Video Gaming

Indie Row Rules
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About VG

Gaming at Otakon is huge! If you thought our Video Gaming Hall was good previously, well, you’re in for a treat since we have expanded it even more! We’re filling an entire hall of the convention center with video games from all eras, classics you remember, current games you love, plenty of games straight from Japan, and games by Indie Developers! Show off your skills and compete against your fellow con goers in casual play or enter one of our tournaments.

Gaming Hall Hours

Day
Open
Close

Friday

10 AM

1 AM

Saturday

10 AM

1 AM

Sunday

10 AM

3 PM

*Videogames are located in Hall D.
The call for last games is 15 minutes before closing time. At this point, attendees are to play one final set prior to closing so we are able to close the room on time! Those who are not playing at this point will be asked to start leaving the room.

Section

Arcade Machines

SEVEN groups will be providing arcade cabinets this year! This is our BIGGEST ARCADE YET! With Pinball machines too!

Aegis Gaming
The Arcade Buffett
Foxcade
Retroware
Snow Phoenix
Tokyo Genesys
Vidyacade

Most Updated List of Arcades & Pinball Machines (Subject to Change)

Indie Isles


We will have a dedicated Indie Isles area for independent gaming developers to showcase their latest work! Come by the area, try their games and give them your support! A list of Indie Developers already confirmed at the show include the following:

Portable Kaiju Super Battle League

Portable Kaiju Super Battle League is back for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary!  Powered by the DC Pokémon League!

All our battles will be held in Pokémon Champions; where challengers will assemble a squad of ten Pokémon to take on our Gym Leaders in thrilling 4v4 double battles. After obtaining eight or more badges you can try your best against our grueling Elite Four to earn your rightful place in our Champions’ Tournament. Finally, on Sunday of the Convention all qualifying champions will face off with their 6 strongest Pokémon in a winner take all fight to see who truly is the Very Best.

Full Info & Rules Are Here!

Virtual Reality (VR) Experience

Powered by United Gaming Enterprises & Baz, LLC, we will have many VR setups!  The stations have the Valve Index, PSVR2s, and Quest 3 as devices able to use.  They have partnered with many companies to showcase their VR experiences here!

Industry Presence

Nintendo will have a presence in the room on Saturday ONLY with some game demos and giveaways!

Laser Tag

Laser Tag is here once again! – powered by Next Level Gaming 

Note: This will be a separately charged activity in the Gaming Hall.  Please see the designated Laser Tag area in the Hall for purchasing and rules!

About Next Level Gaming:
Local to Maryland, Next Level Gaming, they know that parents are always looking for the best mix of value and entertainment when planning a party. We’ve been there, too.

Searching for a new and unique party entertainment idea suitable for a wide range of ages and tastes? We’ve got it!

Next Level Gaming brings Maryland’s most amazing video game theater and tactical laser tag right to you. We didn’t just “hop along for the ride” when it came to bringing the best party systems to your home.

Mahjong Freeplay & Tournaments

DC Riichi Mahjon will be in the gaming room all three days of Otakon to provide riichi mahjong free play, beginner lessons, and tournament play.

Founded in 2023, DC Riichi Mahjong is a vibrant social club dedicated to fostering the appreciation and enjoyment of riichi mahjong. They meet every Sunday afternoon in McLean, VA for friendly in person games, and they host an annual two day open tournament every spring.

Full Info & Tournament Schedule Here!

Rules

Be Polite and please remember:

  • No Fighting
  • No Abusive Behavior
  • Be sure to eat/drink during the convention, but…
  • Do not eat/drink near any of the TVs and Consoles
  • Be hygienic (shower and deodorant)
  • Do not touch the consoles
  • Do not exit out of a game or go into the main menu screen
  • Do not steal
  • Try not to break or mistreat any of the gaming equipment
  • Do not leave your personal belongings unattended
  • Staff are not responsible for your personal belongings
  • Respect personal space 

If there is a line waiting to play, please limit your play time to the following:

Single Player Game:    

  • 1 Life Set OR 3 Songs OR 30 minutes (whichever is shortest)

Multiplayer Games:

Fighters

  • Winner stays
  • All other players MUST give up their controller to the next player in line.
  • If there are not enough new players to fill up the empty seats, then the Second (and possibly Third) placed player(s) may remain seated

Rock Band/Just Dance

  • A playgroup may only play ONE (1) song. After the song is finished they MUST offer their spot to the next person in line.
  • If no one wants to play your particular instrument, you may continue playing.

Any Other Music Game

  • A playgroup may play one game, composed of TWO (2) to THREE (3) songs depending on the game. After the game is finished they MUST offer their spot to the next person in line.

By entering the Otakon Video Game Room you acknowledge the above rules and agree to adhere to them. Breaking any may result in you being asked to leave the Video Game Room or having your badge revoked.

Please talk to a Video Game Room Staffer if:

  • A piece of equipment is not working properly so that it can be fixed/replaced with a working one as soon as possible.
  • You would like to switch out a game and there is an open set-up. Please be aware that we will generally not allow personal games to be played (evaluated on a case by case basis) and that we can not comply with all requests.
  • You notice someone is breaking any of the above rules so that corrective action can be taken.

15 minutes before closing, we will begin to ask people to finish their last game

  • At 12:45am Fri & Sat, and 2:45pm Sun, we will announce that people should finish their last games before leaving the hall for the day
  • This ensures we can close the room in a timely manner!

Video Game Tournaments

NOTE: All console tournaments for 2026 require you to BRING YOUR OWN CONTROLLER

The United Gaming Enterprises, Umbral Starcade, and Vidyacade will be collaborating in running most of our console tournaments this year at Otakon! 

Below describe the MAJOR prize winning tournaments for the year of 2026, other small tournaments may be posted inside of the game room upon decision between staff members. First place prize will include an Otakon pass for next year.  Top finishers (typically top 3) will also receive prizes from our sponsors.

Many of these tournaments will take place at our dedicated tournament area that will include seats for spectators.

Schedule –  Sign up for ALL Tourneys here –
https://www.start.gg/otakon-2026/

🎮 Tournament Schedule
(Subject to Change – Check Startgg for most updated schedule)

Friday

  • 12:00pm – Mario Party Superstars – Nintendo Switch
  • 12:30pm – Street Fighter 6 – PS5
  • 3:00pm – Sailor Moon S – Arcade
  • 4:00pm – Guilty Gear: Strive – PS5
  • 5:00pm – Just Dance 2026 – Nintendo Switch
  • 5:00pm – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Nintendo Switch
  • 7:00pm – King of Fighters ’98 – Arcade

Saturday

  • 12:00pm – Tekken 8 – PS5
  • 12:30pm – Kirby Air Riders – Nintendo Switch 2
  • 1:00pm – Pump It Up – Arcade
    1:00pm – Dance Rush Stardom – Arcade
  • 2:00pm – Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) – Arcade
  • 2:00pm – Idol Showdown – PC
  • 4:00pm – 2XKO – PS5
  • 4:00pm – Windjammers – Arcade
  • 5:00pm – Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game – PS5
  • 5:00pm – Pokemon Go PvP – Mobile (at DC Pokemon League Booth)
  • 6:00pm – Mario Kart World – Nintendo Switch 2
  • 7:00pm – King of Fighters 13 – Arcade
  • 8:00pm – Mystery Game Tournament – TBD

Sunday

  • 11:00am – Fatal Fury City of Wolves PS5

Special Thanks
We would like to thank the following companies for providing prize support for our Video Game Tournaments:

Trading Card Game (TCG) Tournaments

Otakon would like to once again extend its welcome to our TCG tournament partners Pro-Play Games!

Pro-Play Games (PPG)  is a premiere tournament organizer for Trading Card Games. They offer various card gaming products and accessories including Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: the Gathering, Pokemon, Digimon, Dragonball Super, Final Fantasy, Cardfight Vanguard, Flesh & Blood. Additionally to tournaments Pro-Play Games streams and broadcasts these events to a live audience via Twitch and Youtube. Pro-Play Games prides itself in bringing the big games and big tournaments to the player with various conventions and Webcam events. Pro-Play Games, where the Pro’s come to play!

Pro-Play Games is a brick and mortar presence in Miami, FL – home to over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube, and over 8,000 followers on Facebook. Known heavily as a one stop shop for all TCG related accessories, cards, and games – Pro-Play Games brings the best and most competitive prices to supplement any TCG event.

Most Updated List of Tournaments & Sign-Ups!

Social Deception Zone

Located in the back of the hall upstairs in the Gaming Hall, the social deception zone will be a place where people can play games like Werewolf!  Powered by Werewolf DMV, be ready!  

“Our quiet little 16th century village has suddenly become infested with some very unfriendly werewolves…can you and the other villagers find them before they devour everyone?”

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)

 

We will have a Dungeon Master (DM) here running D&D!  Please be on the lookout for these activities!

Most Updated Info & Schedule Here!

Challenge Accepted

Located in Hall D

Indie Row Rules