Everything is bigger in the South Central West — and that goes double for the gaming. Anchored by Texas's four sprawling metro areas and coloured by the unique culture of New Orleans, this region combines big-city convention muscle with a laid-back Southern warmth. Whether you're into competitive board gaming, marathon RPGs or anime-and-gaming crossovers, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and especially Texas have you covered.
Texas: A Convention Powerhouse
Texas alone could fill a gaming calendar. Dallas–Fort Worth is a major hub for dedicated board-game conventions, including a well-known event that gathers the tabletop community for days of nonstop play from an enormous game library. Austin brings its famously creative, indie-friendly spirit to RPG and story-game conventions, San Antonio and Houston host large pop-culture-and-gaming shows and beloved university-run gaming weekenders, and anime-and-gaming conventions thrive statewide. The sheer number and variety of Texas events make the state a destination in its own right.
The organiser has announced PAX Unplugged Houston for June 25-27, 2027 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Its programme description includes panels, game demos and tournaments. Check the activity schedule as well as the show dates when deciding how to divide your time.
New Orleans and Louisiana
Louisiana adds unmistakable flavour to the region. New Orleans is known for its spirited anime-and-gaming conventions, where the city's festival culture supercharges the cosplay, tournaments and late-night gaming. Baton Rouge and other Louisiana cities contribute grassroots events, giving the state a scene that punches above its weight and always seems to know how to throw a good party.
Oklahoma and Arkansas
Oklahoma's community-run conventions — centred on Oklahoma City and Tulsa — offer friendly, science-fiction-and-gaming weekenders with devoted followings, while Arkansas rounds out the region with growing pop-culture-and-gaming events around Little Rock and the northwest college corridor. Both states reward gamers who love a welcoming, unpretentious convention experience. Because Texas sits at the crossroads of so many highways, gamers from neighbouring states often road-trip in for the bigger events, giving the region's marquee cons a genuinely multi-state feel — you're rarely more than a few hours from a great weekend of gaming.
Plan Your South Central West Convention
Texas distances are deceptive — the big metros are hours apart, so plan travel accordingly and book host hotels early for marquee events. Summers are scorching, so most conventions rely on well-air-conditioned centres. Dates and venues change annually, so confirm on the official website before booking. For schedules and community reviews, BoardGameGeek is the go-to reference. Explore more from the USA hub, compare the neighbouring Mountain States. See the listing guide for directory criteria.