Lucca Comics & Games 25 - discovering Italy’s vibrant tabletop scene

Lucca Comics & Games 25 - from 29 Oct to 2 Nov 2025

[4 min read]

Last weekend, I experienced my first real foray into the world of gaming conventions beyond video games, attending Lucca Comic & Games in Italy. Having spent years at large-scale events like Gamescom, I expected something similar, but Lucca immediately felt different. This is a festival spread across the beautiful old town, rather than a single, impersonal hall. Streets, piazzas, and historic buildings host comics, movies, and tabletop games. Cosplay is everywhere, and families stroll alongside hardcore gamers, creating a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere.

Comics, movies, and video games made a splash in Lucca's streets 

My friend Mariano and I focused on tabletop gaming, which made up most of our time. The Carducci Pavilion, the central hub for these, was packed but well organised, featuring everything from board, miniatures and card games as well as role-playing games. 

Large publishers like Ravensburger and Asmodee had huge play areas and plenty of games on show

We discovered two unpublished gems that perfectly capture the creativity present in Italy.

First, Biodivercity, an aptly named board game prototype designed by Italian university professors explored the tension between personal gain and collective environmental responsibility, and represented that on a finely balanced platform at the centre of the city map. Every choice had consequences, making for a surprisingly deep and engaging experience. Our session culminated in Mariano's excessive consumption destroying the natural habitats and toppling the platform. Life choices.

The second was Roots of Soledad, a narrative-driven RPG by Norwegian industry veteran Matthijs Holter. Set in 1970s-80s South America, it allowed players to influence the story as either characters or directors, making clever use of cards to shape scenes. We played in English, one of the few non-Italian sessions, and it offered a fascinating way to develop shared storytelling using board game elements. 

Both experiences highlighted just how innovative the tabletop scene is in Italy—full of original designs and thoughtful execution.

Check out Matthijs' itch.io page to see more of his work
Image courtesy of Lucca Comics & Games 25

Something about the industry that surprised me: the Italian tabletop role-playing community is vibrant, creative, and thriving. Most international TTRPGs are published in Italian, and smaller publishers like Need Games and Acheron showed up to the festival with substantial stock on offer. 

The Italian version of Daggerheart was in abundant supply at Acheron's stand
Image courtesy of Reddit

Couple that with the abundance of homegrown offerings, and it’s clear that Italy has a strong, culturally rooted gaming ecosystem that sustains designers, players, and stores alike—valuable insight for anyone interested in European tabletop markets.

My multilingual friend Mariano wanted Italian-designed games, in Italian, and was not disappointed

For fellow tabletop enthusiasts, the practical lessons are just as important. The festival is massive, so prep is essential: download the app, plan routes, and monitor notifications for pre-registered events. Bring snacks, water, and hand sanitiser. Be ready for a lot of walking between venues, and embrace the city itself—the restaurants, cafes, and architecture are part of the experience. Don’t stress if you miss a headline event; wandering often leads to surprising finds, like the games I mentioned above.

Festival-goers were treated to mild autumn walks

Overall, Lucca Comics & Games was a delightful mix of discovery, culture, and play. From Italian board games and RPGs to the festival’s family-friendly energy, it reminded me why tabletop gaming continues to flourish worldwide. And if you ever get the chance to attend, come prepared, stay curious, and let the dice—and the streets of Lucca—guide you.

Dashmeister

Beer vending machines were available for the the thirsty traveller

This blog is written by me, with a little help from AI editing for clarity and tone. All ideas, feelings, and memories are mine.