After a continuous chit-chat session with my friend through Friday day and night, I reached the venue of the board game convention the next day around 11 AM. The moment I entered, I was awed by a sea of gamers—cramped together, intensely focused on their games—with beautifully crafted tabletop games laid out on the tables, most of which I had never heard of or seen before. They looked like pieces of art, and the players resembled admirers in search of ecstasy. I was both lost and awed by the newness and felt transported to a world full of fun and beauty.
My first stop was at Leela Gurukulam’s counter. I was mesmerized by the idea of a school that leverages board games to teach subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and math. They had literally built a curriculum using just board games. I imagined attending a school where knowledge was a byproduct of play—where learning meant joy and discovery.
Interestingly, the spokespeople across the table were kids themselves, explaining how their school was different from regular schools. I have to say, I was impressed by their enthusiasm and eagerness to explain everything. They introduced me to the games they use to learn biology, chemistry, and physics. Seeing my curiosity, they invited me to play a game they had designed with their teachers. I readily agreed—and before I knew it, it was well past lunchtime. I won by a slight margin, but the real joy was being around the kids. Some of the girls were generous with their compliments and encouragement—saying “Good job!” and “Well played!”
After a quick break, I began looking for a table and players. It wasn’t long before I realized that all tables were occupied and groups had already formed. So I went up to the game library, which had a plethora of games—an absolute visual feast. A game called Mountain Goats caught my attention—obviously for its name. I explained my situation to a volunteer, who kindly let me borrow the game (typically, you borrow only once you have found the players).
I found a spot at a table where four players were finishing a game called Heat. Luckily, the game ended soon, a new group joined, and they had one seat left—I quickly grabbed the opportunity. Mountain Goats waited patiently at the edge of the table. Soon, we were racing our cars in Heat—after 15 minutes of explanation and setup, courtesy of a kind volunteer.
After the game, I noticed a girl curiously eyeing Mountain Goats. I asked if she’d like to play, and she happily agreed. We introduced ourselves and skimmed through the short rulebook. Interestingly, we both had personal reasons to play this game. Her name was Rahel, which she said literally translates to “mountain goat.” For me, I love mountains, I’m a Capricorn, and once a Ladakhi uncle—knowing I was hiking alone—fondly called me a mountain goat. It remains one of my fondest compliments. The game was quick and quiet, and I ended up buying it—realizing just how emotion-driven my decisions can be.
During the last couple of hours, I playtested two games still in development. One was based on the journey of a silkworm, and the other on Ayurveda. I had the chance to speak with the designers—hearing about their inspirations, their process, and the passion that drives them. I was both inspired and deeply impressed. Reflecting on the day and the people I met, I was reminded how exposure at the right time can make all the difference.
By 6 PM, I noticed a slight headache—turns out I had skipped lunch. I grabbed some food from the counter and drank lots of water. Then I spent the next few hours just soaking it all in—everyone engrossed in their games, the chaos and synchronicity flowing all around me.
The next day, I arrived on time and found a spot at the Wingspan table—a game I own but have never finished. A 12-year-old gamer taught us the game. He was amazing—his articulation and teaching skills far beyond his age. We had a gala time, and in no time, three hours flew by. I even won the game (okay, I had some help—my teacher was slightly biased in my favor and shared a few tips and tricks!).
Minna and I also played Sky Team—an interesting two-player cooperative game where you work together to land a plane. During the final turn, our 12-year-old teacher Sahil saved us from crashing and brought us in safely. It’s a sleek, smart game—so beautifully designed. Aesthetics in games (and life!) truly make things more appealing.
It was past 3 PM when I decided it was time to pick up a few games for my collection. I was looking for an animal-themed game and found one. I played a couple more games, met more designers, and ended up buying the games they demoed.
In the evening, I attended a panel discussion on “Building Communities.” The panel included café owners and community builders. I learned so much from their journeys and insights. Some key takeaways:
- The board gaming culture in India is growing rapidly
- Chennai leads with 25 board game cafés, followed by Bangalore with 20
- Someone said it beautifully: “Good things take time”
- Board games are a powerful way to connect people
- The Indian board game industry is also growing steadily
I was inspired by the passion with which they spoke. Later, I mingled with others, sharing our experiences from the convention.
I truly didn’t want to leave, but I had to get back to my friend—I couldn’t wait to share everything I had seen, learned, and played. I left the venue around 8:30 PM.
I was literally high on board games—excited, entertained, awed, motivated, and inspired all at once. What an experience it was. This convention has made me even more curious. The next day, my friend, her daughter, her mother-in-law, and I ended up playing all the new games I’d brought home.
So, here’s what I’ve taken away:
- Good things take time
- Games have a magnificent impact on a child’s overall development
- Nothing beats the feeling of being in flow
I’m absolutely thrilled, excited, and motivated to start a board game club at my place. I’ll start small—nothing fancy—but I hope to make an impact in my own small way. And of course, feed my need for fun and joy!
References:
Credits
- TTOX and everyone associated: Thanks for organizing such an amazing event
- Photos: TTOX Crowd sourced
- My Friend: For hosting me and making it more special
Note: I’ll soon publish a shorter, more concise post with all the essential details. In the meantime, please bear with me—I just needed to pour my heart out.
Urvi goes experimenting 