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.
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.