2025 Convention Trends: Why Indie & Fan-Run Cons Are the New Big Thing
Remember when convention season meant hauling yourself through a packed mega-center, dodging corporate mascots, and waiting four hours for a glimpse of a blurry trailer? Good news: 2025 is the year of the indie and fan-run con. Smaller, scrappier, and fueled by pure fandom, these grassroots events are taking the culture back to its roots—with a modern twist. And if you think the “Too Many Games” expo is just about video games, think again. It’s about community, cosplay, and chaotic fun—just how fans like it.
Indie Conventions: The Heartbeat of Fandom in 2025
The big expos will always have their glitz and glam, but the real magic in 2025 is happening at the indie level. Across the US (and around the globe), a new breed of convention is turning the spotlight away from corporate booths and toward the fans themselves.
Take Too Many Games in Philadelphia, for example. What started as a gathering for classic gaming enthusiasts has morphed into a sprawling, multi-day festival for everything from homebrew arcade cabinets to vinyl video game soundtracks. The real draw? The vibe. Attendees describe it as part swap meet, part rock show, part giant living room where everyone gets your “RetroPie” references. Indie developers show up to demo passion projects. You’ll see everything from a Metroid-style platformer coded by one person to homebrewed NES cartridges lovingly soldered in a basement. Sure, you might miss the multi-million dollar booths, but you gain something better: community, connection, and actual hands-on time with creators.
Fan-Run Vibes: It’s All About the People
If 2025 has a defining theme, it’s fan empowerment. Many conventions now run on the sweat and caffeine of volunteers who just want to make cool things happen. No corporate overlords—just passionate fans with clipboards. These events aren’t just tolerated by the local scene; they’re beloved.
Events like Super MAGFest in Maryland (that’s the Music and Gaming Festival, if you’re new) have always focused on the communal aspect—jam sessions at 3am, impromptu dance parties, and freeplay arcades that seem to spring up like magic mushrooms. What’s changed in 2025 is the scale. Attendance is up, not down, and the lines for indie game tournaments can rival those for the main stage concerts. MAGFest is famous for blending music, gaming, and fandom without pretense, and it’s now inspiring spin-offs everywhere.
Meanwhile, hybrid cons like KawaKon and TooManyGames are pioneering events that blend anime, gaming, music, and DIY culture. You might walk past a “Sailor Moon” karaoke contest on your way to a panel about the future of tabletop RPGs, then get roped into an indie developer’s playtest session—all before noon. There’s no “right way” to con in 2025. If you’ve got passion, you’ve got a place.
Retro Events: Not Just Nostalgia—It’s a Movement
The 2025 retro convention scene is less about clinging to the past and more about celebrating the ongoing creativity of fans. Retro gaming rooms have gone from afterthought to main event, stocked with lovingly restored cabinets and tournaments on actual hardware (yes, CRTs are back in style, sorry chiropractors).
But it’s not just gaming. Retro anime screenings, VHS swap tables, and panels devoted to lost art forms—like cel animation—are surging in popularity. If you want to debate the best episode of Cowboy Bebop with someone who actually wore out their tape, you’ll find them at a fan-run retro event.
Cosplay & Fan Events: More Than Just Dress-Up
Let’s talk cosplay. If you thought 2025’s conventions would chill out on costume culture, you haven’t checked Instagram lately. The big money competitions still happen, but it’s the fan-run contests at indie cons where things get weird and wonderful.
At events like Too Many Games, the annual cosplay contest is notorious for wild, crowd-pleasing entries: think synchronized dancing “Pikachu” teams, spot-on “Yoshikage Kira” impersonators (complete with sandwiches), and home-made mechs powered by questionable batteries. Judges are just as likely to be local cosplayers as “celebrity” guests, and the audience actually gets a say. It’s less about perfection, more about passion—and a willingness to do a mid-stage pose-off.
Beyond the contests, social mixers and after-hours parties have gone from awkward “icebreakers” to full-on highlights. Speed-friending, fanfiction readings, and themed dance parties (the annual “Villains’ Ball” is a standout) are now built into the schedule. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing the entire Persona 5 soundtrack at 2am with a dozen strangers. This is the real “con crunch.”
Niche Interactions: The Weird Stuff Is the Best Stuff
Here’s the secret sauce of 2025 conventions: the niche, hyper-specific meetups. Forget the giant halls with endless lines. True fans are crowding into panel rooms for “Obscure Famicom Games Hour,” “Advanced Crossplay Prosthetics,” or “Anime Open Mic Night.” If you ever wanted to see a dramatic reading of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure memes, there’s a panel for that.
Fan-run workshops now cover everything from resin casting to retro game repair, voice acting for aspiring YouTubers, and even “Cosplay on a Shoestring” (pro tip: duct tape is eternal). And thanks to the rise of Discord, Telegram, and other chat platforms, these interactions don’t end at the convention center doors. Many cons now launch year-round online communities, keeping the fandom alive between events.
The Community Economy: Merch, Artists, and Zines
No con experience is complete without the artist alley. At indie and fan-run cons, these are less “merch marts” and more treasure troves of creativity. You’ll find everything from fan zines and enamel pins to hand-stitched plushies and one-off comic books. Many indie cons are expanding these spaces, giving priority to local artists and up-and-coming creators over mass-produced wares. The result? You come home with art you can’t get anywhere else—and maybe a few new friends.
At the heart of this movement is a focus on the community economy. Fans buy from fans, support local talent, and keep their dollars circulating within the scene. You’ll often see GoFundMe links or charity auctions benefitting artists, community members, or even just a cause the con believes in. The culture of giving back is just as strong as the impulse to collect another limited edition print.
Why Now? Why Indie Cons Rule 2025
The shift toward indie and fan-run conventions isn’t happening in a vacuum. With rising ticket prices and increasing corporate control at the mega-cons, fans are searching for authentic, affordable experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the events landscape, but it also reminded people why they gather in the first place: to connect, to celebrate, and to share what they love.
Fan-run cons are more agile. They can pivot when trends shift, add last-minute panels, and embrace community ideas. There’s room for experimentation—and even a little chaos. You might sign up for a Mario Kart tournament and find yourself in an impromptu “Worst Voice Acting” contest instead. That’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
The Future of Convention Culture: All Fans Welcome
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for anyone who loves conventions but hates the “one-size-fits-all” model. Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a speedrun enthusiast, a cosplayer with a glue gun, or just there for the people-watching, the indie con scene has space for you.
And with more hybrid events popping up (half in-person, half digital), there’s never been a better time to jump in—no matter where you live. Want to check the pulse of fandom? Forget the convention center with the $12 bottled water. Head to a fan-run event, say hi to your favorite artist, and maybe join a spontaneous Pokémon singalong.
If you’re looking for the next big thing in fandom, it’s already here. And you don’t need a VIP badge to find it.
Want to learn more about the world of indie conventions and gaming culture? Check out Polygon for expert convention coverage and the latest fan scene news.
