Gaming convention revives after hiatus

Las Cruces Game Convention will return in March 2026 for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizer Mario Sauceda told the Bulletin that before the pandemic began, the Las Cruces Game Convention was one of the largest in the Southwest, with around 1,400 attendees. It began in 2011. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 28 at Dona Ana Community College.

The game convention will host multiple “fandoms,” Saucedo said. That will include video games from contemporary virtual reality games to arcade games from decades ago such as Pacman, plus Atari. There will be comic books, anime, various contests and attendees are encouraged to come in costume, Saucedo said.

“We want to appeal to all ages,” he said.

He said he hopes multiple generations will be gaming together, with parents and grandparents showing kids how to play older games, like Pacman or Atari and the younger people showing their parents and grandparents contemporary gaming.

“Our big vision is to break the stigma,” Saucedo said.

He said there is a tendency to think of people who game as someone who sits in a basement, shut out from the world and addicted to gaming.

“That wasn’t the case, from my point of view. My happiest memories are playing with friends and families. This convention is to bring all the fandoms together and do a celebration of video games. We’ll have a lot of different activities for families to do,” he said.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Saucedo said he is also offering free tickets to members of Girl and Boy Scout troops, to Big Brother and Big Sister organizational members, to first responders, to members of the armed forces and to Wendy’s employees.

For more information: https://www.visitlascruces.com/event/game-on-at-the-las-cruces-game-convention-2026-the-saga-continues/4164/