PAX Unplugged 2026
Philadelphia, PA
megagame coalition
2026 PAXU Event Schedule
Megagame Coalition is proud to produce 11 megagame events for PAX Unplugged 2026.
Click the pictures below to learn more about individual events!
Friday 11/21
Saturday 11/22
Sunday 11/23
Full Game Descriptions
Mini Mega Monsters
Player Count: 60
Friday 9am – 3pm (6 hours)
The Event
Mega Mini Monsters is a collectible card and economic management megagame about collecting cool monsters for your gym and using them to compete against other gyms!
Expect a simple collectible card game with a layer of economic resource management at the gym-level (i.e. team-level). Additionally, two special teams of players, the upstanding League Officials and the nefarious Team Moppet, function as wildcards with the respective goals of maintaining a fun & competitive meta, and disrupting league operations.
Mini Mega Monsters was a smash hit at Gen Con, and the MMM Team are hard at work updating and beautifying the design for PAX Unplugged 2026. Return players expect tweaked monsters, prettier cards, balance tweaks, and even more volunteered art!
The Setting
Up to six gyms (teams) of up to seven Gym Captains and three Gym Managers each will duke it out to collect the most monsters and secure glory to their gym! A special team of Monster League Officials will oversee the matches, manage league-wide policies, and ensure a competitive meta while the nefarious Team Moppet will… Do nefarious things!
So join up to 70 other players and see if you and your friends can be the very best! The best that is right now!
Mega Mini Monsters is both a satire of and a celebration of the collectible critter-battler genre of Pokémon, Cassette Beasts, Beastiball, Digimon, and more, filtered through the lens of a competitive sports league megagame. Don’t worry, no monsters will actually be harmed!
Game Roles Breakdown
There will be up to 4-7 gyms (teams) of 4-10 players each, consisting of the following roles:
2-7 Gym Captains – these folks build and pilot their decks of monsters and items to victory or defeat against the captains of other gyms, or to lead expeditions to recruit more monsters to their gym from the wilds.
1 Gym Coach – these folks will aid their match captains in strategy, as well as observe other ongoing matches to learn about their opponents; they also advocate for their gym in the eyes of the league.
1 Gym Professor – these folks will study monsters to catalog them (for science) and maybe even upgrade them.
1 Gym Technician – these folks will manage the logistics of the gyms, and build special items to aid in match.
At smaller player counts, the Gym Coach, Monster Hunter, Professor, and Technician roles may be consolidated.
Each gym functions as a team (no intra-gym battling) competing to collect the most monsters and win the Monster League Championship for the season.
In addition, there are two special teams of players who have unique responsibilities and game mechanics.
The Monster League Administration (MLA) (3-6 players) aim to maintain competitive, vibrant matches against the various teams and ensure the league as a whole is meeting its scientific, monetary, and profitability targets. Pursuit of these goals may come at the expense of individual gyms
WARNING: League Officials have powerful means to ensure a healthy, competitive meta – including the possible handicapping, suspension or even banning of various monsters.
Team Moppet (2-5 players) are a bunch of ne’er-do-wells! They constantly circumvent League policies in pursuit of their goals of chaos, profit, and the capture of every powerful monster!
Den of Wolves: Infinite Domain
Player Count: 60
Friday 9am – 3pm (6 hours)
Friday 5pm – 11pm (6 hours)
60 players! 6 hours! 100% fun! Inspired by the pilot of Battlestar Galatica, Den of Wolves is a cooperative megagame that combines elements of board games and diplomacy. Players cooperate to allocate resources while fending off waves of attacks from the vile “wolves”. Beware! These wolves are tricky, and a traitor may roam amongst us.
Infinite Domain is an expansion to the original Den of Wolves which increases the player count and incorporates new ships as well as several bonus roles.
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Den of Wolves – the modern megagame classic by the UK upstart designer, John Mizon of SW Megagames. The Infinite Domain expansion was designed by Chris Perry & Cle Diggins of Portland Megagames, who will also be gamerunning the event!
A PAX Unplugged Convention Badge is required to attend this event.
Den of Wolves is one of the most-played megagames of all time, sporting strong themes common in military sci-fi (like the Alien series or The Expanse) and satisfying resource management mechanics. Folks familiar with the pilot of Battlestar Galatica will find very similar themes and setting.
The Setting
A small fleet of interstellar vessels tries to balance survival, politics and military challenges as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers.
It is the 27th Century. After a catastrophic attack on humanity, one battleship and a few civilian vessels must fight to survive, govern themselves and maintain order, as they flee from their pursuers. Den of Wolves is a game about difficult political, military and survival choices in a long-term crisis scenario. Players will take on the roles of starship captains, officers, and engineers, as well as politicians and military personnel. The game has a focus on managing resources, as well as various units and assets – however, talking and negotiating with other players will be crucial in order to achieve success. The game also seeks to represent political and military systems, and their decisions, and so players should expect some political simulation.
Wolves
Beware! There may be secret traitorous roles among us!
Sickle: A Scythe Megagame
Sydney Simpson (Upstate NY Megagames)
Player Count: 50
Friday 5pm – 11pm (6 hours)
The Event
In Emergence, players take on the roles of the leaders of the world’s nations, dealing with economic, environmental, and diplomatic issues as the enigmatic Planet X draws nearer the Earth, all while mysterious alien activity is on the rise. Each 4-player team of Humans needs to manage their resources and engage in diplomacy with other teams, all while not knowing who among their allies, enemies, or very own ranks may be an alien sleeper agent. Who knows? Even you might end up being one!
Emergence was megagame designed by a Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Sean Boyle as a fun teaching tool. Heavily inspired by the classic megagame, Watch Skies Skies by Jim Wallman, players must engage in geopolitical struggles in the midst of an emerging otherworldly threat (?).
The Setting
For years, humanity has been fascinated by stories of another planet in our solar system, always hidden from view by the Sun. It’s been called Planet X, and stories abound of non-humans who call it home. Perhaps even more common are stories and conspiracy theories about non-humans visiting us, even walking among us and controlling our very society. Grays, Nordics, Men in Black, Reptilians… the list goes on and on.
In Emergence, these two tales come together: Planet X is nearing Earth, while simultaneously an non-human presence on Earth is apparently growing. And, of course, with this secretive presence, no one can be sure any more of who is human and who isn’t!
This game focuses on several areas, including the social climate of humanity when a life-bearing planet, so very close to home, has been discovered; the military and political response to increased “non-human” activity on Earth; and, overshadowing it all, the state of the environment after more than a century of industrial abuse. It’s not simply about fi ghting “non-humans;” it’s about the entire 3-year period surrounding these series of events, including “mundane” events right here on Earth. Players will need to do more than respond to potential non-human threats; they will be dealing with humanity as a whole, and the consequences of humanity’s actions. To top it off, any “human” could, in fact, be an “non-human” in disguise, so you never know who to trust!
Player Roles
Humans will need to fill various roles, including:
Military
Diplomacy
Treasury
Intelligence and Espionage
The World News Network team is made up of 4 independent, non-country-affiliated players, who are all responsible for reporting on game events as they unfold.
The non-human team roles are not explicitly chosen; this team has 4 slots.
There are also a number of “overflow” slots for additional players to join various teams, but we want to make sure we fill the minimum for each team first.
Touched By Darkness
Riley Nixon (Philadelphia Megagames)
Player Count: 40
Saturday 9am – 1:30pm (4.5 hours)
The Event
You Better Watch Out is a megagame driven by a set of easy-to-learn board game rules for resource management and worker placement, with the emergent gameplay opportunities at home in the megagame genre.
As one of the elves, you’ll spend the day engaged in high-stakes toymaking with a side of corporate politics. The North Pole must be saved – but working too hard for the greater good will make it that much easier for others to pursue their own personal goals. Sounds like You Better Watch Out.
The Setting
Twas the morning after Christmas – and Santa is missing! Where has he gone? Who’s in charge now? Will Christmas be ready in time, or is this the end of the North Pole?
After a successful Christmas, the elves of the North Pole wake up to find Santa missing – and with him, centuries of accumulated magic! Is this a callous desertion, or foul play? Worse still, with the magic missing, parts of the North Pole are starting to fade away. Can the elves manage without The Big Man? And – asking for a friend – who’s in charge now?
Touched by Darkness
Player Count: 40
Saturday 9am – 3pm (6 hours)
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Deephaven, the megagame about up to 50 dwarves attempting to build a fortress and all the things that go wrong.
Deephaven is a (mostly) roleplay-heavy cooperative fantasy megagame by Trenton Greyoak of Minnesota Megagames. Deephaven has been run over 10 times with iterative improvements introduced after each run. Generally, the game has been smoothed and made less antagonistic with each run of the game. Expect some player-vs-player but mostly player-&-player-vs-shenanigans.
The Setting
All Dwarves are welcome at Deephaven! From the proud Mountain Clans and industrious Hill Clans, to the mysterious Clans of the Deep. Yes, even Gully Dwarves are allowed, as odd as they may be! But take heart, we have abolished the caste systems of old! You are not stuck to one role. Only you can craft your destiny!
Players delve deep into the mountain to discover unique resources, forge legendary weapons, develop thriving trade and culture, and fight back against the many dangers they uncover! MINERS delve deep to find arcane metals! SHAPERS forge legendary weapons, armor, and new inventions. ARCHITECTS build awe-inspiring structures and massive fortifications. MERCHANTS handle foreign trade, FARMERS feed us, and BREWERS keep us, uh, well-hydrated! The CARTOGRAPHERS maintain the Grand Map and the INKBEARDS chronicle discoveries, announce oaths, grudges, and important events. The GUARDIANS keep the peace, and the LEGION leads us to war! Come to Deephaven! Build a new home for all Dwarves!
The Guilds
Players are given roles with narrative backstories but are left free to choose their own mechanical roles & abilities in the game via joining the guild of their choice! With varied mechanics and tones, the Deephaven guilds allow for a wide variety of players to find something they love!
Den of Wolves Turbo
Chai Cherkasski (Baltimore)
Player Count: 40
Saturday 2:30pm – 6:30pm (4 hours)
The Event
With intuitive gameplay and a mix of thrilling narratives, this game offers a perfect blend for casual gamers seeking their first megagame experience. Join the adventure, make your mark in the cosmos, and discover the joy of interstellar escapades in this genre-defining megagame!
Sam Bassett’s (Basenti Games) Turbo Edition is a condensed, fully licensed version of John Mizon’s modern classic Den of Wolves megagame.
The Setting
A small fleet of interstellar vessels tries to balance survival, politics and military challenges as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers.
It is the 27th Century. After a catastrophic attack on humanity, one battleship and a few civilian vessels must fight to survive, govern themselves and maintain order, as they flee from their pursuers. Den of Wolves is a game about difficult political, military and survival choices in a long-term crisis scenario. Players will take on the roles of starship captains, officers, and engineers, as well as politicians and military personnel. The game has a focus on managing resources, as well as various units and assets – however, talking and negotiating with other players will be crucial in order to achieve success. The game also seeks to represent political and military systems, and their decisions, and so players should expect some political simulation.
Wolves
Beware! There may be secret traitorous roles among us!
Surviville: Oops All Apocalyspe!
Player Count: 50
Saturday 5pm – 11pm (6 hours)
The Event
Surviville (pronounced “sur-vi-val”) is a fiction first, Narrative Megagame, with just the right amount of game mechanics to add tension, surprises, and ensure we’re all playing to find out what happens.
Designed by Trenton Greyoak (Deephaven) of Midwest Megagames, Surviville is a cozy post-post-apocalypse sim with a heavy gameplay emphasis on coordination and collaboration.
The Setting
All those bad things society used to worry about? They happened. Now, you’re one of the few survivors, trying desperately to make the best of what’s left. Find warmth and happiness in this bleak world filled with mad raiders, strange invaders, irradiated mutants, and wait, was that a zombie? Scavenge, survive, and… thrive? While you still can.
Every player is a potential ally. Collaboratively (re)build society and discover what new culture develops in the ashes of the world (if it ever stops burning). What is this, an armageddalong? Make no mistake: the world wants to destroy you. Or corrupt you, or… eat you, apparently. We are absolutely doomed. Together.
Phantom Files
Anton Kukal
Player Count: 50
Saturday 7:30pm – 10:30pm (3 hours)
The Event
A mega-board game where teams of ghost hunters explore haunted places, investigate supernatural activity, and confront the horrors that haunt them.
Designed for players who enjoy clear rules, defined roles, and meaningful objectives. Action is simultaneous, fast-moving, and highly interactive. Rules are taught, making the game very new-player friendly.
The World Turned Upside Down
Player Count: 60
Sunday 10am – 4pm (6 hours)
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present The World Turned Upside Down, the American Revolution Megagame by Ironmark Games.
So join up to 60 patriots and loyalists and re-envision the American Insurrection on the 250th anniversary!
The Setting
The World Turned Upside Down is a fast paced megagame of political unrest, international conspiracy, and the American Revolution. 60 players will take on the roles of famous lawmakers, generals, and spies of the period. Choose sides and guide your colony toward loyalty or rebellion. Your choices will decide the fate of America. The world will never be the same…
Players will become one of the famous figures of history in either the glorious British Empire or in the rebellious thirteen Colonies of America. In each round players decide which role is more important for them to fill at that time. You could begin your revolution in Congress, helping sway opinion (and funds) to your side. Soon afterwards you may be called back to your home to defend it as a Commander in the Continental Army. You decide how to best use your time throughout the game.
Touched By Darkness
Player Count: 47
Sunday 10am – 4pm (6 hours)
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Touched by Darkness – a semi-cooperative dark fantasy megagame by games designer Ben Kanelos (BK Game Design)
Badges to the PAX Unplugged convention are required to attend the event and can be purchased here.
Touched by Darkness is a fantasy re-design of the extremely popular, sci-fi megagame, Den of Wolves, by John Mizon of Southwest Megagames. Players familiar with the board game mechanics of Den of Wolves will recognize many similarities.
The Setting
Centuries ago, the Dark One shrouded the world in perpetual night with their Eclipse. They were defeated, and you believed they would never return… You were wrong. Somehow the Dark One has returned. Darkness has swallowed the Empire as well as the minds of its citizens whom the Dark One has corrupted into its thralls.
Only your frontier settlement, Cleaveslind, managed to relight the ancient Beacons. You are the last bastion of light in a world of darkness. Now the forces of the Dark One are massing on your borders, and rumors swirl that there are those within Cleaveslind who have already fallen under the Dark One’s sway. Will you be able to survive the onslaught and restore light to the world?
Players will work with their Faction teammates toward their common goals by managing resources, passing legislation, and fighting the forces of the Dark One. Cleaveslind might survive if players keep the Beacons lit by performing Rituals to end the Eclipse. There will be different tables and play areas for different activities: faction tables for members of a team to meet and manage their Locations, an area for members of the council to meet, and a Battle Map to resolve combat.
Shadow Agents
You may be secretly contacted by a Game Moderator before or during the game to become a Shadow Agent. Keep this a secret! Shadow Agents are not members of their Faction’s team, but a secret team of their own. Their goal is to undermine the other players, preserve the Eclipse, and usher in the Dark One’s rule. How they do this is up to them. Note that players will never be told if and how many Shadow Agents are in the game.
VOLUNTEER WITH MGC @ PAX Unplugged
Volunteering with the Megagame Coalition is a great way to experience PAX Unplugged while enjoying some sweet perks!
Check out the volunteer benefits below.
Once you’re ready to orchestrate some narrative chaos, sign up to volunteer here.
