To see 2026's latest Play and Win line-up, visit our Geeklist!

Play and Win Rules

As part of NEA Game Fest, we have a number of board games that are donated/purchased for attendees to potentially take home.

A NEA Game Fest attendee can check out these play and win titles during the convention. If you play any of our play and win titles, you can enter your name into a random drawing and possibly receive that game (or two) at the end of the event!

How to Enter

• You qualify to win a game by either teaching it or playing it. You can enter to win a game multiple times, but you will only be allowed one entry per checkout.
• Each badged attendee can win up to two games. If an attendee is drawn for more than two games, the game(s) will be selected by the rating given and the cost of the game, in that order. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and games must be picked up by 6 p.m.

Can my group check out a stack of games and then play them all back to back and check them in at once?

• Attendees should not keep games checked out of the game library for extended periods of time. We discourage game hoarding, as we want all games in play as much as possible. Games will not be permitted to be immediately checked out to those who played it during its previous checkout.

How are winners determined and selected?

• When you enter to win, write your name as it appears on your badge on the rating card available at the library station. You are also encouraged to rate the game from 1-10. Games you give a higher rating will be prioritized when drawing

When is the deadline to enter? When are play and win games given away?

• Play and Win games can be checked out until 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Soon after, we’ll draw entry cards for each game and randomly (roll a die) pick a winner from the participants on that card.

What if I can’t be there on Sunday?

• You can give your badge to a friend, and they can pick up your game for you. You don’t have to be present to pick up the game, but your badge does.
• Should the game remain unclaimed by the end of the pickup period, it will be used for a future event.