Ah, we love the smell of fresh cardboard in the morning. It means the tabletop gaming convention OrcaCon is almost here.

Though its name may confuse whale fans, OrcaCon is all about player lifestyles and will take over the Hilton Bellevue from Fri., Jan 7-Sun., Jan. 9. It’s got panels, demos of new titles + game sessions from morning to night, with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility.

But OrcaCon certainly isn’t the only “game” in town. The Seattle area is at the center of a nearly $12 billion dollar tabletop gaming industry, which includes cards, board games + many role-playing games (RPGs). And its roots roll deep.

Total Crainiacs 🧠

Did you know that megahit board game Cranium was created by two former Microsoft employees? Co-founders Richard Tait and Whit Alexander wanted to combine elements of popular titles like Pictionary + Scrabble in an accessible package that would appeal to a young coffeehouse crowd. They even recruited Starbucks co-founder Howard Schulz as an early tester.
Local shop where you can find it: Math ‘N’ Stuff in Maple Leaf

Casting a spell 🔮

About 30 years ago, Renton-based company Wizards of the Coast came up with a game-changing idea. Looking for a quick card-based diversion that could be played at conventions, a former Boeing worker and a math wiz teamed up to create a lil’ old deck-building title called Magic: The Gathering. The rest is nerdy history.

Local shop where you can find it: Meeples Games in West Seattle

Feline energy 😸

You may recognize Seattle cartoonist Matt Inman’s work from The Oatmeal, but his hilariously demented scribblings eventually translated to the popular party card game Exploding Kittens. He’s since expanded his repertoire with the Scrabble-like Kitty Letter, and the projectile-based Throw Throw Burrito.

Local shop where you can find ‘em: Blue Highway Games in Queen Anne

Bonus points: Pop culture-based titles from indie shop Ravensburger (maker of “Villainous”) and Funko Games (maker of “Seinfeld: The Party Game”) are accessible + have local ties.