SPIEL Essen calls itself the world's largest public board game fair, and this year it is filling eight halls at Messe Essen this year after selling out its exhibition space before the registration deadline even closed. Now it is sending people outside those halls to shoot each other. Games Workshop and the SPIEL organisers have built Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team LIVE!, a laser tag arena themed on the 40k skirmish game, and it is the first time SPIEL has run an attraction beyond its exhibition floor.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeMatches are 12 against 12 inside a purpose-built arena with the lighting and sound cranked up to full grimdark. You can sign up as a full team or turn up solo and be slotted in with other players. A session runs about 30 minutes including the briefing, and the blasters are modelled on the weapons from the miniatures game.
The arena sits in Hall Europa at CC West on the Messe Essen site, and it runs across the fair, which is open 10:00 to 19:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, 22 to 25 October.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeTickets are 25 euros per person per mission, bought through the SPIEL ticket shop as an add-on to a fair ticket, and everyone who plays walks out with a 10 euro voucher for the Warhammer shop. Minimum age is 13, and you need to be there 10 to 15 minutes early. Fair warning for anyone sensitive to it: flashing lights and loud sound throughout.
This works far better as a group than as a solo drop-in, and 12 a side is a lot of people to round up on the day. If your club is already talking about an Essen trip, get the numbers sorted before the add-on tickets go. Set up the trip as an event and see who else is in.
Sources: SPIEL Essen | SPIEL Essen news | SPIEL Essen
