What Games Can I Play at 18PDX, and Should I Bring My Own?

Updated

18PDX is an 18xx train gaming convention, and the games available come largely from the people in the room. A wide supply of 18xx titles is commonly on hand, brought by attendees and from local 18xx players' collections. If there is a specific game you want to play, bring it — that is the only reliable way to guarantee it shows up. You can also use the 18PDX Discord to plan and organize games ahead of time, and the galleries show some of what was played in prior years.

What's typically available

  • A broad selection of 18xx games, supplied by attendees and local players' collections rather than a fixed convention library.
  • Prototypes from designers. Several 18xx designers commonly bring their prototypes to play and discuss, so playtesting and design conversation are part of the floor.
  • No published game list. The site does not post a catalog of titles, so what's available varies year to year with who attends and what they pack.

Should you bring your own?

Bring it if you have a particular title in mind. The convention's supply is generous but not guaranteed to include any specific game, and the site's own guidance is to bring anything you especially want to play. Bringing a game also makes it easier to recruit a table, since you control the schedule and player count.

If you're flexible, you can likely fill your days from what others bring — but treat that as a probability, not a promise.

How to line up games before you arrive

  1. Join the 18PDX Discord.
  2. Post the titles you want to play, or the ones you're bringing, and look for interested players.
  3. Agree on a day and time slot within the convention schedule (Thursday–Saturday 08:00–24:00, Sunday 08:00–18:00, all Pacific Daylight Time).
  4. Check the galleries from prior years to see what tends to hit the table.

Planning ahead matters most for longer 18xx titles, which need a committed group and a full block of time.

Practical notes

  • Dates: 24–27 June 2027.
  • Venue: Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport, with a discounted room package and a free airport shuttle.
  • Tickets: PayPal to Dave Blanchard. Before 15 May: $25 for single days, $75 for all four days. After 15 May: $35 per day, $100 for the full four days.

The short version: expect plenty of 18xx games to be available, but bring any specific title you're counting on, and use Discord to lock in your tables before the convention starts.