Words by David C. Obenour
Origins Game Fair | June 17-21, 2026 | Greater Columbus Convention Center
You can’t fit five days of gaming into just one post! With so many new and independent publishers and creators filling the exhibitor hall aisles at Origins Game Fair, it’s time to shoulder your bag, drink some water, and come along one more walk through with part two of our highlights from 2026.
House of Fado (Eagle-Gryphon Games)
A cultural tradition that reaches back centuries, Fado is a style of Portuguese music often experienced tableside as shared tapas turn into to shared pitchers of vinho verde. Managing one of these competing Houses of Fado, players contract and promote musicians to attract customers and build prestige. And while a traditional Fado evening lasts late into the night – not unlike many Eagle-Gryphon games – here a shorter 30-60 minute playtime allows for ordering other courses.
Gazebo (Bitewing Games)
There may not be anything new under the sun but there is a delight of mixed familiarity beneath the roof of the Gazebo! An evolution of Reiner Knizia’s Qin, Gazebo brings together gameplay through dominos tile placement, area control, and hand management. For all the innovations developed through modern gaming, it can be equally exciting to sometimes revisit and reimagine classic styles of play.
Our Secret Society (uloomi)
Following up on the success of last year’s artistic vibe-setting hit, uloomi is back with their latest in party conversation disguised as gaming. Whether implicit or explicit, groups tend to create ways we interact with one another. Giving a randomized and ridiculous framework for that, Our Secret Society is a rules stacking game that creates these norms to follow with each passing turn. Mess it up and you’re out of the society! But don’t worry, we’ll form a new one for the next game.
The Time We Have (moreblueberries)
The world has come to an end. Somehow, you and your brother have managed to survive for this long but now… now, the infection has taken hold of him. Separated from each other by a closed door, The Time We Have offers a light set of rules for a heavy theme with a beautifully illustrated deck of tarot cards as two-players process saying goodbye. Tissues are not provided but likely required.
Container (allplay)
Out of print for a long time, the world is ready for the return – and recently, more familiar with the themes (unrelated but still ironic to be told that a container of the Deluxe Edition was delayed in transit) – of Container. Build, store, ship, dock, and sell – money is tight and competition is fierce. Connecting an impressive array of gaming mechanics, understanding how to play is not as challenging as understanding how to win. Feeling slightly from a different era in gaming, it’s exciting to see titles like this return.
Barbaric (Vala Foundry)
Owen the Barbarian and his bloodthirsty (and sentient) cursed axe are on a doomed mission of doing only good. Beautifully and brutally illustrated by Nathan Gooden, this is the story for Michael Moreci’s ongoing comic at Vault. Working closely with this team, Vala Foundry has players making the most of their own unique curse with frenzied attacks through wave after wave of enemies. A near finished prototype, look for more on Barbaric later this year.
Expect Delays (offcut games)
For anyone experienced with public transit, Expect Delays offers all the maddening fun of navigating an under-funded, broken down, and entirely crucial system. Modeled off the New York subway, this quick and clever deck de-builder has you responsible for the commutes of impatient workers and tourists. Board riders, run lines, repair and take trains out of service – it all works right up until it all doesn’t any more.
Bullseye (25th Century Games)
It is up to the archer to discern their shot but in order to hit a bullseye the arrows must fly straight and true! As the guesser, the archer chooses the theme of that round’s target. As clue-givers, the player to the right then writes a word on the theme, secretly showing the others. The clever twist is that clue-giving players have arrow boards on which they give clues… letter-by-letter as they pass them around exquisite corpse style. A correct guess on the first letter alone is a bullseye at 20 points but a miss is a miss, so let loose only if you feel confident!
Flora Funga (Outset Media)
Flora Funga is a fertile forest floor, offering players two games in one cleverly crafted box! For Flora, it’s every suburban dad’s worst nightmare as players stack their way through sprouting, blooming, and scattering the seeds of dandelions. Dad isn’t too thrilled about the patterns of mushrooms on the other side of the yard for Funga either. Lighten up, old man! Utilizing tile placement, pattern building and the boundary of the playing board yard – there’s plenty of beauty in letting nature run its course.
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures (CGE)
Creating a zeitgeist moment in the culture of modern gaming, Codenames has found a spot on the shelves of families, enthusiasts, and Airbnbs nationwide. Rightfully so, as the game is conceptual tight and easy to explain, hard, fun, and you’re going to be talking about it long after it’s over. Starting with their partnership with the podcast Critical Role, CGE is committed to creating new worlds not just new words for upcoming big box versions. Your Codenames card keys are now dungeons and a session will lead you through an adventure maps filled with thematic play. Exciting worlds (and words), await!
wabi blobi (self-published)
Embracing the perfectly imperfect, Wabi Blobi is the conversation and connection game inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – celebrating the beauty of mistakes and creative mess. Utilizing the hand-created watercolor Blob Cards, players doodle pictures overtop of these splashes with the images they see. Taking the creative thinking further, Spark Cards help to inspire stories from these doodles and Heart Cards invite personal connection. Blob Cards also double as postcards, allowing you to create conversation and connection with those far away from your gaming table.
Fatherfog (Tuesday Knight Games)
Building off of the success – and the d100 Panic Engine system – of the award-winning sci-fi ttrpg Mothership, Tuesday Knight Games venture into a world fantasy for Fatherfog. Set in a once fairytale realm, a mysterious fog has descended to corrupt and twist the land. This warped reality is conjured and chillingly skewed from taking player’s own recollection of these classic tales. Released now for free in zero edition, expect more from designers – and an empowered gaming community – in the coming months.
Last Sabbath (Studio 2 / Officina Meningi)
The Mother’s Call had been unmistakable. Now it is up to you alone, or with the assistance of a likeminded coven, to walk the path of magic and confront the unspeakable Threat at its end. Inspired and illustrated by storyteller Loputyn, Last Sabbath is a solo or cooperative tabletop journaling RPG that reveals story and mystery through divination tools. More thoughtful than just alternate methods of unpredicted outcomes, utilizing the Tarot, the Runes, the Mikado, and the Tea Leaves offers unique contemplations and insight.
And those are the games we played at Origins 2026! Be sure to follow along for more gaming interviews and features, including coverage from Gen Con in the coming weeks.